Hubbard helps re-launch Lancers' track program

Amherst’s junior LaCear Hubbard has been at the forefront of a resurgent girls track program under second-year coach Lance Carter.
Amherst finished fourth at the Group AA state indoor meet in March, highlighted by Hubbard’s claiming of the state title in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 4.75 inches at the Tolsma Track Center on the campus of Liberty University.
Her fellow jumpers also had excellent showing at the meet. Sophomore Shawna Kyle was second in the long jump (17-3.5) and juniAor teammate Candace Davis won the triple jump (35-10.25).
“My biggest competition is my teammates,” Hubbard said. “We push each other.”
“You never dream of having the top two jumpers in the state,” Carter said. “Even if it looks like that on paper, you never expect it. I’ll remember that for a long time.”
As exciting as winning the long jump was for Hubbard, it was a setback suffered during the 55 hurdles at the Region III meet that pushed her during her state championship performance.
Hubbard had the third-fastest seed time (9.25) in the hurdles, but hit a hurdle and almost fell. She finished a disappointing 11th with time of 10.04.
“At the time we were doing the long jump (at the state) meet and they called for the hurdles and it made me really upset because I knew I should be one of those girls out there doing the hurdles,” Hubbard said. “I really felt like if couldn’t get my (state champion ring) in the hurdles, I’ll do it in the long jump.”
She still had a great day at the Region III meet. In addition to winning the long jump, Hubbard won the triple jump (35.2-75), tied for sixth in the high jump (4-8) and ran a leg on the 4x200 relay team that finished third (1:56.42) helping the Lancers finish third at the meet.
Hubbard followed that up at the state meet by finishing 16th in the high jump (4-8) and triple jump (33-1) and her 4x200 relay team finished sixth as Amherst came in fourth place in the team standings.
It was a dramatic improvement from 2006-07 indoor track season when the Lancers placed 29th, were seventh out of eight teams at the Seminole District and 11th at the 2007 Region III meet.
“Last year, LaCear had an OK year but she’s been unreal this year,” Carter said. “She’s just a great hurdler, jumper and an all-around leader.”
Hubbard got her start in track during middle school and is quick to share the credit for her success.
“It kind of started in middle school and it was kind of fun,” Hubbard said. “Then you get to high school and see some more competition … and I decided to start pushing myself to see how well I could do.
“My dad (Thomas West) is always pushing me to do my best. He’s at everything I do. I’ve had an awesome year and I just want to thank God for that, and my teammates, my coaches and my father.”