Clearing Hurdles Knocked Out Of Football Season, U-Hi’s Terry Coy Jumped At The Chance To Compete In Track And Field

The first loss was minutes old when Terry Coy put a positive spin on it.

“This just gives me more of an urge to train harder and come back and get him in districts,” Coy said of Central Valley’s Mark Hann.

Hann handed Coy his first Greater Spokane League hurdles loss on April 27 during a three-way meet at CV. Coy ran an uncharacteristic 41.1 seconds (to Hann’s 40.4) in the 300-meter hurdles. Coy has a season-best 38.5 in the 300, which he considers his best event.

Coy, a University High senior, also has the GSL’s best time in the 110 high hurdles, a 14.9.

That’s not bad for someone who had to be persuaded to turn out for track and field.

Or someone who had a pair of surgeries just four months ago.

“I had to talk him into turning out as a sophomore after watching how tough he was in football,” said U-Hi track coach Kevin Frandsen. “He said he’d think about it. Terry’s not the type to say no.”

Coy began his senior athletic year on U-Hi’s football team, but he never played in a GSL game.

Practicing kickoff returns during a preseason practice at Joe Albi Stadium, Coy was blindsided by 265-pound teammate Jason Westcott.

The hit smashed Coy’s wrist into the artificial turf. Coy practiced some more, unaware that his wrist was broken.

Three days later, when the swelling hadn’t subsided, Coy finally saw a doctor. He wore a cast for three months, but his wrist wouldn’t heal.

In December, he had one surgery to remove a bone graft from his hip and another surgery to insert the piece in his wrist.

“It’s four months so far (since the surgery), and it’s still not healed,” said Coy, who expects to soon wear a bone stimulator to hasten the recovery.

His movements impeded, Coy learned to write while holding a pen between his index and middle fingers. His track conditioning during the winter didn’t change much. Coy could run mostly worry-free and wore a brace during more active workouts. He didn’t practice with hurdles.

Coy expected a slow start, but instead his times have dropped significantly from last year. He has accomplished his feats while fighting shin splints in his right leg.

“I was surprised the intermediates (300) came down that fast,” said Coy, who last year had bests of 15.3 and 40.1.

Coy played soccer during his freshman year. Frandsen coached Coy in sophomore basketball and began recruiting him for track, specifically the high jump. Extra coercion came during their time together in driver’s education class - teacher Frandsen having a captive audience.

“He got me talked into the hurdles by using the high jump (as bait),” Coy said.

Coy seldom high jumps now. He runs legs in the 1,600 relay and is available for an emergency 400.

His top 300 time attracted the attention of Washington State University track coach Rick Sloan, who sent Coy a personal letter.

Coy, already interested in WSU for academics, carries a high-B average in school. His goal is to study pharmacy.

“I talked to a couple of pharmacists,” Coy said. “They said they’re really happy and liked their jobs.”