:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46538810/GettyImages-2853760.0.jpg)
After watching Andre De Grasse historical performance at the NCAA track & field championships, I can no longer describe the sophomore sprinter as just "fast". There's supersonic, velocious, and my favorite expeditious. Regardless of which word I choose De Grasse was a prime example, as he took gold in the 100M and 200M.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xb3O6r6n4x4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you blinked watching Friday's track meet then my friend you missed history in the making. De Grasse came in as the underdog & ran off as a winner in the 100M beating Baylor's Trayvon Bromell, who was the defending champion.
De Grasse ran a blazing time of 9.75 wind-aided time. Just a sophomore, De Grasse ran the fastest any-condition time ever by a Canadian and the second fastest by any collegiate. The fun and eye opening times didn't stop there for Andre, as he made his mark in the men's 200M as well.
De Grasse came, he saw, and he conquered as soon as the gun went off. Andre took charge on the curve, something he didn't do in the semifinals. From there he accelerated and separated from Dedric Dukes of Florida and Trayvon Bromell of Baylor. De Grasse's wind-aided 19.58 was the fastest time ran by a collegian in any-condition. He's only the fourth sprinter ever in USC to sweep the 100M & 200M, last being Clancy Edwards in 1978. Since Bruny Surin in the 90s competed for Canada, there's hasn't been a top sprinter since to represent the Canadians. When interviewed De Grasse stated, "I'm going to try to put Canada back on the map and compete with the U.S. and Jamaica". De Grasse was the biggest contributor to the Trojans 5th place finish in the NCAAs.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fMESf18KA_o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Lady Trojans also made a strong finish in the championships, placing 7th overall in the nation. In the 4x100 the girls placed third, running a 43.27. The Ladies of Troy also took second in the 4x400 running a 3:29:97 behind the University of Florida. Vanessa Jones ran an amazing 50.60 anchor leg to bring it home for the Trojans and closed a big gap. Individually, freshman Ky Westbrook ran an 11.1 and placed fourth overall while Dior Hall placed third in the 100M High Hurdles. Both finished with first team All-American honors, along with 16 others.