The Florida State men have won the National Championship Outdoor in 2006. 2007, and 2008. The Seminoles look to have a great chance in 2013 as well with the number one recruiting class in the nation according to Track and Field News. Former Boone standout Marvin Bracy headlines the list of what assistant coach Ken Harnden calls a great class. We spoke to Coach Harnden about what goes into compiling a well rounded group of the nations best athletes. He says it starts with balance.
"The team philosophy is that we want a balanced program. We put 4.2 scholarships in distance, 4.2 in sprints, and 4.2 in field events. We're trying to be as balanced as we possibly can. The theory is we want to score points in every event."
For Harnden, who is the Director of Sprints, Hurdles and Jumps, the mission personally is to get the athletes who will deliver the best bang for the buck. Rather than get an athlete who is going to run solely the relays like some other sprint powers would do, the Seminoles assistant focuses on athletes who will be able to score points in the 100 and 200 and also assist in a relay.
"We can get our moneys worth out of those guys in events like the 100,200 and 4x1 rather than a quarter miler guy who can run the 400 and 4x4. We've stuck mostly in that area and the same with the hurdles. It's hard to spend money on a high hurdler if they can't help you on a relay."
"We can get our moneys worth out of those guys in events like the 100,200 and 4x1 rather than a quarter miler guy who can run the 400 and 4x4. We've stuck mostly in that area and the same with the hurdles. It's hard to spend money on a high hurdler if they can't help you on a relay."
Several of those 100-200 meter specialists that will come in and make an impact are currently competing in football. Marvin Bracy, who is red shirting this year for the Noles and reserve corner back and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Ronald Darby haven't had time to workout with the team, but Harnden knows what the country's fastest 100 and 200 meter runners are capable of and can bring to the squad. It isn't just incoming freshman that will make a difference on this year's team. Coach Harnden and the rest of the coaching staff have reached out to transfers like former Tampa Chamberlan and University of Tennessee sprinter Dentarius Locke, former Mississippi State quarter miler/high jumper James Harris (personal best of 7-5.25) , and triple jump transfer Owen Cain. Harnden is expecting big things out of these new faces.
"Obviously James Harris is pretty special. James and Dentarius I believe are going to be really, really good. I believe they have special abilities and are really going to open up some eyes. Those two have impressed me. Owen Cain, a triple jumper also looks good and I am excited about him. We haven't seen Bracy or Darby yet because they are with football so we won't see them until January. I know what they have done though and I am excited. The whole group looks good. We've got a young group and they are hungry."
Three other additions came from other countries. The Bahamas are known for their quarter milers and the Seminoles got two of their best and brightest in Alonzo Russell and Andre Wells. They will be joined by British steepler Zak Seddon. While it is important to be on the look out for the best high schoolers and transfers, the recruiting game has also gone international. Harnden says that the way they recruit the various types of athletes is always the same.
"It's not different at all. We're going to get the best available athlete and the NCAA allows us to have international athletes so I'm going to spend my money as wisely as I can."
With limited scholarships Harnden and the rest of the coaching staff have to be money managers as well. Someone like Maurice Mitchell, Walter Dix, or the Borlee twins that he describes as program changers will require larger scholarships. At the end of the day he says it's a numbers game and that those top dollar guys will also have to produce poitns in multiple events.
"I'd rather spend a big scholarship on a guy who is going to get me ten points than 5 percent on guys who are going to get me two poitns. We are giving out full times, but part of it is we've got a reputation for getting kids to the next level. The recruiting has changed a bit because our sport has changed a bit and kids are looking at turning pro and who is going to get us there. You look at the guys who from our school who have been a the World Championships and Olympics over the past few years and it's a pretty good list. It's hard not to look at FSU if you are a sprinter."
"Obviously James Harris is pretty special. James and Dentarius I believe are going to be really, really good. I believe they have special abilities and are really going to open up some eyes. Those two have impressed me. Owen Cain, a triple jumper also looks good and I am excited about him. We haven't seen Bracy or Darby yet because they are with football so we won't see them until January. I know what they have done though and I am excited. The whole group looks good. We've got a young group and they are hungry."
Three other additions came from other countries. The Bahamas are known for their quarter milers and the Seminoles got two of their best and brightest in Alonzo Russell and Andre Wells. They will be joined by British steepler Zak Seddon. While it is important to be on the look out for the best high schoolers and transfers, the recruiting game has also gone international. Harnden says that the way they recruit the various types of athletes is always the same.
"It's not different at all. We're going to get the best available athlete and the NCAA allows us to have international athletes so I'm going to spend my money as wisely as I can."
With limited scholarships Harnden and the rest of the coaching staff have to be money managers as well. Someone like Maurice Mitchell, Walter Dix, or the Borlee twins that he describes as program changers will require larger scholarships. At the end of the day he says it's a numbers game and that those top dollar guys will also have to produce poitns in multiple events.
"I'd rather spend a big scholarship on a guy who is going to get me ten points than 5 percent on guys who are going to get me two poitns. We are giving out full times, but part of it is we've got a reputation for getting kids to the next level. The recruiting has changed a bit because our sport has changed a bit and kids are looking at turning pro and who is going to get us there. You look at the guys who from our school who have been a the World Championships and Olympics over the past few years and it's a pretty good list. It's hard not to look at FSU if you are a sprinter."
As with any sport, being labeled the number one recruiting class, could put pressure on the team to perform. Harnden doesn't believe that is the case though. He says that at the end of the day success in the classroom, and for the individual, is just as important as team success.
"For me it doesn't add any extra pressure. It's a great honor, but you still have to coach these kids and it doesnt effect how we do that. We want to win ACC and NCAA Championships, but I don't care if a kid came in as the number one recruit in the country or as a walk on. We want them to graduate and we want them to have success. Their importance as an individual comes before the team side of things and the team will benefit by that at of the day."
The University of Florida men were ranked seventh while the women were ranked third. Florida State's women were ranked seventh.
The University of Florida men were ranked seventh while the women were ranked third. Florida State's women were ranked seventh.
Related Coverage
- Complete Men's Rankings (Track and Field News)
- Complete Women's Rankings (Track and Field News)
- Article: No. 1 Class In Land (Seminoles.com)