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Gout, Quincy, and Christian
The 2025 season is getting off to a flying start. I know it’s not quite 2025 just yet, but in locations south of the equator, it’s already track and field weather. Specifically Australia where sixteen year old Gout Gout has been creating quite a stir. With an Australian record of 20.04, a windy 10.04, and a legal 10.18, he’s drawing comparisons to WR holder Usain Bolt. Including many predicting him to be the next sprints WR holder. While I’m very excited about this young man, and expect to see more good things from him, I’ve been watching the sport long enough to know that youth success rarely translates to WR…
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Pre Trials Thoughts
With most country’s selection meets literally days away, there are still many many questions regarding who will be lining up in Paris France. Not sure I can remember a year with so many late debuts, or so few competitions for athletes that should be in contention. Usually by now, I have a pretty good idea who will be on Team USA. Yes, there are always surprises, but in general the top athletes have usually separated themselves by now. This year however, is kind of like a box of chocolates. I’m not completely sure what we’re going to get. As a matter of fact, I would say my confidence level in…
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A Solid US Team is Headed to Budapest
Another Championships is in the book. The American team has been selected, for this year’s World Championships and it looks to be pretty strong. Our depth across the board is pretty amazing. As we have world leading athletes in most disciplines, both men and women. In many events we will be leaving athletes at home that are capable of standing on the podium in Budapest. Making me wish for A Worlds that was not so restrictive in representation. Another conversation entirely. For now, we have what we have. In that regard, we’ll be a string as ever. Here are a few of my favorite highlights from this year’s Championships. Men’s…
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NCAA Preview
We’re a day out from the NCAA Championships and I think I’m nearly as nervous as the athletes and teams are! Based on what I’ve seen during the conference and Regional competitions, there should be some serious fireworks in Eugene this week, because this year, we’ve got serious matchups in just about every event on the program. If there are any “clear” favorites, they’re probably two hurdlers – one male, one female. On the men’s side that would be Trey Cunningham (FlSt). The clear leader (13.07) heading into the heats. He’s been running like he’s the second coming of Grant Holloway this season – at least in the high hurdles.…
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Regional Forecast – HOT
This has been a very interesting weekend of track and field. Here in the State of California, the various high school “sectional” Championships were held. The qualifiers for next week’s State Championship meet. So there was excitement up and down the state, as those cut throat meets whittled the playing field down to about 27 competitors per event. As a matter of fact, we ended up with a new state record of 10.14 in the 100 – by a junior no less. As we head to Clovis and what will certainly be one firecracker of a competition. At the elite level, the two primary meets were in Birmingham England and…
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Team USA v.2017
Team USA, the athletes that will be attending the World Championships in London, was selected this past weekend. After nearly a week of some of the toughest competition on the planet, how does the squad that emerged from Sacramento look? Well, going in it looked like we were headed for a transition, with several old stars looking vulnerable. Coming out it looks like a partial transition took place – some oldies hanging on for that last shot at a global medal, some having to say goodbye. The resulting mix of old and new looking to be potentially one of the strongest teams we’ve had in recent years. In the middle…
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Pre Trials Status Check
With the Olympic Trials less than two weeks away, I thought I would take a quick look at where we’re at. First a word on doping which once again seems to lead the discussion. Doping This sport just CAN’T seem to get away from the issue of doping! Ben Johnson (1988) opened the door to sub 9.80 in the 100, and to an open conversation on doping! It took until 2002 and BALCO before that conversation became loud – though many wanted to pretend it was an American problem – despite all evidence to the contrary. Now, in 2016, it’s clearly a global epidemic in which even the IAAF has…
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Prefontaine was HOT!
Once again Pre was as good a meet as any on the planet. Which begs the question, why can’t we do this more often? It’s a rhetorical question of course, because the simple answer is MONEY! It takes a boat load of money to put on a quality meet these days, and who has that kind of money laying around? Yes, Eugene touts itself as "Track Town USA", but let’s be real – it’s in Nike’s back yard! Nuff said. I’ve said for years that the answer to track and field’s "issues" with attendance is not tied to street races, concerts, or pole vaulting in the parking lot. The answer…
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Events I’ll Be Watching at US Nationals
Typically Nationals is one of the two hottest meets of the year behind only the World Championships or Olympics. This is an "off season" however, that once every four years non championship season. So the full complement of elites looking to make a global team is a bit lighter than usual. My biggest disappointment in this regards is the Men’s 100 which is missing Justin Gatlin and the new kid on the block Trayvon Bromell, as neither of the year’s two fastest Americans is entered in the competition. I think that could have been the match up of the meet. That said however, I think there are several match ups…
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World Championships Review–Individuals Pt1
Now for the fun part, looking at individual performances – and there were certainly some very good ones. First however, let’s get a bit of perspective by taking a look at medal counts. The double digit medal earners: United States 25 total, 6 gold, 14 silver, 5 bronze. Russia 17 total, 7 gold, 4 silver, 6 bronze Kenya 12 total, 5 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze Ethiopia 10 total, 3 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze As expected Russians performed well at home. While traditional European power Germany continues to have difficulty getting back to Eastern Bloc prominence. In general there was no core of dominant nations, but a relatively even…