ATHENS – Gold, silver and bronze are the only colors that should matter in these Olympics, but too many see the world in black and white. Jeremy Wariner has begrudgingly come to understand this, even though he doesn’t accept it.
Wariner made history last night, leading a U.S. sweep in the 400-meter run. He also made history because no white American runner has won an Olympic sprint event since 1964.
Wariner now has a feel for what pioneers like Doug Williams, the first black quarterback to start a Super Bowl, have had to endure.
“It doesn’t matter what race, ethnicity or gender you are,” said Wariner. “It’s your ability.”
According to his coach at Baylor University, Clyde Hart, Wariner’s ability, combined with his execution of strategy, was flawless. He started strong but in control. He got to the turn on the shoulder of South Carolina’s Otis Harris. Wariner, a picture of poise and purpose when he runs, surged ahead of Harris and broke the finish line in a personal best 44.00 seconds.
Harris finished second in 44.16. Derrick Brew of North Carolina finish third in 44.42. The red, white and blue – colors that also matter in these games – finished one, two, three.
“We talked about a sweep the last two, three days,” said Brew. “We finished in the exact same order as the Olympic Trials. I think we made history today.”
The U.S. hasn’t swept an event in track since the long jump in 1992. Wariner grabbed an American flag on a stick. Harris had a large flag and Brew held a smaller one. There was no preening and no monkey business.
“You’ve got to act like you have manners,” said Brew.
Wariner has now taken a dead bead on another former Baylor and Olympic track star: Michael Johnson, arguably the greatest 400 meter runner of all time. Johnson has been working with Wariner and the track team. Last night he pulled out a pocket camera and snapped some pictures from the stands.
“I talked to him right after the race was over,” said Wariner. “He was excited.”
Wariner, a laid back, low-key Texan, initially signed a football scholarship with Baylor to play wide receiver or defensive back. But the state sprint champ opted to run track, even if that meant hearing that white men can’t run.
“I’ve lost count,” said Wariner. “I’ve heard it ever since high school.”
The question that concerned Hart was if his young prodigy could keep his focus in his first Olympics. Wariner, 20 is the same age as women’s 100-meter champ Lauryn Williams and younger than men’s 100-meter champ Justin Gatlin, 22.
Wariner ran the race as scripted and extended Baylor’s stranglehold on the 400, which Johnson won in 1996 and 2000. Wariner now can aim for Johnson’s world record of 43.18.
“I got a lot more Olympics left in me,” said Wariner, who, running with sunglasses over his eyes and a gold chain around his neck, looks like the coolest white guy since Eminem.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re white, black, brown or Chinese,” said Hart. “If you can run, you can run.”