Samuels prepared to run at regional meet
One-on-One
willi Anthony Hill
Former Ml. Tabor sprinter
J-Mee Samuels is already a
track legend around here. The
University of Arkansas soph
omore almost sounds like an
urban legend when discussing
his past feats. I mean, his
fastest time in the 100 was a
10.08. His best finish in the
200-meter was 20.32. He
posted those finishes the sum
mer before going to Arkansas.
Prior to his senior year, he
captured three gold medals at
the AAU Junior Olympics
with first-place performances
in the 100 meters ( 10.53), 200
meters (21.14) and as a mem
ber of the 4x 100-meter relay
(40.93), which he served as
the anchor leg. J-Mee was a
five-time North Carolina state
champion. Samuels also holds
the national freshman class
200-meter record with a time
of 20.99 and the age 15
national 100-meter record
(10.42).
He's starting to
get oacK to nis
dominant form for
the Razorbacks
this year. I talked
with the local track
star to see what's
been going on late
ly. He and I dis
cussed LiT J-Mee
(his son), prelimi
nary times, A. J.
i^icnuisuu auu a
few other things.
Take a look at what else we
talked about on Tuesday
evening.
Anthony: My man. J
Mee Samuels. What's good,
dawg?
J-Mee: Nothing much.
I'm just hanging in there and
running track. That s all.
Anthony: I saw you get
third place on TV over the
weekend. I thought you
should've won that race.
J-Mee: Yeah, I was try
ing. 1 think things will go
right when it's time. Those
were the SEC championships.
1 think 1 am going to be more
prepared for the upcoming
regionals and nationals.
Anthony: The regional
meet starts Friday, right?
J-Mee: Yeah. They will
be 'going on Friday and
Saturday.
Anthony: What are you
focused on heading into that
meet?
J-Mee: I'm just focused
on this 100. ya know. I'm just
trying to stay confident and
relaxed.
Anthony: 1 hear that.
What's been the difference
between running in high
school and college?
J-Mee: The competition.
You still see some of the older
guys that were fast in high
school once you get to col
lege. They've gotten even
faster. You have that to wotTy
about. Some times people are
10 times faster once they get
to college. The competition is
the biggest thing. School is
another big thing
Anthony: You're finally
starting to look like the J-Mee
I remember on the track.
Have you been doing some
thing different on the track?
Or, are you simply more com
fortable now? a
J-Mee: I think I'm just
used to things right now. I
was fRirt most of my fresh
man year. I had to get used to
a new coach this year. He
does some different things
with our workout. But I think
I'm adjusting pretty good,
though.
Anthony: No doubt. I see
you have a new tattoo on your
arm. What is that, track wings
or something?
J-Mee: (Giggles.) Yeah.
I've got the U.S. wings on
me. I got it my freshman year.
That helped boost my confi
dence up. I've got another tat
too. I'?? got a spike with my
name on it. I'm going to get
that changed, and put my high
school record on there.
Anthony: OK.
Congratulations. I heard you
got a new baby boy last year.
J-Mee: Yeah, I have a
new baby. Everything is
going pretty good with that
I'm loving the *vhole family
thing.
Anthony: Has becoming
a father changed J-Mee
Samuels?
J-Mee: Nah. Thai's a
whole different part of my
life. I doijj let anything inter
fere with track or my life.
Anthony: That's what's
up. Do you regret going to
college sometimes?
J-Mee: Sometimes I do.
But I think it was a good thing
to get this college experience.
People always say that it's
good to get a college educa
tion. I used to regret coming
to college, but that was only
because of my performance
on the track . Not in general .
Anthony: With that said,
are you planning on staying in
school?
J-Mee: Uh, yeah. I'm
going to always go to school.
I'll finish school even if I turn
pro.
Anthony: (Smiles.) Boy,
that was a good answer. What
are you listening to before a
race?
j-Mee: All tne
new stuff. I stay on
Young Jeezy. T
Pain and T.I. I'm
listening to that
new Mike Jones
right now. My
favorite group ever
is 3-6 Mafia.
Anthony: I
know you're
wanning men
show on MTV.
J-Mee: Yeah, I've seen it.
(Both laugh.) Those are some
crazy people.
Anthony: Let's move on.
Urn, A.J. Nicholson was just
in the news this week for get
ting into a little bit of trouble.
Give me your thoughts on
what happened with him,..
J-Mee: Yeah, it's crazy. I
mean, you see how far people
that you grew up with go in
life and sometimes they make
a little problem into a big
problem. Everybody makes
mistakes. I'm just going to
pray for htm and hope that he
finds another w;(y.
Anthony: Have you
talked tt> your boy, Mike
Loyd. lately?
J-Mee: It's been a while
since I've talked to him. But
we speak from time to time.
From what I'm hearing, he's
hanging in there and still try
ing to make it in the track
game.
Anthony: When are you
coming back to Winston?
J-Mee: I'm coming back
this summer. I'm going to
bring my son, lil J-Mee. I
named him after me. We'll be
coming down sometime this
summer.
Anthony: OK. If you
could change anything about
your life what would it proba
bly be?
J-Mee: Nothing. I've
already made the proper
changes in my life, to tell you
the truth. Things are starting
to pay off. espepjally on the
track. I'm running a consis
tent 10.2.
Anthony: (Smiles.) You
ran a 10.3 this weekend,
though.
J-Mee: Yeah, but I ran a
10.2 in the prelims. I ran a
10.3 in the finals.
Anthony: You're always
killing the prelims. You need
to kill the finals, man.
J-Mee: (Giggles.) Yeah. I
know. I'm doing a lot of the
little things now. I'm doing
my little ab workouts and all.
I don't know if it's showing,
physically. But it's showing
on the track .
Anthony: Let's close out
with free associatiitn? Urn. J
Mec Samuels.
J-Mee: That's me.
Anthony: T.K. McMiller
(high school teammate and
best friend).
J-Mee: Best friend.
Anthony: Winston
Salem.
J-Mee: Home city. I will
always love it.
Anthony: All right.
Arkansas Razorbacks.
J-Mee: Great track pro
gram.
Anthony: Lil' J-Mee.
J-Mee: My other best
friend.
Anthony: I hear that.
Hey, we're done. I'll talk with
you later, man .
J-Mee: All right.
Arkansas sophomore sprinter J -Mee Samuels is a former standout at Mt. Tabor, where he also lettered in football.
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