Brock returning to form after injury
Zyron Brock finished in the top-4 in six individual events at last year's 5A State Track & Field Championships, including state titles in the 400 and long jump. An injury has hampered her start to the 2024 season. The junior has high hopes for a fast finish as the Lady Wildcats look for a third straight championship.
“My injury is a shoulder injury where I tore my labrum in my right shoulder and bruised my socket bone,” Brock explained. “This was caused by popping my shoulder in and out of place twice during basketball season. It has had some effects like not being able to do certain field events due to the way I tore it and having to be careful and my arms and legs seem like they are working against each other.”
At last year's state meet, Brock leaped 17-09.50 to win the long jump, went 36-03 to finish second in the triple jump and cleared 5-0 to place fourth in the high jump. This season, she leaped 17-11.50 to win the long jump at Texarkana and went 36-06.5 to win the triple jump at the Oil Belt Relays.
“I'm not quite there yet but I have to work a little harder than I ever had to and I'm very confident that before conference, everything will be better,” she said.
So far, Brock hasn't been the workhorse like last year. She hasn't competed in the high jump and her running has been limited, primarily, to the relays. She is the reigning state champion in the 400, was state runner-up in the 200 and took third at state in the 100 a year ago.
Coach John Koonce said his star athlete is on the right track to a full recovery.
“Brock has responded well to her injury. We are slowly trying to introduce more events to see how her body handles it,” he said. “The key for her to being what she was last year will be getting back in shape. She wasn't able to play basketball in the latter part of the season, so right now she is just trying to get her legs back under her.”
There's a lot of season left and Brock believes at the end of the year, she'll be in a familiar spot.
“This season has been very challenging due to my shoulder Injury and having to be out for a while, not being able to work out,” she said. “My goal for this season is to be an even better version of last year and to help my team become 3-time state champs.”