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Dominique Arnold (Long Beach
Wilson/Long Beach CC-Washington State) |
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Dominique Arnold (Long Beach
Wilson/Long Beach CC-Washington State)
One of the more successful American Olympic level athletes in recent years has been Long Beach Wilson/Long Beach City College grad Dominique Arnold, with the Southern Californian who headed north in the mid-1990's for his collegiate running at Washington State University, a real study in steady development to the lofty height of American Record Holder in the High Hurdles at 12.90 the other day in Europe!! A fine prep athlete at Long Beach Wilson, Arnold was the Southern Section High Hurdles Champ in 1991, racing 14.20 for the distance and he was 14.23w for third behind Dominique Carson's 13.67w winner in that year's State Meet. For the year Arnold had the equal #30 time in the United States for preps, and the #3 time for Golden Staters for the season. From Wilson, Dominique went on to Long Beach City College, where he developed into a State Champion at that level, racing 14.17w during the 1993 season at the 42" hurdles to take the California CC title. He headed to Washington State for Pac-10 running at the Collegiate level, and had a fine career there, developing into an NCAA titlest by his senior season of 1996 with a fine clocking of 13.46. He was second in the Pac-10 that 1996 season at 13.75 and had worked his way up to a fine national level American hurdler. With most tracksters ending serious racing within a year or two of the end of their college running, one had to be impressed with Arnold's improvement, but assumed that was the end of it. The High Hurdles are one area of huge American strength at the international level, and Dominique had a long ways to go before he could be considered a "player" at that scene, but he seems to have had the "patience to the task!" Dominique was injured in 1997, and finished seventh in the semi-finals at the USATF Championships in 1998 with a best of 13.54. 1999 was a break-through year with a 13.11 best, world class level, but still a #6 ranking in the United States after a fifth place finish in the National Senior Championships. A frustrating 2000 included a not finishing effort at the Olympic Trials, but his overall season had him ranked #6 in the entire world and #4 in the US, with a 13.11 clocking during the season. The next four seasons, through 2004, had their ups and downs, with a 13.21 (#10 ranking in world) from 2001, and 13.31 best from 2004. 2005 was another "break-out" year during Arnold's patient career, with a runner-up at the US Championships (13.01) and fourth in the World Outdoor Champs (13.13). He had a number of sub 13.10 clockings, and was ranked #3 in the world (#2 in the US). The 2006 season had an early highlight with a third place at the World Indoor Championships at the 60mHH distance (7.52) and he was the US Outdoor Champion in Indianapolis in late June at 13.10. It was in Paris on Tuesday, July 11th, that Arnold became a part of history when he raced against a super field, including Olympic Champion Liu Xiang, with the Chinese cranking an amazing 12.88 World Record effort with Arnold close behind at 12.90, the #2 clocking in World History, and a new American Record!! When one views the length, breadth, and developmental success of Arnold it is an interesting study in patience, with most American athletes long lost to the real world a year or two after the end of college, with Arnold's best run taking place a full decade after his final Washington State University season. Quite an amazing tribute to our latest, local American Record Holder--Dominique Arnold. Video of the 12.88-12.90 race in Paris from July 11th (need broadband)
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