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Team USA v.2017
Team USA, the athletes that will be attending the World Championships in London, was selected this past weekend. After nearly a week of some of the toughest competition on the planet, how does the squad that emerged from Sacramento look? Well, going in it looked like we were headed for a transition, with several old stars looking vulnerable. Coming out it looks like a partial transition took place – some oldies hanging on for that last shot at a global medal, some having to say goodbye. The resulting mix of old and new looking to be potentially one of the strongest teams we’ve had in recent years. In the middle…
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USATF Match Ups
The 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…
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Track at the Half
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. Similarly in track, the news about drugs, suspensions, conspiracies, and leadership being involved negatively at the highest levels have given me pause to contemplate. So I’ve resisted the urge to speak my mind, as week after week negative news has abounded. Instead focusing on coaching, as…
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Does Track and Field Need to Change?
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. They’re also the reason why some meets, like those in the Diamond League,…
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Post Rio Notes
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. Following are some additional “thoughts” on the competition as we head towards the completion of the season. US medal count The United States brought home 32 medals! Yes, we’ve won more – 35 back in 1932. But that was back when the entire world, specifically the African nations, did not compete.…
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My Position on Justin Gatlin
Can someone, anyone, explain to me why Justin Gatlin is made out to be the devil of track and field? People are booing him in Rio. Sebastian Coe is praying he doesn’t win. Why? And the American media is the worst constantly bringing up his past – erroneously I might add. Funny, I haven’t heard ANYONE bringing up the fact that Michael Phelps was a dope smoking fiend that had to leave swimming for a while! No one, including Coe who is holier than thou when it comes to "doping and suspensions" has booed, wished ill of, or said that Shelley Ann Fraser Pryce, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, or Veronica…
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Rio Opening Weekend – 43.03 WR!
Finally, we got Olympic track and field! And despite all the negatives coming in, the athletes didn’t disappoint. Proving my constant point – there’s NOTHING that needs to be changed about track and field other than getting the best athletes on the track (and field). THAT is the challenge of the sport’s leaders – not trying to reinvent meets! With only three days in the books we’ve already seen two World Records and a plethora of national records. It started in the first final of the opening morning of competition in the women’s 10000 as Almaz Ayana blew away the field and the WR in a stunning 29:17.45! The next…
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How Will London’s Defending Champions Fare?
Heading into Rio will be several individuals that closed the deal and won gold in London. It’s been four long years since the national anthem played for these individuals. They will come to Rio 26th dreams of repeating that success. Who will be able to close the deal again four years later? Here’s my guess at how these London champions will do in Rio. Women’s 100 – Shelley Ann Fraser Pryce Fraser Pryce has had her way in the last TWO Olympic Games. Twice she’s parlayed her blazing start into easy gold medal runs. This year however, she enters Rio as a decided underdog. Injury has slowed her training,…
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Let The Games Begin!
The Trials were just over, yet here we are with the Games literally days to count down! These Games already feel different. Maybe it’s the fact that venues are STILL under construction. Maybe it’s the Zika virus that has so many afraid to go. Perhaps even the status of injured athletes like Christian Taylor, Allyson Felix, and Usain Bolt – what level will they be ready for in a few short weeks? Whatever it is, somehow CHANGE seems to be in the air! Expect the unexpected. Youth will be served. I feel it. I smell it in the air.That said, this sport at its best is about match ups. So…
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Olympic Trials Part 2 – Tough on Vets
This was one tough meet! Youngsters had a great time – perhaps too young to realize they should be nervous or afraid. Here it was veterans and favorites that fell prey to injury, nerves, bad luck, and age. I knew going in that this was going to be a transition meet – a changing of the guard. But some of those that fell were certainly unexpected. Let’s start by talking about the kids. A year ago Candace Hill was the talk of the sport, following her sterling 10.98 HSR in the 100 and her double victory at World Juniors. She and high schooler Kaylin Whitney both turned pro and looked…
