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USATF Match Ups
The NCAA’s are in the books, and it was exciting as usual. There’s something about the combination of great head to head match ups; team scoring; and relays that makes track and field everything it’s supposed to be. At its core; it’s why the Olympics are so exciting and well watched. Pay attention USATF and IAAF – especially Sebastian Coe. Next up will be a slew of National championships, headlined by USATF Nationals. The prelude to the upcoming World Championships in London. While there will be several exciting Championships – Kenyan mid distance, Jamaican sprints among others – the US Championships are exciting across the board. The next best thing…
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NCAA Championships
Championship season is my favorite time of year. The relay circuit is fun. The Diamond League gives us a glimpse of the world’s elite athletes. But in today’s track and field it’s Championships that gives us the head to head competition between the sports best athletes at every level! The NCAA’s are always the first of the "elite" championships each year. What makes this meet so exciting for me is the depth of competition; the exciting competition; and the emergence of the elite athletes as they prepare to "graduate" to compete against their elders. Once again, this meet meet those expectations. In spite of the weather/conditions in Eugene once again…
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Track at the Half
There has been SO much negative happening within the sport this winter and spring. It’s been akin to the rain here in California. In track we typically wish for more to be written – just as we here in Cali have wanted more rain. Yet here in California we were deluged with rain this spring to the point of near floods in some areas. Similarly in track, the news about drugs, suspensions, conspiracies, and leadership being involved negatively at the highest levels have given me pause to contemplate. So I’ve resisted the urge to speak my mind, as week after week negative news has abounded. Instead focusing on coaching, as…
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Track and Field Isn’t Broken, Management Is
Reading all the recent headlines about track and field, one has to ask: What’s wrong with the sport? I’ve asked myself that question several times. And after careful review I conclude that there’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with the sport of track and field – NOTHING! Track and Field, the sport I fell in love with at the age of ten, is perhaps the most exciting sport in the world. When you look at its various disciplines, it has perhaps the greatest assemblage of athletes in ANY sport. Speed demons. Strong, monstrous behemoths. Great leapers. Athletes with tremendous endurance. Athletes with various combinations of the above. There is no other sport…
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The Fall and Winter of Negativity
Rio was a letdown – and I LOVE me some track and field. But the Olympics are supposed to be the pinnacle of sport, and this one just didn’t have that feel! The men’s 400 final aside, the races were good, but lacked that "oomph" factor. It was the first Games I can remember where it was over and, well it was done – as in no one was talking about it anymore. So, started looking ahead, and wrote my piece on US sprinting prospects moving forward – and got excited about the sport again! I mean, we have some kids on the level of Chandra Cheeseboro, Houston Mc Tear,…
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Where is US Sprinting Headed?
The US scored a huge medal haul in Rio – something always expected, but not always materialized. The expectations are always there because of our purported sprint and hurdle prowess. I say purported because in Rio it was our middle and long distance crew that led the way, as our sprint and hurdle crew has gotten a bit long in the tooth. We scored some "speed" medals, but not the haul we accumulated a decade or more ago. Where we were once THE single dominant power in the speed events, the New Millennium has seen vast improvement from the Caribbean nations. In addition, more recently a resurgence from Africa, Canada,…
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USATF Athletes of the Year
Given the recent articles in the news regarding Max Siegel and his elaborate lifestyle while USATF stagnates, I’ve held off saying anything at all about US track – though I have written a few things that I will begin to post. Today after seeing the choices for male and female athlete of the year, I feel that I should speak my mind, and begin voicing my opinions again. Because clearly USATF lacks direction. First off, the athletes chosen, Michelle Carter (shot put) and Matt Centrowitz (1500) are fine athletes. I can honestly say that they are two of my favorite Americans. Carter has brought American female shot putting to global…
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Does Track and Field Need to Change?
Recently I saw an article asking whether or not we need to delete events from track and field – and if so which ones. The author said that we have to do this to increase the popularity of the sport. Among the reasons given was the attention span of the general public, and that meets are too long. An example that was given was the fact that track and field during the Olympics takes a little over a week to run! It’s not the first article I’ve seen on the subject – all with similar reasons given. They’re also the reason why some meets, like those in the Diamond League,…
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Nike Customer Service ReportÂ
Normally I don’t write about things not track related. But in many ways this is track related, so here goes. Recently I had to product “malfunctions” with two completely different outcomes/experiences. One was with my smart phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 5. The Note comes with a special stylus that is really the heart of the phone. My stylus broke. I did nothing out of the ordinary, it just snapped when I was taking it out of its slot on the phone. I called Samsung to see what their policy was. They logged in a claim; emailed me a pre paid shipping label; and told me to take it to…
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Post Rio Notes
The Rio Olympics are in the books. In spite of all the “worries” heading into the meet, it was the competition that ultimately (always does) stood out! Such is the nature of track and field – when we get our best together, the sport shines brightly. I’ve commented on most of the events during the course of the meet. Following are some additional “thoughts” on the competition as we head towards the completion of the season. US medal count The United States brought home 32 medals! Yes, we’ve won more – 35 back in 1932. But that was back when the entire world, specifically the African nations, did not compete.…
