UKHC:
The 2003 track season must have been mixed for you
and Natasha, with lots of promise but a frustrating
end, how would you sum it up from a coaching stance?
Darrell
Smith:
From a coaching stance it was a positive year. We
came into the year with a few definite goals and achieved
all except 2, making the final and medalling. Overall
it was a good year, she dropped her pr almost an entire
second, she ran under 55 seconds 5 times, lowered
her 100H pr with minimal training and races, and proved
to her self that she could run with those women out
there.
The
frustration of Paris is a learning experience. One
we all hope to avoid, but something that can definitely
be built upon and learned from.
UKHC:
In terms of the goals you set when taking over Natasha's
training - what were the chief aims in the initial
year?
Natasha Danvers after
her World Universiade Triumph in Beijing in 2001
Darrell
Smith:
The chief aims were to keep her healthy through July
in order to run the races and times she has been capable
of since 2001. I believed Tasha would win a medal
in Edmonton and an injury prevented that occurrence,
same thing in 2002. We wanted to be consistent and
establish her as a sub 55 hurdler, which would put
her in the thick of things on the circuit and is a
stepping stone to sub 54. Top two goals were to make
the final in Paris and medal.
UKHC:
In terms of taking over Natasha's training and splitting
from the HIS team- what did you look specifically
at?
Darrell
Smith:
Technically we wanted to improve her hurdle form and
her confidence in her left lead leg. That meant returning
to the shorter race, both for technical reasons and
so she had a race she just enjoyed running. She is
still working on her fatigue form, and that will come
from practice and running races, and mental approach.
UKHC:
In taking over Natasha's training and splitting from
the HSI team- what did you look specifically at? [pretty
much have answered that just now but will add it into
the text] - was this radical change in her training
regimen or rather a shifting of emphasis?
Darrell
Smith:
The main focus was keeping her training consistent
as we entered into the June and the circuit. There
was no radical change in training, some subtle ones
mainly because I was able to focus on her and pay
specific attention to some small details. The emphasis
remained the same, being consistent and disciplined.
I am a prodigy of John's and believe in what we did
at HSI, I have my own thoughts and ideas, but the
fundamentals will not change. You have to be fit to
win at this game, there is no substitute for that,
and being consistent is what wins
Technically we looked at her trail leg and her fatigue
hurdling which more specifically revolves around her
left lead. She has a deficiency in her left hurdling
and she wanted to address that. That was the biggest
shift in what we did last year, and we are still working
on that.
UKHC:
Certainly those of us who have witnessed Natash's
disappointments in the 2001 Europa Cup in Bremen and
obviously the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games final,
have been able to contrast these races with her strong
finishes this season - in Zagreb and Rome in particular.
How early in the training year did you start looking
at the particular element of fatigue hurdling?
Darrell
Smith:
From the beginning. Last year is the earliest I have
ever had an intermediate hurdler begin hurdling. We
incorporated hurdles into her over distance training.
It helped her mental confidence but I believe it took
its toll on her body. So this year I will use a better
balance to preserve her knees and feet.
UKHC:
You also mentioned the benefits for Natasha of spending
some more time on her sprint hurdling work - will
you continue with that in the 2004 season, or is it
dependant upon fitness/strength levels with the 400h
as obviously the primary goal?
Darrell
Smith:
I will keep that in the mix for her. I think she can
be a tremendous sprint hurdler and can break the UK
record. We will not focus fully on the shorter race,
but it stays in the program because it is an easy
way to improve her hurdling and get some sprint work
in without losing a training day.
UKHC:
Given as you say the near second improvement that
Natasha displayed in 2003, is it - overall - more
of the same training going into 2004, or are there
aspects that were always going to be looked at differently
in this winter's preparation?
Darrell
Smith:
Good question and one we as coaches ask ourselves
from the first race of last season. Overall, I think
we can continue the course that was set in motion
and continue to build on it as has been the plan.
The same problems still exist simply because I felt
last season was merely a coming out party for Tasha.
It was the first full year and the results are what
I have expected of her since she came to me as an
athlete. We will continue to work on her trail leg,
her left lead and her fatigue state. She has made
marked improvements in her mental approach and most
importantly her understanding of what she is doing.
Now we will work on being 54.5 and faster with consistency,
and work towards the big drop. I firmly believe she
can compete and win. Nothing has changed in my mind.
UKHC:
Looking ahead to Athens, what do you believe will
be needed to win a medal in the women's 400H - statistically
if the level of any event shows an improvement, it's
in the Olympic years!
Darrell
Smith:
It will take low 53s maybe 52. But the Olympic final
is so intense you rarely see the women drop real fast
times to win, it is an interesting development. I
mean, the times will be fast, 53.1, but we have not
seen the double 52 second races we have had in the
World Championships. 53.5 or faster will win a medal,
under 53 will be the goal of all who want the gold.
The general rule is finish first no matter what the
time, and that is what I stress. Be first. Times can
come whenever. When you are dealing with the Olympic
Games you are talking about eight people running in
their Eden, the belief is that all are ready to run.
The rest is why we run the races. I think this years
100m was evidence of that.
UKHC:
Obviously winning and then, if not, medalling are
the chieif aims of all Olympic aspirants, but for
the year itself , will you manage the race programme
leading into the Olympics any differently?
Darrell
Smith:
I felt it [last year] got away from me a little as
the season wore on. Missing races is a part of the
sport and it is my job as a coach to manage these
situations, I am not pleased with myself in that respect.
UKHC:
Hind sight is would always be highly beneficial for
coaches and athletes alike - especially where it comes
to injuries and injury prevention!!
You have mentioned
that you think Natasha can take the British record
for the sprint hurdles - is that something you will
target, whether this year or at a later stage in her
career?
Darrell
Smith:
It is something I expect actually. It is just a matter
of races for her. She began as a sprint hurdler as
a junior and it is unfortunate she spent four plus
years not training for the race at all. She has a
natural aptitude for the event.
Last year we spent December working on her sprint
hurdles, then she injured her knee, and we did not
focus on them again. We just threw in the races we
had previously planned to run, and you saw the results!
UKHC:
It is interesting that you do not see the two events
as mutually exclusive in terms of performing at a
high level - obviously looking to history Andre Phillips
competed at a pretty high level over both hurdles
events simultaneously, but not many others seemed
to have looked at the two together. Does that reflect
your thoughts on the importance of hurdle technique
that transfers to the longer event?
Darrell
Smith:
Yes without question. The sad thing is that Kevin
Young was coached exclusively by John for over 10
years and no one ever ask him about the event. In
1992 not only did Kevin run 45.11, he also ran 13.62
that year. Kevin constantly worked on his sprint hurdles,
they are never mutually exclusively. If there was
ever proof of that it is in Sally and Felix. Sally
was the more accomplished sprint hurdler and beat
Sandra [Farmer Patrick] on technique at 10. Felix
is more efficient than his closest competitors and
it shows in the end. Angelo [Taylor] is ragged, James
[Carter] is ragged, and Felix beats them both at the
hurdle. There’s absolutely no substitute for
hurdle technique, it is a hurdle race after all.
UKHC
I think we'd all agree that many of the fastest women's
performers have still yet to look at their technical
proficiency as strongly as some of their male counter
parts - Sandra being a prime example. To that end
what are your thoughts on the IAAF looking into possibly
raising the women's sprint and or 400m hurdle heights?
Darrell
Smith:
It is something that is way past due. The problem
women hurdles face is the actual height of the hurdle.
At 30" [2’6”] it is not necessary
for them to execute proper technique to successful
navigate the hurdle. Also, most of the women that
run the event have long legs, 33" inseams and
the like, this means they would have to squat down
to stay on top of a 30" hurdle. Research has
shown that the women regularly clear 40+" when
negotiating the hurdles. The only way to alleviate
such discrepancies is to raise the hurdle and force
the women to perform proper hurdling, as the men are
required.
UKHC:
Looking to the future - many athlete work their careers
around Olympic opportunities [as against the bi -annual
World Championships]. Do you and Natasha have any
thoughts on the longer term with regard to her athletics
career?
Darrell
Smith:
Right now we are year to year with this year being
a bench mark year because of the Olympics. Tasha has
other interests and wants to ensure her future beyond
track is not one of uncertainty. So things are always
being evaluated. If it was up to me she would run
until the track wore out, but I am a coach and that
is what I think of all my athletes. I know that Commonwealth
is high on Tasha's priority list, so 2006 is always
sitting out there.
Natasha Danvers &
Darrell Smith at their recent wedding in Los Angeles
UKHC:
In terms of Natasha's training who else do you coach
with whom she works out in some of her training?
Darrell
Smith:
I have Ryan Wilson, NCAA champion 2003 110HH, pr 13.38.
Natasha Neal I picked up last March and took her from
13.24 to 13.00 last year. I have a couple of fringe
athletes Nakiya Johnson, 400m former junior record
holder, and DMarcus Williams, 400m pr of 45.98. On
the track she is pretty much the leader in performance,
she and Ryan. Tasha trains with Natasha [Neal] over
the shorter hurdles. And I normally do not have her
train with the men. I have not found a benefit to
it. They get away from her and/or end up causing her
to trash her workout trying to keep up in the interval
training.
UKHC:
I don't know what you get to see of the british athletics
media over here, but in a recent copy of Athletics
Weekly, there was a comment that it would be interesting
to see Tasha try the heptahlon one day on the basis
of sprints, hurdles and proven High jump ability.
Is that anything you think she might consider after
realizing her 400h goals?
Darrell
Smith:
We have had conversations about it. David Hemery has
been endorsing that move for years. I do not like
the pounding her body would take, but I rule out nothing.
It would be nice to see her try it. If for no other
reason than for people to see what type of athlete
Tasha truly is. Her PR’s are outstanding and
she has yet to touch on her own potential in what
she is doing now.
UKHC:
Obviously you are now as man and wife - has this impacted
greatly upon your coach/athlete relationship ?
Darrell
Smith:
The relationship has not changed, it has actually
improved. The commitment of marriage has helped alleviate
some of the cross over problems. Security in a relationship
is important on and off the track, and in our situation
that added level of security has helped bolster our
on the track communication and relationship.
UKHC:
UKHC would of course like to extend its best wishes
to you both on your recent marrige and thank you for
the interview.
Darrell
Smith:
No problem, thanks.
