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Trials Day 6 – Prelude to the Weekend
There were only two finals today, as the bulk of today’s activity involved heats and semis that will lead to the crescendo that is the final two days of the Trials. So let’s talk about those finals then move on to the day’s action. The women’s shot was one of those easy to predict events with AR holder Jill Camarena Williams and Michelle Carter in the field.They’re easily our best puters and performed that way going 1,2. In the steeple Colorado’s Emma Coburn took over midway, controlled the race and easily won by some 30+ meters. Bridgett Franek stayed in 2nd for most of the race and out kicked Coburn’s…
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Blake Upsets Bolt at Jamaica Trials!
Before I get to our Trials, everyone had been waiting on the Jamaica Trials to see what the sprinters there are doing. Well, London is going to be hot in the short sprints. In the women’s 100, Shelly Ann Fraser wins in 10.70 (+0.6) over VCB (10.82), Kerron Stewart (10.94), and Sherone Simpson (11.01). So there’s your 3 for London, plus relay – more than likely. On the men’s side we get an "upset" as Yohan Blake wins in a PR 9.75 (+1.1) over Usain Bolt (9.86), Asafa Powell (9.88), and Michael Frater (9.94). Their 3 for London plus relay – again more than likely. I haven’t seen video yet,…
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Trials Day 5 – More Rupp
On Thursday we got more rain, more qualifying, and more Rupp. I must admit I’m a bit tired of the rain. And I was hoping to get to see some of the 1500 heats – but NBC gave me nothing. But I’m starting to really like this Rupp dude! I’ll probably get booed, but one of the reasons I’m not a huge fan of holding major meets in Eugene is the weather. Eugene and Des Moines get bad weather as often as not – and this Trials has been inundated with bad weather. I still have memories of Xavier Carter going down to a knee injury on a wet track…
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Trials Part II Gets Started Today
Finally the "break" is over! The longest two days in recent memory – I must be a track junkie! So what do we have to look forward to? Well Today is going to be star studded. We have prelims in the 1500s and that means our first look at Morgan Uceny, Jenny Simpson, Anna Pierce, and Shannon Rowbury. Christin Wurth Thomas is NOT on the start list. I was so looking forward to her front running style leading this race. That’s a big loss in my opinion – not sure the race will go off as fast without her. In that event the race becomes more tactical and possibly opens…
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How the U.S. Team Looks at the Break
So with the first half of the Trials in the books, it’s time to start looking ahead to London and how this US team is beginning to shape up. I have to say that we have lost some talent – some folk that have gone to the mat for us in the past and come home with hardware. So we will miss Bryan Clay, Adam Nelson, Dwight Phillips, Lauryn Williams and Walter Dix – though we have yet to see if Walter will be back to attempt to make the 200 squad. The most difficult of those to replace, based on these Trials, is Phillips in the long jump. The…
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Trials Day 4 – Half Way to London
Heading into the midway break, Monday was the first really "quiet" day of the Trials. But then, how do you compete for headlines with Eaton’s WR, Dead Heat Gate, and the returns of Justin Gatlin & Tyson Gay? After all that excitement Monday was rather tame. With most of the London berths in the day’s field event finals already decided based on limited numbers of individuals with "A" standards, the"drama" for the day was produced by the two 800 finals. Alysia Montano took the guess work out of who would win the women’s race as she went immediately to the front; opened up a sizeable lead; and cruised home to…
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Trials Day 3 – Redemption Sunday
Today’s agenda was short but sweet – 8 events, 7 finals and 1 semi. But when the names involved include Cantwell, Hoffa, Gay, Gatlin, Richards Ross, Merritt, Wariner, and Suhr you’re talking about one high powered afternoon. Not to mention a lot of athletes looking for redemption – and most got just that. The most anticipated event was the men’s 100 meters as most people were looking to see how Tyson Gay was going to hold up. The worry rapidly changed from Tyson’s legs to Walter Dix’ as Dix pulled up at the end of the first semi! Dix showed up for the final, but his leg was heavily wrapped…
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Trials Day 2 – Ashton Eaton, 9039 WR
Excitement and drama. That’s standard when talking about the Olympic Trials. And while there were only three finals, Day Two just might be one of the most exciting and dramatic Trials days ever! Let’s start with the decathlon, since it did start the day off. Ashton Eaton entered the day with a score of 4728 pts, putting him on WR pace as he, Trey Hardee, and Bryan Clay looked to be on their way to sending the greatest trio of decathletes ever to the Games. A 13.70 to open up things in the hurdles kept Eaton on pace. Unfortunately for Bryan Clay however, it all went wrong. First he hit…
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Trials Day 1 – Rupp Rules
Day one of the Trials is in the book, and if today’s results are any indication this is gonna be a humdinger! Because in spite of the rain that came down during most of the competition, the athletes were nothing short of competitive! After all, THIS is the Olympic Trials – go big or go home! Let’s start with the days’ two finals, the men & women’s 10,000 meters – which did and didn’t run to form. Following the script were the men, as Galen Rupp was in control from the gun running easy as you like while helping to pace Dathan Ritzenhein, who needed an "A" qualifier to go…
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And So the Trials Begin
The Trials begin today with the hammer throwers getting the stage all to themselves. So the spotlight will be on athletes that normally toil in obscurity – Jessica Cosby, Jeneva McCall, Kibwe Johnson and AG Kruger will get their own shining moment in the sun as they kick off one of the world’s greatest track and field competitions. Then tomorrow things move into high gear with the start of the decathlon; qualifying rounds in several events; and the finals of the 10,000 meters. I’ll try and preview each days action as well as updates via the Twitter feed on the right. This opening weekend will be huge. In addition to…