Harris runs to silver in U.S. 400 sweep

By ANN GREEN

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - The U.S. made it a clean sweep in the men's 400 meters Monday night, with medalists Jeremy Wariner of Texas, South Carolina All-American Otis Harris and Houston native Derrick Brew breaking out the red, white and blue for a victory lap around Olympic Stadium.

Wariner surged ahead of Harris down the homestretch and was clocked at a personal best 44.00 in his pursuit of both Harris and Michael Johnson's Olympic record of 43.49 from the 1996 games.

He caught Harris, but didn't snag the Olympic record.

Silver medalist Harris said he never counted out either of his teammates.``When I came around the turn, I was by myself,'' Harris said. ``But I knew Jeremy and Derrick are great athletes. You can't underestimate them, so Jeremy came up and won the gold medal.''

Harris added, ``I wanted the gold. I put everything on the line. But it's a blessing from God and a real privilege just to be in this race.''

Wariner, a Baylor sophomore, stepped into the shoes of Michael Johnson, another Baylor alum who ran to gold in the 400 meters in both the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

``I've been training a lot with cyclists lately, and that really improved my form,'' he said after the race.

Harris finished in 44.16, a personal best, and Brew's time was 44.42 to take the bronze medal. The sweep was the first for the U.S. in the 400 since 1988. For Harris and his family, Monday's medal capped a journey that began in Edwards, Miss., a town of roughly 1,350 people just west of Jackson, the state capital.

Harris, 22, first ran track in the ninth grade but showed a competitive streak and love of running long before that in, of all places, church.

His father, Otis Sr., is pastor at Edwards Revival Center, a nondenominational church.

As a preacher's son, the future Olympian spent a lot of time in church. Cheryl Harris, his mom, has recounted how after the congregation would split into adult and youth groups for Sunday services, she'd often find Otis Jr. in the parking lot - his tie off and his white shirt soiled - running races with the other kids.

Harris played football and ran track at Hinds County Agricultural High School in Utica, Miss. Never satisfied with his workouts at school, he'd run along the back roads or lace up heavy boots and train in the fields near his home.

Harris, who now calls Columbia, S.C., home as he finishes his degree at South Carolina, looked for his parents in the stadium Monday night but couldn't find them as he circled the track in celebration, American flag stretched out before him.

``It's their first time out of the country. I know they're having a blast. I couldn't find them. But they're always right here with me,'' Harris said, tapping his chest. ``I knew I'd get to see them afterward.''