Mixed in with the competition, every major championship has its share of stories running in the background. Every event has its share of back stories – athletes looking to over come odds, rebound from adversity, emerge in their event, or simply trying to make their mark. Berlin will be no exception. Following are ten US stories that I think will shape events in Berlin. 10. Jeremy Wariner – THE top quarter miler this decade, Wariner found himself #2 in 2008 after leading the way and winning everything in sight from 2004 thru 2007. Many attributed Wariner’s “decline” last year to a highly publicized break from coach Clyde Hart. A break…

The most glamorous event on the World Championships stage just might be the Men’s 100 meters. Along with winning the gold medal comes the coveted title of “The World’s Fastest Human”. 100 meter champions often become the “rock stars” of the sport and household names. Jesse Owens, Jim Hines, Valeri Borzov, Carl Lewis, Maurice Greene, Tyson Gay, and Usain Bolt all became household names via championship victories in the 100 meters. But while the gold medalists of this most prestigious event have gone on to fame and fortune, the silver medalists have not been nearly as fortunate. Instead of being the launching pad to the top of the podium, 2nd…

As we head to Berlin I am reminded that earlier this year USATF CEO Doug Logan set a goal of 30 medals in London. This after our 24 medal showing in Beijing. Ever since that goal was set I’ve been asking myself, and others, if that is a realistic goal? When looking at our teams on average it’s clear that, in spite of what were characterized as “down” performances in Beijing, the sprints and hurdles routinely carry the day when it comes to winning medals in major championships. On average we can count on at least one medal in the 100, 200, 400, short hurdles, 400 hurdles, and both relays…

With two weeks until Worlds and no other meets to look forward to, my mind is now fixated on the World Championships and Berlin. The World Championships have been a staple in Europe since its’ inception in 1983. So far eleven renditions of the meet have been held and all but three of those have been on the European continent – the other three were held in Japan (twice) and Canada. The thing that I find most interesting is that not once has the event been hosted by the United States. In the twenty six years that the World Championships have been in existence the US has hosted two Olympic…

Stockholm closed out the first half of the European Circuit in fine style. Several potential medal contenders competed and gave us some indication of how they might perform in Berlin. Among them: Jeremy Wariner (US), 400 meters. Wariner won handily in Stockholm. But the time (44.83) and the manner in which he won the race (laid back and kicking in the end) didn’t give me pause to believe he can beat Lashawn Merritt. Allyson Felix (US), 200 meters. Felix gave the kind of performance we saw from her when she won World gold in 2005 and 2007. Fast on the turn, she lead into the straight and easily outdistanced the…

The athletes get their final big tune up for Berlin tomorrow in Stockholm. Being the final stop we get a chance to see several potential medalists in their final races before worlds. Among them the most intriguing match up on the day should be in the Men’s 100, where world leader Tyson Gay (US) meets up against former WR holder Asafa Powell (JAM). An interesting race for both men as Gay will want to show his fitness following the announcement of groin trouble that will require surgery at year’s end. For Powell, he neeeds to show that he is a contender along with Gay and Bolt, having been beaten soundly…

It’s been a while since we’ve headed towards a Major and I’ve felt we had a real shot at a medal in the middle distances on the women’s side. Not since Jearl Miles Clark in the 800 in the late 90’s and Suzy Favor Hamilton in the 1500 at the start of this decade have we really had the talent to make an impact internationally. That’s changed in a big way in 2009! We got our first glimpse at the Prefontaine Classic where Jenny Barringer just missed victory by.01 while breaking the 4 minute barrier in the 1500 (3:59.90). Behind her we also saw outstanding runs by Anna Willard (4:01.44)…

With the sports’ big headline makers this season – Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt – taking a break today, one would have thought that the Monaco Grand Prix would be a bit lackluster. Nothing could have been further from the truth! Today’s meet may have been the most overall exciting to date – as it should have been with the World Championships just a few weeks away. In a meet filled with highlights, I have to say that for me the most exciting was Maggie Vessey’s (US) 800 meter victory. Vessey has been teasing with the 2:00 barrier all season with tactics reminiscent of ’72 Olympic champion Dave Wottel –…

Only two big meets left to the end of July and the two week break before the World Championships. Monaco will be the penultimate stop on the road to Worlds, and presents several interesting events. The men’s 100 will be without Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay for the first time in weeks. 200 man Wallace (US) is entered however, and will get to test his speed against Beijing finalists Churandy Martina (AHO) and Darvis Patton (US). A good move since Spearmon will need to get out well to have any shot at Bolt and Gay in the 200 in Berlin. In the men’s 400 this year’s find, David Gillick (IRL)…

As Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay traded eye dropping races this weekend in London in preparation for their impending showdown in Berlin, the sport once again finds itself once again dealing with the news of multiple doping offenses coming out of the sprint community. This time, the news comes not out of the United States – which has gotten more than one black eye this decade via doping scandals – but out of Jamaica, the home of multiple WR breaker Asafa Powell and the sports newest wunderkind double Olympic champion Usain Bolt. The names of the athletes were reported via an Italian Newspaper this weekend: Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Sheri-Ann…