Buford’s track teams were on track to win big last year when the COVID-19 pandemic derailed their plans and ended their season prematurely. Head coach Fyrone Davis felt that his team left a lot on the track last year and waited in anticipation for this season to roll around. He believes he has some special athletes capable of competing with the best and beating previous records.
In fact, members of the Buford track and field team have already broken records this season. Many have broken their own personal best records, but Buford school records, as well as meet records have already been broken this year.
At their last major meet, Parkview’s Need for Speed Invitational, the Wolves had 10 first-place finishes to propel them to a second-place finish.
The Buford girls 800-meter sprint medley team of Tavye Borders, Hayley Iverson, Sydney Harris and McKenzie Smith. The Lady Wolves also saw first-place finishes by Harris in the 200-meter dash, Iverson in the long jump and Jenevieve Talaber in the high jump.
Isaiah Bond, Victor Venn and Malik Williams had two first-place finishes for Buford. One of their top finishes was on the 800-meter sprint medley team along with Tobi Olawole. Venn took the top spot in the 60-meter dash, breaking the Parkview record. Bond won the 100-meter dash. Malik Williams finished first in the long jump. Victor Payne (60-meter hurdles) and Ryland Gandy (300-meter dash) had one first-place finish each.
During that meet, four school records were broken. The boys 800-meter sprint medley team of Bond, Olawole, Venn and Williams broke the school record with a time of 1:33.24. In the 60-meter dash, Olawole broke the school record with a time of 6.99, however, Venn was able to surpass him with a time of 6.95 to make the new school record in that event. The school record for the 60-meter hurdles was broken with a time of 8.57 by Payne. The last school record broken at the Parkview meet was in the 100-meter dash by Bond, who had a time of 10.60
The track team went one step further when Harris shattered Parkview’s meet record in the 200-meter that was previously held by Buford’s Trinity Price. Harris broke the record with a time of 24.52
The Buford track and field teams will compete at the Gwinnett County Varsity Championships March 27 and 29 at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee. Look for Buford to do well at the county meet, especially in the shorter distance races and the sprint medleys.
After the county meet, Buford track and field will look ahead to the region and sectional meets before heading to the state championships May 13 through 15 in Carrollton.
