Dominic Berger is hoping to save his best for last.
The senior hurdler qualified for this week’s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Iowa for the third consecutive year by posting a season-best time of 13.72 seconds – good for fifth place in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA East Regional Championships.
At the 2006 nationals, Berger finished second in the 110-meters with a career-best time of 13.49 seconds – the second fastest time in program history, behind only Renaldo Nehemiah’s collegiate record 13.00-second finish. But at the 2007 nationals, a false start in the qualifying heat disqualified Berger from competing.
This year, Berger says he thinks his prior experiences have helped prepare him for what he believes is most crucial to his success this weekend: his mental approach.
“It’s great experience just knowing what I have to do once I’m there and knowing that the competition is going to step it up to another level,” Berger said.
Berger will have to beat the odds along with his opponents in order to achieve his goal. He entered Wednesday’s qualifying round ranked 19th in a field of 26 hurdlers competing in the 110-meters. Athletes with the best 16 times in today’s heat will move on to Friday, where those with the top eight times will advance to Saturday’s final.
“The cliché is 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical,” Berger said. “If you go into a race with doubts in your mind, you might as well stay home. It doesn’t matter what kind of shape you’re in; if you aren’t confident, you can’t race with anybody.”
This week will be the last time Berger competes as a Terp. A two-time ACC Champion in the 110-meter hurdles, Berger has helped revitalize a track program that from 1954 to 1981 won 26 indoor ACC titles and 26 outdoor ACC titles but has not won since.
“The big thing for me is the contribution this kid has given to the [program] in his four years here has been tremendous in getting to the NCAA level and helping us in recruiting,” head coach Andrew Valmon said. “When we come back and think about what we want to be as a program, we want to be in the upper echelon … and he’ll lead by example.”
Right now, Berger says his only goal is to win the championship. But he admits that breaking Nehemiah’s time, and subsequently setting a new school and national record, would be icing on the cake – but extremely difficult to do.
“It’s always there. That’s still one of the greatest records in track and field,” Berger said. “Just knowing that I would be in the same league as Renaldo was would be a great accomplishment.”
Berger is also hoping to use his performance this week to catapult an Olympic career.
The Olympic trials, held later this month in Eugene, Ore., are invitation-only, and athletes must run under a specific time in order to qualify. An athlete who runs a time of 13.40 seconds or under, termed the “A” standard, in competition automatically qualifies, while anything under 14.00 meets the “B” standard.
“B” standard athletes will be invited only if additional competition is needed at the trials, according to the USA Track & Field website.
Berger has already met the “B” standard, but he has never run under 13.49 and knows that a strong showing this week could go a long way toward an invitation to the trials.
“Doing well in this upcoming championship would open the door to a lot of things this upcoming Olympic year and seeking sponsorship this summer.”
But Berger insisted that he is focused solely on winning the 110-meter hurdles championship and finishing his collegiate career the way he always envisioned.
“Anything less would definitely be a disappointment,” Berger said. “It’s been a great decision to come here and run for Andrew Valmon and bring back that tradition of track and field to Maryland. It’s been a great experience, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
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