Sports
 

Track returns to prominence

As the championships begin, Houston sends it best to Austin for Nationals

Sports commentary

Mario Mohan

For those of you who do not know him, his name is Leroy Burrell, Olympic gold medal winner and head coach of the Cougar track and field program. Burrell and assistant coaches Kyle Tellez and Theresa Fuqua work hard at recruiting and training dedicated athletes who are committed to bringing championship prominence back to a once dominant program.

As you read this, the nations top collegiate track athletes are participating in the ultimate challenge -- the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Mike A. Myers stadium in Austin. During the championships, the best will run, jump and throw for that coveted first-place finish. It is an event that will emphasize personal bests. And since this is an Olympic year, it should be interesting. The NCAA championships is the last hurdle before Olympic qualification and a chance to run on one the fastest tracks in the world.

"The track at Mike A. Myers stadium may not be the fastest 400-meter track in the world, but if it isnit, itis close," Jim Dunleavy said on the NCAA Web site. "Some of the tracks on which the Olympic Games and World Championships are run are perhaps faster in the straight-aways than the Myers track, but for speed races around one or two turns, Iill go with Myers." 

When you combine this with the speed that always emerges at the championships in an Olympic year, you are going to witness something special at this meet.

Because of the 82-meter curve length, athletes look forward to running at Myers. This normally results in faster times, and possibly world record-breaking times. But there is are mental factors at work as well.

"The most difficult part of the 200 is the curve," 1999 World Champion Maurice Greene said. "You are trying to run at top-end speed, but the force you are moving with is so great it is trying to push you out on the curve, and youire trying to stay in. You have to find that one place where youire not trying to force your body to go in or out."

If you are a fan of the sport or a fan of UH, you should try to make it to Austin to see great athletes and witness the use of physical mechanics put to the extreme.

Houstonis track and field team deserves a round of applause for a terrific season. Outside of the team, there are a few athletes whose season continues in Austin. UH will be represented in the womenis 100- and 200-meter races by freshman LaDedra Guy; the menis 200 meter by junior Stanford Routt; the menis 110- and 400-meter hurdles by junior Andrew Caruthers; the high jump by freshman Tristian Whitley; and the triple jump by sophomore Vincent Marshall. 

Routt, a native of Pflugerville, successfully defended his title at the Midwest Regional Championships with a time of 20.03 seconds. This sprinter has been running like his coaches want him to, and is now reaping the benefits. 

Heis more relaxed and possesses uncanny explosiveness off the starting blocks.

Guy, from O.D. Wyatt High School in Fort Worth, is ending her freshman campaign with this invite to the finals. She had a sixth-place finish with a time of 11.40 seconds at the Midwest Regional. Even though young in age and tenure, she has matured in experience and work ethic. In high school she had times of 11.53 seconds in the 100m and 23.75 seconds in the 200m. 

Alicia Cave, a junior from Trinidad, also qualified in the 100m hurdles after placing a time of 13.55 seconds. She is no stranger to championship competition. In 2003 she had a season-best time of 8.61 in the 60m hurdles. 

She won the 100m hurdles at the Conference USA championships with a time of 13.47 seconds. 

Attracted by the history and reputation of Houstonis track and field team, these young athletes arrive with visions of becoming champions and representing their chosen University. 

They practice and train in obscurity and without the fanfare and popularity other programs enjoy. The spirit of the team and the achievement of individual bests motivate their drives. In my eyes they are the "lone soldiers" committing feats of endurance and battling the slow drag of the clock.

As they run, jump and triple jump to personal best and team success, they rise to prominence with a single breaking of the tape or landing in the sand. I want to bring notice to these athletes -- men and women who are making an uncompromising sacrifice for their University, their eyes filled with determination and in need of the once overwhelming support of the enduring fans of Houston track and field.

They run for you. They jump for you. They push themselves to unthinkable limits. Without you, the fan, UH track and field is just running.
 
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