Boone sprinting sensation Marvin Bracy is at it again this time at the USA Nationals in Eugene, Oregon. The junior started off the afternoon with an eye-popping 10.16. He says having participated in the meet last year gave him a sense of familiarity. He added that the time definitely opened up his eyes, but he wasn't as excited because it was wind-aided.
"I didn't even expect to run that fast so it was a shocker. I was very disappointed it was wind-aided, but there was nothing I could do about it. It's not about the time it is about winning the race. I still had a little left in the tank, but I wanted to go all out as much as I could to win my heat."
Bracy had less than an hour to get ready for the 100 meter finals. He says during that time he just rested his legs before it was time to warm up. In the finals Bracy definitely showed out winning the national championship in a smoking time of 10.05. That is the second best all-conditions time EVER for an American high schooler.
"I didn't feel any different than I did in the prelims. I had a great transition and ran with everything I had. It was the same race I just had a better time. The key for me was in the first 30-40 meters when I was going in my transition I made it so I could run a faster time."
The Boone junior pulled up at 80 meters when he says his hamstring started to tighten up.
"I still ran, but I had a limp in my step when I was running. I was hobbling the last 20 meters. It's still super tight, but I will be all right. If it wasn't for the injury I think I could have gone sub 10."
Bracy will be the first to admit he isn't afraid of competition. Despite having the second best time all-conditions ever he isn't satisfied.
"I think it's great, but it won't mean anything until I am the fastest."
The wind reading on his time of 10.05 was just over the legal limit at 2.2, which will add an asterik by the time but certainly not take away from how incredible this young man is. MORE TO COME... MileSplit is on-site in Oregon this weekend for lots of coverage at USATF Nationals.
There has been some question/debate if this is tied for #2 or #3 all-conditions all-time. What we know is that Jeff Demps ran a faster, legal time in 2008 when he ran a 10.01 at the Olympic Trials. We also know that J-Mee Samuels from NC ran a legal 10.08 and a wind-aided 10.05. Jack Shepard, widely recognized as a leader in track & field stats for Track & Field News, has Bracy's time listed as tied for #3 all-conditions all time behind Michael Taylor's 1983 *hand time* of 9.8, with when adding the standard .24 penalty converts to 10.04. With all due respect to Shepard and Taylor, even converted I don't believe any hand time should be considered when looking at records in sprint events. So... at the risk of being called a "homer", I am sticking to my guns here and calling it tied for all-conditions #2.
- Jason Byrne, flrunners.com/MileSplit
Marvin Bracy on his way to 10.05 at USATF Juniors
Photo by Don Rich/MileSplit
Boone sprinting sensation Marvin Bracy is at it again this time at the USA Nationals in Eugene, Oregon. The junior started off the afternoon with an eye-popping 10.16. He says having participated in the meet last year gave him a sense of familiarity. He added that the time definitely opened up his eyes, but he wasn't as excited because it was wind-aided.
"I didn't even expect to run that fast so it was a shocker. I was very disappointed it was wind-aided, but there was nothing I could do about it. It's not about the time it is about winning the race. I still had a little left in the tank, but I wanted to go all out as much as I could to win my heat."
