Track sees youth step up at regionals

Derby track and field will be sending several athletes to state after both boys and girls squads took fourth at the regional meet on May 19.

It will be a solid mixture of experience and new talent heading to Cessna Stadium as the competitors who qualified are healthy and peaking at the right time. Injuries forced head coach Cedric Shell to rearrange the lineup, and those who were pushed into new roles delivered at the right moment.

“I liked the fight that our kids had going into regionals,” Shell said. “We had to shuffle things around and try to find a sense of coming together as a team. They exceeded my expectations, and to finish fourth on both sides was a huge positive.”

Sophomore A.J. Hopson had a dominant afternoon finishing first in the 400 with a time of 51.21 and then stepping into the 4x800 relay squad. Hopson had never competed in the 800, but he stepped up and helped the squad finish fourth and punch their ticket to state.

“Hopson was on JV as a freshman last year, but I knew that if he kept working, he would be a star on varsity,” Shell said. “He has really improved in the 400, becoming one of the best in the state. He also stepped up in the 4x800 for us. Hopson is an athlete that can adapt, and once he steps on that track, he is going to go after it.”

Derek Hubbard took fourth in the 100-meter dash to qualify for state. The junior was also a piece of the 4x100 relay team that took fourth to reach state. The Panthers had to readjust the 4x100 relay team after Mason Madrigal exited the meet early with a hamstring injury.

The boys squad was heavily represented in the throwing events, led by LeShaon Davis. Davis took first in both the shot put and discus. In the shot put, Davis had a winning throw of 49’ 5” – nearly four feet farther than second place. The senior is staying loose and having fun, which has helped him find success.