Ten Dora High students are now proud state qualifiers — despite being a track team without a track.
Hannah Nesmith, a Dora alumni herself, has been coaching track for three years. She graduated in 2014, the same year the Dora track team was founded.
“When I came back as a teacher and coach, I wanted to give students the opportunity I had.”
The Dora team has faced some unique challenges.
“The main challenge that the Dora track and field team has faced is not having a designated practice spot with a track or jumping pits.”
However, that didn’t stop this determined team. Nesmith and assistant coach Bart Black worked together to overcome these difficulties.
“We worked together to make a plan to use our facilities in the best way to help our athletes,” Nesmith said.
“Coach Black would take the mid- and long-distance runners to the Horsecreek Trail, while I would stay with the sprinters, jumpers and field athletes on the football field,” she added. “Thankfully, this year we were blessed to be able to purchase track equipment that has been beneficial for our athletes and helped them to reach more of their goals.”
Dora’s student athletes certainly have big goals despite the lack of a track of their own.
“At the beginning of the season, each athlete sets a goal that they want to achieve. These mainly consist of qualifying for the state meet in Gulf Shores,” Nesmith said.
The team has been successful. Nesmith spoke proudly of her students, saying, “My first year at Dora, we had three state qualifiers. The next year it was nine. This year, we had 10 state qualifiers in multiple events, with seven athletes placing in the Top 10.”
The 10 Dora athletes who qualified for state were Jalaya Harris, Kaleb Pryor, Sean Pryor, Kori Pryor, Jaia Page, Amiyah Doaty, Eric Rogers, Jayden Griffin , Cleveland Jones and DJ Taylor. Their final standings from the state tournament are posted below.
