When Chattahoochee County High School senior TyQuan Bazemore, son of Veronica and SFC Brandon Carson, was named the Ledger-Enquirer's All-Bi-City Boys Track and Field Co-Athlete of the Year in May, he was ecstatic, he said.
"When I found out, I wanted to jump out of my shoes, but I kept my composure," Bazemore said. "There are a lot of good athletes in the (community) so it was an honor to get the award."
Bazemore was also selected for All-Bi-City team one, consisting of the top athletes in the bi-city.
The 18-year-old athlete, who graduated from high school in May, made Chattco history when he took first place in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.733 at the Georgia High School Association state track and field championship. With Bazemore winning the hurdles and D.Q. Barbin finishing fourth in the 100-meter dash, the Panther boys finished 12th out of 22 teams at the GHSA Class A state championship, sealing the best performance in Chattco's history.
In 2008, Bazemore took eighth at state in 110m hurdles and in 2009, took third in the state in the event.
"It hasn't hit me yet," said Bazemore, in regards to winning first at state. "I am still in a daze."
Bazemore and Jordan High School's Ian Edwards share the athlete of the year award and were the only two athletes from the bi-city to win state championships in track and field.
"I am so proud that (TyQuan) could represent Chattco in that way," said Janele Deloatch, head coach of the Chattco boys track team. "What sets him apart from others is his work ethic. He will do whatever we ask him to do and when he is finished with that, he asks for something more to do. He is an athlete that studies his craft. He's very coachable and listens to what his coaches ask him to do and tries to perfect it to the best of his ability."
And when others are resting, Bazemore is training, Deloatch said.
No matter what sport, dedication and hard work go a long way, Bazemore said.
"You have to stick with it," he said. "If you get down, you have to keep going. Some people get mad and quit after a week or two of conditioning, but to be successful in any sport, you have to train year-round."
When Bazemore isn't jumping hurdles, he plays football, basketball and wrestles. And when he isn't doing that, he is training.
"I love sports," he said. "I like to stay active - I don't like sitting around."
Out of every sport, he said track and football are his favorite sports.
Bazemore said this summer he will concentrate on training for football. He earned a full football and academic scholarship to Benedict College, an NCAA Division II private college in Columbia, S.C. Bazemore said he will run track in college, as well.
Bazemore begins football camp in August.
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