Echols drills way to Upstate Eight elite

Much to the chagrin of his Upstate Eight opponents, Bryan Echolsdecided to give up baseball last year and go out for track.

The 5-7, 150-pound Echols had an immediate impact on the ElginLarkin track team and the rest of the league as as junior, leavingmost of his fellow sprinters in a cloud of dust.

The fact he succeded despite his limited experience has hiscoaches anticipating his senior year.

"He's the best sprinter in the conference," Elgin Larkin interimtrack coach Bob Arnet said. "He joined the track team as a junior,and most of last year he was still learning the ropes. Now he has ayear under his belt, so watch out."

Echols won the conference last year in the 50-yard dash indoorsand he posted victories in the 100 and 200-meter dashes in twooutdoor meets last weekend.

His goal is to place in the state meet.

"I felt real good about winning in conference last year and haveno regrets about quitting baseball. I didn't have too good of asophomore season anyway," Echols said. "I am really looking toimprove my times and make it to the state meet this year."

Echols and his coaches are working hard to reach that goal.They realize Echols' best time of 10.9 in the 100 will have toimprove if he is to compete with the top sprinters in the state.

But Echols has shown such great potential in the short time hehas been running, his coaches are confident he can make the necessaryprogress.

"We're working on some drills that should help him," said Arnet,who replaced head coach Scott Witt, who has been hospitilized for thepast five weeks with kidney stones and an inflamed pancreas.

"He has natural speed, but he needs to increase his speedendurance. So we have him sprinting some 300s and 400s among otherthings. I think he could be good in the 400 meters or some of thesprint relays, but we have decided to go with him in the 100 and 200for now."

In the past, Echols also has competed in the long jump in meetswhen the team "needs the points." But his ankles take too much of apounding to make it a regular event for him, according to Arnet.

Echols has a training routine he thinks will one day put himahead of the pack.

"I've been running a big hill by my house and that is buildingup my legs and endurance," he said. "I've been doing about 10 sets ofthose a day for some time now, along with a lot of work with thecoaches, and I think it will pay off."

Neither Echols nor his coaches think the competition in theUpstate Eight is as tough as many of the conferences across thestate, but for now Echols is having fun winning races against some ofthe rivals he already has attracted.

"Right now, I'd say my toughest opponent is Kermit Ellison ofStreamwood," Echols said. "I have to keep an eye out for him."

And the rest of the state should keep an eye out for Echols.