- November 23, 2024
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Front row-Mainland track athletes Seth Sawyer, Johnathan Williams, Cameron Boatwright and Logan Camara. Back row-coaches Harrington Smith, Terry Anthony, Ebony Harris and Travis Roland. Courtesy photo.
Mainland runner Seth Sawyer passes the baton to Khalil Wilmore in the 4x800 at the District 6-3A meet. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland runner Logan Camara takes the pass from Jack Mathis in the 4x800 relay at the District 6-3A meet. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland hurdler Jonathan Williams. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland athlete Cameron Boatwright runs the anchor leg of the 4x400 meter relay at the District 6-3A track meet. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland track athletes Cameron Boatwright, Logan Camara, Seth Sawyer and Jonathan Williams signed to run track at the next level during a summer signing ceremony on June 28. Boatwright also signed to play football.
Track coach Ebony Harris said she is proud of her recently signed track athletes. They will be going to college at about the same time as her youngest daughter, Cassidy Campbell, who is heading to Alabama State University at the end of the month. That makes their exodus even more bittersweet.
“I am also proud and take great pleasure in sending my other children off with track scholarships to their respected colleges,” Harris said. “These young men are definitely deserving. I can’t wait to see them compete at the collegiate level. I have no doubt that these young men will continue to make Mainland coaches and their families proud.”
The teammates ran with each other in the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800-meter relays at different times throughout high school while specializing in various individual events.
At the 3A State Finals, Boatwright placed third in the 400-meter dash and Williams finished second in the 110 meter hurdles.
I am also proud and take great pleasure in sending my other children off with track scholarships to their respected colleges. These young men are definitely deserving. I can’t wait to see them compete at the collegiate level. I have no doubt that these young men will continue to make Mainland coaches and their families proud.
— EBONY HARRIS, Mainland track coach
Boatwright signed with Tusculum University, where he will be on the track team and play football for the Pioneers. The college is a NCAA Division II school in Tusculum, Tennessee.
His younger brother, Aamir Daniels, grabbed the microphone during the ceremony. He has been designated an official Buccaneer, even though he has a few more years before he reaches high school.
“Thank you, Cameron, for being a good role model to me,” he said. “Good job. You push yourself so hard that I want to thank you.”
Williams was a dual athlete at Mainland, playing wide receiver for four years as a Buccaneer, but decided to focus on track in college. He signed with South Carolina State University, a Division I school and part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. SCSU is South Carolina’s only public historically Black college or university.
Harris said she is going to miss “Jon Jon” and coach Terry Anthony arguing before every meet, even though, in the end, they always agreed. Also missed trackside will be Sawyer strategizing about winning the relays and Camara looking for Harris to put “traditional lucky braids” in his hair before every race.
“I always joked with him (Camara) and told him I put all my money on him, and he better not lose my money,” Harris said. “After each race, he said 'Coach, I didn’t make you lose your money, did I?'”
Camara and Sawyer decided to attend college in-state, signing with Division II school Flagler College in St. Augustine and NCCAA Division I school Webber International University in Babson Park, respectively. As Buccaneers, they were part of the 3A State Finals 4x400 relay team that placed seventh and the 4x800 relay that finished 14th.
“I’m going to miss giving all of them my famous “we go hard or go home” speech before they run,” Harris said.
