Southeast Missourian boys track athlete of the year: Kelly's Maurice Davis

After being convinced by a teammate to rejoin the Kelly football team for its inaugural varsity season, Maurice Davis found himself at a team camp sharing a bunk with teammate Kaden Robert, a sophomore who played running back and defensive back for the Hawks.

"Hey, you're going to be really good this year, man," Robert said to Davis. "Just keep working hard at it."

The 15-year-old Robert died a week later on the morning of June 24, a day after a firearm accidentally discharged in the school parking lot.

The tragic incident shocked the Kelly community, and a little more than a year later, Robert's words continue to resonate with Davis.

"I didn't really think about what he told me until after it happened, so I've just tried to work hard and make sure our dream comes true," Davis said.

Davis' hard work paid off in a big way last month when he claimed a state championship in the Class 2 100-meter dash, finishing with a time of 10.97 seconds.

And he didn't stop there.

Davis also placed fifth in the 200 with a time of 22.91 and helped guide the Hawks' 400 relay to a sixth-place finish in 44.83.

But even Davis dismissed his individual accolades and was most proud of Kelly's fourth-place team finish.

"We had four guys go to state, and we got fourth overall," said Davis, whose accomplishments earned him this year's Southeast Missourian Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors. "That was an amazing moment."

The 5-foot-11 Davis believes he's a football player first and foremost and said the sport is his personal favorite.

"I get excited with the feelings and the atmosphere of the crowd and everything. That's my favorite, but track's going to help me a lot," said Davis, who was a running back and slot receiver last season for the Hawks. "I'll be a lot faster than some of the guys trying to catch me."

Davis' run in the 100 was the eighth fastest among all classes in the state, an accomplishment he never would've believed a year ago.

"My sophomore year, I was a nobody in track. *... No one really expected me to do anything this year," Davis said. "I guess from football, I got a lot quicker, and then this year, the first meet I ran an 11.3. And everyone was like, 'Wow, this kid got a lot faster.' In my 200, I ran a 23.9, and everyone was like, 'This kid's stepping up,' and I just started getting faster and faster at each meet."

Davis began running track in the seventh grade but mostly used it as an avenue to hang out with his friends.

"My sophomore year, I made it to state, so I was like, 'I'm just going to keep doing it because I like it.' Then my junior year, I just came out of nowhere and started getting first place at meets, which I never got first before," Davis said. "*... It's been a ride. It's been an amazing ride. I'm hoping my senior year I won't lose a track meet."

Davis said confidence has been the biggest difference in his game compared to last year.

"My teammates just help build my confidence. I've got a little swagger when I'm out there," Davis said. "I just tell myself I'm the best player out there and try to do everything I can to win."

It all starts in the weight room, where Davis has added plenty of strength doing a number of workout exercises, including squatting, sled pulls and bench pressing.

"It's been a grind doing all that, but it helped out a lot. You can tell with my scores being a lot faster and everything," Davis said. "I have to thank all my coaches for getting me in [the weight room] because as a freshman, I was like, 'I'm not going to get any bigger. This is as big as I'll get,' but the weight room helped a lot."

Davis believes winning a state title will add a mental edge to his competitive nature.

"I know when I'm out there, no one out there can catch me. I'm the best player, and that's what I tell myself," Davis said. "Hopefully when I go out there, I can do it, make plays for my team, score touchdowns and do whatever I can for my team. That's my goal. It's my senior year, so it's my last ride. I've got to do everything I can."

Aspirations of playing at the college level also intrigue Davis, but he wants to focus his efforts as a senior to develop some of the Hawks' younger talent.

"When I leave, I want them to remember me as a guy who cherished every moment on the field, every gash or ball I caught," Davis said. "*... You're only a kid once, and most people don't make it to that next level. You've just got to cherish it in high school and have fun."

Despite everything that bombarded Davis' mind after winning the 100, one person stood out and continues to stand out as a motivator for every race.

"I know I did it for my friend upstairs, Kaden Robert," Davis said. "*... I just did it for him. It was an amazing moment actually."