On April 23 Bradwell Institute’s boys track team won the Region 3-AAAAA title. Thursday through Saturday, they compete among the top runners, throwers and jumpers in the state at the Class AAAAA meet in Jefferson.
After winning the region title, the Tigers took a few days off to rest. After recuperating, the Tiger runners have been conditioning, while the field athletes have been keeping their skills sharp.
Coach Emmett Watkins said he does not like the two-week layoff, but said his athletes will do their best.
“We’re maintaining our conditioning and staying sharp,” he said. “We are trying to be in the best shape as we can be and that’s all we can do.”
Ten athletes represent Bradwell at the state meet.
The competition will be stiff, with mostly Metro-Atlanta schools expect to dominate.
A Bradwell athlete has not won a boys state championship since Tim Campbell’s triple jump title in 2001.
This year, Watkins believes that region high-point winner Vontavious Pennyman has a shot to surprise runners in the 400m and 200m.
Pennyman runs his qualifying races at 12:55 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively Friday.
To qualify for Saturday’s finals, qualifiers must place in the top four in their eight-runner heat
At the region meet, Pennyman ran the 400 in 52.52 seconds The top time from all eight region meets was 50.03. Pennyman ran the 200 in 23.09. The top time from all regions is 22.51.
Watkins also has high hopes for Larry Henry, who finished third in the high jump last year at state, clearing 6-feet, 8-inches.
Henry only had to clear six feet to win the region title, but Watkins said Henry will probably have to clear 6-10 to win state.
Antonio Allen, who finished second in the region in the high jump, also will compete. He cleared 5-feet, 8-inches at regions.
Henry and Allen jump at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Mitchell McKnight competes in the 800m qualifier at 3:25 p.m. Friday. At regions, he ran it in 2:08.27. The top time from all regions is 1:56.74
Watkins also thinks senior Richard Hobbs could win the 110m hurdles.
Hobbs runs the qualifier at 2:35 p.m. Friday. At regions, he ran it in 15.55. The top time from all regions is 15.1.
Another senior competing is Louis Frazier. He runs the 100m qualifier at 1:45 p.m. Friday. At regions, he sprinted the race in 11.63. The top time from all regions is 11.02.
Malachi Bell runs the mile at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. At regions, he ran it in 4:59.38. The top time from all regions is 4:06.27
Bradwell also has two discus throwers competing at state. Region champ Shaquille Russell, who threw the discus 121-feet, 10-inches, and Keddrick Brown (118-7) compete at 2 p.m. Thursday. The top throw from all regions is 174-2.
Deron Jordan throws the shotput at noon Thursday. At regions, he threw it 44-9. The top throw from all regions is 51-11.
After winning the region title, the Tigers took a few days off to rest. After recuperating, the Tiger runners have been conditioning, while the field athletes have been keeping their skills sharp.
Coach Emmett Watkins said he does not like the two-week layoff, but said his athletes will do their best.
“We’re maintaining our conditioning and staying sharp,” he said. “We are trying to be in the best shape as we can be and that’s all we can do.”
Ten athletes represent Bradwell at the state meet.
The competition will be stiff, with mostly Metro-Atlanta schools expect to dominate.
A Bradwell athlete has not won a boys state championship since Tim Campbell’s triple jump title in 2001.
This year, Watkins believes that region high-point winner Vontavious Pennyman has a shot to surprise runners in the 400m and 200m.
Pennyman runs his qualifying races at 12:55 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively Friday.
To qualify for Saturday’s finals, qualifiers must place in the top four in their eight-runner heat
At the region meet, Pennyman ran the 400 in 52.52 seconds The top time from all eight region meets was 50.03. Pennyman ran the 200 in 23.09. The top time from all regions is 22.51.
Watkins also has high hopes for Larry Henry, who finished third in the high jump last year at state, clearing 6-feet, 8-inches.
Henry only had to clear six feet to win the region title, but Watkins said Henry will probably have to clear 6-10 to win state.
Antonio Allen, who finished second in the region in the high jump, also will compete. He cleared 5-feet, 8-inches at regions.
Henry and Allen jump at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Mitchell McKnight competes in the 800m qualifier at 3:25 p.m. Friday. At regions, he ran it in 2:08.27. The top time from all regions is 1:56.74
Watkins also thinks senior Richard Hobbs could win the 110m hurdles.
Hobbs runs the qualifier at 2:35 p.m. Friday. At regions, he ran it in 15.55. The top time from all regions is 15.1.
Another senior competing is Louis Frazier. He runs the 100m qualifier at 1:45 p.m. Friday. At regions, he sprinted the race in 11.63. The top time from all regions is 11.02.
Malachi Bell runs the mile at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. At regions, he ran it in 4:59.38. The top time from all regions is 4:06.27
Bradwell also has two discus throwers competing at state. Region champ Shaquille Russell, who threw the discus 121-feet, 10-inches, and Keddrick Brown (118-7) compete at 2 p.m. Thursday. The top throw from all regions is 174-2.
Deron Jordan throws the shotput at noon Thursday. At regions, he threw it 44-9. The top throw from all regions is 51-11.