Bryce Love, the "future of track and field"
Jul 2, 2009
Bryce Love doesn't mind the attention from his record-setting week.
“Because I’m going to be on TV,” said the track phenom from Raleigh. As fast as Love is, his appearance Wednesday on WRAL probably won't be the last his face graces a television.
Last Sunday in Greensboro, Love ran in the USA Track and Field state championships. That’s where he ran the fastest ever times for his age group in the 100 meters (11.68 seconds), 200 meters (23.57) and 400 meters (52.16). The 100-meter record does not count because officials deemed it wind-aided, but it was still an amazing day for Love.
“It was surprising and exciting,” Love said, “because I didn’t know I was going to run that fast.”
Love’s father, Chris, is the coach of the Carolina Elite Track Club on which Bryce runs. The two set goal times to break the national records going into the state meet, but even the elder Love was surprised he ran those times in all three races.
“The most phenomenal thing about the performance is he really ran all those national records in less than a four-hour period,” Chris Love said.
“[Bryce Love] is the future of track and field,” said Carolina Elite assistant coach Danny Peebles. Peebles played wide receiver at N.C. State during the 1980s and was also one of the school’s most decorated track athletes. “What [Bryce] is doing at eleven years old is absolutely phenomenal.”
The distance by which Love wins his race is reminiscent of his favorite runner, Usain Bolt. “I don’t even think Usain Bolt wins by as much as Bryce has been winning,” Peebles said.
When Love wins a race, Peebles usually rewards him with their favorite candy: Skittles.
“I told [Bryce] the bar is raised,” said Peebles. “He has to break another record to get Skittles now.”
The USTAF national championships are held in Greensboro at North Carolina A&T from July 28 and end August 2. “I like [Love’s] chance to break all three of the national records he just set,” Peebles said.
That's means a whole lot more candy for Bryce.
This story is closed for comments.
