Cherry, Smith in national limelight at USA track championships

Posted Jun 26, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 27, 2010 at 12:25 AM

Tampa Bay area prep products Damu Cherry of Leto and Calvin Smith of Freedom got national television exposure Saturday with their appearances in the Saturday’s USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Cherry, a 2008 Olympian who ran collegiately for the University of South Florida, grabbed third place in the finals of the women’s 100 hurdles. Cherry didn’t get out to her best start, but she finished strong at 12.86 seconds into a significant headwind of 2.8 meters per second.

Lolo Jones, also a 2008 Olympian, was the winner in 12.69 while Kellie Wells edged Cherry for second in 12.84.

“I ran a solid race,” Cherry said by text message. “I could have run the middle better but I am pleased with the run into the headwind. I’m glad to come away healthy. God is good!”

Smith, who recently completed his collegiate career at the University of Florida with a school record 18 all-American titles, finished sixth against a field of mostly professional runners in the men’s 400.

Smith’s time of 45.27 seconds didn’t match his personal best of 44.96 but his placing against the nation’s top quarter milers was impressive. Greg Nixon of Asics was the winner in 44.61. The top four finishers all cracked the 45-second barrier.

“From what my coach told me, I didn’t run the first 50 (meters) hard enough,” Smith said by phone from the meet. “It’s tough going under 45 seconds. You have to be able to execute everything perfectly. But the more I race at this level, the more experience I’ll get and hopefully, my times will drop as I run better.”

Smith said he will return to Gainesville for a short rest, then head to Europe for a series of meet starting July 8 in Switzerland. He has not yet signed with an agent but expects to before summer’s end.

Also representing the area at this meet was longtime Hillsborough track coach Steve West. A veteran USATF official of major championships, West again officiated the shot put competition.