All-American athletes usually go on to pursue bigger and better things in the sport they represent after graduation.
Football stars make a name for themselves in the National Football League, basketball phenoms take their talent to the National Basketball Association, etc. But unless a track and field athlete possesses enough ability to represent his or her country in the Olympics, many people may not get a chance to see the former collegiate star.
Athletes like former Tiger great Alleyne Francique — 400-meter dash — continue to show college crowds their abilities as unattached competitors in collegiate meets. Although they do not represent a school in competition, they represent themselves, separate from any university or other entity.
“In a collegiate competition where you’re not keeping score, unattached athletes are able to compete,” said LSU track and field coach Pat Henry. ” There are some agreements between the Olympic committees and the NCAA which allow some things to happen in our sport a little bit differently from others.”
There are collegiate track and field meets all across the country nearly every week that do not keep score, and unattached athletes travel across the country to compete.
Francique last competed in the Purple Tiger Invitational Saturday at LSU’s Carl Maddox Field House. He was a member of a 4×400-meter relay team with two other former Tigers, including last season’s standout Leuroy Colquhoun and a former Baylor sprinter.
Francique represents Nike in professional meets around the world and won the gold medal in last year’s International Association of Athletics Federation World Cup in Madrid, Spain.
“An unattached athlete may be a professional,” Henry said. “They’re trying to make an Olympic team, and they’re trying to make a living.”
Francique said the main purpose for competing as an unattached athlete in a collegiate meet is to continue training for the professional circuit as well as the Olympics.
“We don’t run for LSU anymore, but we just decide to train and have fun,” Francique said. “It’s all in good fun, and to come back and perform for your home crowd again is really nice.”
More than 40 unattached athletes were present Saturday at the Purple Tiger Invitational, training for professional meets and a chance for the Olympics.