Gibbs sprinter Trayvon Bromell grew up with Lakewood’s Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin and Tim Holmes. They ran track for the same club teams, separated geographically by zones once they reached high school.
Now they are back together, forming a 4x100 relay team that will be the envy of others when they compete in today’s Golden South meet at Orlando First Academy.
“We’re all such good friends,” Shaquill Griffin said. “It was easy to get Trayvon to run with us. Really, it’s more like a reunion than anything else.”
The four will run with the track club Galaxy Speed based in St. Petersburg.
Bromell, whose anchor leg made up enough ground for the Gladiators to win the 4x100 at the Class 3A state meet two weeks ago, will run the opening leg at Golden South. Shaquill and Shaquem will run the next two legs, followed by Holmes.
“We think we can run it in 40.2 seconds, maybe get even lower than that,” Shaquill said.
All four also are competing in the individual events, as well. Bromell is running in the 100, his signature event. Shaquill and Shaquem are in the long and triple jumps. Holmes is in the 110 and 400 hurdles.
Bromell, who has the fastest non-wind-aided time in the nation (10.14 seconds), is using this meet as a tuneup for the Dream 100 on May 25. Bromell said he wants to run at 10.2 seconds in the 100 at Golden South.
The Griffin twins and Holmes also have a significant addition for their final event, the 4x400 relay: Khari Herbert of Plantation American Heritage is running the opening leg. Herbert helped American Heritage win the event at the Class 2A state meet two weeks ago.
“We feel like we can do some big things in the relays with the guys we have,” Shaquill said.
Other county athletes competing include Shorecrest’s Assata Trader (100) and St. Petersburg’s Cayman Ellis (pole vault). Both won state titles this season in their events.
Golden South Classic
Where: Orlando First Academy
Schedule: Field events for the Classic Division start at 2 p.m. The running finals at 6:45.
Admission: $10. Children 5 and younger are free.