Bobby Grant, Paul Lucas in running for boys track athlete of year

It appears to be heading for a May showdown to find the top boys track and field athlete of the year between Phoenix Brophy Prep senior Bobby Grant and Phoenix Mountain Pointe junior Paul Lucas.

Both are turning it on in the second half of the season with records possibly falling at the May state championships.

Last weekend, Grant set Mt. San Antonio College Relay records in Walnut, Calif., in the 400 meters (47.50 seconds) and in the 300 intermediate hurdles (37.06).

The 400 mark is a Brophy record. The 300 hurdles time was off his personal record of 36.47, which is just off former Brophy star Devon Allen's state record of 36.39.

"Robert Grant sees that there are only a few more opportunities left in this season for him as a senior to leave his mark on the track record books," Brophy coach Bill Kalkman said. "He is focused on being ready for each invitational race. Scoring points for the Brophy team will be his priority at state on May 10, and leading a young relay group will be part of that experience."

Lucas ran a faster 400 over the weekend. His 46.86 time at the Hohokam Invitational in Mesa was the fastest 400 time run in the nation this high school season. It is the sixth-fastest all-time in Arizona.

Grant's time ranks second to Lucas in Arizona.

Lucas also holds the nation's fastest time in the 200 at 20.84 seconds.

Lucas leads Arizona in a third event -- the 100 meters at 10.48. The state record is 10.33.

"Like all others, Paul is training hard," said first-year Mountain Pointe track coach Tim O'Neil, who worked with Grant in the hurdles last year at Brophy. "It's been a combination of great training and well thought out competition schedule (sprints) coach (Larry) Todd has him primed and ready to go - and Paul isn't alone. The Pride athletes seem to be peaking just at the right time -- three weeks to state."