The post-Coach Scott May era of Thunder Mountain track and field begins in earnest this weekend.<\/p>\n
Led by their new coach Dwayne Duskin, the Falcons head today to the Ketchikan Invitational, the team’s first meet since their former coach retired last season<\/a> on the heels of a career that spanned 18 years and featured an almost unbroken succession of Region V championships.<\/p>\n Now, it’s Duskin’s turn to make his mark on the program.<\/p>\n “I’m pretty nervous, honestly, but I have a good team of assistants with me and my team manager is helpful,” Duskin said of coaching in his first meet. “I think we’ll get through it.”<\/p>\n [Changing of the guard: Thunder Mountain hires new track coach<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n The Thunder Mountain boys look to regain Southeast bragging rights after losing to Ketchikan 68-67<\/a> at the Region V Meet last year. It was the Kayhi boys’ first Southeast championship since 1998 and snapped a six-year winning streak by the Falcons.<\/p>\n The boys squad will be tasked with filling the void left by state qualifiers Erick Whisenant (100 and 200-meter dash; 400-meter relay) and Josh McAndrews (400 and 800-meter run; 1600-meter relay).<\/p>\n Sophomore Ali Beya had a standout freshman campaign in the long and triple jumps, and looks to be an elite sprinter this year. The football and basketball player said he’s striving to set a new school record in the 100-meter dash, set in 2016 by Aidan Hildebrand (11.05 seconds).<\/p>\n “I’m feeling a lot faster,” Beya said at practice on Thursday. “I’ve been eating a lot more healthy foods, so I feel a little more energized and I’m just ready for the year. I feel more prepared than I was last year.”<\/p>\n Football players Gaven Smith and Puna Toutaiolepo will provide some depth in the shot put and discus events.<\/p>\n