If you've never heard the name Melvin Briley, you might not be alone. The Oakleaf High School junior barely made it out of 4A Region 1 in the triple jump and didn't advance past districts in the long jump. His personal bests of 45'9.75" and 21'05" are respectable, but not in the top ten marks in Florida. However, after his showing at the Galleria Games in Alabama, he definitely shot on our radar.
Briley went from unknown to nation leader when he cleared a PR of 49'1.25 at the Galleria Games in Birmingham, Alabama. He says the mark came on his last attempt after coming into the competition with a goal of 48 feet which he hit on his second attempt.
"I told myself I was going to jump a 49 and on my third attempt I did it! I was feeling extremely excited when I hit 49 ft. 1in. I think I even remember tears of joy from that night. I've been focusing on techniques to improve my skill. We worked several days a week and sometimes for many hours. In practices we tend to do drills that increase my confidence and in the end, it paid off."
So where did Briley come from? He recalls starting out in the sport when he was in third grade after watching his sisters compete in track and field. His admiration for them combined with a deep passion for the sport and competition fueled his fire.
"Currently, I am focused mainly on track and field, but I used to play football for Oakleaf High School. I quit my freshman year because I decided I wanted to focus on track year-round. The decision seems to have paid off."
As for things people may not know about him outside the track and field world, he says their are quite a few.
"Somethings people may not know about me is that I'm an introvert and I value God and family above everything. I prefer spending time with my family and close friends over going out and partying. I enjoy drawing, and listening to music as well. Overall, I would say I'm a very humble athlete."
With a number one mark under his belt this early in the indoor season, we are looking forward to the future, and what the outdoor season brings for Briley.
