Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Prep Sports

TBO > Sports > Prep Sports

Chamberlain grad Locke wins national sprint crown

Photo by KIRBY LEE

Dentarius Locke (center) edges ahead to win the 100-meter dash at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. Friday.

By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: June 19, 2009

Updated: 06/20/2009 08:07 am

Related Links

Although it was a photo finish, Chamberlain High's Dentarius Locke won his first Nike Outdoor Nationals crown late Friday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C., capturing the 100-meter dash finals in 10.59 seconds. That time was just two hundredths of a second ahead of runner-up Bradley Sylve of Louisiana and .04 faster than third-place Prezel Hardy of Texas.

Locke and the seven other finalists faced a significant headwind of 2.6 meters per second, which explains why no one broke 10.50. Locke entered the meet with a personal best in the 100 of 10.31 and Hardy, the pre-race favorite, owned a wind-aided mark of 10.08. Under these conditions, however, personal bests were out of the question. The only thing that mattered was first to the line.

"I got out perfectly but it was close all the way to the end," said Locke, the Class 4A Florida high school champion in the 100 and 200 and state record holder in each event. "I think I had the edge on them at the finish but that lean I did at the tape made sure of it."

This annual meet, being held at North Carolina A&T, is considered the national championships for high school track and field. Last year, Locke finished second in both the 100 and 200. This time, he's looking for a sweep of both races as he prepares to head to college at the University of Tennessee. Qualifying in the 200 is Saturday afternoon and the finals will be staged later that night.

"To be No. 1 in the nation definitely feels great, especially against all these fast guys," Locke said. "With Hardy coming in here with a 10.08, I was thinking he might crush me. But now I feel so confident and excited about running the 200 tomorrow. I can't wait for that race."

Share this: