UNHEALTHY!
Why the headline? Well, in an earlier piece I promised to fill you in on the mid-season status of the field events. I never did. So I feel I owe you some explanation. For the first time in my 77 years, I'm UNHEALTHY. Let me explain, while attending the Penn Relays I, along with the rest of the NSSF contingent, was on the way to a meeting with the NIKE people. Half way to the meeting I went into an amnesic state. At the meeting I suddenly collapsed, crashing from my seat at the breakfast table onto the floor. My colleagues got me on to my feet, called 911 and my ordeal began. When the medics arrived I insisted I was fine, had no need of medical attention and they should go home. Luckily, my friends made me go to the hospital where I again protested but was hospitalized…against my wishes. This was Friday morning. Throughout the day I was coherent, humorous, at times philosophical but obviously not sick. I know all of this due to Joy Kamani telling me about my day. You see I have utterly no recollection of any of the above! The word is 'amnesia' and the adverb, amnesic. There are, and forever will be, 24 hours completely gone.
The following morning, Saturday, I came around. I was fine. Ordered breakfast, called my wife who was en route to Philadelphia and, after speaking with the MD, arranged to check myself out of the hospital and got my car, picked up my wife at the train station and headed back to Virginia.
To try and find out why this happened I've undergone several weeks of testing, brain scans, etc. My MD came into my room and said, "Mr. Byrnes, some good news. Your brain scan revealed nothing." I didn't think it was funny.
While all this was going on it was discovered my heart was performing erratically and I'd gone into attrial fibrillation. After being examined by yet another MD I've had to start wearing a heart monitor. This will be with me 24/7 for three weeks.
Finally, I've got a bad left leg that will require vein surgery.
So, with all of the above, the timeliness of a mid-season report has vanished. I hope this will answer the question a few of you have emailed me as to the reports whereabouts.
SOME THOUGHTS: The impression many people have of our sport is that it is besotted with drugs. NOT TRUE. I receive the IAAF publication in which every drug case is reported. For the year 2007 (due to time constraints this is the most recent available) 51 athlete representing the USA were tested, most 1-3 times. Nine were tested 4+ times including Tyson Gay, Lashawn Merritt, Deena Kastor and Sanya Richards. Not ONE (1) tested positive. No other sport contested within our boundaries has a testing program as good as track and field. So hold your heads high, once again, track and field sets the example. With Doug Logan's "Win With Integrity" program taking the message to our high schools, our sport will hopefully maintain a clean slate in the future.
From dyestat: There are twenty-six 7'+ high jumpers; thirty-eight 60'+ shot putters including three over 72'!!; and sixty-two girls over 12' in the vault. WOW!
At the NIKE OUTDOOR NATIONALS, it appears it will take a sub-4:10 performance to land a spot in the fast section. Right now there are 5 under 4:10 for a full mile and 3 at 1600m. And the major state meets haven't happened! Now imagine, your athlete has a 4:12.75 performance and is placed, correctly, in the third section!
With so many national records having already fallen, which will go next and which are untouchable? Look for the 800 — mile — 5000 — 110mH — 300IH — PV — H - DMR and Decathlon to be seriously challenged. Totally safe: 100 — 200 — 400 — 800 — two mile -400mH — HJ — LJ — TJ — D BUT, many years ago a highly respected coach predicted the "absolute limit" for human performances. To date, EVERY one has been broken.
I've said it before, here it is again, Mac Fleet will be the star of the late-season. I think he'll win the NIKE mile and run well under 4:00. I also feel the NIKE race will be the greatest mile run in the history of high school t&f with 3-4 going under 4:00. We've already had Andrew Springer clock 4:03+ on a relay leg!
Your thoughts on Jordan Hasay? Will she be able to handle the pressure of having to top her PR in every race get to her? I have no idea of her outdoor goals but she has the ability to break the mile record (4:35.24), 1600m (4:33.82), 3000m (9:08.6), the 3200 (9:48.59) and the two mile (10:01.08.) Some will be broken en route, the 1600, 3000 and 3200 among them.
If you can find a way, and you love hs t&f, get to Greensboro for the NIKE NATIONALS. It may be the greatest high school meet of all time.
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