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Independence, MO —
Think back to the biggest day of your life.
Was it a graduation, a wedding, the birth of a child or getting that big promotion at work?
Now, imagine what must be going through the mind of Raytown South High School graduate Maurice Mitchell, who is vying for his first Olympic medal in the men’s 200-meter run.
By the time you pick up your morning copy of The Examiner, the preliminaries may be all wrapped up and Mitchell will know if he will advance to Wednesday’s semifinals.
KSHB-TV 41 will air the preliminaries sometime between 9 and 9:30 a.m., an associate in the newsroom said. Channel 41 and NBC have blocked out that time for the men’s 200, but there is no exact time for the event.
Everyone I know is gearing up for Mitchell’s performance, including his longtime high school coach Tom Lester, who is with his protégé in London.
“He’s ready,” Lester said. “I really think he’s going to get out of the preliminaries and make it to the finals on Thursday. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Four years ago, Mitchell was a wide-eyed high school senior whose running idol was Olympic 100 and 200 gold medal winner Usain Bolt.
“I wonder what it would be like to run against Usain?” he asked me as we watched the Summer Games on television.
At 4 a.m. London time, he found out.
Mitchell is now on a world stage that could crush a mere mortal.
But Mitchell knows he belongs in London – and believe me, this won’t be his last Olympics.
The Raytown South grad, who led the Cardinals to their first state championship by winning the 100, 200 and 400 and anchoring the winning 400 relay team, went on to enjoy the same success for the NCAA national champion Florida State University track and field team.
Mitchell won back-to-back NCAA outdoor 200-meter championships at Florida State where he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Track Performer of the Year five times. The 10-time All-American left FSU with a trophy case full of medals and a diploma. And now, he is representing his country at the Summer Games in London.
“I wonder what it’s going to be like the night before I run?” Mitchell asked in a conversation we had before he left for London. “What goes through your mind on a night like that? I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
And we’re thankful for the opportunity to be a small part of his amazing journey from the track at Raytown South to a spot on the United States Olympic team.
Think back to the biggest day of your life.
Was it a graduation, a wedding, the birth of a child or getting that big promotion at work?
Now, imagine what must be going through the mind of Raytown South High School graduate Maurice Mitchell, who is vying for his first Olympic medal in the men’s 200-meter run.
By the time you pick up your morning copy of The Examiner, the preliminaries may be all wrapped up and Mitchell will know if he will advance to Wednesday’s semifinals.
KSHB-TV 41 will air the preliminaries sometime between 9 and 9:30 a.m., an associate in the newsroom said. Channel 41 and NBC have blocked out that time for the men’s 200, but there is no exact time for the event.
Everyone I know is gearing up for Mitchell’s performance, including his longtime high school coach Tom Lester, who is with his protégé in London.
“He’s ready,” Lester said. “I really think he’s going to get out of the preliminaries and make it to the finals on Thursday. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Four years ago, Mitchell was a wide-eyed high school senior whose running idol was Olympic 100 and 200 gold medal winner Usain Bolt.
“I wonder what it would be like to run against Usain?” he asked me as we watched the Summer Games on television.
At 4 a.m. London time, he found out.
Mitchell is now on a world stage that could crush a mere mortal.
But Mitchell knows he belongs in London – and believe me, this won’t be his last Olympics.
The Raytown South grad, who led the Cardinals to their first state championship by winning the 100, 200 and 400 and anchoring the winning 400 relay team, went on to enjoy the same success for the NCAA national champion Florida State University track and field team.
Mitchell won back-to-back NCAA outdoor 200-meter championships at Florida State where he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Track Performer of the Year five times. The 10-time All-American left FSU with a trophy case full of medals and a diploma. And now, he is representing his country at the Summer Games in London.
“I wonder what it’s going to be like the night before I run?” Mitchell asked in a conversation we had before he left for London. “What goes through your mind on a night like that? I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
And we’re thankful for the opportunity to be a small part of his amazing journey from the track at Raytown South to a spot on the United States Olympic team.
