Hillsborough’s Green takes aim at national title today

Posted Jun 15, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 15, 2012 at 12:39 PM

Hillsborough High rising senior Jeremiah Green will be seeking his first national title when he competes in the triple jump today at the New Balance National Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Greensboro, N.C.

Green, the state champion in the event at last month’s Class 3A finals, enters the meet at North Carolina A&T as the No. 1 seed in the event with his personal best performance of 50 feet, 6 inches. Green won the 3A state crown with a triple jump of 50-3.5 and, on June 1, captured first place in the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in Carolina, Puerto Rico, at 49-2.

The New Balance meet is considered the national high school championships. Green can become the county’s first prep champion since 2009, when former Chamberlain High star Dentarius Locke won the 100- and 200-meter dash titles.

Green is also entered in New Balance’s championship division of the long jump, slated for Saturday.

Other county athletes entered in this prestigious meet is Alonso’s William Taylor-Haynes, who is in the championship division of the 110 hurdles, Academy of the Holy Names star Ryann McEnany, who is competing in the Emerging Elite division of the girls long jump, and Brandon resident Brittany McGee, who is entered in the championship division of the heptathlon.

McGee, who competed last season as a freshman for Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, completed four events in the first day of the hepathlon competition Thursday and turned in some strong performances to stand in sixth place heading into today’s final round.

She ran the 100 hurdles in 15.26 seconds, cleared 5-3.75 in the high jump, threw the shot 27-6.5 and ran the 200 in 26.18. Still to come today are the long jump, javelin throw and 800. If she can finish in the top six, McGee will earn all-American honors.