The Ballad of Henry Wynne

The Ballad of Henry Wynne

Turning up the heat at the Ed Murphey Classic

Words Jeff Merrill

Photos Nicky Atkins

The air in Memphis is thick. Like you can spread it on a cornmeal biscuit. It’s hot and sticky and hangs in place while the Mississippi currents roll by, churning up brown silt and kicking more moisture into the haze.

Memphis is known for it’s BBQ- ribs, pulled pork and brisket. Seems like the staple food should be a cucumber salad, but that wouldn’t be a good time now would it? Folks move slow and roll with the heat as a part of life, not letting it affect their desire for the rich and hearty.

Early in the day, Eric Avila paced Theo Quax to a 3:39 1500m in the B section. It was 95 degrees with 80% humidity. Heading into the A section, temps had cooled slightly but I turned to JJ and said I’d be impressed if anyone ran 3:36 in this. Either the concern or the reality of being overcooked would slow things.

Avila led through 400m in 57, then 800m in 1:55 before stepping off and urging John Reniewicki to keep the pace. The UA athlete held it before Waleed Suliman took over and pulled through 1200m in 2:53.

Down the back straight, Henry Wynne went to the front. The Beast had come 6th at the Trials. He didn’t hang his head. He looked playful and loose. There’s still a lot of season left and he wanted to take advantage of every crack. He wants to get into the big races.

Into the homestretch, a pack of 4 separated with Wynne at the front. In the final 30m, Wynne smiled, turned to his right and wagged his finger at his competitors, at the crowd, but mostly at those who might assume that his spirit would be crushed not making the team.

Crossing the line first in 3:33 and blasting champagne into his eyes was an act of jubilant defiance.

Any race, any setting, any crowd, no matter the size is an opportunity to perform. Touring the mid-tier cities of America and showing out is how you make it. 3:33.33 in the Memphis soup is worth something special in Monaco or Lausanne, but it is also mythical in Memphis. The Beast is eager for more, and he’ll get his chances, because he takes them and plays every hand he’s dealt, making a name for himself along the way. He’s coming into his own.

He can stand the heat.

3 for his third win in Memphis in 3 years…. in 3:33.33

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4 men ran 3:33 and 7 ran under 3:36. What impressed me most about Henry's run was just how happy he was to be at the race given the circumstances- the temperature, his result at the Trials, the modest setting of the race compared to a nearly packed Hayward Field. Anyone watching could see that he loves to play the game, no matter where it is. His mentality transformed the atmosphere into a lively setting- he made it an event. Henry is just one example, and there are other athletes who do the same, but his attitude will carry him to more great performances because he loves the process and the act of racing. He'll get to bigger meets, but he is also transforming the meets where he runs into mainstays, themselves. He's written a story for the Ed Murphey Classic, and now others want to come see where it all happened and write their own.

They'll get some world class hospitality from Eddie Murphey Jr. and Co. if they do. There are parties all weekend long and athletes are treated like royalty. Somehow the bar tab never runs up.