By Mike Elder
Suburban JournalsApril 13, 2010
NorthTech Golden Eagle sprinter is now a known quantity after an outstanding junior year.
It's a shame Marquis White didn't start running when he was a youngster. If he had, the North Tech senior perhaps could have ended up being the male version of McCluer South-Berkeley grad Alishea Usery, the best sprinter the state has produced. And even though he has only been sprinting for four years - he started as a freshman at Riverview Gardens and then transferred after one year to North Tech - White might end up with that distinction anyway. "I'm trying to," said White. "I come out and try and do my best every time I get on the track and try to represent my school."
White is representing quite well, thank you very much. He was the main reason the Golden Eagles finished eighth as a team at state last spring in Class 3 when he won the 100 meters (10.48), the 200 (21.62) and anchored the second-place 4x100 relay. Not bad for his first trip to the state meet. "It was my first full season so I kind of was (surprised)," White said. "I was just coming off an injury of my groin."
White is healthy again this season and he's picked up right where he left off last year. Thanks to running summer track for the St. Louis Blues as well as some indoor action during the winter, White came into the season ready to roll and he hasn't disappointed. He has run times similar to his best last year including in the 100 (10.64) and 200 (22.2) and he's picked up the 400 and has posted an exceptional 50.2 clocking in that. "He's looking really good," said North Tech coach Rich Sanders of White, who is the fastest sprinter in the North County area right now. "We've got a schedule for him to break those times by next week. We don't want to push him too fast." "I'm running good because of the training of the coaches that's all," said White. "And I'm coming off of a good summer season."
White's extraordinary success at state last year has him expecting more this year. In addition to wanting to win all three of the sprint events as well as the 4x200 relay, he wants to break some records. Since he nearly broke the Class 3 record in the 100 last year - his 10.67 in the prelims was just shy of the 10.66 record time - he's going to shoot for the overall record of 10.42 held by Raytown South's Maurice Mitchell. He's also confident he can get the Class 3 record of 21.32 in the 200. "I'm hoping," said White. "I came close to breaking (the Class 3 record in the 100) last year. I'm coming back for it this year."
Sanders has been quite impressed with how White has picked up the 400 so well. He thinks he could potentially win that event at state and possibly break a record, too. "I really think he has the capability to run a 47," Sanders said. "I think he's got that speed. I don't know if it's good to put that out there but that's what I think he can do."
The Golden Eagles' fourth year coach pinpointed a couple reasons why White is so good. "It's the way he's built and he stays on his toes and runs on his toes," he said. "And he knows how to excellerate and hold his speed. He doesn't drop off at the end of a race." White and classmate Stevie Loman will return to the 4x200 squad that also has a lot of potential. Junior Sheron Thomas and either Thadeus Pinkins or Antwann Wright will fill out that squad which could also bring home first at state. "It's shaping up great," said White of the relay squad. "There are some new faces on the team. We're trying to get ready for districts."
The way Sanders has it figured, if White can win three open events and lead the relay to a first-place finish that could put the Golden Eagles in contention for a state title. "Forty five or forty six points won it last year," he said. "That's why we're really concentrating on trying to get some other points. I'm trying to bring the other guys along to try to get points in other areas." And he's got White aiming at records to keep him motivated. "I had to get something for him to focus on," said Sanders. "I got him to set goals because he was actually winning races too easily."
White said he will attend Barton Community College in Kansas, which has one of the top junior college track programs in the nation, next year. He's going there even though he was offered a full ride by Nebraska. He wants to solidify his academic standing before going to Nebraska and he knows it's a fabulous track program. "I think it's already a good team," he said of Barton. "I think I'll go and help them repeat for a national championship." Sanders hope he leaves North Tech after leading the Golden Eagles to a state title.
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