Atlanta hosts the 26th running of its relays

There’s no doubt Atlanta is a name renowned across the track scene here in Texas.

Twenty-nine district titles in 32 years (last year was 33 but it was cancelled due to COVID), four area championships, 12 regional titles, three state runner-ups and six state titles.

The Lady Rabbs also have impressive numbers including a state championship in 2019.

This Saturday, Mar. 13, Atlanta will host the 26th running of the Atlanta Lions Club/Gordon Pynes/Runnin’ Rabbs Relays.

By all accounts the boys’ program has dominated this meet since its inception in 1996.

From 1996 to 2005 the Rabbs won each meet and could have possibly won in 2006 had it not been cancelled.

Atlanta won in both 2007 and 2008 but its streak of 12 consecutive wins ended in 2009 when Texas High won the meet.

Longview won the meet in 2010, Atlanta won in 2011 and then Texas High reeled off wins from 2012 to 2014.

The 2015 meet was cancelled, Tatum won the 2016 relay and from 2017 to 2019 Atlanta claimed titles.

Of course 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 but the Rabbs look to keep the title here in Atlanta for 2021.

There are still records on file that have stood since 1996.

Atlanta record holders include Bo Price who hold the record in the 3200m run with a time of 9:23.80 (2002), Chris Ibarra who holds the record in the 800m run with time of 1:54.46 (2013), Reggie Hill who holds the record in the 100m dash with a time of 10.31 (1997) and Courtney Richardson who holds the record in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.85 (1996).

The 400m relay team of Derrick Blaylock, Trae Lawson, Scooter McKinney and Reggie Hill back in 1997 ran a time of 40.93, and the 1600m relay team of Curtis Burns, Dallas Washington, Nick Miller and Calvin Graham back in 2004 ran a time of 3:19.79.

Teshunna Sheppard holds the record in the triple jump with a mark of 38 feet, 11 1/2 inches (2017), Garrison holds the 800m run record with a time of 2:22.02 (2007) and Sarah Haydel holds two records back in 1998 with one of those being the 1600m run with a time of 5:20.97 and the other being the 3200m run with a time of 11:35.00.

In 1987 Gordon Pynes took over the helm of the track program and immediately heads were turning.

That year the Rabbs finished second in district, the next year they won district and the next year in ’89 Atlanta won its first state championship in any sport.

That first district championship in 1988 led to 22 consecutive district championships.

In 1996 Atlanta moved its operations from Bivins-Trice Stadium and the track behind it to the newly built Atlanta Rabbit Stadium.

The Runnin’ Rabbs Relays was born and the addition of Atlanta Lions Club and Gordon Pynes completed what is today the Atlanta Lions Club/Gordon Pynes/ Runnin’ Rabbs Relays.

Boys’ Head Coach Nick Miller has the distinction of running in and coaching through the hometown relays. Miller won state championships when he was in school and coached the 2017 squad to a state championship.

This meet is special for him.

“This meet is a big deal in Cass County and has a tremendous history as well as community support. Some of my most fond memories are running at the meet in front of a huge Atlanta crowd,” Miller said. “Track is a beautiful sport that requires toughness and determination and helps every other sport. It can help an athlete grow mentally and physically and I’m proud to coach in a community that supports this sport so much. I’m looking forward to a great meet.”

Miller also spoke on the team and season start.

“With COVID ending the season last year and everyone snowed in recently, track has been a challenge. This is one of the smaller and more inexperienced groups I have had here in Atlanta, but one of the most hard working,” Miller remarked. “COVID guidelines have our JV and Varsity competing on separate days, which hurts practice time, so I am thankful of how hard my guys work.”

“We went into the first meet at Liberty-Eylau with 14 Varsity guys and 12 JV guys and due to the dedication and work ethic of these young men, they were able to win the meet,” Miller added. “After a tremendous basketball season, we are now acquiring some of those athletes such as Caleb Hamilton, Keyshawn Easter and Stacy Darty who are all returners.”

No doubt this meet is special to many but no one could be prouder of its successful longevity than legendary track and cross country Coach Gordon Pynes.

Coach Pynes dropped off this great speech he wrote up some 26 years ago by the Journal this week.

Keep in mind he wrote this in 1996.

Today will be a red letter day for Atlanta and certainly for me. It has been almost 25 years since anyone has seen a track meet here.

Amazing ... but true.

The Lions Club sponsored Runnin ‘ Rabbs Relays will change that. Our girls and boys will once again have the opportunity to show their athletic ‘skills before the home folks.

It has been a long road back. I joined the journey about ten years ago during a visit to see my Dad who had just moved back to Atlanta after an absence of nearly 55 years.

Always interested in sports facilities, I asked for a tour of the track. We finally found it back behind the stadium.

It appeared somewhat like the city dump. Various rusty implements, weeds and some trash dotted a wellworn cinder path.

My first thought, not much pride in this sport here.

Strangely enough, as fate would have it, I ended up coaching track at Atlanta High School with the 1987 season.

My dream then became to get some pride back. It wasn’t easy, but Saturday you will see it and feel it, the pride is back.

Atlanta is proud of a great track facility and a top notch track program. Best of all you can now witness the kids who make up that program competing in it.

As the first race begins today, I will no doubt reflect back to the many memories that have led me to the moment.

My first thoughts will go to my deceased wife Judy who supported my persistence, gave me her utmost patience and would not let me give up the dream.

Then to the athletes, the girls and boys who worked so hard to meld our desires for an outstanding track program.

Those who were champions and those who simply loved to compete as Runnin’ Rabbs. Each and everyone makes this day so special because the facility and meet are a tribute to them and their efforts.

My reflections will also be on the many people who refused to say it couldn’t be done, but instead cried it must be done.

Especially to Barron Christiansen who started Citizens on Track and Athletic Director Ben Scharnberg who encouraged my dream and quickly joined in upon his arrival here.

Finally, to the school board members and administration who saw it through and have supported all our athletic programs.

On behalf of all Rabbit tracksters I thank the Lions Club for completing the dream. This time I hope track and field competition in the form of this meet will never again leave Atlanta.

The Atlanta Lions Club Rabbit Relays, y’all come, ya’ hear.

As of 2021 the meet hasn’t left Atlanta and with the amazing success of the program and relays stretched over 35 years it looks like it never will.