US sprinter Patton quits
PARIS, France (AFP) — US sprinter Darvis Patton, twice a 4x100m relay world champion, announced his retirement from the track yesterday after a 13-year career at the top level.
In a statement on his website, the 35-year-old said: “I’m used to sprinting, so I’ll keep this one short.
“After 13 years on the track, I’m taking my spikes off. It’s time to shut it down.”
Patton, who will turn 36 on December 4, was part of the USA team that won sprint relay gold at the Paris World Championships in 2003 and in Osaka in 2007.
He was also a replacement in the teams that won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and at the 2012 London Games.
“I can’t say that my last year on the circuit played out the way I wanted it to, but I am proud of my journey,” he said.
“My career has given me the opportunity to see the world, meet some cool folks and do what I love in the process.”
Patton’s best time in 2013 of 10.07sec was some way shy of his personal best of 9.89, recorded in 2008.