It’s Super Bowl weekend and football and food are on most people’s minds. The track world seems to have had that in mind when scheduling meets, because the slate was rather sparse. Even so there were still some outstanding performances on the small ovals this weekend.

It’s only the first weekend in February, but the field events are already on fire this year, and the event that is leading the way is the women’s pole vault. A couple of weeks ago we had Holly Bleasdale (GBR) emerge and become the #2 all-time indoor vaulter. Today she is only #2 on the season as Jenn Suhr (USA) screamed over 4.88m (16’ 0”) to set a new American Record and move to #2 all time behind Yelena Isinbayeva at the New Balance meet in Boston. Suhr has her dark hair back, and apparently her health as she upper her own AR from 15’ 11.25 – Suhr was over a foot and a half above the rest of the field. It’s still very early in the year, but the women’s pole vault is shaping up as one of the must watch events in London. Isinbayeva seems to be finding her form early (4.70m/15’ 5”) as she shakes the rust off after a year away from the sport in 2010. Bleasdale has emerged as a true threat, and will be competing at “home” in London. Suhr is already over 16’, and we have yet to hear from ’11 World champ Fabiana Murer (BRA) or silver medalist Martina Strutz (GER). We could see multiple women up around the 5.00m/16’ 4.75” mark this year.

Suhr wasn’t the only woman making a major move on the all-time list as Anna Chicherova (RUS) soared over the bar at 2.06m (6’ 9”) in the high jump to become =#3 all time – sharing that position with rival Blanka Vlasic (CRO)! It was Chicherova’s third meet over 2.00m (6’ 6.75”) this year, so she’s definitely ready for good things this year. After defeating Vlasic in Daegu and now equaling her best indoor mark, I’m sure Chicherova‘s confidence is riding high. That said, Vlasic has as much “swag” as anyone in the sport bar none – which means we could be in for a real treat when these women get together. I’ve been looking for Vlasic to challenge the WR of 2.09m (6’ 10.25”) ever since she went 2.08m in ’09. Now that we have two women capable of that mark, 2012 could be the year that the 24 year old record finally falls! If nothing else we should be heartily entertained by the competition this pair will bring to the high jump in 2012. The London field events should be HOT.

The results weren’t quite at the same level as Suhr and Chicherova, but there was some solid action on the track. Joining Suhr in Boston were several top level distance runners and they didn’t disappoint. Ethipoian stars Tirunesh Dibaba (9:21.60) and Meseret Defar (8:33.55) put down world leaders in the two mile and 3000 meters – both running away from the field. In the 3000, Americans Shannon Rowbury, and Jenny Simpson were simply no match as Defar was followed by countrywoman Gotytom Gebrselasie and Morroccan Siham Silali – thankfully it’s still very early in the process. In the men’s 3000 Caleb Ndiku (KEN) clocked a world leading 7:38.29 as he led seven men under 7:48 – Matt Centrowitz (USA) getting a big PR 7:46.19 in the process. In the men’s mile, Galen Rupp (USA) was outkicked by Ciaran O’Lionard (IRE, 3:56.01) and Taylor Milne (CAN, 3:56.40) but was rewarded with a PR 3:57.10 – faster than his outdoor best. Brit Mo Farah also scored a PR 3:57.92, in spite of actually falling down earlier in the race. And I have to mention that quartermiler Kirani James (GRN) opened up his season in Boston with a world leading 45.96 – boding well for the young star.

Another youngster that opened his season quickly is Florida speedster Jeff Demps. In his first competition since the football season ended, Demps won the 60 meters at the VaTech Invitational in a swift 6.59 – so perhaps we will see him improve on his 6.53 PR this season. Also in Virginia was Torrin Lawrence who won the 200 in a nice 21.12. No, it’s not 20 point, but it does signal possible good health for Lawrence who ran 45.03 indoors in 2010, but has suffered through injuries since. If Lawrence is healthy and back to form, he could become a major factor in the 400 meters this year – on par with youngsters like Kirani James and Tony McQuay (last year’s U.S. National Champion).

Not a bad slate of performances given we’re only talking about a handful of meets. Next weekend we get the 2012 version of the Millrose Games which will be run in the Armory instead of Madison Square Garden. The facility is smaller, the track bigger, and many of the usual competitors at Millrose will be on hand. It will be interesting to see what the new combination brings.

Tags: Chicherova, Defar, Demps, Dibaba, James, Suhr