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"Who says track isn't a contact sport"
- Michelle McKinney
What makes indoor track races so exciting for fans and participants alike is the varying track factors. Factors like size (200 & 300m over-sized), only 6 lanes, surface types, oval shape (banked or flat), waterfall start, alley start, number of runners in the race and caliber of the field. The end result being that each facility and race presents it's own unique set of challenges which is exactly what Michelle experienced two weeks ago @ the Virginia Tech Invitational - Blacksburg, VA.
The VT indoor track is a 200m narrow six lane banked oval which is notorious for "rough and rumble" races. Unfortunately, Michelle experienced an unpleasant collegiate first of being spiked in the first 10 meters of an over loaded 14 runner mile race. Worse yet, it was a waterfall start which is always a recipe for disaster on a small track. Michelle was on the outside and when the gun was fired she and the entire outside field crashed down to get the inside position prior to getting to the curve. Resulting in pushing, elbows, bumping and spike wounds for Michelle and a few other runners. However, in spite of the bloody wound she finished in a time of 4:59 and immediately exited the track to get stitched up.
Bottom line - indoor track is like NASCAR, it's wide open "full throttle" racing and if you don't protect your space someone will invade it!
The pics above, Michelle's actual spike and war wound, shows the damage even the small pyramid 1/4 inch spikes can inflict with contact. To get a better look just click on the pics and they will enlarge. Please note that the red on Michelle's shoe is not an accent color, it's blood and in addition to the side of her leg getting ripped open, her little toe was punctured as well. The good news is that Michelle raced the next week!
The VT indoor track is a 200m narrow six lane banked oval which is notorious for "rough and rumble" races. Unfortunately, Michelle experienced an unpleasant collegiate first of being spiked in the first 10 meters of an over loaded 14 runner mile race. Worse yet, it was a waterfall start which is always a recipe for disaster on a small track. Michelle was on the outside and when the gun was fired she and the entire outside field crashed down to get the inside position prior to getting to the curve. Resulting in pushing, elbows, bumping and spike wounds for Michelle and a few other runners. However, in spite of the bloody wound she finished in a time of 4:59 and immediately exited the track to get stitched up.
Bottom line - indoor track is like NASCAR, it's wide open "full throttle" racing and if you don't protect your space someone will invade it!
The pics above, Michelle's actual spike and war wound, shows the damage even the small pyramid 1/4 inch spikes can inflict with contact. To get a better look just click on the pics and they will enlarge. Please note that the red on Michelle's shoe is not an accent color, it's blood and in addition to the side of her leg getting ripped open, her little toe was punctured as well. The good news is that Michelle raced the next week!