The Best Of Series Continues...

PART 5: THE LONG SPRINTS ( 200 & 400 METERS) *Women*

These two events are perhaps the two events were the United States have been so dominate. Looking at the many champions in the men's 400, the last time the United States did not win the 400 at the Olympic Games was Moscow in 1980 when our country did not compete. In the 200 the United States is all over the top 10, pre-Bolt the United States had the 4 fastest times of all time in 2007. On the women's side there has been dominance of that level but still great success. In the past couple of years the United States has done an excellent job in developing championship level 400 meter runners compared to the mid to late 90's were the United States were more concerned with beating the Russians in the 4x400 relay than individually. There have been a few college programs that do a great job of developing their 200 and 400 meter runners. Let's look at the top 5.





5. The University of Miami, FL (The U)- Amy Deem is one of the best sprint coaches not only in the United States but in the world she has two well known Olympic medalist to thank for that including Lauryn Williams silver medalist in the women's 100 and Debbie Ferguson in the women's 200 a bronze medalist. Amy Deem has done well with developing great 200 meter runners. Lauryn Hills after just three years was able to improve from running 24.0 to 22.46. Charlette Greggs was able to be a solid double performer running a personal best of 51.65 in the 400 and a personal best 22.85 in the 200. Joining the two was Murielle Ahoure, who coach Deem had the pleasure of only coaching for one season to a personal best of 22.78. Krista Simpkins before she transferred ran a 51.95 in the prelims and a time of 52.16 in the finals to win the NCAA title at the 2008 Indoor Championships proving the Canes can produce quality 400 runners. Deem has solid 400 meter runners currently in Ti'erra Brown, Takecia and Tameka Jameson who are all 400 hurdlers as well. Watch out for Thandi Stewart and Ashton Purvis to add serious depth to the Hurricanes long sprints depth chart, the best is yet to come for Deems stellar program.


200 METER SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER LAURYN WILLIAMS













4. Louisiana State University (LSU)- The school that can be nicknamed as Sprinters U has had solid success and performances in the long sprints. LSU is not just a school for 100 meter sprinters. The Lady Tigers have been able to produce 5 NCAA Champions in the women's 200 meter dash. Those athletes include Dawn Sowell, the NCAA record holder since 1989, Ester Jones ('90), Dahlia Duhaney ('92), Zundria Feagin ('96) and Peta Gaye-Dowdie ('00). Muna Lee did in fact win the women's 200 indoors in 2003 but for these ranking they are solely based on outdoor performances. LaTarsha Stroman has the schools only 400 meter title winning the event in 1997. However the Tigers have had countless All-Americans and 4x400 relay NCAA Champions. LSU holds the NCAA Outdoor Championship meet record with a school record of 3:25.26 and held the NCAA record in the women's 4x200 relay from 2003-2009 as the first women's program to go under 1:30 by clocking a 1:29.78 at the Penn Relays. The school has had sub 51 second performers including school record holder Stroman who ran a time of 50.60, Hazel Ann-Regis is 2nd with a personal best of 50.64 and Nadia Davy with a personal best of 50.66. Current tigers expected to succeed include Kimberlyn Duncan and Takeia Pickney in the women's 200 and Siedda Herbert and Latoya McDermott in the women's 400. With the talented youth on their time the Tigers look to continue their success in the long sprints well into the future.

LSU & NCAA 200 METER RECORD HOLDER: DAWN SOWELL (22.04)











3. Texas A&M University- Although the history at Texas A&M isn't as rich as LSU but Pat Henry has brought his teachings and winning attitude to Texas A&M. Pat Henry is entering his 7th season at and has already won back to back titles with a solid group of sprinters returning. Coach Henry with his assistance of Vince Anderson done an excellent job of developing their 200 and 400 meter runners. Athletes such as Porscha Lucas, Simone Facey, Jeneba Tarmoh, Clora Williams, Jessica Beard and Allison George. Clora Williams the 2006 NCAA Outdoor champion at 400 meters and Simone Facey along Porscha Lucas winning the 200 meters. Facey winning the 200 in 2008 and Lucas winning the 200 in 2009 and 2010. Although the Aggies have lost Lucas to graduation Jeneba Tarmoh is next in line to dominate the 200 for the Lady Aggies. The Aggies can also boast about their new 4x200 relay record which included Beard, Tarmoh, Lucas and Dominique Duncan. The upcoming season watch out for Jessica Beard hopefully she can finally win that title in the women's 400. Still in the early stages the Texas A&M program has already made it's mark with its long sprinters.

Texas A&M SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER:
PORSCHA LUCAS (22.36)













2. South Carolina- You have to hand it to Curtis Frye he turned a program for irrelevant to very relevant. His ability to coach hurdlers have already been discussed. Frye also has done a solid job developing 400 meter runners. His list of athletes and phenoms include Demetria Washington, Mikele Barber, Tiffany Ross, Lashinda Demus, Natasha Hastings, Melisa Barber, Brandi Cross, Stephanie Smith, Tonique Williams, Shalonda Solomon, Eric Whipple and Aleen Bailey. Of these girls Frye has developed multiple NCAA Champions and NCAA record holder. Champions in the 200 include Shalonda Solomon and Aleen Bailey, in the 400 Natasha Hastings and Demetria Washington. Even better stats include the amt of athletes he had that gave under 23 seconds, Solomon, Hastings, Whipple, Bailey, Washington and Barber. Sub 51 second performers include Hastings, Barber twins and Smith. Currently on the Gamecocks roster is Nadonnia Rodrigues she is next great 400 meter sprinter under Frye and possible NCAA Champion in the future.


SCHOOL & NCAA Record Holder at 400 meters:
Natasha Hastings (49.84)





















SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER at 200 meters:
Shalonda Solomon (22.36)













1. University of Texas (UT)- Beverly Kearney has been one of the best coaches in track and field the 1980's. Kearney has had success wherever she has gone. When she arrived at the University of Texas she took it to another level, never mind that it was already a national caliber program, Kearney won championships and developed Olympic stars. Kearney has specialized in developing long sprinters. Kearney has won 6 NCAA Outdoor titles in the 4x400 relay since she has been coach at Texas. Her list of phenoms in the 200 and 400 include, Merlene Frazer, Sanya Richards, Nanceen Pery, LaKeisha Backus, Alexandria Anderson, Ashlee Williams, Aminah Haddad, Bianca Knight, Suziann Reid, Toya Brown, LaTashia Kerr, Jerrika Chappele, Nakiya Johnson and Moushami Robinson. As you can see that list is long and doesn't include the current athletes on campus. The 400 meter champions under Kearney (Sanya Richards and Suziann Reid) and the 200 meter champions under Kearney (Frazer, Perry, Knight and Backus-indoors). Knight only competed for Texas for the indoor season running a NCAA record 22.40 indoors and likely could have challenged Dawn Sowell's NCAA outdoor record had she stayed. Currently at Texas, Kearney is loaded with long sprint talent including Kendra Chambers, Angele Cooper, Briana Nelson, Alicia Peterson, Stacey Ann Smith and Chantel Malone. The Lady Longhorns should be a sexy pic for the 4x400 relay title for indoors and outdoors. Briana Nelson is my early season prediction for the freshman Big 12 Athlete of the year.

SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER: Sanya Richards (49.89)


















** Next is the Men's long sprint programs. **

Best of Series Part 4

THE 100 METER SPRINTER

I am back by the grace of God, I thank him for making all thing possible.

Let's continue the best of series with the best 100 meter schools for men. I admit it I had a hard time putting this list together. There are so many great programs in the United States that develop great 100 meter sprinters. The five schools I chose have been able to develop their sprinters every year.




5. The University of Southern California (USC)- This was track and field's first sprinting dynasty. In the 60's and 70's USC was known for its great success in sprinting at one point winning 9 straight NCAA titles. A total of 28 titles mostly because of its phenomenal sprint program. The only negative about selecting USC in this list is that they have not had an NCAA Champion in the 100 since 1978 Clancy Edwards. I attribute that to recruiting I have not seen the Trojans recruit that many super 100 meter sprinters out of high school. Its seems to be the goal of USC to develop sprinters around 10.4 to 10.6. Ron Allice is the director of Track and Field at USC but the develop of the sprinters are mainly left up to John Henry Johnson. Prime examples of their great developments are Phillip Francis, Wes Felix, Ahmad Rashad, Garry Jones, Kareem Kelly, Sultan McCullough, Darrell Rideaux, Marvin Anderson and Charles Lee. Four athletes in particular improved dramatically under Johnson's tutelage. Ahmad Rashad improving from 10.56 to 10.10 in just three years. Although Rashad ran faster times in 100 in high school the 10.56 is the only top time he has that wasn't wind-aided. Also keep in mind Rashad could have ran a 10.0 something unfortunately his top time this past season was wind-aided and he also false started at the NCAA Championships. Garry Jones improving from 10.5 to 10.23 in four years although he was injured almost every season. Phillip Francis 10.5 to 10.1 became on of the best ever at USC winning PAC-10 titles in both 100 and 200 in 2006. Finally there is Wes Felix older brother to star Allyson Felix. Wes was not even a finalist in the 100 in High school, although his time of 10.6 was nothing to sneeze at he was mainly known for his 200 speed. By his senior year he improved to a time of 10.2. I wonder what Johnson's program would be like if he would recruit guys running 10.3 and 10.2 already.

School Record Holder
James Sanford 10.02

4. Louisiana State University (LSU) known for its great history in the sport has flourished with 100 meter sprinters with Dennis Shaver. Dare I say it, I think Dennis Shaver is a better sprints coach for men than Pat Henry. Their history is the sprints under Pat Henry was acquiring good depth to put together excellent relays. Recent 100 sprinters including 3 national champions make LSU hard to beat. Xavier Carter in two years went from a 10.3 to a 10.09, Richard Thompson went from a 10.5 to 9.93 and Trindon Holliday went from a 10.3 to a 10.0 while playing football, I wonder what Holliday could have done had he focused on track and field solely. Other great sprinters under Shaver include Kelly Willie and Jerell Hill. Look for Rynell Parson to be another great champion for LSU, Parson sat out last year with an injury.

School Record Holder
NCAA Record Holder
Richard Thompson 9.89

3. University of Florida- It pains to put Mike Holloway this low on the list. Holloway has done a phenomenal job with developing his sprinters. In the 100 meters he has recruited guys running 10.5 and turned them into 10.1 performers. Great performers under Holloway include, Dennis Mitchell, Daymon Carroll, Bernard Williams, John Capel, Willie Perry, Ahmad Jasmine, Kyle Farmer, Jeremy Hall, Terrell Wilks and Jeffrey Demps. Recent stars Jeremy Hall and Terrell Wilks were good athletes in high school but became household names under Hollway. Wilks improving from a 10.6 to 10.1 in the men's 100 and still has his senior season. Hall in three seasons went from 10.44 to 10.08, unfortunately Hall did not have a great outdoor season unable to continue his All-American success individually by only running a 10.3 his senior year. Willie Perry arrived in Gainesville running a 10.52 and in three years was able to run a 10.12 and of course there is school record holder and Olympic medalist Bernard Williams who was able to run a 9.99 under Holloway coming from a 10.08. Holloway unfortunately lost a big recruit in Jeremy Rankin who transferred to Oklahoma, I don't know whether it was the average year he had or the fact that he wanted to be closer to home. I expect for Blake Heriot top incoming recruit to be able to make an early impact as a freshman. Wilks and Demps will have to provide the firepower without Rankin and Hall who graduated. Demps is the defending champion at 100 meters and should be able to repeat.

School Record Holder
Bernard Williams 9.99

2. Texas Christian University (TCU)- This school is known for this event the history TCU has had with the 4x100 relay is ridiculous. The athletes read like a who's who. Just some of the greats include, Raymond Stewart, Kim Collins, Jon Drummond, Michael Frater, Donovan Powell, Darvis Patton and Roscoe Tatum just to name a few. Recently TCU has not been the super 100 school it used to be in the 90's but it is still very relevant and doing well under coach Darryl Anderson, they have yet to win a 4x100 relay title but will soon and that is why TCU is number there history and there current sprinters. Current stars include Skye Dawson, Charles Silmon, Mark Barnes and Mychael Dungey. Expect for this group to put together a solid 4x1 performance. Silmon who finished second in the men's 100 at the World Junior meet will be someone to watch for this upcoming season.

School Record Holder
Raymond Stewart 9.97

1. Florida State University- As a Gator fan it pains me to say this, but it is what it is. The Seminoles have a phenomenal program and have done an excellent job developing their 100 meter sprinters. Cedric Nabe, Walter Dix, Greg Bolden, Michael Ray Garvin, Charles Clark, Derrick Baker, Rhoan Sterling, Ronald Wright, Maurice Mitchell and Brandon Byram and David Ambler. Walter Dix the most notable athlete of all these great sprinters. Dix clocked a 9.93 his junior year to win his second 100 meter title at Florida State. Harden has done an excellent job with the development of his sprinters, footballer Michael Ray Garvin is another great sprinter under Harden with a personal best of 10.1. Currently at Florida State is Mitchell, Ambler and Byram. Those three sprinters should continue the success at Florida State. Mitchell already earning All-American honors in the men's 100 and posting a personal best of 10.11. Keep an eye for Mitchell this coming outdoor season. Mitchell returns as the defending ACC Champion and looks to carry that success to the next level on the national stage.

School Record Holder
Walter Dix 9.93

**Sorry for the long wait, again my computer problems did not go away. The next post will be on 200 meter programs or 400 meter programs no decision as of yet. Thanks for reading. **