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Why the Decline?
Once upon a time, not that long ago, the US was a true power in the sport of track and field. By true power, I mean beyond just having many of the world’s best athletes. That is almost a right of birth – a conversation for another day. Not that long ago however, in addition to stellar athletes, we hosted some of the best track and field meets on the planet! Yes, that’s a true story. Probably hard to believe if you’re 35 and under, but actual track meets with fields as competitive as Prefontaine were actually quite common right here in the US. Invitational meets like Jenner, Jack in…
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Track & Field’s Most Exciting Event
Track and field is blessed to have some of the greatest athletes ever competing today. Nearly every event has individuals that are either in the top 3-5 all time in their event or are a world record threat! And that’s not counting the events where the present works record holder is competing! As a matter of fact, there are events where all of the aforementioned are currently competing! It’s a great time to be a fan of this sport from a purely competitive perspective. Ironically, the most exciting event is often treated as a “step child” by the sport. But then, many of the sports’ events are treated that way…
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Prediction – US 100, Women
Since I’ve put my neck out there on the men, I may as well give the women a shot. This will not be nearly as easy however, because it seems like every year the names change on the women’s lists here in the US. I can tell you right now who’ll be lining up for every other country that’s a major player in the sprints. But here at home, I’m literally going to be guessing to a large degree. Strange given that we’ve been solid since the 1960’s when it comes to the women’s sprints. Tyus, Morehead, Ashford, Torrence, Devers, and Jeter are just a few of the names of…
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First Prediction – US 100 Men
It’s the end of the year, and a stones throw to the US Trials. That, and the suspension of Coleman has everyone trying to figure out the men’s sprint squad. That’s not going to be easy, because not everyone competed in 2020. Those that did had an abbreviated season and right now everyone is training for 2021. So picking this team today is going to be tough. As a matter of fact, it’s probably easier to pick the Tokyo final knowing who most of the rest of the world will be sending to the Games. But who said it has to be easy? This is the fun part of being…
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Christian Coleman Suspended
If you know anything about track and field, you know that Christian Coleman has been suspended for his multiple whereabouts violations. A two year “time out” from the sport dating back to the first violation, which means he has zero shot at making the Tokyo Olympic team. No Trials, no Games. As a matter of fact he’ll barely be off probation before the trials for the next Worlds. Of course social media has gone crazy. “He’s being picked on”. “Others have gotten off”. Well, for what it’s worth, Christian got a pass in 2019, ran in Doha, and went out and missed another test – all before the end of…
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Who’s Fast?
So. One of the big stories of this past week of NFL football, was one football player running another one down in the open field. Immediately talk in the sports world went to how fast the guy was. World class speed. Potential Olympic champion, etc. Which, drove, track and field fans, bat shit crazy! Because WE know just how fast these guys, aren’t. Let’s back up a bit. In the beginning. No, not that far back. More like the 1960’s. Back when professional sports were really becoming integrated. A time when high school and college athletes competed in more than a single sport year round. Before “club sports” became popular.…
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Were Meets Necessary This Year?
I am a track and field junkie! It’s easily my favorite sport. So I’ve been pleased to have track back to watch. But everyone hasn’t been as excited. I’ve had some people ask me, “why are they running?”. The position being that, a) it’s not safe to be competing right now. and b) what we’ve been watching isn’t really track and field. At least some of the earlier competitions. Valid questions. Having gone through this truncated season, some things worked, and some things didn’t. But, in the long run, I personally think it was necessary. Should we have had meets? Actually a question that’s been asked by many is, should we…
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Let Them Speak
The Olympic Charter calls on the IOC “to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes”. This is the basis for “banning” athletes protests during the Olympics. I feel however, that using this statement as the reason to ban the peaceful protests of athletes is itself an abuse of words. I’ll tell you why.. The Olympic Games were created to serve as a gathering of nations in peaceful combat. Pierre de Coubertin envisioned peace through sport, when he resurrected the ancient Games and brought them forward into the then, New World. An event where nations and individuals could gather and fellowship together thru sport to create peace and…
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A Question of Whereabouts
My previous post focused on Noah Lyles and Michael Norman, two of America’s best young sprint stars. While they have had some nice performances early, they aren’t the only ones that have been lighting it up. Allyson Felix has defeated Shaunae Miller Uibo in a virtual 150; Ryan Crouser has become #4 all time in the shot put with a monster 22.19m (75’2“) heave; and Shelby Houlihan set an American record 14:23.92 over 5,000. Of course the sprinters have been having a great time as Sha’Carrie Richardson has run a windy 10.79 and Elaine Thompson a windy 10.73. With perhaps the biggest news being Trayvon Bromell turning a legal 9.90!…
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The World of Lyles and Norman
The US Olympic Trials of 2016 saw a pair of High School stars take to the track in an attempt to make the Olympic team. A pair of young men aiming to become the first US high school sprinters to make the team since Houston McTear, Dwayne Evans and Johnny Jones did so way back in 1976. Noah Lyles and Michael Norman gave it a good shot as they made the final of the 200 finishing just out of the medals in 4th & 5th at 20.09 and 20.14. Lyles’ mark a new HS record. Along the way they defeated the likes of Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin through the…