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Trinity Episcopal’s Donavan Goode takes record in 55-meter dash

Fred Jeter | 3/1/2018, 1:55 a.m.
Donavan Goode excels in acceleration. Renowned for his Road Runner-style takeoffs, the 17-year-old Trinity Episcopal School senior is the fastest …

Donavan Goode excels in acceleration.

Renowned for his Road Runner-style takeoffs, the 17-year-old Trinity Episcopal School senior is the fastest 55-meter dash man in Virginia private school history.

“The best part of my race is the start,” said the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Goode who has the earned nickname “Beep, Beep.”

The son of Debbie and Ed Goode Jr., Donavan won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state 55-meter dash on Feb. 17 at St. Christopher’s School.

Goode’s scorching, fully automatic timing of 6.39 seconds eclipsed the previous VISAA record of 6.44 set by St. Christopher’s Brandon Thomas in 2016.

In so doing, Goode avenged a loss to Fork Union Military Academy’s Ebruba Etta in the Prep League finals.

A Milestat.com video labeled Goode’s epic dash “The Perfect Race.”

“Donavan broke through to another level at states,” said Trinity Coach Ned Fischer. “Taking almost two tenths of a second off one’s best time is unheard of.”

On Feb. 10 at the Prep League meet, which also was held at St. Christopher’s, Etta ran a 6.49 to Goode’s then personal record 6.53.

To upset the taller, longer-striding Etta, Goode executed a well-crafted strategy to explode out of the starting blocks like never before. Mission accomplished, he was off like a flash.

“I got a near perfect start at states,” Goode said. “Still, I could hear him (Etta) coming, so I pushed harder.”

Etta came in second in 6.43, followed by St. Christopher’s Frank Royal in 6.58. Royal won the state long jump with an outstanding 23-5 mark.

A year ago, Goode was second (in 6.54) at the states to Woodberry Forest School’s Cameron Hill (6.46).

Residing in Chesterfield County’s Cosby High School district, Goode looms as a powerful statewide contender in both the 100- and 200-meters this spring outdoors.

While his latest honors have been wearing spikes on the running track, Goode said, “My first love has always been football.”

On the youth level, he helped the Clover Hill Association to the Super Bowl final of the Chesterfield Quarterback League.

He took a year off from football as a Trinity junior, but returned this past fall with a vengeance.

As a tailback, Goode ran for 1,020 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, including a 90-yard sprint against Woodberry Forest and a 60-yarder against Norfolk Academy.

He hopes to pursue football on the college level, with track on the backburner.

Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Elon University and Old Dominion University are among schools on the NCAA Football Championship Series (FCS) expressing interest.

Also involved in recruiting is Division II Virginia State University, his father’s alma mater.

Ed Goode Jr. starred in football at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Md., and later played defensive back at VSU under Coach Lou Anderson.

Donavan’s uncle, Eric Goode, played defensive back at the University of Richmond and is credited with a 10.7 second 100-meter dash while at Northwestern.

His grandfather, Ed Goode Sr. of Chesterfield, is a former athlete in Washington.

Goode’s 6.39 was the best among private school sprinters; only Blacksburg’s Cole Beck (4A champ at 6:37) was faster in the public schools’ 6th division.

With a lone exception, “Beep, Beep” left them all behind.