University of Georgia Athletics
LaRon Bennett's Second Journal Entry
April 17, 2007 | Track & Field
LaRon "Bud" Bennett, who finished his Georgia track career in 2005, is now traveling around the world to compete in professional races. The Brunswick, Ga., native registered his first win in the professional ranks last summer at the International Consulate Meeting of Martinique in Fort de France, Martinique, where he finished the 400-meter hurdles in 49.43. After taking time to rest and train for the outdoor season, Bennett made his 2007 outdoor debut at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta on March 30-31.
At the Spec Towns Invitational on April 14, Bennett won the 400 hurdles after clocking a 50.00 and took third in the 110 hurdles (14.42).
While wearing red and black, Bennett set the school record in the 400 hurdles after clocking a 48.74 at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships for a fifth-place finish. Bennett, who was a three-time outdoor All-American, was also the runner-up in the 2005 SEC Outdoor Championships with a 48.76. Bennett will be providing georgiadogs.com with journal entries about his experiences on the road over the next several months. His second entry of the season is below:
“Today will prove to be very interesting because I got a little banged up in class on Tuesday (Bennett was playing basketball in his P.E. class and bruised his knee in a collision). Yesterday’s shake out was a little off, but I should be O.K. I head to the track and prepare for my 110-meter hurdle race. I have Justin Gaymon, Javonie Small and Keelan Knox in my race. I’m not too worried about this race, but it would be good to win. After a brief warm-up, we are called to our blocks and then the gun goes off. My reaction is great. Javonie and I are the first to our hurdles and then it’s a race from there.
“As we both go over our last hurdle, I notice Justin charging for the finish line. Then Toby Cook (program coordinator for Georgia track and field) calls the results: Javonie and I tie for second and Justin takes the win. How could this be? Oh well, he’s good, what can I say. I go relax and prepare for my premier event.
“It’s 15 minutes before I run the 400 hurdles and I’m getting nervous again. The stands are packed and I know there are a lot of people expecting me two win. I want to get the facility record held by Kevin Young (current world record holder), but it will be tough since my knee is already starting to swell. Finally, we are called to the blocks. I have Javonie behind me, so I’m expecting him to push the race again; now, the gun. My first few steps are slow and I hear Javonie come up on me, but he doesn’t pass me. Bad move, because I know he’s waiting on me. As we approach the 200-meter mark, my rhythm is off, but at least my steps are on. I remember Coach (Jon) Stuart wanted me to go 14 steps to the seventh hurdle so I go for it and I make it. Then as I approach the eighth hurdle, I stutter step. I don’t know why, but it killed my momentum. Javonie and Thomas Hillard pull ahead of me. I don’t panic, because I know I haven’t used my ‘kick’ yet. I hear the crowd getting louder, so I move into my ‘kick' phase. I pass both of them before the last hurdle and run to a comfortable 50.0; not bad for having a bruised knee. I head home to get some rest because my next race will be in Senegal, South Africa, on April 28th. That will be a big race and a 50.0 won’t win it.”
