State track: Stunning title for Shorecrest's Trader
Source/Author: Bob Putnam, Tampa Bay Times
April 27, 2013
April 27, 2013
http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/state-track-stunning-title-shorecrests-trader/17264/
How improbable?
http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/state-track-stunning-title-shorecrests-trader/17264/
As she crouched in her lane at the start of 100 meters Friday, Shorecrest’s Assata Trader got off to an explosive start and was never threatened.
She ran a relaxed race that put her well ahead of the rest of the field, and crossed the finish line in 12.12 seconds, winning an improbable state title at the Class A meet.
How improbable?
Trader failed to qualify for the 100 in last year’s state meet, finished third in the event at last week’s region meet and was seeded 11th out of 16 heading into the state meet.
Even Trader seemed to be in disbelief as she walked off the medal stand.
"It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Trader said. "I didn’t know if I could come out and win something like that.”
Trader was able to do it thanks to the help of her sprint coach, Richard Cameron.
Cameron worked on her form, from getting more consistent and faster starts to better placement of her arms during her stride.
"We had to break her down and build her back up,” Cameron said. "It was a process. But she was willing to learn. And I knew she had this kind of race in her. I’m a perfectionist, so she can get better. But this was about as perfect a race as she could run tonight.”
