As one of the area’s most versatile high school athletes, Brainerd senior Orlandus Harris is rarely unsure of himself. But as the Panthers’ only returning competitor from last season’s Class A/AA track and field state championship team, Harris has been asked to become a more visible and vocal leader.
“He’s never been a captain before,” Brainerd coach Mary Sparn said. “Now, not only am I looking to him, but the kids are looking to him to be the leader. He’s got to be a captain real quick, and he hasn’t gotten comfortable with that.
“His personality is to just do his thing and not be a vocal leader. He has to understand we need him in that role. We need his experience and support to help bring along a young team. He’s not comfortable in that role, but he’s learning.”
Harris scores points in a variety of events. The 6-foot, 180-pound Eastern Kentucky football signee won the 300-meter hurdles and the triple jump at last year’s state meet and finished third in the decathlon to kick-start Brainerd’s run to its first state title in seven years.
In his final five meets of the season he set school records in the triple jump, topped by his state-meet leap of 46 feet, 8.5 inches.
“I miss my teammates from last year, no doubt,” Jackson said. “But I know I’ll have to step up and be a leader now. It’s an adjustment, but our team needs me to step into that role now.
“On the track, I’m not sure how much faster I am yet, but I know my speed has increased from last year and I’m a lot stronger.”
Brainerd lost seven seniors from that team and Jackson is the only senior on this year’s squad, which has 35 freshmen or sophomores competing for varsity status.
“I’ve got several who will be excellent in another year or so, but right now we’re just so young,” Sparn said. “I have a bunch that might run the 100 this week and the 800 next week. I’ve got to find a place for everybody to find out who my sprinters are and who my middle distance runners are.
“All I know for sure right now is Orlandus will be one of the top hurdlers in the state. And he’s so much stronger physically, I think he’ll place well in the triple jump and decathlon again.”
Jackson is the only returning local athlete who won an event at the state meet in any classification. However, several others placed well last year and could contend for an individual title this spring. Chattanooga Christian’s Jessica Duble was second in the A/AA 1600 and 3200 last year, and Arts & Sciences’ Jasmine Scott finished third in the 400.
McCallie’s Evan Ellison will be one of the area’s top sprinters and teammate Riley Young will again begin the season as the area’s top distance runner.
GPS has dominated Division II, claiming the last three girls’ state titles. Although the Bruisers return seven who participated in the state meet, including Katie Lester and Jasmine Brown who will compete in several events, they lack the depth to be considered a favorite this year.
“We have a lot more holes than we’re used to,” GPS coach Jeff Gaither said. “We’ll be competitive again, but we’ll be a long shot in terms of having a chance to win the state meet. There’s no pressure this year.”
Region storylines
Division II: McCallie’s Evan Ellison could develop into the area’s top sprinter, and Baylor’s Wesley Idlette is already one of the state’s top hurdlers.
Class AAA: Ooltewah will have as deep a group of sprinters as any team in the area, and Brian Marshall, Johnny Myricks, Sammy Seamster and Tim Williams make up a very strong sprint relay squad.
Class A/AA: Chattanooga Christian’s Jessica Duble will set the pace among area distance runners and should again be a state contender in both the 1600 and 3200 events.
Stephen has covered high school sports in the tri-state area since the early 1990s, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor for more than seven years. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state and regional awards for his writing on high school athletics. He has two children, Riley ...
