Jerimy Strainge: Battle Tested, Bruised, Back and Believing

2010 was a banner year for Jerimy Strainge. As a freshman at North Broward Prep, Strainge picked up 2A State Championships in both the 100 and 200. He then took his talents to the national stage where he competed in the AAU Junior Olympics in Norfolk, Virginia. Same result. Two more gold medals and the exclamation point to an undefeated season. 

 

The promise of 2011 was just around the corner. Fresh off an incredible start to his high school career, there were more state championships and national titles to be won.  In January he was invited to the prestigious Brooks PR Invitational where he placed third in the 60 meter dash competing amongst the nations' best. More training and more preparation ensued for the start of the outdoor season. Strainge started off with an impressive win in the 100 meter dash at the Flrunners.com Primetime Invitational one of several meets leading up to a key sprinting showdown at the Florida Relays in Gainesville  at the beginning of April.

 

The finals were set for the 100 meter dash at Percy Beard Stadium home of the Gators.  Levonte Whitfield, Marvin Bracy, and to Bracy's left Jerimy Strainge. The three centered in lanes four through six. It was a match up Strainge had been looking forward to. He knew if he wanted to be the best he had to beat the best.  As the gun went off so did the runners and in less than 11 seconds the event was over. Strainge, however, had not crossed the finish line. Instead, the standout stood grimacing thirty meters from the start holding his left hamstring.  He says he knew it was pretty bad right away.

 

"I came out of the blocks real well. I was right there with Bracy and then I felt a pop in my hamstring and I couldn't go any further."

 

His hamstring injury was just the start of what has seemed like a tumultuous last two years.  Strainge went from doctor to doctor trying to figure out the exact problem. He found out he had torn the hamstring  as well as his labrum in his hip, both in the left leg.  He says he always felt a tweak in his hip, but never really paid much attention to it.

 

"I didn't think anything of it until one day after practice I felt a sharp pain in my hip and then after multiple MRI's it showed that I tore my labrum really bad. Both injuries sidelined, me but I knew more about my hamstring than my hip. Once I found out about my hip I just decided not to even try to run in 2012."

 

He underwent a labrum repair and then hip surgery on July 16, 2012. Done. Finished.  A runner's worst fears confirmed. Instead of running races, rematches with the likes of Marvin Bracy and others, Strainge was relinquished to rehabilitation in hopes of getting back in the game. He spent his junior year working on gaining his strength back and also strengthening his mind, focusing on academics. He knows it's a process and one that you have to be patient with. He remembers the past successes of 2010 and knows the light at the end of the tunnel is still shining.

 

"That was an amazing experience looking back on everything, but it's been so long. I forgot what it feels like."

 

As the 2013 season approached questions began to swirl around the running world. Whatever happened to Jerimy Strainge?  We haven't heard much from him recently? Did he disappear? It doesn't bother him that some might have written him off, maybe even forgotten about him. He plans to prove it to himself that he is back. He's been working out and training hard. 

 

"I started training several months ago and it's been going well. I feel some discomfort from time to time, but that's expected just my muscles getting back use to working and getting back into shape. You have to have a clear mind when coming back from a major injury like mine.

 

A new mindset is just the start of new things for Strainge in the new year. 2013 will also see the senior in a new uniform for the first time in his high school career. After three years at North Broward Prep, Strainge has transferred to Plantation American Heritage where will he join one of the top programs in the state. Both his parents are work at the school so he says with the combination of athletics and academics it was a natural fit.

 

"My mom is a teacher and my dad is one of the track coaches. They both thought it would be a better opportunity for me and so did I. It's been great so far. The practices and workouts have been hard, but it will be worth it."

 

Strainge is also adjusting to a new workout routine. The 100/200 meter star has opted to run the quarter miler his senior season in order to put less stress on his body and become a more complete and stronger runner. He says it is a challenge he is willing to accept because in the end it will benefit him.

 

"My main focus is the 400. The 100 and 200 are the least of my concern this year. I really can't give you a percentage of where I'm at health wise, but I have been running pretty good. My goal is to hopefully win states in the 400 and hopefully run 45 to 46 , and maybe by the postseason I can get back to running the 100 and 200. I'm definitely not trying to rush anything."

 

Times are great, but for Strainge the opportunity to compete his senior season, is a process two years in the making. He says no matter how the season plays out he is just excited to run.

 

"Well me just being back on the track has made me happy. Running in a meet again would make me more than happy. That's all I could ask for. Whether you say you can or you can't you're right. You have to go through obstacles in life so you must never give up."