By Thomas Sellers Jr.
MURFREESBORO — The Millington Lady Trojan quartet of Marquisha Sanders, Leslie Valenbrun, Sierra Williams and Kendra Richardson were the perfect representation of the program. As a unit, the girls reached the 2014 Class 3A State Track Meet held on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University in the 4x200m. The relay team ran a 1:45 to reach the prelims the previous week at Sectionals held at Houston High School. In Murfreesboro last Wednesday the Lady Trojans finished with a time of one minute and 47 seconds. Although the girls didn’t reach the finals, Millington Track Coach T. Taylor said Sanders, Valenbrun, Williams and Richardson could walk off the red track of MTSU proud of the 2014 season. “We’ve made great strides this past school year going from a track team to a track program,” he said. “The kids are putting 100 percent into all activities they’re participating in. “In our 4×200 this year we had one freshman and three seniors,” Taylor noted. “That says a lot about our program that we’re moving into the right direction. We have the young students who are putting forward the effort this year. We had freshmen and sophomores. We should have an outstanding track season next year and we look forward to being back here next year.” Taylor said he is proud of his senior trio helping put the Lady Trojan sprints back on the statewide map. One of those seniors, Richardson, participated in the 2013 State Meet in the High Jump earning a medal. Coming to the final meet of the TSSAA year alone, Richardson promised Taylor and all her coaches she would bring teammates to Murfreesboro the next year. She kept her promise. “Kendra is an absolute athlete,” Taylor said. “She’s committed and dedicated to her craft. She’s been our team leader. Not only this year but all four years in track and basketball. She’s led by example and she’s led by word. She’s brought all those young students along.” Richardson will head to the college level to play basketball at Walters State in East Tennessee. In her final varsity season with the Lady Trojans she shared the back court with Sanders. About to become a sophomore, Sanders now takes the baton from Richardson as a leader for the Lady Trojans program.
“We will build by moving forward,” Taylor concluded. “Like Kendra did bringing athletes into our program, Marquisha Sanders as a freshman will bring more athletes to the program.”
