WICHITA, Kan.—
Wichita native Oliver Bradwell has won titles all over the nation and in other countries, but until Sunday on Day Six of the Junior Olympics he had never won a major race in his hometown.After blazing a wind-aided 10.24 on Sunday, he now has his major title in his hometown.
Things did not look good for Bradwell early as there was a false start to get the final going, but it was ruled a block slippage in Bradwell’s lane.
The slip did not faze him as he spent the next several minutes trying to find the right set of blocks.
“I had to get about three different sets of blocks because I was pushing out to powerful (and) pushing the blocks back, so I had to switch it up,” Bradwell said. “It (block slippage) just lets me know that I am getting out really well (and) I am going to have a good start.”
Bradwell’s 10.24 would have been good enough for a new Young Men’s Junior Olympic 100-meter dash record, but the wind was at 2.9 meters-per-second, almost a full meter-per-second over the legal limit.
The Wichita sprinter was more than happy to take the win even without the official record.
“This is the best way to go out…It is as fast as I have ever run on this track,” Bradwell said. “I won the 100 last year, so it is good to repeat.”
Bradwell now has his eye on his sophomore season at Barton County Community College and then the Olympic Trials for the 2012 games in London. He knows he must improve in certain areas to have any shot of making the Olympic team.
“I have to get more leg lift and one thing I need to do is hit the weights,” Bradwell said. “Once I hit that (weights), my times should drop.”
McDougald finishes as All-American
Junction City graduate Kasha McDougald finished her high school career tied for the second best 100-meter hurdles time in the history of Kansas.
On Sunday, she officially closed the book on her high school career with a fourth-place finish in the Young Women’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.23.
“I’m satisfied,” McDougald said. “I’m just happy to be here coming off an injury.”
McDougald is a decorated hurdler in Kansas and the defending Class 6A champion in the event, but summer track meets are where things become even more serious than in the high school season.
“It (summer track) is a lot more competition,” McDougald said. “The only thing I can figure is that girls are hungrier over the summer because we’re running for money; we’re running for scholarships. In the high school season it is almost like everyone is just out there to be out there. You can’t get any better than summer track.”
McDougald turned her hard work into a scholarship to the University of Tennessee where she will hurdle for the Volunteers.
Notes from Sunday
- Korie Frausto of Maize had a solid final day in the Youth Boys Hurdles. He finished sixth in the 100-meter and 200-meter hurdles
- Frausto’s teammate Jordan Birch also earned All-American honors with his eighth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles.
