Little All-City Boys Track Athlete of the Year: Rested Mikey Thomas won four golds, led Northeast to title

While others trained, Thomas sat at home with a shoulder injury that had required him to go to the emergency room just four days before the meet.

“I didn't know what to expect, or how I would run,” Thomas said. “I just laid up in the house. Didn't practice or anything.”

In the end, it might have actually benefited Thomas, who went on to win four gold medals, including individual titles in the 100, 200 and 400 meters.

The rest allowed a nagging hamstring injury to heal, and his legs were fresh for the two-day meet.

Thomas' performance at state was the biggest reason Northeast was able to win the team championship, earning him The Oklahoman's Little All-City Boys Athlete of the Year honor.

“Mikey's 50 points sure helped a lot,” Northeast coach Tim Thomas said of the Vikings' team title. “As long as I've been coaching, I had never got to coach a three-time individual state champion, so that was really exciting.”

Tim Thomas once won three individual golds as a high school sprinter at Chickasha, and at one point, he held the state meet records in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. So he enjoyed the experience of seeing one of his athletes repeat his performance.