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Is Noah the US Sprint GOAT?
The New Balance Invitational was everything that was advertised. Great distance running. Some exciting field events. And some electric sprints and hurdles. Grant Holloway continued his decade long 60H winning streak. Gabby Thomas dominated over 300m, in spite of being slightly under the weather. And Mikiah Brisco looked good in her 60m win. The talk of Boston however, was the scintillating 6.44sec 60m run by Noah Lyles. Hot talk because it lowered his PB from last year’s 6.51, which in turn begged the question – how fast can Noah run in the 100m? A major conversation given that last year’s improvement to 6.51 resulted in Noah’s first World title in…
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Pre Trials, Trials, Next the Games
This has been one of the most exciting years ever for track and field. Thank you Covid-19. After all, the Covid virus has had an affect on everything that has happened on this planet for the better part of a year and a half – and continues to do so! It basically shut down the 2020 season of track and field. In effect forcing everyone to have a much longer “pre-season” to 2021 than normal. While the initial feelings by all were of sadness and despair, the unintended consequences seem to be the creation of stronger and better bases for training. The ultimate result being a season so far that…
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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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Track & Field’s Most Exciting Event
Track and field is blessed to have some of the greatest athletes ever competing today. Nearly every event has individuals that are either in the top 3-5 all time in their event or are a world record threat! And that’s not counting the events where the present works record holder is competing! As a matter of fact, there are events where all of the aforementioned are currently competing! It’s a great time to be a fan of this sport from a purely competitive perspective. Ironically, the most exciting event is often treated as a “step child” by the sport. But then, many of the sports’ events are treated that way…
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First Prediction – US 100 Men
It’s the end of the year, and a stones throw to the US Trials. That, and the suspension of Coleman has everyone trying to figure out the men’s sprint squad. That’s not going to be easy, because not everyone competed in 2020. Those that did had an abbreviated season and right now everyone is training for 2021. So picking this team today is going to be tough. As a matter of fact, it’s probably easier to pick the Tokyo final knowing who most of the rest of the world will be sending to the Games. But who said it has to be easy? This is the fun part of being…
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Doha Review
The 2019 World Championships just concluded. And I have to look at it from two perspectives. From the perspective of location, it was an abject failure. Temperature wise it was so hot that the only time to go out comfortably was midnight. Prompting the walks and marathons to be held – at midnight. And even then athletes were dropping like flies. Too hot for “fans” to attend until local hero Mutaz Barshim competed. Leaving an empty stadium for much of the meet. With athletes taking victory laps in front of no one! And forcing the meet to move to the beginning of October instead of the usual August timeframe –…
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USATF Championships Review
For four days America’s best track and field athletes got together in Des Moines Iowa to decide who would represent the US at the World Championships. Lots to say, some good, some bad, so let’s start with the bad. I’m not sure what the selection process is for championship sites, and I understand that this meet is going to be held in the summer, but how many times have I seen this meet affected by rain? So on Championship Sunday we’re hit by rain yet again. Now we know USATF’s (*cough * Nike’s) affinity for Eugene where it rains most of the year. And similarly Des Moines where it rains…
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USATF Preview
We’re a little over a week from the USATF Championships. No more competitions to watch. The time has finally arrived. And after months of meets – we still don’t know much! With Worlds being so late, some athletes have been very cautious. Then there are the collegiate kids that have already peaked for a championship. Following are my best guess at who will emerge for Doha. Men’s 100 Justin Gatlin has a bye and only needs to show up and run once. Christian Coleman is the leader in the clock and the track. Noah Lyles has decided against the double so now it’s pot luck after Coleman – we get…
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Who Wins the London 100?
Personally I think the men’s 400 presents the matchup of the meet. For the millions watching this year’s World Championships however, most will be tuned in on Saturday to see if Usain Bolt can win one final 100 title before exiting, stage left. Entering the stadium, this is a very interesting race. For starters, Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin – who between them have won every Olympic title in the new millennium except ’00 – have both been sub par this season. And interestingly enough, both men enter London with identical season’s bests of 9.95. What are the odds of that, especially since their last Worlds’ final finding them only…
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Can the US Return After a Decade?
Ten years. A decade. A lot can happen in 10 years. Ten years ago, the iPhone made its debut – now no one can remember how we lived WITHOUT smartphones. Blackberry and Nokia ruled the cell phone world, and if you were really cool you owned a Razr! Young people today can’t remember either of those names with a market dominated by iPhones and Galaxy’s. A decade ago was the last time the US men won a Major 4×1. Winning in Osaka against a Bolt/Powell lead squad 37.78 to 37.89 – Jamaica’s first sub 38! Believe it or not, that race was run with a substitute on anchor for the…