He Made a Boldon Statement in the 100

On Sunday at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays, UCLA’s Ato Boldon accomplished much in a short period of time, as is often the case with sprinters. Not only did he start well in the 100 meters, but he also got off to a good start for the season: Boldon’s winning time of 9.93 seconds is, by far, the fastest time in the world this year.

“It was the best start I’ve ever had in my life,” Boldon said. “It’s only my second race of the year. I don’t really feel like I’ve gone to the well.”

Boldon becomes the seventh-fastest sprinter ever at the distance.

Boldon, who is from Trinidad, has just started his collegiate season for UCLA. Last year he won the 200 meters, not his specialty, at the NCAA championships, but was charged with a false start in the 100 and was disqualified.

This year, the collegiate season will present an interesting challenge to Boldon. The workload required in pursuit of points is not always compatible with staying healthy and peaking for the Olympics later in the season.

Boldon is unconcerned about the twin seasons, and Sunday’s race gives him confidence that he’ll be properly prepared. Lining up against Mike Marsh and Jeff Williams and beating them is indication enough. Marsh was second in 9.95 and Williams was third in 10.14.

Even though his time will send a signal to the sprint world, don’t expect Boldon to accompany it with bragging.

“There’s no rivalry, I look up to Mike,” Boldon said of Marsh, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist at 200 meters. “Mike’s in that sub-10, sub-20 [200 meters] club that I would like to join. He’s the school record holder and he’s a Bruin. I respect that. The environment at UCLA is great. I’m training with John Drummond, Quincy Watts, Marie-Jose Perec . . . you learn a tremendous amount just being at the track. I’m a student of track. I know everyone’s race style, who comes on later, who starts fast. I know what to expect.”

That makes his coach, John Smith, happy because Boldon’s tendency, like many sprinters, is to tighten when a competitor gains on him. That is the precise moment that Smith wants Boldon to relax.

“I thought he became mindful of waiting for Mike [Marsh],” Smith said of Sunday’s race. “He tightened up a little bit. But not as bad as he has done in the past. He tried to relax. I wanted him to run fast and relaxed.”

Even Smith, an exacting taskmaster, was satisfied with Boldon’s performance. Smith acknowledged that by running this fast this early, Boldon has caused his coach to throw out the entire year’s worth of strategic planning.

“I’ve got to sit down tonight and rethink the whole season,” Smith said. “I’ve never had a sprinter at this point.”

Boldon’s time will better his national record of 10.03. He also holds the national record at 200 meters in 20.08. While he remains a hero in Trinidad, it was not always so. His performance at the 1992 Olympics was less than stellar--he finished fourth in his heat.

“I flopped,” Boldon said, laughing at the memory. “I was too happy to be there and got overwhelmed. I wouldn’t want to take any of it back, because I’ve done that and now I know what it feels like.”

With an automatic ticket to the Olympics, Boldon, 22, will join his mother in Atlanta. She lives 10 minutes from the Olympic Stadium.

Amid the post-race euphoria and talk of the Olympics, Smith was careful to ratchet down the hype.

“He had a good day,” Smith said. “At the Olympics, you have to have two good days. That’s when it counts. Good times or an Olympic gold medal, I’ll take the medal. He’s just got to keep it simple and be patient.”