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

Pre Trials Notes

Jun 19th, 2012
1:14 pm PDT

Hayward FieldWe’re just a couple of days from the start of the Trials. There’s not much more to be said other than, let’s get ready to rumble, because all that’s left to do at this point is for the athletes to enter the stadium and decide who goes to London! I did spend some time going through the online entry sheets on Monday and following are twenty one items of interest from that perusal. Take note that at this point some items could change at any time.

21 Notes From the Declaration List

 

  1. None of the star high schoolers are entered in the men’s sprints – Tyreek Hill, Abraham Hall, Marvin Bracy, and Levonte Whitfield. Hill just won the sprint double at Junior Nationals and will lead the junior sprinters at World Juniors.
  2. High school 400 stud Aldrich Bailey won the 400 at Junior Nationals, and is declared for the Trials.
  3. Junior college sprint star Diondre Batson, has qualified for the 200, but is only provisional in the 100.
  4. ’04 Trials champion Muna Lee has not qualified for the 100 this time around.
  5. NCAA 200 runner up Ameer Webb has scratched.
  6. Sub 20 sprinters Rodney Martin and Curtis Mitchell have not qualified in the deuce this time around.
  7. Sprinter Tianna Madison is not entered in the 200 or long jump.
  8. Kimberlyn Duncan is scratched from the 100, meaning she is focusing solely on the deuce.She may have the freshest legs of all the major competitors.
  9. Sanya Richards Ross has declared for the 200 so is attempting the 200/400 double.
  10. Allyson Felix is not listed on any of the official sprint lists as of Sunday 6/17. (Bobby Kersee confirmed this morning, however, that she is running the 100/200 double.
  11. Andrew Wheating is only provisional for the 800.
  12. Neither Anna Pierce, Morgan Uceny,  or Jenny Simpson are listed at all in the 800.
  13. Phoebe Wright has qualified, and declared, in the 1500 and will be attempting an 800/1500 double, as will Brenda Martinez.
  14. Galen Rupp is declared in both the 5k/10k and attempting the double. Also down for the double are Chris Derrick, Matt Tegenkamp and Dathan Ritzenhein.
  15. Amy Hastings and Lisa Uhl are down for the 5k/10k double on the women’s side.
  16. Andra Manson and Jamie Nieto are only provisional for the high jump.
  17. Hyleas Fountain has scratched from the open high jump.
  18. Mike Woepse and Scott Roth are provisional in the pole vault.
  19. Will Claye qualified and declared in both the long and triple jumps.
  20. Christian Taylor is provisional in the long jump.
  21. Mason Finley has scratched from the shot put, provisional in the discus.

So, it’s finally time to decide the team. Should be a great week of track and field!

Trials Preview – Women’s 200 Meters

Jun 18th, 2012
2:25 pm PDT

While the men's 100 is potentially the most "story" laden event heading into the Trials, it's certainly not alone in terms of story lines and depth. One of my favorites in this regard is the women's 1500, which I discussed in detail earlier. However, also recently entering into the "drama zone" with the aforementioned 100 & 1500 is the women's 200 as it's suddenly become the middle ground for several of our best female sprinters Read More...

Trials Preview – Men’s 100 Meters

Jun 16th, 2012
8:22 am PDT

The very nature of the Trials makes this meet exciting - the best in the country come together with only three competitors per event moving on to the Olympic Games. That alone puts a spotlight on every event - and I will be keeping an eye on them all. But some events carry even more intrigue and drama Read More...

Olympic Trials Predictions

Jun 14th, 2012
10:27 am PDT

Here we go. We’re a week away from the “Almost” Big Dance – the US Olympic Trials. And to be honest I’m not sure I have any more clarity today than I did a month ago! There have been some outstanding performances followed by so so performances. Some athletes haven’t seemed to get untracked while some seem to be in near Olympic form Read More...

The Top Collegians Heading Into the Trials

Jun 12th, 2012
5:59 pm PDT

It's finally here - the Olympic Trials. The biggest meet outside of the Games themselves. And with the first half of the Diamond League and the NCAA Championships concluding this past weekend, I think I've seen enough to stick my neck out there and make my predictions on the crap shoot that is the Trials Read More...

Super Saturday of Track

Jun 10th, 2012
10:24 am PDT

If you love track and field, then you loved Saturday. The final day of the NCAA Championships, followed by the Adidas Classic in New York. TONS of tremendous competition - and that was really the key as the wind hampered the NCAA meet. Let's start there, since it was first on the schedule. After sizzling semifinal rounds, the wind turned on the athletes and seriously slowed down results Read More...

Early Weekend Results – Oslo / NCAA

Jun 8th, 2012
9:56 am PDT

It's only Friday, but we've already had enough track to fill a weekend - and we're just getting started! The early results are in, and while Oslo wasn't quite as hot as I had hoped, the "kids" we definitely ahead of expectations at the NCAA Championships! Let's start with Oslo where vets Usain Bolt (JAM) and Sally Pearson (AUS) confirmed their status as early London favorites Read More...

Next Up – Oslo & New York

Jun 6th, 2012
5:06 pm PDT

Ok, we’re nearly at the end of the first half of the season. Tomorrow Oslo, Saturday New York - and then National Championships & Olympic Trials. We’ve pretty much seen most of the major players, so not sure we will learn much more before the Trials in a couple of weeks. Still, there is nothing like great competition, and Oslo and New York should provide that in bunches Read More...

Tyson Gay to Debut in New York

Jun 5th, 2012
5:27 pm PDT

I know that the next meet up is the Oslo leg of the Diamond League and not New York, but the big news heading into the last two “big” meets before the Olympic Trials is that Tyson Gay will run before the Trials and he will do so this weekend in New York. Huge news when you consider that he is a) the American Record holder in the 100 meters; b) the second fastest man ever in the event; c) the last man to beat Usain Bolt in either the 100 or 200 meters Read More...

My NCAA Championships Favorites

Jun 4th, 2012
4:11 pm PDT

Wow, we’re in the middle of what will be the hottest week of elite track and field this side of the Trials and Games and I nearly forgot that the NCAA Championships are also this week! So this week we get treated to Oslo, New York, the NCAA’s and I’ll throw in the Golden West Invitational out here on the West Coast for high school fans Read More...