First Baptist's Tyler accomplishes goal at state track meet

James Island – Sometimes the best motivation for an athlete is failure.

If an athlete uses failure the right way and learns from his shortcomings, success can certainly be attained through extra hard work.

James Tyler of the First Baptist School track and cross country program used a disappointing effort at the 2023 SCISA state cross country meet to bring out a better work ethic. The junior trained hard during the winter months and into the spring track and field season, hoping to right the wrong.

Tyler finished a disappointing eighth-place at the SCISA state meet last October. On May 4, he turned that disappointment into elation as he won the SCISA AAAA 3200 meter run gold medal.

“The cross country thing was disappointing but it fueled me to put in more effort,” Tyler said. “It was my motivation all spring. I trained much harder for today and it feels good to see it pay off.”

Tyler also competed in the 1600 meter run at the track meet, finishing third. He also qualified for the 800 meter run but opted not to run that event.

For the 3200 meter victory, Tyler says he was confident going into the state meet race.

“I was the top seed so I was favored but I knew I had to go out and run my race,” he said. “I went out pretty fast and got a good lead. I just felt no one would catch me, I had a good race and I am definitely pleased.”

The success at the state track meet is already fueling Tyler for the fall cross country season. He has set definite goals for his senior year.

“I want to win the state championship in cross country then I want to win the 3200 and 1600 at the state track meet,” he said. “Today gave me a lot of confidence, knowing that If I put in the work, good things will happen.”

Tyler was one of several Hurricanes to participate in the state meet. On the boys side, Edings Walpole finished third in the 800 meter run. Tanner Honeycutt was fourth in the 1600 and eighth in the 800 while Miles Jackson was 11^th in the 800.

Henry Hunt ran seventh in the 3200 and 20^th in the 1600 and Bates Walpole was 10^th in the javelin. Marik Gibbs placed 18^th overall in the 100 meter sprint.

Ellie Blitch was one of the top performers from the girls team at the state meet, finishing sixth in the 1600 and seventh in the 800. Jasmin Pedersen was third in the 100 meter hurdles and fourth in the 400 meter hurdles.