High school sports were shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March and track competition never got underway.
“It was very disappointing because last year we won state and got the 4x1 record, so we wanted to defend those titles,” Clark said. “The 100 and 200, I was planning on being state champ in both, and I was en route to becoming the most decorated athlete at East, so to not be able to do those things, it was very devastating.”
Clark had won indoor titles in the 60 and 200 this winter, and the only individual to beat her in the sprint events at the 2019 outdoor meet was former teammate Kaylyn Heath, who graduated that spring and was set to compete at Ohio State University this year. Kaylyn Heath will be transferring to the University of Kentucky, where she committed earlier this month at the same time her brother, R.J. Heath, made the decision to commit to the Wildcats men’s program.
Kaylyn Heath and mid-distance runner Danni Stoughton were the only two individuals who had graduated among those contributing points to East’s 2019 title last season. Underclassmen Azariyah Bryant and Camiyah James had placed third and fourth in the long jump, the 4x200 finished second and only one individual from that relay and the 4x100 needed replaced.
East placed third in the indoor state meet this winter.
“They were coming off this high from the indoor state meet and kids bringing individual titles, winning the team title last year,” East coach Rodney Heath said. “We were hoping they wouldn’t postpone it. There was a chance Serena could double this year — she hadn’t gotten the 100 title yet — and RJ was looking for the 100 title (on the boys’ side) after winning the 60 in indoor. I think we would have had a good chance to defend our team title, so not to have the ability to do that, it was tough, but then you also take away from kids who didn’t get a chance to compete at all and might not ever again, for the seniors who aren’t going on to compete in college.”
Clark said that’s what gives her some peace, knowing she is fortunate enough to now be able to set goals for winning Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and NCAA titles with Clemson. She signed in February.
“I felt like it was like East because me and coach Heath have a great bond and I felt like (Clemson head) coach (Mark) Elliot and (short sprints coach Marvin) Gibson gave me that bond too,” Clark said. “It felt like family, and they will push me to my limits to exceed my potential at the same time.”
Coach Heath wishes he had the chance to see this year’s team reach its potential. Winning the first team title in program history last season was special but repeating would have been, too, because “you never know when you’ll be in position to do it again.”
It was also his last chance to coach his son, R.J., who he really saw “coming into his own” during track season.
“To have the indoor season he had with only training from December to the end of February, early March, and the times he ran, it was impressive,” coach Heath said. “I think he could have done even more damage in outdoor – same with Serena.”
The bright side is now Rodney Heath and his wife can watch R.J. and Kaylyn competing together in college, an unexpected turn of events after it seemed that door had closed with Kaylyn at Ohio State and R.J. looking at Kentucky.
Kaylyn had interest in Kentucky when she was in high school, but it didn’t become an option until she had already committed to Ohio State, which she honored. R.J. was already talking to the coaching staff at Kentucky when the opportunity arose for Kaylyn to transfer.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” coach Heath said. “It wasn’t necessarily a ‘grass is greener’ thing, but just evaluating the situation for her. She wants to be the best sprinter she can be, and the coach does matter to her. They have one of the best sprint coaches in the country at Kentucky in Tim Hall, and that’s a better situation for her. It just happened she would be at the same school as her brother. It happened pretty fast, within a span of a week or so, and they committed together. They always talked about going to same school together, so it’s pretty neat they will have that opportunity.”
About the Author