Hawks win Father Kelly Classic

The cast of characters has changed slightly, and there’s a new coach on board. But the Hanahan boys’ track and field team is enjoying more of the same when it comes to success.
The Hawks, who have won two straight state titles and three in the past four years, are talented and deep despite losing arguably the top sprinter in the state from last year: Samuel Denmark. The defending state champ graduated early and is now residing in Blacksburg, Va. so he can participate in spring practice as a member of the Virginia Tech football team.
Also departed is former coach David Pratt, who resigned as coach to spend more time with his family. The new coach is David Morbitzer, who was more than capable as an assistant.
The team shone over the weekend, capturing first place at the Father Kelly Classic, which is hosted by Bishop England High School. The Hawks claimed the top spot with 105.5 points, while Goose Creek was second with 81 and Wando third with 74.5. Bishop England finished sixth with 62.5 points.
“We ran really well,” said Morbitzer. “We had a really good showing.”
Denmark is departed, but sophomore Quincy Mitchell seems more than capable as a replacement. One of the top sprinters in the state, he claimed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.76 after a clocking of 10.71 in the prelims. He finished second in the 200-meter dash in 22.03.
He also ran a leg on the winning 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays.
“Quincy has done a great job of getting ready for the season,” Morbitzer said. “He’s worked so hard to get better. He’s such a competitor. If he sees someone running ahead of him, he has the ability to catch them. He’s got a really good stride and the last 50 meters of his 100 are beautiful. We’re just working to make him smoother out of the blocks.”
Two other sprinters, Dyrell Kinloch and Vontrae Howard, give the Hawks depth. Williams was seventh in the 100 and Kinloch was sixth in the 200 and third in the 400-meter dash. Both athletes were on the winning relay teams as well.
The Hawks also excelled in the field events. Jamie Watson grabbed the gold medal in the high jump, clearing 6-4. He placed second in the triple jump.
Tre Smalls and Dominique Green, big men on the football field, also flex their muscles in track.
Smalls claimed first in the shot put Saturday with a put of 49-7. He has the top put in the state this year with an effort of 57-4 at the Coca Cola Lowcountry Classic. Green placed second in the shot Saturday.
Green was second in the discus at the Father Kelly Classic, and Smalls was third.
“Tre has had a great spring, so far,” Morbitzer said. He’s been focusing on the discus because we know what he can do in the shot put.”
The Hawks face another big challenge this weekend with an appearance at the Taco Bell Classic, which will be contested at Spring Valley High School.
“We have a couple of things to work on,” Morbitzer said. “We need to work on our starts out of the blocks and handoffs on the relays. But the biggest thing right now is to get better. I tell the kids every Monday: ‘If you are improving your time and distance every week, you are doing a good job.’”

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