Conant's Graham feels the rhythm

It's a bit ironic that poetry is one of Conant's Toni Graham's favorite pastimes.

What the senior accomplished on the track at the Class AA finals in Charleston last May was nothing short of poetry in motion.

Graham missed winning the 100-meter dash by an eyelash, as East St. Louis' Ronecia Nash beat the Conant junior in a photo finish 11.94 to 11.95.

Graham (25.16) also finished second to Nash (24.86) in the 200 and combined with Briana Millar, Emily Quinones and Destiny Arps to finish third in the 400 relay (47.8), and fourth in the 800 relay (1:41.6).

Graham collected quite a bounty in Charleston last season with her four medals.

But it is nothing new for Graham since the Conant senior has earned eight state medals in her first three years. Graham took a fourth-place medal in the 400 relay and a third-place medal in the since-retired 800 medley in 2006, and a seventh- place medal in the 400 relay and a second-place medal in the 800 medley in 2005.

Graham also holds the school record in the 100 (11.8) and 200 (24.5) and is part of the school-record 400 (47.8), 800 (1:41.6), and 800 medley relays (1:45.7).

But it was the 100 finals last May that still has people talking. Graham had the fastest times in Friday's preliminaries and battled Nash back-and-forth in Saturday's finals with the results not being known until well after the race.

"It was one of those things where we were going back and forth, she was right next to me," said Graham of a race that saw both runners lean at the tape. "I was just happy to make it to the second day, but losing by one-hundredth of a second … I wasn't happy.

"But I got second, it definitely wasn't expected."

But expectations are on the rise this season, and it would surprise no one to see Nash and Graham battle it out again in Charleston.

"She hates to lose as all competitors do," added Conant coach Bob Borczak, "And I'm pretty sure she already had a plan of action on what she needed to do this year right after the race.

"It was a great race and now she is one of the best."

Before exploding in the individual events Graham made her mark in the relays. And this season Graham will join fellow seniors Millar, Quinones and Arps to form an experienced and talented quartet in the 400 and 800 relays. Junior Joelle Lein adds depth to the explosive Cougar relays.

"My individual events are important, but in my opinion the relays are more important," added Graham, who has worked with the talented Arps for four years and was joined by Quinones and Millar last season. "It's all about team, I can't do anything if the other girls don't get the baton to me. We have a saying that we like to keep the stick in the race, as long as we can do that we'll be fine."

And the Conant relays have been more than fine, picking up nine state medals the last four seasons, including one in the 3,200 relay in 2006.

Now the seasoned Cougars are able to do their handoffs by feel, making this year's group that more explosive.

"That's the ultimate, to do it by feel," added Borczak, "The relay has to be about the team. You can't be a one-person relay."

Graham acknowledged that the relays have helped her in the individual events, but what has made the most impact for the senior has been her maturation process and work ethic.

"As a freshman you hear you have to work hard," said Graham, "you hear it but you don't necessarily do it.

"My junior year I put myself in position where you don't have room to slack off, you work harder. I think that comes with age, you learn what the game is about and you work harder."

Now the Alabama-bound senior has put herself in position to put an exclamation point on her stellar high school career.

"To continue to be the best … I think she understands the level she's competing at now and what's expected of her," added Borczak.

A lot is expected of a Conant team that came within 1 point of earning its first state trophy last season. With Kalli Dalton adding points in the distance events, combined with the sprint relays, the Cougars are in good position.

Graham is a big part of the Cougars' plans, and along with her exploits on the track she has also been busy with extra-curricular activities.

The senior is a member of the junior class council, a member of the National Honor Society, and involved in the political club. She scored a 27 on her ACT.

Her parents Tony and Beverly, who met at Alabama State, have also had a big influence on her and have kept her on target for her goals, which include winning a state title in either an individual event or relay.

"I want a gold medal before I go to college," added Graham. "My mom is like, 'So you want to be state champ? You have to get up at 6 a.m., you want to be state champ, you have to eat right, you want to be state champ, you have to put in the work.'"

Graham finds her motivation and release in reading and writing poetry. One of her favorite poems is "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou. The last verse speaks volumes.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say

It's in the click of my heels

The bend of my hair

The palm of my hand

The need for my care.

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally

Phenomenal woman

That's me.

"It embodies the type of women I want to be, it's inspirational," added Graham of the poem. "I'm proud of who I am, and I want to make my parents proud."

Poetry can be left to one's interpretation, but in Graham's case there is no misinterpretation.

She truly has been phenomenal.