TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Locke completes sweep with 200

Photo by KIRBY LEE

Dentarius Locke (center) edges ahead to win the 100-meter dash at the Nike Outdoor Nationals Friday

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: June 21, 2009

Unbeatable, unmatched and, considering how far he has come in just three years, unbelievable.

Chamberlain High's Dentarius Locke closed out his senior season undefeated in every track event he raced - including qualifying rounds - by winning Saturday's 200-meter dash at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

The victory represented a sweep of the sprint events by Locke at the prestigious meet, which is widely considered the high school national championships in the sport. Friday, he won what is believed to be the first national prep crown by a Hillsborough County track athlete when he won the 100.

"This was definitely another step toward my longtime goal, which is the Olympics," Locke said. "But right now, it's time to go to college, and I feel I'm ready for that."

Three years ago, Locke was on the verge of being academically ineligible. Now, under the guidance of coach and mentor Hansford Johnson, Locke is the top-ranked prep sprinter in the country and on his way to the University of Tennessee, owning the nation's four fastest times of the year in the 200.

Saturday's winning mark of 20.87 was one of them, along with his U.S.-best 20.58 and state record from last month's Florida finals. Locke also owns the state record in the 100 (10.32).

At this meet, Locke came close to suffering his first defeat of the year. He came off the curve at North Carolina A&T's track with a solid lead, but down the homestretch Ohio's Blake Heriot, a junior, nearly erased the gap. Locke managed to hold off Heriot's charge to win by .05 seconds.

Also competing Saturday was Robinson's Darrin Gibson. Despite having to run out of one of the slower sections of the 800, the Florida State-bound Gibson ran 1:53.41, good for 16th place.

Share this:

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT