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World Championships Review, Individuals Pt 2
Time to finish up my thoughts on the individual performances from the World Championships. As this was not one of my favorite Worlds, for reasons already discussed, there were more performances that I was disappointed in than those I was ecstatic about. So many that as I started writing this I had to edit down to a reasonable number. After all the entire meet wasn’t quite a disappointment. So, while I was disappointed in the time for the men’s 4×4 for example, it’s not listed. Nor are other events where I simply was down on the performances. I tried to keep my “disappointment” to the way the athletes performed. I’ve…
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T.G.I.F. Again – Tyson Gay Is Fast Again
He’s baaacckk. That’s the only conclusion I can come to after watching Tyson Gay blitz a world leading 9.86 in Kingston over the weekend. The slow start. The mid race, drag car acceleration. The race was vintage Tyson Gay. Most impressive however, was the way he overcame the blitzkrieg start of Nesta Carter and out ran the seasons early sensation, Doc Patton. Gay laid waste to these athletes like a sprinter who has few peers -and at=#2 all time that exactly how he should look. On the heels of a trio of 45 second quarters – two open and one relay – Tyson opened sharp. Sharp enough that we should…
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Stockholm Begins Post Olympic Season
The post Olympics season began today in Stockholm and I proved to myself just how big a track junkie I am as I watched the meet on my cellphone as I drove around taking care of business today – such is the life of a track nerd! Unless the first meet after a major is Zurich, that first one is usually a bit “down” compared to the Games – and Stockholm fit that description. There were some very nice fields, but for the most part the competition was a cut below what we got used to during the Olympics – duh. While the marks weren’t as stellar as those we…
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London Olympics – Jamaica 4×1, 36.84 WR
Saturday was the final day of action on the track, and the meet closed out in style with a surprise or two; outstanding performances; and another world record. The field events led the way in the surprise department. First in the women’s high jump several big names made early exits, including Emma Greene Tregaro (SWE), Chaunte Lowe (USA); and defending champion Tia Hellebaut (BEL). In the end it was World champion Anna Chicherova (RUS), veteran Svetlana Shkolina (RUS) and collegiate champion Brigetta Barrett (USA) jumping at 2.03m/6’8" to decide the medals – first attempt clearance for Chicherova taking gold, second clearance for Barrett earning silver, and third attempt gaining bronze…
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On The Fly Update
Like I said in my last post, things are happening fast, with the Games literally around the corner. Had surgery earlier today (gall bladder removal) and as I lay here at 3:00am unable to sleep it’s me and the tablet and track and field catching up on a few things I missed this weekend. Let’s start with the Russian champs which rank up there with the US, Kenya, and Jamaican meets for Games’ impact. Especially on the women’s side where we finally get some Europeans everything serious sprint consideration. Let’s start with Aleksandra Fedoriva’s PR 22.19 victory in the 200 – moving get into US/Jamaica territory! Fedoriva was a member…
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Video Updates – 2/18
For those of you that enjoy competition videos, the Videos page has been updated with the following recent indoor performances: Birmingham Grand Prix, Men’s 60 Hurdles Birmingham Grand Prix, Men’s 60 Meters Adam Kszczot’s 1:44.57 Kirani James’ 45.19 Genzebe Dibaba’s 4:00.13 Anna Chicherova’s 2.06m / 6’ 9” Jenn Suhr’s 4.88m/16’ Indoor AR WL And by request the Men’s 4×1 final from Daegu Enjoy
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Weekend Action, Feb 4/5
It’s Super Bowl weekend and football and food are on most people’s minds. The track world seems to have had that in mind when scheduling meets, because the slate was rather sparse. Even so there were still some outstanding performances on the small ovals this weekend. It’s only the first weekend in February, but the field events are already on fire this year, and the event that is leading the way is the women’s pole vault. A couple of weeks ago we had Holly Bleasdale (GBR) emerge and become the #2 all-time indoor vaulter. Today she is only #2 on the season as Jenn Suhr (USA) screamed over 4.88m (16’…