By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
He crosses the finish line. Exhausted after sprinting the 400-meter dash, or as my high school track coach use to call it, “the man’s race”, he looks to his coach and a time of 45.35 is flashed to the crowd.
Immediate jubilation strikes him as he realizes that it was a time that had been long due for the LSU sprinter. Alleyne Francique’s time shattered a NCAA record and was the seventh fastest indoor time in world history.
That was the scene at the SEC indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
“In my preparations I knew I could run a sub-46 time in the 400,” said Francique. “I have been working so hard to get to this point and it finally came together at the SEC meet.”
Francique, a native of St. Andrews, Grenada, has traveled a long way to reach this point. Prior to LSU he competed at Essex County College (N.J.) where he excelled as an All-American in the 400 and 600-meter dashes. He came to LSU last year where he immediately bursts onto the scene as a major contributor to LSU’s 2001 men’s indoor national championship team.
“Francique is a real leader,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “He has the ability to speak up and set his teammates in the right direction. Like everyone out here he works really hard to get where he wants to go.”
Francique got into track at a very young age and always dreamed of competing at a very high level.
“It was always my dream to run at a school like LSU and compete with the best the nation has to offer,” said Francique. “I can’t believe my name is being mentioned with the likes of Michael Johnson and others who have posted great times in the 400. It’s all been a great experience.”
LSU has had a long lineage in super star track runners. There is no exception in the men’s 400-meter dash. Derrick Brew held the LSU record with a 46.12, a mark set on the same track two years ago, before Francique erased that record on Feb. 24. Brew is widely recognized as one of the top young quarter-milers in the world and last year ran on the gold medal-winning U.S. 4×400-meter relay at the World Championships.
“Brew and Francique are two different types of runner,” said Henry. “Francique has actually done better indoors than Brew. He has the ability to turnover very quickly which gives him a great advantage.
“I was fortunate to be able to train with Derrick Brew. This year I have Pete (Coley) to train with. It makes things more competitive when you have so much talent around you,” said Francique.
Pete Coley of LSU finished second in the 400-meter dash at the SEC’s, an eyelash behind Francique at 45.37. His time was the second best in NCAA history.
“Both Francique and Pete Coley have been outstanding,” said Henry. “Pete (Coley) would be the story had he not been edged by Francique. It’s great to see both of them do so well.”
Now LSU sets its sights on defending its national title on Mar. 8-9 in Fayetteville. For Francique, he heads into the quarter as the favorite and hopes to come home with the national championship in the event.
Henry sees a lot of unleashed potential in Francique.
“I think the he can get even better. I really like what he can do for this team. Anytime you have a leader with that much talent your team can be successful.”