Mississippi State’s track and field team continues to prepare for the season, and the athletes who compete in field events are crucial to success.
Head coach Al Schmidt said the team has committed the dedication needed for success in the SEC. In the talent-rich SEC, the athletes develop alongside some of the best in the world, he said. The talent surrounding the team pushes the players to develop and compete at the highest levels attainable, Schmidt said.
“They are dedicated,” Schmidt said. “They want to buy in; they want to be good.”
Schmidt, coaching in his 21st season, knows the essentials needed for track and field success.
“We’ve been successful in the past,” Schmidt said. “You are not able to stay somewhere 21 years without success, and it is because of the athletes.”
The squad’s field group includes jump and throw events. The jump events include the high, long and triple jumps and pole vault. The throw events include shot put, the hammer throw, discus throw and javelin. The multi-events pentathlon, heptathlon and decathlon also include many field events.
Junior Demetrius Cobbins returns as the men’s leading horizontal jump specialist with a personal record of 23 feet 9 inches.
Cobbins should find competition in highly recruited freshmen Trey Charles, who arrives with a personal best of 24 feet 6 inches.
Cobbins starts the season healthy after an extensive rehab during the fall after knee surgery in 2008. He said he credits much of his recovery to the strength coaches and training staff.
Schmidt said Cobbins looks fifty percent better than he did in the 2008 season. He said the 2009 season remains critical for Cobbins concerning his development into his final two seasons.
Cobbins said the jumpers take time to develop the technique needed to be successful.
“I am way ahead of where I was a year ago,” he said. “It takes jumpers a couple of years to get the technique down.”
Cobbins said each jump involves a practiced series of movements. He said patience comes first. The jumper must collect himself or herself before the jump. The jumper will “get up tall,” attack the board, take a final step, called a pentulitmate and stick the landing, Cobbins said. To “get up tall,” the jumper stands as tall as possible while running down the runway before jumping from the board.
Cobbins said he is excited about the ability of the team and the prospects of achieving a high ranking. The talent levels are high, and the team hopes to end with a strong ranking.
“[We have] a lot of talent coming back, and the freshmen will help out a lot,” Cobbins said. “We should be top 10 in the country with the talent we have.”
Cobbins said the team’s veterans will provide leadership for the younger athletes.
“It’s the job of the older guys to push the younger guys,” he said. “John Bailey and Delandus O’Neal have taken over leadership for the team.”
On the women’s side of the long jumps, senior Marrissa Harris, junior Wendy Copeland and senior Pricilla Gaines lead the team.
Gaines, of Marietta, Ga., said she feels better prepared for the 2009 season. Gaines participates in the 200 meter dash, 4?400 relay, long jump and the triple jump.
“Last year I ended with 24.7 seconds in the 200 meters,” Gaines said. “I look at that last year and that was pretty easy, so hopefully I can reach 24 seconds.”
Schmidt agrees Gaines will perform well. However, he said he feels her junior college years did not prepare her for the competition she faces in the SEC.
“She could really be a surprise to us, even though we know she has got a world of talent,” Schmidt said. “Junior college was not her best friend preparing for the SEC. This being her last year, she has got to put it all together this year.”