Fast Friends dominate field

By DAN MURPHY

Posted: Jun. 28, 2009

It's a good thing that track standouts Dezerea Bryant and Tahje Whittley get along, because the pair of sprinters spend plenty of time together. During the track season, Bryant and Whittley are teammates on the state champion Milwaukee Bradley Tech track team. In the summer they both run for the Milwaukee Mustangs Track Club.

Bryant had a big day Sunday at the AAU District Meet at Waukesha North, and Whittley wasn't too far behind.

Bryant won the intermediate division 100-meter dash in 11.95 seconds, edging Whittley (11.97) and Chidera Obasih (12.02). The junior-to-be, who placed second in both the 100 and 200 at the 2008 Division 1 state meet, also won the 200 in 24.60. And once again, Whittley was right behind her, in 24.98.

"It's very complicated because even though we're best friends, on the track we're competitive," Whittley said. "She's faster than me and she pushes me to do my best. You're in the blocks by yourself and it's just you and the race."

Added Bryant: "That's my best friend. I love running with her because I know that she is going to push me. I love running against this kind of competition. It makes me run as fast as I can. It pushes me and makes me work hard in practice."

Bryant and Whittley also were on the winning 400 relay team (47.45) and the 1,600 relay that captured an easy 16-second victory with a time of 4:17.34.

Sprinter Berevon Wyatt, who will be relied on to fill the rather large (and fast) shoes of graduated state champion Centrell Minter at Milwaukee Vincent, showed he has speed, too. Wyatt, who also runs with the Mustangs, posted an impressive 10.89 and easily finished ahead of Washington Farrington (11.03) in the 100, and also edged Farrington to win the 200 (22.10).

"I know some of these guys ran at state and their average times are usually my PRs," Wyatt said. "I know that if I come out of the blocks with everybody that my speed will carry me through. Every time I get a win or come in second, it builds up my momentum."

Every participant at the meet can compete in the AAU national qualifier on July 17 and 18 in Hammond, Ind. The top four event finishers in each age group then advance to the AAU Junior Olympics, which run from July 27-Aug. 8 in Des Moines, Iowa.

"When you get in competition like this, you are running against kids your own age," Mustangs coach Ray Hale said. "Even though at the higher levels when you move up to regionals and the national meet, the competition gets that much better. You are running against kids your age, but you're running against the best kids your age in the nation."