For most of the World Championships’ quarter century run, the “metric mile” (1500 meters) has seen some truly elite “super” milers rule. The first edition in 1983 was won by Steve Cram (GBR) over an all star field that included Steve Scott (USA), Said Aouita (MOR), and Steve Ovett (GBR) – almost as a prelude to his WR in ‘85. 1991 saw Noureddine Morceli (ALG) win as a preface to his own WR in ‘92, before going on to win again in ‘95 – as well as set another WR in ‘95. In ‘97 the mantle was passed to Hicham El Guerrouj (MOR) who repeated in ‘99, ‘01, and ‘03…

Sounds like directions in a math class, but I’m actually talking about the 400 meters and the World Championships. Since the beginning of the World Championships in 1983, the men’s 400 has seen some very dominant athletes. From initial champion Bert Cameron; through Michael Johnson’s reign from 1993 thru 1999; and the dual reign of Jeremy Wariner & Lashawn Merritt from 2005 thru 2009 this has been an event with little to wonder about as far as who would be standing on the podium. Except in years ending in the number “1”! Because. for some reason, “1” is not only the loneliest number, it also seems to signify a changing…

Last year Allyson Felix was undefeated – in two events! She won the Diamond League series in both the 200 and 400 meters – setting herself up for a potential run at a double in 2011. Since the end of 2010 the most oft question asked of Ms. Felix has been: are you going to double in Daegu? Of course, Felix has been playing it close to the vest and has not yet committed to whether she will attempt to double or not. But she does have the opportunity to do so as she won the 400 at the U.S. Trials for Daegu, and has the bye in the 200…

Ten days after her surprising win in Lausanne, Morgan Uceny once again took to the track against a world class field. And just as in Eugene and Lausanne she came away with another victory. Actually the word victory doesn’t adequately describe the masterful piece of work that Uceny engineered on her way to once again dominating a class field as she is proving to be perhaps the best tactician in U.S. middle distance running today. Only Bernard Lagat shows the kind of skilled running tactics currently being displayed by Morgan. In Birmingham Uceny settled in over the first two laps and let the pace get established. Then on the third…

You know the Apollo Theatre in New York – where some of the best acts in the world go to test themselves on their way to the big time – and even after. That’s how I felt watching the stream of the Paris leg of the Diamond League. A lot of great talent, most of which I really liked with some expected crowd pleasers; some unexpected talent; and an act that I wanted to have taken off the stage.  The act that I wanted taken off the stage came in the men’s 400. Who would ever have thought to see Jeremy Wariner’s name listed in FOURTH place in a 400…

At the beginning of this track season the most anticipated race in Daegu was the men’s 100 meters featuring Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt – the two fastest men in history. Their showdown was to be THE story of the year. Unfortunately that story will never make it to press, because the new story of the year is the end of Gay’s season to injury and the surgeon’s scalpel. Ah, but that is not the end of the stories yet to be spun in this high profile event. You see the men’s 100 almost always is full of narratives and backstories. Injuries such as Tyson Gay’s are usually the most…

The countdown to Daegu is on and for the next several weeks each meet, each performance, will be scrutinized for clues to what may happen at the big event. The Paris Diamond League meet tomorrow will certainly provide an opportunity to begin to put things into focus, as it is loaded with potential medalists. Having recently put together my list of potential U.S. medalists I will be looking very closely at events that will have an effect on our medal hopes at Worlds. Here are some events that I will watching closely in Paris.   Men’s 200 There has been much talk about Usain Bolt’s level of fitness this year…

It’s hard to talk about Tyson Gay without having the U.S. 4×1 being brought up. After all, Tyson has been involved in the most successful unit’s we’ve put on the track for the better part of the last half decade. So, between talking about Tyson and with Worlds less than two months away, it seems an appropriate time to discuss our potential relay fortunes in Daegu. So I will take this opportunity to give my two cents on personnel and how I see us fairing at Worlds in the four relay events.   Men’s 4×1 Here is where the impact of the loss of Tyson Gay will be felt. Having…

Since June 24th, the question that I have been asked the most is: what do you think is going to happen with Tyson Gay? Because June 24th was the day that Tyson pulled out of U.S. Nationals due to injury. It’s not the first time an athlete has pulled out of a meet because of injury, but I can’t remember when a “DNS” has caused such a stir. Not even when it was announced that Michael Johnson wasn’t going to be competing at the ‘97 Nationals was there this much interest. And Johnson’s withdrawal was on the heels of the ‘96 Olympics where Johnson won the 200/400 double – the…

With the team selected for Daegu, it’s time to start looking at where our medals our. So following is my first Medal Watch List of 2011. My final list of 2010 can be found here for comparison. As you can see the list has already undergone some major renovation since the end of the 2010 season, and with nearly two months to go until Daegu I’m sure there will be more changes. As always the list is composed of those individuals that I feel have the potential to step onto the medal stand at the World Championships. As we know, however, much happens during a meet as intense as Worlds.…