Bennett is boys track athlete of the year

BRADENTON — Had Robby Bennett just been happy to qualify for the season’s final track meet, no one could have blamed him.

Let’s go back to last spring. Bennett, then a junior at Bradenton Christian, was seeded first in the 110-meter hurdles at the regional meet. But he was disqualified for a false start.

Then he was running third in the 300 hurdles, on his way to a state berth. Then he tripped over the final hurdle.

“The finish line was right there,” Bennett said.

Turns out those minor setbacks turned out to be major motivators. Spurred on by last year’s misfortunes, Bennett worked harder than ever before — and succeeded like never before.

He won the Class 1A state title in the 110 hurdles and was a runner-up in the 300 during this month’s Class 1A state track and field meet at Showalter Field in Winter Park, earning him a pair of medals — and The Herald’s All-Area Boys Track Athlete of the Year honor.

“It was overwhelming,” Bennett said of his run at state.

And it was the result of some major work. Bennett played basketball in 2007-08 and didn’t think he was in track shape when spring rolled around. So he ditched hoops and began working out in November. His main goal was conditioning.

“No hurdles for the first three months,” Bennett said. “I don’t remember missing a day of practice.”

He competed in an indoor meet at the University of Florida and spent practices running against Camille Bratton, whose sister, Christina, is BCS’ track coach.

“At the beginning, Camille was kicking my butt,” he said. “The competition at practice was great.

“Christina and Camille were great. They started boosting my confidence back in November.”

Bennett rolled right through the postseason. He won Bay Conference and district titles in both events and was the regional champion at the Region 3 meet in the 110. Then at the state meet, he finished the 110 hurdles in 15.59 seconds. Second was Mount Dora Bible’s Tyrone Johnson (15.65).

“Nobody knew I won it until I stepped on the podium,” Bennett said. “It was amazing.”

What made it even more so, Bennett said, was the spirit of the competitors.

“Everybody I raced against was telling me, ‘Good job,’’’ he said. “Everbody had great sportsmanship. I was blessed.”

The medals are now hanging proudly in Bennett’s house along with a special T-shirt the Brattons made for him during the season. And his track career isn’t over — Bennett will continue to run when he gets to Lees-McRae College, a Division II school in North Carolina.

His future is wide open — but he’ll never forget that day in Winter Park.

“That was his redemption,” Christina said.