BEST OF SERIES CONTINUES

MEN'S LONG SPRINTS PROGRAMS

As stated in my last post the United States is perhaps the best country at producing long sprinters pre-Usain Bolt. Even though Bolt is the king of the 200 the United States has plenty of youngsters and depth to look forward to. Thanks to some of the great college programs the United States should continue to produce Olympic and world champions. The best programs in my opinion are.....



5. Texas A&M University (TAMU)- I know Texas A&M does not have the history but Texas A&M is definitely the now. Pat Henry has brought the same dominant sprint style program to Texas A&M. In the past couple of years Texas A&M has been very solid in producing champions and All-Americans in the long sprints. Under Henry sprinters such as Chris Dykes, Tabarie Henry, Gerald Phiri, Tran Howell, Bryan Miller, Curtis Mitchell, Michael Preble and Demetrius Pinder. Henry, Phiri, Howell, Miller, Mitchell, Preble and Pinder. Mitchell is the returning indoor Champion and has been an excellent well rounded sprinter. Expect for Mitchell to defend his title along Henry and Pinder vying for the title in the 400. Pinder has gone under 45 seconds and Henry will follow. Mitchell may also be the next great collegiate 200 meter runner to go under 20 seconds. Texas A&M is returning their entire 4x400 NCAA Championship unit and will be challenging LSU'S relay record. While Henry's Aggies are still in the beginning stages with the current state of the program and his solid recruiting efforts watch out for the Aggies this coming season and in the future.

Gerald Phiri
School Record Holder
200 Meters: 20.29

4. University of Southern California (USC)- USC has been one of the best programs for long sprinters in NCAA History. With plenty of NCAA Champions and Olympic Champions that include James Sanford, Quincy Watts, Clancy Edwards, Lennox Miller, Ken Randle and Billy Mullins along with a host of other champions this university has been a shining example of consistent greatness. Under Ron Allice and sprint coach John Henry Johnson the success continues. Under sprint coach John Henry Johnson he has had great success with turning the average sprinter into an All-American and turning a great sprinter into an NCAA Champion. In the 200 Johnson has coached Phillip Francis, Edward Harvey, Wes Felix, Marvin Anderson and Charles Lee. Francis the most successful out of the group with a personal best of 20.39 and sits 4th on the schools all-time list. Johnson helped to develop an injury prone Francis from a 21 second runner to a 20.39. In the 400 Johnson has had success with Lionel Larry, Jerome Davis, Paul Greene, Bryan Krill, Joey Hughes and Reggie Wyatt. Davis an NCAA Champion under Johnson, Larry was runner up in both 2007 and 2008. With a roster full of 400 talent including Hughes, Wyatt and freshman Joshua Mance the Trojans look to keep on moving.

James Sanford
School Record Holder
200 Meters: 19.94

Quincy Watts
School & NCAA Record Holder
400 Meters: 43.50

3. Louisiana State University (LSU)- While Pat Henry was the head coach the long sprints was a staple at LSU. Henry made sure to have a competitive group of long sprinters that included 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Derrick Brew in the men's 400. LSU track and field success also began before Pat Henry with Efram Coley who held the school record in the 200 from 1980 to 1996. Dennis Shaver took over the program in 2005 and has done excellent job with his long sprinters. Xavier Carter, Kelly Willie, Richard Thompson, Siraj Williams, Melville Rogers, Reginald Dardar and Armanti Hayes have all succeeded under Shaver. Other greats under Henry include, Alleyne Francique, Pete Cooley, Robert Parham, Curtis Perry, Glenroy Gilbert, Byron Logan and Mike Alridge. LSU has also had phenomenal success in the men's 4x400 relay always competitive at the SEC and NCAA Outdoor and Indoor Championships. LSU is also the current NCAA record holder in the 4x400 relay with a 2:59.59 performance in 2005. The record breaking team includes, Reginald Dardar, Bennie Brazzell, Kelly Willie and Xavier Carter. Current athletes at LSU to keep an eye on include Robert Simmons, Caleb Williams and 2010 Junior College champion Riker Hylton.

Derrick Brew
School Record Holder
400 Meters: 44.29

Xavier Carter
School Record Holder
200 Meters: 20.02

2. University of Florida (UF)- It is well documented my love for Mike Holloway. I think he is the best sprint coach in the NCAA. Holloway's success is well documented. Holloway coached Kerron Clement to a indoor world record in the men's 400 at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championship and also to a collegiate record of 47.56 in the 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Champion the same year. Holloway has a had a multiple athletes earn All-America honors and over the course of his coaching career has made Florida one of the best sprint programs in the country. Great long sprinters under Holloway include John Capel, Bernard Williams, Willie Perry, Aaron Armstrong, Calvin Smith, Rickey Harris, Geno Smith and of course Clement. Perry is an athlete who developed well under Holloway arriving in Gainesville with a personal best of 21.33 and after his junior year had a new personal best of 20.42. The most shocking part of the improvement is Perry never finished the season. Smith and Harris had high school pr's at 46.17 and 46.21 respectively. After four years with Hollway Harris and Smith both have ran under 45 seconds. John Capel is another great example of Holloway's program, as a high school senior Capel clocked a personal best of 21.02 and after 2 years with Hollway had a new personal best of 19.87 the current school record. On campus right now for the Gators are sprinters Tony McQuay, Jovon Toppin, Terrell Wilks, Christian Taylor and freshman Blake Heriot. Although the Gators have lost Calvin Smith they should still be considered a threat in the 4x400 relay and 400 and 200 meter races.

John Capel
School Record Holder
200 Meters: 19.87

Kerron Clement
School Record Holder
400 Meters: 44.57 (i)

1. Baylor University- Carol Lewis makes this statement every year at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. There is death, taxes and Baylor winning the 4x400 relay. The Baylor Bears have won 10 NCAA titles in the event. Clyde Hart has made Baylor the 400 meter school. The most notable alumnus Michael Johnson 6 time Olympic Gold Medalist and World record holder. While at Baylor Michael Johnson was a star in the men's 200 under Hart winning the NCAA title at the 1990 NCAA Championship. Baylor is also the only school that has more than 10 athletes that have ran under 45 seconds in the men's 400. The top 10 include, Jeremy Wariner, Michael Johnson, Darold Williamson, Raymond Pierre, Brandon Couts, Marlon Ramsey, Raoul Howard, LaJerald Betters, Deon Minor and Zeke Jefferson. Hart requires his athletes to have the perfect blend of speed and endurance needed for a 400 meter runner. In the 200 Trey Harts has a indoor NCAA title after winning the event in 2009. Reggie Witherspoon and Courtney Thomas are two other great 200 meter runners that have had All-American success under Hart. Zwede Hewitt and Marcus Boyd are two athletes to watch at Baylor. These two long sprinters will have to carry the team after losing Harts and Thomas to graduation.

Jeremy Wariner
School Record Holder
400 Meters: 44.00

Michael Johnson
School Record Holder
200 Meters: 19.85

I don't think there is any argument who is number 1, it's clearly Baylor. There are a couple teams that I think are also premier programs, Florida State, Arizona State, Oregon and Ohio State. I look forward to big a season in this event both collegiate and professional. Are next topic will either be premier distance programs, top long hurdle programs and or a preview of the upcoming indoor season. Until next time...........................................................................................