Robles On World Record Run, ” I think I can run faster”, by Bob Ramsak

Our track troubadour, Bob Ramsak, moved earlier this summer and has not unpacked a thing. He sent me a picture of his office, which was two packing boxes, a chair and his laptop. We wish him luck, but also thank him for travelling all around Middel Europa, seeing great track meets and great performances.
The men’s hurdles is going to be one of the toughest fields in Beijing. Dayron Robles was on the short list of most hurdle congnescenti–and another athlete that Mr. Liu Xiang will have to watch our for in less than two months…

TRACK PROFILE Report #770
13-June-2008
ROBLES ON WORLD RECORD RUN: ‘I THINK I CAN RUN FASTER’
By Bob Ramsak
(c) 2008 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic –– If it seemed as though Dayron Robles was issuing a challenge to Liu Xiang with his stunning 12.87 world record two months before the Olympic Games, the young Cuban insists that simply isn’t the case.
“He doesn’t need to be motivated by me and my performance,” Robles said after knocking 0.01 seconds from his Chinese rival’s two year old mark at the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava Thursday night. “That the Olympics are in China and that he’s the Olympic champion should be his motivation.”
But so too should the concise appraisal of his race.
“I can’t explain if this was a perfect race,” Robles said of his third race of the season. “But I think I can run faster.”
Blazing from the gun, Robles charged to a commanding lead by the midway point before a near-perfect lean at the finish sealed the deal. Behind him – well behind him, were two-time Olympic and twice World championship silver medallist Terrence Trammell, second in 13.21, and Osaka bronze medallist, David Payne, last in 13.64.
The massive victory margin didn’t faze him nor did the uncharacteristic lack of rivals pushing him. He was simply out to prove a point to himself, and to others.
“Good results this season by other runners really motivated me,” he said, adding that if he could have his way, he would have preferred a more competitive race. “I focus only on me, but I like it better when everybody is there.”
He also said that he felt he owed something to the Ostrava meet organizers, after finishing a distant third last year in 12.45.
“I wanted to come back her because I ran poorly here last year. I wanted to prove to the organizers that I’m better than I showed last year.”
In that sense, he certainly proved his point. But after a brief celebration at the athletes’ hotel, tomorrow he said, would be just another day.
“I still have a long way to go,” he said. “I’ve never been to the Olympics, and I have to be prepared.”
Robles said that he’s stuck to the same training routine that he’s practiced over the past several years fine tuning his entire race, start to finish.
“I haven’t changed anything in my training,” he explained. “What we’ve been doing has brought me success. I work on everything, my total technique. I just have to continue working the same way.”
ENDS
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