By Joe Mantone
Samaruddin Stewart of the State Press
State Press
Blindly reaching back, Marcus Brunson felt the baton hit his hand. Seconds later, the oft-injured track star felt a twinge in his hamstring. Remembering his year-long rehabilitation on that same muscle, he let up a little and crossed the finish line without displaying his explosive speed.
Saturday's defensive finish at the Sun Angel Track Classic was more "precautionary" than anything else, the sprinter said. It certainly is not as serious or as painful as the first time Brunson hurt the hamstring.
In March of 1998 while Brunson was competing for the University of Wyoming, he said that the hamstring "popped." Two weeks later Brunson said he tried to run at the NCAA Indoor Championships, but "it wasn't happening."
Brunson, who was on a football scholarship at Wyoming, wanted to spend the spring on the track rather than in pads. But because of the injury, he practiced with the football team.
Going from football to track back to football in a four month period not only slowed Brunson's development as a runner, but it also slowed the healing of his hamstring, ASU track and field coach Greg Kraft said.
"That definitely had something to do with it," the third-year head coach said. "But it also could have been the philosophy of the training and the weather."
If the climate affected the hamstring is debatable, there is no arguing that the weather affected Brunson's decision to transfer. Marcus's father, Mike Brunson, recalled one thing that Marcus said to him last spring. "He told me that he wanted to run where it's warm," he said.
Marcus added that the warmth of his family is another reason why he decided to return home.
"It was good to get away," Marcus said. "But my friends and family are here."
Here is also were his father's collegiate roots are.
Michael played football and ran track for the Sun Devils. Later, he played with the Atlanta Falcons.
"He talked about football a little bit when I was a kid," Brunson said, "but we really wanted me to do my own thing."
Michael said that while Marcus was growing up he loved football and track. Both of the sports complimented each other, the ex-Falcon said. It never mattered to Michael if his son chose to play football or to run, but he quickly added, "I'd rather see him run for my alma mater."
Whether or not Brunson decides to be a two-sport ASU athlete like his father still remains to be seen.
"Running track is what I love doing," said Brunson, who caught 12 passes for 116 yards as a Cowboy. "Right now, I'm a track athlete, but anything is possible."
However, playing football with the Sun Devils probably is not that possible. Brunson would have to be allotted one of the football scholarships, and ASU head football coach Bruce Snyder didn't seem to enthused about the idea.
"I'm still learning how to become a sprinter. I never had proper training, so I don't have correct form or anything."Marcus Brunson, |
"What we want is football players," Snyder said. "I haven't even talked to him (Brunson). But I certainly would."
While his college football days could be over, a pro career is still possible. Kraft said that with Brunson's speed he could be a third or fourth round selection in the NFL draft.
"That's what he says," Brunson said. "I'm just worrying about track."
Brunson's performances this year indicate that his mind is on the track.
In his first meet of the season on Jan. 30, he sent the NCAA indoor record in the 60-meters with a time of 6.46. BYU's Leonard Myles-Mills later surpassed Brunson's mark, but the ASU sprinter beat Mills (6.66) at the NCAA Championships. Brunson (6.62) finished second behind Tennessee's Leonard Scott (6.5).
Since Brunson participated in spring football practices at Wyoming, this season makes the first time Brunson is running outside since his high school days at Tempe Marcos de Niza in 1996.
"I'm still learning how to become a sprinter," the business major said. "I never had proper training, so I don't have correct form or anything."
Even though his technique is not polished, Brunson's natural ability has helped him become one of ASU's top sprinters.
"He's been blessed with a lot speed," Michael Brunson said.
Brunson demonstrated some of in his first outdoor meet. He ran a 10.15 in the 100. This is the second fastest time in ASU history behind Ron Brown's 1981 record of 10.15.
Since then, he's run relay races. At the Texas Relays, he anchored the quarter mile relay team and it recorded the nation's third fastest time (39.22). This time automatically qualified the squad for the NCAA Championships.
Brunson said he also expects to run a leg on the mile relay and the 100 at the this year's championships. But he added that his best performances are at least a year away.
"Once the injuries are behind me," he said, "I think be okay."