Prep Report: Byrd 2nd in state 3A 100, 200
It became clear during the preliminaries that Ida Baker junior Joseph Byrd would be a threat for state titles in the 100 and 200 at Friday’s FHSAA Class 3A Track Finals at Winter Park.
In the 200 finals, Byrd didn’t get off to a good start and in the 100, Eastside’s John Little pulled ahead in the final 50 meters. Byrd earned runner-up finishes in both events.
“We knew he had a really good shot,” Baker coach Dan Butler said, “but the competition is tough. It’s tough to get that state title.”
Byrd put himself in contention based on preliminary times earlier in the day. He ran 21.55 in the 200, the fastest time in the prelims, and his 10.71 in the 100 was third best.
He ran 10.62 in the 100 finals, just behind Little at 10.53.
Charlotte’s Mike Bellamy ran the 200 finals in 21.52, finishing first, with Byrd second in 21.82.
“The Bellamy guy got out,” Butler said. “(Byrd) has never been real good at starting in that. He got second and we’re happy for him. We knew it would be a tough competition.”
Byrd was trying to become the first individual to win a state track title in Baker’s history. The Bulldogs won a state title in 2007 in the 4×800 relay.
They reached state in that event for the third straight time this year and placed third behind champion Tampa Wharton (7:49.24) and Oakland Park Northeast (7:55.34). The Bulldogs’ team of Jeff Miller, Jessie Betts, Zach Nall and Xavier Battle ran 8:02.04, their personal-best time.
The Bulldogs (Byrd, Josh Schwartz, Mike Rivera and Marvin Riedewald) competed in the 4×100 relay, but placed 11th in the prelims.