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Texas and Florida Signal Start of the Season
This year’s indoor season was as good as I’ve ever seen. Personally I much prefer outdoors, but the marks that were churned out this year, were nothing short of stellar. Especially on the women’s side. This coming with most “elite” athletes either not competing at all indoors, or only making a brief appearance. Still we got WR’s from Mondo Duplantis (6.22m), Ryan Crouser (23.38m), and Femke Bol (49.26). We also got great marks from Grant Holloway (7.35), Trayvon Bromell (6.42), and Britton Wilson (49.49). Marks good enough to be outstanding outdoors! Which is where we’re finally headed. There have been a few meets already, but with the Florida and Texas…
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2022 – One Outstanding Season
Just as the letter Z closes out the alphabet. Zurich and Zagreb have closed out the 2022 track season. And what a season it’s been. More Championships than ever in one season with NCAA’s, Nationals, Worlds, U20’s, Commonwealth, NACAC, and Europeans! That’s enough to fill an Olympic cycle, let alone one year. That’s just championship meets. There were the other usual competitions. The relay meets – Florida, Texas, Penn, MtSAC and others. The European Circuit, Diamond League, Continental Tour, and other assorted meets. With that many competitive opportunities you would expect a few exceptional results. Well we had more than a few. As several all time lists were edited in…
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Noah Lyles
To borrow from a popular phrase. Track and field in America suffers from many things, but talent is not one of them. We lead the world in talent. Especially in speed and strength events at the present time. At the recent World Championships, we won 33 medals. In spite of a lack of government support. No real developmental system. And poor management by USATF, the sport’s governing body in this country. We also do a poor job of telling the story of our talent to the masses in the US. Too many of our athletes are relatively unknown. Especially compared to the athletes in other professional sports. So today, I…
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Trials Preview
Now that we’ve gotten past the first big championship meet of the year (NC’s) we’re days, not weeks, away from US Trials. Days as in about 10. A meet that many consider as tough as Worlds. Given its depth and cutthroat nature. This year should be no different with several high level matchups on the horizon. In some ways that’s an understatement, because basically every event has some sort of high level matchup. This year, however, there are some matchups that seem more exciting to me than usual. For example. Trey Cunningham v Devon Allen – Men’s 110H At the start of the season, most would have predicted…
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NCAA Regionals and Pre
Well that was one Hell of a weekend. Basically three high level meets, since the NCAA treats the first two rounds of its National Championships as two separate meets. Thoughts on that in another post. Either way, this past weekend was hot hot hot. In spite of two of the competitions having inclement weather! That’s how good the sport is right now – sizzling hot. So, where do I begin with my highlights? Let’s go with the West Regional. Looking at the distribution of talent between the two Regionals, the East “seems” deeper. Watching the competition however, and the results at the top end of both regions, I say a…
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The Chill List
It seems that everyone has a “list” these days. There’s the Bowerman for collegiate athletes. And I’ve noticed several podcasts attempting to put together lists. The problem that I have with these lists however. It’s that it’s basically impossible to separate say 10 athletes from the pack in this sport. Especially Post Covid, as it seems that every event has at least two or three deserving athletes – at every level of the sport! So, I’ve decided to create a list that ISN’T supposed to be the ten “best” athletes in track and field. Instead, my list is of the ten athletes I’m going to focus on watching this year!…
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Time to Break the Men’s 4×1 World Record
Yes, you read that right. I, a citizen of the United States, am talking about breaking the 4×1 record. Of course, given our men’s international record in the event since the mid 90’s. I’m sure many of you are either chuckling, or laughing out loud. I mean, just last year, we failed to make the Olympic final. In spite of actually finishing the race. A first for the US – finishing a heat and not advancing. Add that to the numerous dropped batons and disqualifications, and I completely understand the laughter. However, to quote an ancient Persian phrase, “this too shall pass”! And it’s my belief that this “passing” will…
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Pre Championships Update
This has been one of the hardest seasons to keep up with that I can remember. And that is actually a good thing. Literally every time I’ve tried to sit down and write about my thoughts on the season, news of something faster, further, or higher goes across my screen. Making me feel like I’m always behind. After all, I don’t want to tell you what you already know. So, given the mercurial pace of this season, I’ve decided I’ll have to spend more time talking about my impressions of what’s been happening. As opposed to reporting on what’s gone on. And even that can be difficult as “The next…
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How Fast in 2022?
The full question is actually duplicate questions. Spurred by the boasting of one Fred Kerley. The questions are. How fast will Fred Kerley run in 2022? And, how fast will the fastest sprinter run in 2022? Where does this come from? It comes from Kerley saying he is going to break the WR this year. Now, this is as bold a statement as an athlete can make these days. As the current record in the event is 9.58, set by Usain Bolt in 2009 in Berlin Germany. Many say it’s not possible because it was Bolt that set the record. I say no, not because it was Bolt, but because…
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Who Will Win the Millrose 60?
Ok, now that the season is finally under way, it’s almost time for the elite athletes to take the stage. And if the exploits of the collegiate athletes is any indication, we’re in for some exciting competition. First meet with loaded fields will be the Millrose Games. On tap for January 29th. While all of the events at Millrose appear to be loaded, with athletes like Athing Mu, Ryan Crouser, Elle Purrier, and others. This year’s bonus, will be the first “sprint battle” of 2022! This is exciting as we’ve already seen some very hot individual performances. Micah Williams of Oregon (6.48) and Terrance Jones of Texas Texas Tech (6.45)…