SURBER SIGNS WITH BULLDOGS

When Williamsburg senior Raymond Surber was a freshman he played both baseball and ran track for the Yellow Jackets. But the love of running won out during his junior year and he focused only on Track and Field.

The move paid off this week as he signed to continue his career on the track with Union College. “I’m excited,” he said Thursday after signing with the Bulldogs. “I’m excited about starting a new career at the college level. That’s been my dream for about six years now after I realized I had a little something to give to the program.”

Surber said he wasn’t sure what areas he would be used in at Union College. “I will do whatever they want me to do.”

Surber is ranked first in his Class A region in the 400 meter run heading into the upcoming regional meets. “I like the 400 and running relay races,” he said. “I like the long jump too.”

He has confidence that he can represent Williamsburg in the state next month in the 400 and possibly the long jump. “It will be a little difficult in the 400, but I also have a chance in the long jump.”

Surber started his career in distance races but made the switch to the shorter races because of baseball. “It was difficult playing baseball and running track, so started running shorter races to help the team score points then found out I had a little speed.”

Union College Assistant Coach Jamaine Gordon said, “This is a great signing, especially someone from our local area and Union College.”

“He will be focusing on the 400 and 800 meter runs starting off and also doing a little cross country for conditioning,” Gordan said.

Cross country will not be anything new to Surber who led the Yellow Jackets in cross country the last four years. He runs a number of 3K and 5K races during the summer.

Williamsburg Track Coach John Harris said of the signing, “I’m very excited about Raymond signing. We’ve had several kids sign with colleges and most of them of have done very well. Raymond is the same kind of goal-setter that Christian Key is.”

“Raymond went through his last couple of seasons and had a few allergy attacks and has not met several goals we were hoping for,” said Harris. “But, Raymond has the potential to be an excellent college runner.”

“I think that he will work hard and he is focused,” said Harris. “I think he will have a great college career. I think he will make Union proud and I think he will visit the national championship sometime in his college career.”