World Youth Championships - July 16-18, 1999 at Bydgoszcz Poland
Brian
Sears interview
Bryan Sears - USA - Silver Medalist -
World Youth 100 Meters
by Doug Speck
Silver in 200 is one of 3 medals for Sears (Photo by Doug
Speck)
He comes across like many of the US's fine world class
sprinters at all
levels--tall, powerful, handsome, a "bigger than life" demeanor, and a
bit of
attitude that has him hit some of the highs and lows emotionally during the
start of a weekend of action in this year's first ever World Youth
Championships (athletes who will not turn eighteen this year). The athlete in
discussion is World Youth Silver Medalist over 100 Meters, Bryan Sears, a tenth
grader from Georgia in the Southern U.S. who emerged from these championships
on the first day with more attention paid to him than any competitor in the
stadium. He was at the forefront of the always significant 100 meter event
three times the first day of the first annual World Youth Championships, held
in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He led early 100 Meter qualifying and semi-final action,
then finished a close second in the Finals to Great Britain's Mark Lewis-
Francis 10.40-10.42, charging back from a mediocre start to nearly run down the
latest English sprint star.
In a sport of introverts Sears is anything but. He raises his
arms to the
sky in the starting blocks area in a style that suggests a request for power
from some higher source, "upper- cuts" his fists to the sky after the
finish of
a victorious event, and sits for a long time by himself after a rare loss to
seriously ponder what went wrong and plan for more serious efforts in the
future.
His 10.42 for second in the 100 Meter event Finals is easily
his best time
ever, but the achieved place was one less than his goal for the day. In an
interview with Polish newspapers after the first day's meet, Sears indicated
real frustration with running what he felt were perfect races from start to
finish in the first two rounds of the short sprint competition, only to have
what he felt was a mediocre start in the finals that left him short of track to
run down leader Lewis-Francis of Great Britain.
Interestingly, Sears is a one-sport athlete, sticking to Track
& Field
year round. He has been running for five years for his club and high school
team. His mom and dad have always encouraged his track participation, viewing
it as a postive alternative to the "street scene" that Sears states
drags a
number of American teens down from their real potential. Bryan has one brother
who is jsut graduating from basic training in the Air Force back in the states.
A good student in school, the young star indicated interest down the road in
being a Doctor as a career choice. Interests personally center around shopping
and training for athletics.
When pressed about his visit to Poland, Sears responded that
ouside of a
late flight over he had found it to be a good trip so far. He likes the
country and people.
When asked about goals he was quick to respond a gold medal
over 200
meters in this competition, with his rangy style probably more suited to
stretching out over the half lap distance. He also indicated an interest in
seeing his name in the American publications USA Today and Sports Illustrated.
Some around the world have been critical of having a World Championships
for athletes so very young at this stage of their careers. During the first
day of action at the World Youth Meet spectators were amazed at the intensity
level of many of the teenagers in attendance, with athletes such as Sears
performing at a level physically and expressing an emotional and intellectual
maturity far beyond their years. In the case of this newest young sprint star
from the Southern United States such an impression was made during the first
two rounds of action that news of his loss was the biggest story in the press
room area at the end of the day. With more action the remainder of the
weekend for Mr. Sears the headlines are undoubtedly not over. In the style of
the great American sprinters of the last few decades, it appears the next great
one is rolling down the pipe from this "youth" level as Bryan Sears
carts home
medals from the initial World Championship at this level in Poland.
