by Larry Eder
This is my piece on Trayvon Bromell. I first met Trayvon in May 2016 at the Manchester City Games. I really liked his relaxed demeanor, his love of running shoes, his focus, and of course, his absolute ability.
Trayvon Bromell has had an Odyssean journey. His challenges with injuries have been well-documented. I can not recall a time when I saw him bitter or remorseful. I believe his faith in his plan, the support of his family, friends, and team, and his belief that he was put on this Earth for a purpose all play into his resilience. In this age of confusion and polarization, I respect beliefs, no matter how much they differ from mine. I believe that the effort to develop a belief system is to be respected.
Trayvon Bromell competes with some incredible talents in his time. Just in North America, from Canada’s Andre De Grasse to Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, to Europe’s Marcell Jacobs, and of course, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, we the sports fans and sports media, have wonderfully diverse and eclectic human beings to observe.
Take these next five minutes and enjoy the talent and perspective of Trayvon Bromell, a man who knows that he has faster 60 meters, 100 meters, and perhaps, 200-meter races to run…
Trayvon Bromell impressed many in high school. In 2015, in Bejing, the new pro athlete, running for New Balance, took the bronze in the 100 meters. Trayvon had won the 2013 Pan Am Junior bronze at 100m, and in 2014, took the bronze at the World Juniors and gold in the 4x100m.
2016 began a series of challenges, with injuries that would have tried anyone. It was not until 2022, and his outstanding performances, indoor and out, that Trayvon Bromell knew he was back.
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 3, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
2023 started out with a strong run against Noah Lyles at the 2023 New Balance Indoor GP. At the debut of his sponsor’s new facility, THE TRACK at New Balance, Trayvon won heat two of the 60 meters in 6.61. In the final, Trayvon had an okay start, and was battling Noah Lyles from the 30-meter mark to the finish, where Noah Lyles edged him, 6.51 to 6.51. The 6.51 was a PB for Lyles, not the best for Trayvon.
Trayvon told the media post-race in Boston, that he had done okay.
“I got a good start, my finish wasn’t that good. All of that should’ve been better, I know I can be better.”
“What’s next?”
“To run a better and more efficient race and just get back to it.”
True to his words, Trayvon ran at the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson University the very next weekend.
6️⃣.4️⃣2️⃣ for @TrayvonBromell over 60m in Clemson 🇺🇸
That mark moves him up to the 6️⃣th place on the all-time list 👀
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) February 11, 2023
On February 10, Trayvon ran 6.46 and then, 6.42, both World leaders at 60 meters. Trayvon had a strong start and blasted away from the fields, showing the focus, speed and confidence that he has redeveloped.
In 2022, Trayvon won the US Trials and went on to take bronze in the 100 meters at the World Championships, seven years after Trayvon had first taken a bronze, in 2015 at the Beijing World Championships.
USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at Hayward Field, the University of Oregon, June 23-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris
Now, as 2023 comes around, Trayvon is focused on Budapest, and seeing just how good he can be!
The following interview was done by RunBlogRun, and videotaped by Star Gazer Pix at the NB Indoor GP Presser. Special thanks to Sandra Nel Kurman. Thanks as always to Trayvon. He is a very enjoyable interview, very thoughtful, and quite relaxed. A busy man, Trayvon is in the midst of his third master’s degree, this one in theology.
We look forward to seeing Trayvon blast a fast one again this season and show the world what he and his supporters have known for several years: that Trayvon Bromell is one of the finest sprinters in the world, indoors and outdoors.
