THOMASVILLE — Nick Dodson has his eyes set on a 400m hurdles title.
In his final tuneup before the NAIA Championships on May 21-23, the Shorter College sophomore will take a pit stop in Tallahassee this weekend where he’ll compete in the Seminole Twilight.
Dodson, who recently defended his Mid-South Conference title, is excited about competing against some of the nation’s best on the Divison I-A level.
“I’ve already pretty much seen some of the teams that are going to be there,” said Dodson, whose competition begins on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Mike Long Track at Florida State University. “There’s going to be some pretty good schools there. Florida State, they’ve won a national title the last two years so they’re going to have a lot of good teams come to their meet.”
Dodson’s already excelled against Division I-A competition. He recently competed at a meet at Ole Miss and finished fourth.
“The only kids I lost to were two guys from Ole Miss and one kid was from Mississippi State,” Dodson said. “I wasn’t complaining about that.”
Dodson is ranked in the top three in the 400m hurdles in the country and wants to continue to lower his time before the NAIA meet in a little more than two weeks.
“I’m trying to get to that top spot so I can have a good lane assignment at nationals,” Dodson said.
“I want to go into nationals in the preliminaries with a lot of confidence,” Dodson added. “I defended my conference title two weeks ago up at Kentucky. I’ve been back-to-back the last two years. Going into this meet, as conference champion, I want to go into the 51 (seconds) range this week. Hopefully, I can go 51.5 or even better. My goal for this season is to go 49, which I think I’ll hit at the nationals.”
The former Thomas County Central standout finished runner-up last year in the 400m hurdles. According to Dodson, surpassing that performance is not out of the question.
“I feel real good right now. My legs feel real good,” Dodson said. “I’m ahead of schedule than where I was last year, if you look at my times and my performances. I came in first earlier this year in Charlotte. I won the preliminary and the final. I took third down in Alabama. Then I came back to Tennessee and took first at a big, huge SEC meet at the University of Tennessee.
“I’m way ahead than where I was last year. I’ve got more first-place finishes.
“My times have been very consistent and I’ve been staying within the same range every meet.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Nick Dodson leaps over a hurdle during the Mid-South Conference Championship final. Submitted photo
Dodson to compete at FSU meet
- Local Sports
-
-
THS set to hold Bulldog Brawl
No rest for the weary.
-
English qualifies for British Open
Thomasville’s Harris English has qualified for his first major.
His chance at another major comes in a couple of weeks. -
Central's Henley honored again
Jodi Henley is a model of excellence and consistency. The Thomas County Central junior was recently named to the all-state golf team for the third time.
-
Spring showcase
Two weeks of spring practice culminated in an annual scrimmage for Thomas County Central on Tuesday.
-
Warriors honored with postseason awards
Whether it be all-state or all-region, the Brookwood Warriors were honored for their 27-6 season.
-
Warriors' season done
Youth and inexperience in the GISA playoffs came back to haunt the Brookwood Warriors on Monday.
With a chance to play for the Class AA championship on the line, the Warriors allowed three unearned runs in the first inning and left the bases loaded in the fourth, leading to Windsor Academy defeating Brookwood 5-3. -
Central set for annual scrimmage
Two weeks, 10 days of practice, culminates in today’s spring game for the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets.
-
Brookwood sports top scholars on football team
Brookwood athletic director and head football coach Robert East had a stunning revelation during the senior class Honors Assembly.
-
Semifinal split
Brookwood will have to wait until Monday to possibly claim its spot in the GISA Class AA championship game.
-
Heart for helping others
A heart to help others led Bryant Harden into the Peace Corps.
A love for baseball has the Thomas County Central graduate’s sights set on teaching America’s pastime to people in Mongolia. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
