Getting to Know: Demetri Keaton

           Demetri Keaton won the 60m final at the D2 / D3 OATCCC Indoor State Championship


Demetri Keaton is a sprinter from Warrensville Heights High School and he is the reigning 60m state champion for D2 / D3.  Demetri got his outdoor season off to a successful start by taking the 100m and 200m wins at the recent Don Faix Invitational.  MileSplit Ohio had the opportunity to speak with Demetri about his indoor season and what he's looking forward to during his outdoor season and beyond.  


MileSplit Ohio: Describe your indoor season. Did your results live up to your expectations going in? What are you most proud of from what you accomplished and was there anything that you felt could have gone better?


Demetri: My proudest moment of the indoor season was winning the 60m final at the D2 / D3 OATCCC Indoor State Championship in Akron.  This win meant a lot to me, as I believe it proved the people wrong who had doubts about my ability as a sprinter and it also provided me with a lot of confidence moving forward to the outdoor season.  One area where I feel like I could have performed better during the indoor season was in my 200m races.  


MileSplit Ohio: What events will you be focusing on during the outdoor season?  What goals do you hope to accomplish over the next few months?


Demetri: I'll be focusing on the 100m and 200m races during the outdoor season.  I need to work on my block starts and my explosion, as my goals are to reduce my times significantly.  I hope to bring my 100m time down to 10.49 and my 200m time down to 21.59.  I really want to achieve these goals and I'm willing to put the work in that's needed to make them a reality.  


           Demetri Keaton intends to run fast 100m and 200m times during the outdoor season. 


MileSplit Ohio: Describe what your typical week of training resembles. Who are your key training partners and do you have a favorite workout that you rely on leading up to an important race?


Demetri: My favorite workout is fine tuning my form and weight lifting for upper body exercises. The strength that I'm building helps me to finish my races with authority.  Thomas Morris and Jermaine Hill are my main workout partners and I value them because they push me to work as hard as I can at practice.  


           Demetri Keaton claimed a pair of wins during his first meet of the outdoor season.  


MileSplit Ohio: Who has helped you to reach the level that you've attained to this point in your track career?


Demetri: I am very thankful for my coaches, Coach Coleman and Coach Bailey. They put in a lot of work with me and they've taught me a great deal about how to train more effectively and how to become a better sprinter during my races.  


           Demetri Keaton says that block starts and explosion will be keys to his success this season.


MileSplit Ohio: What are your long term goals relating to track? 


Demetri: My long term goals for track are to continue to drop my times in the 100m, 200m and 400m distances and I'd also like to represent the USA at the Olympics.  


           Demetri Keaton credits his coaches at Warrensville Heights HS for much of his success.