Spring Break
Foundation for success
Dykes, Oliver anchor A&M men's relay teams
By: Patrick Hayslip
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
"In high school my top choices were Tennessee and LSU," Oliver said. "When I got a phone call from A&M and I realized who the coaches were here, it's like I'm kind of getting the best of both worlds. I'm getting all that stuff from LSU and all that stuff from Tennessee coming together."
Oliver was ranked No. 2 in the country his senior year and had several schools to choose from. Dykes was mostly recruited by Big 12 schools.
"[Assistant Coach Vince] Anderson called me one night and asked me if I was interested in coming here on a visit," Dykes said. "And once I heard who the coaches were I was ready to sign then."
Oliver and Dykes spend much of their time together as a part of the men's sprint group and have developed a strong friendship.
"Our whole sprint group is pretty close because we are always sitting together all the time and cracking jokes and everything so we are all pretty comfortable and close with each other," Dykes said. "We can depend on each other. If I get in trouble I can call Gerald Phiri and Oliver late at night and tell them that my car broke down, they will come. We have that kind of friendship."
The pair is on the eve of graduating and plan on running professionally.
Oliver, an environmental studies major, said he is hoping to go to graduate school but will pursue track if it's his calling. His dream is to represent the U.S. on the national track team at the Olympics.
Dykes, an agricultural development major, said graduate school is a possibility and might be another way to continue running.
Whether or not Oliver and Dykes will cross paths in their professional careers is still in question, but their four years here at A&M have done much for the program and they still have races to run wearing the same uniform.
Oliver was ranked No. 2 in the country his senior year and had several schools to choose from. Dykes was mostly recruited by Big 12 schools.
"[Assistant Coach Vince] Anderson called me one night and asked me if I was interested in coming here on a visit," Dykes said. "And once I heard who the coaches were I was ready to sign then."
Oliver and Dykes spend much of their time together as a part of the men's sprint group and have developed a strong friendship.
"Our whole sprint group is pretty close because we are always sitting together all the time and cracking jokes and everything so we are all pretty comfortable and close with each other," Dykes said. "We can depend on each other. If I get in trouble I can call Gerald Phiri and Oliver late at night and tell them that my car broke down, they will come. We have that kind of friendship."
The pair is on the eve of graduating and plan on running professionally.
Oliver, an environmental studies major, said he is hoping to go to graduate school but will pursue track if it's his calling. His dream is to represent the U.S. on the national track team at the Olympics.
Dykes, an agricultural development major, said graduate school is a possibility and might be another way to continue running.
Whether or not Oliver and Dykes will cross paths in their professional careers is still in question, but their four years here at A&M have done much for the program and they still have races to run wearing the same uniform.
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