(Photo by Joy Kamani/NSAF)
Anthony Schwartz is used to running down the home straight away with the baton in his hand and crossing the line in first place. After all, he and his American Heritage teammates ran the fastest 4x100m relay time in the nation, when they clocked a speedy 40.17 at the Florida Relays.
However, the Pan American Juniors Championship, boasted the best athletes from North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Schwartz, a rising junior for the Patriots was fourth at USA Juniors and nabbed a spot on red, white, and blue relay. The relay team stacked with the best U20 sprinters the country has to offer. So where does the US#1 high school sprinter with a personal best of 10.15 go in the rotation?
Lead off with a bang. That is exactly what they did putting Schwartz in the number one spot in charge of attacking the curve and getting Team USA out front early.
"The last time I ran the first leg was in the 7th grade," he said. "Starting on the curve didn't feel any different though since I am used to running the 200."
He told us earlier this week they wanted to go 38 low or 37 high in this race. It's a mark they didn't quite achieve, but were still able to knock off the Jamaicans with a time of 39.33. Jamaica (39.74), Trinidad & Tobago (39.90), and Brazil (39.98) all dipped under 40s.
"We all stepped it up and did our thing out there, especially Sean since he had to step in for our injured leg," Schwartz explained. "It's great as it is my first gold medal in an international meet. Now, it is back to football."
