WARREN EASTON'S KHAI BROWN (5) COMPETES IN THE 60m HURDLES AT THE LAST CHANCE MEET
One is a senior boy who competes for small school in North Louisiana's Jackson Parish. The other is a freshman girl competing at one of the largest schools in New Orleans. Quitman pole vaulter Bryan Lay and Warren Easton's Khai Brown have little in common...except for one thing. They are both MileSplit LA's Indoor Athlete of the Year.
"Peanut," as Bryan Lay is referred to at Quitman High School, won the MileSplit LA Boys' Indoor Athlete of the Year poll by garnering over 62% of the votes. As of Saturday morning, Lay had received over 10,200 votes.
Brown's win in the MileSplit LA Girls' Indoor Athlete of the Year poll was equally impressive. As of Saturday morning, Brown had over 57% of the vote with more than 8,400 votes.
"This means a lot because I've been working hard for a long time and to see it begin to pay off my Freshman year is amazing," Brown said.
Brown said her first season of high school track and field went better than planned.
"My first indoor season was better than I expected," Brown said. "I didn't think I'd hit 9.2 my freshman year. Of course, I would've loved to hit the podium, but I'll just keep working and I know my time will come, but I'm very proud of my performance."
The freshman has only just begun.
"For outdoor, I'm working on getting faster, stronger, more comfortable with 33 inch hurdles," Brown said. "I prefer long hurdles so I'm just ready to see where I stand in the 300m hurdles."
Brown credited her coaches for helping get her to this point.
"Coach Eric (Smith) is my high school coach," Brown said. "He pushed us daily at practice and has helped me get faster and stronger. My mom is my hurdle coach. She makes sure I'm confident and can execute in my hurdle races. Coach Nile and Brandon with Sprint NOLA have been training me since I was 7. They all teach me to put in the work and trust the process."
Brown's goals for the outdoor involves many trips to the podium, but for one race-there is a specific place she wants to finish.
"I want to win the 300m hurdles," Brown said.