Aggie sprinter ultraconfident

Despite an impressive accomplishment in each of the past three months, Arbor View track star Ivy Dobson says he hasn’t come close to achieving his No. 1 goal.

In January, the 6-foot senior competed in his first-ever indoor meet and set a Great Southwest Indoor Classic record of 6.84 seconds in the 60-meter sprint in Albuquerque, N.M.

In February, he signed a full scholarship to run for DePaul University.

And on Sunday, he took fourth in the 200 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York City, coming away with All-America honors.

“I guess I’m just a bit laid-back about everything because I’m waiting for the biggest thing to come to me yet,” Dobson said Monday. “Signing early was a big thing, and being nationally ranked and going to nationals is a big thing. I’m coming into my outdoor season ready, and right now I have only one opponent that I’m not even worried about anymore — Jayveon Taylor.”

Bold words from someone who just began his track career as a sophomore, yet Dobson said he’s 100 percent confident he will not only challenge Bonanza’s track star, but he also guaranteed he will dethrone the five-time state champion this spring.

Taylor is the three-time defending state champ in the 100-meter dash and two-time defending state champ in the 200.

“The biggest thing this year is taking his title from him, which is going to be easy,” said Dobson, who played football for the Aggies his first two years in high school.

But after falling in love with track in 2012, Dobson has literally sprinted into the national spotlight, running for Triple Crown track club and coach Bryn Davis.

This summer he plans on pushing his track career even further in the World Junior Championships in Oregon before heading to Chicago to begin his college career for the Blue Demons.

Dobson said he wants to help make DePaul a school known for track before setting his sights on his long-term goal of representing Japan in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Born in New Mexico, his mother is of Japanese descent. The Japan Nationality Act states a person can apply for Japanese naturalization when either parent is a Japanese national at the time of birth. Dobson said he would apply by the time he turns 21.

“One of the greatest things I’m going to do is shock the world,” Dobson said. “That’s what I’m waiting for; that’s going to make me excited.”

Arbor View coach Tyrel Cooper said Dobson is one of the few student-athletes who comes across like a professional, taking his training and competition as serious as anyone he’s ever coached.

Cooper said he is going to miss the competitiveness, leadership and team qualities Dobson brings to the program — at practices and during meets — as they’re just a few of his favorite characteristics about his senior leader.

“There is no doubt he is talented and will be highly competitive in every race, but a few weeks ago he came to me and said, ‘I want to win some team trophies this year,’ ” Cooper said. “To have a kid who knows he is going to see individual success but wants to win team trophies instead of individual medals — I wish I could clone him.”

That might be why Dobson didn’t even compete in the 200 on Tuesday against Palo Verde, but helped the 400, 800 and 1,600 relay teams defeat the Panthers. Nevertheless, that still doesn’t take away from the ultimate goal for his senior campaign.

“He has lived in the shadow of a few great sprinters in our region, and for the past two years he has always been considered a second-tier athlete because of that,” Cooper said. “We are very aware that he hasn’t won anything yet, and we have a lot to prove this year. We are expecting big things from him, and watching him succeed will be one of the highlights of this season.”

Said Dobson: “I plan to represent Arbor View by bringing back a state title in two (individual) events and relays if it’s possible. But I’m really excited about taking Jayveon’s title and representing my school.”