By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
T.R. Miller Tigers track sophomore Antonio Gomez not only earned a berth in the illustrious invitational division of the Mobile Challenge of Champions, but he posted a fifth place finish with a time of 15.31 in the 110 meter high hurdles Saturday.
Gomez was invited to Saturday's invitational division after he claimed the open division championship Friday with a time of 15.44.
"It is a very prestigious meet. It has many of the top athletes from across the country. There is the open division which Antonio and a few of our other athletes competed in Friday. The invitational division competition, which is for only the best of the best athletes, is very tough just to even get a chance to compete. It's an invitation only race and all the spots are reserved in advance. There happened to be two available spots in the 110 high hurdles because athletes were unable to attend. Antonio and Justin York of Blount got the two extra spots," T.R. Miller coach Alan Baker said.
Gomez also had a highly productive day in three other events Friday in the open division of the meet.
Gomez posted a personal best mark of 43-4 in the triple jump and a season best time of 41.9 in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles. Gomez also topped the 20 feet mark in the long jump.
"Antonio keeps improving steadily. He ran very aggressively in those hurdle races. He didn't get intimidated and managed to beat couple of people in the 110s in the invitation division. That was a good accomplishment," Baker said.