Simone Terry’s willingness for a slow build has led to some fast times from Centennial’s boys sprint relays in her second year as Coyotes track coach.

The 4x100-meter relay posted the top time in Division II (42.14) while placing fourth at the Chandler Rotary meet March 24. Only Chandler High School has a faster 4x100 team in Arizona, even though Centennial does not have one of the five fastest individual 100-meter runners in Arizona.

"We knew that we could compete with anybody outside of the state," Williams said. "We handled business once we got (to Chandler)."

Then, on April 7, the Coyotes made their name across the West Coast at the Arcadia Invitational in the suburb east of Los Angeles. The team of juniors Jeiel Stark, Kieran Clark, Kenneth Williams and senior Dominique Hampton placed second in the seeded race of the rare 4x200-meter relay in a time of 1:29.52, behind only Orange (Calif.) Lutheran in 1.29.26.

"My philosophy is you have to train through phases. Sometimes phases even go through multiple seasons. I knew last year was a setup for this year," Terry said. "Some of it was physical training and some of it was building them mentally and making sure I had the buy-in from them. It’s different when they have a new coach coming in."

Following those big-meet performances, the buy-in is definitely there. And the Arcadia result gave them the confidence that they can compete with top athletes across the west.

A 4x200 relay is unique in that every leg runs the curve, making for a natural transition for a top 400-meter runner. In this case it was Stark who got to join in the festivities, as senior Ethan Dedmon usually runs the opening leg of the 4x100.

"It’s exciting. You know who’s going to be out there. Going into the meet there’s a lot of adrenaline and excitement. Once we stepped on the track it clicked and everything felt good," Stark said.

It took about a year to click as the 2017 relay did not have a senior. Centennial finished sixth in the 2017 Division II state meet 4x100 at 43.36 with Alex Escobar, now a senior, joining Clark, Williams and Hampton.

The season was one of adjustment to Terry, an off-campus professional track coach and founder of Power Forward Athletics. She said the kids also

wanted to make sure their track commitments were not hurting their football prospects.

Terry said her philosophy is to build athletes and last fall, her sprinters realized how well this method of track training translated to the football field.

"Once the athletic program understood that and the athletes bought into that, we were able to see the results," Terry said. "Now I’m excited during football season to sit in the stands and see plays where I say, ‘That’s track speed.’"

Dedmon transferred in from ASU Prep in Phoenix and missed the opening meets. He started with slower times but now is lead runner of the relay.

Terry said Dedmon gets out of the blocks best and, as a top 400-meter runner runs well on the curve. He then hands off to Clark, Centennial’s fastest sprinter in a straightaway - barely.

"I had to adjust to (Ethan’s) speed at first and then it was as if Jeiel was running it," Clark said.

Clark is the most improved sprinter on the team this year, as his individual 100-meter time dropped from 11.33 in 2017 to 10.89.

"We were able to change some of the things we did with the training, and to build on his ability to maintain maximum velocity. He’s gotten a lot stronger this year," Terry said.

She said Williams, who handles the third leg, is one of the best curve runners in the state. He passes the baton to Hampton who ran a 10.9 at Chandler and transfers his competitive nature from the field — he will play for the University of Washington next year.

At 6-2, he is taller than the prototypical sprinter. Terry said she enjoys working with athletes of all shapes and sizes.

"Dom has a lot of heart and likes to go after runners, so he’s going to run a faster split at the end. His splits in the relays are even better," Terry said. "Some coaches think they’re too big. But I think you have to understand as a coach how to be able to allow athletes to get through the race based on their body type."

The coach said the next few weeks leading to state will be big on technical work — angles and explosiveness. She anticipates one more drop in times for the sprinters.

That will be needed, as the competition is starting to catch up. Maricopa (42.35), Vail Cienega (42.41) and Apollo (42.41) have emerged as the primary rivals.

Maricopa and Apollo have an individual runner faster than anyone at Centennial in the 100. But no Division II team thus far has matched the Coyotes consistency in all four legs or their cohesion.

"We have a chemistry that is unbroken," Hampton said.

The Division II state track finals are at Mesa Community College. The 4x100-meter relay prelims start around 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, and the finals will be around 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5.

Now this relay full of football players wants another ring. And having Stark and Escobar available gives the Coyotes sprinting depth like a football team.