Adrian Killins: State champion

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

Adrian Killins said that he wanted to win a state championship in football or track before he graduated next year, and now, the wait is over. He breezed to a comfortable 200-meter championship with a 21.16 Saturday, May 2, at the University of North Florida.

“It feels unreal to be a champion at state,” Killins said. “I never thought this would happen, but it took hard work and dedication. I’m just blessed, but I’m at a loss for words.”

Killins became the first state track champion for Mainland in 10 years, since Tony Wiggins captured the championship in the same race.

Killins went into the state meet expecting to sweep the 100- and 200-meter dash, but he fell short in the 100 by a tenth of an inch.

“I had to bounce back in the 200, after taking second in the 100,” Killins said. “

With just one chance to redeem his close loss and to clinch a state title, Killins made the most of it. All year long, he has been raving about his hard work, dedication and preparation that he puts into every practice and event, and Killins believes his work has finally paid off. He said he had dreamed of this day all his life, back when he was surprising older onlookers in street races, as a kid.

After the race, he knelt numerous times, and when asked about it, he said, “I was just in total shock, and I kept thanking God.”

Although he’s the champion, don’t expect Killins to slow down any time soon. He’s already declared his expectations for his senior year.

“I plan on coming back to win the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay,” he said. “It really feels good to be able to bring a championship back to my school and my community. I’m just going to let this ride out and get ready for football.”

Killins was the only athlete to win a gold medal from Flagler or Volusia County.

BOX: Top finishers

Seabreeze had a team of distance runners that performed well enough to place at states. Kianna Bonnet finished seventh in the 3200-meter run and 12^th in the 1600, while Alyssa Bayliff took 14th, and the 4x800 relay team (Alauna Neely, Alyssa Bayliff, Lea Gray and Elizabeth Murray) took ninth. Gray also finished 13^th in the 800.

Mainland’s Breona Butts took sixth in the 200-meter dash.