Davin Merrill of Odessa has had a busy start to his summer.
Not that he’s complaining.
The soon-to-be freshman at New Tech Odessa has been on a fast track, literally, since the end of the spring semester.
Putting in the miles needed to increase his speed and lower his times, Merrill has raced himself up the ladder, posting qualifying marks for the Region 12 Junior Olympic Championships on July 5-8 in Humble.
Merrill will compete in the 800 meters, 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters during the event, looking for times fast enough to secure a spot in the national championships, July 25-31, in Sacramento, Calif.
Not bad for someone who has been running, competitively, for less than five years.
“He had a coach that put him in running when he was at Austin Montessori,” his mother, Danae Grayson, said. “I would never have thought of that.
“Davin was playing basketball, but he found out that he loves to run.”
Merrill competes for the West Texas Track Club during the summer and attended First Odessa Christian Academy the past three years, while also playing for the school’s basketball team.
First Odessa Christian Academy is adding a ninth grade in the fall, but Grayson is moving her son to New Tech so that he can run for Permian.
“If they (First Odessa Christian Academy) had a full track and cross country team, we would stay,” she said. “But there really isn’t enough competition.
“Davin wants to run in college and earn a college scholarship. To do that, you have to run against better runners.”
In the Permian Basin, among the 13- and 14-year olds, that list starts with Merrill.
He has dominated the age group at long distance and there is no sign of him slowing down.
On June 11 at Greenwood, Merrill captured the 3,000 meters in 11 minutes, 2.30 seconds at the USATF West Texas Association Junior Olympic Championships.
Then, for good measure, he paced the field in the 1,500 (4:54.26) and 800 (2:14.64).
Less than a week later, he was back in action at the Nik Morales Mini Olympics at Ratliff Stadium and saw two times drop significantly.
Merrill stopped the clock in the 3,000 in 10:27.09, more than 30 seconds quicker than at Greenwood, while lowering his 1,500-meter mark to 4:46.80.
The only time that didn’t improve was the 800 (2:16.25), likely because it was run immediately following the 3,000 on Saturday.
He won’t have that issue in Humble.
Another reason for the move to New Tech, according to Grayson, is the chance for her son to become familiar with the travel as a member of a team.
The long bus rides to events, staying overnight in hotels at some races, learning how to travel and be ready to compete when the doors open.
At First Odessa Christian Academy, the athletes traveled with family members to the events.
“I want him to have that experience,” she said. “That’s all a part of competing for your school, along with having to take care of your academics as well.
“Davin wants to run in college, so this is going to be good for him.”
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