Walter Dix opens with 10.00 -1.1m/s

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Impressive opening run.
From http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090412/SPORTS/904120317/1002/SPORTS

After completing a record-breaking college career and winning two bronze medals in the Beijing Olympics, former Florida State superstar sprinter Walter Dix returned to Mike Long Track on Saturday to headline the Seminole Invitational.

Since he was here, he went ahead and made some headlines himself by turning in the fastest 100-meter dash time in the world this year at 10 seconds flat – despite running into a 1.1 mile-per-hour headwind. [IS THIS A MISTAKE?]

“That was real good,” Dix said of his time. "That’s like a low 9.9 or a high 9.8 (with no wind). So that was a great time. That’s what I wanted to do.

“That’s as good as it gets.”

Dix hadn’t run a competitive race since September, but he looked far from rusty on his home track. After a bit of a slow start, he blistered the field in the final 80 meters, eliciting plenty of “ooooohs” and even an “oh my od” from one of the dozens of fans standing on the rail of the grandstand to get a closer look at the seven-time national champion.

None of those spectators left disappointed. And the former All-American certainly didn’t either.

“It’s always good to be back home,” said Dix, who signed autographs for approximately 150 fans after his race. “I’m not a big fan of traveling, so I always like to stay at home and be with my friends and family.”

The Seminoles’ 4x400 relay team (freshman Brandon O’Conner, twins Kevin and Jonathan Borlee and sophomore Kevin Williams) posted the third-fastest time in the nation this year at 3:04.02. O’Conner and Williams also earned regional qualifying berths in the 400-meter dash.

On the women’s side, McShine ran the third fastest 800-meter race in the country this year (2:05.48), Kim Williams turned in the third-best long jump (21-feet, 3/4 inches), Liz Mabry posted her personal record in the pole vault (13-1 1/2) and Lydia Williamse broke the Canadian national record in the 2000-meter steeplechase with a time of 6:33.28.

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Despite what the title says, I think this is a video of the race. It’s taken by a fan from about 30m into the race, and is useless to see anything beyond about 45m. It’s got HD though :).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e39Z0mKUyQ

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That’s one hell of an opener. I wonder how fast he’s going to go this season.

Does anyone know anything about Dix’s training?

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During his time at FSU he apparently did mainly intensive tempo, lots of drills, very little true speed work and hardly any weight lifting. At least that’s what I was told by a former teammate who I would consider a very reliable source.

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I did read the other day that he left his previous coach, Terry Long, to work with Rey Robinson of 1972 Olympics fame.

I think that RR is Dix’ third coach in the last 3-4 years.

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I’ve seen Dix listed as 190 pounds on several sites. Surely he’s not that heavy :confused: He’s only 5-9 & his frame looks a lot smaller than Mo Greene who is the same height.

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He doesn’t look smaller than Greene to me. Maybe he’s 190 after eating two thanksgiving dinners :).

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His shoulders are obviously a lot narrower than Greene’s and he doesn’t look to be carrying any more muscle to me than Greene, so I can’t understand the 190 pounds! That’s very heavy for a sprinter who is just 5-9. I can’t think of any other top sprinter who was as heavy at that height, apart from maybe Henry Neal.

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I think that may be true for the squad training, but he was also doing night training sessions at F A&M with his brothers several times a week, doing some serious speed and SE work according to a couple of others who were on the team at the same time. Apaprently this changed during his Jr Year …

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Looks like hes made permanent the change, right pad behind starting with right? I wonder what forced the change(injury, differing leg length, body position out of blocks,)? Ato boldon used to start left pad back starting with left until he changed it up.