Barron Collier senior Brandon Cachon is comfortable winning major races. The UNC signee ended his last state meet with titles in the 4x800m relay and the 400m dash. In addition, he finished second in the 200m dash and 4x400m relay, and guided his team to 3A runner-up finish. You'd think four high school state titles would satisfy the speedster, but he says he isn't done just yet.
"I'm excited for Golden South this year. It's my first time going to the meet because I'm not playing football anymore, so I don't have spring practice. I'm just training and getting ready for the meet."
Cachon's first test at Flo Golden South will be his friend and track rival, Tyrese Cooper. The duo raced head-to-head at the beginning of the season at both the Sam Burley and Louie Bing meets in south Florida. In 2015, they ran some of their fastest times at New Balance Nationals, with Cachon going 46.74 and Cooper--as an 8th grader--running 46.44. Cachon said he's looking forward to facing off against the athlete they call "Smoke" at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.
"Tyrese is a good friend of mine and an amazing runner. He makes me better. It should be him and I at the 300-meter mark together. I know he will push me to be my best. It's going to take a 45 to win the meet. I'm looking to PR because I'm a 46 runner right now, but maybe something special can happen."
On the line for the winners of the 100, 400, 800, and mile at Flo Golden South is a ticket to the Brooks PR Invitational June 17-18 in Seattle. The prize is something Cachon said he covets.
"I really want that ticket. I'm training my butt off for it, doing speed workouts and working on my second 200 meters and doing what my coach tells me to do. He's going to get me where I need to be and that should put me in a great spot to get that ticket. I've never been to Seattle, but it would awesome to go out going to Brooks PR."
The multi-faceted athlete will end his Flo Golden South day with an all-star 4x400m relay under the name E.O.T.O that includes Jahquez Durham, Jeremay Lawson and Tariq Evans. He says his versatility to run everything from the 200 to the 800 is what made him appealing to colleges, and especially the Tar Heels.
"I like running different events and mixing it up at every meet to help myself get better for my 400. My coach did a great job of putting me in the right events and making sure I did great. This year I took on a work load to score points for my team."
At Flo Golden South, he plans to prove why he isn't just the best in the state, but one of the best in the country.
"Going in fresh to this meet, I believe I'm one of the nation's fastest athletes. I'm ready to drop my times. I feel great and am ready to run."
