Sports Saturday, on June 4th, 2016 on AM 1420 KJCK will feature Kansas High School State Champions Ninti Little and Ta’Marche Mason.
The sprinters, both 100 meter dash State Champions, sat down for a round table interview with me at the KJCK studios this week. 
Mason, a May graduate of Junction City High School says of winning the state title in the 100 meter dash, “when they called my name, all I could do was smile – I was so happy.”
Mason credits his close bond with Coach Cronn, whom has been coaching him since he was middle school, with his success this past year at the state meet.
“If you and your coach have a good relationship, I believe that it makes you work harder,” said Mason.
Mason says that “good” coach – athlete relationship helped him in preparation for the track season with gaining the keys to access the track ahead of the season in order to get in shape and train.
After winning the state title in the 100 meter dash, Mason says his coach ran up to him and gave him “the biggest hug.”
Mason was his first State Champion.
Mason won the 6A boys 100 meter dash in 11.36 seconds and was eighth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.14 seconds.
Little, a sophomore from Chapman High School, said she was a “newbie” last year in her freshman year debut at the State Meet and very nervous, but that experience helped her to know “what to expect” and how to calm her nerves to bring home the gold.
“I could see my coach jumping up and down in the stands, and I can’t see my mom but I can hear her because she was [cheering] really loud – It just felt great,” said Little on her gold medal race in the 100 meter dash.
“I have a really good bond with Coach Elliott,” says Little, “she’s always there for me.”
Little says that close bond was especially helpful when she was forced to miss a few track meets this season due to injury. She credits her coach with being understanding and allowing her to get the necessary treatment and rehab in order to be ready for her Regional Meet and then the State Championship.
Little won the 4A Girls 100 meter dash in a time of 12.47 seconds, and earned a silver medal in the 200 meter dash in a time of 26.05 seconds.
Little is Elliott’s first State Champion and Chapman High School’s first Sprint State Champion.
The full interview will be aired this Saturday during the 8:00 am Sports Saturday show with Dewey Terrill on 1420 KJCK – The Talk of JC.