Sunlake Seahawks Track And Field Review

It is a small but dedicated coaching staff at Sunlake High School. Head Coach Nick Carroll has been with the program from its inception four years ago. Carroll is also an assistant coach on the football team. He comes to Sunlake by way of Chamberlain High and Terrace Community Middle schools. Carroll was a sprinter in high school, participating in the 100m, 400m and long jump.

Carroll’s assistant coach Trey Burdick is his first year with the team. Burdick is also a coach on the football team with Carroll and coaches the weightlifting team, as well. Burdick was a 400m runner in high school.

The Seahawks had a few birds fly the nest last year.

Tyler Hisamoto was one of the best throwers in the school’s short history. At last year’s regionals, he threw 142’09” in discus. Tyler was part of the school record-setting 4x100m relay team last year.

Becky Reynolds on the girls side transferred back to Hudson High School. She ran the 400m, 800m and 1600m.

A few Seahawk girls that will be scoring points this year are:

Sophomore Jessica Howell is a thrower, who according to Carroll, “is the best in our field events.”

Junior Sarah McDaniel is a hurdler, who also does long jump and 4x100m relay. Sarah is, “ the most improved” and “a huge part” of the team.

On the boys side, watch out for senior Joel Fauntleroy. Faulntelroy holds the school record for 110m hurldes and 300m hurdles. He made the finals at last year’s regionals and has a chance to make states this year. He also anchors the 4x100m relay team.

Junior Kenny Fessel is the team’s primary distance runner. He specializes in the 1600m(mile), the 3200m(2 mile). Fessel holds the school record in the 1600m and 3200m and according to Coach Carroll, “is even better this year.” Fessel also anchors the 4x800m relay team.

Junior newcomer, Jamal Jones is “our fastest 200m sprinter,” said Carroll. Jones also does long jump and is on the 4x100m relay team.

Junior newcomer, Caleb Bates is a triple and long jumper who holds the school record in triple jump at 40’10.”

The Seahawks team is growing.

“We had a really good turnout this year,” said Carroll.

In just its fourth year, the team has almost 50 athletes that compete.

And they are making progress.

“We consistently place between second and fifth at our meets, always in the top half,” Carroll added.

The Seahawks will get a real test on April 8 when they head to the Sunshine Athletic Conference Tournament, where they will battle against many of the same athletes they will see at districts April 21. It will be the toughest competition the Seahawks have faced this year and a good gauge of who has the stuff to make it through to regionals.

This will be the fourth year Sunlake attends the tournament. Carroll feels they will be competitive in, “110m, 300m hurdles and all relays.”

Stay tuned to Land O’Lakes Patch for updates on the SAC tournament. That tournament takes place this Friday at Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Rd., in Trinity at 1 p.m.