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The vault master does it again
By CHARLES DUNCAN
When the 2008 track season began, junior T.J. Byrd had his sights on smashing the Dawson County High School pole vault record book.
He did that and then some in the first week of competition, breaking the school mark he shared with former Tiger standout Jonathan Hill by a foot.
Last week against East Hall High School, Byrd broke his own record - four times, Head Coach Arron Haynes said.
"He just kept jumping," Haynes said. "And every time he jumped, he set a new record."
When the day was over, Byrd had raised the bar on the school's pole vault record by another foot at 12 feet, 6 inches.
"It was an unbelievable day," said Byrd, a three-sport star for the Tigers. "I felt real good when the competition began. Some days are just better than others."
Some days, Byrd just wakes up feeling so good he feels like he can take on the world. Tuesday was one of those days.
Along with senior Bart Buckelew and freshman John Markley, Byrd leads the Tigers' boys' track squad, ranked among the top 30 track teams in Georgia's Class AA.
Byrd is a second-generation track star for the Tigers. More than three decades ago, his father, Tim Byrd Sr. set the Dawson County High School record for the high jump. That record stood for more than 32 years until former Tiger Chris Lebel broke it.
Tim Byrd Jr. now holds the Dawson County High School record for the pole vault at 12 feet, 6 inches.
The junior, who also plays wide receiver on the football team and is expected to return to the basketball court next season, was elated about his most recent athletic achievement.
"It was a really good feeling," he said. "Being a part of the record books is a special feeling. I'm a part of Tigers' track history."
T.J. Byrd doesn't know how long his record will stand.
It could be his very next pole vault attempt.
"T.J. is special," Coach Haynes said. "He just keeps going and going. The season is still going, who knows, he could break his own record a few more times. He also has another year to get bigger and stronger. Who knows what the record will be this time next season."
The vault master does it again (GA)
- rainbowgirl28
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