Courtesy of The Oregonian and USA Track and Field
Former Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Michael Rodgers captured the men’s 100-meter championship at the USA Track and Field Championships Friday in Eugene, Ore.
A couple of years ago, Michael Rodgers contemplated an early retirement from track and field while selling shoes out of the trunk of his car.
A year ago, Rodgers’ decision to remain in the sport was validated with an encouraging seventh-place finish in the 100-meter final of the U.S. Olympic trials.
On Friday, Rodgers became an outdoor national championship sprinter.
“This has been my year,” Rodgers said. “I did whatever it took to get me here.”
Rodgers won the 100 final in 9.91 seconds, edging Darvis Patton (9.92). Even after the victory, Rodgers acknowledged a slight disappointment he wasn’t able to face Tyson Gay at Hayward Field.
That will change at the world championships in Berlin this summer, when Rodgers knows he’ll again have to prove himself against Gay and reigning Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt.
“It’s a lot of pressure off me,” said Rodgers, a 2007 NAIA champion at Oklahoma Baptist University. “The pressure’s on them. They’re the big dogs. I’m the underdog. I’m glad I didn’t quit.
It’s just a blessing, man.”
Gay, who had the fastest time in Thursday’s preliminaries, was an expected scratch Friday because he had already earned a bye into the world meet. Rodgers looks forward to being teammates with Gay in Berlin.
“We have to put America back on the map,” Rodgers said.
“I didn’t get the start that I thought I was going to get,” said Rodgers. “Then I got out and didn’t panic. I’d been running good all weekend. I just wanted to see where my top-end speed takes me.
“I just held off the field and won the race.”
Rodgers has had a strong season this year after narrowly missing the 2008 Olympic Team. He won the 60 meters at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games in February and topped Asafa Powell and 2008 double Bronze
medalist Walter Dix at the Prefontaine.
He now sets his sites on the World Championships in Berlin
A transfer from Lindenwood, Rodgers had a successful career in track by becoming a two time national champion as team, national indoor champion in the 100 and 200-meter races in 2005, as well as national outdoor champion in the 200 and 400 relay teams in 2005. He also earned All-American status in the 100- meter race.
In his senior season at OBU, Rodgers led the Bison to the 2007 national outdoor title. He won the 100 meters, placed second in the 200 and anchored the national champion 400 relay team.
In his final indoor season as a Bison, Rodgers set the NAIA record in the 60 meters and also claimed the national title in the 200.
“I’ve been running good all year. At the Reebok, at the Pre and I did good here at the US meet. I came here with a lot of confidence. And when I get to Berlin, I think I can medal. I just have to train hard and stay humble.”
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
