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GWI Photo Essays
6/10/2000 at Sacramento CA
Golden West Invitational
Sprint king Dwight Thomas
Dwight Thomas has not run for a high school for more than a year, but the tall Jamaican from Hyattsville MD is the premier prep sprinter in the nation.
Coming to the US for his junior year of high school in 1999, Thomas led High Point HS in Maryland to the indoor state championship and then won the 200 meters at the National Scholastic Indoor meet in Boston in March 1999.
Shortly thereafter, Dwight and twin brother Dwayne transferred to Northwestern HS, Hyattsville MD. Dwight was then declared ineligible because of poor grades at High Point and had to stay on the sidelines as his brother helped Northwestern become the nation's best relay team in both the 4x400 and 4x800.
But Dwight stayed in shape and won the Foot Locker Outdoor 200 meter title in Raleigh in June 1999, followed by a 100-200 double in the Pan Am Juniors in Tampa, representing Jamaica.
This year, Dwight was reportedly training for the Jamaican Olympic team, but ventured out to win two indoor invitationals at 60 meters competing unattached (Simplot and NSI) before coming to California for the Golden West.
In Sacramento, Thomas faced top Texas sprinters Leo Bookman, Adam Wooten, and Brendan Christian. For whatever reason, California's best - Warren Rogers and Bennie Robinson - did not appear.
Thomas doubled with ease in 10.32 and 20.5h, shaking off an amazing
four false starts in the 100 by other runners (the GWI did not disqualify
anyone). No one doubted that he is indeed Number One.
(Thomas is coming to a stop after the 100 below)
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