Yellow Jackets finished second at Class AAA state meet in 2009
By Jennilyn Howell
scrunners.com reporter
GREER -- Two of Greer’s six top individual finishers at last year’s Class AAA state track and field meet haven’t even started their freshman year.
Shakeria Bradford and Takeyra Jenkins-Dodd both placed at the top in at least one of their events as seventh graders.
Bradford, one of the shortest competitors at the competition, took the high jump title at 5-2. She also finished third in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:05.99.
Jenkins-Dodd took third place in the 400-meter run with a time of 56.71, behind senior Emani Harrison of A.C. Flora, who finished second. The seventh-grader also placed fifth in both the 100-meter and the 200-meter runs with respective times of 12.67 and 25.76.
While both girls want to excel in their individual events, they also keep the team in mind.
"When [Bradford and Jenkins-Dodd] came down from the middle school, . . . they were able to come out here and put forth that effort you expect from older girls," girls coach Erie Williams said. "They’re here to help the team. They definitely have a grasp of the team concept."
Williams, a Greer graduate, is in his third season as head coach. "I have always loved track and field and I think that we have always had good track teams in the past," Williams said.
After all, Jenkins-Dodd’s favorite event is the 4x100-meter relay; Greer took first place in that event at the state meet.
"It’s like a team thing. It’s just a fun race," she said.
She is still nervous about competing with the older students even though she has one season under her belt.
"I’m gonna be scared at first, but you just gotta give it your all," Jenkins-Dodd said.
Bradford has a humble outlook on her success, despite her great desire to defend her high jump title. She describes her anticipation of this season’s competition as "comfortable, but cautious" since there’s always a chance someone stronger could make their mark.
Considering she jumped over two inches higher than seven sophomores, juniors and seniors last year, she may not have much to worry about. Extra pressure to perform her best is what helped her take first place.
"They told me after I came back from the 400 hurdles that I was the only one in the running to get first place [in the high jump]," she said. "If I made that jump, I got first. That put a little pressure on me, and I did it."
Williams looks forward to how the middle schoolers will advance this year.
"They love to work, they love to compete," he said. "We’re working hard this year. We can’t wait . . . to get this year started and to watching the girls grow."
His focus isn’t as much on the Yellow Jackets’ chance for a team state title as much as it is on the team itself. Though it’s in the back of everyone’s mind, Williams wants to keep a focus on teamwork.
"We’re very excited. We’re working hard and we don’t focus on other schools," he said. "We’re just thinking about what we can do to get better as a whole. Everyone’s positive, and that’s the most important thing.
"I am not doing anything special here. The other coaches and I are just doing our part in helping these young ladies be better student-athletes. And hopefully we can win a state title in the process."
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