Gray getting used to being a full-time athlete
Cordero Gray didn’t waste any time finding success in the professional track world.
Competing in only his first professional event, Gray scampered to a time of 5.76 to capture gold in the men’s open 50 metre Thursday at the 47th annual Knights of Columbus Saskatchewan Indoor Games at the Fieldhouse.
“I was super nervous,” said Gray, who calls Arlington, Texas home. “I knew I had to bring my A-game. It feels great.
“This is a big one — I’m glad I came out here. This is a good learning experience.”
Gray, only 22, edged out Canadians Justyn Warner and 2008 Olympian Jared Connaughton who finished with times of 5.77 and 5.79 respectively.
Gray will look to build on his medal haul in Saskatoon today when he takes part in the men’s 60m dash.
Despite the quick acclimation process, the young American is still getting used to being a full-time athlete.
Gone is the routine of student life and scheduled practices. Gray graduated with a sports management degree from the University of Texas at Arlington last spring, where he was one of the most decorated track athletes in the school’s history, and now the onus is on him to train and improve.
Sure, he won’t deny himself an extra round of Call of Duty, but if he wants his K of C success to become a habit, he has to treat his training like the full-time job it is.
“It’s a big adjustment,” said Gray. “I don’t have much to do other than training.
“You gotta have discipline — I learned that.”
Gray spent all of the fall training, and just got back to competing last week at a meet in Houston. He didn’t come to Saskatoon with any expectations, but never feels the need to “put limitations on myself.”
Gray wants to use the K of C as a springboard to a pretty hectic winter season. He has several meets in February, highlighted by the American indoor track championships Feb. 25-26 in Albuquerque, New Mexico — an event he’s already qualified for.
But while his focus rests with indoor meets for now, Gray casts an optimistic eye at qualifying for the Olympics in the future. His outdoor races, the 100 and 200m, are always hotly contested, but, at only 22, he knows it’s not London 2012 or bust.
“If I continue to work my hardest, you never know.”
Other winners in the open races on Thursday included American Brittney Reese in the women’s 50m with a time of 6.23, Evander Wells, also of the United States, in the men’s 200m who finished in a time of 21.89, while Canadian Ammon Nelson clocked in at 24.44 to claim the women’s 200m.
Action continues at the Fieldhouse today starting with the elementary school relays at 4 p.m. Open event finals begin around 7:15 p.m.