EDNA KARR'S RA'HJI DENNIS COASTS TO WIN IN THE 60M AT THE 2022 LHSAA STATE INDOOR MEET
Good things come to those who wait.
Edna Karr junior Ra'hji Dennis hopes the old adage comes true in 2023 as he will wait until the LSU Last Chance Meet in February before opening his indoor season.
Then?
"I want to put on a show for the state," Dennis said.
Dennis certainly put on a show as a sophomore at the 2022 LHSAA State Indoor Meet . He blazed to a 6.85 in the 60m on his way to a LHSAA Division I state championship.
Nationally, Dennis is ranked US No. 10 in the 60m among all returners.
Why wait until February to open?
"It's a matter of staying healthy and focusing on longevity," Dennis said.
When he does make his 2023 debut, Dennis will face off against some old rivals and new competition--both from New Orleans. And both have not wasted any time in opening their season.
Holy Cross' Krosse Johnson opened with a 7.01 at The Gallaria Games earlier this month to finish third in the 17-18 men's 60m, but it wasn't the fastest time turned in by a Louisiana sprinter.
Warren Easton's Germain Smith-Mata opened with a 6.85 at The Galleria Games in Birmingham, AL breaking the meet record of 6.90 set by Terrell Robinson Jr. in 2020. Smith-Mata's time is currently tied for No. 6 in the nation.
Dennis defeated Johnson (6.94) in the 2022 LHSAA State Indoor Meet, but Johnson came back and ran the fastest time in the state outdoors, winning the LHSAA Class 5A 100m title with a time of 10.54.
Yet another familiar name who looks to have a say in the discussion of Louisiana's fastest high school athlete is Captain Shreve's Marquez Stevenson (6.94), who finished third behind Dennis and Johnson in the 60m at the state indoor meet. Stevenson (10.59w) also finished second to Johnson in the state outdoor meet in the LHSAA Class 5A 100m, before beating Johnson at the AAU Regional 11 Qualifier in June.
While he waits, the "Roadrunner" will work to get ready for the competition...especially in the weightroom.
"It's different this year," Dennis said of his pre-season training. "I'm weight training more working on my strength. I want to get more powerful so I can reach my full potential."
The 6'0, 167 pound wide receiver hasn't found transitioning from football to track and field to be difficult.
"It's easy, really," Dennis said. "Our practices at Edna Karr are tough because we hold ourselves to a higher standard. It's just a matter of moving from the football field to the track and getting back in the lab to get faster."
So how did he get the nickname..."Roadrunner"?
"Actually, it's funny how it came about," Dennis said. "I was on the phone with my friends when we were freshmen. We decided to come up with nicknames for each other. Somehow, I got "Roadrunner." It stuck because it begins with the same letter as my first name."