For Kapa‘a High School’s Joe Locey, the start made the finish much sweeter at the state track and field championships on Maui. The biggest story in both of Locey’s dominating wins at this year’s state championships was that he shocked
For Kapa‘a High School’s Joe Locey, the start made the finish much sweeter at the state track and field championships on Maui.
The biggest story in both of Locey’s dominating wins at this year’s state championships was that he shocked almost everyone in attendence by using a standing-start.
Locey even had specially made standing-start blocks created especially for him to use in his races this year on Kaua‘i and at the state championships on Maui.
Alan Fernandez, head referee at the State Track and Field Championships mentioned that in his 20 plus years of officiating and participating in track and field in Hawai‘i, this was the first time that he has ever seen a sprinter use a standing-start, let alone win the sprints in record breaking fashion.
Most of the athletes and coaches at this year’s state track and field championships that were familiar with Locey were actually in awe and basically in disbelief to see that he had converted from the traditional bunch start he used earlier in the year to trounce some of the best sprinters in the state at the Sakamoto Invitational on Maui and at the Ralph Martinson Invitational at Punahou.
Some of the more seasoned coaches and athletes were even questioning the timing of such a drastic move by Locey, especially after he got disqualified in the 100 meter trials for moving while trying to anticipate the gun.
That very costly mistake prevented Locey from qualifying for the 100 meter dash finals. He was also trying to set a new state record in the 100 meter dash, the current state record is 10.80 which was electronically timed in 1999 and was established by Shane Victorino of Maui.
Locey’s record setting time in the 200 meter dash was 21.9 and was electronically timed. Locey also became the state champion in the 400 meter dash with a time of 49.63.
After approximately 14 hours and 64 events, the only state record to fall was the 200 meter dash for the boys, which was accomplished by Locey. He is the only sprinter in Hawai‘i this year that has gone below 11.0 seconds in the 100 meter dash, gone below 22.0 seconds in the 200 meter dash, and gone below 50.0 seconds in the 400 meter dash.
Locey’s state-best marks this year are 10.99 (100 meter), 21.9 (200 meter, new state record) and 49.63 (400 meter). No other sprinter in Hawai‘i has recorded electronically-timed results lower than Locey’s.
Many track and field experts including Sam Moku, who is the head coach for Kamehameha School’s boy’s team believed that Locey was very capable of setting the new state mark.
Moku predicted that Locey would be the new state 100 meter and 200 meter state champion, after seeing Locey run at the Ralph Martinson Invitational Meet at the Punahou track earlier in March.
One thing’s for sure, Locey will always defend his decision to use the standing-start position.
“What can you say, you cannot argue with the results, I’m the new state champion in the 200 meter and 400 meter dashes and I just shattered the previous 200 meter dash record that was set by St. Louis’ Jason Rivers,” Locey said.
Locey’s personal sprint coach Peter Riopta thinks that the change in style was worth it.
“Nobody believed in the new standing-start blocks nor did they believe in Locey’s stand-up style of starting his races, basically it was just Locey’s Dad (Michael) and I who believed and insisted that his new start would take him to a higher level,” Riopta said.
Riopta has also done the homework behind this new and innovative way of starting the race.
“Using a standing-start produces longer and more effective running strides at the start of every race and that there is scientific documentation proving that using a wider stance on the starting-blocks also produces quicker reaction times,” Riopta said.
In any rate, Locey is only a junior and has his eyes set on the triple crown (100, 200, 400 meter dashes) next year and with the standing-start, crossing the finish line first is a welcoming sight.
“All I know is that my standing-start and my standing-start blocks work and the proof is in the pudding,” Locey said.
Locey will try to qualify for the 2004 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held in Eugene, Oregon on July 27 through August 1.
This year’s competition will also serve as one of the selection meets for the 2005 IAAF World Youth Track & Field Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.
Peter Riopta, Island School head track coach and Locey’s personal sprint coach contributed to this article.
