Bob Hudson , The Hurricane Times
Published 02/24/2009 - 12:03 p.m. MST
| Coach Boyd Prince has known that Karl Wilcock is a special athlete for three years. Wilcock has scored numerous points for the Tigers, helping them be among the elite teams in Class 3A boys’ track.
This season will be no different.
“A big key that is going to get us to the state championship is Karl Wilcock,” Prince said as he previewed the 2009 season. He noted that, without much speed work, Wilcock ran a 4:22 mile indoors at the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho, in February.
“With Karl running like he is and the other kids we have coming back, I feel like we’re really strong,” Prince said. Last season the Tigers finished second to Cedar City in both the Region Nine and state track meets. But the Redmen graduated many of their top athletes while the Tigers have most of theirs back.
Among those who’ll be counted upon to score well for the Tigers this season are Tim Long in the javelin and hurdles, his brother Adam in the hurdles and high jump, Dannon Wood and Fernando Cepeda in the shot put, and Jarom Healey and Tanner Segers in the sprints.
Others that Prince considers as potential stars include Matt Thomas, Ben McCombs and Jordan Prince in the distances; Daniel Nelson in the throwing events; Preston Beatty in the long jump and the sprints; Zach Sorenson in the sprints; and newcomers Eric Kuhlmann and his brother Tyler in the middle distances and the high jump. Javelin thrower Jeff Staples, jumper Diamonte Hubbard and sprinter Robert Reeve could also help.
“We don’t know for sure yet who all will come out,” Prince admitted.
And, until the teams meet one another a few times, no one will know for sure what to expect in region and state competition.
The season begins March 13 and 14 with the annual Hurricane Rotary Invitational. Other meets the Tigers are likely to compete in include the Pine View Invitational on March 27 and 28, the Dixie Invitational on April 17 and 18 and Southern Utah University’s Coliseum Championships on April 24 and 25. The BYU Invitational is May 2 and the region meet will be at Dixie High on May 6 and 7. The state meet will be at BYU May 15 and 16.
Also on the schedule are Washington County meets on April 14, 21 and 28 and the Red Rock Invitational at Snow Canyon on April 2.
“Cedar’s always tough,” Prince said of the region competition. “And Canyon View had a lot of good young kids a couple of years back. Desert Hills is an unknown.”
But Wilcock and his teammates aren’t really unknowns. They have the capability to continue the Tigers’ successful sports season.
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