Aaron Buzard of Minnesota, clocked the 2nd fastest collegiate indoor 400m - 46.59 this year, at the Husker Invitational this past weekend.
http://www.gophersports.com/sportsNews/press_release.asp?new s_id=11883&sport_id=mtrack
He is following in the footsteps of fellow Minnesotans Mitch Potter and Adam Steele who won gold medals in the 4 x 400m at the WC in 2003, placed 1st and 3rd at the 2003 NCAAs, and who were also part of an all white 4 x 400 relay team that shocked the crowd and placed second at the 2003 NCAAs. Great article about them>>>
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Minnesota_sprint ers_take_track_world_by_storm.html
They in turn, are following in the footsteps of Tom Gerding of the U of M, who placed 6th at the 2001 US National Championships. It was the 1st time a white guy had made it to the finals in 20 years.
It all goes to show that 1)Minnesota has a great coach and 2) that white sprinters can compete at the top levels if they are given a chance to develop and not automatically shut out for blacks who develop younger.
Of course, in places like Minnesota, Iowa (Tim Dwight, Kevin Little, Joey Woody) and Wisconsin (Andrew Rock) the opportunity for this to occur is more likely because these states are relatively white.
I wonder if coaches elsewhere, particularly in schools that are not traditional powerhouses, will pick-up on this and start giving some white sprinters a chance to develop and win races for them.
http://www.gophersports.com/sportsNews/press_release.asp?new s_id=11883&sport_id=mtrack
He is following in the footsteps of fellow Minnesotans Mitch Potter and Adam Steele who won gold medals in the 4 x 400m at the WC in 2003, placed 1st and 3rd at the 2003 NCAAs, and who were also part of an all white 4 x 400 relay team that shocked the crowd and placed second at the 2003 NCAAs. Great article about them>>>
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Minnesota_sprint ers_take_track_world_by_storm.html
They in turn, are following in the footsteps of Tom Gerding of the U of M, who placed 6th at the 2001 US National Championships. It was the 1st time a white guy had made it to the finals in 20 years.
It all goes to show that 1)Minnesota has a great coach and 2) that white sprinters can compete at the top levels if they are given a chance to develop and not automatically shut out for blacks who develop younger.
Of course, in places like Minnesota, Iowa (Tim Dwight, Kevin Little, Joey Woody) and Wisconsin (Andrew Rock) the opportunity for this to occur is more likely because these states are relatively white.
I wonder if coaches elsewhere, particularly in schools that are not traditional powerhouses, will pick-up on this and start giving some white sprinters a chance to develop and win races for them.
