By Jim Irish
Courtesy photo
Brice Chabot did not step to the starting line of the 200-meter dash heat at the Olympic trials last Thursday.
Chabot, a 2021 Smithville High School alumnus, was scratched from the event by the University of Texas at San Antonio for which he competed.
When he arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last Tuesday, he discovered that he was not booked on the flight to Eugene, Ore. Not only that, his hotel reservation was cancelled.
"(It was) very disheartening, but I'm keeping my faith high in the Lord, understanding nothing happens by accident. It's all for a reason, whether good or bad."
-- Brice Chabot after being scratched at the Olympic trials
Chabot contacted UTSA associate head coach Kareem Streete at the airport. Streete told him that he knew nothing about it, leading Chabot to believe that director of track Aaron Fox scratched him from the trials.
“(It was) very disheartening, but I’m keeping my faith high in the Lord, understanding nothing happens by accident,” Chabot said about not competing at the Olympic trials. “It’s all for a reason, whether good or bad.”
When Chabot entered the transfer portal on June 12, he essentially disassociated himself from the UTSA track program.
“I was representing UTSA in the uniform,” Chabot said. “Since I left, they said, ‘(Competing at Olympic trials) is not going to happen.' ”
Chabot had qualified for the trials in the 200 by running under the minimum standard of 20.6 seconds. In a time trial at Bastrop's Erhard Stadium on June 15, Chabot said he was timed in 20.25.
"I promise I was going to hit that 20.2 (at the trials)," Chabot said.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Chabot has visits to the University of Texas and the University of Houston this week and will make a decision before the end of the week. He prefers Houston to take advantage of the sprint knowledge of head coach Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist.
”I know my journey, where I’m gonna end up,” he said. “It’s gonna be a great experience. I’ll be the best I’ve ever been."
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas
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