At midnight all over the globe the world celebrated the dawning of another New Year. The dropping of the ball in Times Square didn’t usher in just another year however. For those of us that love sport, especially track and field, this will be a special year. Because come August we’ll be tuned in to London, and the Olympic Games – that once every four year gathering of THE best athletes in the world. And if you’re like me, it’s been a very long wait!
I know that the World Championships were just a few months ago, but somehow it just wasn’t that satisfying this time around. There were too many missing players. Too many athletes that were coming back from or suffering from injuries. And too often the weather conditions prohibited the type of performances/results that we’ve come accustomed to seeing in Major competitions.
No, Daegu just made me “hungry” for the Olympics. Because some way, somehow, the majority of the world’s best seem to make their way to that quadrennial competition ready to rumble. And one thing about an Olympic season is that the buildup to the Games is almost as satisfying as the Games themselves.
That said, there should be much to look forward to in 2012. Following are just a few of the things I’ll be keeping an eye on during the year.
The Indoor Season
Indoors has lost a lot of its luster over the years as the pros have taken to staying away in droves to concentrate on preparing for the more lucrative outdoor season. While I suspect that we will see a few athletes pop in here and there to make a paycheck, or test things out, the real excitement during the indoor season will come from the collegiate ranks, because with an NCAA Championship meet to aim for, they take indoors seriously! And nowhere will it be more serious than the SEC where Arkansas, Florida and LSU dwell – perennial threats to win the indoor title – who will be looking to say hello to the newest member of the conference – outdoor champion Texas A&M! Yes this is the year that the Aggies join the SEC – as if that conference needed any more national contenders. So there should be lots of high level indoor action in the southeast corner of the country, with the SEC championships being a near mirror preview of the NCAA championships – and a prelude to some outstanding outdoor competition.
The Australian/South African Summer
Residing on the opposite side of the equator than most of us, Australia and South Africa have summer like conditions as early as February and March – which often means they have summer like results. Last year’s world leader in the 400H was set by L.J. Van Zyl during the “other” summer. Steven Hooker has had some of his best vaults during the other summer. David Rudisha has run low 1:43 in Australian meets as a tune up to open his season. And top level sprinters/quarter milers have been known to take a shot at a fast time or two early in the warmth of the Australian summer meets. So while athletes peaking this early are not always at their best during “our” summer (see L.J. Van Zyl in Daegu) these meets can give us a preview of who some of the emerging athletes are before we them again in June.
Early Diamond League
Doha, Shanghai, and Rome – these are the Diamond League meets that will be held before the start of June. And these are the meets that will give elite athletes an opportunity to compete against each other, and make some serious cash, prior to their Olympic Trials. Trying to figure out who will be in these meets is harder than trying to predict the finishes of the Olympic Games, because the only meet we’re guaranteed that everyone will want to be in is the Games. But if we’re going to get an early glimpse of a Bolt or Liu, or Isinbayea or any of the other first line headliners out there, these meets will be the place.
June and the Olympic Trials
Finally we will find out who will line up in the Olympic Games. If you don’t make the team in June, you don’t get to go to London – at least not as a member of the National Team. And that goes for most of the world’s top squads. From the United States, to Russia, to Jamaica, to Kenya, June will be THE month that nearly everyone will be targeting – to win their shot at performing in the world’s greatest spectacle.
The REAL Summer
No offense to those “down under”, but this is the time of year when champions will be made. This is the time of year to sharpen up for the bright lights of London. The tricky thing, however, is that not all of the action will occur in the BIG meets – the Diamond League meets. There will be as much action in places like Rieti, Ostrava and Split as there will be in the higher profile meets in Oslo, Monaco and Lausanne. As a matter of fact, it’s best to keep an eye on the “lesser” meets, because often the bigger names in some of the high profile events will go to these meets to avoid each other until ………
The Games
Ah the Olympics – finally. The long wait will be over, for fans and athletes alike. This is the place where legends are made. The place where one can get redemption. It’s also the place where one’s reputation can be tarnished. EVERYTHING will be on the line in London. Athletes will be looking to be at their VERY best, because there is only one gold medal per event. And the Games, like the Super Bowl, Final Four, and World Series is one of those events where no one remembers who finished second – even though at the Olympics second truly means the second best in the WORLD! It’s all about who finishes first – and I like the rest of you will be rooted in front of the television, and computer, watching every available second!
So there’s 2012 in a nutshell. Like I said, there’s a long fun year ahead. The indoor season will be ramping up shortly. The U.S. Marathon Trials are in just a couple of weeks, and that promises a lot of excitement. So, grab your popcorn or favorite snack and get yourself something cool to drink. The Olympic year is here and it’s going to be a fun ride!