Spring Break
Freshman track star Torrin Lawrence sprints into record books
ZACH DILLARD
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: Sports
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Lawrence turned the 2009 indoor track and field season into his own personal blockbuster while delivering Georgia's first ever SEC Indoor 200-meter dash title. Now, he is looking for an encore in the outdoor season, which began Friday, March 20.
Lawrence has hardly given those who re-write the track record books much time, either. He ranks first all-time at Georgia in the indoor 200-meter dash after turning in one of the fastest times of this past indoor season (20.77 seconds). This time shattered Georgia's old mark by 0.28 of a second at the Kentucky Invitational in January - his first ever indoor track meet.
"All the accomplishments so far really have meant a lot to me, but I really look to them as stepping stones to where I want to be," said Lawrence, the SEC Indoor Male Freshman Runner of the Year out of Jacksonville, Fla.
Recently named an All-American, Lawrence became an integral part of Georgia's team in the indoor season, and is now looking to translate that success as the events move outside - where times are traditionally even faster.
"With [Torrin] being our only event champion at the SEC Championships, he serves as the feather in the cap of the entire team," head coach Wayne Norton said. "The entire team," head coach Wayne Norton said. "The entire team has shared in his victories, and it has an encouraging and major effect, which typically falls on the shoulders of an upperclassman."
No warning necessary
There are dangers that come with a 6-foot-1-inch athlete who can run more than 21 mph - University students can only hope that he is not late and having to run to class.
"You guys don't have to worry about me running on campus to class or anything," Lawrence said. "There is something about us sprinters where we are fast when we have to be, but in everything else we do we are very slow."
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