The Contra Costa Times is reporting that the Bay Area's top two sprinters and also Notre Dame-bound football players have quit the track team in protest of coaches being fired.
George Atkinson III and twin brother
Josh reportedly quit last week after sprint coaches Barney Stocking and Dean Williams were let go on April 20.
The Atkinsons, sons of former NFL defensive back George Atkinson, quit the day both were fired, they told the Times.
George Atkinson finished third in the state 100 meter finals as a sophomore and fourth in the 200. He was well on his way to bettering that effort as a junior before a late-season hamstring injury curtailed him. He's
ranked the No. 83 top football recruit in the country by MaxPreps/CBS Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming.
Josh Atkinson reached the state meet two seasons and is ranked the
25th top cornerback in the country by Lemming.
Granada officials would not comment on the firing.
"They just fired our sprinting coaches for no apparent reason," Josh told the newspaper. "We felt it was unjust."
George ran bests of 10.59 in the 100 and 21.30 in the 200 as a sophomore. Josh ran a wind-aided 10.57 100 as a junior.
