King’s signing is a milestone for Braden River girls track and field

Braden River High School’s Emma King stands 5-foot-10, yet she couldn’t clear 4 feet when she was thrust into high jump because of her height as a sophomore.

Then last year, she told first-year Pirates track and field head coach Stefanie Minihan she wanted to jump higher. After improving her high jump to the point she was clearing 5-4, King drew college attention.

Inside Braden River’s media center on Thursday, King was one of five Pirates to sign a national letter of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers in college. King signed with Tulane.

“Tulane was my first-choice school, before I was even decent at track,” King said.

Minihan has coached track for 16 years and said King is the first athlete she has had sign with a college.

Meanwhile, the Braden River softball program had four of its seniors sign. Sarah Crawford signed with the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Ali Yawn signed with Palm Beach Atlantic and twin sisters Casey and Brooke Farrow signed with Chipola, a junior college.

“For the softball aspect, I have a better chance of playing and getting a spot on the field,” Yawn said.

Crawford said she fell in love with UAB during her visit to the campus over the summer.

“It’s kind of like a weight off your shoulders, but I finally get to call myself a Blazer,” said Crawford about the recruiting process coming to a close.

The early signing day period began Wednesday and runs through Wednesday. On the first day of the period, student-athletes at Bayshore, Lakewood Ranch, Manatee, Saint Stephen’s, IMG Academy and Inspiration Academy signed.

Football’s signing day is in early February.

This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "King’s signing is a milestone for Braden River girls track and field."