He’s baaacckk. That’s the only conclusion I can come to after watching Tyson Gay blitz a world leading 9.86 in Kingston over the weekend. The slow start. The mid race, drag car acceleration. The race was vintage Tyson Gay. Most impressive however, was the way he overcame the blitzkrieg start of Nesta Carter and out ran the seasons early sensation, Doc Patton. Gay laid waste to these athletes like a sprinter who has few peers -and at=#2 all time that exactly how he should look.
On the heels of a trio of 45 second quarters – two open and one relay – Tyson opened sharp. Sharp enough that we should be able to stop talking about injuries with Tyson and get back to focusing on a true American rivalry with Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. No disrespect to the other top American sprinters – Justin Gatlin, Mike Rodgers, Walter Dix, Ryan Bailey, et al – but right now only Tyson has shown that he can run in that 9.6x zone,which is where the medals could go In Moscow. As a matter of fact, if we can get the trio Of Gay Bolt, & Blake to Moscow healthy, we could see something like the Berlin final – and personally I think this will be one of the few real shots at Bolt’s world record.
I’ll also throw out there that Tyson Gay in PR form on the third leg of the 4×1 a) makes the US sub 37, b) keeps that lead Gatlin gave him, and makes for an interesting anchor with Bolt now chasing Bailey. Now THAT’s entertaining track and field!
Kingston wasn’t all about Tyson however, as several athletes stepped their games up significantly. If the women’s100 was any kind of preview, the event is going to be HOT. Billed per race as a matchup between Allyson Felix and Veronica Campbell Brown, they did not disappoint with VCB running a year leading 11.01 (0.0) with Felix at 11.13. Who would’ve thought that this time of the year three other women would squeeze their way between them. But that’s what Kelly Ann Baptiste ( 11.05), Carrie Russell (11.08), and Murielle Ahoure (11.11) did. A very hot early season race without several of the events top stars including Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Carmelita Jeter!
In other action Ryan Whiting threw the shot 21.74m / 71′ 4" for a world lead, as he’s beginning to look like the youngster they’d ready to step in fit some of the aging stars of the shot. Tony McQuay toured one lap in 45.15 to serve notice that he will be a factor once again. While Dawn Harper (12.62 / 0.8) and Nickel Ashmeade (20.00 / -0.3) had swift wins against significant competition.
Kingston was certainly the best meet of the weekend, but other significant marks were turned in. Galen Rupp continues to impress as he ripped 3000 meters in 7:46.34 at the Oregon Twilight meet. Rupp has been tearing it up all year long starting indoors. He’s already run 3:34.78 / 3:50.92 indoors as well as a faster 3000 (7:30.16 AR). I’m going to stuck my neck out there and say he’s going to set at least one AR outdoors this year – and will again be a major factor at Worlds. He’s the new Pre. He’s not as brash or outgoing. Nor is his racing as " exciting". But he is as consistently fast, and the lead dog in the US running stable. He’s “The Man” of US distance running and the leader of the current renaissance above one lap!
Performing well in Tokyo was high jumper Anna Chicherova who cleared 1.92m / 6′ 3.5" – a nice opening season mark. Important because I’m expecting this event to be very deep this year with several 2 meter jumpers in the mix. Chicherova has been the lead dog in the event recently, but Blanka Vlasic should be healthy this year and Ariane Friedrich should be back to form. Throw in Chaunte Lowe, Brigetta Barrett, Svetlana Shkolina, and Ruth Betia and this’d could be one of the year’s best events.
Things should really start rolling now because the Diamond League starts this Friday! We get Doha this Friday followed by Shanghai a week later. Preliminary line ups show the following hot matchups on tap:
Doha Diamond League – May 11
- Rudisha v Aman – 1500
- Felix v Montsho – 400
- Dibaba v Aregawei – 1500
- Cantwell v Majewski – SP
Shanghai Diamond League – May 18
- Jeter v SAFP- 100
- Williams v Grabarz – HJ
- Kiplagat v Kiprop. – 1500
So the first set of preliminary bouts are just about done. Along with the DL we’ll also be getting college conference competition, followed by Regionals, and Nationals – and US and other National Championships don’t be far behind. Track season is finally here!
Tags: Chicherova, Gay, Rupp
Based on his indoor season and early outdoor races, I was expecting better from Doc Patton. I absolutely expected him to be sub-10. I didn’t necessarily expect him to run with Gay, but he should have been second in about 9.97 based on what he’s shown. I didn’t see the race, so I don’t know how he looked, but the result was disappointing.
And btw, just to confirm my status as a t&f underachiever, Mary Cain has just eclipsed my PR in the 800m 🙂
That girl is a beast and I hope she takes a serious shot as Kim Gallagher’s record before she leaves high school. I’m really gonna enjoy watching her develop. She’s gonna raise the bar for American women in middle distances and I expect the competitive nature of her competitors to make them respond.
On another note, once again Charles Jock has proven that he needs to embrace a different race pattern if he’s gonna run with the big boys. 1st place at 600m, 6th place at the finish. I truly hope he’s willing, because he’s obviously very talented.
Doc showed once again that he is just not an in traffic sprinter .. I would like to have him prove me wrong, but I don’t see this old dog learning any new tricks ..
I thought Jock would be stronger by now .. Frankly however that’s the only way to compete these days, because the youngsters are just to fast internationally .. 1:42 only gets you a good seat in the race these days in the big ones ..
And Mary Cain is just phenomenal .. Best young female middle distance runner since Gallagher … I too think she could make a great run at that record should she choose to ..
I don’t think strength is the problem with Jock. Only one person on the planet goes out in 49 and has any kick left. If your name ain’t Rudisha, you better go out in 50.x. If he went out in say, 50.7, he would have enough to kick to a 1:42-low. I need to find out the 400m splits on the other men who have run 1:41. I don’t think they all went out in 49. #homework 🙂
I’ll have to do some homework on that but off memory I’m almost certain most went out under 50 … But that’s a good question ..
I stand corrected.
http://tonyward-trackchat.blogspot.com/2009/07/139-man.html?m=1
Maybe what he needs is more speed…
I stand corrected.
http://tonyward-trackchat.blogspot.com/2009/07/139-man.html?m=1
Maybe what he needs is more speed…
I still say that at this point in his career, Jock needs to go out in 50.x. That is some very elite company on that list. Right now he isn’t a 1:41 guy. He needs to move through 1:43 & 1:42 instead of blistering the 1st 400 then flaming out down the stretch and fading to last in 1:46.
He’s going to have to find his balance .. But 50 point high is about as slow as he can go and expect to be in it IMHO .. This has become a very tough event .. Very little room at the top .. If you can’t run 1:42 you’re no longer a medal threat ..
Just some notes:
1. Gay should be = #2 all time
2. English Gardner leads the 100m this year year with a 11.00
3. Tony McQuay lost the 400 to Santos who ran 45.06
1. Typo I didn’t catch
2. Had completely forgotten about Gardener .. She’s going to be interesting this year ..
3. Yes he did, was thinking in terms of his coming back from injury as well as how things will be shaping up at Nationals – too much in my own head …
Missed you. Looked forward to your comments on the Penns Relays.
At the Jamaica Invitational, Tyson really looked awesome. Make us all look forward to a healthy Tyson at Worlds. Queen Harrison make have her breakout year…looked very good beside Dawn Harper.
VCB also looked good after an extremely poor start. Other ladies in the 100m looked fairly ordinary but it is early season.
McPherson in the women’s 400m may emerge this year as a challenger but it is early days yet. SAFP has a decent 200m run.
Cayman will show us Jeter and Bolt. Happy times are here again!!
Have had a lot going on the last few months, especially the last couple weeks .. Should be able to settle into the season now though ..
Tyson looked like himself for a change .. Really lacked “pop” last year .. VCB looks like she could be in PR form this year .. Poor start but great acceleration ..
The women’s hurdles could be really interesting if Pearson doesn’t find her way back to the zone she was in a couple seasons ago ..
And yes, Bolt and Jeter coming up !!