-
The Pieces are Coming Together
The great thing about the Penn Relays is that it’s the first time we get a large gathering of top athletes together at the same meet. The tough part is that they aren’t competing head to head and they’re not competing in individual events – so "evaluating" where they are can be a bit more difficult. And with the Trials less than two months away, and the Games within there months, trying to figure out the pecking order of the top athletes is on everyone’s mind. Well I think several athletes had great early auditions yesterday in Pennsylvania. On the men’s side the US won both "heats" of the 4×1:…
-
8 Must See Trials Events
I’m getting antsy, it’s Friday night and no big results can be found – everything major will be happening Saturday. So my mind is wandering in the direction of the Trials. After all, once the smoke clears everything comes down to two meets this year – National Trials and the Olympic Games.In some countries the Trials may be the years most important meet, beside if you don’t get past the Trials you’ll never see the Games – at least not from the stadium in London. So I’m anticipating the Trials almost as much as the Games. With everything on the line and great depth in several events, the US Trials…
-
Several Vets Will Be at Penn – Now It Starts
It’s Penn Relays time! Which means the end of the relay season and the unofficial start of the Road to London. Now things have actually gotten rolling a bit earlier this year with several big names throwing down some outstanding marks: Blake 9.90, Dix 9.85w, Spearmon 19.95, Reese 23′ 4", Lowe 2 meters, Ahrass 3:52. All pre Penn. But Penn will give us a glimpse of many headliners together in one place – before the Diamond League, before the Trials, before the Games. Penn gives us television coverage – a BIG deal here in the US. And Penn gives us a big raucous crowd – another huge deal here in…
-
Potential London “Upsets”
Reading through the news I noticed that currently the sports books have Usain Bolt as an overwhelming favorite to win 100 meter gold in London. While Bolt has earned the right to be considered favorite vis a vis his competitive record in the last four years, the Olympics is the place where miracles – or at least upsets – occur with regularity. One need look no further than Bolt himself who emerged from last place finish in the ’05 200 final, and a silver in the ’07 race, to double sprint gold – and double WRs – in Beijing. Or how about the Seoul Games of ’88 where record holders…
-
Mt. SAC Leads Weekend Full of Highlights
The 2012 Olympic season shifted into high gear this weekend with highlights galore popping up all over. What the Kansas Relays got started with their “downtown” events, Mt SAC multiplied with one of the best meets they’ve had in a while as performance after performance heated up the track AND the field. Where to start? How about the mile on Friday night where France’s Jamal Ahrass blitzed to a 3:52.21 WL in the mile (3:35.70 1500 en route) to lead 8 men under 4:00. Molly Huddle took her turn as she controlled the 5000 meters then put it away in the final lap to clock another WL with her 15:15.91.…
-
Kansas Gets Things Rolling Early
Weekend results are coming in early as the Kansas Relays have already gotten started with some "Downtown" events. On Wednesday evening the shot putters were up, throwing in a ring placed in the middle of downtown Lawrence. The result was a stunning competition as Reese Hoffa (21.73m / 71′ 3.5") out dueled Christian Cantwell (21.71m / 71′ 2.25"). Hoffa takes over the WL with Cantwell becoming #2 on the year. Both men had a pair of throws over 71 feet and were extremely consistent throughout the competition. It’s still a bit early, but both men are looking like the perennial Majors competitors that they are. The shot put is going…
-
Can US Male Milers Make the London Podium?
I ask that question on the assumption that the women CAN medal. After all, we went to Daegu and won gold AFTER our favored athlete was tripped and failed to finish the race! US women milers have made huge strides in the last few years. Three have gone under 4:00, and two others are knocking hard at the door. We had two finalists in Daegu and won gold with our #2. So the women are doing well enough that it would not surprise me to see three American women in the final in London. Nor would it be a surprise to hear the Star Spangled Banner being played during the…
-
Mt SAC Match Ups
What’s a sign that this is an Olympic year? That the Mt SAC Relays are loaded. Several fields have multiple world class/ranked athletes scheduled to compete, and the overall level of athletes is as high as I’ve seen in a while. Below is my list of names and events that I think deserve more than a causal look – and there are plenty. This could end up being one of those “memorable” meets. So much so that that I expect that we’ll have LOTS to talk about when this meet is over. For example, take a look at the men’s 400 where Jeremy Wariner will be competing against US indoor…
-
Myers Pregnant, Who Takes Her Place?
News out this weekend is that Marshevet Myers its pregnant and will be out for the season. While I wish her all the best , I can’t think of a worse time than an Olympic season. World Championships come often enough that if you miss one there’s another next year – or at worst in two years. But the Olympics only come once every four years – half a lifetime in track and field. For the 27 year old Myers, who is due in October, her next opportunity at a global medal could be the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. If not, she’s looking at 2015 and the Beijing World…
-
Blake 9.90 Leads Weekend Activities
Rivalries are GREAT for the sport of track and field. I just can’t say that enough. Athletes seem to compete better when they have a chip on their shoulder; something to prove; a score to settle; or sometimes just plain don’t like each other. Ovett v Coe. Nehemiah v Foster. Greene v Montgomery. Lewis v Everybody. Rivalries bring out outstanding competition – and as much as we tout times, distances and heights in this sport, it’s competition that truly rules. I start with this because among the top rivalries in sport today is the one on the island of Jamaica between the Racers and MVP track clubs. A rivalry that…