They could have just walked away.

Why risk injury?

Especially after each signed football scholarships with the University of South Florida.

For Monsignor Pace seniors Sterling Griffin, Kayvon Webster and Derrick Hopkins, the reasons for coming back for one more track season were simple.

''We have to win one state championship as a team before we leave,'' Griffin said. ``Losing [in the state semifinals] in football left a sour taste in our mouths. It's about loyalty.''

Along with senior sprinter Jeffrey Allen, Webster, Griffin and Hopkins will try to win the Spartans' third consecutive state championship in the 400-meter relay.

But Pace isn't just good in Florida.

Its time of 41.18 seconds at the state championships last season ranked among the top 10 of any high school relay in the nation.

The squad is the foundation of a Pace track team that until recently could not compare to some of the other traditionally strong programs at the school.

''Ever since we had them in the 10th grade, they've kept a commitment to come back and build a tradition at the school,'' said first-year coach Pearson Sutton, an assistant the past two seasons. ``They're the founding fathers of the team.''

The Spartans were fifth at state when the four were sophomores. Last year, Pace was the state runner-up to Tallahassee Godby. Griffin said anything less than first would be a disappointment.

Their personal goal this season is to run the 400-meter relay in under 41 seconds at state, and set the nation's fastest mark for the year.

''God has blessed us to be able to run with the same four guys the past couple of years,'' Griffin said. ``We've been conditioning harder than ever, and we feel if we keep training as hard as we are we can break 41.''

All four will run in the sprints for Pace as well.

Hopkins, a state runner-up in the 100 meters, ran a personal-best 10.35 last season, and ran under 21 seconds in the 200. Webster and Allen will also run the 100. Webster, who was one of the top football recruits in the nation, also will run in the 200.

Griffin, a first-team All-Dade wide receiver, will run in the grueling 400-meter race. He hopes to improve upon his top time of 48 seconds last season.

The depth doesn't stop with the sprints, however.

Junior DeAndre Johnson returns to compete in the shot put and discus, events in which he qualified for state last season. The distance running squad, anchored by Jesus Villaril, Alex Basillio, Khambrell Johnson and Stephon Fils-Aime has improved, and Ronnie Dickens has the potential to qualify in the long jump.

Sutton said high jumper Gamy Cilien, a senior on the basketball team, was the missing piece at last year's state meet. Cilien, who can jump as high as 6-6, missed the meet while suffering from flu-like symptoms.

''We only fell eight points short at state, and a lot of the kids have a confident feeling that's carried over since we got so close,'' Sutton said. ``They feel like this is their year.''