The odds are in favor of Dimond track this year, for both the boys and girls. For the past three consecutive years the Dimond girls have been victorious over the regions and state title. According to Senior Jessica Todd, a state champion in sprinting, jumping and hurdling, the state title was, “pretty easy to get, we won every meet and there weren’t many schools who could give us very good competition.” In past years the Dimond girls have not only been top of the game in Alaska, but in the lower 48 also. In 2009 and 2010 the team traveled to Chehalis, Washington with the girls head coach Kathleen Navarre to compete in the Chehalis Activators Invitational Meet. Both years the team has won first place at the meet. This year, however, the tables have turned for the Dimond girls team. Last year Wasilla was one of the Dimond girls team’s only decent competitors. This year the team has had an increase in their competitiveness and they are threatening the Dimond girls state title. When asked about how she thinks the girls will do in state, Todd said, “It’s going to be really closer with Wasilla but I think we can do it.” “Our strong points are sprinting and hurdling. That’s where we get most of our points,” said State finalist Junior Jaley Bozeman. “The distance girls could have more depth,” agreed Bozeman and Todd. Todd went on to say, “Due to the lack of girls running for the distance team they are not as competitive as the sprinters are.” For the boy’s team, however, the tables have turned for the better. In the 2010 State meet held in Fairbanks the Dimond boys team came out with a fourth place finish. In 2009 they didn’t finish in the top three places either. So far this year the boys team has been looking “fairly decent,” according to the varsity runners and jumpers. Senior Jake Alward, when questioned about how he thinks the boys will do this year, said, “We actually have a chance of winning. We have won every meet so far.” Alward is a distance runner and plans on taking his distance team to State with him this year. “Our distance team is just decent this year,” said Alward. He went on to say, “Our real point-getters this year are J-J Nixon and Darrion Gray, and we also have a 4 by 400 m relay.” Nixon is a state champion in the 400 meter dash, and Gray currently holds the second fastest state time for the 100 meter dash. Alward said, “I am so excited to see how this season plays out because I think we have a really good chance this year!”