COLUMBUS — The final hurdle didn’t stop Berlin’s Miles King this year.
King zoomed to the Division I boys 300-meter hurdle state title at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Sunday, just one year after taking runner-up at the final hurdle last season.
The senior Bear barreled down the track with a blazing 36.83-second run, clearing Gahanna Lincoln senior Khalil Church by 0.31 seconds.
“Last year, I came here and got second after leading the whole race and getting got at the last hurdle,” King said.
“That was a big chip on my shoulder running through this year, senior year, trying to make a statement.”
King said his earlier 14.07-second run in the 110-meter hurdles, which was good enough for a fifth-place finish and personal best for him, helped his momentum into the later race.
“I ran a lot better in the 110s this year and had good momentum coming into today,” he said.
“I’m just relieved that the hard work finally paid off.”
Sometimes, a runner truly never slows down, and while this win is exciting, King said he’ll use it as momentum for his training as he prepares to head off to Indiana University in the fall.
“There wasn’t anything different, just more of a mentality that this is my race,” he added.
“I haven’t lost all year, and it was going to stay that way.”
Photos credited to Jack Slemenda / Delaware Source.
