 |
| Hubert O. Dabney Stadium, Home of Leesburg Lady Jackets Track and Field. |
Demps and Ward dominant on the track
May 20, 2007|By Bryan App, Special to the Sentinel
Track wasn't their first love, but South Lake's Jeff Demps and Leesburg's Shericka Ward have made their mark in the sport with record-setting seasons.
Demps, who was the area's second-leading rusher in football last season, took first in the 100 meters finishing at the Class 2A state meet with a time of 10.77 seconds.
And in her second year running track, Ward, who played on Leesburg's state final four girls basketball team, broke four school records, three of which came at the state meet.
As juniors, both will return next season and, after a summer's worth of national competitions, should have a chance to add to their record collections.
"He's a humble person," South Lake Coach Chad Grabowski said of Demps. "He achieves these things and he doesn't show off. He just continues to strive to be the best. I definitely see him decreasing his time next year. With a little bit of work, he can be in the 10.2 range [in the 100]."
Demps' accomplishments on the track and the football field have earned offers from programs such as Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Virginia Tech, Grabowksi said.
"All the big schools have already offered him," Grabowski said. "[Scouts] have been here all week and went to the spring game [Thursday]. And almost all have told him that if wants to run track [in college], he can do that also."
Ward hasn't received a scholarship offer yet, but Leesburg Coach Marshall Jungreis said considering the form and moxie she showed during her second year in the sport, he's confident one will come nextyear for his star hurdler.
"Last year when we went to a big meet, she was scared," Jungreis said. "Now she knows she belongs. With the culmination of her confidence and natural athletic ability, she still hasn't reached her full potential."
Last season, the hurdles on the track were as daunting as the bodies in the stands, Ward said.
"I walk awkward and I am very clumsy," she said. "So I didn't know about the hurdles."
The hurdles are now her favorite event, Ward said. She showed as much at the state meet, finishing in 44.88 for second in the 300 hurdles and claiming a time of 14.42 in the 100 hurdles prelims, both of which are school records.
Ward took fifth in the 100 hurdles final and placed sixth in the 100 meters after setting another school record with a 12.18 in the prelims. She also finished eighth in the triple jump at the state meet with a jump of 36 feet -- 5 inches short of the school mark -- and broke the school record in the 200 meters at the Bob Hayes Invitational in March.
Both Demps and Ward will continue to race during the summer first at the Golden South Meet at First Academy in June and then at the Nike Outdoor Championships at North Carolina A&T later that month.
There, Demps will face the nation's top runner in the 100 meters, Rynell Parson.
"I think that will help push him and show him where he stands because he hasn't had much competition all year," Grabowski said. "It will be good for him to see what he needs to work on."
Listen live on my790am or
www.my790am.com Saturday March 24, 2012.
Former Leesburg High School Girls Basketball, Girls Track and Field, and current Villanova University Womens Track and Field Standout Shericka Ward makes her first appearance on the Lake County Sports Show March 24, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.
 |
| Former Lady Jackets Track and Field Standout Shericka Ward at Villanova University. |
Below is a short list of Ward's accomplishments:
-2012 NCAA Division I Indoor USTFCCCA 2012 60 Meter Hurdles First Team All-America
-2011 US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association 100 Meter Hurdles All-American
-2007 Class 5A Girls Basketball State Semifinalist
-2008 Class 5A Girls Basketball State Semifinalist
-2008 Class 3A 200 Meter Dash Girls Track and Field State Champion
-2008 Class 3A 100 Meter Hurdles Girls Track and Field State Champion
-Varsity Girls Basketball Letters 2007, 2008
-Varsity Girls Track and Field Letters 2006, 2007, 2008
-2011 All-Big East Conference 200 Meters Outdoor Track
-2011 All-Big East Conference 100 Meter Hurdles Outdoor Track
-2010 All-Big East Conference 200 Meters Indoor Track
-2011 All-Big East Conference 60 Meter Hurdles Indoor Track
 |
| Gerald Lacey (Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff Writer), Allison Crawford (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Co-host), Sonny Bronson (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Host), Lake County Sports Show Host Billy Matthews (The Voice Of The Leesburg Yellow Jackets). |
Shericka Ward, Wayne Hamilton (former Leesburg High School, University of Alabama and San Diego Chargers Football Standout), Matt Shepherd (Former Leesburg High School, Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois, Finland’s Kouvola Indians Standout and current Marburg Mercenaries in the southern division of the GFL player) will be the featured guests along with the show host Billy Matthews (The Voice Of The Leesburg Yellow Jackets), Sonny Bronson (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Host), Allison Crawford (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Co-host) and Gerald Lacey (Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff Writer).
READ MORE CLICK BELOW
Resources
Bryan App
Special to the Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
May 7, 2007
Leesburg Public Library
100 East Main Street
Leesburg, Florida 34748
VISIT ONE OF OUR BLOGS BELOW:
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgladyjacketstrackandfield.com
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
