Sunday, April 27, 1997

Rhodes shines at regional meet

By Ted Dunnam

LUBBOCK - This scenario has been played out before.

And in the most miserable conditions many track coaches and athletes have ever participated, Dominic Rhodes shone as bright as he did this past fall when his football heroics were produced on a weekly basis.

Rhodes again stepped to the forefront Saturday, winning the 100 and 200 meters to lead Cooper to the Region I-5A track championship at R.P. Fuller Track.

Drama unfolded both times Rhodes stepped on the track for the two sprints and his performances left spectators oohing and aahing.

In the 100, he was in fifth place with 30 meters remaining before he figured he better turn on the afterburners. Rhodes' power burst rocketed him to the front and the Texas Tech signee nipped Odessa Permian's J'Quay Wilburn at the tape to win in 10.61 seconds.

Wilburn finished in 10.63 and only two-tenths of a second separated the top five finishers.

Later, in the 200, Rhodes, uncharacteristically, shot out of the blocks, maintained his lead early and saw his trademark strong finish carry him to a win over San Angelo Central's heralded sprinter Sam Singleton in 21.22 seconds. Singleton finished in 21.28.

Rhodes couldn't help but smile after his second triumph of the day.

"That was my first time to beat Sam," Rhodes said. "Today was a good day for me. J'Quay beat me as a sophomore and junior, and I beat him today.

"When I got on the curve, I knew I was going to see Sam's sprinter speed. I just ran as hard as I could. This is pretty special to win this (the 200). I knew I had a shot in the 100, but I didn't really expect to win this."

In the 100, Rhodes didn't leave the blocks in real good shape, but then again if he hadn't, there wouldn't have been the dramatics.

"I'm never good at the beginning of the race, but I knew it was a definite possibility of me winning the 100," Rhodes said. "The weather was bad, but me and J'Quay are used to it in football.

"Running against him really pumps me up."

Rhodes also anchored the 400-meter relay team, but by the time he got the stick, he had too much ground to make up against a fast field.

Cooper still ran a respectable 42.02 in finishing fifth.

Rhodes and his teammates also presented head coach Brent Brevard with a team title.

"It was great. We knew we could come up here and win this meet," Rhodes said. "Everybody did their job."

But no one did it like Dominic Rhodes.