Miles, Nabors go for repeats in 300 hurdles

In track and field, the 300 meter hurdles is one of the most difficult races around. It’s a long sprint, requires a specialized technique, and one misstep can lead to disaster.

At Vicksburg High, however, there’s a couple of athletes who make it look easy.

VHS juniors Leon Miles and Tymesha Nabors are the defending Class 5A champions in the boys and girls 300 hurdles, respectively, and are favorites to repeat when they run it Friday afternoon at the Class 5A state meet at Pearl High School.

Both runners take pride in their ability to excel in the race, which requires both speed and a sharp mental focus.

“It’s a race everybody can’t do. You’ve got to have technique, you’ve got to have a focused mind,” Miles said. “I have a lot of pride in it, because I feel like I can break the state record.”

Miles won last year’s state championship with a time of 38.74 seconds. The overall state record of 37.34 seconds, set by Cleveland’s Antonius Dotson, has stood since 1988.

Miles hasn’t lost in the 300 hurdles this season, and wants to keep it that way as he chases history. He’s also eyeing a perfect run next year.

“It’ll mean a lot as a junior to get the state record, and then come back my senior year and break it again,” Miles said.

Nabors’ best time is about a second off of the girls state record of 43.33 set by Nichelle Webb of West Tallahatchie in 2000. She figures she’s more likely to challenge that next year than on Friday.

Her immediate goal is to bring home another gold medal — or maybe several.

“I just hope I win Friday and be No. 1 again and undefeated,” Nabors said.

Although both Miles and Nabors are at the top of their game in the 300 meter hurdles, the shorter version of the race is a different story.

Miles has qualified for the state meet in the 110 meter hurdles for the second consecutive year, but is not a favorite to win. He finished fifth in it last year and was second at the Class 5A North State meet last week in Oxford.

He shrugs off his seemingly odd ability to dominate in the 300 but merely be good in the 110, and has his sights set low for the state meet.

“I won a couple of times, but it’s an off and on race for me. I’m hoping I can at least get a medal,” he said. “It’s a quicker reaction race. The 300 hurdles is a smooth, easy race.”

Nabors doesn’t even run the 100 meter hurdles. Nor does she care to.

“I don’t have a form for it. I don’t have a rhythm for the 100. In the 300, my speed makes up for my form,” Nabors said. “I like the (300) because it’s different. You have space in between the hurdles and time for the jump. It’s smooth. It’s an exciting race.”

While the 300 hurdles is the primary event for both Miles and Nabors, it’s not the only one they’ll compete in on Friday. Miles will also be part of the Gators’ 4×400 meter relay team. Nabors will run on the girls’ 4×400 relay, as well as the 4×100 and 4×200 teams.

“I’m just hoping the 4×4 can come in with the best time and win state,” Miles said.

VHS state meet athletes

Girls

Keiyana Gaskin – 100 meters, 200 meters, 4×100 meter relay, 4×200 meter relay

Tymesha Nabors – 300 meter hurdles, 4×100 meter relay, 4×400 meter relay, 4×200 meter relay

Jade Douglas – 800 meters

Mikayla Banks – 4×100 meter relay

Destiny Allen – 4×100 meter relay, 4×200 meter relay

Kiona Patton – 4×200 meter relay

Char’Davia Anderson – 4×400 meter relay

Lily Brown – 4×400 meter relay

Jamiracle Williams – 4×400 meter relay

Boys

Leon Miles – 110 meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4×400 meter relay

Quincy Brown – High jump

Jarrod Squire – 400 meters, 4×400 meter relay

Chris Davis – 4×100 meter relay

Tedarius Brown – 4×100 meter relay

Terrion Carter – 4×100 meter relay

DeShawn Calvin – 4×100 meter relay

James Stirgus – 4×400 meter relay

Darius Tucker – 4×400 meter relay