One final hurdle to clear

Q&A with Dermillo Wise

By JOE SMITH
Published June 6, 2007

Dermillo Wise left his stamp on Lakewood track five years ago, earning Times' Athlete of the Year in 2001 and Co-athlete of the Year in 2002 after medaling in four events at the Class 3A meet. After winning two straight NJCAA national pentathlon titles for Cloud County Community College Kan., Wise moved on to Oklahoma and will make his second straight appearance in the NCAA Track & Field Championships, which run today through Saturday in Sacramento. Wise spoke with the Times about bumpy roads - and broken noses - as well as criminal law and what the future holds.

You said you're seeded 12th for the 110 hurdles and seventh for the long jump. Do you feel, considering the field, you have an outside shot at medaling?

I'm looking to win (the long jump) and set a school record. I'm jumping as well as I have. I had a personal best (25-8) at the conference meet this year, and the school record is 26-8. We'll see.

Reflect on your career and taking the long road here. You spent two years in Kansas (Cloud County CC) before landing at Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has been a nice home for me. I've been moving around a bit, but I've used every stop as a stepping stone for success.

Your junior year, you had a pretty weird injury in indoor track, breaking your nose colliding with an official at the Big 12 Championships. How did that happen?

I was warming up for the long jump and (the official) wasn't watching where he was walking. He stepped across the runway and in front of me. (After the injury), they wouldn't let me compete - I wanted to though.

What do you want to do with your degree in criminal law?

I have a couple uncles who are police officers. I want to further my life working (against) ATS (amphetamine-type substance abuse). I want to run a narcotics (investigations) and drug trafficking and border patrol.

What's the next step for you in track?

I made it to USA Track & Field meet in Indianapolis (June) 20-24. I'd like to continue my career, training in long jump.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or at (727) 893-8129.

NCAA Track & Field Championships

Today through Saturday Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex (Sacramento, Calif.)

Other local ties: Georgia Tech senior Ashlee Kidd (St. Petersburg High), a two-time All-American in the outdoor 400, has the third best time in the 400 (51.47). Florida freshman All-American Calvin Smith (Freedom) is seeded fifth in the 400m at 45.60.

TV: The event will air live on CSTV on Friday from 8:30-11:30 p.m. and on CBS on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. Live results of the meet can be found at www.ncaasports.com.

[Last modified June 5, 2007, 23:56:21]