01/30/2012 - 09:33
T2 Takes The 50 at U.S. Open
by Devon Jeffreys

Terrence Trammell kicked off his 2012 season in style on Saturday night in New York City.

Terrence bested a field of the nation's best hurdlers to claim the 50-meter hurdles crown at the U.S. Open Track and Field event at Madison Square Garden in the unofficial opening of the 2012 indoor season.

Terrence got off to a fast start and held the lead to win the 50-meter hurdles at the inaugural U.S. Open (AP Photo).

The win was Terrence's fifth of his career on the Madison Square Garden indoor track, spanning more than a decade. He won the 60-meter hurdles at the Millrose Games there in 2001, 2009 and 2010 as well as the 60-meter dash in 2003.

"New York in general has always been good to me," Terrence told RunnerSpace.com. "Especially Madison Square. I'm definitely happy with the win. I could have executed better, but just to get out, compete and be victorious, that's a big plus."

With a time of 6.45, Terrence topped the field at the inaugural event, taking the place of the Millrose Games at MSG. T2 crossed the line five hundredths of a second in front of fellow American Olympian David Oliver.

"I came in expecting to be about a tenth faster. But you can't complain with a win, T2 said. "On top of that it's the first time I've competed indoor since 2010. I got out some of the kinks, making sure I'm ready for Albuquerque and the Indoor Championships."

The race was Terrence's first on the indoor track in nearly two years, but T2 showed no rust in getting off to a great start and surging to the lead right out of the blocks. Joe Battaglia of Universal Sports said it was that start that gave Terrence the victory.

"Trammell won the race in 6.45, showing that even after 12 years as a pro, he still has a tremendous start."

Saturday's win was just the beginning of what promises to be a great year for T2. He plans to play out the indoor season and then set his sights on the U.S Championships and London Olympics this summer.

"2012 is going to go according to plan," Terrence said. "I'm out to make history, because no hurdler has ever been in four Olympic games. No hurdler has ever won three Olympic medals, so that's my goal, to be able to do that. That would just stamp my season. I'm prepared. I feel really good. Mentally, I'm focused and just ready to go."

Terrence told RunnerSpace that it's a blessing to still be even talking competing at the Olympic level so deep into his career. He hopes to continue his career on the track as long as he's still able and it's still fun. He also made an interesting comparison to an athletic legend.

"The lifespan for most professional athletes, especially on the highest level, often times doesn't reach 12 years. I feel really good. I feel like I'm getting better as I'm getting older," he said. "I feel like how [Michael] Jordan went from driving in the pain and slam dunking to pulling up and taking jumpers. I'm in the jumper stage now. I'm still having fun, so I want to continue."

Watch Terrence talk more about his present and future with RunnerSpace.com below:

RELATED STORIES

• Analysis and takeaways from inaugural U.S. Open (Universal Sports, Jan. 30, 2012)
• Fast season starts for Powell, Campbell-Brown and Jones in New York (IAAF.org, Jan. 29, 2012)
• Athletics-Jamaica celebrates sprint double in New York (Reuters, Jan. 28, 2012)
• Williams Rules High Jump in New Meet at the Garden (NY Times, Jan. 29, 2012)
• US Open at Madison Square Garden Results (USATF, Jan. 28, 2012)
• Jones back on top at U.S. Open (USATF, Jan. 28, 2012)

 

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