Olympic Silver high jump medalist Matt Hemingway has been named the Official Starter for the Seventh Annual Daniel Island 5k, according to co-race director Dave Dombrowski.
"I found Matt Hemingway's web site (www.high2fly.com) and sent him an email on Jan. 30 inviting him on behalf of the student-athletes, their parents and the coaching staff of the Bishop England High School track program to be the official starter of the Seventh Annual Daniel Island 5K Run / Walk," Dombrowski said. "To my surprise he called back on Feb. 9 and stated that he had to work out his schedule and that he would plan to be in the area about that time. He called again on Feb. 14 and confirmed with me that he would be there for the race. He is presently in Europe participating in the Indoor Track season and will be back in the states sometime in early March."
"I was trying to plan a trip back to the Charleston area to see my Mother and the rest of my family in the Charleston area," Hemingway said in an email. "I was contacted by Dave Dombrowski through my website asking me if I would be interested. I called him up and we discussed the time and dates of he race and if it would fit with my schedule. It ended up working out and that's just about it."
Bishop England High School hosts the race, as a fundraiser for the cross country and track and field teams.
The 5k run/walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. On Friday, March 11, a spaghetti dinner is schedule to take place from 6-8 p.m. at BEHS Commons.
Hemingway was the runner-up in the 2004 Olympic Trials, along with being the 2000 USA Indoor Champion and 2002, 2003 USA Outdoor runner-up in the high jump.
"It's an honor to be asked to partake in this event and I am very excited about starting off the race, Hemingway said. "Just don't ask me to run. I'm a high jumper and I probably wouldn't be much good beyond 200 meters."
When asking Hemingway if he was going to help out with local track and field he mentioned. "You asked me if I have been able to help out with "local running and T&F". The answer for the most part is not really. I returned home from the games in late September after my season wrapped up in South Korea. I took two weeks off from my training and then I went right back to training. Then I moved my wife Kate and niece Kaydi to Manhattan, Kansas so I could work with my coach, Cliff Rovelto full time. Frankly I haven't had hardly any down time since I got back to the US. Right now I am on my second European trip since January. I've been jumping in some of the indoor meets over here. I also have the World Championships in Helsinki to get ready for. I am sure that I will plug in with some form of local T&F when things slow down enough for me to help out. Until then I'll do what I can when I can find the time to help out."
"I found Matt Hemingway's web site (www.high2fly.com) and sent him an email on Jan. 30 inviting him on behalf of the student-athletes, their parents and the coaching staff of the Bishop England High School track program to be the official starter of the Seventh Annual Daniel Island 5K Run / Walk," Dombrowski said. "To my surprise he called back on Feb. 9 and stated that he had to work out his schedule and that he would plan to be in the area about that time. He called again on Feb. 14 and confirmed with me that he would be there for the race. He is presently in Europe participating in the Indoor Track season and will be back in the states sometime in early March."
"I was trying to plan a trip back to the Charleston area to see my Mother and the rest of my family in the Charleston area," Hemingway said in an email. "I was contacted by Dave Dombrowski through my website asking me if I would be interested. I called him up and we discussed the time and dates of he race and if it would fit with my schedule. It ended up working out and that's just about it."
Bishop England High School hosts the race, as a fundraiser for the cross country and track and field teams.
The 5k run/walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. On Friday, March 11, a spaghetti dinner is schedule to take place from 6-8 p.m. at BEHS Commons.
Hemingway was the runner-up in the 2004 Olympic Trials, along with being the 2000 USA Indoor Champion and 2002, 2003 USA Outdoor runner-up in the high jump.
"It's an honor to be asked to partake in this event and I am very excited about starting off the race, Hemingway said. "Just don't ask me to run. I'm a high jumper and I probably wouldn't be much good beyond 200 meters."
When asking Hemingway if he was going to help out with local track and field he mentioned. "You asked me if I have been able to help out with "local running and T&F". The answer for the most part is not really. I returned home from the games in late September after my season wrapped up in South Korea. I took two weeks off from my training and then I went right back to training. Then I moved my wife Kate and niece Kaydi to Manhattan, Kansas so I could work with my coach, Cliff Rovelto full time. Frankly I haven't had hardly any down time since I got back to the US. Right now I am on my second European trip since January. I've been jumping in some of the indoor meets over here. I also have the World Championships in Helsinki to get ready for. I am sure that I will plug in with some form of local T&F when things slow down enough for me to help out. Until then I'll do what I can when I can find the time to help out."