Differing duo leads Wildcats

They couldn’t be any more different – that is until this dynamic Blue Springs High School duo step on the track.

Lanky freshman Gabby Hall shuns the spotlight and does her best to avoid any distractions – which is difficult after winning the 100, 200 and 400 meters and running the second leg of the victorious 800 relay team at the Suburban Big Six Championships last Friday at Blue Springs South High School.

Senior Erron Holley is stocky, loves the spotlight and is coming off a sensational conference meet where he won the 100 and 200 and ran the second leg of the winning 400 relay.
He also has a winning personality.

As he poses for a photo with Hall, who has a distinct height advantage, he quips, “You got a box or something I can stand on? This is embarrassing.”

Holley and Hall will be center stage Saturday at the Class 4 District 7 meet at Belton High School, where their Wildcat teams are favored to bring home district titles.

“I have so much respect for Gabby,” said Holley, who will run track at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, “because she is so good. I’d do anything to have her length. We all heard this good freshman was going to be on the girls team this year, but no one knew she would be so good.

“I was just an average runner when I was a freshman. I don’t know how I would have handled all the press and all the attention she’s getting. I know she doesn’t care about that stuff, so I don’t think it really bothers her too much.”

Holley suffered through an injury-plagued junior season and did not advance to state. This year, he has one goal – and only one goal.

“I’m going to state this year,” he said, with an air of confidence in his voice. “I want to win the 100 this week and do everything I can to get to state in the 200 and the 4-by-100 and 4-by-400 relays. I’m giving it all I’ve got for my teammates and my coaches.”

That’s a statement coach Joe Cusack readily backs up.

“Erron is healthy and ready to go,” Cusack said. “We wouldn’t have him in six races (two relays, preliminaries and finals in the 100 and 200) … if he wasn’t 100 percent.

“He’s one of those kids who is all about the team. He didn’t attract all the attention early in his career like Gabby – and isn’t she just amazing – but he has gotten stronger and faster every year.

“We want to get him and his relay teams to state and see what they can do in Jeff City.”

Girls track coach Jennifer Reeder feels much the same about her freshman phenom, as Hall will compete in the 200 and three relays – 400, 800 and 1,600 – at district.

“This is the kind of kid Gabby Hall is,” Reeder said. “We talked with her about competing on the relay teams, where she could help seven different girls possibly make it to state or she could compete in the 100, 200 and 400 and one relay team.

“She looked at me and said, ‘Coach, whatever’s best for the team.’ That’s pretty cool.”
Hall brings so much talent to the Wildcats that her workout routines look almost effortless.

“She works hard, really hard,” Reeder said, “but she’s so talented it might not look like she’s working that hard. But when you win the 100, 200 and 400 and are on the winning 4-by-200 relay team at conference, you know you’re pretty special.”

Yet Hall just considers herself “one of the girls.”

“This is all pretty overwhelming,” said Hall, who is just 15 years old. “I’ve gotten where I am because I work hard, but I’m not special. I’m just one of the girls on the team.

“I’m real excited about being on three relay teams at district because I love running with my teammates. That’s one of the best things about track, being on the relay teams and sharing your success with your teammates.”

The one word that keeps popping up in the conversation with Hall is “focused.”

“I want to do well, so I’m going to keep focused this week at practice,” she said. “As long as I’m focused, good things can happen.”

Although Hall seems light years beyond her age when it comes to performing, Reeder said there is one way she knows the young sprinter is still a freshman.

“She is a big fan of Twitter, so we have to take her phone away at track meets,” Reeder said, grinning. “She has the skill of a 22-year-old, but she’s definitely 15 when it comes to tweeting.
“We told her, talk to your teammates and then tweet everyone else when the meet is over.”
And how does that stand with Hall?

“I’m OK with it,” Hall said. “Some of the other girls get to have phones, but that’s all right. I’m the freshman. I can live with it.”