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This is why I love to coach
University of South Carolina track and field coach Curtis Frye will be coaching five U.S. athletes at the Sydney Olympics, including defending 110-meter hurdles gold medalist Allen Johnson. In 1999 Frye was named the National Men's Indoor Coach of the > Year and the National Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year. In his 26-year career, Frye has coached 38 NCAA champions. Check back in with Frye on CNNSI.com throughout the Olympic Games.
September 24, 2000
What a busy day! Sunday morning Terrence Trammell and Allen Johnson both advanced in the first round of the 110-meter hurdles. Terrence was third in his heat and Allen won his heat. I got to the practice track at 7:51 a.m., and Allen and Terrence got there about 8:20 a.m. They were very calm Sunday morning. Terrence was a bit hyper, skipping and hopping, with a "let's get it on" attitude. Allen was a bit more quiet. They both acted like they always do at a race. Before the race I gave them mechanical queues. They are both two different types of hurdlers. I told Terrence not to get too excited and to hold his mechanics through the race. I told him not to knock down a hurdle and to go through the race clean. Allen is a different type of hurdler. I told him to get out quick, don't let others dictate your race. Then stay clear and be clean the rest of the way. Control the race. Both of them executed perfectly. Terrence may have backed off a little too much after the first two hurdles and then had to pick it up at the end. The idea was to conserve energy and advance. That's what we are trying to do each round. Tonight I told them to advance, stay clean and make sure you are in the top four. The top four will make the semifinals. The whole game changes tonight because before the top four advance and then the next eight times. Now, you have to finish in the top four of your heat to advance. It's important to try to be in the top two of your heat because No. 3 can get a bad draw or lane. They both had great draws tonight. It's hard to run a perfect race, especially in the Olympic Games because the stakes are so high so the stress increases. Allen and Terrence have different types of personalities, but they are both very competitive. They are easy to psych up with small queues. Terrence is more of an excitable person and Allen is more of a quieter aggressive hurdler. Terrence is very expressive so I have to allow him to be that. I can't make Allen expressive. I just have to work within their personalities to get the best out of them. Change in either one shows a lack of confidence and it's very important they have confidence. It's a joy watching both of them, working with both of them. Terrence is maturing well above where so many people are in his first Olympics. He did not manage the race well in his win at the World University Games. That international experience has helped him here. This Olympic Games is a different one. It will be an incredible feat for both of them to make the Games. For Terrence because he is young. For Allen because he has been injured. Tonight Allen finished second in his heat of the second round at 13.56. Terrence was second in his heat with the second fastest time of the day (13.28). Allen Johnson is ready to go. Terrence got into a great rhythm and then backed off at the end. I am quite happy both will be in the semifinals Monday night. Now, I have to go through this all over again tomorrow morning with Melissa Morrison. This is why I love to coach. I can't wait! -- Curtis
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