DAVID MUNDEE
dmundee@dothaneagle.com
 
A few years ago, Kenon Douglas thought he might be good at running track, so he decided to try out for the Rehobeth High track and field team.

After two years of success for the Rebels, especially in the 800-meter run, he is taking his running shoes to the college level and running for the Wallace College cross country team.

The Rehobeth senior held a signing ceremony on Monday at the Rehobeth High School Media Center in front of family, friends and coaches.

"I knew from playing basketball that I had good stamina, and I wanted to try it (track) out for recreational and for fun, and I happened to be pretty good at it," Douglas said after Monday's ceremony.  "I was doing good in the meets and getting PRs (personal records), and it went from there."

Douglas gradually improved during his two years, eventually setting the Rehobeth school record in the 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes and 12.35 seconds. He finished 14th in the Class 6A, Section 1 postseason meet with a 2:16.69 time.

During his first year for the Rehobeth track team, he ran in the 1600 meters as well as on Rehobeth's 4x400 and 4x800-meter relay teams plus the 400 and 800 races. He also tired a little triple jump. However, he focused on the 400 and 800 during his senior season.

Rehobeth head track/field coach Tyler Meggs said Douglas will "do what he needs to do and will knock it out of the park" because of his desire and work ethic.

"Kenon has meant a lot to this program," Rehobeth head track/field coach Tyler Meggs said. "He is one of the ones that helped us get the program started and now he holds the 800 record. He is one of those kids that is a go-getter. No obstacle is too big for him to accomplish."

Wallace College's Ryan Slaymaker, who was hired as the Governors' head coach last month, said Douglas stood out to him early in the recruiting process, along with another Wallace signee, Carroll's Malachi Bell.

"Kenon was actually one of the first recruits I spoke to when I got here," Slaymaker said. "Very clear right away - actually him and Malachi who signs on Wednesday – that the two were super high-character athletes. He (Douglas) has consistently gotten better. He showed steady progress.

"He has already started summer training, and he has been consistent with that. He has got great work ethic, a great temperament and comes from a great family. I can tell he is going to be very strong runner for us."

While he has run only sprints and smaller distance races, Douglas says he has been busy since the track season ended in preparing for the 8K distance (5 miles) that the Wallace College cross country team will compete in during races.

"I'm doing a lot of conditioning," Douglas said. "I run a lot of the trails (in the area) and try to run around my neighborhood – anything that resembles a cross-country field and do basic conditioning and get stronger in my legs."

Slaymaker, who didn't get to see any of his signees in action because of his late hire, has been focusing mostly on an athlete's character in his first signing class, along with checking on times on milesplit.com.

"This first year with the shorter time span, it is working with the coaches and talking with their family and looking at times," Slaymaker said.

The character aspect is important, said Slaymaker, especially since he believes "high character kids," like Douglas, are more likely to dedicate themselves to get ready for the 8K races in the fall.

"It all comes down to the summertime and that is one of the big things as he has already started training," Slaymaker said. "He has already gotten in some 5K runs and by the end of the summer 8K will seem shorter. It may mean this summer might not be the most fun for all of them, but they will be well prepared and ready to go.

"That is why we want the high character kids because they will take care of their training over the summer because all of that is independent on their own. So, we need kids who are responsible and hard working, and he is both of those things. It will be an adjustment but he will be just fine."

Douglas said he was thankful for the opportunity to run in college.

"I am real excited," Douglas said. "When I got this opportunity from coach Slaymaker, I just took it and run with it quite literally. I am excited to continue my journey."