THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180443
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: 39 lines
With major knee surgery in his past, Terrance Herrington has proved that he can recover from injury.
The part-time Chesapeake resident wrecked his right knee in 1985, but resumed his running career to make the '92 Olympic team in the 1,500 meters and win the national championship in '94.
Monday, however, a stress fracture in his left foot helped wreck Herrington's bid to become a two-time Olympian.
Herrington, who hurt his foot before a meet three weeks ago, finished sixth in his first-round heat at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. He needed to place in the top five to advance to Friday's semifinals.
And because Herrington clocked 3:47.37, 11 seconds off his qualifying time, he was unable to claim one of the four wildcard spots in the semifinals.
``I thought I could qualify,'' said Herrington, who lives and trains a few months a year with Western Branch coach Wade Williams, who coached Herrington at Clemson University. ``I'm in real good aerobic shape. I just can't push off my left leg.''
Herrington missed fifth place by nine-tenths of a second, but it is doubtful he could have run in the semifinals. He limped off the track, then received medical treatment for more than an hour. He emerged on crutches, his foot in an air cast and bound for X-rays.
``As long as I was running flat-footed, I was OK,'' said Herrington, 29. ``The problem is when I had to get up on the balls of my feet. The more the pace accelerated, the more pain I felt.
``I figured I'd better wait till the last 20 meters. I kicked, and I was kicking pretty good, but I just couldn't push off it.''
Herrington, who had the fourth-best qualifying time in the field of 37, said his successful track record softened the blow of failing to make the team. He couldn't predict, however, whether he'd still be running in 2000.
``I think I have the talent level to make the Olympic trials again and be in contention,'' he said. ``It's just whether I'm going to be motivated again to train as hard.'' by CNB