There were two ways to identify Yusuf Muhammad on Friday at the Tribune Invitational.
You could look for the first guy to cross the finish line of the 300-meter hurdles race, or just find the one wearing sunglasses at night.
No, Muhammad said, it wasn’t any sort of fashion statement.
“The whole thing with shades? It wasn’t even like a Jeremy Wariner-hype type deal,” said Muhammad of the Olympic sprinter who dons sunglasses as an accessory, even during nighttime races. “Actually, my sophomore year I came over the hurdles, and it was a little windy like it was today and my eyes started getting watery. I couldn’t really see. I almost got disqualified because my trail leg almost didn’t come over on the turns.
“I talked to my dad, and I brought up sunglasses. He said, ‘Go ahead and try them out.’ I got them, and they worked for me.”
Muhammad says he wears them every race, no matter where or when. He said they even help during his nighttime races.
“It really helps a lot with the focus factor,” Muhammad said. “Seeing some of the hurdles was a little bit difficult, but once I get up to it and see it, I’m just gone.”
