Garrard Quigley; “Staying relaxed is also a big part of my strategy”
Coach Shawn Vaughan recognizes that the area in which the Indian River Braves boys’ track team competes is incredibly challenging. “Our district is so tough because all of the teams in it are so strong,” he says. “It’s incredibly hard to compete successfully unless you have a really deep team. Running against schools like Deep Creek and Western Branch week in and week out can be intimidating.” On top of that, Vaughan points out, there are plenty of strong teams in surrounding districts as well. “When you add the ones from the Beach District and the Peninsula District to ours, that makes for some stiff competition.”
Judging from the Braves’ list of accomplishments, however, Vaughan’s seems like he is just being modest. Indian River is coming off of an indoor track season in which they finished second overall in the state. On top of that accomplishment, the Braves managed to garner a number of impressive individual awards at the state meet: 5th in 300 meters; 4th in 55 meters; 2nd in the long jump; first in the 4x200 meter relay. Vaughan and the Indian River athletes make it look easy.
Vaughan is clear about his expectations for the outdoor track season. “We would like to finish the season on top. That is, state champions. And I would like for these young people to earn individual recognition as well.” Aside from rankings, though, Vaughan hopes that the team can bring some positive publicity for their program and for the school. He recalls a newspaper article that left him somewhat dismayed. “I read an article recently and there was a lot mentioned about other schools and only one line about Indian River. I know we’ve accomplished more than just one line. I would like to see that change and to have our team recognized.”
Towards that successful end, the Braves hope that strong guidance, along with their inherent athletic ability, will allow them to be at least as successful in the spring as they were in the winter. Vaughan explains, “We have four coaches for the track athletes, one each for field events, sprints, mid-distance and distance. We spend time wisely with each group to maximize our potential.” Vaughan explains the role of a coach as a provider of guidance, someone who will keep them focused on the important tasks both on and off the track.
Evidently, that style of coaching works. Several standouts on the Indian River track team are living proof. There is Toriano Moody, who excels at the long jump, 55 meters and is the lead man on the 4x200 relay. Another strong performer is Thomas Speller, who runs 200 meters, 400 meters and several relays.
One athlete who epitomizes the strong effort of the Braves is eighteen-year-old senior Garrard Quigley, a sprinter and relay runner. Aside from running the 100, 200 and 400 meter sprints, Quigley serves as the anchor – the final leg – of Indian River’s 4x200 meter relay. These assets have led to Quigley being named both “Most Improved Runner” and “Most Valuable Runner” for his squad.
Quigley notes that he and the rest of the team not only thrive on the competitiveness of track, but learn a great deal from it as well. “The more that we compete,” he says, “the better we become as individuals and as a team.” Competing well is certainly something with which Quigley is quite familiar; he has been named to the all-state team for two of his high school seasons. And track is not his only area of expertise. Quigley will be attending Norfolk State University in the fall on a football scholarship.
Quigley believes that running successfully requires both physical and mental efforts. “Personally, I work on form a lot because that is what our coaches constantly drill into us. Without proper form, you’re not going to be successful on the track.” But he also notes that some of the best runners also exhibit an ability to prepare mentally for their races. “Staying relaxed is also a big part of my strategy,” he says.
A final contributor to Quigley’s command of the track is more personal, but still an indispensable element of competition. “My family helps me to do my best. They give me an extra boost when they are out there cheering me on.”
