TicketsMarch 2, 2011
By Dave Malaska
GoBEARCATS.com
Little more than a month ago, when Terrence Somerville crossed the line of the 60-meter hurdles at the All-Ohio Championships with a time of 7.68 -- just shy of former Bearcat and current Olympian David Payne's UC record of 7.62 -- he could hardly believe it. With the bulk of the indoor season ahead, it was hard to believe he'd still be atop the rankings come March.
Now that March is here, Somerville has a ton of believers, including himself. After Texas' Keiron Stewart tied his 7.68 mark earlier in the season, the Bearcat standout took back sole possession of the collegiate best time at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships last weekend in Albuquerque. Competing against both college and pro hurdlers, the Akron native finished sixth in Sunday's finals of the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 7.63, edging ever-closer to Payne's record.
"It's great!" said Somerville after returning home. "There's a lot of love and support, especially from my family and friends. But I've got people who don't even know me coming up and telling me congratulations."
After a nervous Saturday competing in the prelims for a chance at Sunday's final race televised on ESPN, Somerville said that by the time Sunday rolled around, the nerves were gone. He was the only college athlete remaining, running against a cadre of sponsored runners and unattached former college stars.
"I was nervous for the prelims because I wanted to make it to the finals so my family could watch me on ESPN," he said. "By Sunday, I was pretty calm. I looked around and there were Nike and adidas-sponsored athletes. Everyone had a sponsor, and they have sponsors for a reason. I didn't get star struck. I thought to myself 'Okay, it's time to step it up.'"
Former Texas Tech All-American Omo Osaghae took the title, running a 7.52, followed by Kevin Craddock (the former UCLA standout who barely missed the Olympic team in 2008) and Jason Richardson (another former All-American), both Nike sponsored. Somerville crossed sixth, taking back the NCAA's top spot and adding yet another believer -- Payne.
When friends tweeted Payne that Somerville was only a tenth of a second behind his record, the former Bearcat shot back "Let's see it" to Somerville on Twitter. They've traded tweets and emails since, and Somerville said the message he's gotten from Payne, now living in Virginia, is positive.
"He's been encouraging. I don't think he'd mind if I broke his record, being the kind of guy that he is," said Somerville, who had trained with Payne in the past and -- if he has his way -- in the future. "He's alright with it. It's like if anyone was going to take his name down from the record, he'd be okay if it's me."
For now, the record is the furthest thing from Somerville's mind, though. Without a chance to compete for the NCAA Indoor title at next week's championships, the junior is focused now on the outdoor season. After two years of fighting through injury, he wants to keep his name atop the NCAA rankings and go for the outdoor title in June.
"If I set the record, that would be great, but it's not the most important thing for me," he admitted. "The indoor season was all about setting myself up for the outdoor season. I have to keep running the best I can. The rest of that will take care of itself."