Ka’Deem Wynn | Writer

One look at him, and you instantly know that he’s something special. The 5-foot-7, 160-pound sophomore at Flagler Palm Coast High School is back and is faster than ever.

Que’Shaun Byrd began his running career around age seven, which was around the same time he started playing football. After football was over, football coaches want to stay in shape so they’re stronger for the following year. Byrd had the same idea, so he did what most of the the older guys did─he ran track.

Byrd started his high school career off running a solid 11.80 in the 100-meter dash. The following two weeks, Byrd kept sprinting against the clock, clocking 11.97, and then 11.72 respectively. Still figuring out how to run his race, Byrd continued to dance around the mid-to-low part of the eleven seconds in the 100-meter.

Trying out the 200-meter dash a few weeks prior, Byrd ran it again at the Volusia/Flagler Freshman/Sophomore meet at Flagler Palm Coast High School. With the meet being at home, he placed second in the 200-meters, running 23.31. Byrd also clocked his fastest time and at that time, his PR, of 11.19 in the 100-meter dash, placing second as well. He would go on to run at the district meet later that season, placing sixth in both the prelims and finals of the 100-meter dash, and placed eighth in the prelims of the 200-meter dash, and sixth in the finals.

Despite not making it out of the district meet, his season wasn’t over.

Over the course of the season, Byrd’s efforts in the 100-meters earned him a spot on the 4x100 relay. After running fast time throughout the season, the relay ran when it mattered. At Flagler Palm Coast’s region meet, also known as the “Region of Death,” Byrd charged off as the lead-off leg. The relay ran 41.77, placing second behind Dr. Phillips, who ran 41.34.

Another freshman out of Flagler going to the state meet, Byrd, like his teammates, was anxious to come home with a medal around his neck the following weekend. Unfortunately, that would have to wait.

During the prelims of the 4x100, Byrd exploded out of the blocks, charging towards teammate Marcel Williams. With the rainy and wet conditions at UNF, the baton slipped from Williams’ hand during the exchange, resulting in the relay not making it to finals.

With a heartbreaking end to the season, Byrd took comfort in the uplifting comments by his teammates and coaches, all who knew that he would be returning his sophomore year.

A Step Forward

“Last year I would say I had an alright season,” Byrd said. “I wasn’t as fast last year.”

Byrd’s statement certainly rings true, as he opened the 2015 track season with a 11.28 in the 100-meter dash, and was just shy of running his PR in the 200-meter dash, running 23.22. Two weeks later, Byrd had his first, but certainly not last breakout race of the season. At the 2015 Hammock Hardware’s East Coast Classic, Byrd wowed his home crowd with a PR of 10.82 in the 100-meter dash, where he placed fourth. He later ran a PR of 22.50 in the 200-meter dash prelims, placing third, and then ran 22.52 in the finals, also placing third.

He would run 10.91 at the Five Star Conference Championships, placing second, and tie his PR in the 200-meters, again placing third.

Byrd ran at the 51st Annual Bob Hayes Invitational, running 11.19, placing 12th in the prelims of the 100-meter dash. Flagler Palm Coast’s 4x100 relay had the fastest seed coming into the finals, and could have very much won the race. But Byrd got a little too antsy down in the blocks, and false started, causing the relay to be ejected from the race. Despite another heartbreak for the relay, Byrd received some motivation from a teammate.

“One of my teammates told me that it wasn’t meant for us to win a trophy because we’re going to win states and get a state ring.”

Flagler’s team is looking to add another state title to its name this year, and Byrd is more than ready to contribute.

“It feels great,” he says. “It’s a good feeling to know that you’re a part of something big and you’re helping achieve that goal.”

Byrd, who is currently the second fastest sophomore in the 100-meters in the state, looks to continue on making big plays for his team. By the end of the season, Byrd wants to get his 100m time down to a 10.65 or lower, but ultimately, he wants to win the 4x100 at the state meet.

Away From The Blocks

On his team, Byrd is known as quite the joker. Whether is be at a track meet, practice, or a team get together, Byrd always knows how to find a sense of humor.

“I’m a chill guy. I’m funny and tell jokes a lot, but I know how to get serious when it’s time to get serious. I’m an out-there kind of guy who knows how to get the energy in the room started.”

Byrd’s energy is what’s going to help propel his team forward, and help them perform big at big meets. Byrd says that he’s good with all of his teammates, and they all joke with one another. Though different people run different events, Byrd knows how to put the jokes aside and cheer for his fellow teammates.

Que’Shaun Byrd is not an expert at running fast. He’s still relatively new to the game, but constantly improving. However, he has picked up key lessons during his time in track.

“Just keep working hard and listen to what coach (Halliday) tells you, and do every workout right.”

With good coaching and a strong team to back him up, Byrd is about to make some of his dreams a reality. Better yet, he still has two more years. He may be in the group of unranked right now, but if you give it some time, you’ll see his name soar to the top of the state leaders chart.