Sellers wins state hurdle title
September 7, 2008
Filed under Sports
State champions in any sport are hard to come by. Lufkin last saw a state champion in 2001, when the football team brought home the title. It could be argued that it is even more difficult to win one in an individual sport, such as track because so much pressure is put on the individual to succeed, and there is a much broader field of competition.
But Amber Sellers, in just her second year of track competition at LHS, did just that. She brought the gold back to Lufkin in the 300M hurdles at the state track meet in Austin.
Just one year removed from facing the challenge of being a high school freshman, Amber faced a much tougher challenge in her every young track career: go up against the best in the state at the highest classification that Texas has to offer.
But Amber had other plans.
Taking the track against the best of the best in 5A on a hot spring day in Austin, Amber did what she’s been doing all season, and out raced the competition one more time. But none of this would have been possible without the help of some very important people that were with her every step of the way.
“Winning state gave me a strong feeling of accomplishment,” Amber said. “Coach Boyd and Coach Stafford both helped me tremendously,” Amber said. “I also have to give a big thanks to my family for helping me out.”
But Amber has also been training for this moment for quite some time now. She started running in middle school and always had winning state in her mind.
“I’ve been practicing since I was in middle school, and I’ve always had this goal of winning state,” said Amber. I want to continue to win state as long as I am here and better my time.”
She also does not take a cocky approach to her meets, something that early success tends to bring out in young athletes. Although Amber just won state, she believes that she has to run her best and continue to train if she wants a return trip to state next season.
“I do not think I am the best runner on the track every time I step on it,” Amber said. “Everyone has off days, and I have to run my best every time I step out there.”
That may be just what it takes to take state again the next two seasons, which would give Lufkin more state champions in track than in any other sport.
Several names come to mind whenever you put “State Champions” and “Lufkin” in the same sentence. The first is usually Reggie McNeal, who went on to lead Lufkin to a state championship in football in 2001 before taking his talents to A&M. Another that is heard is Ronnie Blake, the multi-sport athlete that lead Lufkin to a state championship in basketball in 1979 and continues to coach tennis at Lufkin today. There’s a huge reminder of the 1963 state championship baseball team anytime anyone goes out to Garrison Field.
Now Amber Sellers is added to that legendary list. Great players are remembered, but champions are never forgotten.
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