Bryce Love sizzles in 100 meters at Wake County Championships

Three types of high school track athletes evolve by the spring of their senior year if they also are high-profile college-bound football recruits.

One decides to take off the spring to gain weight and prepare for college; the second participates to stay in shape but limits his track meet schedule; and the third competes with the same focus that drove him his junior year.

Wake Forest’s Bryce Love, one of the nation’s top running backs committed to Stanford, falls into the third category. He won the 100 meters with a sizzling time of 10.61 seconds in the Wake County Championships Saturday at Garner High.

“I want to help my track team,” Love said. “I enjoy the competition and it’s a great way to stay in shape.”

His time was good for the state’s No. 2 mark behind a 10.57 recorded by Charlotte Mallard Creek junior Charleston Cravont.

Another name to watch in the state 100 is Garner’s Nyheim Hines, who is bound for N.C. State in football. Hines has been competing this spring, although he rested a leg injury Saturday and attended the N.C. State spring game to the delight of Wolfpack fans anxious to see him.

Love twice clocked a season best. In the morning 100 prelims he ran 10.79 before he dropped .18 in the afternoon. He said the difference was his start in a nearly flawless start-to-finish race. He also appears have a good feel for his training, judging by his inner clock.

“That should be my best time of the year,” he said after the final before learning the official mark.

Love’s goals are state titles in the 100 and the 400-meter relay. The 400 relay foursome of Christian Bass, Tyri Beard, Jonathan Ryamu and Love on anchor ran a 41.85 that would have been the fastest time in the state this year, but the Cougars were disqualified for a baton exchange violation. Bass also won the 200 in 21.63 that ranks No. 1 in the state and Beard was second to Love in the 100 in 10.88.

Wakefield, which claimed the boys team title, was the winner in 42.85.

Another state leader was Knightdale’s Jamie Brown in the long jump at 23 feet, 2 inches. The Western Carolina-bound athlete also won the high jump at 6-2. Brown leaped 24-1/2 during the indoor season, but a leg injury curtailed his training at the start of the outdoor season.

“I felt consistent today finishing on the board,” Brown said. “This is the best I’ve felt this spring.”

A state leader on the girls side was Southeast Raleigh junior Asya Macon in the 400 with a 56.84. She dropped nearly a second from her previous best of 57.76 a week ago as she helped the Bulldogs to the girls team title.

“I feel a lot stronger and am better able to hold my speed,” Macon said. “I decided to kick with about 150 meters to go and I was able to hold it.”

Sanderson’s Virginia-bound Emmanuel Jackson swept the hurdles with a 14.33 in the 110 highs and 40.74 in the 300 intermediates. Another boys’ double winner was Middle Creek junior Terrell Adams in the shotput (55-4) and the discus (162-3).

Other girls’ double winners were Southeast Raleigh’s Kylia Wright in the 100 (12.30) and 200 (25.40), Wakefield’s Breanne Bygrave in the 100 hurdles (14.11) and 300 hurdles (45.04) and Southeast Raleigh’s Hasana Clark in the shotput (43-8) and discus (147-7).

More boys’ winners: Southeast Raleigh’s Jayon Woodward, 400, 48.87; Wakefield’s Tre Brooks, 800, 1:58.57; Knightdale’s Andre Ray, 1,600, 4:52.84; Broughton’s Will Sandin, 3,200, 9:55.70; and East Wake’s Charleston High, triple jump, 44-4

More girls’ winners: Southeast Raleigh’s Kleo Torres, 800, 2:23.08; Enloe’s Cierra DellaRova, 1,600, 5:16.53; Wake Forest’s Kayla Holder, 3200, 11:27.23; Sanderson’s Timara Chapman, high jump, 5-2; Garner’s Taylor Sutton, long jump, 16-11; and Broughton’s K’Lynn Beal, triple jump, 36-10.

This story was originally published April 11, 2015 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Bryce Love sizzles in 100 meters at Wake County Championships."