Talking with a neighbor who is a fan, but not an “uber” fan, of the sport after this weekend’s U.S. Open, I was asked “what’s wrong with the U.S. sprinters?” When I asked what he meant, he basically said that we didn’t win either sprint (won by Asafa Powell & Veronica Campbell). I responded that many of our best weren’t at the meet, and his follow up was that we didn’t win the World Championships, or the one before that, or the Olympic Games either Read More...
The CHill Zone of T&F: Conway's View From the Finish Line
Weekend Action, Jan 28/29
Jan 29th, 2012
11:07 am PST
11:07 am PST
Sometimes we spend so much time wishing that the Bolt’s, Gays, and Bekele’s of the sport were competing, that we forget just how much talent there is in this sport! That was evidenced this weekend, because as early as it is in the season, there is still plenty to talk about while many stars have yet to take to the track Read More...
Time to Talk Doping
Jan 27th, 2012
12:56 pm PST
12:56 pm PST
At least that’s the impression I’m getting as I scan the news, as doping has been a very prominent topic this winter. Of course it is an Olympic year, and while on one hand there is the anticipation of watching the world’s best athletes produce stunning performances, the specter of “drugs” and just how “natural” those performances may be seems to be on everyone’s mind, as evidenced by the plethora of articles there are on the topic Read More...
U.S. Open Preview
Jan 25th, 2012
5:34 pm PST
5:34 pm PST
The U.S. Open Indoor meet will be held this weekend, and there are several events worth keeping an eye on, as there will be many top level athletes competing. So let’s take a look at what I think will be the top competitions. Men’s 50 Meters Easily one of the deepest fields of the meet, the men’s 50 has former Olympic & World 100 champion Justin Gatlin (USA); former 100 Meter WR holder Asafa Powell (JAM); and #4 all time in the 100 Nesta Carter (JAM) among the entrants Read More...
Weekend Action, Jan 21/22
Jan 23rd, 2012
5:00 pm PST
5:00 pm PST
Now it feels like track season, as several performances that were turned in this weekend were truly up to par. As usual for this time of year the best of them were in the field – specifically the pole vault. In Reno, Nevada at the annual pole vault summit, Brad Walker (USA) cleared 5.80m (19’ 0 Read More...
Top Collegiate Programs In Action This Weekend
Jan 20th, 2012
5:16 pm PST
5:16 pm PST
We’re a week away from the U.S. Open in Madison Square Garden. So it still seems like the indoor season really hasn’t gotten under way yet. But there are a couple of meets this weekend in College Station,Texas and Gainesville, Florida that should provide a good show ahead of the bright lights on Broadway Read More...
It’s Time to Focus on the Indoor Season
Jan 16th, 2012
2:56 pm PST
2:56 pm PST
With the Olympic Marathon Trials in the book, it’s time to start to focus on the indoor season. Most of the sport’s top athletes probably won’t debut until April or May – a trend started around the start of the New Millennium. Still there will be lots to look for under cover. For starters there are the collegiate athletes Read More...
Flanagan & Kefelzighi Lead Way to London
Jan 14th, 2012
4:10 pm PST
4:10 pm PST
The U.S. began the first stages of putting together the Olympic squad for London today with the running of the Marathon Trials. If the results in Houston are any indication of the overall team we’ll be sending to London, then we’re going to be loaded by the end of June, because the marathoner’s came through in awesome fashion! The goal at the Trials is to make the team, but the men and women in the lead packs in both races were clearly out to win and run fast – and that bodes well for their ability to compete in London Read More...
How to Create a True World Championships
Jan 13th, 2012
3:05 pm PST
3:05 pm PST
I was taken aback when reading the TFN Editorial for January, as it stated that the writer saw no way that there would ever be a “True” World Championships. It seems, among other reasons given, that the thought is the various member nations would never vote for a “True” World Championships because it would shut many out of the competition Read More...