Darvis Patton
Olympic Games: 2004 in Athens,
Medals won: Silver in the 4×100 men’s relay
On a windy Sunday in June, the world watched Arkansas sprinter Tyson Gay become the fastest man to ever run a 100-meter race.
And just .14 seconds behind him, Lake Highlands graduate Darvis “Doc” Patton shot across the finish line, beating his own “personal best” time and earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic team alongside Gay and Walter Dix.
It’s a far cry from what might have been for Patton. Were it not for Lake Highlands track coach Buzz Andrews’ keen awareness and well-intentioned pestering, the Adidas-sponsored track star might not have even made it through high school.
“I’ve always known I was fast, but the first two years of high school, I was ineligible for sports due to grades.” But early during his junior year, Patton says, Andrews spotted him. “Buzz was like, ‘Uh uh. You are not going to fail anymore.’”
Under Andrew’s auspices, Patton hunkered down in school and then became one of the best long and triple jump competitors in the district. Patton wasn’t thrilled with his senior-year performance, but he still earned a scholarship to Garden City Community College in Kansas. Though he’d come a long way in the several years, he wasn’t happy about where he’d landed.
“I hated it there, big time,” Patton says, laughingly. But back then, he wasn’t laughing. “It was just a real culture shock. No fun.”
At Garden City, Patton was relegated to jumping, but his heart was set on running. When it was time to return for a second year, he nearly didn’t go.
Mainly because he wanted to make his mom happy, Patton entered his sophomore year with a renewed determination. First, he pleaded successfully with the athletics coach for a spot on the 4×100-meter relay team. And then he used his situational discontent as performance fuel.
“Getting out [of Garden City] became my motivation. I was going to be so strong and so fast that every college around would want me.”
It worked. Patton wound up with a “mailbox full of letters” from universities offering him a ride, including University of Alabama, University of Florida, University of Arkansas and University of Houston. He ultimately chose Texas Christian University “because it was close to home.” And then he was on the fast track to top tier competition.
Patton has won three World Championship medals. In Athens, 2004, Patton and the rest of the 4×100 relay team brought home the Olympic silver medal. It took some time for it to all sink in.
“All those fans were hollering and screaming, and I thought to myself, ‘I am actually here. I am actually competing in the Olympics.’ It was amazing.”
He will feel the thrill of Olympic competition again this month. At 30, the charismatic athlete isn’t even close to being finished. He’s getting faster every day and says training with guys such as