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Interview with #1 hurdler nationally, Clayton's Johnny Dutch:
Johnny Dutch Ready to Take on New ChallengesFriday - May 26, 2006Contributed to NCPrepTrack.com by Steve McGill Ranked #1 nationally in the 110 meter high hurdles, #4 nationally in the 300m intermediate hurdles, and #2 nationally in the 400m intermediate hurdles, Johnny Dutch of Clayton High School is having the most outstanding season of any hurdler in North Carolina history. At the North Carolina 4-A State Championships on May 21st, he won the 110s in 13.55 and the 300s in 36.60. These performances made him the fastest hurdler ever in North Carolina in both events. Prior to this year, Dutch was already among the top hurdlers in the nation. Now, as a junior, he continues his evolution into one of the best high school hurdlers of all time. Quiet, mild-mannered, and easy going, Dutch ratchets up the intensity when it comes time to train and compete. With the 2006 summer season coming up, I recently sat down with Dutch and asked him some questions about his development and his goals: Question: You set a new personal best of 13.55 in the 110s at the state meet. Did that race feel any different from previous races? Dutch: It didn't really feel any different at all, actually. It felt like I was just running as fast as I could. It felt quicker, I guess. And competition-wise it was different, because I could see [Daryl] Reynolds [of New Bern] out of the corner of my eye for about five hurdles. So he was really pushing me. But other than that, it didn't really feel that different. Question: Did the 36.60 in the 300s feel different? That was another personal best. Dutch: The 36.60 definitely felt different. I maintained my steps through most of the whole race. In the 300s, I usually have trouble keeping my thirteen steps between the hurdles. This time I didn't lose it until the seventh hurdle. Reynolds pushed me toward the end. I was almost like, 'Man, he's gonna get the gold on this one.' But I came off the hurdle and ran as hard as I could and caught him. Usually, in local meets, no one's there at the end. But Reynolds was right there. Question: You ran a 7.13 in the 55 meter hurdles at the indoor state championships this past February, setting another state record. Was that race any indication to you that bigger things awaited in the spring? Dutch: That race came at the beginning of the season; I didn't expect to run that fast that early. So from running that time, I knew I was at a whole different level from where I was last year. I knew that outdoors I could go low 13s. My best last year was 13.82 with a legal wind, so I've already dropped almost three tenths. Question: At the Nike Indoor Championships this past March in Washington, D.C., you only finshed third in the 60 meter hurdles. How disappointing was that for you, and how much does that race serve as motivation to do better outdoors? Dutch: It wasn't my best race, not at all. I don't know what got into me. I was really competing that day, instead of just hurdling. I was running their race. I know those boys [Cordera Jenkins of Texas and Darius Reed of Colorado] are working just as hard as me. But I'll go after 'em outdoors if I have the chance to run against 'em. Question: Why do you prefer the 400m hurdles over the 300m hurdles? Most high school hurdlers prefer the shorter race? Dutch: The 400s -- I know that in the real world, in college and professionally -- that's the real race. There's no such thing as 300 hurdles. One day I plan on running at the elite level, and I know that the 300s is just a high school distance. Plus, the 400s -- not many people can do it, not many people like it. I think that puts me at an advantage. Question: What meets are you targeting for the summer? Dutch: All of 'em (laughing). The Nike Outdoor Championships. The Junior Nationals in Indianapolis. I don't know if I'll be able to go to that one. But they have 42-inch hurdles there, the college height, so I really want to give those a try. I'm also looking at possibly going to Beijing for the Junior World Games if I get accepted. Then there's the Junior Olympics Nationals in Baltimore. Question: With the improvement you've made from last year to this year, what would you attribute it to? Dutch: My technique has gotten better, and I'm quicker between the hurdles. More sharp. I've gotten more powerful too. Technically, my lead arm is not crossing over my body like it used to; I'm keeeping it on the side and just pulling it back. I'm not letting that arm get in the way. So that makes my lead leg quicker. Question: What have you been doing to get stronger? Dutch: Constant push-ups and sit-ups every night. I do 1,000 sit-ups. I get lazy with the pushups. But I do 200 to 300 a day. Question: Do you think a sub-13 in the 110s is possible before you graduate next spring? Dutch: Yes. I think it's possible. That's my goal right there. Not just to break 13, but possibly to get into the high 12s. I'm gonna start training over the 42s permanently this summer, and that'll make the 39s feel like a piece of cake. Question: Have you given any thought to colleges yet? Dutch: Why'd you ask me that (laughing)? Not yet. I'm keeping my options open.
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