Texas Senior Manzano Eyes Ncaas, Olympic Games
Leonel Manzano received his initiation into world-class running last summer. The 5-5, 125-pound senior at Texas was about 30 meters into a first-round heat in the 1,500 meters at the world championships in Osaka, Japan, when an elbow was planted in his chest. Welcome to the big time, kid.
“Running against the best people in the world, they’re not going to let you get an inch,” says Manzano, who finished 13th and did not advance. “I went in there with no experience at that level. I’m trying to fight these guys, and they’re like, ‘What are you doing?’ It seemed like I was thrown in the back.
“In high school and college, you don’t see that kind of aggression. It was an awesome experience. What better timing, the year before the Olympics and trials. It was something I really needed.”
Manzano, 23, who was born in Mexico, arrived in the USA at age 4 and became a citizen in 2004, will be a favorite in the 1,500 at the NCAA championships June 11-14 in Des Moines. The surprise winner as a freshman in 2005, he’s seeking bookend titles.
“That would be a great way to finish my career at UT,” he says.
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He might also be one of the few collegians to make the U.S. Olympic team when he runs the 1,500 at the trials June 27-July 6 in Eugene, Ore. He was second at the USA Championships last year and third in 2006.
Manzano ran his 1,500 best of 3 minutes, 35.29 seconds, equivalent to a 3:52 mile, in last year’s U.S. final. “He’s quite gifted in the sense of racing,” says Jason Vigilante, an assistant to Texas coach Bubba Thornton, the 2008 U.S. men’s Olympic coach, and Manzano’s coach for four years. “Winning is most important to him. Times don’t mean a lot to him. He will always give 100% to complete the race as well as he can regardless of his physical condition. Coupled with that, the pace never seems to bother him.”
Manzano is known for his ability to kick off a fast or slow pace. He came from the back of the pack to win his NCAA 1,500 title. He blew away competitors with his finishes on anchor legs in the Texas and Penn relays.
“He’s got natural foot speed and the ability to change paces,” Vigilante says. “There’s so much to him. Everything about him is a delight. He’s such a nice young man, respectful and honest. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to work with him every day.”
Manzano, who ran a 4:06 mile as a high school junior, began running in middle school. His father, Jesus, operates a rock-crushing machine at a road materials plant. His mother, Maria, is a part-time maid. They weren’t initially enthused with his new activity.
“My parents came here to have a better life and give us more opportunities to succeed,” says Manzano, the oldest of four children, who has done landscaping work for a relative. “They were and still are all about hard work: Go out, get yourself a job. I had a job at 12.
“My parents probably had a third- or fourth-grade education back in Mexico. They had no idea what going to college or playing a sport was. To this day I have a lot of family in the same situation. With me running, they’ve figured out there’s more than just breaking your back with hard labor all the time.”
His parents are now fans. Their biggest contribution to his success is the way they raised him.
“Leo takes pride in everything he does,” Vigilante says. “Here’s a guy who didn’t start learning English until he was 4, and his GPA is important to him. All his professors will tell you how conscientious he is. He doesn’t like to be known just as, the running competitor.”
Manzano, who needs nine credits to graduate and is scheduled to get them in the fall, wants to continue running and plans to stay in Austin to be coached by Vigilante.
“I love this town,” Manzano says. “The group of guys I’m with here can take my training to the next level. We have great facilities. Coach Vigilante is very knowledgeable and always has something prepared. What better place.”
Tags: aggression, amp, bubba, des moines, elbow, initiation, june 27, Landscaping, Landscaping Work, leonel manzano, ncaa championships, olympic coach, olympic games, rta, surprise winner, texas coach, usa championships, welcome to the big time0
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
