Gaither Hurdlers Leaping Toward Victory

The Gaither Cowboys track team is just beginning to re-emerge as a competitor in Hillsborough County.

There are several prominent athletes, some of whom are even looking to repeat as state finalists. Senior Paul Barrett pushed deeper into the state finals than any other Cowboy did last year, making states and running a 39.17 second 300 meter hurdles. While the time was good enough for ninth overall in Class 4A, it was 0.25 seconds away from getting him into the finals.

But close calls plagued Barrett in 2011.

He missed qualifying for states in the 110 meter hurdles by 0.004 seconds. This is after he ran the second best qualifying time. Then, he was denied the regional championship by 0.07 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles by Countryside's Wylan Bernitt.

Bernitt, along with a handful of other seniors, have cleared the way for Barrett to dominate in 2012.

However, a crop of new talent has made Hillsborough County, particularly Class 3A District 8, ultra-competitive in hurdles.

"I predict that whichever four hurdlers go from our district will go straight to states," said Gaither track coach Ed Moore.

The 300 meter hurdles continue to be dominated by Barrett, but the 110 meter hurdle race is now crowded, just in District 8, with Hillsborough's Evan Jennings, Jefferson's Charles Booth and DeAndre Porter.  However, Barrett's toughest challenge at 110 meters might not come from within his own district. It might come from his own team.

Gaither freshman Samson Moore burst onto the scene in 2012. He took first place in the pace-setting, early-season Charles Johnson Meet with a time of 14.82 seconds.

"The chemistry at practice between Paul and Samson is unbelieveable," said Moore. "They're so competitive and neither one of them wants to lose."

Barrett is the raw, uber-talented senior who has been to the dance. Barrett ran a 14.50 second race at the Vernon Korhn Hillsborough County Championships on April 4. A 14.50 second race in last year's Class 4A state finals would have at least punched a ticket to the finals and would have claimed seventh place.

On the other hand, Moore is a freshman, junior Olympic gold medalist in hurdles, schooled and precise. 

"Neither one of them has ever had a practice partner like they have now," said Coach Moore.

Barrett said the presence of other talented players is helpful.

"Just having him around makes me work harder," Barrett said.

Meanwhile, Moore said he gets ready for races by paying attention to the other athletes on his team.

"You always run faster when there's a kid in front of you in a race," he said. "I have that in practice."

Both athletes continue to improve as the regular season wanes. The Class 3A District 8 meet is Thursday April 19 at Gaither.