Antonio Blanks Has One Goal in Mind!

 

 
 
OHRunners:  Congratulations on a great start to this years OATCCC indoor season in the first couple of indoor meets.  You're 400m 49.39 is the State's leading time.  You are the defending State D2/D3 Indoor champion in the 400, as well as the defending D2 Outdoor Champion in the 300 Hurdles and ran legs on Dunbar's 2nd place 4x400 and 7th place 4x100 relays. Last year you also had the State leading Triple Jump at 46-5. What are your goals for the Indoor and Outdoor seasons?
 
Antonio:  Of course, three of my goals are to repeat my state champ titles in the 200, 400,and TJ. I would also like to break the TJ record again.  No matter what events my coach puts me in, my goals are always to win that event.  My main goal for this season however, is to help lead my team to wins in both the indoor and outdoor State titles. My coaches have great accomplishments. All that they are missing are the State titles.  I certainly want to help them and my teammates win these titles. 
 
OHRunners:  Based upon your times the first few weeks of the indoor season, you are entering into the season in excellent shape.  What did you do after last Spring's State meet?  Did you run competitively over the summer or did you take a break? What type of workouts did you do in the Fall to stay in shape for the Indoor season?  Are you active in a Fall sport ?
 
Antonio:  After the State meet, I took a little break.  I am part of the OSU Young Scholars Program and after the break, I went to OSU to complete the summer Academy program. After the completion of the program at OSU, it was time for the start of Cross Country. Knowing this is my last year, I want to make sure to go out with a bang.  First is making sure that I am in the best shape I have ever been in.  I practiced with the XC team and I also lifted weights. In the beginning, I would run the trail that we have around the school.  After I started getting my wind and conditioning back, I started working back on the track. I was doing a 6,4,2,2,4,6 pyramid one day, followed by a light day of 300's and 200's.  On the third day I would do some more 6's and 4's and lift weights. I usually practiced 3 days a week and sometimes 4 to get some extra work in.
 
OHRunners Note:  Young Scholars Program
The Ohio State University Office of Diversity and Inclusion Young Scholars Program is a comprehensive pre-collegiate and collegiate program designed to enhance the academic, personal, and career development of its Scholars. Founded in 1988, YSP annually identifies and serves hundreds of academically talented first generation college students from economically challenged backgrounds. The Samuel DuBois Cook Summer Academy is an annual four-week residential summer academy for Young Scholars entering grade 12 is held on Ohio State’s Columbus campus.
 
OHRunners: When did you first start running?  What events did you participate in?
 
Antonio:  I first started running in the 4th grade. We had a co-ed 4x1 team with two girls and two boys. I was the fastest, so I anchored it. I also tried the 200, but I lost right at the finish. (photo at left provided by finishtiming.com)
 
OHRunners: When did you first start hurdling?
 
Antonio: I first started hurdling in middle school after our hurdler got hurt. I was pretty good as a 7th grader until I popped my hip and couldn't finish the season. In my 8th grade year, I went undefeated in the 200h and only lost once in the 110h leading our team to a city title that we used to always lose to Fairview.  At that time, Fairview was known for winning all the Dayton city titles. My PR then was a 15.8 in the 100h
 
OHRunners:   What is a typical week of training for you right now?  In other words, if you are racing on Saturday, what are your Monday through Friday workouts?
 
Antonio:  A typical day of practice is rough in a sense. We practice 3 days a week. The first day is hard with repeat 600's or 6,4,2,2,4 6 pyramid.  The second day will be a combo of repeat 350's and 200's and the last day will be a combo of both. We also do hurdles on the last day and go in the weight room and pump some iron. After every practice, we do push ups together starting at one and going all the way to 10 in a circle.  We also do 100 sit ups. We are doing all of this in a 50m hallway. The hallway is normally scattered with kids who are waiting on their rides. We do have the biggest gym in the city, but the AD and coaches don't let us practice in there anymore because our hurdles were making deep scratches in the hardwood floor. All of our sprinters, hurdlers and distance runners all try to practice in the same tight space.  It’s really crowded and to top it off, they just added three pop machines in the hallway. 
 
OHRunners:  What is a typical hurdle workout?  How do you rotate your workouts for the 400 and for the hurdles?  
 
Antonio:  We practice hurdles on the third day of our practice schedule. Our coach walks them off and places them in the middle of the hallway so the other groups can have somewhere to run. We place the blocks on the doorframe and have someone stand on top of them. After the blocks are set, we run out of them. It's pretty rough, but we make due with what we got. The first couple of days are for my other races like the 400 and the 200.  On those days, we mostly do repeats of 2's, 4's and 6's.  Our coaches do look at training techniques and ideas on the internet and at times put them in our workouts.
 
OHRunners:  You obviously have very good speed and to be a good hurdler, over the hurdle technique is very important, as well as your speed in between the hurdles.  In your opinion, what is the most important thing that you must do in the 300m hurdles?
 
Antonio:  While running the 3's, the first thing you gotta do is get focused and know that your racing the clock more so than you opponent. Then you try and make sure you learn how to judge your distance between the hurdles and count your steps. Also, you’ve gotta try to not hit any hurdles and make sure you have some gas to finish out the race after you hit the home stretch. You’ve gotta run the first two or three hurdles hard, maintain that speed throughout the next two or three and then give it all you got till you cross the tape.
 
OHRunners: How do you mentally prepare for a race?  Do you visualize your races?
 
Antonio:  Before the race I try and get focused. I go through a mental checklist of things I need to do and things that I shouldn't do. I always say a quick prayer and then I get into the zone.  I can hear the noise all around, but my only focus is crossing the finish line in first place.
 
OHRunners:   Can you break down into stages or describe how you run a 400? Start, 1st 100, 2nd 100, 3rd 100 and finish? Do you have particular race strategies?  What are your strategies based upon?
 
Antonio:  When I am running the 400, I first take a look at the competition and I normally have a quick talk with the coaches. I normally sprint the first 100m all out.  The next 100m I maintain that same speed until I reach about the 250 mark. After that, until the 300 mark, I'm taking deep breaths and starting to pick up my pace. The last 100 is all out to the finish. Sometimes, I just run the whole thing all out and just see what happens.
 
OHRunners: Why do you like the 300m hurdles?
 
Antonio:  I like the 300h because I have been really good at hurdles since I started in Junior High. It's also a combo of all the races I run. It's technical like the 110's, long like the 400, and you have to be strong mentally just like in all of the other races. It’s a race where you can’t win just on speed and technique. You have to be mentally strong and convince yourself you have some gas left and can get over those last two hurdles.
 
OHRunners:   Why do you like running the 400?
 
Antonio:  I like running the 400 because its’ a man’s race. Anyone can’t just go out there and run a great time. The race takes hard work and dedication. It's also the last race of the night and most of the time, it can determine who wins the meet. It's a race were you can truly show off how you work and how much faith you have in your team.
 
OHRunners: Last year Dunbar's 4 x 400 team lost to Poland in the D2 finals.  The Poland team was made up of all seniors. Your squad was made up of three sophomores, Eric Blair, Jason Holloway and Michael Ohiembor, as well as yourself.  You would be the pre-season favorites to win this years 4 x 400.  One, is every one returning?  Two, is everyone healthy?  Are Eric, Jason and Michael all running this indoor season?
 
Antonio:  Yes, everyone is returning on the 4x4.  We also have a couple of new weapons that we can put in.  It may not be the same team as last year, but we will still show up to win.  Also, everyone is running indoor and we are all healthier and stronger then ever.
 
OHRunners:   Last year you were also a member of Dunbar's 4 x 100.  You placed 7th at State with a time of 43.29.  What are your prospects for this season in the 4 x100? (picture at right provided by finishtiming.com)
 
Antonio:  I am not sure yet.  I leave all the thinking up to our coaches. They know us just as much as we know ourselves when it comes to who can do what on the track. I just know that we have one goal in mind, 2011 State champs!!
 
OHRunners:   Thanks Antonio for your time and the opportunity to talk with you. We are looking forward to watching you and your teammates run the remainder of the indoor season and outdoors.