Andrews wins gold in 400 m and 800 m at world event

This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on July 27, 2002.

By JASON VETTER

LAND O' LAKES - To hear Dave Marsh speak of Danny Andrews is laughable, and Marsh knows it. ``His time in the 800 is certainly good, but I'm curious to find out what the conditions were,'' Marsh said of the 2:07.18 Andrews ran July 22. ``He could have run faster.''

That 2:07.18 earned Andrews the gold medal in the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in Lille, France. It broke his world record.

``It's kind of funny. The kid broke a world record and I'm saying he could have run faster,'' said Marsh, Andrews' coach.

Andrews, a Gulf High grad who runs with a prosthesis on his left leg, won the world championship in the 400 Thursday, when he beat current world record-holder Neil Fuller of Australia. Andrews also is competing in the 4x400 and 4x100 relays.

``I think he'll be more pleased by the 400 than the 800,'' Marsh said. ``He holds himself to such a high standard in the 800.''

Marsh has reached the point he has to remind himself Andrews is a special athlete.

The 20-year-old is the only known disabled athlete in the United States competing for a Division I track team (Miami). Andrews was featured on HBO's ``Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel'' in May.

``His success isn't that surprising, but it is still amazing,'' Marsh said. ``You just get used to him excelling.''