Thyme, Lingard feed off a hurdles rivalry
When Tyreek Thyme hit the finish-line tape ahead of Lorenzo Lingard in the 110-meter hurdles final at last week’s Class 4A, Region 1 track and field meet, Lingard was not happy.
But the Orange City University High hurdler knew how to get even.
He didn’t stay mad long, refocusing his energy on the 300-meter hurdles event, and it worked to perfection.
Lingard popped one of the fastest times in Central Florida history with a 36.76-second clocking that bested Thyme by 1.13 seconds.
That was the fastest ever run by an area junior, and it ranks third nationally among by juniors for 2017.
“I’ve been wanting to drop my time in the 300s but whenever I’ve used self-motivation to do it, I’d hit a 37.2, or something like that,” Lingard said. “But last week’s race really brought anger to me and frustration.
“So I went out there with one mindset, to go all out.”
Expect more of the same type of drama this weekend when Thyme and Lingard go at it again in both events at the Florida High School Athletic Association track and field championships at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Preliminary heats for both events today with the finals on Saturday.
In three seasons, Lingard and Thyme have raced in 13 hurdles finals.
“We push each other,” said Thyme, who edged Lingard in the 110 hurdles by .08 seconds with a time of 14.13 seconds a week ago. That was the Lyman senior’s first 110s win in seven tries vs. Lingard.
Thyme holds a 4-2 edge at the 300s distance.
Both said they try not to let the thought of running against the other get into their heads, but it’s there each time a race arrives and both are entered.
Lingard has compared it to a cat and mouse game, but each race determines who will be the one chasing.
“It’s a matter of who has the right tools physically and mentally and who’s ready before the race; who’s on their A game and who’s the most energized,” said Lingard, who is also one of the nation’s top football running back prospects. He plans to both play football and run track at Miami.
Lingard wasn’t ready last year, he said, when the two speedsters met at the district meet. Lingard was topseeded for the 300s, but was disqualified for a lane violation.
Lingard won the 110s state title as a sophomore last season, but he is still thirsting to redeem last year’s shortcoming in the longer race, and perhaps claim two gold medals this weekend.
“I’m not a big player to boast or boost things up,” Lingard said. “I just know he’s gonna bring his A game and I’m gonna bring my A game.”
Thyme, who was third at state in both hurdles finals a year ago, said he understands why Lingard was able to rally back to win the 300s last week.
“He really got me on that one,” Thyme said. “I’m the same way. If somebody beats me, I’m gonna have to come back. I’m not really happy about what just happened. It’s just a battle.”