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2001 World Championships where Phil and I both competedPhil in the Decathlon and I in the 1500m.  Our parents were so proud and we did a little flex off after it was all over.  I weighed only 172 lbs. in this photo.  A weight unfortunately I could only hold for 4 weeks.</title>
1996 Olympic 1500m Preliminaries.  Easily the greatest moment in my career.  In front looking back is the 1992 Olympic Champion Fermin Cacho of Spain.  On the final lap I moved from 5th to 2nd and the crowd of 80,000 dialed up the volume to a deafening level.  I nearly beat Fremin in the final stretch as the crowd encouraged me to go for the win.  The noise was like a shock wave from a loud speaker.  After the preliminary I thought with this many people behind me was possible to win a medal.  It wasnt meant to be as I made a one too many mistakes in the semi-final and did not advance.  I did have one of the fastest non-qualifying times ever in the history of the Olympic 1500m.</title>
Mark Smith my High School mentor and coach.  Mark was the first to believe in me before I believed in myself.  He took me on a recruiting visit to Eastern Michigan and introduced me to Coach Parks.  Mark also holds my High School record in the mile 4:16 and ran 9:01 for 2 miles in high school.  He ran at Eastern Michigan was 3 time All-American, won the River Bank Run in Grand Rapids in 1988, and was the alternate in 1988 Olympics for the 3000m steeplechase.  He had the credibility and experience to keep my focus sharp and negotiate a stellar performance at the state meet.</title>
I have a fascination with snowmen.   When the snow is right Ill be out in the front yard building one, this one was 11ft. tall.  Also in the photo is the beef and teeth security system we had in Ypsilanti.  Chug the 210 lb. mastiff on the right and Charlie the 85 lb. pit bull terrier on the left.  Each trip away from home I was confident all was safe and secure.  Both have deceased and we have our hands full with kids and cat.</title>
Waterskiing on Wells Lake 1994.  Another of my favorite past times, Phil can barefoot, I have yet to figure it out.</title>
Running for the Coast Guard at the 2004 Olympic Trials.  It was this race I realized I was old and couldnt kick like the younger guys.  My last race in a Coast Guard uniform.</title>
My brother Phil executing his specialty the pole vault.  He learned this in college and now its where he gets most of his points in the decathlon.</title>
This photo was taken right after the disappointing 4th place finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials.  Look at his optimism despite his second 4th place finish in two Olympic Trials attempts.</title>
Coach Bob Parks one of the most amazing men in my career.  He was as solid as a rock and was not afraid to tell you what you needed to here.  He was undoubtedly the best college coach ever.</title>
The beginning, 1988 on my home track in Cadillac.  It took me a long time before I won a race.</title>
1989 Cadillac Evening News Meet my first win.  As you can see I attacked the finish line.  My football coach had just set me straight after I settled for 3rd place in the mile behind a couple of better runners and told me to kick some butt.  I did and set the record in the 800m 1:58.14.</title>
People have thought this was me out of high school.  This is me in high school winning my first mile in 4:24.3 an 8 second personal best.  You can see the effort it took to get all that weight and muscle around the track.  In the same day I set the record in the 300m intermediate hurdles and won the 3200m run.</title>
Losing to Todd Black in the 1993 Mid-American Conference 1500m.  Bad race tactics and overconfidence led to a furious 100m dash for the finish where I came up short.  It was Todds home track, he was senior, and I was the ranked 5th in the country.</title>
Exhausted after a cross-country race.  My size and pushing heavily off of my toes when I ran made for a poor cross-country runner.  I never got even close to my success in track as a cross-country runner.</title>
1994 Mid-American Conference Champs in Cross Country.  Giving my all up the final hill before the finish the team won I finished 5th as the teams second man.</title>
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