Olympic Hopeful and flying lions break records this season

It’s time to run.

“The adrenaline rushes through your body as you zone out of the real world and enter the racing world, and when that gun goes off, it’s your time to run,” said    Senior TCU Commit Ryan Champlin.

Champlin’s races of choice are the open 200 and 400. He wins both of them equally; and by a lot.

Not only is he trying to be a College Athlete, he is also qualifying for the 2016 summer Olympics in August.

He says ALL he needs to do, is cut off 2 seconds of his 400 meter time to make it.

“I am really looking forward to breaking more records at state and TCU,” said Champlin.

Trials for the 2016 Olympics are late August in Eugene, OR.

“I need to run 45 seconds for the 400.

They are going to be tough, because America has the fastest sprinters of all, so I’m just training!”explains Champlin.

Champlin ran the 200 at the Bowie Volunteer Relays with an astonishing time of 21.94 seconds, which is a school record.

The flying lions reached regionals and state in their jumping events.

Two high jumpers Junior Colin Toulouse, and Junior Jay Sedwick advanced to regionals placing 2nd and 3rd in district.

Also Junior Taelor Hawkins, a newcomer to track, advanced to regionals after placing 4th in district for long jump.

Plenty of school records have been beaten by the 2016 track team. Both the boys and girls beat the 200 meter race school record this year.

Junior Sprinter Aliyah Trotter ran the 200m race at 25.43 seconds at Nolan pre-district April 7th, a mere shoulder behind a senior from Home Education Athletic of Tyler who has signed to run for TCU. Trotter broke our school record.

“I am very happy about breaking the record, but I am also really focused on getting my times down so that I can gain a scholarship, preferably from Florida A&M University because they have a good track and ROTC program,” said Trotter.

Champlin also beat the 400 meter school record with an astounding time of 47.70 seconds at the 21st Annual Volunteer Relays on March 12th.

Champlain officially signed in November at TCU, and is planning on running the 400 there too.

Both boys and girls beat the school record in the 2400 meter race. Junior Kenley Machen ran a time of 13 minutes and 25 seconds which put her at the top of the list, and     Junior Will Pinon also moved to the top with a quick time of 9 minutes and 43 seconds.

Even junior high 7th grader Kennedy Phillips has broken the school record for shot put.

As records are being broken, Grace Prep track, known as the flying lions, are rising up the charts..

“Hard work: the more work you put in, the better outcome you get”, said Head Track Coach Chad Peguese about the key to their success

This year’s track team did not disappoint at state.. Champlin won the State 3A TAPPS Championship May 7, 2016, with 48.04 seconds in the 400 Meters, breaking a state meet record, and 21.84 seconds in the 200 Meters..

The Men’s 4×400 Relay team, consisting of Junior Colin Toulouse, Seniors Royce Siller, Elijah McIntyre, and Ryan Camplin placed 4th. Junior Brendan Walters placed 9th in the 100 meters. Junior Taelor Hawkins placed 9th in the High Jump.

For the women’s team, Junior Aliyah Trotter placed 1st in the 100 meters with 12.46 seconds, and 1st in 200 Meters, with 25.82 seconds.  .

Even though the girls got off to a slow start, due to the fact there wasn’t enough girls to run a relay, four girls joined the team, overcoming that obstacle, and ran their first 4 x 100m race April 6th and placed 2nd.

Each person works for the person next to them instead of themselves which pushes one another. If one person gives up then they are letting their team down and nobody wants to let down their family, so the will to win is great.

“As long as we all put in the work and come to practice every day we should dominate and go to state”, said Trotter earlier in the season.

Send your cheers Champlin’s way this August as he tries out for the Olympics, and look out for the flying lions next spring.