Track Duo Strikes Gold in Poland
7/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
July 22, 2008
by Austin Staton
Summer during the college years is often defined by a multitude of students as a time to relax, play or perhaps nail that vital internship for one's future. For Baylor freshmen Marcus Boyd and Tiffany Townsend, their summer would be defined by another path- gold medal at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships.
Track's most gifted young athletes flocked to Bydgoszcz, Poland earlier this month to make their claim to the title of `World's Best'. After impressive rookie campaigns on the collegiate level, Boyd and Townsend looked to make a splash at the Junior Worlds. Both sprinters would have extraordinary showings.
Marcus Boyd Shines in the 400
As a two-time national champion with the Baylor 4x400 team and owner of the second fastest time in the world for junior sprinters, Boyd had high hopes for Poland. After exploding onto the track scene at the Big 12 meet with a personal best time of 46.02, Boyd clocked the world-leading time in the finals in Poland with a blistering 45.53 pace. The young sprinter credits most of his success in the open 400 meters to the legendary coach, Clyde Hart.
"Well Coach Hart, everyone calls him the 400 meter guru," Boyd said. "This year, he proved it through me."
Boyd becomes only the third World Junior Champion in Baylor history, following in the footsteps of Deon Minor (1992) and Darold Williamson (2002).
"I was just excited to be overseas and run," Boyd said after clocking his first career sub-46 second 400 meters. "I just know I had a chance if I came off the stretch in first place, and I did. I just went out there and executed a perfect race, which I haven't done all year."
In addition to an individual title, Boyd ran the lead leg for the United States' 4x400 relay team on their way to the gold medal with a time of 3:03.86. With two gold medals in Poland to complement two 4x400 national titles, Boyd put together an impressive freshman campaign and will look to improve upon that next season.
"When I started the season, I wasn't running [that] well and I was a little discouraged until conference when I actually dropped a good time. Then my times kept getting better and better and we won a national championship, so I was pretty satisfied," Boyd said. "[Next year I want] to set the national record in the 4x400 meter relay and hopefully make the finals in the open 400 [at Nationals]."
Long season pays off for Tiffany Townsend
As arguably one of the most decorated female high school track athletes in the state of Texas, the Killeen High School product, Tiffany Townsend, had lofty expectations entering her freshman year at Baylor. As a four-time All-American and world junior gold medalist, it could be said that perhaps Townsend exceeded expectations.
Following a fifth place finish in the 200-meter finals in Poland, Townsend's competitive drive took over and helped her lead the United States 4x100 meter relay team to the gold medal with a time of 43.66.
"I just wasn't ready to run the 200-meter finals. My body was just tired, I didn't feel like I was warmed up enough," Townsend said. "Placing fifth was not one of my plans going to Poland, so I had to redeem it [by anchoring] the 4x1."
Although the United States has dominated the 4x1 on the international level, winning their third-straight gold medal in the event, the 4x1 team would face stiff competition from sprinting rivals Jamaica and the Bahamas.
"After our first leg, [Jeneba Tarmoh] pulled away. But after that, I could see the Jamaicans coming back on us. As Gabrielle [Glenn], the third leg, was handing off to me, I could see [Gayon Evans] right there on her and I knew that I just had to get out and run," Townsend recalled. "It is very different from college. [In college] you are racing for your school and you see these people all the time. Going to Poland, I was running against the [best in the world]. I was really scared because I was representing the United States, not just Baylor, so I just had to do my thing and run."
After an impressive showing at the collegiate and international level, Townsend only wishes to improve upon her success next season setting her individual and team aspirations at an even higher standard than before.
"I have expectations for the future. I made it to nationals in the 200. I want to do that again, and place in the top 3. The 4x1, I want to be in the top three again, and the 4x4 I want to be in the top three. I have a lot of expectations on myself and this team," Townsend expressed. "People don't expect the women's team to do anything. It's all about the men. Now, things are going to change."
With her high level of determination, there is no doubt that the Track and Field team at Baylor is in good hands with this talented student-athlete returning for her sophomore campaign.
"This has been a long season. In high school, I never ran this much, ever," Townsend explained. "It has been a long season; I am kind of glad it's over."
For now, the Baylor duo can relax and enjoy the rest of the summer after an eventful season. With elevated expectations for next season, 2009 should be a fun year to follow Todd Harbour's young and talented team.
Players Mentioned
