District champ has family history on her side

It doesn't take Central track coach Lawrence Brookins long to pinpoint the source of sprinter Vicki Wilson's speed.

He looks no further than the boys' track and field school records. On the list is Richard Wilson, Vicki's father, who has seen his record times in the 100 and 200 meters hold since 1971.

"She's just got good genes," Brookins said.

Wilson's daughter, a junior at his alma mater, has a chance to become the girls' record holder in those same two events. She was crowned district champion in both events last weekend and will be among a group of Central and Jackson athletes in today's 4A sectional meet at Parkway South High School.

The latest in a line of strong female sprinters at Central, Wilson has the opportunity to go to the state meet in four events. In addition to running the 100 and 200 today, she'll compete on the 400 and 800 relays, which finished second and third, respectively, in the district.

After getting nosed out of a state appearance at last year's sectional, she's been beaten in the 100 only once this season. She won the district in a personal-best time of 12.24 seconds, two-tenths off the school record of 12.04 by Felicia Ford in 1992.

"That's something I've always dreamed of," Wilson said of breaking the school record. "I always hear how Dad went undefeated through his junior year and set records. I've always wanted to say that."

Winning the 200 district title in 26.13, she could be a threat to Dionna Webb's record of 25.2 set in 1999.

It's an event where she's shown vast improvement in the past year, dropping her time by over a second. She's warmed up to the 200 after disliking it for a long time.

"I think I was scared of it because I wasn't good at it," Wilson said. "But I've worked at it I've gotten better at it and I started to like it."

Like her father, she can be Central's fastest yet, Brookins said. At Central, Richard Wilson, a state champion in the 100 as a junior, ran the 100 in 10.6 seconds and the 200 in 21.3. He improved on those times at Southeast Missouri State University, where he became one of the top sprinters in school history.

Vicki credits her father, who was dismissed from the team for missing a couple of practices his senior season, for giving her more than good genes. She said he's told her that he regrets how his track career ended at Central and does his best to encourage his daughter.

"I think he's the main reason why I'm still running," Wilson said. "Sometimes I have my doubts, but he's right there and helps me."

Even when Webb was grabbing the spotlight, Brookins took note of Wilson, who was often hampered by foot and ankle injuries, as a freshman.

"On workouts on days when she wasn't hurt, it was very clear we had something coming for us," Brookins said. "She very early established her credibility as an athlete among other real good athletes. Webb and some of the other girls we had were awesome."

Webb was a state champion in long jump as a junior and an all-state performer in the 100 and 200.

Wilson has come on strong this year after incorporating weight lifting into her training repertoire. She's utilized an athletic fitness class at Central to develop an explosive power. In addition to building strength, she's kept her injury problems in the past.

"She's another poster child we've had for what the weight room can do for you," Brookins said.

While she's dropped her time by almost a half second in the 100 this season, she's made her most dramatic improvement in the 200. Brookins said there's even more room for improvement in both events with the elimination of inefficient arm movement.

If it all gets ironed out, she may join her dad in the record book.

"I think she can," Brookins said. "She's got to continue to work."

For now she'll settle for her first trip to the state meet.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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