The Seymour track team is ready to start their first year of AAA track in the IMAC Conference.  Just like the other sports at Seymour High School it will be a tremendous challenge.  Head Seymour track Coach Cotton Julian had this to say, “Moving up is going to be a big challenge in track and field because in East Tennessee you’ve got Kingsport Dobbins-Bennett, Jefferson County, Sevier County, Science Hill, Johnson City, Sullivan schools, Oak Ridge, Bearden and Farragut.  It’s a big challenge but we’re working hard.”  Seymour has between 60 and 70 total kids on the track team which is very good numbers for a community the size of Seymour.  The Eagles have always been successful in track at the AA level with 12 boys All-State in the last six years with a state champion and 2 state runner-ups.
The girls in the last four years have been Region runner-up twice and Region Champions twice.
April 29th is the Conference Championship at Jefferson County High School.  Coach Julian said, “The IMAC Championship is what we are shooting for.  We will be working each week in our events toward that date.  Each meet we tell our kids you don’t have to be the fastest or strongest, just be a little better than you were the previous track meet.  In AAA track the qualifying standards are very high, I think.  You go to the sectionals and they take the top four to the State.”  There is no regional like there was in AA which  provided more opportunity to get to the state.
Before Coach Julian, Rick Ailey was the track coach.  Since the early nineties, Coach Ailey and Coach Julian (assistant then) have been very successful in getting participants to the state track meet in AA.
The best individual Seymour has had was the state champion in the shot put, Daniel Myles in 2005.
In 2006, Ryan Wilson was the state runner-up in the decathlon.  He is now on the King College track team in Bristol.
Morgan Peterson was the first female athlete that got to the state.  Her event was the Pentathlon.  She finished fourth in that event.  She was then state runner-up in the discus throw.  Peterson, also a star volleyball player, was in the state track meet as a sophomore, junior and senior.
The Mountain Press Relays which is the Sevier County Championship will be held at Seymour High School on April 1st.
When asked what his goals for the team were, Coach Julian responded, “Our goals for the team are for each individual to improve each time they come out; just improve and get better each week.  We want them to enjoy themselves each time they come out.”
According to Julian, the female athletes to watch are Senior Haley Clark in the long jump, Senior Lauren Johnson a sprinter, Courtney Whitley in the hurdles, Jodie Wood as a Pentathlete who is a very good athlete, Jordan Godsey mile runner, Rachael Whitley shot put and discus and Samantha Ferguson a freshman on the hurdles.
On the boys’ side, Steven Dickinson middle distance runner, Garrett Hilliard, Blake Overton and Wes White, Joe McCarter on discus, Dustin Fain, quarterback on football team throws shot and discus and Chris Humphrey, very strong on shot and discus.
Coach Julian has been a track coach at Seymour for 19 years, 11 years as an assistant coach and 9 years as a head coach.
Assistant coaches are Charlie Householder, Jim Moore and Ron Blaze.
The first meet is at home March 18 against G-P, Cocke County, Sequoyah and Morristown East.

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