The562’s coverage of cross country and track and field is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by John Ross, Class of 2013.
Jordan senior Darryll Stevens couldn’t believe it.
He’d been behind in the 300 hurdles at the CIF State Track Finals, and then surged towards the finish, crossing the line almost simultaneously with two other runners. As he caught his breath, he looked up at the scoreboard and saw the news: he was a state champion. Stevens won the race in 37.432, edging Devin Paton of Monrovia by .003 and Cayden Roberson of Roosevelt by .005.
“I’m so happy, I can’t believe it,” he said after. “This is so special. I honestly didn’t know if I’d get this far but I’ve been dropping my time and I just knew I had to take it home.”
Stevens was greeted after the finish by his head coach, Sharaud Moore, who came sprinting down from the stands to place a golden crown on his head. Stevens, still wearing the crown ten minutes later, said he was speechless about the whole sequence of events.
“I have no words,” he said. “(Moore) told me and (Jordan Washington) if we won he had a surprise for us. It was a surprise. I’m just happy.”
Stevens’ junior teammate Jordan Washington had a great evening at State as well, finishing second in the 100 to state record-holder Rodrick Pleasant. Washington finished with a time of 10.3, just behind Pleasant’s 10.2. Pleasant also won the 200, where Washington had a fourth-place finish in 21.06.
Washington said he still considers himself a football player who runs track, not a track athlete who plays football, but he acknowledged he’s made big strides this year and will have big expectations going into his senior season as the state’s top returning sprinter.
“(Pleasant) is why I’m so excited and grateful to run track,” said Washington. “Getting to compete against people like him. I was mad last year that I didn’t win. This year I can see the progress, and I know there’s more progress to go. Now I’ve got the experience from being here both times, and I really believe in myself next year.”
Washington also said he was as excited for Stevens as he would have been to win his own state title.
“He was running from behind this year, he was aggravated and frustrated, and he just kept the process and kept improving and getting better,” he said. “And he won.”
Jordan (3 entries)
Boys’ 100, Jordan Washington, 2nd, 10.3
Boys’ 300 Hurdles, Darryll Stevens, 1st, 37.44
Boys’ 200, Jordan Washington, 4th, 21.06
