Sports

Bryant jumps across sports

• Dougherty’s Brian Bryant made his name on the basketball court, but will contend on the track for a state title in the high jump.

Derek Barichello

ALBANY — Dougherty high jumper Brian Bryant is looking to add to his legacy.

His name is already etched in Albany basketball lore for averaging 29.1 points per game, earning back-to-back Herald Player of the Year honors and signing with Okaloosha-Walton College.

But today, Bryant will compete in his second GHSA State Track & Field Championship in Jefferson, with hopes of adding credentials in another sport.

“This is my second time, so I feel good,” said Bryant, who won the Region 1-AAA title in the event. “I’m not going to worry about how high the bar is; I’m just going to jump.”

And after finishing second place at state last season, the bar is set high.

Heading into the state finals, Bryant is tied for the second best qualifying jump, a leap of 6 foot, 6 inches with two others and just two inches behind Otis Clark of Flowery Branch with the highest jump of 6-8.

Last year, Bryant cleared 6-8 but fell short to Jordan Jackson of Hart County, who cleared 6-10.

Without Jackson in this year’s competition, Dougherty coach David Miller thinks Bryant can bring home a state title.

bring home a state title.

“If he gets 6-8 again, he ought to win state,” Miller said. “I feel like he can get it.”

Teammate Jamie Jones will give Bryant company in Jefferson.

Jones, who finished eighth at last year’s state meet in the 400, enters Friday’s qualifying round and Saturday’s finals with a time of 49.070 seconds, 1.23 seconds behind top-seeded Amaechi Morton from Riverwood.

Jones’ goal is to make the finals as his time is 12th best out of 16.

“I think it can be done,” Jones said. “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get there. So I know, I’m going to do my best and try to win.”

THE ALBANY 400

Albany’s Barry Diamond is the lone Indians competitor making the trip to the GHSA State Track & Field Championship.

Diamond enters the state meet with the fifth best seeding time of 51.240 seconds in the 400, 1.7 seconds behind top-seeded Deryan Sims from Jeff Davis.

NOW THAT’S MOVIN’

Bainbridge’s Anthony Riley enters Friday’s state qualifying round in the AAAA 100 meters with the second best seeding time.

Riley’s time of 10.4 seconds stands only behind Dangelo Cherry, of Mt. Zion, Jonesboro, who has the top time of 10.24 seconds. Lee County’s Eddie Bell will also compete, he has a seeding time of 10.59 seconds.

Meanwhile, Early County’s Omar Williams enters in Class AA as the top seed with a time of 10.53 seconds in the 100.

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