Speedy Zips Recruit Kevin Garner

[Captain Kangaroo]

...and he's listed as a 6' 2" Defensive Lineman?!

Titans' relay team fast and furious

West Mifflin's Montel Williamson takes the baton from teammate Kevin Garner

Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review

By John Grupp

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

It took nearly a year, but all-state football player Kevin Garner has forgiven Brandon Coleman and Montel Williamson.

The two record-breaking sprinters decided to focus on conditioning and indoor track rather than play football last fall with Garner at West Mifflin High School.

With Garner leading the way, the Titans made a surprising run to the WPIAL Class AAA football finals, before losing to Thomas Jefferson.

"At first, I was real upset that they didn't play," Garner said. "I was kind of mad, but not anymore. I understand, especially now."

Garner is reunited with his two friends, and they make up three-fourths of the fastest relay teams in Western Pennsylvania for West Mifflin boys track and field.

The 400-meter relay team has a WPIAL-best time of 43.0 seconds, and the 1,600-meter relay has a top-ranked time of 3 minutes, 25.9 seconds. Both teams are undefeated this spring.

"It's going pretty smooth," Garner said, "but we still have some work to do."

Garner was an alternate last year when Williamson and Coleman led West Mifflin to the WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA titles in the 400-meter relay and the WPIAL crown in the 1,600-meter relay. The 400-meter relay team set the WPIAL record with a time of 41.83 seconds.

Garner joined the starting lineup this year on both relays. They are expected to be favored in both events at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships at Baldwin High School on May 19.

Freshman Kadeem Gaiter rounds out the 400-meter relay team, and senior Anthony Mazzarese, the coach's son, completes the quartet in the 1,600 relay.

Garner is lifting weights nearly every day as he prepares for his freshman football season at the University of Akron. But he's remained fast enough to run the 100-meter in the 11.4-second range and hold his own in the 4x400.