Fresno State Athletics
One Goal in Sight
5/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 3, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - Senior sprinter and hurdler Val-Pierre Dai'Re just ran his final meet at the Warmerdam Field and his career will soon come to an end as one of the most decorated student-athletes in Fresno State history.
He holds two Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championships, has qualified for the NCAA Tournament twice and is currently in the Top 10 in the West Region for 400-meter hurdles. Even though he is so accomplished, Dai'Re can't compare himself to one of Fresno State's all-time bests.
When Dai'Re came to Fresno State five years ago as a freshman high hurdler, he said he idolized former Bulldog sprinter and hurdler Ryan Moore.
"When I came in, he was my idol. That is who I looked up to," Dai-Re said. "He never let anyone out-work him and he never let anyone beat him in a race. When he got the baton, he didn't care who was in front of him. He was going after it."
Moore currently holds the record in the 400 intermediate hurdles, Dai-Re's main event, but Dai'Re is quickly approaching his mark. In fact, the two were just voted to the GoBulldogs.com All-Decade track and field team. There was only one spot for runner - and they tied in voting for the honor.
Even though the two 'Dogs' careers are on such similar trajectories, Dai-Re says he feels he will never be on the same level as Moore.
"In my eyes, I could shatter his record by 18 seconds, but I still don't think I would be as good as Ryan Moore," Dai-Re said. "I just can't see myself at that level."
Last week at the Brutus Hamilton in Berkeley, Calif., Dai-Re moved one step closer to holding the 400-meter hurdles record.
Dai-Re ran a personal record 50.74 at Berkeley on April 24. Moore's school record is 50.51. Dai-Re said he would peak by the time WAC championships rolls around, even though he has struggled at conference in the past.
"When I get to conference, I haven't run my best," Dai-Re said. "And when I do run well, it's in the relay because I am mad at my other events."
As the anchor, Dai-Re has brought home two WAC titles in the 4x400 relay. He is proud of those titles and wants another this season for the Bulldogs, but he is hungry for an individual title. But there is one man standing in the way.
When Dai-Re set his record last week at Berkeley, he finished in second place to Utah State's Nick Karren. Karren ran 50.7, only .04 seconds faster. The two have raced twice with Karren taking both by narrow margins.
"Each time at the very end he out-leaned me," Dai-Re said.
Dai-Re said that he cramped up at the final hurdle of the event, causing him to lose speed at the very end of the race even though he led Karren throughout. When he sees Karren again at the WAC championships, he expects a different outcome.
"At conference," Dai-Re said, "I should definitely have the school record and I should probably beat him."
Dai'Re said it is his focus and mental toughness that will carry him to a victory over Karren, a WAC title and a school record.
"I'm very mentally into my race," Dai-Re said. "Especially at conference - some people may say that I am mean, but I just get serious tunnel vision. I don't care what's going on. I know what I have to accomplish."
Dai'Re and the rest of the Bulldogs travel to Ruston, La., for the WAC Outdoor Championships May 12-15.
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