By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The sky is the limit as Bedford North Lawrence track standouts Braydon Patterson and Frank Decker look to make giant leaps for Stars-kind.
Patterson, a state qualifier in the high jump, and Decker, a regional qualifier in the pole vault, hope to propel themselves – and the Stars – to new heights, rare air as they eye records and postseason achievement.
On the ground, BNL will also have speed in Hiram Mullis (who spends a lot of time in the air while clearing hurdles) and veteran distance racer Jonah Bailey. That foursome forms the scoring nucleus for a 45-man roster as the Stars prepare for the 2024 campaign.
Patterson, who won sectional and regional titles, finished 14th in the state meet last year, clearing 6-6 to match his personal best. He attempted 6-8, which would equal the school record set by Lane Hawkins in 2019, before bowing out of that elite competition. That’s now his goal for his junior season.
“Now he knows what it’s like up there,” BNL coach Brett Deckard said. “That first year at the state finals is a big jump for any kid. When you get there on Saturday, and there’s 15,000 people there, and everything is ramped up a bunch, the nerves can get you.”
Decker will be an interesting case study in improvement. He finished second in the sectional by sailing over 11 feet, but he has added over two feet to his previous performances during offseason camp work. He’s gunning for 14 feet, which would vault him into the state finals picture.
Mullis (16.33 in the 110-meter high hurdles) and sprinter Christian Garciano-Curren are expected to compete for blue ribbons on a consistent basis.
“Hiram is getting better and better,” Deckard said. “He works hard. Christian is healthy right now, and Brayden Baker (a newcomer from football) is looking really good. I’m not sure where we will use him yet, but he will definitely help us. Then I have a lot of young kids.”
“Our distance kids will be a lot better. Jonah had a good year last year, and we’re thinking we can move him around. They worked hard over the winter.”
BNL will open the season on April 2 at Bloomington North.
