Michael Pineda
Dustin Mettler represented Duncan in a good way at Cowley County during his freshman year. In the upcoming year he will have a little help.
Charles James and Clint Miller signed letters of intent to compete for the track and field team at Cowley County College, a Division One Junior College school in Arkansas City, Kan.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Charles James said. “If I wasn’t going to college in football, I wanted to go in track. I worked really hard and it paid off.”
James was one of the top throwers in the state last season, finishing second at the Class 5A state meet in the discus in third in the shot put. James also considered Arkansas State University before opting for the junior college route.
“I like the place, it’s a pretty good town, the right size and they have a good track program,” James said. “I’m really going to work hard to get the form down and pop out some big throws.”
James expects to benefit from focusing on the sport throughout the year rather than having to take time off for football. His coach, Tim Buben feels that the time invested in throwing will help realize his potential.
“We have worked on so many techniques with him trying to find the one that is best,” Buben said. “He’s a natural spinner but he went with the glide this year because it is more forgiving. We just didn’t have the time to get it working right.
“He will have more time to work on it now. He has a ton of potential. He will find more leverage and speed than he had down here.”
James plans on pursuing an associates degree in Sports Medicine at Cowley County while working toward a scholarship at a four-year college.
“I want to make a big improvement in my grades and graduate,” James said.
For Miller, track offered a last-minute option. The sprinter had originally signed a letter of intent to play football at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College but opted to run track for Cowley County instead.
“It was a little hard to give up football but track is not as hard on you,” Miller said. “It just came up. I like the town and it’s a nice school.”
Miller qualified for state in the 400-meter dash, 400-meter relay and the mile relay, which placed third. He plans to run in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash in college as he gives up football to concentrate on track.
“I think I will improve a lot,” Miller said. “I just need to get faster.”
Miller is undecided in his major and uncertain as to whether or not he would like to pursue track outside of the junior college ranks. In signing with Cowley County, Duncan coach Todd Ledford felt that Miller was going to a school that will be a good fit for him.
“It’s a good place for him, he can step in and be competitive,” Ledford said. “He’s got the talent and ability. He worked hard for me in practice and I think it will carry through and allow him to have success up there.”
