#4 - The Winds of April

The Winds of April

Not much in the sport is more exciting than the first few weeks of the outdoor season, when we see all kinds of great performances, often from “new” names that we’re not familiar with yet. And so often for me, the statistical gatekeeper to our state records and all-time lists, I have to figure out if the athlete in question is indeed a new star or perhaps just the beneficiary of one of the monster wind gusts that are a fact of life in Michigan in April.

This is not a problem in my T&FN work coverage of pro and collegiate track; there, the use of wind gauges is universal. The athletes all get it, and it’s no big deal. So we have Sha’Carri Richardson blistering a 10.57 in the 100 a few days ago with a 4.1 meters-per-second wind, more than double the allowable. No one’s whining about a record being “stolen” by the wind gauge.

Here’s how it goes in Michigan HS track: athlete pops a fantastic performance, coach and community hail it as a record, stat guy (me) looks into and sees the local winds that afternoon averaged 20mph with gusts of 38mph (legal wind in track is 4.47mph/2.0mps). And of course, Google maps shows the orientation of the runway or track gave the athlete a solid tailwind.

So I put it in the wind-aided column on the Michtrack lists; no state record, no inclusion on the all-time list of legal performances. The resulting dialogue is usually quite predictable:

“It was a headwind/crosswind/the wind died right when the gun went off!” Yeah, nope, I don’t actually believe you.

“There was no gauge, so you can’t prove the mark was wind-aided!” Burden of proof is always on the meet director in this sport. No gauge? Then I make the call.

“We can’t afford to do all those things they do at the college level!” A legal gauge is $12.82 on Amazon with free shipping. Training a high school kid to operate one takes me about 2 minutes (I do it at every outdoor meet I announce).

“We didn’t require a gauge for our old records and it would be unfair to require it now!” In other words, you’ve always done it wrong and you’re fine with that going forward.

“We’re not required to use wind gauges!” And the world is not required to believe marks at your meet are legit.

Next week—how getting and using wind data can give the athletes valuable feedback, and make you a better coach. Really. Plus, I briefly explain the one thing that makes me reconsider a “windy” mark’s status

The Latest Hot Results

Novi Relays: The Renaissance girls unleashed some serious early-season speed, hitting state-leading marks of 47.54 in the 4×1, 1:41.92 in the 4×2, and 4:01.98 in the 4×4. On that 4×1, only 26 performances in state history are faster, and only one came in April—Ann Arbor Pioneer running 47.43 on April 18, 2017 at Saline.

Lincoln Indoor Classic: In the final undercover event of the year, Lincoln’s Charlie Garner won the long jump at 21-7. The Lincoln girls 4×2 went 1:45.73 while Saline’s girls hit 4:07.75 in the 4×4. Kayenn Mabin of Kalamazoo Central ran 40.57 in the 300H, the No. 6 indoor time in state history.

Bedford/Dexter/Pioneer: A 14.53 in the hurdles came for Pioneer junior Maya Rollins (if that name sounds familiar, dad Fabian Rollins was a MAC champion for EMU and an Olympian for Barbados, PR 45.87 in the 400). Also, Rachel Forsyth took the 1600 in 4:57.11 after running with her teammates to a 9:11.25 in the 4×8.

Other Big Marks: Grand Haven’s Seth Norder traveled to Tennessee to take 2nd in a fast 3200, running 9:03.85 unattached…Concord junior Mekhi Wingfield leaped 6-4 and 22-4 at their Early Bird… Sophia Snellenberger of Quincy threw the disc 135-5… Jessica Jazwinski of Hart ran 10:47.47 for 3200 at their invite… MITS Indoor shot champ Andrew Berryhill of Battle Creek Lakeview opened up at 58-10.

Football Combines: the MHSAA Responds

Cody Inglis, the MHSAA contact for track & field and XC, reached out to respond to what I published last week about the new HS football “combines” that have been scheduled for track regionals week. The big news falls in the last paragraph, where the MHSAA states it is exploring a rescheduling of this spring’s combines with an eye toward avoiding regionals week. The response, in its entirety:

The development of HS football combine “camps” has occurred recently and is often not connected to schools or high school programs and is conducted by “for-profit” groups. These are often unregulated, high-cost to the participant and families, don’t provide correct exposure, and are not monitored for safety measures.

The development of the MHSFCA and MHSAA coming together to sponsor the school-based camps was done with the safety and best interest of the student-athletes; the MHSAA is not making money on these camps, only covering costs. The goal is to provide an optional opportunity for athletes to gain exposure while not conflicting with spring sports. We will continue to evaluate this as it is the first year the MHSAA has been involved in this event.

The dates selected are May 15-18. The dates do conflict with Track Regionals week. The dates were worked on with school administrators and college coaches to schedule the best time to alleviate missing school and for college coaches to be present. The NCAA spring evaluation period is tight, so it was scheduled as it was. It is also a firm belief that it is always within the rights of any spring sports coach to counsel their athlete not to attend.

As with any new program, there are things learned and unintended consequences to decisions. The MHSAA is looking to see if the dates can be moved to another week within the spring evaluation period for this school year, and in the future, it will not be placed on MHSAA Track Regional week.  

A Legend To Know: Herb Washington, Flint Central 1968

WHO WON? This is the finish of the 50-yard dash at the Milwaukee Journal Indoor on March 9, 1968. On the right is Charlie Greene, a 3-time NCAA 100 champion and 3-time winner of the NCAA Indoor 60. On the left is Herb Washington, a teenager from Flint. Many observers said that Washington won, or at least tied Greene.

Wrote Track & Field News: “For a change, right or wrong, Charlie Greene was awarded a decision in a close sprint finish at the first Milwaukee Journal Games since 1965. But the newsmaker was close runner-up Herb Washington, a 17-year-old senior of Central High in Flint, Mich., whose 5.1 clocking matched Greene’s as well as the world standard first set in 1939 for 50-yards. Washington, who became the fourth dashman to claim a piece of the record, did not especially surprise Midwest filberts for he had won the Junior Champ 100 title last summer in a wind-aided 9.4 and copped the Cleveland KC 50 in 5.3.”

The previous December, Washington, the No. 6 man on the Flint Central basketball team, announced he would leave the team to concentrate on track with coach Carl Krieger. The two retooled Washington’s start, and he won his first meet, running 6.3 in the 60 to defeat Tom Randolph (MAC recordholder in the 100) at the Western Michigan Relays on January 27.

On March 1 at the Cleveland K of C meet, Washington won the 50 in 5.3 (after a 5.3 semi), topping a strong collegiate field. Then came Milwaukee the next weekend, where the high school senior established his world-class credentials.

On March 23, Washington finally got his moment. At the Hamilton Indoor Games in Ontario, the high schooler tied the World Record with a 5.1 in his semifinal, then came back to win the final in 5.2, beating Olympic 200 bronze medalist Ed Roberts.

As a high school phenom, Washington also had his share of success outdoors, winning the Class A sprint double at the state finals as both a junior and senior. His 9.8 for 100 yards in 1972 tied the meet record. Earlier that year he had set the state record 9.4 with a win at the Mansfield Relays, later tying it when he won the post-season Golden West Invitational in California. At the time, the Golden West was the closest thing at the time to a high school national championships; Washington placed 2^nd in the 220 that day in 21.3.

Washington went on to fame at Michigan State, winning the NCAA dash title as well as All-America honors four times. He captured 7 Big 10 titles and broke World Indoor Records on several occasions. He later played two seasons in Major League Baseball as a “designated runner” for the Oakland As. He has since become a successful businessman.

Greene, his rival in Milwaukee, broke the 100m World Record twice in the summer of 1972 and captured Olympic gold in a World Record 4 x 100.

Interview: Nonah Waldron - the Comeback of a Champion

Nonah Waldron is a survivor. The Oak Park senior, coached by Brandon Jiles, has had to deal with heartbreak and setbacks that no child should have to endure. Yet she keeps coming back stronger. Her first full season of high school track came as a sophomore, when she won both D1 titles in the hurdles, then the Nike National title. That season of triumph turned into one of tragedy when her father, Troy Waldron, died after a long battle with lupus.

Her father had been intimately involved with her hurdling, so she honored him the best way she knew how. Days later, at the AAU Junior Olympics in Texas, she placed 2^nd by just 0.02 in the 400 hurdles, shattering the state record with a 58.10, a time that would have placed 4^th in the Big 10 that year. The next day she ran a lifetime best 13.56 in the 100 hurdle heats before placing 2^nd in that final.

Last season, after winning indoor nationals, she successfully defended her state crown in the 100H. But in the 300 hurdles she fell hard, seriously tearing her labrum, a hip muscle that is crucial to hurdling. Since then, she’s been grinding hard to come back. A few weeks ago, she made it to the finals at Nationals, placing 7^th.

Now she’s heading to USC in the fall to work with coach (and Olympic champion) Joanna Hayes, but first she wants to give Michigan fans a season to remember.

We talked on a Friday after practice. That was the day I learned of the ultimate Nonah Waldron survivor story: when she was 10, her entire family (2 parents, 4 kids) rushed to the hospital when they thought her little brother was choking. He turned out fine, but in a random twist, the emergency saved all of their lives. While they were gone, a small fire broke out and their house exploded. “Was that your family?” I texted after seeing the newspaper article. “Yes, it was,” she confirmed. “It was really crazy.”

Michtrack: With the outdoor season about to begin, how are you feeling about your hurdling?

Waldron: I'm really excited for this season. Our first meet is gonna be like 78 degrees outside.

Michtrack: Nice.

Waldron: I'm like, yeah! I'm just really excited to see what I have in store and see what I'm capable of doing after this indoor season.

Michtrack: If you had to give yourself a grade for the indoor season, what would it be?

Waldron: I really don’t know because it's a lot to take into perspective. I started back running in November after not running at all. I think I’d give myself an ‘A’ for effort because this indoor was really, really hard. Getting back into racing and competing after not having raced or competed, trying to get in shape during the indoor season because I didn't have a fall training phase, so I didn't have any base. It was just a lot. coming off injury was really hard because I tore my labrum. Hurdling after a really bad hip injury, I had to train myself again how to hurdle and how to race.

Michtrack: Did the hip require some serious rehab?

Waldron: All summer I was in PT [physical therapy]. I just didn't want to get surgery, I just wanted to stick to the PT and it took a long time, but I'm back now.

Michtrack: So, when you went to indoor nationals this year, you were defending champion, but it was obviously a different experience for you coming off the injury. Was there a lot of pressure with that or was it just kind of weird?

Waldron: It was both because I'm really hard on myself, so obviously I have high expectations of myself, but it was a really good learning experience and it was a humbling moment because I had to realize where I was at and all that I had been through in such a short period of time and how far I had come from when I first started back running. So just being there and competing in the final, I was blessed to be able to do that because not a lot of people come back from tearing their labrum and are still top 8 in the nation. It was just a lot different. Last year I went in U.S. No. 1 and it wasn't really any competition. So this year it was just a huge change.

Michtrack: In a less serious vein, was one of the bright spots of tearing your labrum that it got you out of running cross country for Coach Jiles?

Waldron: [Laughs] Exactly. I’m thinking that you're right. I did get out of cross country this season. I was so happy that I didn’t have to run cross country.

Michtrack: Take me back now. How did you get your start in track? How old were you?

Waldron: I was 14 when I started in eighth grade. Originally I started out with just doing high jump and long jump, and then my dad took me to Motor City and Coach Brandon started me in the 400. So that's what I was doing. I didn't start doing hurdles until later that summer when I went to JO’s and they put me into pentathlon, because I was good at high jump and long jump. So it was just like, you might as well just learn how do hurdles and run 800. I didn't start taking hurdles serious until late ninth grade though.

Michtrack: So you’re not like a lot of these AAU track babies who started out when they were six. You're still really fresh in the sport.

Waldron: Listen, I learn so much every day. There is so much to learn. Like everyone has done this their whole lives basically. I'm still new to it. It's just still fresh to me. It's real fresh. It's real new.

Michtrack: Now I know your father's loss… that had to be devastating to you and your family in ways that we can't even imagine. I’m curious, but you don't have to answer this if you don't feel like it: since he's been gone, how have you changed?

Waldron: Since my dad has been gone, I had to become more independent and more responsible because I was so used to my dad doing everything for me. Like he never put in the work for me, but he would set up every training session, he would get in contact with new coaches, he would take me to the trainers, he would make my lunches for me. He would make sure I was eating right, drinking water, doing all of this. So when he passed, it was just like, dang, he played such a huge role in everything, because track is not just running, you know, there’s so much more to it, to being the best. I just had to become more aware of everything that it takes to be great and I had to do it myself. I had to be more independent.

Michtrack: From where you're at right now, what do you need to do to hit your goals? What's the biggest challenge in front of you?

Waldron: The biggest thing for me, I think, would be to just keep going, because right now I'm getting stronger than I was before because PT, it really works. All those muscles that you didn't even know you had, they start working on things, they’re working on ankle muscles, and so I feel like I'm stronger now. I just have to keep my head on straight and just remember that I'm the best and try not to let the outside noise mess up what I have going, if that makes sense. Because Michigan is just a different ballpark. I just have to make sure that I don't compare myself to people outside of the state who have really great weather and are running crazy fast times and our outdoor season hasn't even started. I just have to make sure I just remember what I'm doing here and stay focused on what I'm doing and stay true to myself, believe in myself, and remind myself that I'm the best and I think that that's gonna take care of it. So it's really gonna be more mental for me.

Michtrack: Speaking of being the best, you've got a unique situation where two of the best hurdlers in the Midwest are on the same team. How do you manage that relationship with Morgan [Roundtree]?

Waldron: It's different because there's always gonna be people who like will try to pit us against each other. So when we step on the track, obviously we're competitors, but when we're off the track, we're just teammates, we're friends and stuff. I'm really not sure how to put it. It's just different. It's different.

Michtrack: Is it safe to call you friendly rivals?

Waldron: Yeah, it is.

Michtrack: Looking at all four of the hurdle races, the indoor 60H, the 100H and 300H during the school season and the 400H in the summer, which is your best event?

Waldron:  I really don't know because I haven't run 300H or 100 hurdles in a while, and I haven't run 400H going on two years, and I haven't run 100H in a year. I'm really not sure, honestly. I think last year my 300H struggled a lot. I feel like I underachieved really bad in my 300H due to some issues that were going on behind the scenes, but I really don't know. I feel like my 400H, that 58-flat, that's pretty good for a 16-year-old. We'll see this summer because I feel like I'm gonna put some crazy fast times on the board in all of those hurdles. We’ll see.

Michtrack: In getting recruited by USC, did you develop a nice rapport with Coach Hayes?

Waldron: Yeah, I did. She's so nice. I love Coach Hayes. We just click, if that makes sense. I don't really know how to explain it. We just have a good relationship. We have a good bond, and she's great at what she does. I trust her coaching.

Michtrack: With Detroiter Tamaal Myers already on the Trojan squad, will that make it easier for you? Are you two friends?

Waldron: Yeah, me and Tamaal are friends. We talk all the time, so I think it would be easier because he's there and he's had a year of experience so he can help me out when I get there. I won't be completely lost and I'll always have a friend there with me.

Michtrack: How far do you want to take the sport?

Waldron: I want to take it pretty far. I want to be a professional.

Michtrack: Is there any pro hurdler that you’re a big fan of?

Waldron: Obviously I'm a fan of like Sydney McLaughlin, she's just amazing. But since I started hurdling, my favorite was always Dalilah Muhammad [’19 World Champion]. I studied her races, like watched her races religiously. I just love Dalilah Muhammad. I might say that she's my favorite hurdler, but I really do aspire to be like Sydney.

Michtrack: I know Coach Jiles has always preached using track as a means to get your education. What do you want your education to be in?

Waldron: Well, that's a really good question. Right now, I'm really heavily interested in law and going into crisis management.

Michtrack: That about wraps this up. Any final thoughts tonight?

Waldron: I just want to tell everybody that this is going to be a great season for me, just like put on the radar, it's gonna be a great season. [laughs]

Enjoying The Newsletter?

Please forward it to another fan/coach/athlete/parent/official. If they like what they see, they can subscribe for themselves and get their own copy every Tuesday morning. And please consider making a monthly tax-deductible donation to Michtrack to help us continue our work.

What Do You Think?

Just hit reply and tell us!