At age 21, Sanya Richards is America’s top female track and field athlete, and arguably the best U.S. female athlete in ANY sport, and she will attempt a 400/200 double at the USATF Championships in Indianapolis. Sanya Richards had an undefeated 2006 outdoor season in the 400-meter run, winning the World Athletics Final and The World Cup and winning all six Golden League meets - and breaking Valerie Brisco-Hooks’ U.S. 400 record with a 48.70. In 2006, Richards went under 50.0 in the 400 nine times and had the top five times in the world at the distance. She also ranked #1 in the world in the 200, which she won as part of a “double” at the World Cup. Richards earned the 2006 IAAF Female Athlete of The Year Award and the USATF’s Jesse Owens Award as the top American female in her sport. She was the silver medalist in the 400 at the 2005 World Championships; she won 4x400 relay golds for the U.S. at the 2004 Olympics and 2003 World Championships. Richards was the 2003 NCAA 400-meter champion for the University of Texas She was the VISA Humanitarian Athlete Of The Year in 2005. She also has the U.S. junior 400 record of 49.89. Richards lives in Austin. Texas but goes to Waco for workouts with Coach Clyde Hart. After her 2007 season’s start was delayed by illness, she won the 400 at the Prefontaine Classic on June 10 in 50.74. She spoke to reporters on Tuesday:
On the late start to her 2007 season: “I’ve only had two races under my belt. I think it’s a blessing in disguise for me. For the last four or five years, I’ve been running full indoor season and full outdoor seasons. I think it was a well-needed break, and so I feel really, really fresh. I’m really excited to be back at Indy to run really, really fast at 400 and 200 meters. I hope it will be a good showing for me.”
On doubling in the 400 and 200 in Indianapolis and possibly at the Beijing Olympics: “I’ve always considered myself a sprinter, so just running the 400, for me, was tough. When I teamed up with Coach Hart, our goal was to make me the best 400-meter runner in the world. We both thought it would take intense focus, and so last year and the year before that, I really just focused on the 400 and I’ve gotten really comfortable with my strategy. I’m so much stronger now that I’ve been start of the program for the last three years, and so we both think, along with my manager, that it would be great for me to start to double now so that I’ll be prepared for the Olympic Games. I think the Olympic schedule will allow for me to run the 200 and the 400. It’s going to more difficult in Osaka (the 2007 World Championships) but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I might be able to do at there at well. But I think they’ll make the right provisions to make that happen at the Olympic Games. I’m going to double here (USATF Championships), and hopefully make the team in both events. The only reason I wouldn’t do the double at the World Championships is if they kept the two rounds of the 200 prior to the final of the 400. But if they cut one round, that’s something that I’m definitely prepared to do, to run a 200 round early in the morning and then come back in the final of the 400. It just depends on the schedule.”
On Coach Clyde Hart’s attitude about her doubling: “I think we’re on the same page with this one. In the past, people have always said that Coach Hart’s tough on athletes doubling, (that) he doesn’t like for us to do too much sprinting and all that kind of stuff. But I think in his old age, he’s getting a little soft. I’m breaking him down. As long as I finish the four (400) first and get the gold medal, he’s happy.”
On her limited amount of speedwork: “With Coach Hart’s program, it’s so much about strength, endurance. We don’t do a lot of speedwork. We’re rarely in spikes. We don’t race against each other. We’re just constantly building and building and getting stronger and stronger. Coach Hart believes our strength and speed are synonymous. So the stronger I get, the faster I’ll compete. I’ve definitely seen that. To run 48.7 in my last race of the year just proves that Coach Hart is a phenomenal coach - and a great person to be around. I feel like my situation now is the best. I have my parents as my manager. All the people that are around me are really motivating and encouraging and help me to ride my path to success.”
On the rise of NCAA Champion Natasha Hastings in the 400: “Track and field has so many phenomenal young athletes…… It’s just been a great time to be part of the sport. Natasha Hastings is no secret to me. I competed against her in high school and actually broke the high school record and she was right on my tail. I’m used to competing with her. I’m glad that she’s finally found her stride in college. She’s had some tough injuries and has had to go through a lot. I wasn’t surprised she ran that well (a world-leading 50.15 thus far in 2007). She belongs in the mix with myself and Monique Henderson and DeeDee Trotter, I think it’s going to be a great 400-meter race. She hasn’t run sub-50 yet, but I’m sure we’ll pull her to that time this weekend. Hopefully we’ll all run really well.”
On running multiple rounds in the 400 and 200: “I’m excited about it. I haven’t run much this year at all, so I’m looking forward to working on something in every single round. The first round, I’m going to work on the first 200 of the 400.… I’m the freshest one. I’m mentally fresh. I’m looking forward to it. At this time of year last year, I thought the season was long. Now the season seems so short.”
On her Waco training partner Jeremy Wariner, the Olympic 400-meter gold medalist, and his plans to do the 200 in Indianapolis: “He’s come at a time when the 200 is super-duper hot. There’s no shame in what he’s doing. He’s running really fast for a quarter-miler. He’s getting faster and faster, which means he can run better in the 400. Fortunately for me, there’s nobody in my event (the women’s 200) running 21.6 or anything, so when I step on the track I have a legitimate chance to run really well and to be in the top three…. For Jeremy right now, it’s more about training and continuing to progress (in the 200) . For me, it’s actually a feasible goal that I could be at medalist at the Worlds and at the Olympic Games ( in the 200). I’m encouraged when I see Jeremy go out there and run fast, and I just want to do the same thing.”