Chasing Cherry: Can Anyone Grab The 300m National Record?

MileSplit HQ - There is no doubt about it, 2015 seems to be the year of the sprints in the Northeast. There is a new level of depth in the shorter events that have been exclusively favorable towards our most southern states. However, with some of the fastest prep returners hailing from the cities in the snow, we may see several attacks on National Records this spring. That one that stands above them all Indoors, is the 300m National Record. The perfect plent of sprint and endurance, the event provides a perfect lead in to the 400m and/or 200m outdoors. The National Record is relatively new, being set by Michael Cherry (Oscar Smith, VA) in 2013. It would seem to capture that record, an athlete would have to break the 33second barrier for the very first time. And as such, we bring you the 10 ahletes we feel are most likely to break that National Record before the New Balance Indoor Nationals roll around this March. But first, we caught up with Mr. Cherry, currently at Florida State University, which seems poised to have an outstanding year on the Collegiate Circuit. Enjoy the throwback, and here's hoping for a National Record!

   Fr: 35.2   DARNELL GREEN (Nottingham)           1993
       35.50  DARNELL GREEN (Nottingham)           1993
   So: 34.9   DAVID BYRD (CBA - Albany)            1993
       35.41  BRIAN SUSSER (Colonie)               1999
           34.38  IZAIAH BROWN (Amsterdam)             2013    
   Jr: 33.98  KEDAR INICO (Campus Magnet)          2000
                 33.65  JERMAINE BROWN (Medgar Evers)        2009          
               Brown's class is questionable
   Sr: 33.27  ANTHONY EWERS (Lawrence, Cedarhurst) 2000
        

 Fr: 34.54  WILLIAM REED (Central, Philadelphia, Pa)              1985 
So: 33.19          REED (Central, Philadelphia, Pa)              1986
  Jr: 33.54  MELVILLE ROGERS (East NY Transit Tech, Brooklyn, NY)  2002  
   Sr: 33.05  MICHAEL CHERRY (Smith, Chesapeake, VA)                2013   
        

 33.05  MICHAEL CHERRY (Smith, Chesapeake, VA)              2013  
33.19  WILLIAM REED (Central, Philadelphia, Pa)            1986 
        33.21  SEAN HOLSTON (Lee, Springfield, VA)                 2007         
   33.27  ANTHONY EWERS (Lawrence, Cedarhurst)                2000    
  33.28  ELZIE COLEMAN (Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, NY) 2004   
        

Click Here To Skip To Our Top 10 Picks For Most Likely To Break The 300m National Record

Catching Up With The National Record Holder - Michael Cherry, Class of 2013

Record Refresher - Click Above Post Race Interview - Click Here

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Hey Michael. Congrats on your season opener this weekend (47.21 victory in the 400m). How did it feel?

- I feel like I can go faster. I was a little banged up last year, and still ran a PR. I'm really looking for that 44 (seconds) this year.

Have you met Ben (Bonhurst) yet? He's a new recruit from New York in the Shot Put for Florida State.

- Yeah I met him. He's got that New York kind of attitude when it comes to competition. I love it. I lived in New York myself until I was in 8th grade, then moved down to Virginia for High School, so I still have some NY spirit.

And down in Virginia, you set that National Record in the 300m. You guys use flat tracks down there, do you think that had any effect on your race?

- Yeah, I always tell people, if you had put me on a banked track, I could have definitely grabbed something close to 32.6 or lower. It was only my second attempt of the year at the distance, the only other time I was in like Lane 2, with no blocks and I still ran 34.1

And it wasn't your only event of the meet when you ran that, either?

- Definitely. I had just run the 500m. That's another event I really wanted to go after. I just didn't have many attempts. I think I could have taken a good shot at it. But the 300m was definitely the focus that day.

Had you ever ran at the Armory before?

- Absolutely. The Armory is like my favorite place to run. I wish we ran there more often in College, I want to go back. I ran the Hispanic Games there (for 200m) and it felt so fast. I really think it was the best indoor track I ever ran on.

Have you been looking to see if anyone has been getting close to your record?

- We actually had Richard (Rose) and Rai (Benjamin) come down to a recruitment visit (at FSU). I had known Richard since he was like a freshman, and Rai said he has raced me back in High School. Richard let me know right away he was coming for my record, and Rai said he was coming for it too. I definitely know people are coming for it. I feel like nobody wanted it (the record) until I broke it. Back then, the times weren't great, but now the top times in the Nation are getting close. There are so many guys going after it.

How does it feel to have all these High Schoolers looking up to you?

- It's kind of cool knowing I did something that left a mark. If I set it in High School, and the next year it got taken down, I don't think it would have been as fun. I enjoy having my name still up there as the best there was in the event.

If you had to pick one person, who do you think is most likely to break your 300m National Record?

- I would have to look at Josephus (Lyles). He really looks strong to me right now. He was on the relay with me at World Juniors, and I was really impressed with his ethic. I think he can succeed really well.

Thanks for your time Michael, and good luck to you in your Collegiate Sophomore season

- Thank you. I really think we can do big things here at FSU. We're the next wave of athletes for the future, and I think we can really do a lot of work to make some teams in the upcoming years. We're really looking to have a big Indoor and Outdoor season this year.

Whatever happens, I still think to really break my record, it has to be done on a flat track. I knew I could really fly at the Armory, and get under 33.