A family of four tends to have its fair share of good times and bad times, and for the LSU track and field men’s 4×400-meter relay team, it’s no different.
The team, comprised of sophomores Darrell Bush and Cyril Grayson and juniors Quincy Downing and Vernon Norwood, had high expectations for itself heading into the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships a month ago.
After finishing third place behind Florida and Texas A&M in the SEC indoor finale, the team’s goal of winning a National Championship became much more important.
“We’re all tough competitors,” Downing said. “No one likes losing.”
Two weeks later, the LSU squad lined up alongside Florida and Texas A&M in the final race of the 2014 indoor season and the final heat of the 4×400 event at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
This time, the Tigers took home the hardware.
LSU’s 4×400-relay team captured its first National Indoor Title since 2006 with a time of 3:04.10, in large part due to Bush’s first leg of 46.46 seconds.
Bush took the lead at the start, and the Tigers never looked back. Bush’s performance came after learning about the sudden passing of his grandmother, Donna Roots, that same morning.
“It was an emotional meet,” Bush said. “[My trophy]’s at my grandmom’s house.”
LSU’s race in Albuquerque, N.M., marked the program’s fourth NCAA Indoor crown in the 4×400. LSU fans were able to witness 2014’s winning team at Saturday’s Battle on the Bayou for the first time since the championship  — a chance for Baton Rouge to meet the family of four.
“For the most part, we got along like we’re family,” Norwood said. “We fuss, we fight but the main thing is we work hard on the track every day. We push each other to the best of our abilities to make sure no one else on the track is outworking us.”
The 4×400 guys laugh in unison when asked about their differing personalities. On the track, each member is the same. While they may have different running styles, their effort and desire to achieve is constant.
But off the track, Grayson said the Tigers couldn’t be more different. Always clowning around, the four share a closeness that translates to success on the track.
“I think the reason why we run so well is because we’re all close and we trust each other,” Bush said. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Knowing each other’s running styles has proved beneficial for the Tigers. Each relay member has a distinctive character who when cast together produces a championship team.
Kickstarting the race in the first leg is Bush, the sprinter. Downing follows, using his stamina to keep the Tigers in it. Grayson takes the baton in the third leg, maintaining control of the race with his poise. In the anchor spot is Norwood, the distributor. He kicks into another gear, carrying the momentum from the three before him across the finish line for LSU.
With the combination of one another’s strengths, the 4×400 team members said they are primed to attach an NCAA Outdoor Championship to their names. The band of brothers are ready for the challenge, taking steps toward that goal every day.
“We all motivate each other,” Downing said. “We train all year to capture that championship. We come out, practice every day, come to every meet just preparing ourselves for that one moment in the NCAA championships to be crowned champions.”
“We fuss, we fight but the main thing is we work hard on the track every day.”