�I wasn�t disappointed last year because it was the first time I had run indoors. I was encouraged by the possibilities.�
The hard work with Golden Eagles� coach Earl Green paid off. Green doesn�t just put together an indoor team for one day every February. His indoor athletes have to work out every school day when the calendar turns to November.
Green had Isaac and his teammates working on 300s and 400s to gain both strength and endurance. The rest of practice centered on technique.<.P>
Isaac and his teammates had hoped to get a tuneup for the state championships with a major meet in Asheville. However, the trip was called off due to snow and ice. Thus, Isaac and his teammates were pretty much in the dark about competition when the state meet rolled around Feb. 24.
The Smith senior said he role model is former University of North Carolina hurdler Allen Johnson.
�He�s so poised,� Isaac said. �He also respects his competition. When he goes into a meet, he�snot overlooking anybody. He knows he has to race everybody.�
After winning the state championship, Isaac was invited to compete in the Indoor Nationals at Northeastern University in Boston. Isaac finished 25th out of 64 hurdlers.
�I missed the semifinals by one one-hundreth of a second,� he said. �I was that close getting a chance to race for a national championship.�
Isaac also was a member of Smith�s 4x400 relay team. It finished seventh in the state meet.
What�s left of Isaac�s career is a promising outdoor season. He has his eyes set on the 110 high hurdles outdoor title. He also is shooting at the NCHSAA record in the event, a fleet 13.86 seconds.
�That�s my dream for this season,� he said. He is rated in the top 10 state-wide in both the 110 and the 300.
Isaac would also like to see the Golden Eagles win the Metro 4-A crown. He sees most of the competition coming from North Forsyth and Dudley.
While he has been accepted at North Carolina State University for next fall, Isaac is still hoping to get an athletic scholarship. UNCC is very interested, but Isaac would rather run for the Wolfpack. He�s hoping N.C. State coach Rollie Geiger will be calling sometime this spring.
Isaac update: Isaac has continued his state indoors success with a very impressive spring. He led the Golden Eagles to a dual meet victory over arch-rival Dudley, winning both the 110 and 300 hurdles.
Then he set the school record in the 110s at the Reebok-Taco Bell Invitational in Columbia, S.C. Isaac had a 14.38 in the timed trials. He finished second in the finals of that event and third in the 300 hurdles.
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