EUGENE, Ore.—One misstep off the track cost sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross valuable training on it.
The usually sure-footed reigning world 400-meter champ took a tumble while simply walking in the bleachers at nationals last summer, severely bruising her tailbone, spraining her ankle and throwing her training schedule off by months.
Now recovered, Richards-Ross is running in her signature event at U.S. championships this weekend even though she already has a bye into the world championships and could opt to skip it.
Feeling so far behind, though, she’s running to knock some of the rust off before worlds start later this summer.
There’s also an ancillary reason: Richards-Ross wants to gauge her fitness level as she entertains thoughts of going after a double in Daegu, South Korea. She still needs to qualify in the 200 at nationals to set that scenario up.
It’s not an easy double to pull off given all the rounds and how closely the two races are typically crammed together.
Still, she’s eager to give it a go given the favorable schedule at worlds, with the 400 held first, followed by a two-day break before the 200 begins. Fellow U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, who’s already received a bye into worlds as the three-time defending 200 champ, may also attempt the same feat, should she qualify in the 400.
“I’m going to have to be on my ‘A’ game,” Richards-Ross said of her bid for the double. “But I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
And if she were to successfully pull it off at worlds, Richards-Ross might even give it a shot at the 2012 London Olympics, depending on the schedule of those races.
“That would be a dream, for me to potentially be in my third Olympic Games and attempt a double,” the 26-year-old said.
For now, the first order of business centers on becoming race sharp again.
It was an injury-marred 2010 season for Richards-Ross, who pulled her quadriceps that April at Penn Relays on a hand-off in the 400 relay.
Then, after resuming her training, she had a freak accident as she fell while in the stands at nationals. She ended up bruising her tailbone so badly that she could barely hobble around, let alone train.
“I couldn’t sit, couldn’t stretch—it was just a disaster,” Richards-Ross said. “I shut it down.”
And because of that, she feels rusty now.
That’s why, even with an automatic spot for worlds, Richards-Ross is going through the rounds of the 400 at nationals. She easily won her heat Thursday night as she resembled the Richards-Ross of old—fast start, relaxed rhythm and strong kick to the finish.
Richards-Ross’ plan was to run one more round of that event, but she decided against it shortly before the race Friday. The 200 starts Saturday, and she can shake more rust off there.
“I am way ahead of where I was at this time in 2009, but I feel like I’m about 15 races behind right now,” Richards-Ross conceded. “But my training is going so well.”
While the injuries curtailed her racing schedule last season, it did have one hidden benefit that could be a boon down the road.
She’s long been plagued by a a disorder called Behcet’s syndrome, which causes ulcers inside her mouth so painful she can barely eat or talk and lesions up and down her legs so piercing she struggles to stretch before running.
Over the time off, she consulted with her doctor and changed her medication, leading to far fewer flare-ups. In fact, she hasn’t had one in nearly five months.
“A serious blessing,” Richards-Ross said. “I was getting them every two weeks really bad.”
Richards-Ross may be one of the few in America who is in no hurry to see the NFL reach a deal with the players as the lockout stretches deep into its fourth month.
Don’t get her wrong—she’s a big football fan. But she’s also a fan of having her husband, New York Giants defensive back Aaron Ross, at home more.
Usually around this time, he’s headed back to camp and preparing for the upcoming season.
Instead, given the ongoing labor strife, he’s being put through a different sort of training camp. With his wife leading the way, Ross has been running a series of grueling 150- and 200-meter sprints to further enhance his coverage skills.
“I know his coach is going to be really impressed,” said Richards-Ross, who got married to Ross on Feb. 26, 2010. “This (NFL lockout) has been great for me. But that’s kind of selfish. My husband wants to be back working. He loves what he does.
“We hope that they’ll resolve this issue soon, so he can be back in New York for training camps. But I’ve loved having him home.”
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