Trayvon Bromell accelerated powerfully in his 100 meter heat, sprinting past a fast field and back into the spotlight in his signature event.
At Friday’s 2020 Back to the Track meet in Clermont, the former Gibbs and Baylor standout won his 100 meter heat in wind-legal 9.90 seconds, the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Bromell decided to run in the finals.
That eye-opening time comes three weeks after Bromell ran a wind-legal 10.04 in his 100 meter heat at the Showdown in OTown meet. It was Bromell’s first sub 10.10 in more than three years.
Bromell, who has battled through injuries, said last month he is stronger, more focused and injury free. He has been training to get ready for the upcoming track season with an eye on the Olympic Trials next summer and a return to the world’s biggest track and field stage in Tokyo.
Four years ago, Bromell was a star in the 100- and 200-meters. He had already signed an endorsement deal with New Balance. He was an indoor champion and medaled in the 100 at the World Championships.
Then came the injuries.
First was a bone spur in his Achilles, an injury that severely impacted Bromell’s performance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. He finished last in the 100 and ended up in a wheelchair after gutting out a leg in the 4×100 relay.
Since that setback, Bromell has only raced a handful of times.
He twice had surgery on his Achilles, the last in 2018. After running in a few events last year, Bromell is training with a better understanding of how to come back from his injury. One of training partners is Marvin Bracy, who played football at FSU and was a star sprinter with the Seminoles.
