After a sensational sophomore year which concluded with a World Youth Championships title in the 110 meter hurdles followed by national record breaking indoor season as a junior, Wayne Davis of Southeast Raleigh (NC) hit his first road block last spring in the outdoor season. It turned out the superhuman phenom was actually human as an ankle injury lingered with him throughout the spring and reached a breaking point literally at the USATF Junior Nationals as the initial sprain injury ended up becoming a fracture to end his year. As a result, Davis' hopes of a returning to the World stage against the top junior hurdlers on the planet were lost. In an exclusive interview with MileSplit US though, Davis reveals that the injury may have been a blessing in disguise as it has forced him to pace himself better and re-adjust his training for his senior year, which should set himself to be healthy and finish strong this summer. He certainly does not appear to be behind schedule as his US #1 clocking of 7.09 last weekend at the Virginia Tech Invite puts him only a hundredth of a second off his US #2 all-time performance of 7.08 from last year's meet despite having trained for a significantly less period prior compared to 2008 at this points. The North Carolina high school track star returns to Virginia for a second straight weekend for the Lashawn Merritt Invitational on Saturday being held at the new Boo Williams Sportslex in Hampton.
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The first annual Lashawn Merritt Invitational will be held this Saturday at the new Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton, Virginia. Lakeland High School is the host school, but the Norfolk Real Track Club is also co-hosts of the event, which one of their club's coaches in Dwayne Miller is the coach of the recent Olympic 400 meter gold medalist in Beijing. Merritt was obviously a state leader in several events in high school days not too long ago at Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth and the meet which is bestowed with his name has plenty of athletes considered as the state's very best. Note from Meet Director: The girls Long Jump will start @ 7:45 and the Girls Triple jump will start later in the morning after the Boys Triple Jump is completed. All Girl Long Jumpers must check in between 7:15 and 7:35. We will not allow anyone to check in after 7:35.
Performance list to the 2009 Lashawn Merritt Invitational to be held Saturday, January 31st at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton, VA.