High Schoolers really kicked into gear this weekend as State Meets were run in some states and qualifying began in others.

In Georgia, Stephen Hill (Miller Grove) jumped a nation leading 25′ 8.75″ in the long jump. Seven jumpers in all went over 24′ in various divisions. Jumping was good in in the high jump too as David Smith (Love Joy) cleared 7′ 2″ In the high jump.

In Florida Dentarius Locke screamed a sprint double of 10.32/20.70w and had a legal 200 of 20.58 (National Leader) in the prelims. His time broke state meet records of Jeff Demps (100) and Walter Dix (200).

Colorado pole vaulter Chase Cooper (Smoky Hill) cleared 17′ 4.75″ at his league meet to become the #2 vaulter in the country. And here in California Anna Jelmini (Shafter) took over #1 in the Shot Put with a 52′ 3″ throw at her league meet while Randall Carroll (Cathedral) took over the national lead in the 100 with his league win in 10.30 – best time in Cali in 17 years. Also in action this weekend was super hurdler Reggie Wyatt (La Sierra) running 36.06 in the 300H, 48.31 in the 400 and 21.81 in the deuce. He could give La Sierra a shot at the State team title all by himself.

Tough to follow yesterday's Doha meet, but that was the position the Osaka Grand Prix was in this morning (at least this morning my time). Osaka had decent performances but only two one lap races stood out - Jeremy Wariner's 44.69 win in the open 400 and Kerron Clement's 48.60 win over the hurdles. Both efforts put them in the #2 position on the yearly list for the season, and Wariner's mark made him only the second person under the 45 sec barrier this season Read More...

Today's meet in Doha got the weekend rolling like few meets do during the course of a season as 13 seasons bests were set in various events all over the stadium!Where to begin? Well Kerron Stewart (JAM) demolished the women's 100 field in 10.93 (+1.3) but was just short of her own yearly leading mark (10 Read More...

I know it's early in the season. There is lots of time for athletes to rise, fall, and even rise again. Already we have seen injuries, accidents, slow starts to training and other issues that could affect the final outcome to the season - which this year is the World Championships in Berlin. But somebody has to stick their neck out at some point and start looking ahead Read More...

A press release issued today outlines a new deal between NBC and the IAAF to broadcast the World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015. It is an extension of the deal that NBC has to broadcast this year's World Championships in Berlin. The agreement also includes some future telecasts of Golden League events during the same time period Read More...

The weather wasn't always cooperative this weekend, but that didn't stop an onslaught of athletes turning up the heat on the season this weekend. The meet I was most looking forward to was the Texas Twilight. Put together at the last minute it still put together some solid fields and had Tyson Gay once again taking on the 400 meters as he prepares to defend his sprint titles in Berlin - and neither Texas nor Tyson disappointed! A lot of races benefitted from the favorable breezes one usually finds in Texas and there were some great times albeit windy Read More...

Usain Bolt was in a car accident in Jamaica this week. No broken bones, but word from his manager yesterday is that he will be out the month of May, which means he will not be competing in Kingston this weekend. While Bolt said he was fine this is a smart move on the part of his people. Auto accidents can often result in spinal and back injuries even when no such injuries are apparent Read More...

The buzz today is that three track and field athletes have been identified as having tested positive for the blood boosting drug CERA as a result of the IOC's retest of samples submitted by athletes in Beijing. On the one hand this is good news. WADA was so excited that it gave the following statement,  "WADA commends the IOC, once again, for its approach Read More...

Speaking with a friend earlier today, I was informed that current world sprint leader Carmelita Jeter, will be running a sprint double in Guadaloupe this weekend. Jeter currently leads the world in both short sprints with marks of 10.96 and 22.59. While not a "major" competition, Guadaloupe has often been a site for sprinters to go and get a good start to their seasons Read More...

Thanks to reader Yvette Graf I have the start list for the Osaka Grand Prix. If you click on the link at the right under "Major Meet Links" you will be taken to the site. It is partly in English, partly in Japanese, but you will be able to see who will be competing and results will be available during the meet Read More...