Palo Verde's Chaviaunté Hamilton-Elem, Chanel Mathis, Kanasha Smith and Shanell Wilson are the fastest quartet in Tucson.
Last May, they won the Class 4A-II state championship in the 4x100-meter relay in 50.11 seconds after months of record-setting across Southern Arizona. This season, the Titans' foursome has the fastest 4x100 time in the area at 51.04 seconds.
The Star recently spoke with all four about everything from personal goals to pressure.
Chaviaunté Hamilton-Elem
• Class: Sophomore
• Events: 100 meters, 200 meters
• Career highlight: 4A Gila Region champion in 4x100 relay
• What is something that your teammates don't know about you? "Before I run, I just sing to myself so I won't be as nervous. There's one song that I always sing, 'Push It,' by Rick Ross. That's the song I was singing in my head when we were going up to state last year. It stuck to me and made sense when I was running later."
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• Who is the team leader? "I think we're all pretty equal, but Shanell motivates me the most. I'm always nervous before the race and she always tells me, 'Don't worry about it. You can do it. Just do it and don't think about it.' It makes me a lot less nervous to know she believes in me."
Chanel Mathis
• Class: Junior
• Events: 100, 200, long jump
• Career highlight: Fifth at state in the 100 in 2007
• Is there a lot of pressure being the reigning state champions? "It motivates us more than anything. We feel like we're one of the top teams and we're always going to win. We're not trying to be cocky but we work really, really, really hard to do well. We work hard to get every handoff and every step right."
• Do you have a lucky charm? "No, but we have a lucky gold baton that we won state with. … Winning everything this year could be because of the lucky baton, but we've been working hard. I think we're faster than last year too."
Kanasha Smith
• Class: Junior
• Events: 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump
• Career highlight: Fourth at 4A Gila Region meet in 100
• What is your pre-race ritual? "As a freshman, we saw how the other girls (practiced) their handoff passes. We thought it would be cool to switch it up and do something relaxed, so we came up with a dance that we do every time. When you're doing the handoffs, you get nervous and our dance is kind of relaxing."
• What makes your relay so successful? "We trust each other a lot. We know that we'll get the handoff so we don't have to worry about that. We trust that they will be there."
• What are your personal goals? "I want to go to state in the hurdles this year."
Shanell Wilson
• Class: Senior
• Events: 100, 200, long jump
• Career highlight: 2006 4A-II state champion in long jump
• What is your favorite part about track and field? "My teammates. I also like how before the race, you get nervous but when you're finished, you know you gave your best — that's the best part. And having people tell you that you did a good job is cool too."
• Who is the fastest on the team? "I don't want to be mean, but I am the fastest on the team. I have the best times in the 100 and 200, so I think that they would agree."
• Who is the funniest? "We're all really goofy, but Kanasha is the funniest. She's always making gestures and movements and making little voices to make us laugh."
