On Monday, Jan. 14, track and field head coach Ralph Spry watched senior sprinter Harry Adams warm up with a relaxed 200 meter run.
Spry gushed about Adams' speed and running style as Adams rounded the turn headed for the straightaway.
Adams' fist went in the air, signaling he had crossed the finish line and Spry displayed the time on his stopwatch: 21.44 seconds.
Not bad for a warm-up.
"Did that feel good, Harry?" Spry shouted down the track.
Adams gave a thumbs up in response.
This season, Adams has a lot to feel good about.
The senior sprinter was named to the Bowerman Award Watch List, the "Heisman Trophy of track and field," according to Spry.
Adams is also the only sprinter and one of only two SEC athletes on the list along with Florida's junior triple-jumper Omar Craddock.
Last year, Adams' All-American 2012 season ended with a knee injury at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, an injury that perhaps cost the men's team the title, according to Spry.
Adams was named All-American in the 100m, 200m and 4x400m relay and posted NCAA-best times in the 100m (9.96 seconds) and 200m (20.10 seconds).
With the injury, the Auburn men were forced to play final day replacements in the 200m and the 4x100 relay and finished No. 6 overall, the team's best finish since 2008.
This season, Adams has one last shot to help his team to a title.
Adams could not be reached for comment, but Spry said the team has what it takes to do what it couldn't last season.
"The group I've got this year, I feel very confident, particularly on the men's side, that we can be a real force, but again we have to take care of things like staying healthy," Spry said.
Adams ran for the first time this season Saturday, Jan. 19, finishing second to teammate Marcus Rowland in the 60m (6.63 seconds) with a time of 6.64 seconds.
Besides his blistering speed, Rowland said Adams and the rest of the veterans provide the Tigers with that much more leadership and experience.
"I think me and Harry (Adams) and Keenan (Brock) and Jeremy (Hardy) show a good example of leadership and when to get work done," Rowland said.
Spry said the team should know "who's clicking and who's not" by the third or fourth week of the season.
The Tigers will compete at their third meet of the season Friday, Feb. 1-2 at the University of Nebraska Husker Invitational.
With Adams already vying for the top spot in his first race of 2013, it seems the senior hasn't missed a stride.
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