Freshman is making tracks

BURBANK HIGH — Although he has yet to began his freshman track and field season at Burbank High, Isaiah Amos has already taken part in a big race.

Saturday, the freshman took part in the Run for the Dream Indoor Track and Field Invitational, held at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. Amos took part in the boys’ 600-yard competition.

Amos won his heat in 1 minute 18.18 seconds and finished with the ninth-fastest time overall out of 30 competitors.

In his race, the freshman sat back in second place, about five meters off the leader, for the first two laps of the three and three-quarters lap race. When he sensed the leader’s pace was slackening, he made a strong move and assumed the lead. He stretched his head out over the final lap to win by a relatively easy 1.6 seconds.

“It was a great experience for the kid to get a chance to run in such a unique atmosphere,” Burbank Coach Trevor Marca said. “Some runners go their whole careers without getting the indoor track experience, and here he is as a freshman already competing in a top level indoor meet.

“He had a great time, and he walked away with a greater appreciation and passion for the sport.”

Following in the footsteps of former Bulldogs great Greg Dotson, Amos could emerge as the next accomplished middle-distance runner from Burbank. Last season, Dotson finished second in the state in the boys’ 800 meters and holds the school record of 1:49.40 in the event.

Amos has already run the 400 in 53.8, 800 in 2:03 and the 1,600 in 4:40. He’s close to breaking Dotson’s Bulldogs’ freshman mid-distance records of 2:01 and 4:33.

At Saturday’s competition, Amos received support from eight of his teammates, who traveled with him to the event to cheer him on and give him support.

The fifth annual Run for the Dream Indoor Track and Field invitational honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the successful athletes from the Central Valley.

The event featured one of the fastest indoor tracks in the world. The $1,000,000 state-of-the art Tartan Track was built exclusively for this event.

Along with high school races, the meet also featured youth and collegiate competitions. In the high school events, medals were awarded to the top three finishers.