Charles Moore, the coach of the O’Bannon High School track team, never makes excuses. Despite the obstacles his team must go through, his track athletes just keep performing well.
The Greenwaves do not have a track to practic on at their schools. At 4:30 each afternoon, an hour after the school days ends, Coach Moore drives his players on a bus from O’Bannon to T.L. Weston Middle School for practice.
“We are definitely at a disadvantage,” Coach Moore said. “We lose so much time just waiting to get on the bus and drive to practice. We have to get a lot done in a short amount of time.”
This does not mean expectations are no still high. In the 18 years Moore has been coaching track at O’Bannon, the Greenwaves have won nine district titles and three region titles.
This season O’Bannon looks particularly strong in the relay events and in the jumping events. Last week at the Northwest Rankin Relays, the Greenwave team of Jarvarius Jackson, Deric Campbell, Amarion Jones and Donovan Lewis finished in second place in the 4 X 200 relay. O’Bannon relay teams also finished in second place in the 4 X 100 and 4 X 400 relays.
“We may not have a lot of stars on this year’s team, but we have a lot of good athletes,” Coach Moore said. “Our goal is to first try to win our district, then our region and then our state.”
O’Bannon’s Curtis Austin won the state championship in the high jump last year, and this spring, as a senior, he hopes to defend his title. Senior Zion Jessie, a talented jumper in his own right, is also back for his senior campaign.
O’Bannon’s Zi’Terrean Smith, now a junior, will lead the Greenwaves in both the shot put and discuss.
While winning is great, Coach Moore said it is not the main reason why he coaches. Over the last eight years, Coach Moore has helped 12 athletes earn college scholarships.
“I am really proud of what those kids accomplished,” he said.
