Quitman pair plans to continue track careers

By Sam Major
photos@wood.cm
Posted 6/1/22

Quitman Bulldog athletes Brandon Jimenez and Jack Tannebaum will become Jaguars, taking their speed to Jacksonville College this fall to compete on the track team.

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Quitman pair plans to continue track careers

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Quitman Bulldog athletes Brandon Jimenez and Jack Tannebaum will become Jaguars, taking their speed to Jacksonville College this fall to compete on the track team. Tannebaum will sprint in the 400-meter and 200-meter dashes plus relays, while Jimenez joins the 4x400 relay and runs the 800.

Quitman athletic director Shane Webber stated he never had to worry about their grades, character or them not being where they’re supposed to be, “and that’s important.”

He appreciates Jacksonville taking a chance on them and thinks they’ll be satisfied because Jimenez and Tannebaum, “will work their tails off for you.”

They were introduced to the program by coach Devin Shaw, who described the pair as, “true leaders.” Practice for the 4x400 relay is not easy or fun to do but, “these guys made it fun.”

He’s honored to have coached them, loves them and believes, “they’re going to do some big stuff wherever they go.”

Jimenez shared that having a teammate along, “is a big deal for us. In a small town it doesn’t happen very often.” They had toured the campus previously with Jacksonville’s assistant track coach, Quitman native Jacob Rowland, and liked the small size and feel and thought the coaches were phenomenal.

Jacksonville head track coach Kirby Shepherd is happy to have them. Jacksonville is losing some solid runners and Shepherd is confident that Jimenez and Tannebaum can step into their roles.

He sees, “a lot of potential” in them and is hopeful they can make the team better. He also thinks they’ll get looks from programs to go to after two years at Jacksonville.

Their final decision was made after a campus visit with their parents shortly following the UIL state meet in Austin as members of the 4x400 relay with Cason Johnson and Dalton Crowson.

“The atmosphere was crazy,” reflected Tannebaum. “Just looking up, seeing all those people, hearing them yell your name, then getting ready to get the baton and go.”

“It was surreal, really,” felt Jimenez. Waiting for their closing two legs, “you either panic or stay calm.” He kept his composure and handed Tannebaum the lead for the fourth leg, which he described as the biggest race. “Their stride was a little bit longer than mine, so they were able to get some more leg on me,” and Tannebaum brought home fourth place.

On the recent resurgence of the athletic program in Quitman, of which Jimenez and Tannebaum have played significant roles, the Bulldogs’ pride is evident.

Three-time state-meet qualifier and Arkansas-Little Rock commit Brooklyn Marcee thinks it’s exciting to see fellow athletes succeed and that “we’re setting the bar high,” for younger athletes coming up and giving them something to strive toward.

Jimenez offered, “Coach Webber changed a lot for us for sure.”

Tannebaum was moved by the drive everyone had, the look in their eyes, how they performed in the weight room and on the field and observed, “every sport got better.”

“You want to be great,” noted Jimenez. He wanted to show off to the new athletic director and felt it made him work twice as hard as he had in the past.

Tannebaum wanted to thank all his coaches, supporters and everyone there for him throughout, without whom, Jimenez added, they couldn’t have done it.