It was a heck of a rookie year for Karon Brookins, a 1st-year sophomore sprinter and jumper at Timber Creek.
In his first season of high school track, Brookins had success in a number of events this spring and wound up tied as the No. 1 sophomore high jumper in New Jersey, No. 3 long jumper, No. 12 triple jumper and No. 15 in the 100-meter dash.
On the South Jersey lists, he’s No. 1 sophomore in the high jump, No. 1 in the long jump, No. 4 in the 100 and No. 7 in the triple jump.
Brookins cleared 6-6 in the high jump at the Woodbury Relays, hit 22-2 in the long jump to place 2nd in the state Group 4 meet – just 4 ½ inches from a state title – triple jumped 43-0 ½ to win the Camden County meet and PR’d in the 100 with his 11.11 at states after medaling at sectionals.
Not many athletes even attempt those diverse events. Brookins was the only athlete in the state this year just to jump as high as 6-6 and run as fast as 11.11. So you can can imagine how rare 6-6 / 22-2 / 43-0 1/2 / 11.11 is.
Brookins caught 15 passes for 250 yards and two TDs for Timber Creek’s football team this past fall. He’s listed at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 