Hoosier sprinter primed for U.S. Olympic Trials

Visitors to IU track meets this season were treated to a spectacle rare to IU men's track until recently: a national caliber sprinter. Redshirt freshman David Neville, a tall, lanky Merrillville, Ind., native was undefeated at home meets and produced several remarkable performances for IU this season. \nThe next 10 days will be Neville's most difficult challenge as he will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team at the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif. \nAfter squeaking into the finals of the NCAA 400-meters, he secured his second straight All-America award, following his seventh place finish in the 200-meters indoors event.\n"I'm very pleased with my performance at NCAA's," Neville said. "I know that I have been blessed with a great first season, and I couldn't be any happier."\nStill, Neville isn't satisfied with being merely a top young sprinter. Despite training alone after the end of the NCAA season, Neville said he feels fresh and ready to compete for the country's top spots.\n"My goals for heading into the Trials are to try and make the U.S. 4x400 team," Neville said. "I believe that if it is God's plan for me, then I also have a chance at the open 400 and 200." \nThe U.S. 4x400-meter relay team is selected after the Trials and is stocked with athletes that perform well in Sacramento. Because of preliminary rounds, countries are allowed to send a pool of athletes for the relay.\n"From my understanding, the coaches will take the top 12 to Europe," Neville said. "They will make cuts for the team based on two meets run there before the Olympics."\nIn a world filled with spoiled stars and pitiful role models, Neville is a prototype for the right way to do things. Majoring in percussion while he's not ripping around the track, Neville has been a coach's dream.\n"He had a tremendous outdoor season and represented Indiana very well at NCAA's." said IU sprint coach Ed Beathea.\nNeville has barely even scratched the surface of his vast talent. He was a double champion at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, running IU's second-fastest all-time 400-meters en route to disposing of World Championships 4x400-meter relay gold medalists Mitch Potter and Adam Steele of Minnesota. He also contributed the 400 leg to IU's school record Distance Medley Relay indoors.\n"David Neville is going to be ridiculously fast," IU coach Randy Heisler said. "Every time he's on the track you just have to watch because you never know what he might do."\nThis sentiment is mirrored by IU's other All-Americans, including NCAA Indoor mile champion Sean Jefferson, who has big plans for future IU track squads.\n"With Neville scoring points in the sprints," sophomore teammate Jefferson said, "we have a chance at winning NCAA's, especially indoors."\nDespite his phenomenal success, Neville makes sure to keep his burgeoning athletic career in perspective.\n"I look to my father for support and guidance, and in my running career I count on God as my biggest supporter," Neville said. "If I'm ever down on myself, I know that I just have to put it into God's hands and he will take care of it."\n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.