Penn Relays Day 3
Manny Mayers kicks off what could be a big day for Shore Conference with a dramatic win over top-seeded Johnny Dutch from Clayton (NC) in the 400 m hurdles. Dutch finished in the middle of the pack, but from the opening gun until the stretch run, where he stumbled over the final hurdle.
Mayers was coming on strong on the straightaway, once Dutch hit the hurdles, Mayers went for the kill. He won the race with a time of 52.81, .03 seconds shy of a personal best.
Dutch came out, guns blazing out of the blocks. He had to have been a good 10 meters ahead after the first turn, but Mayers said he was fine with that. After racing Dutch at Outdoor Nationals last year, Mayers knew Dutch liked to start fast and instead of trying to start fast with him, he simply wanted to start his push earlier.
Anyone who has watched Mayers in the event would likely agree he likes to get off to a relatively leisurely start and turn it on about 200 meters into the race. Instead of waiting until the 200-meter mark, Mayers said he hit the gas about 170 meters in, in order to make up the ground Dutch created for himself. If Dutch didn't stumble, he might have still beat him, although he probably would have had to push faster than 52.81.
I was happy for Manny, but I felt for Dutch. He ran a great race until the end and one crucial mistake killed him. Mayers might have caught him anyway, but it looked from my vantage-point that Dutch had it if he cleared the last hurdle. After watching his raw speed out of the block, I thought he was capable of winning a foot-race with Mayers.
Here's the lineup for the rest of the day:
10 a.m.: John Provaznik (Lacey) in the high jump.
9:10-11:50: 4x400 featuring several Shore teams. Monmouth - set to run in the 11:45 a.m. heat - is the only one with a really good chance to advance to the Championship heat at 5:25 p.m. Of course, anything can happen.
3 p.m.: 10th-seeded Jackson's 4x800 team (Meleo, Fenimore, Carle, and Kearns) in the 4x800 Championship.
5:25: p.m.: 4x400 Championship.
Headed over to the high jump, and hopefully that will end so I can run over and catch Monmouth's prelim. run. Back with more later.
Mayers was coming on strong on the straightaway, once Dutch hit the hurdles, Mayers went for the kill. He won the race with a time of 52.81, .03 seconds shy of a personal best.
Dutch came out, guns blazing out of the blocks. He had to have been a good 10 meters ahead after the first turn, but Mayers said he was fine with that. After racing Dutch at Outdoor Nationals last year, Mayers knew Dutch liked to start fast and instead of trying to start fast with him, he simply wanted to start his push earlier.
Anyone who has watched Mayers in the event would likely agree he likes to get off to a relatively leisurely start and turn it on about 200 meters into the race. Instead of waiting until the 200-meter mark, Mayers said he hit the gas about 170 meters in, in order to make up the ground Dutch created for himself. If Dutch didn't stumble, he might have still beat him, although he probably would have had to push faster than 52.81.
I was happy for Manny, but I felt for Dutch. He ran a great race until the end and one crucial mistake killed him. Mayers might have caught him anyway, but it looked from my vantage-point that Dutch had it if he cleared the last hurdle. After watching his raw speed out of the block, I thought he was capable of winning a foot-race with Mayers.
Here's the lineup for the rest of the day:
10 a.m.: John Provaznik (Lacey) in the high jump.
9:10-11:50: 4x400 featuring several Shore teams. Monmouth - set to run in the 11:45 a.m. heat - is the only one with a really good chance to advance to the Championship heat at 5:25 p.m. Of course, anything can happen.
3 p.m.: 10th-seeded Jackson's 4x800 team (Meleo, Fenimore, Carle, and Kearns) in the 4x800 Championship.
5:25: p.m.: 4x400 Championship.
Headed over to the high jump, and hopefully that will end so I can run over and catch Monmouth's prelim. run. Back with more later.
posted by Matt Manley at 6:21 AM
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