After spending the past two seasons on the cusp of greatness,
South County senior Trevor Stewart is putting the finishing touches on a senior
season that is more indicative of his talent.
The North Carolina A&T bound Stewart earned his first
state title at the 6A boys championships, taking the open 400 meters with a
time of 47.39. Remarkably, the time was almost a second slower than the 46.44
he ran to win the 6A North region crown just a week earlier.
But based on his past two seasons, even the 47 would have
seemed unlikely based on his performances of sophomore and junior years.
In short, Stewart had emerged as one of the better runners in
Northern Virginia, but not one whose name came up in state champion
discussions. In fairness, for any distance under 500 meters, the discussion
begins and ends with three names – Holloway, Noah Lyles and Josephus Lyles.
So, for the past two years, Stewart has hovered in the wings.
As a sophomore, he clocked a 48.62 at regionals, and then repeated with a 49.01
at the state meet to finish fourth in a race won by Josephus (47.27). Last
year, he chipped a sliver more than a quarter second off his 400 best with a
48.35 at the Lake Braddock Hall of Fame Invitational. Stewart place third in
the 6A North regionals, but ended up concentrating on the 100 and 200 at
States.
His 21.58 in the 200 was good for fourth last year as both
Lyles brothers and Western Branch’s Micaiah Harris claimed the first three
spots.
The 100 finals were nothing short of a disaster, as Stewart
took the eighth and final place, running an 11.12.
This year, Stewart has found a renewed purpose. At the 6A
indoor meet, he placed third in both the 500 (1:05.15) and 300 (34.71). Still,
both state times were off his bests of 1:03.80 and 33.90, both from the Ram
Invitational. And at States, he watched Noah Lyles take the 300 title, while
Josephus Lyles and winner Holloway placed ahead of him in the 500.
Coming into Saturday’s final, Stewart knew that he was due.
Plus, he was better prepared this time.
“I’ve been doing extra stuff,” said Stewart, just a minute
after winning the 400. “I’ve been getting in some extra running and weight
training.”
There would also be no Josephus Lyles in the race, as the
Titan senior has been sidelined with a torn hamstring.
But this race was simply won by Stewart who took control from
the 200 mark and pushed through for the win over Igo Grimes of Freedom and
South Lakes’ Skander Ballard.
Stewart also took runner-up in the 100 (10.81) behind Harris,
who won in 10.66, to account for 18 of the Stallions 31 points in a sixth place
team effort.
With bests of 10.64, 21.33 and the 46.44 under his belt,
Stewart is ready to attack the next level of competition and will do so at
North Carolina A&T beginning next year. Why become an Aggie?
“I had a good one-on-one with their coach, and I believe that
he can get me to where I want to be,” said Stewart.
Given his improvement over the past twelve months, there is reason
to believe that Stewart will leave an indelible mark on MEAC track, while
providing fits for the competition at Hampton, Norfolk State and Howard.
Stewart will complete his prep career this weekend, running
the Championship 400 at the New Balance Nationals, on his soon-to-be home track
at N.C. A&T in Greensboro.
