Alvin Harrison

Track and Field

A year ago, Alvin Harrison didn’t belong on the same track with Michael Johnson. And the Olympics? They weren’t even a dream. He was the slower of the quarter-milers in the family, second to his twin, Calvin.

But more important than that, much more, was the simple fact that life as Harrison knew it was a struggle.

At this time last summer, home for the twins was a black 1987 Mustang. Alvin slept in the back seat, with Calvin in the front. They ate burgers and crackers. They took showers at friends’ places.

Now, Harrison has a legitimate shot at an Olympic medal. He clocked a personal-best 44.09 seconds in the 400 meters at the Olympic Trials last month and is the No. 3 American runner behind Johnson and world record-holder Butch Reynolds.

The hard-luck times for the Harrisons began early in life. They were raised in a drug-ridden section of Orlando before moving to northern California. Their parents split up when the twins were juniors in high school, and they’ve been on their own since.

Alvin reaching this point was an overdue highlight for the family.

“It was like I broke the chain,” he said. “Everyone in my family - aunts, uncles, everyone - tried to do something big like this, but they didn’t make it all the way.”