FSU's Walter Dix Earns Spot in Olympics

By Steve Ellis
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT

EUGENE, Ore. — Tyson Gay, the fastest American ever, exhaled before
settling into the starting blocks. Next to him, in lane three, Walter
Dix was already a study of concentration and — as everyone would soon
find out — confidence.

Embattled by injury concerns and technically unsound starts, the eight-
time NCAA champion for Florida State wasn't even supposed to be here.
The 200 meters, run Friday, was supposed to be Dix's opportunity to
become an Olympian.

Dix had other ideas. Just before the starter's gun went off, he told
himself:

"I'm here. I'm ready. Let's win."

For Dix, the here was the 100 meter finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials
on a warm Sunday afternoon at hallowed Hayward Field. Decked in his
alma mater's garnet and gold, Dix needed two months and an NCAA team
championship to distance himself from a mid-April night in Tallahassee
where a hamstring injury suustained in the Seminole Invitational had
planted doubts about his Olympic future.

Dix completed the journey in a blazing but wind-aided 9.8 seconds to
claim second place in the 100 meters. His reward for enduring a
difficult season was a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and an embrace
from Gay at race end. From there Dix dashed toward the stands crammed
with more than 20,000 fans. A quick Seminole chop and then onto the
podium. "It felt real good to be out there — the only collegian out
there and representing Florida State," Dix said, who held off at
Darvis Patton at the line and finished behind Gay's 9.68 — the world's
fastest time, but a mark that won't be a record due to a wind at his
back that measured at 4.1 meters per second.

"Walter Dix is a tough competitor," Gay would later say of Dix during
the post-race media conference. "He's proved a lot and reminds me of
myself a lot. He stayed in the (Florida State) uniform and just
focused on what he needed to do and got it accomplished."

Dix will represent the red, white and blue of the USA in Beijing, and
maybe in three events — the 100 and 200 meters and 4x100 relay. But on
Sunday, he was spectacular in garnet and gold. And proud of it.

"We're already three national champions deep," Dix said. "I don't know
if you can say anything else."

But FSU athletics and Seminole fans can. One of their own is a U.S.
Olympian — the first time for a male FSU track and field athlete since
Arthur Blake participated in the 1992 and '88 Olympics. Kim Batten
participated in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.

Dix may not be the only FSU graduate to make the U.S. team. Lacy
Janson is one of the favorites in the pole vault that begins Thursday.
Long jumper Joe Allen finished seventh in his event, but will not earn
a spot on the Olympic team.

"It's great for the university and the community," said former FSU
track coach Terry Long, who has worked with Dix this season. "It's a
tribute to all the Florida State coaches.

"And this certainly exemplifies the unique nature of Walter Dix. He
stayed and got his education, finished his Florida State career pretty
emphatically with his eighth individual title and third team title."