Sherman Oaks Notre Dame sprinter Khalfani Muhammad is the reigning CIF state champion in the 100m and 200m. His title defense in 2013, to this point, hasn’t been very challenging.
He’s looking for competition. He wants it. In fact, he welcomes it and believes it’s on its way in the form of the CIF Southern Section Masters meet at Cerritos College.
On Friday, at the event, Muhammad won the 100m and 200m and is one step closer to defending his state crowns.
It’s been over a year since Muhammad finished anything less than first place at a meet in the 100m and even longer since he did so in the 200m.
Last week in taking the CIF Southern Section Division III title in the 100m, he ran a wind-aided PR 10.33. After the race, he said he didn’t run his “best race.”
“It wasn’t the best block start I ever had but I have to take it for now and just progress to next week and hopefully come out with a better result,” Muhammad said.
He also ran a 20.84 in the 200m to capture the Division III title – the third fastest time in the nation.
“(The) 200 was a great race,” Muhammad said. “I wish I had somebody there to push me a little bit. I know this Friday I’m going to get a lot of competition and I’m going to really see where I’m at but you got to love it. 20.8, running by yourself shows a lot.”
You could say it shows the heart of a champion. You could back it up by saying Khalfani Muhammad’s biggest opponent so far this season has been, well, Khalfani Muhammad.
Still he continues to have one goal in mind: to win state. His quest to repeat is as strong as ever and he wants to continue to carry the torch. The likes of Randall Carroll and Remontay McClain were both state champions in the 100m and 200m coming out of Division III.
“I just want to get out there and represent and continue (the tradition) on,” Muhammad said.
The next step is this week at the Masters where he expects to make a loud statement.
“I’m not just looking to win," Muhammad said, "I want to destroy everybody pretty much and make sure they don’t have any hope going into the state meet that they can beat me.”
