Sometimes you can catch lightning in a bottle and that’s what Culver City High School’s 4X400 meter relay team did a few weeks ago at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas. The team of Dontay Mayrant, Seth Shigg, Kingston Waring and Duaine Mayrant ran a blazing time of 3:10.94 on the track against some of the fastest high school runners in the United States.
On Saturday some of the Centaurs track athletes will stay closer to home when they travel Arcadia to compete in another prestigious high school track and field meet, the Arcadia Invitational. Their next home meet is Wednesday, April 16, against Hawthrone on Senior Day at 3:30 p.m.
For those who have followed Culver City High School boys and girls track and field teams over the last 10 years they knew this was just something that was waiting to happen. “The goals never stop,” said Culver City’s co-head track and field coach LaShinda Demus who took the place of other great Centaur coach, Rayfield Beaton several years ago. Demus along with long-time co-head coach Jahmal Wright has “We want to make sure we do the best with what we have,” said Demus, who won the 2011 world championship in the 400-meter hurdles and the 2012 Olympic Gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles. “That 4X400 meter relay team has camaraderie. They are working hard together, and they are growing together. This is what it is supposed to feel like. I expect nothing less and they expect the same thing. That’s what makes it work.”
Running the first leg of the relay in Austin was Dontay Mayrant. “It feels great. It feels like we had this coming. I am proud of the team. We work very hard to achieve this.”
Running the second leg was Seth Shigg, who was also the varsity quarterback on the football team. “I am blessed with the opportunity that coach Demus and coach Wright gave me to be able to run with my spectacular teammates. We are beyond ready to run faster.”
Running the third leg was Kingston Waring who also has the fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles in the state at 37.76. “It’s a huge accomplishment. I have been building up to this for years. I feel like after a lot of years in high school I am starting to put it all together. Our relay team really came together last year but with the addition of Seth makes us better than last year. We are a great team of four runners. We have a lot of big meets coming up, so we have to handle our business and believe in ourselves.”
Running the anchor leg, which is the final leg was Duaine Mayrant, Dontay’s twin brother. “I feel ready, and we are ready to go. I’m super excited for me and my teammates. We have been training so hard. The workouts are hard, but we push through them. So far, the results have shown that our workouts have paid off.”
After many years as Culver City High School’s head track and field coach and now co-head coach Wright is getting closer to winning CIF and state championships. After their impressive performance in Austin, Texas, Wright knows the spotlight is on the Centaurs. “I was very pleased with their effort in Texas. Not only are they talented athletes but for us to be on the national stage and put forth our best effort is really rewarding. We are now the hunted. We are not setting a limit on what we can do. The sky’s the limit.”