The CHill Zone of T&F: Conway's View From the Finish Line

USATF Match Ups

Jun 21st, 2017
1:18 pm PDT

PlaceholderThe NCAA’s are in the books, and it was exciting as usual. There’s something about the combination of great head to head match ups; team scoring; and relays that makes track and field everything it’s supposed to be. At its core; it’s why the Olympics are so exciting and well watched. Pay attention USATF and IAAF – especially Sebastian Coe.

Next up will be a slew of National championships, headlined by USATF Nationals. The prelude to the upcoming World Championships in London. While there will be several exciting Championships – Kenyan mid distance, Jamaican sprints among others – the US Championships are exciting across the board. The next best thing to Worlds itself. Sprints, distances, field events America’s national meet has it all. The greatest showcase of athletic talent outside of Worlds or the Olympics.

Following are five events I’m especially looking forward to watching. Must see TV for any true fan of the sport. The Sacramento heat may put a damper on the longer distances, but the speed events should flourish. The following events should sizzle!

 

Men’s 100 – Gatlin v Coleman

This could be a passing of the torch as Gatlin appears to be showing his age and Coleman is on the rise. Gatlin is one of history’s fastest ever at 9.74, and he’s medaled in three Olympics owning a complete set of gold ’04, silver ’16, and bronze ’12! Coleman just won the NCAA title and set the collegiate record in his semi at 9.82 – =#8 all time. It’s shaping up as a classic old v new event. The question of the meet, can Gatlin hold off the charge of the youngster? Take note, while the conversation is about Gatlin and Coleman, Ronnie Baker and Cameron Burrell should have an impact on this race.

 

Women’s 200 – Bowie v The Field

Tori Bowie has been our best female sprinter in the last couple of global majors. Coming into this meet she appears to be better than ever. While the 100 tends to get the headlines, this event may have the most talent. Kyra Jefferson is fresh off setting the collegiate record in the event. She looked very strong the final 50 meters. Deajah Stevens was right beside Jefferson until the final few steps and had been running very fast all year long. Allyson Felix has been our best for over a decade and always shows up to Nationals ready to go. This event will be deep and fast, but it’ll take a major effort to defeat Bowie.

 

Men’s 200 – Lyles v Coleman v Merritt

The 200 is one of my favorite events, and it’s great to see how much talent is flowing into it these days. LaShawn Merritt and Justin Gatlin have been spending more time here the last couple of seasons. Christian Coleman has been under 20 this season. But the kid I’m most looking forward to in this event is young Noah Lyles. He set the HS record last year at 20.09 while just missing a berth in the Olympic team. He’s not missed a beat this year setting the indoor record in the 300, then cruising a 19.90 shut down 200 looking as if he didn’t realize he was running that fast. I expect to see something "fast" this week. Especially with Coleman running a US leading 19.85 here to go with his 9.82, and the possibility of Merritt running here since he’s got a bye in the 400. This could be the first of many match ups to come featuring Coleman’s blistering turn v the powerful yet smooth closing speed of Lyles. The potential result could be something staggering.

 

Men’s Triple Jump – Taylor v Claye

This pair of jumpers is the epitome of a friendly rivalry. Former teammates at Florida, they’ve continued to push each other on the world stage, at nationals, Worlds and the Olympics themselves.When this pair jumps, big things happen. Like when they competed wrote this season at Pre in May, Clay’s windy 59′ 2.5" pushing Taylor to 59′ 5" – the #3 mark all time! These are the types of results they routinely push each other to and I’m looking forward to something similar this week. At the least we should see jumps in the 58 foot range. If we’re lucky however, 59 feet would be a joy to watch.

 

Men’s 400 – Kerley v The Field

Kerley has laid waste to the NCAA, now he gets a shot at the big boys. The question on the table for me is, if he’s challenged, how fast can he run? He’s split 43.3 on the 4×4. He’s run several times around 44.0/44.1 looking as if he’s running three quarters of a race. His collegiate record 43.70 looked like he had more in the tank. So, if one or more of the pros can press him in the third 100 (around the turn) how much faster can he go? Kerley v van Niekerk could be epic when it happens. Until then, Kerley v The Field will have to be the teaser.

 

These should be the highlight events of what will be a meet of exciting results. I expect big things from the women’s long jump which should feature Reese and Bartoletta. A wide open men’s 110 hurdles could have an outstanding and close finish. This meet always comes down to exciting match ups as our best compete for berths on the World Championships team. Pay close attention to the youth movement that’s taking place as I believe the next generation – Coleman, Lyles, Kerley, Burrell, Jefferson, et al – begins being felt in Sacramento.

NCAA Championships

Jun 13th, 2017
2:18 pm PDT

Championship season is my favorite time of year. The relay circuit is fun. The Diamond League gives us a glimpse of the world's elite athletes. But in today's track and field it's Championships that gives us the head to head competition between the sports best athletes at every level! The NCAA's are always the first of the "elite" championships each year Read More...

Track at the Half

Jun 5th, 2017
3:38 pm PDT

There has been SO much negative happening within the sport this winter and spring. It's been akin to the rain here in California. In track we typically wish for more to be written - just as we here in Cali have wanted more rain. Yet here in California we were deluged with rain this spring to the point of near floods in some areas Read More...

Track and Field Isn’t Broken, Management Is

Jan 12th, 2017
1:04 pm PST

Reading all the recent headlines about track and field, one has to ask: What's wrong with the sport? I've asked myself that question several times. And after careful review I conclude that there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with the sport of track and field - NOTHING! Track and Field, the sport I fell in love with at the age of ten, is perhaps the most exciting sport in the world Read More...

The Fall and Winter of Negativity

Dec 13th, 2016
12:36 pm PST

Rio was a letdown - and I LOVE me some track and field. But the Olympics are supposed to be the pinnacle of sport, and this one just didn't have that feel! The men's 400 final aside, the races were good, but lacked that "oomph" factor. It was the first Games I can remember where it was over and, well it was done - as in no one was talking about it anymore Read More...

Where is US Sprinting Headed?

Nov 10th, 2016
12:03 pm PST

The US scored a huge medal haul in Rio - something always expected, but not always materialized. The expectations are always there because of our purported sprint and hurdle prowess. I say purported because in Rio it was our middle and long distance crew that led the way, as our sprint and hurdle crew has gotten a bit long in the tooth Read More...

USATF Athletes of the Year

Oct 30th, 2016
2:06 pm PDT

Given the recent articles in the news regarding Max Siegel and his elaborate lifestyle while USATF stagnates, I've held off saying anything at all about US track - though I have written a few things that I will begin to post. Today after seeing the choices for male and female athlete of the year, I feel that I should speak my mind, and begin voicing my opinions again Read More...

Does Track and Field Need to Change?

Sep 18th, 2016
3:06 pm PDT

Recently I saw an article asking whether or not we need to delete events from track and field - and if so which ones. The author said that we have to do this to increase the popularity of the sport. Among the reasons given was the attention span of the general public, and that meets are too long. An example that was given was the fact that track and field during the Olympics takes a little over a week to run!  It's not the first article I've seen on the subject - all with similar reasons given Read More...

Nike Customer Service Report 

Sep 12th, 2016
8:16 pm PDT

Normally I don't write about things not track related. But in many ways this is track related, so here goes. Recently I had to product "malfunctions" with two completely different outcomes/experiences. One was with my smart phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 5. The Note comes with a special stylus that is really the heart of the phone Read More...

Post Rio Notes

Aug 26th, 2016
6:07 am PDT

The Rio Olympics are in the books. In spite of all the "worries" heading into the meet, it was the competition that ultimately (always does) stood out! Such is the nature of track and field - when we get our best together, the sport shines brightly. I've commented on most of the events during the course of the meet Read More...