TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Richmond More Ready For Trials This Time

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2008

TAMPA - TAMPA - Four years ago, Rose Richmond was a U.S. Olympic track and field trials rookie with little or no expectations of reaching the Athens Games in the women's long jump.

Sure, Richmond had won nine state titles during her prep career at Lakewood High, four Big Ten championships for Indiana University and multiple All-America titles at the NCAA championships in both the sprints and jumps.

But with the 2004 trials boasting athletes like Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones, world champion Tianna Madison and three-time U.S. champion Grace Upshaw, Richmond came into the meet as something of a long shot to reach the Athens Games.

"Last time, everything was new to me - the atmosphere, the pressure, the level of competition - it was all a first for me," Richmond said. "My eyes were pretty big going into that meet."

Entering today's long jump qualifying at the trials in Eugene, Ore., Richmond is no longer an outsider or intimidated by her surroundings. She not only made the Athens squad - which turned out to be her first overseas meet - she also has gone on to make track and field a full-time career, traveling the globe and steadily improving.

Richmond still has her work cut out for her to make this year's Olympic team. She will be facing a more competitive trials long jump field and enters the event as the No. 7 seed. But after winning the 2005 U.S. indoor title, the outdoor crown in 2006 and becoming a regular on the European track circuit, no one would be surprised if Richmond wound up in Beijing this summer.

"Mentally, I'm a lot more prepared for this meet than I was in 2004," said Richmond, 27. "I've got four whole years under my belt and have come a long, long way since then."

And Richmond means that literally. Following her coach, Wayne Pate, she has uprooted her training base in Bloomington, Ind., and moved to Lawrence, Kan. She has competed in two IAAF World Championships, has jumped in major grand prix meets throughout the world.Despite all those stamps on her passport, Richmond has not severed her ties with the Tampa Bay area. Supporting her at these trials will be her father and mother, Aubrey Richmond and Viola Nichols, two of her sisters and her best friend, Sharneka Brown, who was part of the Richmond-anchored 4x100-meter relay team that won a Class 5A state title in 1999.

Richmond also hasn't forgotten there is life after sports. She has earned her undergraduate degree in sports management and a masters in sport marketing and administration. She says she could easily make a better living putting those diplomas to work. For now, however, track and field is just too much fun.

"Being a pro has to be something you love to do," she said. "But you get back so much from it. You get to see the world, meet people and expand your horizons. I just love it. That's why I'm still doing it."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT