Flashes of Panic

I am a distance-running fan; those are the events where I know the athletes and their abilities, and can revel in the myriad tactics of the races. But sprinters are seductive in their energy and attitude, and I can appreciate a good short race when I see one.

Five years ago, for example, I missed my five-year college reunion because I was at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon. Two interesting things happened at that meet which I didn’t think much of until later.

• The Flyin’ Frogs of TCU, a sprint-heavy corps, missed their big chance for a national championship when their star false-started in the 200m. In the NCAA, false starts are an instant disqualification with no warnings, so TCU got zero points—had he run, and finished last, he would at least have scored one; Tennessee ended up winning the meet in the relay. The false-starter: 2003 World Champion at 100m, Kim Collins.

• Collins’ DQ opened the door for a 100m/200m double by a young Tennessee freshman named Justin Gatlin, who won the same double last year at the Helsinki World Championships. Gatlin tied the World Record for 100m a few weeks ago, and he will be running in New York on Saturday… during my ten-year college reunion.

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