Southridge hurdler sets a record

The first time Southridge coach Rodney Wright saw Olarenwajuk Adeyemi compete in track and field, he knew he wasn't quite cut out to be a sprinter.

Wright saw more potential in Adeyemi, so he persuaded him to try a challenging event -- the hurdles.

''I came to Southridge all ready to run the 100 meters, but coach put me on the hurdles right away in the ninth grade,'' Adeyemi said. ``It wasn't really anything I did. I guess he thought because I'm tall and have long legs, it gave me an edge.''

Adeyemi, Wright and Southridge as a team have reaped the benefits of his decision for the past four years.

Adeyemi showed the top competition around the state why he has become one of Florida's top hurdlers when he set a meet record in the 300-meter hurdles over the weekend at the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville.

Following the meet, with more than 75 teams from around the state, the Spartans' boys and girls teams are each ranked No. 1 in the state by FLRunners.com.

Adeyemi swept both the 110 and 300 hurdles at the meet, and set the record in the latter event in 36.85 seconds.

It was one of three meet records broken by the Spartans as senior Brandon O'Connor set two in the 200 and 400 meters. The pair of stars along with high jumper Brian Knight and senior hurdler Ras-len Bully are at the core of a loaded Southridge's boys' squad that is bidding to win its first state championship this May.

Adeyemi ''isn't just talented physically, he's got the biggest heart out there of any athlete I've coached,'' Wright said. ``I could tell he was getting tired by the eighth hurdle [Saturday], but he pressed on and got the victory. His attitude's carried over to all of our athletes, and that's what we'll need if we're to win it all.''

Adeyemi said he often goes by Eric or the nickname ''Ola,'' because he said his friends have a hard time pronouncing his real name, given to him by his parents who moved to Miami from Nigeria before he was born.

One thing Adeyemi's teammates do not have a hard time with is his personality.

''We're always competing with each other and he does what he can to help all of us get better,'' O'Connor said.

Since he was young, Adeyemi has played several sports, including football, which eventually earned him his scholarship to the University of Kentucky.

As a wide receiver for Southridge, Adeyemi caught 31 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns this past season and had a memorable highlight in an otherwise forgettable game against Class 4A state champion Booker T. Washington.

Adeyemi caught a touchdown pass that broke the Tornadoes' six-game scoreless streak while being covered by Brandon Harris, a University of Miami football signee, and one of the top prep track athletes in the nation.

''I had already committed to Kentucky before that game, but a lot of colleges I guess saw film of that and started calling me up,'' Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi missed a shot at winning gold at the Class 4A state meet last season in the 300 hurdles by the slimmest of margins. He finished second to Northwestern's Malcolm Anderson by one-tenth of a second.

''All we're talking about this season is getting to state and winning it,'' Adeyemi said. ``I have the date marked on my brain, May 3. I can't wait.''