Staff photo illustration by Mike Buhler [Click to enlarge]

"It's quite funny because throughout my entire track career I've absolutely hated my main event, the 300 (meter) hurdles," Childress said. "But it's the one that I was the best in."

The 300-hurdles may have been his best event, but it was just one of many activities that Childress excelled at, earning him the nod as the Daily Dunklin Democrat Male Athlete of the Year.

In addition to competing in four track events, Childress was also a two-way standout on the Kennett Indians football team, helping the Tribe attain its first winning record since 2000 last year.

"Like I've always said, without the help of the Lord, I wouldn't even be here at all -- none of this would have been possible," said Childress. "He blessed me with a great coaching staff and a great team that I've been with throughout my life. This year I do believe we strove for the best outcome."

One of those coaches was Jim Tidd, who is Kennett's boys' track coach and is also the Indians' defensive coordinator for football.

"Demetrius has always been special to me mainly because I've known him for so long," Tidd said. "I took him under my wing in junior high and once you get to know him, he's the type of kid you fall in love with. He's a hard worker and a good kid."

Childress has equal respect for his mentor.

"It's a very wonderful relationship that I have with him," said Childress. "I was very blessed to have him not only as a coach, but as a mentor and a friend on and off the field or track."

As a senior, Childress first made a statement on the football field. After rushing for just 91 yards combined in his first two games of the year, Childress broke off a streak of five straight 100-yard performances, including a 196-yard, three-touchdown effort against Malden on October 5. Childress also added two catches for 78 yards and a fourth score in the 40-6 win over the Green Wave.

Childress ended the season with 1,114 yards rushing with eight TDs on the ground -- earning him All-SEMO Central recognition -- but he may have made an even greater impact on defense, where he racked up 123 tackles and eight sacks at linebacker, including over 20 tackles in district contests against Dexter and New Madrid County Central.

As a result, Childress earned a second All-SEMO Central honor, and was also named Class 3 All-Region and was an honorable mention All-State choice.

"He is going to be probably harder to replace on defense than on offense," Tidd said. "You can't just replace a guy that makes 123 tackles and eight sacks. And when he made them, they counted. He'd make them in key parts of the game. ... He just had a knack for getting to the ball and making big plays."

Childress entered track season with high expectations after finishing third in the state in 2007 in the 300-hurdles and he did not disappoint, returning to the state meet in the 300 and also adding a SEMO Central Conference in the 110-hurdles.

But the hurdles were not Childress's only events on the track this season. He ran on the 4x800-meter relay team that finished second at the SEMO Central meet and also came within one spot of also going to state in the long jump, finishing fifth at sectionals in the event.

"He did a good job," said Tidd. "He's one of those athletes that you can ask him to go out there and do it -- and he'll do his best and probably win it."

At the state meet, Childress did not get the chance to improve on his third-place finish, as a fall during the event caused him to finish eighth.

"The incident (at state this year) -- I fell -- I wouldn't say it was embarrassing but it was kind of heartbreaking," Childress said. "It felt like it would never end, but I feel like it happens to the best of us. I'll never had another chance at it, but I can say in the end that I did the best that I possibly could."

Having excelled at so many sports, Childress has racked up several memorable moments. Among them was an incident in the final football game Childress's junior season.

"Last year when myself and Mario went for the ball and I knocked the daylights out of him -- it's something that we can both look back now and laugh at but at the moment it was quite embarrassing," said Childress. "On a side note, another moment that I won't forget -- some people won't get it but those that were there will -- was the big hug after the game."

And on the track?

"I would have to say the most memorable track moment was (on the way to New Madrid when) there was some sort of chemical spill on the interstate," Childress said. "It took us two hours to get to New Madrid and we accidentally set off the fire extinguishers. On a side note, there was also the Jeff City hike."

Childress will continue his athletic career this fall at Central Methodist University in Fayette, playing football for the Eagles, but may also run track.

Still, Childress does not plan to forget his roots.

"I will always be proud to say that I was an Indian," Childress said.