Eric Mitchum has an eye for detail. Before every race, the sophomore focuses on many of the intricacies that come with being a successful hurdler. Mitchum knows he must regulate his arm speed and foot work and use proper body lean when vaulting over hurdles if he’s going to be competitive.
Once the starting gun fires, however, Mitchum explodes off the line and heads toward the first hurdle when suddenly everything becomes a bit fuzzy.
“It’s kind of a blur,” Mitchum said. “I remember parts of a race but not the whole thing. I always remember the first hurdle and that’s about it. After that, it’s all in parts.”
Judging by Mitchum’s performance this year, clarity between the first hurdle and the finish line must be unnecessary. The Calumet City, Ill., native garnered All-American status in the 110-meter hurdles during the indoor season, and he set an Oregon record Sunday with a time of 13.53 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
It has been Mitchum’s hard work and attention to detail that has earned him a spot among the top collegiate hurdlers in the country, along with the respect of Oregon sprints coach Dan Steele.
“Hurdling is one of the most technical events on the track,” Steele said. “You have to combine tremendous coordination with raw foot speed. Eric really wants to be a great hurdler. He’s asking questions every day and you can’t give him enough information.”
Four years ago the idea of hurdling had yet to cross Mitchum’s mind. The 6-foot-2 speedster had grown up as a basketball-loving small forward. He started competing in track and field as a freshman at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago as a way to stay in shape for basketball season. While the trend continued into his sophomore year, an afternoon of fun and games would change the direction of Mitchum’s life in athletics.
Mt. Carmel hurdlers were relegated to practicing indoors because the school didn’t have its own track. One day after classes, Mitchum came across some friends who were taking part in hurdling practice at school. Mitchum decided to give the hurdles a shot and impressed his coach, Jim Weber.
“Hurdling was a big accident,” Mitchum said. “My friends were hurdlers and we practiced on the second floor of the school. Here I am screwing around with them one day and the coach made me a hurdler.”
Getting the necessary practice repetitions was difficult for Mitchum, though, because the school lacked more than just a track.
“My junior year we had one hurdle and my senior year we had three,” Mitchum said with a smile. “You can (get work done), but it takes a long time.”
As he improved, Mitchum remained a relative unknown, and Oregon was one of the few schools that showed interest.
After seeing Mitchum perform in the Illinois state high school meet his senior year, Duck coaches were convinced he had the talent to hurdle at the Division I level. So far, Mitchum’s done nothing to prove Oregon wrong. Along with Sunday’s record, the sophomore ran a wind-aided 13.50 at the Texas Relays earlier this month, which is the second-fastest time in the country behind Florida’s Josh Walker (13.47).
Off the track, Mitchum’s transition to small-town life in Eugene was easier than he expected. Friendships with Brandon Holliday, Roderick Dotts and Kedar Inico have helped the sophomore get over the lack of quality clubs, malls and parties in Tracktown, USA.
Mitchum also grew close with fellow sprinter Travis Anderson. The two have lived together since arriving at Oregon and never fail to have a good time.
“We roughhouse a lot,” Anderson said. “I don’t know why, but we do.”
The usual result?
“Eric always wins,” Anderson said. “He just squeezes me to death.”
Most of Mitchum’s time, however, is spent trying to get faster and stronger.
This weekend’s Oregon Invitational will present one of many chances the sophomore will have to entertain fans at Hayward Field during his time left in Eugene.
“Over the next two years, we’ll be able to improve his technique,” Steele said. “There’s very little that separates Eric from the great hurdlers.”