Archer and Cable selected as VDN’s Track Coaches of the Year

Vicksburg High School’s Deatra Cable and Shaun Archer Sr. have been named VDN’s Track Coaches of the Year.

Archer:

Archer led the Gators to another good season where VHS had yet another state champion. VHS not only had a state champion, but plenty of their young athletes succeeded in every meet.

“It lets me know that the future is bright especially with the young ones because we’re constantly rebuilding and they’ll be the ones carrying us,” Archer said.

Throughout the season, multiple VHS athletes earned first-place awards, and by the state meet Koury Vample got a gold medal in the 300m hurdles while Tyler Henderson came in second place in both the triple jump and the 100m.

“That made me feel good as a coach and you can never get disappointed at Tyler or Koury because they put in the extra work and I’m looking for big things out of both of them in the future,” Archer added.

Knowing why you’re putting in this hard work is something that Archer confessed that he preaches to his team. Archer has recently finished his 15th year as Head Track Coach and this marks his third time as Boys’ Coach of the Year.

“It lets me know that people are watching Vicksburg and the standard is beginning to be set by what we do,” Archer added. Us coaches put in a lot of work but It’s not just my award because it’s really all about the kids.”

Cable:

With multiple junior high athletes on her varsity roster, Cable beat the odds and led the Missy Gators as they finished as state runner-ups. Just two points shy of a championship, VHS still managed to walk away with plenty of gold medals at the state meet.

“This was a very trying year because coaching is not just coaching to me and there are so many attributes that go with it but I created this system where I find their “on button” and that’s all they need,” Cable said.

VHS started the season off hot as they quickly dominated in every meet. As the season advanced, Cable led VHS to their fourth consecutive district title.

“I had a lot of injuries this year but God knows what he’s doing and we trusted his process,” Cable added.

Just a short while later, the Missy Gators finished as runner-ups at North State as Shaniyah Walker, Kennedy Williams, Zion Knox, and Rodrianna Hall came in first place in their individual events. The 4X4 and the 4X2 came in first place as well.

By the time the state meet rolled around, under Cable’s leadership Walker and Knox became state champs while Hall came in second in two events and VHS finished on top in the 4X2.

Cable was easy to reciprocate for this award as 2024 marked her 20th straight year where she had an athlete win a state championship.

“I feel honored and grateful but if it wasn’t for my support system and these kids it wouldn’t be possible,” Cable added.