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Let’s Prepare for LA28
As I write this the 2026 season is basically over. The Diamond League Final is done and the World Ultimate meet is within days of being held. We’re facing a few months of “off-season” training before the 2027 indoor season will begin. With the 2026 season ending, only the 2027 season remains before the Olympic year begins. That gives the sport roughly two seasons to build momentum before Los Angeles 2028. That’s not a lot of time to build an audience in this country, which is why I’m sounding the alarm, now. Currently the sport of track and field is focused on Europe. When you look at the countries that…
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It Doesn’t Get Much Better
It’s the toughest team in the world to make. That’s the general consensus when it comes to the US track and field team. Of course, if anyone has doubt, go and watch reruns of this year’s contest. Starting with the second half of the meet. Then try to pick your favorite event. Let’s see, you could select the men’s 110H. That has Grant Holloway running sub 13, three times. Two of them sub 12.90. Including 12.86, the #4 time in history (he also owns #2). Behind him were 12.93 (Freddie Crittenden) and 12.96 (Daniel Robert’s). Making this the first race in history with three men under 13.00! Times of 13.03…
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Two Weeks Until Trials
As the NCAA Championships end. The European Championships begin to hit their stride. And the New York Grand Prix is in the books. We sit two weeks away from the Olympic Trials! Usually by now, things are pretty solidified as far as who the strong contenders for Team USA are. As I look at my own notes, and graphs, etc however, I’m still hesitant on many many spots for this team. So much so that I’m also hesitant on selecting relay squads just yet! As I see a lot of spots still up in the air this late in the process. Why? Because many athletes have competed so little. For…
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Budapest Was As Good As Advertised
Prior to the start of Budapest 2023, I foresaw this as potentially one of the greatest championships ever. The losses of several top athletes didn’t deter me from this thought. Now that the meet has been run and the results are in, I would say that my original assessment was correct. The depth of talent in this sport is greater than it’s ever been. From late 30 year old veterans to young 19 and 20 year olds, I don’t think the sport has ever been better talent wise from top to bottom. Things started quite excitedly as the finals of the mixed relay and women’s 10,000 provided both tragedy and…
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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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The Games Have Arrived!
It’s here. The Tokyo Olympic Games have finally arrived.We’ve had several sports already take place, and now it’s time for the heart of the Olympics, Track and Field, to take to the stage! The world has been waiting for five years, half a decade, for the next week and a half. And while there have been World Championships and other championship meets that have taken place in the time in between, for track and field the Olympics are IT!. It’s the one time every four years that the world actually pays attention to this sport. Many people don’t know that for most of his career, Usain Bolt rarely competed –…
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It’s Prediction Time – US Trials Relays
This season has been moving along so quickly, that it’s been too fast to keep up with – pun intended. Literally every few days something extraordinary has occurred. Athing Mu, Trayvon Bromell, Allyson Felix, Kenny Bednarek, Gabby Thomas, Terrance Laird, and this is just the tip of the iceberg! It’s now mere weeks from the NCAA Championships and the Olympic Trials – and time to start to spec out who’s going to be taking that trip to Tokyo. So that’s what I’m going to start doing – give my predictions of who I think us young to represent the US at the Games. I’m going to begin a bit differently…
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MtSAC and the Journey Begins
I’ve been quiet for a bit. Just watching all of the exciting results pour in. After all, its been “early” in the season, and while it’s been fun to watch, the real running hasn’t quite begun. Now however, college conferences are beginning – signaling that the end of the collegiate season is just around the corner. And the Trials are just over a month away. So results begin to take on a different level of meaning. Making MtSAC an important meet this year! Important for several reasons. One, it’s the first meet of an American series being touted as, “The Road to Tokyo” here in the US. But more importantly…
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Were Meets Necessary This Year?
I am a track and field junkie! It’s easily my favorite sport. So I’ve been pleased to have track back to watch. But everyone hasn’t been as excited. I’ve had some people ask me, “why are they running?”. The position being that, a) it’s not safe to be competing right now. and b) what we’ve been watching isn’t really track and field. At least some of the earlier competitions. Valid questions. Having gone through this truncated season, some things worked, and some things didn’t. But, in the long run, I personally think it was necessary. Should we have had meets? Actually a question that’s been asked by many is, should we…
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Doha Will Be Remembered for the Four
World Championships are the highlight of the sport. They showcase the best that track and field has to offer. During each one, the absolute best of the best rises to the top to create the meet’s most lasting memories. The inaugural championships in 1983 was the debut of Carl Lewis to the world. The followup in ’87 was the debut of Been Johnson. Ninety one was the most epic long jump competition in history and the fall of the world record. So what will Doha be remembered for? What event(s) and competitor(s) will capture the crowd and our imaginations? After much thought, I’ve come to the conclusion, that this will…