Aulton Kohn knows that a runner should change his running shoes every three to five months. But the Syracuse senior is still running in a pair of holey, four-year-old, Maurice Green Adidas Demolisher track spikes. He just can’t bear to part with the shoes he has been wearing since his freshman year at Syracuse, and it’s really hard to blame him.

Kohn has won two Big East Championships in the 60-meter dash and two IC4A Championships in the 55-meter dash. He will wear those shoes again tonight when he competes at Madison Square Garden, where he is seeded second in the 60-meter dash at the 100th Millrose Games.

Assistant SU track coach Dave Hegland said Maurice Green will be in the stands tonight as Kohn approaches the line for his race. However, Kohn isn’t focused on the crowd, or his shoes, but the race. The Beaufort, S.C., native will be one of six men competing in the 60-meter dash at the meet that showcases some of the best talent in track and field.

‘I have a win on my mind,’ Kohn said. ‘However, winning isn’t everything right now. I just want to go out and have a good time because it is such an honor to be invited. I just want this to help me get ready for the Big East Championships.’

Kohn injured his groin a few weeks ago but competed this past weekend at the Penn State National Open. He placed second in the 60-meter dash behind teammate Michael LeBlanc.

‘The Penn State meet was a tuneup for Aulton,’ Hegland said. ‘He has been training hard and is ready to go.’

The men’s 60-meter dash begins at 8:50 p.m. Kohn traveled without his teammates – who are at home for the Syracuse Invitational – but he will have the company of those familiar shoes that could make him a Millrose Games champion.

‘I had a lot of rust going into last week’s meet,’ Kohn said. ‘My body may not be at 100 percent right now, but I feel like and think like I’m at a 100 percent.’

Published on February 1, 2007 at 12:00 pm