Ryan Bailey going pro

[polevaultpower]

http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield ... baile.html

Ryan Bailey became a professional track athlete this week, but he wasn't sure Friday afternoon what logo he might wear on his spikes at Sunday's Prefontaine Classic.
It's been a whirlwind week for the Salem sprinter, who broke Oregon high school records two years ago competing for McKay High School.

He has risen from a life of obscurity and poverty to become one of the hottest prospects in U.S. track and field. He is entered in the 100 meters in the Prefontaine Classic.

"What kid doesn't dream about becoming a professional athlete?" Bailey said from his mother's home in Salem. "I can't even explain it. It's a dream come true."

Good for Ryan 8-)

[guruof track]

Re: Ryan Bailey going pro

http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2009/06/prefontaine_classic_ryan_baile.html

Ryan Bailey became a professional track athlete this week, but he wasn't sure Friday afternoon what logo he might wear on his spikes at Sunday's Prefontaine Classic.
It's been a whirlwind week for the Salem sprinter, who broke Oregon high school records two years ago competing for McKay High School.

He has risen from a life of obscurity and poverty to become one of the hottest prospects in U.S. track and field. He is entered in the 100 meters in the Prefontaine Classic.

"What kid doesn't dream about becoming a professional athlete?" Bailey said from his mother's home in Salem. "I can't even explain it. It's a dream come true."

Good for Ryan 8-)

Ryan is going to be a star, I say in 2 years he will be one o the States premier sprinters!

[Speedfirst]

Re: Ryan Bailey going pro

http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2009/06/prefontaine_classic_ryan_baile.html

Ryan Bailey became a professional track athlete this week, but he wasn't sure Friday afternoon what logo he might wear on his spikes at Sunday's Prefontaine Classic.
It's been a whirlwind week for the Salem sprinter, who broke Oregon high school records two years ago competing for McKay High School.

He has risen from a life of obscurity and poverty to become one of the hottest prospects in U.S. track and field. He is entered in the 100 meters in the Prefontaine Classic.

"What kid doesn't dream about becoming a professional athlete?" Bailey said from his mother's home in Salem. "I can't even explain it. It's a dream come true."

Good for Ryan 8-)

Ryan is going to be a star, I say in 2 years he will be one o the States premier sprinters!

What did you think about his pro debut on Sunday?

[guruof track]

He ran well considering it to be his first major race. He needs to work on his last 40 meters though, his form broke down and he stopped lifting his knees. Once he learns proper mechanics for that protion of the race (which is the easiest part to remedy), he will be running just fine.

[Taliban]

He looked like someone racing in the street on Sunday but he still ran well. I think he will be sub 10 next season.

[guruof track]

He looked like someone racing in the street on Sunday but he still ran well. I think he will be sub 10 next season.

Once he gets with a coach how can get him right technically, he is going to be lights out, he ran that race off straight raw talent..........he didnt have extremely poor mechanics in the race, but he definitely had areas were he can EASILY improve.

[Speedfirst]

Yeah he will obviously need to gain some experience in running against top level elite sprinters.

Certainly one of the things that may be on his side, is his upside. He'll have a little more room for improvement in every aspect of his races 100 & 200m.

[guruof track]

Yeah he will obviously need to gain some experience in running against top level elite sprinters.

Certainly one of the things that may be on his side, is his upside. He'll have a little more room for improvement in every aspect of races 100 & 200m.

I saw a video of his 200, he ran like 20.4, his 200 has MAJOR room for improvement. He is scared of pushing the turn, but once he learns how to run that race. :shock:

[Speedfirst]

Yeah he will obviously need to gain some experience in running against top level elite sprinters.

Certainly one of the things that may be on his side, is his upside. He'll have a little more room for improvement in every aspect of races 100 & 200m.

I saw a video of his 200, he ran like 20.4, his 200 has MAJOR room for improvement. He is scared of pushing the turn, but once he learns how to run that race. :shock:

Yeah that 20.4 is very nice, especially not attacking the curve. Again his upside is a major plus for him. Obviously his sponsor feels that way as well.

[westcoasttiger]

To add a little more to Ryan's debut race and training situation.

1) Came up too quick Sunday in first steps which put him behind by 2 feet from get go and he hasn't been in a race where he couldn't run most people down at the end fairly easily so the experience was new for him and he certainly pressed and got unbalanced the final 20 meters. He made same mistake last year in the 200 out of lane 1 in the Pre Classic.

2) His first start/acceleration/transition workout in 3 weeks on Thursday was cancelled by the tornadoes and heavy rains that hit just as he was beginning workout.

3) He is back receiving massage work after none while at Rend Lake which will allow him to train at a higher level

4) In mid-April the sprint coach at Rend Lake was dismissed and the head coach being a distance background coach merely provided workouts so some technical aspects are obviously in need of attention as noted

5) He fell upon finishing the 100 at the Sea-Ray Relays injuring his wrist and has not been able to lift weights in 2 full months. He is scheduled for moderate weight workout on Wednesday but at this point in the season it will be on a limited basis.

6) His diet the past several months has consisted of 99 cent frozen pizzas and the like and he is actually about 10 pounds overweight so with some money from a contract he is going to be able to eat much better as he is aware of what to eat but has been unable to afford such a diet until now.

All things considered Ryan is just beginning to scratch the surface and he will likely be under 10 seconds this summer based on how the 100 trials and final at the JC nationals.

[Speedfirst]

The future of U.S. short sprinting!!!