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Full Speed Ahead

Written by Emily Toman

Tuesday, 15 July 2008 08:03 PM

TCU alumnus and Grand Prairie resident Darvis Patton walks back to the starting line during training Tuesday at Maverick Stadium. He finished third in the Olympic finals, which makes this his second time to qualify. The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran

Darvis Patton sped by in a blur on the track at Maverick Stadium Tuesday — and that was only at half speed.

The 30-year-old Texas Christian University alumnus and Grand Prairie resident qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in the 100-meter race and trains at Maverick Stadium under former UTA track coach Monte Stratton.

“Watching these guys run is like watching a Ferrari race a Chevy pickup,” Stratton said.

The stadium offers a convenient place to practice just a mile from Stratton, who meets Patton at 9 or 10 a.m. each morning to observe his technique and ensure that he doesn’t make the same mistakes.

“It’s the support he gives me,” Patton said. “It’s a matter of having an extra pair of eyes.”

Patton finished third in the Olympic finals, which makes this his second time to qualify. The silver medalist has more than just Stratton keeping him sharp. He also has a strength trainer, a nutritionist and a massage therapist.

“There’s a whole entourage of us packaged together,” Stratton said. “I’m just one of the tools.”

Stratton coached track at the university from fall 1985 to spring 1995 and has since trained several professional athletes at the stadium who have competed in the Olympics and won world championships. He has worked with Patton for nine years.

“This has been something that has worked for us, and we’re thankful,” Stratton said. “Hopefully it’s brought some positive light to UTA’s program.”

Another Olympian, Marshevet Hooker, started training at Maverick Stadium last summer. She said the track is similar to the one she trained on while attending UT-Austin.

“It’s always really clean,” she said. “Everybody is really nice, so it’s a really comfortable place to train.”

Jon Drummond, who won a gold and silver metal in track, coaches Hooker along with other professional track athletes like Tyson Gay and LaShaunte’a Moore. He said the stadium meets Olympic standards with 42-inch lanes, wide turns and more than 12,000 seats. He uses it mostly for stair exercises.

“The equipment here is state-of-the-art,” Drummond said.

He formed a relationship with Maverick Stadium manager Tom Kloza and head track coach John Sauerhage when he began using the track two years ago.

“It’s just a small fraternity of people,” he said. “We all know each other. I think I’ve become part of the fixture.”

Patton, nicknamed “Doc,” will leave for Europe later this week, where he expects to be well received. Stratton said a track meet in the U.S. usually fills half of the bleachers, but in Europe it sells out months before.

“Doc is pretty much a secret here, but he’s an icon in Europe,” he said.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 September 2008 03:25 PM )

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