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

Post Trials Notes and Paris

Jul 7th, 2012
11:14 am PDT

Everything is happening fast a furious now, and I’ve been a bit under the weather and trying to get caught up. So with the Diamond League already back under way,a few thoughts on Paris and where everyone is at this point with only weeks to go to London. First topic Usain Bolt. In spite of some amazing performances being turned in from several athletes, "what's wrong with Bolt" seems to be leading the conversation Read More...

Kingston Doesn’t Change the London 100

Jun 30th, 2012
10:10 am PDT

The defeat of Usain Bolt at the Jamaican Trials has not changed the Olympic 100 meters. Why? Because as I've said before Bolt has always been beatable. It's not easy to do, and not everyone has the ability, but it's always been possible. It requires two things: a sprinter with serious top end speed and a killer finish; and an average/typical start by Bolt Read More...

Blake Upsets Bolt at Jamaica Trials!

Jun 29th, 2012
8:18 pm PDT

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) 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...

Lessons Learned From Women’s Day in Rome

May 31st, 2012
3:52 pm PDT

The results are in, and after watching the Rome leg of the Diamond League I think I learned a few things. Prefontaine is only two days away, so things could change a bit over the next 48 hours. Results of the meet can be found here, so without going into each and every race and result, here are my thoughts on what happened in Rome Read More...

Back to Code for Some After Ostrava

May 25th, 2012
3:38 pm PDT

Well, that wasn’t quite what I expected! Let’s start with the obvious, Usain Bolt (JAM) 10.04 - the slowest 100 meter final of Bolt’s professional career! That’s what I said. He ran 10.03 (0.7) in Rethymno in  his pro debut at the distance in 2007. Then opened up in Spanish Town in Mar ‘08 at 10 Read More...

Bolt and Jeter Lead Weekend Highlights

May 6th, 2012
10:02 am PDT

As expected, speed was on display this weekend at the Jamaica Invitational - over and over and over again. The usual suspects - Bolt, Jeter, Blake - did their thing, but there were also a couple of surprises. First the expected, and a touch of surprise as Carmelita Jeter (USA) powered her way to a WL 10 Read More...

2012 Outdoor Preview – Sprints

Mar 22nd, 2012
11:32 am PDT

Now that we’re completely done with the indoor season, it’s time to start taking a look at how this outdoor season might possibly shape up. More importantly, at how the Games might shape up. So as I go through the various events on the Olympic slate, I’m going to try and Identify those individuals that I feel as of today ill be in the mix – the contenders and potential contenders Read More...

What Role Will Injury Play in the London Sprints?

Feb 14th, 2012
6:08 pm PST

I ask that question because with approximately six months until London, we are already talking about injuries and/or potential injuries to top level athletes – most notably Usain Bolt’s visit to a German doctor. Coming on the heels of Bolt ending his 2011 season on an injury note, this could become a significant story line as we get closer to the Games Read More...

Has the U.S. Lost Its Sprint Mojo?

Jan 31st, 2012
10:11 am PST

Talking with a neighbor who is a fan, but not an “uber” fan, of the sport after this weekend’s U.S. Open, I was asked “what’s wrong with the U.S. sprinters?” When I asked what he meant, he basically said that we didn’t win either sprint (won by Asafa Powell & Veronica Campbell). I responded that many of our best weren’t at the meet, and his follow up was that we didn’t win the World Championships, or the one before that, or the Olympic Games either Read More...