Last year Donavan Brazier shocked the track world. No one thought he’d do it again, but he has. “I’ve put in a lot more conditioning early in the season,” he says. “I’m working on pure speed now, so it’s starting to come together, and it’s working out pretty good.”
As a junior at (Grand Rapids) Kenowa Hills High School, Brazier won the 800m at his regional in 1:52.74. That made him a strong candidate for the win at the Michigan Lower Peninsula D1 Finals, but no shoe-in (Michigan does not have a true “state” meet, as the Upper Peninsula has insisted on holding its own championship ever since 1943).