South Carolina's Demus ready for next step

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Former South Carolina track star Lashinda Demus doesn't stand for second at anything, so it's no surprise that even a second straight national title in the 400 hurdles - along with a $100,000 payday - didn't leave her satisfied.

Demus can't forget last August when she finished second to Russian world record holder Yuliya Pechonkina at the world championships. "I think I've got that in me," Demus said Tuesday.

Don't bet against her achieving it soon.

Demus, 23, ran her career best time to win the 400 hurdles in 53.07 seconds, the fastest time by an American in eight years. That success helped her win the bonus money, by far the biggest payout of her young track career.

"I felt good about myself coming in and was glad it came together for me," she said.

Demus has a few days to train at the university before leaving for the summer European track season. If Demus had her way, when she returned this fall, her event would get the same attention as hurdling great Edwin Moses brought to the men's 400 hurdles when he didn't lose in 122 races from 1977 to 1987.

"He was basically undefeated and I want to be like that," Demus said. "So the more I accomplish, the more I'm willing to work for it."

Still, like her races, she takes her career one hurdle at a time. Demus says she hasn't allowed herself to think of a rematch with Pechonkina at the worlds in 2007 or the chance to wipe away a sluggish performance in Athens two years ago at the Beijing Games two years from now.

"If you let yourself think about that, you lose what's in front of you," she said.

Demus was a freshman in 2002 when she helped the Gamecocks win the NCAA outdoor championships. Two years later, she held a large lead at the U.S. Olympic trials when she hit the ninth hurdle and held on for third and her first Olympics.

Demus was there working out and exploring Athens for about a month. For some reason, though, she couldn't find her stride and was fifth in the Olympic semis. "I really enjoyed myself there, I just didn't run very well," she said.

Soon after her return, Demus gave up her final year at South Carolina and signed with Nike. Suddenly, the camaraderie of college teammates became the solo pursuit of the top in foreign cities the Inglewood, Calif., native hadn't been to before.

Things Demus took for granted, like a friendly voice to answer questions or where to buy tuna fish, were more hurdles to clear cleanly. As Demus' comfort increased, she lowered her times and ended 2005 ranked second in the world.

"Now, I know all those answers I didn't before," she said.

Demus has the respect of competitors worldwide. It's back home that she finds things lacking. Americans typically flock to track and field each Olympiad and when that's finished, usually only plug into stars like Marion Jones and Michael Johnson.

That's why her $100,000 prize for taking the Outdoor Visa Championship is key to maintaining her training.

"Justin Gatlin doesn't have a problem" getting lucrative sponsorships, Demus says of the reigning Olympic 100-meter champion. "A lot of us do."

Demus was also named USA Track & Field athlete of the week Tuesday.

Demus does have some companionship on the circuit. She trains with ex-teammate Tiffany Ross-Williams and sees other South Carolina runners like Demetria Washington and Me'Lisa Barber at times in her travels.

While Demus knew as a child that hard work equaled success, it was only through coming up short on the world stage that cemented her dedication.

"I think I'm mature enough now to know that I should get out there and train," she said. "I look at it as a job so there's no, 'I'm not going to practice today' like I might have done in college. I know I have to go."