THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604240193
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
A state championship in the 300-meter hurdles was within LaRon Claude's reach last year at James Madison University in Harrisonburg - until he stumbled on the final hurdle.
``My trail leg hit it,'' said Claude, who was leading when he fell, then had to settle for fifth place. ``I just thought, `Oh my God,' and tears started to come to my eyes. I had worked so hard to get there, and in a big meet like that you want to do your best.
``When something like that happens, it hurts you a lot. It was more emotional than physical. . . . It makes you want it more.''
This year, Claude says he's on a mission to win what slipped away at the state meet. His Lakeland teammates say the same.
``That's all LaRon talked about since he fell,'' sprinter and hurdler Phoenix Long said. ``He's going to win it this year.''
Long's confidence comes from watching Claude compete in Lakeland's first six meets this season. Claude is undefeated in the 300 hurdles and broke a meet record at the Captain's Classic Relays in Newport News two weeks ago. The senior's time was 40.29 seconds, the fastest in the area this season.
``I didn't find out (about breaking the record) until that Monday morning,'' said Claude, a 5-foot-8, 180-pounder. ``I didn't even think about it. I'm not going out there trying to break records and be Mr. Big Shot.''
Too late for that.
The 19-year-old Claude also runs the 110 hurdles and competes in the long and triple jumps. And he's on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that qualified for state competition in the Cavaliers' first meet.
``He's the kind of kid you want out there,'' Lakeland coach James Dabney said of Claude, who also had second-place finishes in the long jump at the Conn Madden Relays and the Captain's Classic. ``He doesn't want to lose at anything. He'll give everything he can. He doesn't think anyone can beat him, but not in a cocky way.''
Claude says he's confident, definitely not cocky.
``I feel I can't be beat, but I don't want people to interpret that the wrong way,'' he said. ``That's the way I am on the track. When you get in a race, you have to have that state of mind or you won't win.''
Claude said his state of mind has changed since his sophomore year, when he decided to stop getting poor grades and ``fighting and stuff'' to compete in track.
``I was a D student then. I didn't really care about high school until I started running track,'' said Claude, who now has a C-plus average and wants to attend either Hampton University or Norfolk State to major in business technology. ``Coach Dabney and coach (Greg) Roundtree really helped get me out here and I fell in love with track. I was tired of just doing nothing in high school. (Track) gave me something to strive for.''
Claude is also quick to give his teammates credit for his success this season.
``I've got great teammates that keep me going,'' he said. ``I don't feel like this team has done as well as we could, though.''
That's hard to believe. The Cavaliers boys have won three invitational team titles this season and broke three records last weekend at the Peninsula Relays. Melvin Faulk broke a meet record in the 200-meter run (22.3 seconds), then teamed with Reginald Wiggins, Long and Claude to break another in the 4x100 relay (44.0). James Pruden set a meet record in the 3200 (10:25).
``We work hard and everybody's pretty close,'' said Claude. ``If everybody gives 110 percent like always we've got a legitimate shot at (a state title).''
And though Claude wants another chance at a state championship in the 300 hurdles, he'll settle for a state team title.
``I don't go out there to win for myself, it's for the team,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
LaRon Claude is on a mission to win what slipped away at the state
meet last year.
by CNB