Bowie’s track team is off to the races with recent successes in district championships.

The girls have returned for their 3rd time district success while the boys are just getting started. Coach Sammy Epps and coach Doris Grooms had two successes going the distance with Ryan Williams, a junior, and Carli McDonald, a senior, both impressing their respective coaches. McDonald just went to state and placed 4th in the long jump. Her biggest inspiration is Coach Shelena Mcgruder.

“Who has always shown me support and given me tough love; she is like a second mom to me.”

Carli found her love for track one day playing flag football when she said that no one could catch her and that love grew in high school when she found track.

Williams is a hurdler who placed first in his last track meet for both events of the hurdles.

Coach Epps is a self described “relaxed while focused on the end goal of state.”

Epps said he has been impressed by the whole team.

“The whole team has stepped up and the results are surprising,” he said.

He said that he is always improving on his work and that he never knows everything. However, when asked about state he admits he is not very confident they will take it as a team, but they sent individuals McDonald and Williams to state. He often holds coach’s clinics to help pull ideas with the female track coach Doris Grooms.

“We are work husband and wife.” Grooms said.

The coaches work so much together that they had to been believed to be dating. They aren’t. While Sammy is a relaxed coach Doris is a coach who

“Does not change her standards for anyone no matter their level of grade or skill,” she said.

She has coached girls to winning 3 out of the 5 recent meets and while she loves coaching,

“It’s all about the kids for me,” she said.

The team is setting good standards for years and new members to follow.