As a sixth-grader, Maxwell Dyce knew his days as a baseball player were numbered.

"I was starting to get a little fast," remembers Dyce. "The coaches asked me to lay down bunts and run hard to first."

Beating out bunts could only get Dyce so far.

"You still have to make contact with the ball. That wasn't the easiest thing for me to do," he said.

The Moorpark High junior was a better-than-average hurdler entering the 2008 track and field season.

One of the school's assistant coaches thought his destiny might lie elsewhere.

"He said: Why aren't you a sprinter? You need to go out and run the 100,' " Dyce said.

So at the Don Green Invitational on the first Saturday in March, Dyce was entered in the 100-meter dash.

Worst-case scenario, the speed work would help him for the 110-meter hurdles.

Dyce was runner-up to Rio Mesa's Sean Alfino with a time of 11.25 seconds.

That was an eye-opener for the Moorpark coaches. A training program directed toward the short sprints was quickly drawn up.

Two weeks later, Dyce had a wind-aided time of 10.73 and beat Dominguez's Jamel Hawkins, who would place third in the CIF Division I final, and Alfino at the Camarillo Invitational.

By the time Dyce completed his season at the Golden West Invitational, the son of 1968 Olympian Trevor Dyce had equalled the second fastest 100 time (10.53) in Ventura County history, not once, but twice. He also produced the sixth fastest county time in the 200 (21.48) and was one of the state's best long jumpers with a personal-best mark of 23 feet, one-half inch.

"I came out of nowhere," said Dyce, The Star's 2008 Boys' Track Athlete of the Year.

Recognition of the junior's blooming abilities was slow in coming.

At the Mount San Antonio College Invitational in April, Dyce did not make the invitational final in the 100. He won the seeded 100 (10:79) and long jump (22-11).

After missing the Ventura County Championships because of a hamstring twinge, he put on a commanding performance at the Marmonte League final with wins in the 100 (10.53), 200 (21.80) and long jump (22-412) as well as placing third in the 110 hurdles.

For an encore, Dyce was runner-up at the Division II final in the 200 (21.55) and was third in the 100 (10.67) and long jump (personal best of 23-012).

"Competing against some of the elite runners sometimes was a little intimidating," said Dyce. "There were guys taller and maybe 50 pounds heavier. You think these guys have got to be faster. But I knew I was capable of running faster."

As fast as Dyce has become on the track, he is the polar opposite at home.

"You couldn't tell that I've run a 10.5 because of how lazy I have been around the house," said Dyce. "I am constantly hearing Max, clean your room!' Max, do your homework!' It gets done."

Just not quickly.

Although his father and uncles were all sprinters, Dyce wasn't pushed into the sport. As a youth, he tried soccer, basketball, football and baseball.

"My husband let Max find his own way," said Dyce's mother, Kim. "Max was feeling his way as he went through the other sports. Track has become his passion. We knew that Max could run, but not to this extent."

After some nudging by friends, Dyce tried out for the 2007 Moorpark football team.

"I wasn't looking to do that much because I hadn't played in a good two years," he said. "And it was my first year of tackle football. I was looking to put on some weight and get stronger for the track season."

He played sparingly as a reserve cornerback.

There is uncertainty about Dyce's status for the school's football team next fall. A player with his speed would be a valuable asset all over the field. There is a risk of injury that could impact his senior track season.

His senior season and beyond, that is.

"I really have my eye set on the 2012 Olympics," said Dyce. "My goal for next year is at least a 10.3."

A few technical tweaks and more work in the weight room could be the tool.

The Star's 2008 All-County boys' track team

Name School Event Class

Maxwell Dyce Moorpark 100 Junior

Chris Owusu Oaks Christian 200 Senior

Julian Carriger Buena 400 Junior

Doug Bettisworth Oak Park 800 Senior

Travis Edwards Royal 1,600 Sophomore

Sean Gildea Thousand Oaks 3,200 Junior

Garrett DeMirjian Thousand Oaks 110 hurdles Senior

Rogelio Reyes Ventura 300 hurdles Junior

Jules Sharpe Oaks Christian High jump Junior

Maxwell Dyce Moorpark Long jump Junior

Philip Burks Royal Triple jump Senior

Kevin Graf Agoura Shot put Junior

Ryan Rosales Ventura Discus Junior

Jordan Tyler Moorpark Pole vault Senior

Second team

Name School Event Class

Chris Owusu Moorpark 100 Senior

James Short St. Bonaventure 200 Junior

Blayne Lewis St. Bonaventure 400 Senior

Greg Kelly Camarillo 800 Junior

Clayton Graham Calabasas 1,600 Senior

Clayton Graham Calabasas 3.200 Senior

Thomas Garner Royal 110 hurdles Sophomore

Thomas Garner Royal 300 hurdles Sophomore

Garrett DeMirjian Thousand Oaks High jump Senior

Philip Burks Royal Long jump Senior

Bryan Lazar Westlake Triple jump Junior

Ina Liaina Rio Mesa Shot put Senior

Tommy Doupe Westlake Discus Senior

Ken Sugai Oak Park Pole vault Senior