Interview: Vaughn Pickens

James Guthrie

Pickens' time of 7.65 seconds in the 55m hurdles was the fastest in the state this winter.
(Photo: Steve Bedsole)

    Fans of Alabama track & field can quickly relate Hoover High School to success. Most of the time, however, this success is most related to the distance events where the Buccaneers have been dominant for several years. Though the distance corps that has won four consecutive 6A state cross country championships brings in big points on the track as well, the Hoover hurdlers have quite a tradition themselves.

In the late 1990's, it was Chris Butler winning state championships and setting records for the Bucs. As soon as Butler graduated, Chris Jackson (now running for LSU) picked up where his former teammate left off, contending for state hurdling titles from 1998 through 2001. Last year, Buc senior Gevar Bonham was the 6A state champion in the 110 hurdles.

The tradition continues this year with senior Vaughn Pickens contending for status as 6A's fastest hurdler. In the indoor season, Pickens popped a time of 7.65 seconds in the 55m hurdles at the LSU High School Invitational to claim the fastest time by an Alabama runner all season. At the state meet in February, he finished a close runner-up to defending 300m hurdle champ Kevin Sewell, running 7.84 to Sewell's 7.68 in the finals.

Though he did not get the gold he wanted at the state meet, Vaughn Pickens' eight points in the hurdles did help Hoover High come home with the all-important blue trophy as 6A team champions. In addition to the cross country title his distance teammates picked up in November, the indoor championship moves the Buccaneer team one step closer to a historic "Triple Crown"--championships in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. With their star hurdler contributing in two events in outdoor (110H, 300H) instead of just one, Pickens and the rest of the Hoover men like their chances.