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Florida State Seeking A Place Among Elite

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By SCOTT CARTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Senior sprinter Walter Dix looks at Florida State's recent track success like this: when he arrived on campus in 2004, FSU had a track team. As he prepares to leave, the Seminoles are a track program.

"People used to walk by this track and come on it while we were training," Dix said. "Now people walk by, and they see this building. There's a big difference. People are starting to know about track and field around here."

Nowadays, Dix is even recognized around town regularly the way only football players used to be, something that never happened before FSU's men won back-to-back national outdoor titles.

The Seminoles begin their quest for a three-peat today at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. In his final collegiate meet, Dix remains the centerpiece of FSU's team, but life after Dix, a seven-time NCAA champion, isn't nearly as scary for FSU coach Bob Braman as a couple of years ago.

In the track and field world, the Seminoles have arrived to the point where elite sprinters such as Missouri prep star Maurice Mitchell have signed up, hoping to match Dix one day. As for winning a third consecutive national title, that isn't just the goal, it's what is expected.

"As we try to establish this program as something that is special and long term - a track and field power for the long run - we need to win these things when we can win them," Braman said. "In everybody's mind, there is just a huge difference - from the casual fan to the track geek - there is a huge difference in winning and getting second."

If the Noles win their third consecutive outdoor title, they will join Arkansas as the only program to accomplish the feat in the last 25 years. However, to understand truly how far FSU has come, all you have to do is drive by Mike Long Track.

For years, the modest facility consisted of a 4,000-square-foot building that housed the coaching offices, locker rooms and everything else. Thanks to a vast expansion that started early in 2007, the recently completed project turned the facility into a state-of-the-art complex featuring 22,000 square feet of luxury. The building now features more than 120 lockers for the men's and women's teams, a student lounge, a training center, expanded office space and a press/administration area.

The expansion allowed FSU to host the NCAA East Region Championships last month, playing host to athletes and coaches from 120 schools.

Sophomore sprinter Charles Clark, expected to challenge Dix in the 100 and 200 meters at the NCAA Finals, is reminded of the program's improved stature each time he walks through Legends Plaza to enter the track.

"We see the trophies in the stands," Clark said. "Once you are used to winning, you don't want to lose. We want it to continue."

FSU enters the NCAA Finals as the co-favorite with LSU, led by sprinter Richard Thompson. Dix is seeking his third consecutive 200 national title and third title in the 100 in the last four years, and with Clark and fellow sprinter Michael Ray Garvin, the Noles can match anyone's speed.

What Braman says can help them three-peat is a deeper roster in the field events, led by defending NCAA triple jump champion Rayon Taylor, region triple jump champion Ngonidzashe Makusha, and freshman Gonzalo Barroilhet, ranked second nationally in the decathlon.

"We've got three potential winners in those field events," Braman said. "We are more balanced. We have a couple of distance athletes we think can score at the national level. We have our sprint crew Dix, Clark, Garvin. Those three are very, very good on the national level, and guys we are counting on heavily to get things done."

Dix turned down offers from track powerhouses LSU and Arkansas to come to FSU and help build the program into an elite power. Mission accomplished.

"To know I helped build this program is a dream come true," he said.

NCAA Outdoor Track Championships

WHEN: Today through Saturday

WHERE: Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa

STATE QUALIFIERS

FSU: Gonzalo Barroilhet (decathlon), Drew Brunson (110 hurdles), Mark Buckingham (steeplechase), Brandon Byram (4x100/4x400), Charles Clark (200 meters/4x100/4x400), Walter Dix (100 meters/200 meters), Javier Garcia-Tunon (440 hurdles), Michael Ray Garvin (100 meters/200 meters), Luke Gunn (steeplechase), Ngoni Makusha (long jump), Hubert Mitchell (4x400), Pablo Navarrete (4x400), Ray Taylor (triple jump), Kevin Williams (4x400), Elliott Wood (400 hurdles), Kandia Batchelor (4x400), Hannah England (1,500 meters), Susan Kuijken (1,500 meters), Dana Massiah (4x400), Pilar McShine (800 meters), Auja Pughsley (4x400), Hskeni Richemond (4x400), Teona Rodgers (100 meters), Keyla Smith (4x400), Brittany St. Louis (4x400), Tiara Swanagan (triple jump), Lydia Willemse (steeplechase), Kim Williams (triple jump)

USF: Mikese Morse (long jump), Taylar Stallings (discus), Denise von Eynatten (pole vault), Sean Young (pole vault)

FLORIDA: Jeremy Hall, Terrell Wilks (100 meters), Calvin Smith (400 meters), Carlos Phillips (800 meters), Kallinka Pitt (110 hurdles), Hall, Wilks, Chris Rainey, Bernard Middleton (4x100), Smith, Middleton, LaMarr Davis, Eric Alberter (4x400), Wes Stockbarger (shot put, discus), Adam Montague (javelin), Eric Foran (pole vault), Steffan Hommel (decathlon), Lakecia Ealey (100 meters), Natalie Knight (200 meters), Ealey, Knight, Abigail David, Dominique McLeggan (4x100), Rebecca Lowe (5k), Lindsay Sundell (steeplechase), Mariam Kevkhishvili (shot put), Evelien Dekkers (javelin), Shara Proctor (long, triple jumps).

Scott Carter, Brett McMurphy

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