The top two finishers of the women's 100-meter hurdles at the 97th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays were separated by millimeters. When Texas sprinter Akala Garrett crossed the line Saturday afternoon, she had no clue if she had beaten Howard's Marcia Sey for first place.
The crowd held its breath as the screen flashed. Suddenly, Garrett's scream punched through the silence, her name appearing first beside a time of 12.76 seconds, a new personal best. She ran toward the crowd, pumping her fist, the jewels in her hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.
Garrett is unapologetic about being herself. She respects her fellow competitors and values humility in track and field. But she loves to express her personality, donning new hairstyles for every race, wearing sunglasses and dancing in celebration after each win.
"I've never been the type to brag. I've always been humble. But you got to have personality in this sport; that's what makes it fun," Garrett said.
Despite her confidence, Garrett went into the event at a disadvantage. While the Longhorn excels at the 400-meter hurdles, she is a slow starter, by her admission. She's terrific in the second half of races, but short sprints exacerbate her weakness.
Texas coach Edrick Floréal pushed Garrett toward the 100-meter hurdles to force his athlete's evolution. Being a so-so sprinter will not cut it in the future, Floréal says. If she improves, Garrett can combine her fantastic long speed with a sprinter's acceleration, leading the ...
