DI BOYS TRACK: Hurdling comes naturally for Canyon Springs’ Alexander

Canyon Springs senior Bradley Alexander made a name for himself on the football field this past fall by earning first-team all-Northeast League honors.

Now the 5-foot-11-inch speedster is starting to make some noise on the track, as he swept the boys hurdles events at the Division I Sunrise Region track and field meet Saturday at Del Sol.

“Going out for track last year as a junior, I was new to the whole thing,” Alexander said. “So I think I just brought my athleticism, hard work and heart from football.

“I would’ve never pictured any of this. Last year, I was just coming out here to have fun and get a little faster for football. And then I just noticed, ‘Oh, I might be pretty good at this.’ This is amazing, so surprising.”

Alexander, who finished second in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the 110 hurdles in last season’s region meet, improved drastically to take both events this time.

He won the 110 hurdles in 14.55 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 38.62, improving on last season’s region times by 1.67 and 1.15 seconds, respectively.

“I’ve got one of the greatest hurdle coaches around in coach (Sam) Germany, and another great coach in Paul Howard,” Alexander said. “Both just amazing guys. They’re great guys and have helped me through so much. That’s how I’ve progressed so fast. I found a love for both sports.”

Alexander has received an offer from Grambling State to run track next season and is also receiving interest from several other schools. He is considering playing both sports at the next level.

“I say this, and it’s very true. I never chose the hurdles. The hurdles chose me,” Alexander said. “It’s funny, last year, I had made it known that I wasn’t going to do hurdles. I was going to run track, but not hurdles. And you see what happened.”

Silverado senior Cody Hudson was second in both hurdle events, finishing the 110 in 15.35 and the 300 in 39.21.

Centennial seniors Anyah Nutter and Dajour Braxton each won three individual events to help the Bulldogs win their sixth consecutive Sunset Region title with 240 points. Palo Verde was second with 112 points, followed by Bishop Gorman (74), Cimarron-Memorial (54) and Shadow Ridge (53).

Nutter won both Sunset hurdles, taking the 110 (15.01) and the 300 (39.27). He also ran on the winning 800-meter relay team and was first in the high jump (6 feet, 4 inches).

“It was a good day,” Nutter said. “There were some things I wish I could change, but overall, I did everything I needed to do.

“It feels great that I was able to keep the winning streak for region strong. You don’t want to be that team that didn’t make it.”

Braxton set meet records in the 1,600 (4:09.71) and 3,200 (9:31.59), took the 800 (1:54.34) and ran on the winning 3,200 relay team (8:00.50) that beat Palo Verde by more than nine seconds.

“Last night, I told myself I was going to have a long meet,” Braxton said. “It’s all for the team, though. That’s all I was thinking today.”

Braxton has become so important to Centennial’s success that his teammates refer to him as “D-Money.” The Louisiana State signee finished second in all three of his individual state races last season but is looking to add to his state title in the 3,200 meters from 2013.

“I’m going for gold in every event,” he said.

Palo Verde junior Zakee Washington, who missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, won the 200 (21.86) and 400 (48.53) and also ran on the Panthers’ 1,600 relay team that placed third.

“It’s a blessing, man,” Washington said. “I couldn’t do it without my team working me at practice and the coaches. I missed my sophomore year, so now I’m just ready to go get it.”

Green Valley senior Ian Mack took the 100 (10.45), 200 (21.13) and 400 (48.15) races and was the anchor on the Gators’ second-place 800 relay team.

Mack’s 100 tied the all-time zone record, set in 1983.

Green Valley won its second Sunrise Region title with 142½ points. Coronado finished second with 89 points, Silverado was third with 78 points and Valley and Liberty tied for fourth with 70 points.