Track & Field

Depth, family feel helps foster a contender

The Cougars have recently been ranked as the nation's 23rd best. | Caitlin Hitlon/The Daily Cougar

The Cougars have recently been ranked as the nation’s 23rd best. | Caitlin Hitlon/The Daily Cougar

The UH track and field program recently took a step toward elite national status and broadcasting its image, cracking the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s top 25 for the first time in school history.

By moving into contention as the nation’s No. 23 team, the Cougars have threatened to crack the foundation of Southeastern Conference track and field dominance as well as underestimations about the talent of their team. Despite the fact that the accomplishment was largely because of the efforts of freshman sprinter Cameron Burrell, sophomore sprinter Leshon Collins and junior triple and long jumper John Horton, each athlete remained humble, displaying more excitement about the prospects of their teammates rather than themselves.

“That’s what most people don’t understand, the depth of our team,” Horton said. “Really, we cracked the top 25 with only four people — myself, Cameron, Leshon and Issac Williams. Once the mid-distance group opens up and the shot putters start making marks, we should really be in the top 15, easily.”

Horton was a high school standout and had an opportunity to compete for a national championship at Arkansas, arguably the nation’s top team, but decided to thrive in an underdog role with UH.

“If you look at Texas schools like Baylor, UT, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, they don’t have jumpers,” Horton said. “I was immediately impressed by the talent they already had on the roster and the coaches’ plans for the team in the near future.”

The talent he speaks of comes from out of state, including players like Collins, sprinter Brittney Wallace from Pennsylvania and high jumper Isaac Williams from New Jersey.

The Cougars rely on their submission to the family-oriented approach they bring to every meet. Although runners like Burrell and Collins are part of one of the nation’s best 4×400 relay teams, their focus on leadership, and the source of their team philosophy, is made possible by head coach Leroy Burrell and volunteer coach and Olympian Carl Lewis.

Coaches Collins and Horton agree that Lewis’ dedication to the team has been significant and has helped to not only raise each of them to the next level but improve the team as well. They agree that their potential lies in the youth of the team and leadership approach from their coach.

“Even with Cameron being here, Coach Burrell treats us equally,” Collins said. “He cares about us like we’re his own kids. People sleep on UH as a team, but we’re dangerous because of the potential and guidance we have. We like the underdog role, but soon teams will begin to fear us.”

Burrell and Lewis share similar coaching philosophies in creating a wealth of recruiting talent. Both men are hands-on teachers who instill a no-compromise attitude to becoming the best. There is no favoritism on the squad. All athletes are treated like their own children.

“We have people here that make physical and financial sacrifices, some which are on partial scholarships, which deserve our attention and best effort,” Burrell said. “I believe the effort on both our parts, as well as the wealth of talent that comes from the surrounding areas of a city like Houston, will make us the elite competition of big-name schools like Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M, Oregon and Stanford in the next couple of years.”

[email protected]

1 Comment

Leave a Comment