With the Championship season upon us, I thought it would be a good time to update the Thirty Watch List. A chance to take a look at the season to date before everyone begins to peak for the heart of the season.
Even without the season peaking, there has been a lot of activity (or lack of) affecting the list – and not all on the track. So I will be looking at the list and adjusting it based on four areas: deletions, additions, and athletes on the bubble – either potentially being added or dropped in the future. The current iteration of the list shows a net gain of 1 – taking us to 23. Still a way off from the needed 30!
There could be more additions come the summer as we haven’t seen much yet from our female middle distance crew – and they made a lot of noise last summer. I’m also hoping to see some improvement in the field events. Chaunte Howard-Lowe has been a pleasant surprise so far, hopefully we will see a few others step up. At any rate, here is my first update of the list.
Deletions
| Lashawn Merritt | Lashawn has accepted a provisional ban resulting from a positive drug test. As such this World and Olympic champion will be unable to compete for what looks to be the next two years. Taking him out of the next World Championships. |
Additions
| David Oliver | Oliver has been as consistent as any hurdler in recent memory. He’s leading the world at 12.99 and has registered a victory over WR holder Dayron Robles. With Liu Xiang struggling to find form as he recovers from his injury, there could be two spots available for US hurdlers on the podium. Right now Oliver looks to be our best. |
| Chaunte Howard-Lowe | Chaunte is another athlete that has become very consistent. She’s been jumping well around 2.00m and just set a new AR of 2.04m (6’ 8.25”) – that’s definitely medal territory. Her consistency and ease at the 2.00m level make her a legitimate medal threat. |
On the bubble – potential to fall off
| Jeremy Wariner | Wariner has been one of our best for the past six seasons, but he’s looked very mortal so far this season. Entering June with a season’s best of only 45.41 is not typical for a man that has been able to roll out of bed and run under 45.00. After a season’s best of only 44.60 last year, I would like to see Jeremy back to at least the 44.20 range. |
| Terrence Trammell | Trammell is another athlete that is not at the level one would expect this year. There is something to be said for it being a non championship year, but in an event where the competition is competing near the upper end of the all time list one has to stay competitive. Especially since this is one of the more competitive events in the US. I’ll feel more comfortable with Trammell when I see him under 13.10. |
| Trey Hardee | Hardee looked good early in the recent Gotzis competition, only to withdraw with injury. For a decathlete injuries of any type can be deadly. My concern with Trey is only about how serious his injury is and how soon he will be able to resume training and competing. |
| Jennifer Suhr | No marks as of yet from the American Record holder. With Isinbayeva on hiatus this would be a good time to attempt to take control of the event. Waiting to see something from Jenn this year. |
On the bubble – potential to be added
| Chris Soliinsky | Solinsky’s 10,000 AR puts him in range of medaling given what we’ve seen in major competitions in the past. Of course we need to see if he can duplicate his performance AND if he wants to compete over the distance as Solinsky has stated that he still prefers the 5,000. Then again we may see something hot from him in the 5k as well. Either way its nice to think that perhaps we have someone that may be in range in the distances. |
| Walter Dix | Walter has already opened up well this season and his 200 (19.89) shows that he is definitely a potential medalist. I have Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon penciled in here and both have shown good early season form. Walter is next in line and could replace Spearmon depending on how both perform on the season. |
The Thirty Watch List
| Athlete | Event | |
| 1. | Tyson Gay | 100 Meters |
| 2. | Carmelita Jeter | 100 Meters |
| 3. | Tyson Gay | 200 Meters |
| 4. | Wallace Spearmon | 200 Meters |
| 5. | Allyson Felix | 200 Meters |
| 6. | Jeremy Wariner | 400 Meters |
| 7. | Sanya Richards | 400 Meters |
| 8. | David Oliver | 110 Hurdles |
| 9. | Terrence Trammell | 110 Hurdles |
| 10. | Kerron Clement | 400 Hurdles |
| 11. | Bershawn Jackson | 400 Hurdles |
| 12. | Lashinda Demus | 400 Hurdles |
| 13. | Lolo Jones | 100 Hurdles |
| 14. | 4×1 Men | Relay |
| 15. | 4×1 Women | Relay |
| 16. | 4×4 Men | Relay |
| 17. | 4×4 Women | Relay |
| 18. | Brittney Reese | Long Jump |
| 19. | Jennifer Suhr (nee Stuczynski) | Pole Vault |
| 20. | Christian Cantwell | Shot Put |
| 21. | Chaunte Howard-Lowe | High Jump |
| 22. | Brian Clay | Decathlon |
| 23. | Trey Hardee | Decathlon |
| 24. | ||
| 25. | ||
| 26. | ||
| 27. | ||
| 28. | ||
| 29. | ||
| 30. |
If you're adding Solinsky to bubble, you might as well add Cory Martin or Ryan Whiting. Martin is the world leader in the shot put know and showed it wasn't a fluke with another strong win and great mark at the California Relays. Whiting has had an amazing 12 competitions over 21 meters…unprecedented. Both have thrown further than Cantwell so far this year (and actually further than Cantwell has thrown outdoors in several years).
Good point .. I put Solinsky because we have no one else close, while we are loaded in the shot .. Could be argued that we are loaded in the deuce as well, but I put Dix on the bubble as he has been there and could easily replace Spearmon .. Perhaps I will add another putter on the next update ..