(Big Sky State Games media release)
BILLINGS – Brad Graves of Ballantine was recently named the 2018 Athlete of the Year for the Montana Association of USA Track & Field at their annual meeting in Butte. The award recognizes the top male and female athlete in each age division for hard work and commitment to excellence while competing during the Junior Olympic track & field season.
Brad was the winner in the Male Age 17-18 Division and earned the honor after competing at the state, regional and national levels. At the Montana Association Championships in Butte last June, Brad won both the 110 and 400 meter hurdles. He advanced to the Region 11 Championships in Provo, Utah, at the end of June, where he won the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.74. Graves also placed second in the regional 400 meter hurdles with a time of 56.96. Both performances qualified him to compete in the USATF Hershey National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the end of July.
Graves’ accomplishments with USATF came on the heels of a successful high school season in which he was the Class B State Champion in the 110 hurdles and participated on the State Championship 4 X 100 relay team. In addition, he placed second in the 300 hurdles and was on the second place 4 X 400 relay team.
Graves is a senior at Huntley Project High School and the son of Jay and Jennifer Graves.
