Eddie Wooten eddie.wooten@greensboro.com
"I looked up at the board, and it said, 'Chris Belcher, 9.99,'" he says of his wind-aided time. "I jumped with joy and excitement. It was a really special moment. I gave my coach a hug, and my teammates were jumping me. It was one of the most fun track meets I've been to this year."
Belcher will have more fun meets in his future
and likely better performances. But the newly minted three-time first-team NCAA All-America, who ran a 9.93 100 and helped his team finish in 14th place at the recent Division I championships, will achieve them as a professional. The Sayville, N.Y., native and transfer from Monroe College, who will run in the USA Track & Field national championships starting today in Sacramento, Calif., is giving up his final season of college eligibility.
"He'll sign with a sponsor after the USA championships, and then he's off to build his professional career," fifth-year A&T coach and former pro hurdler Duane Ross says. "He's going to finish school. He's at a point where he's ready to move on. It's time for him to seize on this opportunity. He can make a good living at it. He's hot right now, he's running fast. It's time for him to capitalize on that and get ready for the next phase of track and field."
As memorable as that 9.99 is, Belcher also will remember how he could've performed better.
"I stumbled coming out of the blocks, my third step," he recalls. "Everyone started to pass me. I got up and just started running. About 80 meters, I finally caught them. About 90, I started to take off a little, and I dipped and leaned. ...
Video:
http://www.greensboro.com/blogs/wooten_run...
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Wednesday, June 21st 2017 at 8:46PM
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