Much like Greene 14 years earlier, Richardson drove to Los Angeles from Columbia, South Carolina and asked Smith to make him better. Coming out of Cedar Hill High School, near Dallas, in 2005 – "Texas made, Texas raised,’’ he says – Richardson had been the top combination hurdler in the country as a high school senior. But he failed to win an NCAA indoors track title (He won the NCAA outdoors track title in the 110 meter hurdles during his senior year at South Carolina). "So I picked up and moved to Cali,’’ he said. "The difference for me is getting with a world class coach like John Smith.’’
They train every day at West Los Angeles College. In the old days of HSI, it was the ritzier UCLA, but no more. "It’s different, the track is a little beat up, but they like us,’’ says Smith. "We like it there.’’ (One note here, Richardson is managed by HSI’s Hudson, but Jeter, although she is trained by Smith, is not; her manager is Chris Layne). Jeter and Richardson balance each other, he the bubbly young guy, she the serious adult. "She is the consummate professional,’’ says Richardson. "This is very much a job.’’
Their friendship led to a funny moment in the post-race media area. Jeter was talking to a small group of U.S. journalists and noted that she won the gold and her training partner had won the silver. A writer quickly corrected her with the news that Richardson, who was standing 20 feet away, had, in fact, won the gold. Jeter jumped back and looked at Richardson. “JA-son!” she shouted. “You won the gold?”
Richardson shrugged his shoulders, palms up.
Jeter has more work to do at the worlds. On Thursday she will begin running heats of the 200 meters, an event in which she must now be considered a threat to become the first world championships 100-200 meter doubler since Katrin Krabbe of Germany in 1991. (Kelli White of the U.S. doubled in 2003, but was disqualified when banned drugs were found in her system). She has been running faster with each successive season under Smith; he PR as of 2008 was 10.97 and now it’s 10.64. She has run under 10.80 seconds three times, putting her in the alltime elite. (This, too, will lead to innuendo about drug use, but Jeter has never tested positive and has never been accused directly by any opponents).
She came to Daegu having struggled in championship finals, with 100 meter bronzes in both 2007 and ‘09, as well as bowing out of the ‘08 Olympic Trials 100 meters in the semifinals. “She needed to learn patience,” said Smith. "In big races, she was trying to do everything too quickly.’’ Here she was smooth and professional, even as Fraser-Pryce tried to walk her down." She performed like the best runner in the race, which she was.
"I’m pretty excited for the 200,’’ Jeter said after in the 100. "The pressure of the 100 is off me. That’s my race. That’s my baby. I’m just gonna line up and go in the 200.’’
Awaiting there will be Allyson Felix of the U.S.A., who was attempting the arduous 200 m-400 m double in Daegu. In the first of three big finals Monday night, she was unable to overhaul Amantle Montshu of Botswana in the final strides and took silver in the 400 meters despite running a personal best of 49.59 seconds. After it was finished, she ducked into a medical area, prompting speculation that she might be injured. In truth, it was just Felix seeking out a place to compose herself in defeat. The public never sees her tears … if there are tears. "I try to find a place to myself,’’ she said. "I’m definitely disappointed.’’ (Her father, Paul, standing nearby, said, "I’m not. That was one of the best races I’ve ever seen Allyson run.’’)
Felix, who will not turn 26 until November, has now won seven world championship medals. Monday’s was the first non-gold (and no woman has won more than her six golds). In addition to the 200 meters here, she will also run the 4X400 and 4X100 meter relays, a punishing schedule. She wouldn’t speculate Monday–after just one event–on a London double. Or even how she will feel for the 200 meter race. In addition to Jeter and Felix, who has won the last three worlds 200 meters, two-time Olympic 200 meter gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica will be in the field for the deuce.
But for a night on Monday, the track again belonged to Smith. For a night, he was again spinning parables and describing for the media the act of running on the ground as if it were a quasi-religious experience. He is older now, with more scars and more baggage. Track is a complicated enterprise, with the next bad news always on the doorstep, waiting to spoil the party. Smith has seen it all and for now, he has emerged on the other side with two runners who will hug him in the night and share their glory. "This is one of those nights,’’ he said. "This is a good night.’’