While most can only dream of competing in the Olympics, USC sprinter Bryshon Nellum already owns the state record in the 200m, and is 1.11 seconds away from breaking the world record set by Michael Johnson in 1996. Not bad for an 18-year-old freshman, who has his eyes set on Beijing.
Lights! Camera! Action! That’s how USC sprinter Bryshon Nellum, the speediest 18-year-old in the nation and the number one high school track recruit of 2007, envisions running in the U.S. 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon this June. Even though he’s only a freshman, Nellum is already used to gold medals and being in the spotlight. The Trials, however, are something special. For the first time in his life, Nellum will be performing in front of the world on the Olympic stage.
“It all depends on how you perform. If I do my best, I have a real chance of qualifying,” he said, excited about the possibility of representing the United States in this year’s summer Olympics.
In fact, with continued hard work Nellum does have a chance at going all the way. His best time of 20.43 in the 200m is a California state record. That is only 1.11 seconds away from the world record, set by Michael Johnson in 1996. Nellum’s 400m record is 45.54 seconds, 2.36 seconds from the world record also set by Michael Johnson.
Besides the possibility of participating in the 2008 Summer Olympics, Nellum says that he is looking forward to running against one of his favorite track athletes, Jeremy Wariner, who won the Gold in the 400m at the 2004 Summer Olympics with a time of 44 seconds. Wariner, who is five years older than Nellum, has a personal best of 43.50, only 2.04 seconds quicker than Nellum’s.
Winning an Olympic Gold would be a nice addition to Nellum’s collection of medals. While most of us only dream of winning a gold medal, Nellum is the only person to run four events in the CIF-State Championships and win golds in each event. He took first in the 200m and 400m and was part of two winning relay teams.
“It was great! I felt happy. I felt excited. But, most of all, I felt blessed,” said Nellum of his reaction to his impressive performance.
“He established a precedent,” said Coach Ron Allice, USC’s Director of Track and Field, about that legendary meet.
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Even with track season starting this month and the increasing Olympic hype, the main question still on fans’ minds is will Bryshon Nellum ever return to football?
At Long Beach Poly High School, Nellum was a wide receiver. At Poly, he played along side current USC football players Travon Patterson (Nellum’s roommate) and Alfred Rowe. Despite his success on the field, Nellum came to USC to run track, not to play football. But, according to Nellum, he hasn’t necessarily closed that chapter of his life.
Even Coach Allice knows that football is one of Nellum’s passions. “There’s a constant little voice whispering in his year that he can go out and do both. The only difference is the risk factor involved,” Coach Allice said.
Unfortunately for fans hoping to see Nellum smoking defenders and catching passes from Mark Sanchez, Coach is right. Football is a much rougher sport than track. Nellum acknowledges that he’s just not as big as most other football players, and that despite being able to outrun anyone on the field, injury is a constant threat.
A continuation of Nellum’s football career would come down to this year’s track season, his performance in the Olympic Trials and, potentially, his success in Beijing. If he proves to be a lightning-quick superstar, he will likely stick with track and avoid football and possible serious injury.
Why risk it? When it comes down to it, Nellum’s legs are his golden ticket. They have won him countless medals, beaten records, and gotten him a scholarship to college.
“I’m thinking about getting my legs insured,” he joked. “The scariest parts about track are getting hurt and getting beat.”
But Nellum doesn’t have to worry about either of those things too often. He’s only had shin splints once, and as Coach Allice puts it, “He’s the number one kid in the world in the 400m for 19 and under,” so losing has been a rare occurrence as well.
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Nellum, a Los Angeles native, started track when he was only seven. He used to run long distance, but over the years, has shortened his distance, and by high school ran the 400m and 200m. In ninth grade, Nellum went to school where there was no track or football. Knowing this wasn’t the right fit, he transferred to Long Beach Poly as a sophomore.
In his first high school season, he qualified for the State Championships. He placed second in the 400m and third in the 200m. He also traveled to Morocco to represent the United States in the World Youth Championships. He took 3rd in 400m with a time of 46.81.
One of Nellum’s favorite memories from high school was an indoor meet in New York. His team broke the national indoor record for the 4 x 200m relay with a time of 1:26.09.
“It was fun, exciting,” Nellum recalls. “The crowd was going wild.”
Only an hour after their record-breaking race, Nellum and his teammates had to run the 4 x 400m relay. They ended up winning the race even though they were so tired from earlier competitions.
Now, as a USC student-athlete, Nellum knows what it really means to be tired. To be the best athlete and the best student possible, he has been juggling intense workouts with intense schoolwork. Imagine how tiring being a freshman was as a regular student. Now add three hours or more of training to your day, and tell me how exhausted you would be. Nellum, who is in his second semester, is getting the hang of it and doesn’t complain about any of his commitments.
“School is keeping me very busy, but as I continue reaching for my goals, it’s getting easier,” he said, having just come out of tutoring offered to student-athletes.
Like many freshmen, Nellum has yet to declare a major, but says that he would like to study business. His favorite class right now is Oceanography.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Nellum is proud of the athlete he is becoming in college.
“I’m getting stronger because I’m in the weight room more than ever. I’ve been lifting a lot – more than people my size normally can lift,” he said, with a self-assured smile.
He has also set goals for the season, which include breaking personal records, running under 45 seconds in the 400m, going to the Olympic Trials, and of course helping the Trojans to an NCAA National Championship.
Fans have their first chance to see Nellum “drops some amazing times” during the Trojans’ opening meet on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Claremont, Calif. Their first home meet is the Trojan Relays at USC Loker Stadium on Saturday, March 1.
We may or may not see Nellum on the football field, but I have high hopes for him around the track. I plan on finding out if he’s really, as Everson Griffen of the Trojan football team describes him, “the fastest kid in the world.”
More from Coach Allice on Bryshon Nellum:
“He is very easy to coach. He’s a very likeable person. I don’t know anyone who has a problem with Bryshon. He’s soft spoken and confident, and modest in his own way. He’s self-assured in what he can do and what he will do. It’s a special quality. Bryshon is very gifted athletically and has the mental attitude to go with the athletic ability. That sets him apart, I believe, from the norm.”
“His work ethic is a building process because no one ever realizes what it takes at the next level to succeed. The collegiate level requires a more intense and structured program in order to be successful. And, he has adapted. I think he's doing remarkably well. I’m taking the training process with him slow, mainly because I want to bring him around, so that he is at his best with the goal of being prepared for the Olympic Trials. It is Olympic year, and it's a consideration for him."
