Track: Khalfani Muhammad is ready for the challenge ahead
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It’s going to be hot this weekend in Clovis, where Khalfani Muhammad of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame will try to repeat as state champion in the 100 and 200 at the state track and field championships. He knows everyone would love to make their day by beating him.
‘I like being the favorite, because there’s more pressure, and that brings out the best in me,’ he said. ‘Everything from here on out is abut winning. I’m not concerned about my times. Yeah, I’d love to PR again, but it really doesn’t matter as long as I win. That’s been my goal this year from Day 1 _ getting back to state and winning. You’re not gonna PR every time, but you train as hard as you can and you want to keep getting better.’
Who will be Muhammad’s main competitors?
In the 100, sophomore Myles Valentine of Upland is preparing to take a shot at toppling Muhammad. He has run 10.33, second only to Muhammad’s 10.22. Morgan Simon of Loyola has been chasing Muhammad all season and keeps getting faster. He has run 10.53.
In the 200, Muhammad has run 20.73. Simon is right behind at 21.05. Valentine has run 21.15. City Section champion Ben Duncan of Taft ran 21.84.
-- Eric Sondheimer