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CT boys track and field athlete of the year: Drew Simmons, DeForest

Dennis Semrau  —  6/30/2008 3:59 pm

Drew Simmons jump-started his prep track and field career two years ago when he placed 14th in the triple jump as a freshman at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet.

But his sophomore season ended in disappointment and frustration after he sustained a hamstring injury to his right leg, which limited him to just "a few sporadic meets" according to Simmons.

That just made the DeForest junior's accomplishments this season that much more impressive.

Simmons set five school and three Badger North Conference records on his way to winning the WIAA Division 1 title in the 400-meter dash and finishing sixth in the 200.

"It was kind of overwhelming," said Simmons, who set a personal record with a time of 48.12 seconds in the 400 finals at state. "It's pretty intimidating. But it comes down to power and determination. I was more nervous than I ever was for a race before. But when I got to the finish line and no one else was there, it was a special feeling."

Simmons' finish at state in the 200 impressed DeForest coach Joe Parker more than winning a state title in the quarter-mile.

"I thought Drew's finish in the 200 was one of his best performances of the season," Parker said. "He was seeded ninth, so he was in the outside lane. But he moved up three places. He showed a lot of maturity in running that race."

Parker said a conservative approach this season that limited Simmons to competing in just field events during the indoor track season helped prepare him for a successful outdoor season.

However, even Simmons was amazed at how much he accomplished this spring.

"After being injured all last year, I didn't know what I could do. My hamstring was injured so badly that I didn't think I would be able to do as good as I did my freshman year," said Simmons, who has a 3.5 grade-point average and will spend three weeks in August in Germany as part of a foreign exchange program. "I was terrified of doing triple jump because that's how I hurt my hamstring."

While Simmons prefers to run the 100 and 200 dashes and enjoys competing in the long jump and triple jump, he admitted that it was ironic that he would win a state title in the 400.

"I have a love-hate relationship with the 400," he said. "I like the feeling of accomplishment I get after I run it. But I hate it during the race and before the race. It's an all-out sprint."

ALL-TIME WINNERS

2008 -- Drew Simmons, DeForest
2007 -- Dan Rendler, Lodi
2006 -- Andrew Lacy, McFarland
2005 -- Andrew Lacy, McFarland
2004 -- Jay Schweitzer, Middleton
2003 -- Gavin Ball, Monona Grove

Dennis Semrau  —  6/30/2008 3:59 pm