CLEARING HER INNER HURDLES USC'S DAVIS NO LONGER RUNNING IN POWELL'S SHADOW.Byline: KIRBY LEE Special to the Daily News Candice Davis had the advantage of training with 2005 and 2006 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association 100-meter hurdles champion Ginnie Powell the past two seasons at USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. . It was also her greatest obstacle, as she was running on a daily basis against the collegiate record-holder. With Powell now having graduated, Davis is looking to make her own mark in her final collegiate competition at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, which will take place today through Saturday at Sacramento State. "It was a benefit because I was training with the best person in the world," Davis said of Powell. "She is arguably the best in the world. She is almost like Reggie Bush Reginald "Reggie" Bush, birth name: Reginald Alfred Bush II (born March 2, 1985 in San Diego, California), nicknamed 'The Human Highlight Reel' and 'The President', alluding to President Bush, is an American football player who plays for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. . So I knew if I could hang with her in practice that I was going to be fine. It also discouraged me because I was OK with finishing second." These days, Davis is the one being chased. Her training partner is often "King," a four-month old Cavalier King Charles King Charles can refer to:
Davis heads to Sacramento with a victory in the 100hurdles at the Pacific-10 Conference The Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I. Membership Full members Championships three weeks ago. She also ran on the Trojans' Pac-10 and NCAA West Region champion 4x100 relay team that has also qualified for the NCAA championships. In the 100 hurdles, Davis has dropped 0.16 seconds off her personal best to improve her No. 2 place on the Trojans' all-time list to 12.91 behind Powell's collegiate record 12.48. "At the beginning of the season, it wasn't very motivating, because I felt that I had no one to challenge me," Davis said. "I always looked to (Powell) athletically as well as (for) wisdom on the track. This year, it's been 'grow up quick and in a hurry."' Davis and Powell remain close friends and get together for weekly dinners. Powell, who ran the world's fastest time of the season, a 12.45 at the Reebok Ree´bok` n. 1. (Zool.) The peele. Grand Prix Grand Prix n. pl. Grand Prix Any of several competitive international road races for sports cars of specific engine size over an exacting, usually risky course. in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of on Saturday, called Davis' breakthroughs this season mental as much as physical and encourages her to avoid comparisons. "I know it was hard for her with my accomplishments," said Powell, the 2006 Honda Award winner as the nation's top collegiate female track athlete. "I see a difference in her with more experience and maturity. The more that you run at a high level the easier it is next time around." That's an attitude that USC hurdles coach Tommie Lee White has tried to instill in·still v. To pour in drop by drop. in  stil·la tion n. in Davis.
White, who is also a psychologist, believes that Davis has always had the capability to run faster than 12.8 seconds, but has been caught up in the stigma of running in Powell's shadow. White's main emphasis has been getting Davis to be a front-runner. "She got used to Ginnie's rhythm," Davis said. "If you get into somebody's rhythm, you can't beat them. She didn't see herself as being a champion but an also-ran. If she puts the parts together she will run fast, which has been a huge step from last year." Davis came to USC as a three-time state 100 hurdles champion at Pioneer High of Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, city (1990 pop. 109,592), seat of Washtenaw co., S Mich., on the Huron River; inc. 1851. It is a research and educational center, with a large number of government and industrial research and development firms, many in high-technology fields such as , Mich. Davis, the Michigan state record holder at 13.66, was twice named the state's Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year Athlete of the Year
She failed to fulfill those lofty expectations or her high school times as a USC freshman, a year she said was filled with depression and anger. Davis, who chose USC over Michigan and Illinois, attributed the setbacks to moving halfway across the country and adjusting to the college lifestyle. "It probably would have been easier to stay closer to home, but I wouldn't be the athlete and person I am," Davis said. "I grew up in a nurturing environment. Here, you are completely on your own, and no one supporting you and being your cheerleader." Davis, who finished seventh in the 2005 NCAA Championship but failed to reach the final last year after suffering an ankle sprain ankle sprain Orthopedics A stretching of the ankle ligaments and/or muscles with swelling before the meet, said she will have no fear when she steps into the starting blocks in the first round of the hurdles this afternoon. "This is the pinnacle of everything, the top of the mountain," Davis said. "I am not going to say that I am going to win, but I deserve what is to happen. I am a firm believer everything has its time and plan to fall in order." CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) USC's Candice Davis won the women's 100-meter hurdles at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships. (2) Candice Davis will compete in the 100-meter hurdles and 4x100 relay for USC at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News Box: NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS |
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