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Latham captures state's long jump title

Tuesday, June, 10 By Evan Mugford
Staff writer

It's no secret that Triton Regional High is a veritable hive of track and field prowess. Joe Colbert's team is a buzzing, flying, and altogether swarming group of athletes bent on a prize perhaps sweeter than nectar.

There is of course one bee in particular that has honed her abilities to greater reaches.

And if anyone has been privy to watch the grandeur that the Division 3 champion Vikings have performed this spring, it's been all too clear that Triton's inexorable queen bee is sophomore Deanna Latham.

Since soaring into the Vikings program and claiming the Daily News winter track athlete of the year as a freshman, Latham has anted up her talents and careened herself deep into the state spotlight.

Last Saturday at Durfee High School in Fall River, Latham proved she was the best in all of Massachusetts at the long jump with a leap of 18-10 <3/4>. Not satisfied with her performance, Latham placed second in the 200 meters with a time of 25.71 seconds.

Latham was overwhelmed when she realized she had won the long jump.

"I was thrilled," explained Latham. "I had already won it but still had another jump left, and I just went for it.

"I was really flying high, but at the same time I was little bummed because I had to do two 200 races on a track that was around 100 degrees," laughed Latham. "Once those events were done and I had taken second in the 200, all that joy came rushing back."

Coach Joe Colbert and his staff were overjoyed with Latham's success.  

"Myself, the coaches, and the whole team are extremely proud of Deanna," exclaimed Colbert. "She has a great work ethic and the joy and smile that she brings to practice and meets are contagious. She has an uncanny ability to lift spirits."

Latham was an integral factor in the undefeated Vikings march toward the Cape Ann League title and she was a supernova at the CAL Open, scoring 38 points while breaking a CAL triple jump record with a mark of 37-9<1/2>,  and tying the CAL record mark of 15.3 seconds in the high hurdles. Latham was labeled the CAL track and field athlete of the year.

Raised by her parents Kenneth and Helen | a pair of once talented track and field athletes themselves | Latham's natural athleticism and fondness for the sport has soon blossomed. But her strength and agility on the track and field was inevitably crafted while training for another sport.

"I have to say that I owe it to gymnastics," said Latham, who is also involved with soccer and indoor-track. "I started gymnastics when I was 7 and it just got me so strong. It increased my muscle strength and gave me this all-around power that I'm certain has helped me out in the long run."

After having an indoor season that was below her standards, Latham came into the spring season with a vengeance.

"It started off a little slow," said Latham, who is a National Honor Society member and has dual ambitions of seeking Olympic gold as well as becoming an elementary school science teacher. "But as the season progressed I realized I was getting much stronger in the field events, and thanks to my determination, I qualified for nationals in North Carolina. Basically, I'm just psyched about how everything is turning out."

As an athlete in three sports, Latham is pressed to train every day after school, attend various camps in the summer time, and retain her peak condition by staying active year round so as not to come into the following sport season below par.

Though Latham has worked hard to become one of the state's most athletic competitors, she still is a little surprised by her own success.

"I'm confident with what I can do, but when I first got 19 feet in the state relays I was really blown away because I was expecting another 18 mark," said Latham, who is currently competing in a two-day heptathalon. "You can surprise yourself even when you think you aren't able to."

 With the New England Championship coming up on Saturday in Saco, Maine, and nationals on the horizon, focus and preparation is key for Latham.

"I have a couple blisters on my feet, but I'll do my best to push past that," said Latham. "Hopefully, all I've done this season will continue."