Sickles runs school record
Travis Sickles, of Southwest, takes gold at East Newton.
April 21, 2021
Lee Stubblefield
It’s been 17 years since Daniel Stubblefield stormed to a Southwest school record in the 3200 meter run at the Cassville Invitational. In all those years, no Trojan had cracked the 10:20 barrier, much less challenged that 10:01.06 time.
Until this year.
Thursday night at East Newton, senior Travis Sickles delivered the finest race of his career, winning a gold medal with a new school mark of 9:59.6. Sickles was barely challenged in that run, with the clock his main competitor.
With the 2020 track season erased by the pandemic shutdown, Sickles embarked on a grueling training program to prepare for his senior year. High mileage, high intensity, high goals. His pedestrian times from his sophomore year disappeared in the rear view mirror as he chased invisible demons on solo time trials in distances ranging from one mile to seven.
A 4:39 1600 meter effort was soon followed by a 9:57 3200 meter breakthrough. But records have to be run in official competition.
Cross country season saw Sickles run a 16:01 5K, but a devastating injury sidelined him from the district and state meets.
Months of rehab and recovery led to a gradual return to top form. At Reeds Spring, he ran a meet record 4:34.59 in the 1600. He posted back to back 3200 times of 10:10 and 10:05 to move to 4th on the All Time Trojans list behind Stubblefield, Seth Cobb (10:02.15), and Cody Sapp (10:05.78).
Then last Thursday, Sickles went to the front of the line. He paced through a 5:04 first 1600, then ran negative splits with a 4:55 to finish.
“That felt so good!” he exulted after the record setter.
Besides setting school records, Sickles is adamant about his All State goal, so his name will be posted on the gym wall with other Southwest legends.
“It’s amazing witnessing history,” said Southwest coach Steve Voyak. “This record has stood since 2004, nearly two decades, almost a generation. He set the goal of breaking it, trained tirelessly, and did it. He’s not done. He has his eyes set on the state meet.”
Lee Stubblefield
It’s been 17 years since Daniel Stubblefield stormed to a Southwest school record in the 3200 meter run at the Cassville Invitational. In all those years, no Trojan had cracked the 10:20 barrier, much less challenged that 10:01.06 time.
Until this year.
Thursday night at East Newton, senior Travis Sickles delivered the finest race of his career, winning a gold medal with a new school mark of 9:59.6. Sickles was barely challenged in that run, with the clock his main competitor.
With the 2020 track season erased by the pandemic shutdown, Sickles embarked on a grueling training program to prepare for his senior year. High mileage, high intensity, high goals. His pedestrian times from his sophomore year disappeared in the rear view mirror as he chased invisible demons on solo time trials in distances ranging from one mile to seven.
A 4:39 1600 meter effort was soon followed by a 9:57 3200 meter breakthrough. But records have to be run in official competition.
Cross country season saw Sickles run a 16:01 5K, but a devastating injury sidelined him from the district and state meets.
Months of rehab and recovery led to a gradual return to top form. At Reeds Spring, he ran a meet record 4:34.59 in the 1600. He posted back to back 3200 times of 10:10 and 10:05 to move to 4th on the All Time Trojans list behind Stubblefield, Seth Cobb (10:02.15), and Cody Sapp (10:05.78).
Then last Thursday, Sickles went to the front of the line. He paced through a 5:04 first 1600, then ran negative splits with a 4:55 to finish.
“That felt so good!” he exulted after the record setter.
Besides setting school records, Sickles is adamant about his All State goal, so his name will be posted on the gym wall with other Southwest legends.
“It’s amazing witnessing history,” said Southwest coach Steve Voyak. “This record has stood since 2004, nearly two decades, almost a generation. He set the goal of breaking it, trained tirelessly, and did it. He’s not done. He has his eyes set on the state meet.”
