By Hayden Cox - MileSplit Correspondent
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Myles Marshall isn't letting his foot off the gas for his last year of high school track.
The Marietta Lassiter High School senior, an All-American this past outdoor season at New Balance Nationals, has already locked his eyes on the outdoor Georgia state wind-legal record of 13.34 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles, last set by Terrence Trammell of Southwest Dekalb in 1997.
But first, he has to conquer the remaining weeks of the indoor season, and he's fresh off strong performances at the Music City Indoor Invitational in the 60 meter hurdles, 60m dash and long jump.
Next up is the University of Kentucky's High School Invitational on Saturday before he closes out his indoor season at New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York City.
"I was very happy with my PR in the 60," Marshall said after clocking a time of 7.09 seconds at the Music City High School Invitational on Feb. 2, giving him a US No. 14 mark amongst Georgia athletes this season.
The highlight for the crowd, however, was Marshall's 7.95 performance in the finals of the 60m hurdles.
While the mark was 0.05 seconds off his personal best, he won the event by 0.01 and it was one of two times this season the Ohio State signee has been under 8 seconds.
The only time he's run faster this indoor season was at the Mondo Elite HS Invitational a week prior, when he posted a US No. 8 time of 7.90 seconds.
That wasn't the end of Marshall's busy day in Music City, either. He also placed seventh in the long jump with a mark of 19-1.25.
While Marshall has already qualified for the 60m hurdles at NBNI, he still has some work to do in the 60m and long jump if he wants to triple at nationals. He'll need a time of 6.94 and a mark of 22-9 to qualify.
"I need to establish the first five hurdles. After that, it will carry," Marshall added.
Marshall's success in multiple events has led some to speculate that Ohio State could develop him into a formidable indoor pentathlete or outdoor decathlete.
After all, Marshall started as a football player, originally only joining the track team to improve his foot speed until a back surgery knocked him out of football.
"Right now I'm focused on hurdles and sprints, but (at Ohio State) I'll do whatever the team needs me to do," Marshall said.
Despite a tight recruiting battle between UCLA, Syracuse, Baylor and Ohio State, Marshall ultimately chose the Buckeyes, and he says he's very excited about his future, both on the track and in the classroom.
"When I took my official visits, I focused on schools that were big on academics," he said. "I wanted to make sure I got a degree from somewhere that would stand out."
Ohio State assistant coach Joel Brown is in his 13th year with the program, which included time while he was on his own post-collegiate career with adidas.
Marshall said that ultimately mattered. He had much respect for the athletic career of his new coach-Brown was ranked in the world's Top 15 for the 60m hurdles for nine years.
But before that comes to fruition, Marshall is focused on the task at hand.
And that state record Marshall is eyeing up? He's still 0.53 seconds shy of tying the 110m hurdles mark following his career best of 13.87 seconds in July at the USATF Junior Olympics.
"My speed is up to par," he said. "I'm working on little techniques right now, making sure my lead leg comes down quick enough, things like that."
There is no doubt that Marshall has some work to do, but he has no lack of motivation.
"I think I have a lot of potential in track. I look forward to competing at the collegiate and hopefully pro levels... keep an eye on out my name, cause big things are coming."
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You can contact MileSplit Correspondent Hayden Cox at Hayden.Cox2@gmail.com
Follow Myles Marshall on Twitter @MylesMarshall18 and Instagram @myles.marshall
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