Sprint Champ TCU’s Charles Silmon goes pro, plans busy summer

“Coming into the season, I expected to win Nationals that was my main goal and my main focus, so accomplishing that was great.  It was a week by week process… I just wanted to win national and that was a big thing,” said Charles Silmon, a senior at Texas Christian University (TCU), who won the men’s NCAA outdoor 100m title in Eugene, Oregon last weekend (June 7). Charles won the 100m title in a sizzling time of 9.89 seconds (+3.2 m/s). Charles has recently signed a professional contract with agent John Regis of Stellar Athletics. Despite his recent success Charles is not resting on his laurels but is planning a busy summer that will take him to Kazan, Russia for the World University Games with the ultimate destination Moscow, Russia for the World Championship. TrackLedger.com spoke to Charles about winning the NCAA 100m title, going pro and his summer plans.  Motivated by failure The 22-year-old Charles who has a personal best 10.03 seconds in the 100m and 20.23 seconds in the 200m attributed his success this season to the failure he experienced last season. “I was inspired to do well this year because last year at the US Olympic Trials I came up short in the semi-finals… I now felt I could have competed with those guys... but my mind frame going in was not right,” said Charles who admits that he was somewhat unsure of himself going up against the big name track athletes [Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Ryan Bailey]. Having failed to make the 2012 USA Olympic team, a driven Charles said that he was determined to win nationals [NCAA] this year. “I started working harder and I started getting stronger and faster, I have never really worked this hard before since I’ve been running track. I’m  now stronger and faster so now I just keep working,” said a re-dedicated Charles. Great support system Charles attributed his success this season to the TCU coaching staff as well as his mom and aunt who all believed in him and who are 100% behind him. “The coaching staff [TCU] has always supported me 100%, they believe in me and they always say that I could win nationals… that this year was my year, so I took it all in and continue to work hard and came out victorious,” said Charles. Charles was also quick to point out the impact of his family on his success particularly his mother and his aunt. “My mom and aunt support me 100%, they came down to watch me  run my last collegiate race [Eugene],  and I just felt like everything that I did was for them, they push me and guide me on the field and off the field,” Charles said with pride. On signing pro contract Having recently signed his first pro contract with Stellar Athletics, an excited but reflective Charles said “It makes me feel good…it’s like a dream come true, especially signing a contract in track… I love it [experience] and I feel like I am blessed, I just have to work hard, try to be the best but I also have to stay humble,” Charles is aware of the unique opportunity afforded him to compete professional in track and field and is planning on talking full advantage. “I am blessed to get a contract, not many people out there are able to get a contract. I am happy that I was able to run fast to get a contract… there is more to see out of me,” he said. Busy summer planned Up next for Charles is the 2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, on the campus of Drake University, which is schedule for next week, June 20-23. Making the team is paramount to Charles. “I have to be ready going into the Trials; I can’t go in feeling defeated or let my opponents know that I am defeated... I just have to get ready for whatever comes my way.” Charles has already made the USA World University team and will be competing at the World University Games from July 6 – 17 in Kazan, Russia A successful run at the USA Trials may see Charles going up against the world’s best at the World Championship in Moscow.     Like us on  Facebook Follow us on Twitter