Wednesday, July 25, 2001 |
Fayetteville sprinter wins race in Florida as precursor to Georgia Games
By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Al Gibbs, assistant sprinter coach for the Peachtree City Flash and also an assistant for the Fayette Flames youth track teams, has been gearing up all summer for the Georgia Games, which were played over the weekend. Gibbs, a Fayetteville resident, recently ran in the 100-meter dash at the 23rd annual Track and Field Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. He came in second in the Pre-Masters division, which is open to those ages 30-39, by running a time of 11.24 seconds. He started out of the blocks slow, due to a nagging abdominal muscle injury, but accelerated and soon caught the pack at the 60-meter mark. Gibbs has been competing in only one event at each meet so he would be able to run in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Georgia Games. He ran in the 200-meter dash in the ATC Masters Track and Field Meet and placed first in the 35-39 age category with a time of 23.86. The Fayette Flames participated in the Georgia Games over the weekend as well and you can bet that Gibbs was cheering them on. "I really do enjoy working with the youth track teams because those kids have so much potential and dedication that it really inspires me to train the way I do," said Gibbs. "I want to be an example for them both on and off the track." Gibbs will conclude his season by running in the Championship Series Summer Track Classic at Mcintosh High School in Peachtree City, July 24. |