Liberty's Castille named Male Track Athlete of the Year
Last season, Liberty's Rodney Castille competed in the Class A-AA state track meet in one event, and he brought home gold in his first season of running track.
Entering into Year 2, Castille worked on getting to state in four events.
He reached that goal and brought home two golds, a bronze and a fifth-place finish to be named the 2017 All-West Tennessee Male Track Athlete of the Year.
"I went from doing track because it wasn't football season to taking it serious and trying to bring my times down," Castille said.
Castille, a senior, ran in one solo event - the 300-meter hurdles - and in all three of Liberty's relay teams - 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400.
So stamina was something that he had to work on this season to be successful in all four events.
"My breathing and trying to keep my energy up to run 100 percent for all four races was the toughest part," Castille said. "I had to practice that throughout the whole season to try to get my energy back fast."
After winning the 300-meter hurdles (37.55) for the second straight year at state, Castille ended the meet with what he called the toughest of the four event, but he won gold in that event also.
"It is probably the hardest race there is with the 4x400 because you have one lap full speed," Castille said. "I had to run my race and not worry about what place I was in when I got the baton."
Getting to go to the state meet this year as a team was something that Castille enjoyed, even though he would have liked to bring home four gold medals.
"It was really cool getting to go as a team," Castille said. "Our whole boys team made state.
"I wish we could have won all four events, but I am thankful for what we did win, It kept my competitive edge up. I am glad I joined the track team."
This is the end of Castille's track career as he will be playing football this fall at Murray State in the other sport that he excelled at during his high school career.
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.
ALL-WEST TENNESSEE BOYS TRACK TEAM
LONG JUMP
Kortland Martin
Humboldt, senior
Why chosen: He finished third at the state meet with a length of 22-3.00.
HIGH JUMP
Jyles Beard
Haywood, senior
Why chosen: He finished tied for fourth at sectional with a height of 6-0.00.
SHOT PUT
Palmer Casey
USJ, junior
Why chosen: He finished 10th at sectional with a length of 43-11.50.
DISCUS THROW
Grant Eison
Jackson Christian, senior
Why chosen: He finished eighth in the state championship with his best throw being 118-4.
4 X 800-METER RELAY
Crockett County
Why chosen: Finished fourth at the sectional meet with a time of 8:57.47.
110-METER HURDLES
Ashdon McGoughy
Haywood, sophomore
Why chosen: He finished fifth at the sectional in Memphis with a time of 16.46.
100-METER DASH, 200-METER DASH
Kevin Davis
TCA, freshman
Why chosen: He finished seventh in the state in the 100 with a time of 11.49 and fifth in the 200 in 23.00 seconds.
4 X 200-METER RELAY
Liberty
Why chosen: Finished third in the state with a time of 1:28.23.
1,600-METER RUN, 3,200-METER RUN
Isaac Wehner
South Gibson, junior
Why chosen: He finished fourth at the sectional in the 1,600 with a time of 4:43.28 and sixth in the 3,200 at state with a time of 10:35.96.
4 X 100-METER RELAY
Liberty
Why chosen: Finished fifth in the state with a time of 42.99.
400-METER DASH
Seth Crowder
Liberty, senior
Why chosen: He finished eighth in the state with a time of 52.53.
300-METER HURDLES
Rodney Castille
Liberty, senior
Why chosen: He won his second state championship with a time of 37.55.
800-METER RUN
Taylor Anderson
Liberty, senior
Why chosen: He finished eighth at the state meet with a time of 2:10.59.
4 X 400-METER RELAY
Liberty
Why chosen: State champions with a time of 3:20.48.