Viral moment displays Michael Walker Jr.'s rising star as Indiana high school sprinter
Hammond Morton sophomore Michael Walker Jr. is one of the fastest high school runners in the state. He is ranked first in the 100 and 200 meters.
The baton dropped to the ground before Michael Walker Jr. scooped it up and started his turn in the 4x200-meter relay. A botched exchange put Walker and the Hammond Morton boys track team behind the pack at a meet during the indoor season.
“In the moment, we were looking at the baton — it was slow motion for me,” Walker said. “All I know is I’m just locked in and do what I always do. ” Trailing behind, the sophomore avoided a collision on the curve.
He used a jab step to steer clear of traffic before he bolted into the straight pathway on the anchor leg. Stride for stride, he made up for lost ground. He tracked down each runner one by one, then blew past them for the win.
It was a viral moment that wowed social media viewers and those who witnessed his excellence in person. It was a clutch performance that showcased his speed and mental toughness as an Indiana high school track star. “Most of the times when people drop the baton, they kind of just quit the race,” said Hammond Morton coach Rob Gardner.
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