By Kent Yamada in Tokyo
As we enter the second week of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, all attention turns to athletics and the grandest of all races, the 100 meter sprint. The heats began Saturday, with American Samoa represented by sprinter Nathan Ikon Crumpton.
Under the full glare of the summer sun and into a slight headwind, Crumpton ran a time of 11.27 in Tokyo’s grand, newly built National Stadium.
It was a personal best for him at an IAAF certified race and the second fastest 100 meter time run by an American Samoan athlete at an Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Crumpton wasn’t able to qualify for the next round of races.
“The race was one heck of an experience.” said Crumpton after his race. “The result was a little underwhelming, but I’m not beating myself up over it. This isn’t my main sport and it’s all about the experience. And to compete in a marquee Olympic event with so much history and fanfare behind it is a dream come true.”
Crumpton, who also represents American Samoa in the skeleton at the Winter Olympics, was selected to run for American Samoa in May, beating his next best competitor by eight-hundredths of a second. He will spend the next few months busily preparing for the winter skeleton season and the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.
“I’m going to take a day or two to relax, then it’s back to a full plate of work,” said Crumpton. “I’ve got to finish this book I’ve been working on and finally get it to market, and I’ve got to start planning for the winter skeleton season. I’m due in Beijing in October and then a full season of racing to try and qualify for the Winter Games by January 16th. Busy times ahead!”
Crumpton’s book, “Alpha Status: A Non-fiction Novel” will be released in the coming few months.
