Trenton track star signs with FSU

By Carrie A. Mizell

For Trenton High School track star Brandon Stone signing with Florida State University last week was a dream come true.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior signed a letter of intent with the Seminoles on Wednesday before a crowd of 100 family members, friends and school faculty.
Brandon is credited with jumping 7 feet in the high jump last spring, leading him to be named by ESPN, the best high school high jumper in Florida and third in the nation.
“This is just the beginning for Brandon,” said Jim Akins, former track coach at Trenton High School. “And I’m so proud to have had the opportunity to work with him.”

Former THS track coach Jim Akins joined Brandon Stone at the signing table,
along with Brandon’s parents, Kyle and Kelly Stone.

A speedy football player, Brandon hadn’t considered track until coach Jim Akins kept after him to give the sport a try.
Brandon Stone was not a “track guy.” Not then, anway.
Akins was persistent and convinced Brandon that he could be the first real track star to ever graduate from Trenton High School and go on to compete at the college level.
“It was because of Brandon’s hard work,” Akins said. “Because of his sprinting and constantly working at the high jump that he was able to attract such a school with such an outstanding athletic program as Florida State has.”
According to Lynette Langford, principal of Trenton Middle-High School, Brandon is the first Tiger to ever sign a letter of intent with a Division 1 college.
Over the last several years, Brandon has attended summer track camps at FSU. When he finally visited the school, while considering what college he would attend, Stone told his family that he felt right at home at the Tallahassee university. Brandon told his parents, Kelly and Kyle Stone, that the entire program seemed to be a good fit. A University of Florida graduate, Kelly Stone said he thinks his son will excel at FSU.
“He’s a very good athlete, who is willing and accustomed to working hard,” Kelly Stone said.
Brandon will be one of several 2012 Trenton High School graduates who will be attending Florida State University in the fall.