If not for two knee surgeries, this story might be about Maddox White the football star instead of Maddox White the track sensation.

The precocious St. Christopher’s sophomore stopped racing for gridiron goal lines two years ago and switched to sprinting to track’s finish lines.

“If I went back to football and got hurt again, it would be tragic,” White said.

Among those most impressed with the 17-year-old son of Demetrius and Stephanie White of Sandston is veteran St. Chris Coach Marshall Ware.

“Maddox is a super-talented kid, and he is so excited to run track,” Ware said. “Even when he was unable to compete, he came out and watched the team practice. You could tell he just loved it.”

This spring, he’s looking to be a “one-two-four man,” meaning a state contender in the 100, 200 and 400.

“If I can do that, I should get better offers (from colleges),” he said.

White has broken the St. Chris record for the 55-yard dash, running a 6.34, earlier this season. The old mark of 6.37 was held by Brandon Thomas.

Outdoors, he’s looking at the school 100 standard of 10.63 set in 2018 by Frank Royal III. The 200 record is also in his sights, along with the 400.

“Most sprinters don’t like to hear about adding the 400, but Maddox does,” Coach Ware said. White said he’s proud of his school record, and just as proud of his family record. Father Demetrius was a star sprinter at King George High.

“I broke my dad’s record in the 55, but, of course, he wanted me to,” White said.

While White hasn’t totally given up on a gridiron comeback (football coaches can be very persuasive) he’s full speed ahead for now in track spikes.

Following his double victory at states, White carried his spikes to a brighter stage last weekend at the AAU Nationals in Virginia Beach.

Taking on some of America’s fastest school boys, he finished third in the 200 in 22.0, just 0.17 slower than the national champ. He was competing for Speed Team.

In the 60-meter finals, White finished seventh (out of nearly 100 entries) in 7.18.

The winning time by Cashmere James was 6.93.

White will accept being a state champ for now, with room left in the trophy case for top national honors.

Quick Nick also makes his mark

The area’s other state 55-meter champ was Thomas Dale senior Nick Tyree, who won the Class 6 (largest enrollment) title in 6.42 in Virginia Beach. He ran a 6.29 in the preliminaries.

Tyree, who will continue his track and football career at the University of Delaware, is the brother of Chris Tyree, who recently transferred to the University of Virginia from Notre Dame.