By Stephen Dawkins

Sade’ Archie isn’t done making history just yet.
A sophomore member of Thorsby’s track and field team, Archie brought the school its first individual state championships in any sport by winning the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the 2009 state meet.
Archie won those same two events at this year’s state meet and is the North Chilton Advertiser’s Girls Spring Player of the Year. By improving her starts to races, Archie hopes to achieve even loftier goals.
“She knows exactly what she wants to do,” Thorsby track coach Keith Williams said. “Winning the state was her goal this year. Next, she wants to set the records.”
The goal is within reach. Archie’s times at the state meet April 30-May 1 at Birmingham-Southern College were less than a second off the state records.
Archie ran 100 meters in 12.74 seconds and the 200 in 26.23. The state records are 11.97 in the 100 and 25.4 in the 200.
Williams said he thinks Archie can better those times by improving her starts to races.
Archie doesn’t use starting blocks—an unusual approach—simply because she hasn’t in the past and isn’t comfortable with them. Williams wants to help Archie make her starts as dominant as her finishes.
“When she makes the curve and comes down the stretch, she’s at least 25 meters ahead of everybody else,” Williams said.
Archie has been a member of the Thorsby track team since her seventh grade year, when Ken Copen was coaching the team. She runs against the male athletes in practice for the sake of competition.
Williams said one of Archie’s strengths is her ability to manage meets.
“She knows when she has to race; she knows when to rest and when to start preparing,” Williams said. “She’s invaluable. She’s one of those players you don’t have to worry about being at practice.”
Archie’s success has brought more attention to the track program at a school where more attention is given to football, baseball and even softball.
“Last year, they were surprised,” Archie said about her peers’ reaction to her state championships. “This time they were expecting a repeat.”
Note: Look for the boys player of the year in next week’s edition of North Chilton Advertiser.