|
Kevin Sullivan, 27, is one of the best middle distance runners
ever to come out of Canada. The Brantford, Ontario native took up
running at age 12 and by the time he finished high school had run
3:39.11 for 1,500m. Sullivan went on to the University of Michigan
where he earned three individual NCAA titles, one relay title and
14 All-American honors. Remaining in Ann Arbor after college and
training under Ron Warhurst's guidance, Sullivan has dropped his
PRs to 3:31.71 (1,500) and 3:50.26 (mile). After a 5th-place finish
in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games 1,500m, Sullivan had an uncharacteristic
meet at the 2001 Edmonton World Championships, advancing only to
the semi-finals. He has rebounded well, recently finishing at or
near the front of several European races.
(Posted August 27, 2001)
How
has your training been since the Sydney Olympic Games? Did you feel
fit heading into Worlds?
My training has gone very well since Sydney. My workouts have been
going pretty much as I had been expected. The only problem I was
having was with a strained hip flexor which was hampering me a bit
with really fast 400-800m type training.
I
was disappointed with my performance at Worlds. My last four to
five workouts leading into Worlds were on par or better than the
workouts I was doing last year. So to not make the final was frustrating,
especially when it was more of a tactical mistake on my part than
a lack of fitness.
Was
the Olympic final one of those races where everything just went
right? Or do you look back on it and think "If only..."?
I think the Olympic final was just about as good as I could have
run that day. I think if the pace had have been more in the 3:35-38
range I really could have made a better run at a medal.
Going
back a bit, what made you decided to attend college in the U.S.?
And why Michigan?
I was getting a lot of offers from schools in the States with full
scholarships, which we don't have in Canada. Plus there was just
so much depth in athletics in the States compared to college in
Canada. I was already a 3:39 1500m, 3:59 miler, and 1:47 800m runner
so I really needed that college experience to make the jump to the
next level.
Michigan
seemed like a great fit. I loved the school, the facilities, the
support staff and it was close enough to home that I could get home
easily or my parents could come down here.
You
obviously liked it there because you've chosen to stay. What about
it works for you?
Basically, everything works. It really was a situation of "If it
ain't broke, don't fix it." In my five years at Michigan I dropped
my PBs from 3:39 to 3:34 (1,500m) and from 3:59 to 3:52 (mile).
And since I have graduated I have dropped them to 3:31.71 and 3:50.26.
I just didn't make sense to uproot and move and try to work with
a new coach in a new system. I really believe that Ron Warhurst
is the best coach in the country for developing athletes.
It
seems that many of the U.S. runners are now flocking to Michigan
to train. Warhurst is obviously a major part of that, but your success
and the opportunity to have you as a training partner must also
be a big draw. Paul McMullen and Tim Broe are obviously benefiting
from the move -- has their presence helped you?
Definitely. With Paul and Tim I really am getting the best training
partners from the speed and endurance ends of things. Paul is a
very strong, explosive type of runner which is great for working
on finishing stuff and Tim can just go all day.
You're an assistant coach at Michigan --
what does that involve? How much interaction will you have with
Alan Webb and Nate Brannen when they join the team in the fall,
do you anticipate doing workouts with them?
I work out at the same time as the team, so I have my hand in all
the workouts. But mostly, I am involved in the recruiting process
with our middle distance runners. I will definitely have a lot of
interaction with Nate and Alan in the fall and I would anticipate
doing about 75% of the workouts with them.
I
really enjoy working with the younger kids. It kind of helps to
keep me young. I really enjoy seeing these kids make improvements
and feel good about their racing and training.
What
kind of support do you get from Athletics Canada? A lot of runners
in the U.S. complain about the lack of support they receive, is
that a problem in Canada as well?
We
definitely have some funding problems in Canada. Unless you are
ranked in the top 16 in the world it is pretty hard to get any type
of support. I think the U.S. athletes have it a lot better than
they think they do. But this is definitely a sport of the "rich
get richer". It is not easy to make a living at it.
How
big is track and how big of a celebrity are you in Canada -- are
you more likely to be recognized on the street there than, say,
in Ann Arbor?
I am more likely to be recognized on the street in Canada, but not
much more. Take me to a track meet as a spectator and I get recognized
pretty easily. But Joe six pack isn't going to recognize me if I
am just strolling down the street.
How
old were you when you started running and how did your times progress?
Were you part of a club team or did you run for your school like
runners do in the U.S.? How is the Canadian system different and
what are the advantages?
I started running when I was 12 years old. I just got involved through
my elementary school field day, and then I joined a local track
club. That is where I trained through high school. I competed for
my high school during the school season but for the most part I
did everything under the guidance of my club coach.
My
time progressions were:
|
Age
|
800m
|
1,500m
|
Mile
|
|
12
|
2:08
|
4:19
|
|
|
13
|
1:57
|
4:07
|
|
|
14
|
1:53
|
3:54
|
|
|
15
|
1:51
|
3:54
|
|
|
16
|
1:49.0
|
3:51
|
|
|
17
|
1:48
|
3:47
|
|
|
18
|
1:48
|
3:39.11
|
|
|
19
|
1:47.64
|
3:39
|
3:59.29
|
|
20
|
1:47.64
|
3:36
|
3:57
(indoors)
|
|
21
|
1:47.06
|
3:35
|
3:52
|
|
22
|
Injured
|
|
23
|
---
|
3:35
|
3:56
|
|
24
|
1:49
|
3:34
|
3:54
|
|
25
|
1:48
|
3:34
|
3:52
|
|
26
|
1:47
|
3:31.71
|
3:50.26
|
The
biggest difference between the U.S. and Canada is the club system.
We have the opportunity to train and compete all year round, and
you don't see a lot of U.S. high schoolers that do that consistently.
We
read that your wife, Karen Harvey, is giving up the steeplechase,
focusing on the marathon and will be coached by you. Is it at all
difficult working with her in this way or are you able to separate
the coach-athlete relationship from your husband-wife relationship?
What kind of advice and support does she provide you?
Karen has retired from track racing and is giving serious thought
to doing a marathon next year. If that is what she ultimately decides
to do then the plan is for me to coach her. I don't think it will
be to difficult to work together as coach-athlete. We basically
are giving each other advice or at least our $0.02 worth all the
time when it comes to training and racing. She takes my advice better
than I take hers but she is definitely my biggest fan and supporter.
(Interview:
August 17, 2001)
|
