Edwards last sprint medal hope for
the USA
Laura Arcoleo (IAAF)
20 October 2000 - Monzavous "Rae" Edwards advanced to the semi-finals of the 200 meters in the world junior championships in Santiago.
Edwards, who has the fastest junior time in the world this year in the 200m qualified for the semi-finals with a third-place finish (21.34) in his second-round heat.
A protégé of Heath Delly Edwards, Alabama based Edwards says he’s in his best shape ever, despite not running since the month of June. "I started my season in March and my last race was back in June. In a way it is a very long gap with the championships but right now I’m in the shape I want to be in."
Edwards clocked 20.57 on 24 June, a time no other junior athlete has bettered this year, and is the last hope for the United States to win a medal in the sprint races here in Santiago.
Americans were absent in both 100m finals and no woman managed to do better than a seventh place in the 200m second round heats.
At the last edition of the World Junior championships the USA won silver in the men’s 100m and bronze in the men’s 200m while American women won gold and silver in the shorter distance and silver in the half lap race.
But in Santiago the medal count looks very different. "I want to set things straight," continues Edwards, "and today I didn’t want to burn myself out."
His third place finish in the quarter finals – he almost stopped running with ten metres to go – has given him an difficult 8th lane draw for the semi-final. Edwards will run against a quality line-up in his semi-final. His race includes the world youth champion Tim Benjamin (GBR), South Africa’s Paul Gorries, the second fastest junior this year and an impressive winner of his quarter final, and world youth silver medallist Omar Brown of Jamaica who will give the American a rough ride.
Edwards is nevertheless confident and says he’s been impressed by what Marion Jones has achieved this year. "I do not know her yet, but I will soon. That is for sure."
And when asked if he plans to meet her sometime this year, he laughs and jokes: "if I keep running like I am she may well call me and ask to meet me!"
Edwards will not have the easiest of times in his semi-final but will have the heavy task of defending the USA’s long standing tradition in the sprint races.
