Carroll Academy’s Brenda Corley looks forward to the track season for much of the school year.
But all of that got pulled out from under Corley and the CA track team when Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves suspended schools until April 17 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I know as long as we aren’t in school, we aren’t going to compete and that’s sad,” Corley said. “I really enjoy track and I know I’m always excited for track season to roll around. I’m disappointed but it’s something we can’t control. I hate it for the seniors, not just for the track kids but for all the seniors.”
Corley, who also teaches science at the high school, had high hopes for the track season with increased interest in the program.
“We had a total of 60 kids that were coming out for track,” Corley said. “We had a lot of knew kids that were going to participate. I think we had a chance to have a really good season with both the boys and girls team.
Corley said Carroll had meets scheduled when the school returned from spring break. The school’s district meets were scheduled for April 14 and 17.
Carroll had just two seniors on the team in Austin Smith and Mary Jordan Milton. Smith finished fifth in the state in the shot put last year with a distance of 40 feet and five inches, finishing just behind Jeb Beck. Milton throws the shot put and the discus as well. Also coming back is Drew Thomas, who finished fifth in the 1,600-meter run and sixth in the 3,200-meter run.
“I feel like we would have been pretty strong on both teams,” Corley said. “You never really know until they start running some meets. I didn’t have a clear handle on how the boys were shaping up because basketball ran so long. They had a great run but I don’t think we had a practice where everybody was there. But I think we would have had a lot of kids qualify for North State on the team.”
Corley said she knows some of her team members are still running.
“I know the ones that I have communicated with that a couple of them are still running, especially the distance runners,” Corley said. “I have not really touched base with everybody. I know with the shelter in place, you can still get out and exercise. I know they can still get out and do that. I know the most important thing is to try and keep them safe.”
