This is my third year choosing Athletes of the Year for my blog!
And I think it's fair to say THIS year's may be the toughest!
When I TRY to explain my choices, you'll understand why!
I'll be doing the same categories (and in the same order!) as last year--meaning the Men go first--with my World, then US AOY picks, followed by my World & US Performances of the Year, and ending with my Personalities of the Year, World & US.
Then I'll do the same for the Women!
Sooooo---let's get going!
World Athlete of the Year--Men
CHRISTIAN TAYLOR
T&FN chose Ashton Eaton as their AOY--and I could fully agree with them--but for one electrifying moment in time!
There he stood, at the top of the runway, his final effort, with the ever-dangerous Pablo Pichardo with HIS last attempt to follow!
Taylor ripped off a chunk of TJ history, coming THIS close to the much-respected WR of Jonathon Edwards!
His 59-9 was a mere 3.50 inches away from removing Edwards from the Record Book, and shattered the American Record!
Nothing against Eaton, but Eaton's WR didn't shock us like Taylor's NEAR-WR did!
Thus, in a VERY close decision, Taylor is Aaron K's T&F Record Book's 2016 Men's Athlete of the Year!
Honorable Mentions go to Wayde Van Niekerk, Asbel Kiprop, Justin Gatlin, Julius Yego, Pawel Fajdek, Joe Kovacs, and Usain Bolt.
US Athlete of the Year--Men
CHRISTIAN TAYLOR
As always, if an American is my World AOY, he or she automatically becomes my AOY for the US!
Believe me, with both Taylor and Eaton being Americans, it made this award all the tougher!
As I intimated above, Eaton was no slouch!
In a blog that honors World Records (and US, Collegiate & HSR's!), it wasn't easy giving this title to someone whose AR loses a few points to someone's WORLD Record! (And who ALSO broke the American Record!!)
Anyway, deed is done, and I'm satisfied with it.
Are you?
I have a few US Honorable Mentions to announce.
Leading the way has to be LaShawn Merritt, who ran a PR of 43.65 to take Silver in Beijing!
As noted in my "Best & Worst" blog, the 400 was one of the best events in China!
So what about Justin Gatlin?
Would a Gold (or two!!) in the WC's have given this award to Mr Controversy?
(Can I take the fifth on that, please?)
Anyway, add Gatlin to my list of American HM's.
Others who deserve to be here include Evan Jager, Marquis Dendy, Kovacs, and someone who probably should be in a whole separate category!
In fact, let's create a--
Medal of Distinction for--
ARIES MERRITT!
He may have had a messed up kidney--but his HEART was as healthy as they come!!
Thank you, Aries, and may your health and talent return in full!
World Performance of the Year--Men
ASHTON EATON
Yes, Taylor's TJ was great--for all the reasons stated above, but it was NOT a WR!
While Eaton has the talent to add a LOT more than 6 points to his own WR--as he did in Beijing--and maybe someday he will--a WR in my Book (Pun intended!) speaks volumes! (Again, pun intended! LOL)
As this was the only individual WR for the Men (There was the DMR too!), it gets my POY award!
HM's go to Van Niekerk's 43.48, Bolt's 19.55 & Gatlin's 9.74, Kiprop's 3:26.69, Yego's 304-5, and Fajdek's 275-4.
Special Mention--again--goes to Aries Merritt and his 13.04--just DAYS away from a kidney transplant operation!!
US Performance of the Year--Men
ASHTON EATON
Same reasoning as above!
HM's for Merritt, Taylor, Kovacs, Gatlin (for 2 events!), and Jager!
World Personality of the Year--Men
USAIN BOLT
I know, I know, I've heard all the arguments!
But this guy--this GOD??--came through when ONLY Bolt's Coach & Family thought he could come through--AGAIN!!
Not only did he show Gatlin & the World who's BOSS--he did it with his usual flair & panache and almost-frightening nonchalance!!
I really do NOT know what will happen to this sport when he finally retires!!
Gotta like Eliud Kipchoge--who was--HEH--un-FLAP-able in the Berlin Marathon!
How he held himself together--as his SHOE came apart!--and then didn't CRY in interviews post-race--I'll never know!
US Personality of the Year--Men
EVAN JAGER
For maybe the same reasons I just spoke of Mr Kipchoge, Jager's World Class FALL in the 3000SC--as he was on his way to a Tri-Fecta (AR, sub-8:00 time, and a WIN!)--and his seeming composure afterward--says a lot about one's inner fortitude---the place where one's Personality is built!
But I sure wish he'd go the shaggy hair route again---that BUN just doesn't do it for me!!
(I know I'm probably boring you with this, but I hand Mr Merritt yet ANOTHER Special Mention here too!!)
In the same vein, I have to add Justin Gatlin to this list--as HIS composure was phenomenal--in the face of all the HATE tossed his way all season!
And he's just a---nice guy!
OK, folks, let the Women come forth!!
World Athlete of the Year--Women
ANITA WLODARCZYK
Have you seen who Track and Field News picked yet?
It was that OTHER woman who is just as deserving of the Top Prize!
So why did I choose Anita over Genzebe Dibaba?
Here, the explanation is a little more convoluted than in the Men's AOY choice.
BOTH broke World Records!
Again, they were the only two individuals to get WR's (the other ALSO being a DMR!).
They were in two distinct areas of the sport!
Genzebe had run a 3:54.11 earlier in the season.
We all knew she had a SPECIAL talent unseen outside of China (At least, the China of 1993!), and maybe her older sister, Tirunesh!
And WOW!, how she did it!!
After a 2:04 "half", she ran a 60 flat--ALONE!--then finished at the same pace over the final 300!
But Anita did three things better than Genzebe in 2015.
1. She was undefeated all year--in 11 competitions! Dibaba lost a few!
2. Her WR skipped an entire METER (and a half!)--going from the 79's to the 81's. It reminded me of when Bob Beamon skipped the 28 foot world, leaping (literally!) from the 27's to the 29's in the LJ!
3. Genzebe broke the WR by 0.39 seconds! Anita shattered her's by almost 6 FEET!! To be equal (or thereabouts!), Dibaba would have had to run about 3:46 or 3:47!! (Aside: Dibaba SAYS she can run faster--maybe 3:48!!)
Honorable Mentions go to Dafne Schippers & Elaine Thompson, Allyson Felix, Almaz Ayana, Tianna Bartoletta, Caterine Ibarguen, Christine Schwanitz, Denia Caballero, and Brianne Theisen-Eaton.
US Athlete of the Year--Women
ALLYSON FELIX
Oh man!!
How I HATED to ignore---well, maybe not ignore, but bypass!--an American Record!
Shannon Rowbury's removing the iconic Mary Decker Slaney from the AR she set 32 years before--and doing it in an event group I LOVE--could have easily tipped my scale in her direction!
But the OVERALL record of Felix saved it for her!
She ran a sub-22 in her specialty.
She got a PR, and WON--the WC race--against a strong up-and-comer, in Shaunae Miller.
Yes, all that, but what finally gave this award to Felix was her Relay leg in Beijing!
I know--Relay leg splits aren't REAL!
But come on, folks--47.72??!!
A VERY strong Honorable Mention to Rowbury!
And to Shannon's arch-rival all season, Jenny Simpson.
Other HM's go to Tori Bowie, Jasmin Stowers (DESPITE the Beijing BLOW-UP!!), Bartoletta, Keturah Orji, Kara Winger, Michelle Carter, and Shamier Little.
But here too, I'm going to create a Special Award--for--
Courage & Grace in Defeat & Victory.
(Okay, so the name is rather lengthy!)
But there was no other way for me to honor and give full respect to BOTH women!
I speak, of course, about how MOLLY HUDDLE and EMILY INFELD handled themselves after "THAT moment" in Beijing!
It was profoundly sad to watch the horror shown in Molly's face as she stood side-by-side with her friend and foe alike--Ms Infeld--as they awaited the verdict--probably already known to both!
And my tears of sadness became intermingled with tears of joy, watching Emily's face as SHE came to realize the final result!!
LOVE to BOTH of them!
World Performance of the Year--Women
ANITA WLODARCZYK
Oh, how I WANTED to call it a TIE!!
But, as noted above, the margin by which Wlodarczyk broke her own WR, as opposed to the much lesser amount Dibaba broke Qu Yunxia's--made all the difference!
As they say--In any other year...!
Honorable Mention's--besides to Ms Dibaba!--go to both Schippers & Thompson for their magnificent WC race, and to Caballero (and slightly less, to Sandra Perkovic!), as well to Melissa Bishop, Ayana, Stowers, Habiba Ghribi, Ibarguen, Bartoletta, and BTE (for her Gotzis score!).
US Performance of the Year--Women
SHANNON ROWBURY
This one was EASY!!
All season--and in fact, since maybe 2011--the "experts" were wondering not IF, but WHEN--Jenny Simpson would break Mary Slaney's AR of 3:57.12.
She came oh-so-close in 2014 with her 3:57.22.
At that time, Rowbury was more than 2 full seconds slower!
She STILL was--as those two-- as well as Sifan Hassan and a certain Ethiopian!--lined up for the start of the Monaco DL 1500.
We all know what happened.
Dibaba's 3:50.07 was a race against the clock!
And Simpson's race was too--as well as a bid to catch Hassan--who she'd beaten before!
Rowbury, shadowing Jenny until the last straight, attacked, and Jenny, Sure Bet as she was thought to be, couldn't respond.
Rowbury got Mary's AR by a solid 0.83 seconds!!
That said, I must give Simpson's time of 3:57.30 an HM award!
Others go to Stowers's THREE fast early season times of 12.40, 12.39, and 12.35, as well to Kara Winger's near-AR, Felix's 49.26 (NOT her Relay leg, as this award goes to individual efforts only!!), Little's 53.74, Bartoletta in Beijing, Orji's 46's ( A rarity in the US recently!), and to Huddle & Infeld, as well as to Des Linden's Boston effort.
While not a "special" award, I must give HM's to 3 Pole Vaulters--Sandi Morris, Demi Payne, and to THEIR inspiration--Jenn Suhr--for making this the "Year of the Vault" in America (and the World??).
World Personality of the Year--Women
GENZEBE DIBABA
This woman broke the WR for 1500--which had stood for 22 years, and seemed impossible to break!
But I give her this award not so much for breaking the record--but for STATING she WOULD--and then DOING IT!!
What BALLS this babe has!!
(And yes, I'm not ashamed to admit I think she's a BABE!!)
And she's done this several times--both INdoors and OUTdoors!
She "failed" once or twice--her 5000 attempt--but mostly, she succeeded!
So for that kind of CHUTZPAH, I say her's is a Personality many would kill for!!
While this may seem a bit weak in comparison--and it's at least partly based on whether she comes through next summer--my first HM here goes to Sarah Brown!
While she set some PR's this year--it's not for that!
It's because when she was SHOCKED to discover she was pregnant (after running some poor races!), she immediately said her due date of March 21, 2016 would NOT inhibit or prohibit her from trying for a place on TeamUSA for the Rio Olympic Games--with the Trials coming a bare 3 months post-partum!!
She in fact is hard at training--well into her 6th month!--and looking VERY fit!!
US Personality of the Year--Women
MOLLY HUDDLE and EMILY INFELD (a tie!)
For all the reasons noted above--and in my "Best & Worst" post--and well, just everything!!
Thank you again, Ladies, for both Honor and Grace in Victory and Defeat!
We ALL won--because of how you handled it all!!
HM's to Brown and to Kara Goucher (for coming back from all kinds of nightmarish situations!).
Finally, while her OUTdoor mark couldn't match her INdoor mark, I'll give my last Personality Award to--Raven Saunders.
Yes, she broke the Collegiate Frosh Class OUTdoor SP record--but I give an HM to Raven mostly for her EXUBERANCE!!
I've never met her, or seen her perform except on videos, but I'm SURE she'd knock my socks off the moment she walked into the room!!
And that's BEFORE she picked up that 8.8 pound ball!!
And that's a wrap!
The only "news" I have now is really---well, confusing!
Remember my reporting Jenn Suhr had Vaulted 15-5 (4.70) in a NY state meet a few days ago?
And that she'd be vaulting again--on the 29th?
Well, she did--I think.
But it's not THAT she vaulted--it's how high!
I've seen that "4.70/15-5" reported ALSO as 4.75/15-7"!!
Both marks given by more than one source each!
I'll let you know what's what--hopefully in my next results post!
Meanwhile, remember that she reached 15-9 earlier in December, for her 2015-2016 INdoor season World Leader!!
See you soon!
And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Best & Worst of 2015
With 3 days left in the year, I hesitated posting this today!
You see, this has been a year of some pretty brutal shockwaves attacking our sport, and with about 80 hours left, I can't say there won't be another!
But I'll take my chances!
First, I have a few marks to report--always the most important reason my blog exists!
Jenn Suhr is riding high---literally!
After a 15-9 opener to her 2016 season a few weeks ago, she went over 15-5 yesterday!
She then tried a height of 4.90 (16-0.75), but missed her 3 attempts.
She'll compete again tomorrow!
Janice Keppler was far back (13-5.25).
And a 14 year old HS Freshman--Erica Ellis--topped 11-9.75.
Why report the latter?
Because the Frosh Class record is 12-9.50, and Ellis reportedly has 12 foot-plus talent!
She also competes again tomorrow!
Don't know if records were broken, but a 7 year old (!!)--Rhoan Kaulder-- ran the 60 & 200 in 8.80 and 31.24 in the same meet as Suhr.
In a HS meet, a McGorty brother--Brandon--opened with a 1000 in 2:28.74.
Noah and Josephus Lyles had good marks--Josephus a 500 in 1:04.66, and Noah a 6.35 (& 6.40 heat) in the 55.
Kate Murphy also opened strong, winning the 1000 easily in 2:50.56.
Boxing Day Road races in Canada saw Rob Watson take the 10 Mile in 49:07, and Sheila Reid the 4 Mile in 21:58.
Now on to my Best & Worst of 2015!
I'll begin VERY close to home--with my favorite blog posts of the year.
Winner is--Opinions on Track and Field History and Culture (in 2 parts)!!
The 2nd part got LOTS of views!!
Other good ones---IMHO!--were The Legacy of Ron Clarke, On OT's (and other things), Two WR's (and TONS more), World Relays--It had Everything, and Shanghai Fizzles, Collegiates Sizzle.
The latter got a few compliments for its Title!!
But the ones I'm probably most proud of were the 12 (TWELVE!!) posts I did covering the Beijing World Championships!
There was the Schedule, 4 Prediction Preview posts, 6 Results posts (each 3rd day, for each gender!), then a Summary.
Speaking of Blogs, I give Best New Blogger (AND Most Interesting New Blogger Personality!) Award to--
Lauren Kleppin.
BTW, she also happens to be a rather fast marathoner!
Watch for her at the OT's!
While not strictly about 2015, I want to rate the Best DECADES of Track and Field News magazine!
I've read every issue from 1957 on (also the OG issue of 1956), but I'll only rate the Decades from the 1960's to the 2010's--six total.
1. The 60's.
Not because I'm a "60's guy", but because its (normally) 24 pages were FILLED with results, features, meet & event stories, Letters to the Editor, and LISTS--something missing from more recent decades!
2. The 90's.
Maybe because that was such a fascinating Decade--with the Chinese explosions, the Barcelona & Atlanta Olympics, and maybe the final Decade before Africa REALLY took over the Distances!
3. The 70's
T&FN published 18 issues for a couple of years (1973 & 1974). There were the Olympics in Munich & Montreal. It saw the end of the Jim Ryun and Ron Clarke eras, AND the Life and Death of Steve Prefontaine!
4th is the 80's, 5th the 00's, and 6th, THIS (half finished) Decade!
Biggest Disappointment
The Van Damme DL Women's Mile!
It had a fantastic field, and I predicted (in an "extra" post!) a TON of records being broken, and many additions & revisions to my A-T lists for the World and US!
While Faith Kipyegon's winning time of 4:16.71 wasn't "bad", it coulda & shoulda been a whole lot faster!
And why didn't BOTH Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson at least TRY for Mary Slaney's American Record of--heh--4:16.71??
To say an entire event is the Worst may be a bit hyperbolic.
But to see the Year of the High Jump morph into a winning height of 2.34 in Beijing is pretty SICK (and not in the sense teens use that word!).
The other "Worst" Men's event is the 800.
A slow final at the WC, and the scandal involving a certain USATF Champion! (See below!)
The Women's Worst Events?
The 100H.
The US FOURsome (3, plus a Wild Card) DERAILED in China!!
Oh, one of them got 4th, but.....BUT fourth being the BEST the US could do??
JEEZ!!
The TJ and SP sucked some, even though Caterine Ibarguen and Christine Schwanitz both shone!
It's just that both events didn't have the FIRE that some competition for Ibarguen, or a healthy & fit Valerie Adams would've added to the mix!
The 10000 was won in the mid-31's--notwithstanding what happened in the bid for Bronze! (See below!)
MoBot-itis strikes the Women's race!
The Best Frosh in Cross Country this past fall?
For the Men, it was Grant Fisher.
And for the Women, the award is Allie Ostrander's.
An amazing fact about Five Foot Tall Allie---She was a star Basketballer for her Kenai (Alaska) HS team!!
The BEST Events?
For the Men, the Grand Prize goes to--the 100 & 200, but especially the former!
All friggin' year, MB talk has been--Is Bolt Finished?--and secondarily--a Death Wish for Justin Gatlin!!
Yet it was Gatlin who came into Beijing the favorite--unless you were talking to Bolt-ophiles!!
It was the Lone Ranger vs the Evil Cattle Rustler!
And the Masked Man WON BOTH!!
Come on, who REALLY doubted that outcome??!!
Other Goodies were the 400 (all those sub-44's!), the Taylor-PPPP battles in the TJ, and the Toppling of the Top Guy by Shawn Barber beating Renaud Lavillenie in China!
The Women's Prize goes NOT to Genzebe Dibaba's WR in Monaco!!
Nope!
I give it to that FABULOUS 200 race between Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers in Beijing!!
Such MASSIVE time improvements by both sprinters!
And maybe---just maybe!---the END of the Allyson Felix Era in that event!
But the 1500 (and Mile) was a solid back-up.
And yes, Ms Dibaba's WR was the key!
But the battle for the US record didn't hurt, not to mention all the other great times in that Monaco race!
The Pole Vault is next, but MAINLY for the Records in the HS and Collegiate divisions!
The Weeks twins polished the HS section, while the GREAT Demi Payne vs Sandi Morris WAR saw several important battles a-ragin'!!
I'll add that INdoor 5000 score by KJT!
Second best-ever, and hitting 5K---on the NOSE!!
And the OUTdoor Gotzis meet---with KJT and the other 2 Hyphens (JEH and BTE)!!
A Preview of Rio?
So who was the Best HS PRO Sprinter?
Well, this category maybe needs a better title!
You see, Candace Hill only turned Pro AFTER her season was over!
But since both are NOW Pro's, I'll rate them!
The Award goes to--Kaylin Whitney!
She was the Anchor in 3 4X100 Relays--with SUPER Elites running the first 3 legs!
And the times were VERY good--the fastest being 41.96.
And with a HIGH SCHOOL KID Anchoring!!
Ms Hill's FANTASTIC 10.98 was the Best Individual result, with her 22.43 in the 200 not bad either!
(Although Whitney also got a PR in the 200--time of 22.47.)
Who was the Best Female Collegiate PV'er in 2015?
I spoke earlier of Ms's Morris and Payne.
They were incredible!!
INdoors!
OUTdoors!
15-pluses galore!
One getting the CR, then the other---and then back and forth again!
I give this Award to BOTH!!
It's a TIE!
Thank you, Ladies!!
Best Race Within a Race?
Was there any better than the Race for the American 1500 Record in that Monaco affair?
You had Dibaba vs the Clock!
But then--about 40 meters back--came the DUEL for Slaney's iconic standard!
WHO would get it?
Watch the video!
You see--out of one eye!--Dibaba showing her stuff!
But out of your OTHER eye--you see Simpson coming off the final curve in FRONT of Rowbury!
Then, as the track straightens out, you watch Shannon go outside of Jenny--edge ahead---and stay there to the tape!!
(Reminded me a bit of when I attended the 2001 Pre meet---and watched the magnificent El G run 3:49.92 to win---and my OTHER eye latched onto young Mr Webb, finishing his HSR's of 3:38.26 and 3:53.43! back in 5th place!!)
Changing gears for a minute, What is the Best Movie Yet To Be Released about T&F?
Why, it's Alexi Pappas's Tracktown--in which she STARS---as a---RUNNER!!
Well, Duhhhh!!
Can't wait!!
And the Best NON-Statistical Book of our sport this past year?
Best Call that Girl (Heh!) Suzy Favor Hamilton and tell her that her memoir Fast Girl WINS!!
(I should ask her, but I wonder if her title was influenced by her seeing that "great" movie Fast Girls in 2012!)
Speaking of T&F Record Books (NOT mine!!), I feel it's appropriate I rank the Best Record Books our sport provides---or HAS provided!
1. High School Track annual.
Has SEPARATE lists for INdoors and OUTdoors!
That alone is 80% of the prize!
But you won't find a better HS record book.
And it comes out in December of every year--thanks to Jack Shepard (and Mike Kennedy).
2. Athletics Annual
The Best for International marks, records, and lists!
But it's not just numbers & names!
It offers several great articles, detailed accounts of the BIG meet (either OG or WC) each year, all the results from ALL the many regional Championships held each year--and so much more!
3. FAST Annual
Basically, the US version of the A.A.---except no articles!
However, its INDEX is excellent---with year-by-year progressions (for all the events an athlete has done!!) for over 2500 US athletes!
Only big flaw is that they don't do INdoor!!
Fourth is the new book I mentioned in my last post--World's Greatest in Athletics.
As noted, I will have a FULL critique of this work sometime soon!
Fifth is the National Athletics Records for All Countries in the World 2012.
The FLAW in this is that it's NOT an Annual!
In fact, my copy of the 2012 edition replaced the one I own dated--2003!!
(There were none between!)
6th is the IAAF WC Statistical Handbook--Beijing 2015.
An excellent work--and due to a delivery error, I got it for FREE!! (Normal cost was $35!)--which came out before Beijing!
Over 800 pages of fascinating stats!
Seventh goes to my 2011 edition of the TAFWA All-Time World Indoor List!
LONG lists for EVERY event held INdoors!!
(Except the Two Mile!!)
Another "flaw"?
The Men's pages are BLUE--while the Women's pages are--PINK!!~
SEXIST!!
Last, but certainly NOT least is my copy of the 2012 edition of The Big Gold Book.
Has COMPLETE Metric Conversion charts, and COMPLETE points tables for ALL the Multi's, INdoors and OUTdoors!!
Best Decision by a Teenage Professional Award goes to---Mary Cain!
She put a BIG 3000 miles between her and her (censored!) Coach, AlSal, when she left Portland (the city and the College!) and went home to Bronxville NY--and a new College--Fordham University!
Here's hoping these changes lead to a GREAT 2016 for Mary!
The WORST Decision by a Teenage Professional?
Has to be Alana Hadley's REFUSAL to give up Marathoning--for 2 or 3 years??--and return to TRACK racing in the 5000 and 10000!!
I've urged her to do so---in Tweets and on Facebook--but I guess she doesn't like my Armchair Coaching Advice!
Heh.
Speaking of Alana---who seems to be a very mature & personable young lady--she ALSO gets my Award for the Most Hated Person on the Let's Run MB (or Forum!).
But she shares that Title with--Kara Goucher!
What are the Best Emerging Groups--as in Training & Racing groups--in our sport?
First Place goes to OISELLE!!
Among their Elites, they have the aforementioned Ms Goucher, Lauren Fleshman, Kerri Gallagher, and Kate Grace, as well as Hammer Thrower Brittney Henry!
But they have so much more--including the Best T&F Cheering Section around!!
Wear ear plugs if you're near them at road races & track meets when a Oiselle athlete is competing!!
Other good groups are Deena Kastor's Mammoth Lakes (CA) runners, and Stephanie & Ben Bruce's little cadre down in Arizona!
I also like the Minnesota group coached by Dennis Barker, and the BAA group (Abbey D, among several other elites) coached by Terry Mahon.
Best MOMMY Comeback Award goes to---Alysia Montano!!
(The worst probably should go to Chaunte Lowe!)
How about the Worst Timing for a Pregnancy Award??
I give that one to--Sarah Brown!
She's VERY MUCH welcoming her baby (due around March 21st!), BUT that gives her just 3 months to return to form for the OT's--which she has stated she WILL compete in!!
Two others coming back from giving birth are--or SHOULD be!!--Tirunesh Dibaba and--Yelena Isinbayeva!
(More on the latter below!)
And that brings me to the WORST of the WORST Awards I'm giving out!
Obviously, First Place goes to the SCANDALS of T&F!
And the Top-Rated SCANDALS are---
1. The Russian Dope Factory
UGH!!
Not only is it so bad that the list of athletes (and coaches and officials) being banned is almost endless, but it's so BAD that the ENTIRE RUSSIAN TEAM has been banned!!?
Including "innocents" like Ms Isinbayeva (and Anna Chicherova and Sergey Shubenkov!!).
My opinion?
Ban the drug OFFENDERS--the CRIMINALS---YES!!
But do NOT ban EVERYone!!
Let Isi compete!!
Other HUGE Scandals included---
2. The War between USATF and Nick Symmonds!
He won the USATF (& WC Trials) 800!
He wasn't allowed to compete!
I won't go into the details---you've heard them all many times---but I will say I'm on NICK's side in this 100 percent!
3. The allegations against Alberto Salazar and his Nike Oregon Project group!
4. Not a scandal, but definitely a HUGE story in 2015---the fight to become President of the IAAF!
Seb Coe beat Sergey Bubka!
It was so great to see these ICONS of the sport duke it out---politically!!
Well, I come to my LAST Award!
(Finally!!!)
But---the one I HATE to have to give---even MENTION!!
(In recent Facebook & Twitter messages, Kara Goucher, Alysia Montano, and Emma Coburn--among others--have castigated Flotrack for "awarding" this moment in time as the "Biggest FAIL" of 2015!!)
You KNOW what I'm talking about.
With the utmost respect and love for these two GREAT athletes---and PEOPLE!!!---I will only say this--
Hold your head high, Molly!
You're a GOLD Medalist in my book!!
You're a CHAMPION!!
And Emily, THANK YOU for being so HUMBLE and RESPECTFUL and GRACEFUL
with your words to Molly in all of your post-race interviews!
You TOO are a Champion!!
See you all on the 31st with my Athletes of the Year designations for the World and US categories, OUTdoors!
(Plus, I'm sure, a few notable results!)
You see, this has been a year of some pretty brutal shockwaves attacking our sport, and with about 80 hours left, I can't say there won't be another!
But I'll take my chances!
First, I have a few marks to report--always the most important reason my blog exists!
Jenn Suhr is riding high---literally!
After a 15-9 opener to her 2016 season a few weeks ago, she went over 15-5 yesterday!
She then tried a height of 4.90 (16-0.75), but missed her 3 attempts.
She'll compete again tomorrow!
Janice Keppler was far back (13-5.25).
And a 14 year old HS Freshman--Erica Ellis--topped 11-9.75.
Why report the latter?
Because the Frosh Class record is 12-9.50, and Ellis reportedly has 12 foot-plus talent!
She also competes again tomorrow!
Don't know if records were broken, but a 7 year old (!!)--Rhoan Kaulder-- ran the 60 & 200 in 8.80 and 31.24 in the same meet as Suhr.
In a HS meet, a McGorty brother--Brandon--opened with a 1000 in 2:28.74.
Noah and Josephus Lyles had good marks--Josephus a 500 in 1:04.66, and Noah a 6.35 (& 6.40 heat) in the 55.
Kate Murphy also opened strong, winning the 1000 easily in 2:50.56.
Boxing Day Road races in Canada saw Rob Watson take the 10 Mile in 49:07, and Sheila Reid the 4 Mile in 21:58.
Now on to my Best & Worst of 2015!
I'll begin VERY close to home--with my favorite blog posts of the year.
Winner is--Opinions on Track and Field History and Culture (in 2 parts)!!
The 2nd part got LOTS of views!!
Other good ones---IMHO!--were The Legacy of Ron Clarke, On OT's (and other things), Two WR's (and TONS more), World Relays--It had Everything, and Shanghai Fizzles, Collegiates Sizzle.
The latter got a few compliments for its Title!!
But the ones I'm probably most proud of were the 12 (TWELVE!!) posts I did covering the Beijing World Championships!
There was the Schedule, 4 Prediction Preview posts, 6 Results posts (each 3rd day, for each gender!), then a Summary.
Speaking of Blogs, I give Best New Blogger (AND Most Interesting New Blogger Personality!) Award to--
Lauren Kleppin.
BTW, she also happens to be a rather fast marathoner!
Watch for her at the OT's!
While not strictly about 2015, I want to rate the Best DECADES of Track and Field News magazine!
I've read every issue from 1957 on (also the OG issue of 1956), but I'll only rate the Decades from the 1960's to the 2010's--six total.
1. The 60's.
Not because I'm a "60's guy", but because its (normally) 24 pages were FILLED with results, features, meet & event stories, Letters to the Editor, and LISTS--something missing from more recent decades!
2. The 90's.
Maybe because that was such a fascinating Decade--with the Chinese explosions, the Barcelona & Atlanta Olympics, and maybe the final Decade before Africa REALLY took over the Distances!
3. The 70's
T&FN published 18 issues for a couple of years (1973 & 1974). There were the Olympics in Munich & Montreal. It saw the end of the Jim Ryun and Ron Clarke eras, AND the Life and Death of Steve Prefontaine!
4th is the 80's, 5th the 00's, and 6th, THIS (half finished) Decade!
Biggest Disappointment
The Van Damme DL Women's Mile!
It had a fantastic field, and I predicted (in an "extra" post!) a TON of records being broken, and many additions & revisions to my A-T lists for the World and US!
While Faith Kipyegon's winning time of 4:16.71 wasn't "bad", it coulda & shoulda been a whole lot faster!
And why didn't BOTH Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson at least TRY for Mary Slaney's American Record of--heh--4:16.71??
To say an entire event is the Worst may be a bit hyperbolic.
But to see the Year of the High Jump morph into a winning height of 2.34 in Beijing is pretty SICK (and not in the sense teens use that word!).
The other "Worst" Men's event is the 800.
A slow final at the WC, and the scandal involving a certain USATF Champion! (See below!)
The Women's Worst Events?
The 100H.
The US FOURsome (3, plus a Wild Card) DERAILED in China!!
Oh, one of them got 4th, but.....BUT fourth being the BEST the US could do??
JEEZ!!
The TJ and SP sucked some, even though Caterine Ibarguen and Christine Schwanitz both shone!
It's just that both events didn't have the FIRE that some competition for Ibarguen, or a healthy & fit Valerie Adams would've added to the mix!
The 10000 was won in the mid-31's--notwithstanding what happened in the bid for Bronze! (See below!)
MoBot-itis strikes the Women's race!
The Best Frosh in Cross Country this past fall?
For the Men, it was Grant Fisher.
And for the Women, the award is Allie Ostrander's.
An amazing fact about Five Foot Tall Allie---She was a star Basketballer for her Kenai (Alaska) HS team!!
The BEST Events?
For the Men, the Grand Prize goes to--the 100 & 200, but especially the former!
All friggin' year, MB talk has been--Is Bolt Finished?--and secondarily--a Death Wish for Justin Gatlin!!
Yet it was Gatlin who came into Beijing the favorite--unless you were talking to Bolt-ophiles!!
It was the Lone Ranger vs the Evil Cattle Rustler!
And the Masked Man WON BOTH!!
Come on, who REALLY doubted that outcome??!!
Other Goodies were the 400 (all those sub-44's!), the Taylor-PPPP battles in the TJ, and the Toppling of the Top Guy by Shawn Barber beating Renaud Lavillenie in China!
The Women's Prize goes NOT to Genzebe Dibaba's WR in Monaco!!
Nope!
I give it to that FABULOUS 200 race between Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers in Beijing!!
Such MASSIVE time improvements by both sprinters!
And maybe---just maybe!---the END of the Allyson Felix Era in that event!
But the 1500 (and Mile) was a solid back-up.
And yes, Ms Dibaba's WR was the key!
But the battle for the US record didn't hurt, not to mention all the other great times in that Monaco race!
The Pole Vault is next, but MAINLY for the Records in the HS and Collegiate divisions!
The Weeks twins polished the HS section, while the GREAT Demi Payne vs Sandi Morris WAR saw several important battles a-ragin'!!
I'll add that INdoor 5000 score by KJT!
Second best-ever, and hitting 5K---on the NOSE!!
And the OUTdoor Gotzis meet---with KJT and the other 2 Hyphens (JEH and BTE)!!
A Preview of Rio?
So who was the Best HS PRO Sprinter?
Well, this category maybe needs a better title!
You see, Candace Hill only turned Pro AFTER her season was over!
But since both are NOW Pro's, I'll rate them!
The Award goes to--Kaylin Whitney!
She was the Anchor in 3 4X100 Relays--with SUPER Elites running the first 3 legs!
And the times were VERY good--the fastest being 41.96.
And with a HIGH SCHOOL KID Anchoring!!
Ms Hill's FANTASTIC 10.98 was the Best Individual result, with her 22.43 in the 200 not bad either!
(Although Whitney also got a PR in the 200--time of 22.47.)
Who was the Best Female Collegiate PV'er in 2015?
I spoke earlier of Ms's Morris and Payne.
They were incredible!!
INdoors!
OUTdoors!
15-pluses galore!
One getting the CR, then the other---and then back and forth again!
I give this Award to BOTH!!
It's a TIE!
Thank you, Ladies!!
Best Race Within a Race?
Was there any better than the Race for the American 1500 Record in that Monaco affair?
You had Dibaba vs the Clock!
But then--about 40 meters back--came the DUEL for Slaney's iconic standard!
WHO would get it?
Watch the video!
You see--out of one eye!--Dibaba showing her stuff!
But out of your OTHER eye--you see Simpson coming off the final curve in FRONT of Rowbury!
Then, as the track straightens out, you watch Shannon go outside of Jenny--edge ahead---and stay there to the tape!!
(Reminded me a bit of when I attended the 2001 Pre meet---and watched the magnificent El G run 3:49.92 to win---and my OTHER eye latched onto young Mr Webb, finishing his HSR's of 3:38.26 and 3:53.43! back in 5th place!!)
Changing gears for a minute, What is the Best Movie Yet To Be Released about T&F?
Why, it's Alexi Pappas's Tracktown--in which she STARS---as a---RUNNER!!
Well, Duhhhh!!
Can't wait!!
And the Best NON-Statistical Book of our sport this past year?
Best Call that Girl (Heh!) Suzy Favor Hamilton and tell her that her memoir Fast Girl WINS!!
(I should ask her, but I wonder if her title was influenced by her seeing that "great" movie Fast Girls in 2012!)
Speaking of T&F Record Books (NOT mine!!), I feel it's appropriate I rank the Best Record Books our sport provides---or HAS provided!
1. High School Track annual.
Has SEPARATE lists for INdoors and OUTdoors!
That alone is 80% of the prize!
But you won't find a better HS record book.
And it comes out in December of every year--thanks to Jack Shepard (and Mike Kennedy).
2. Athletics Annual
The Best for International marks, records, and lists!
But it's not just numbers & names!
It offers several great articles, detailed accounts of the BIG meet (either OG or WC) each year, all the results from ALL the many regional Championships held each year--and so much more!
3. FAST Annual
Basically, the US version of the A.A.---except no articles!
However, its INDEX is excellent---with year-by-year progressions (for all the events an athlete has done!!) for over 2500 US athletes!
Only big flaw is that they don't do INdoor!!
Fourth is the new book I mentioned in my last post--World's Greatest in Athletics.
As noted, I will have a FULL critique of this work sometime soon!
Fifth is the National Athletics Records for All Countries in the World 2012.
The FLAW in this is that it's NOT an Annual!
In fact, my copy of the 2012 edition replaced the one I own dated--2003!!
(There were none between!)
6th is the IAAF WC Statistical Handbook--Beijing 2015.
An excellent work--and due to a delivery error, I got it for FREE!! (Normal cost was $35!)--which came out before Beijing!
Over 800 pages of fascinating stats!
Seventh goes to my 2011 edition of the TAFWA All-Time World Indoor List!
LONG lists for EVERY event held INdoors!!
(Except the Two Mile!!)
Another "flaw"?
The Men's pages are BLUE--while the Women's pages are--PINK!!~
SEXIST!!
Last, but certainly NOT least is my copy of the 2012 edition of The Big Gold Book.
Has COMPLETE Metric Conversion charts, and COMPLETE points tables for ALL the Multi's, INdoors and OUTdoors!!
Best Decision by a Teenage Professional Award goes to---Mary Cain!
She put a BIG 3000 miles between her and her (censored!) Coach, AlSal, when she left Portland (the city and the College!) and went home to Bronxville NY--and a new College--Fordham University!
Here's hoping these changes lead to a GREAT 2016 for Mary!
The WORST Decision by a Teenage Professional?
Has to be Alana Hadley's REFUSAL to give up Marathoning--for 2 or 3 years??--and return to TRACK racing in the 5000 and 10000!!
I've urged her to do so---in Tweets and on Facebook--but I guess she doesn't like my Armchair Coaching Advice!
Heh.
Speaking of Alana---who seems to be a very mature & personable young lady--she ALSO gets my Award for the Most Hated Person on the Let's Run MB (or Forum!).
But she shares that Title with--Kara Goucher!
What are the Best Emerging Groups--as in Training & Racing groups--in our sport?
First Place goes to OISELLE!!
Among their Elites, they have the aforementioned Ms Goucher, Lauren Fleshman, Kerri Gallagher, and Kate Grace, as well as Hammer Thrower Brittney Henry!
But they have so much more--including the Best T&F Cheering Section around!!
Wear ear plugs if you're near them at road races & track meets when a Oiselle athlete is competing!!
Other good groups are Deena Kastor's Mammoth Lakes (CA) runners, and Stephanie & Ben Bruce's little cadre down in Arizona!
I also like the Minnesota group coached by Dennis Barker, and the BAA group (Abbey D, among several other elites) coached by Terry Mahon.
Best MOMMY Comeback Award goes to---Alysia Montano!!
(The worst probably should go to Chaunte Lowe!)
How about the Worst Timing for a Pregnancy Award??
I give that one to--Sarah Brown!
She's VERY MUCH welcoming her baby (due around March 21st!), BUT that gives her just 3 months to return to form for the OT's--which she has stated she WILL compete in!!
Two others coming back from giving birth are--or SHOULD be!!--Tirunesh Dibaba and--Yelena Isinbayeva!
(More on the latter below!)
And that brings me to the WORST of the WORST Awards I'm giving out!
Obviously, First Place goes to the SCANDALS of T&F!
And the Top-Rated SCANDALS are---
1. The Russian Dope Factory
UGH!!
Not only is it so bad that the list of athletes (and coaches and officials) being banned is almost endless, but it's so BAD that the ENTIRE RUSSIAN TEAM has been banned!!?
Including "innocents" like Ms Isinbayeva (and Anna Chicherova and Sergey Shubenkov!!).
My opinion?
Ban the drug OFFENDERS--the CRIMINALS---YES!!
But do NOT ban EVERYone!!
Let Isi compete!!
Other HUGE Scandals included---
2. The War between USATF and Nick Symmonds!
He won the USATF (& WC Trials) 800!
He wasn't allowed to compete!
I won't go into the details---you've heard them all many times---but I will say I'm on NICK's side in this 100 percent!
3. The allegations against Alberto Salazar and his Nike Oregon Project group!
4. Not a scandal, but definitely a HUGE story in 2015---the fight to become President of the IAAF!
Seb Coe beat Sergey Bubka!
It was so great to see these ICONS of the sport duke it out---politically!!
Well, I come to my LAST Award!
(Finally!!!)
But---the one I HATE to have to give---even MENTION!!
(In recent Facebook & Twitter messages, Kara Goucher, Alysia Montano, and Emma Coburn--among others--have castigated Flotrack for "awarding" this moment in time as the "Biggest FAIL" of 2015!!)
You KNOW what I'm talking about.
With the utmost respect and love for these two GREAT athletes---and PEOPLE!!!---I will only say this--
Hold your head high, Molly!
You're a GOLD Medalist in my book!!
You're a CHAMPION!!
And Emily, THANK YOU for being so HUMBLE and RESPECTFUL and GRACEFUL
with your words to Molly in all of your post-race interviews!
You TOO are a Champion!!
See you all on the 31st with my Athletes of the Year designations for the World and US categories, OUTdoors!
(Plus, I'm sure, a few notable results!)
Friday, December 25, 2015
A Christmas Feast of News & Views
Got all kinds of stuff this time!
But let's begin with my long-promised list of the marks needed to make my Top 24 Performers lists--aka DDD's--for INdoors!
I did this for the 1st time here last year.
But this year, I'll do it a bit differently.
Next to each group's (World, US, Collegiate, HS) 2016 season LEAST needed mark, I'll put the mark I had for that designation last year--for the 2015 season (though done in a December 2014 post).
That way, we'll see the progress made--if any!--since last year.
So let's get started.
Men's Collegiate & HS first, with the new marks on the right, and 2015's to its left, and the difference, if any, in parentheses!
Men--Collegiate (2015-2016) Men-HS (2015-2016)
60------6.54 (same) 6.54 6.71 (0.01) 6.70
200----20.50 (0.03) 20.47 21.37 (0.03) 21.34
400----45.66 (0.02)) 45.64 47.45 (0.01) 47.44
600---1:18.28 (0.45) 1:17.83 1:20.22 (0.25) 1:19.97
800---1:47.14 (0.08) 1:47.06 1:51.80 (0.08) 1:51.72
1000--2:22.51 (0.74) 2:21.77 2:28.11 (1.36) 2:26.75
1500--3:44.45 (1.95) 3:42.50 3:55.22 (0.39) 3:54.83
1 Mile--3:56.77 (0.04) 3:56.73 4:08.77 (0.10) 4:08.67
3000---7:50.44 (0.30) 7:50.14 8:32.3 (2.81) 8:29.49
2 Mile (NO LIST) 9:01.92 (3.52) 8:58.40
5000---13:37.03 (same) 13:37.03 14:53.21 (0.11) 14:53.10
60H---7.61 (same) 7.61 7.77 (0.01) 7.76
HJ----7-6.50 (same) 7-6.50 7-2 (same) 7-2
LJ----26-8.50 (same) 26-8.50 24-9.25 (0.50) 24-9.75
TJ----55-1.50 (2.00) 55-3.50 50-3.25 (3.50) 50-6.75
PV---18-6 (same) 18-6 17-0.75 (0.25) 17-1
SP---67-4.25 (2.50) 67-6.75 66-10.25 (1.00) 66-11.25
WT--74-7 (1.25) 74-8.25 75-0.50 (5.00) 75-5.50
Multi--5868 (26 pts) 5894 3586 (same) 3586
Men--World (2015-2016) Men--US (2015-2016)
60----6.48 (same) 6.48 6-51 (same) 6.51
200---20.40 (same) 20.40 20.43 (0.01) 20.42
400---45-39 (0.02) 45.37 45.54 (0.01) 45.53
600---1:16.19 (0.04) 1:16.15 1:17.38 (0.23) 1:17.15
800---1:45.44 (same) 1:45.44 1:47.11 (0.05) 1:47.06
1000--2:17.67 (0.04) 2:17.63 2:19.9 (0.07) 2:19.83
1500--3:34.89 (0.04) 3:34.85 3:39.8 (0.05) 3:39.75
1 Mile--3:53.02 (0.04) 3:52.98 3:55.84 (0.37) 3:55.47
2000---4:58.76 (same) 4:58.76 5:02.41 (-3.36) 5:05.77 (See Note below!)
3000---7:34.47 (0.09) 7:34.38 7:46.09 (0.37) 7:45.72
2 Mile--8:15.02 (same) 8:15.02 8:28.8 (0.63) 8:28.17
5000---13:11.78 (same) 13:11.78 13:37.09 (0.22) 13:36.87
60H----7.44 (same) 7.44 7.51 (same) 7.51
HJ-----7-8.75 (same) 7-8.75 7-7.25 (same) 7-7.25
LJ-----27-3.25 (same) 27-3.25 26-11.75 (same) 26-11.75
TJ-----57-3.75 (same) 57-3.75 55-9 (same) 55-9
PV----19-4.25 (same) 19-4.25 18-9.50 (2.75) 19-0.25
SP----70-8 (1.00) 70-9 69-8 (same) 69-8
WT---76-3.50 (5.00) 76-8.50 75-4.75 (0.50) 75-5.25
Multi--6229 (20 pts) 6249 5826 (35 pts) 5861
4X400R--3:13.21 (same) 3:13.21 (NO LIST)
NOTES
For HS, no 1600 or 3200 times, or converted times
Also, HS 60H is for 39 inch height, and SP & WT are for HS weights!
It's the Heptathlon for World, US, and Collegiates, and the Pentathlon for HS.
For events like the 600 & 1000, remember that last year, I was still working on those lists, so the difference in marks needed might be because of that!
For the US 2000, a mark was added--thus the added time! That list is short of the 24.
Now for the Women
Women--Collegiate (2015-2016) Women--HS (2015-2016)
60------7.18 (same) 7.18 7.34 (0.01) 7.33
200-----22.84 (0.01) 22.83 23.80 (0.01) 23.79
400-----51.92 (0.06) 51.86 54.16 (0.01) 54.15
600-----1:30.56 (0.94) 1:29.62 1:32.00 (0.15) 1:31.85
800-----2:03.47 (0.09) 2:03.38 2:07.81 (same) 2:07.81
1000----2:45.86 (1.40) 2:44.46 2:50.69 (1.39) 2:49.30
1500----4:18.2 (0.67) 4:17.53 4:28.3 (0.40) 4:27.9
1 Mile---4:33.76 (0.50) 4:33.26 4:46.11 (0.21) 4:45.9
3000----9:03.47 (1.98) 9:01.49 9:44.60 (0.67) 9:43.93
2 Mile---(NO LIST) 10:21.85 (1.63) 10.20.22
5000----15:43.69 (1.42) 15:42.27 17:00.54 (2.55) 16:57.99
60H-----8.00 (same) 8.00 8.39 (0.01) 8.38
HJ-------6-2.75 (0.25) 6-3 5-11 (same) 5-11
LJ-------21-8 (0.25) 21-8.25 20-1 (0.50) 20-1.50
TJ-------44-8.25 (same) 44-8.25 41-4.50 (0.75) 41-5.25
PV------14-3.50 (0.50) 14-4 13-2.25 (1.75) 13-4
SP------ 57-8.25 (5.00) 58-1.25 49-4.50 (3.25) 49-7.75
WT------71-8.75 (7.00) 72-3.75 56-10.75 (1-0.25) 57-11
Multi-----4253 (14 pts) 4267 3578 (11 pts) 3589
4X400R--3:35.19 (0.51) 3:34.68 (NO LIST)
DMR-----11:06.77 (1.08) 11:05.69 (NO LIST)
Women--World (2015-2016) Women--US (2015-2016)
60-----7.04 (same) 7.04 7.13 (same) 7.13
200---22.59 (same) 22.59 22.87 (same) 22.87
400---50.71 (same) 50.71 51.83 (0.01) 51.82
600---1:27.14 (0.27) 1:26.87 1:29.34 (0.56) 1:28.78
800---1:58.9 (same) 1:58.9 2:01.87 (0.05) 2:01.82
1000--2:35.80 (same) 2:35.80 2:42.61 (1.38) 2:41.23
1500--4:03.53 (0.20) 4:03.33 4:10.72 (0.04) 4:10.68
1 Mile-4:26.50 (0.22) 4:26.28 4:30.39 (0.72) 4:29.67
2000--5:43.79 (0.26) 5:43.53 5:56.78 (same) 5:56.78
3000--8:38.14 (same) 8:38.14 8:54.55 (0.66) 8:53.89
2 Mile--9:36.00 (0.34) 9:35.66 9:50.07 (4.08) 9:45.99
5000---15:13.86 (0.14) 15:13.72 15:43.04 (0.84) 15:42.20
60H----7.82 (same) 7.82 7.93 (0.02) 7.91
HJ-----6-6.75 (0.25) 6-7 6-3.25 (same) 6-3.25
LJ-----22-10.50 (0.25) 22.10.75 21-8.75 (0.75) 21-9.50
TJ-----48-2 (0.25) 48-2.25 44-6.75 (1.25) 44-8
PV----15-3.50 (1.50) 15-5 14-7.25 (1.75) 14-9
SP----67-6.25 (same) 67-6.25 59-1.25 (2.25) 59.3.50
WT---73-2.50 (0.75) 73-3.25 71-10.25 (4.50) 72-2.75
Multi---4768 (1 pt) 4769 4253 (36 pts) 4289
4X400R 3:36.17 (same) 3:36.17 (NO LIST)
NOTES
Same rules apply for the Women, as regards the 1600 & 3200.
Also, I was working on the Women's 600, 1000, etc last year as well!
The US 2000 list is short of 24.
One other comment!
With the 1 Mile being run OUTdoors in 2016, I'm hoping the Collegiates will begin running fast Miles INdoors too!
Most of the middle & long distance marks SHOULD be much tougher--based on the self-named "Renaissance" in Female distance running in recent years!
For example, the HS 5000 minimum SHOULD be closer to 16:40 than 17:00!!
A few good marks came in from a JDL meet on December 19th--the North Carolina Runners Holiday Invitational!
Anna Cockrell showed she might be the dominant HS Hurdler (and sprinter?) this year, as she ran good 55 and 55H times of 6.97 and 7.70.
Both times would have ranked high on the 2015 lists!
(I don't keep lists for 55's, but thought these times were worth noting! See my post on this subject from December 2013!!)
Cockrell also ran a 300 in 38.78.
On the Boy's 55, Daniel Estrada had a solid time of 6.29.
In the 55H, Elliott Grunos (sp?) ran 7.37.
Dylan Peebles ran a 300 in 34.65.
An 11th Grader--Sara Platek--ran a good 3200, time of 10:33.44.
And in a meet just 2 or 3 days after becoming the 3rd best Women's HS Shot Putter INdoors with her shocking 54-5, Alyssa Wilson proved she's the one to watch this year, throwing another biggie--53-11.
That was on December 21st!
That Camel City Classic meet scheduled for January 30th is sounding even better!
Three Top Tier HS'ers are going to compete in the Open (Pro, Collegiate) events!!
Anna Cockrell and Kate Murphy have been added, while the already-announced Drew Hunter has switched from the Mile to the 3000!
In that event, he'll face Bernard Lagat, among others!
A CORRECTION!
In my own 2015-2016 INdoor Schedule I provided awhile back, AND in the January issue of Track and Field News, the New Balance Boston meet was reported as being on February 27th!
It is NOT!!
This iconic meet is on February 14th!!
Valentine's Day!!
LOL
A meet I didn't list in my schedule was the 7th Asian Indoor Championships, scheduled for February 19th to the 21st!
I'm reporting it now, as it's sounding like it might be something worth watching!
It's being held in Doha, Qatar, and the Chief Qatarian--Mutaz Barshim--will be there!!
Also, the announcement said this will be a last chance meet for Asians interested in qualifying for the Portland World Championships!!
Finally, with all the NOISE being thrown about because the NCAA decided to add 109 meters of running to their OUTdoor 1500 meter event, I thought the following bit of trivia might be interesting.
Some of you might already know this--I did!--but there are World Records for the INdoor Marathon!!
That's correct--that's the 26.2 Mile race normally run on straight-ahead roads OUTdoors, NOT on INdoor 200 meter tracks!!
On an OUTdoor track, that would necessitate running 105 laps, plus another 195 meters!
But on a 200 meter INdoor track, you need to make almost 211 full circuits!!
Oversize Track marks are listed, but NOT eligible for WR's.
There is a track in Arlington VA that's 208 meters (!!) around--which IS accepted as a "legal" track!
(WHY did they make it 208 meters?? Weird!! As weird as Seattle making their's 307 instead of 300 meters! If you MUST build an OT, at least make it a round number!!)
A guy named Michael Wardian runs this race often, and holds the WR with his 2:27:21 from July 1, 2010.
Some ancient Olympians have run the INdoor Marathon!
Remember names like Dorando Pietri, John Hayes, and Tom Longboat?
The Women's WR (for a "legal" track!) is Melissa Gillette's 3:08.53.8, run on February 12, 2012 in Goshen, Indiana!
However, the fastest Women's time (but on an OT) is Monica Kalicinska's 2:53:53, run in Toronto on January 4th, 2014.
Nicole Porath has the only other Women's time of under three hours--although also on an OT--her time of 2:57:34 being run in Northfield, Minnesota on January 6th, 2013.
Not sure if this is in every race, but some of them say you can (or must?) change direction every 30 minutes!
If you want to see a list of the fastest times (about 30 deep?) for both Men and Women, just Google "Indoor Marathon list (or records)"!!
So I don't wanna hear any more complaints from you WIMPY Collegians about having to run an additional 109 lousy friggin' meters!!
SHADDUP!!
LOL
Next posts will probably be on December 31st---my picks for 2015's (OUTdoor) Athletes of the Year for the World and the United States!
(The Collegiate and High School AOY's (for OUTdoors) were done in September!)
OOPS!
Almost forgot to mention!
I received my copy of the book advertised in the January issue of T&FN--"World's Greatest in Athletics", with Athletics Annual's Peter Matthews one of the 3 editors!
It costs a total of $69 ($49 for the book, $20 for shipping), and is WORTH EVERY PENNY!!
I wanted to do a longer critique of it in this post, but this is already too long.
But here's a sneak preview of my upcoming review.
It's 832 pages, and is basically divided into 3 sections.
1. Top Ten Rankings for Most Events, All-Time, ending as of December 31st, 2014. Lots of details about the Top Ranker!
2. Deep All time lists for EVERY OUTdoor Event---most of them 500 deep!! (Some of the newer Women's events go "just" 300 or 400 deep!!)
3. Decade by Decade (from the 1900 to the 2010 decade!) Top Ten lists for EVERY event!!
In my longer review (coming????), I will go into much more depth, and will offer some fascinating bits of trivia I've seen in the few brief hours I've spent perusing it!!
Should be soon!
But let's begin with my long-promised list of the marks needed to make my Top 24 Performers lists--aka DDD's--for INdoors!
I did this for the 1st time here last year.
But this year, I'll do it a bit differently.
Next to each group's (World, US, Collegiate, HS) 2016 season LEAST needed mark, I'll put the mark I had for that designation last year--for the 2015 season (though done in a December 2014 post).
That way, we'll see the progress made--if any!--since last year.
So let's get started.
Men's Collegiate & HS first, with the new marks on the right, and 2015's to its left, and the difference, if any, in parentheses!
Men--Collegiate (2015-2016) Men-HS (2015-2016)
60------6.54 (same) 6.54 6.71 (0.01) 6.70
200----20.50 (0.03) 20.47 21.37 (0.03) 21.34
400----45.66 (0.02)) 45.64 47.45 (0.01) 47.44
600---1:18.28 (0.45) 1:17.83 1:20.22 (0.25) 1:19.97
800---1:47.14 (0.08) 1:47.06 1:51.80 (0.08) 1:51.72
1000--2:22.51 (0.74) 2:21.77 2:28.11 (1.36) 2:26.75
1500--3:44.45 (1.95) 3:42.50 3:55.22 (0.39) 3:54.83
1 Mile--3:56.77 (0.04) 3:56.73 4:08.77 (0.10) 4:08.67
3000---7:50.44 (0.30) 7:50.14 8:32.3 (2.81) 8:29.49
2 Mile (NO LIST) 9:01.92 (3.52) 8:58.40
5000---13:37.03 (same) 13:37.03 14:53.21 (0.11) 14:53.10
60H---7.61 (same) 7.61 7.77 (0.01) 7.76
HJ----7-6.50 (same) 7-6.50 7-2 (same) 7-2
LJ----26-8.50 (same) 26-8.50 24-9.25 (0.50) 24-9.75
TJ----55-1.50 (2.00) 55-3.50 50-3.25 (3.50) 50-6.75
PV---18-6 (same) 18-6 17-0.75 (0.25) 17-1
SP---67-4.25 (2.50) 67-6.75 66-10.25 (1.00) 66-11.25
WT--74-7 (1.25) 74-8.25 75-0.50 (5.00) 75-5.50
Multi--5868 (26 pts) 5894 3586 (same) 3586
Men--World (2015-2016) Men--US (2015-2016)
60----6.48 (same) 6.48 6-51 (same) 6.51
200---20.40 (same) 20.40 20.43 (0.01) 20.42
400---45-39 (0.02) 45.37 45.54 (0.01) 45.53
600---1:16.19 (0.04) 1:16.15 1:17.38 (0.23) 1:17.15
800---1:45.44 (same) 1:45.44 1:47.11 (0.05) 1:47.06
1000--2:17.67 (0.04) 2:17.63 2:19.9 (0.07) 2:19.83
1500--3:34.89 (0.04) 3:34.85 3:39.8 (0.05) 3:39.75
1 Mile--3:53.02 (0.04) 3:52.98 3:55.84 (0.37) 3:55.47
2000---4:58.76 (same) 4:58.76 5:02.41 (-3.36) 5:05.77 (See Note below!)
3000---7:34.47 (0.09) 7:34.38 7:46.09 (0.37) 7:45.72
2 Mile--8:15.02 (same) 8:15.02 8:28.8 (0.63) 8:28.17
5000---13:11.78 (same) 13:11.78 13:37.09 (0.22) 13:36.87
60H----7.44 (same) 7.44 7.51 (same) 7.51
HJ-----7-8.75 (same) 7-8.75 7-7.25 (same) 7-7.25
LJ-----27-3.25 (same) 27-3.25 26-11.75 (same) 26-11.75
TJ-----57-3.75 (same) 57-3.75 55-9 (same) 55-9
PV----19-4.25 (same) 19-4.25 18-9.50 (2.75) 19-0.25
SP----70-8 (1.00) 70-9 69-8 (same) 69-8
WT---76-3.50 (5.00) 76-8.50 75-4.75 (0.50) 75-5.25
Multi--6229 (20 pts) 6249 5826 (35 pts) 5861
4X400R--3:13.21 (same) 3:13.21 (NO LIST)
NOTES
For HS, no 1600 or 3200 times, or converted times
Also, HS 60H is for 39 inch height, and SP & WT are for HS weights!
It's the Heptathlon for World, US, and Collegiates, and the Pentathlon for HS.
For events like the 600 & 1000, remember that last year, I was still working on those lists, so the difference in marks needed might be because of that!
For the US 2000, a mark was added--thus the added time! That list is short of the 24.
Now for the Women
Women--Collegiate (2015-2016) Women--HS (2015-2016)
60------7.18 (same) 7.18 7.34 (0.01) 7.33
200-----22.84 (0.01) 22.83 23.80 (0.01) 23.79
400-----51.92 (0.06) 51.86 54.16 (0.01) 54.15
600-----1:30.56 (0.94) 1:29.62 1:32.00 (0.15) 1:31.85
800-----2:03.47 (0.09) 2:03.38 2:07.81 (same) 2:07.81
1000----2:45.86 (1.40) 2:44.46 2:50.69 (1.39) 2:49.30
1500----4:18.2 (0.67) 4:17.53 4:28.3 (0.40) 4:27.9
1 Mile---4:33.76 (0.50) 4:33.26 4:46.11 (0.21) 4:45.9
3000----9:03.47 (1.98) 9:01.49 9:44.60 (0.67) 9:43.93
2 Mile---(NO LIST) 10:21.85 (1.63) 10.20.22
5000----15:43.69 (1.42) 15:42.27 17:00.54 (2.55) 16:57.99
60H-----8.00 (same) 8.00 8.39 (0.01) 8.38
HJ-------6-2.75 (0.25) 6-3 5-11 (same) 5-11
LJ-------21-8 (0.25) 21-8.25 20-1 (0.50) 20-1.50
TJ-------44-8.25 (same) 44-8.25 41-4.50 (0.75) 41-5.25
PV------14-3.50 (0.50) 14-4 13-2.25 (1.75) 13-4
SP------ 57-8.25 (5.00) 58-1.25 49-4.50 (3.25) 49-7.75
WT------71-8.75 (7.00) 72-3.75 56-10.75 (1-0.25) 57-11
Multi-----4253 (14 pts) 4267 3578 (11 pts) 3589
4X400R--3:35.19 (0.51) 3:34.68 (NO LIST)
DMR-----11:06.77 (1.08) 11:05.69 (NO LIST)
Women--World (2015-2016) Women--US (2015-2016)
60-----7.04 (same) 7.04 7.13 (same) 7.13
200---22.59 (same) 22.59 22.87 (same) 22.87
400---50.71 (same) 50.71 51.83 (0.01) 51.82
600---1:27.14 (0.27) 1:26.87 1:29.34 (0.56) 1:28.78
800---1:58.9 (same) 1:58.9 2:01.87 (0.05) 2:01.82
1000--2:35.80 (same) 2:35.80 2:42.61 (1.38) 2:41.23
1500--4:03.53 (0.20) 4:03.33 4:10.72 (0.04) 4:10.68
1 Mile-4:26.50 (0.22) 4:26.28 4:30.39 (0.72) 4:29.67
2000--5:43.79 (0.26) 5:43.53 5:56.78 (same) 5:56.78
3000--8:38.14 (same) 8:38.14 8:54.55 (0.66) 8:53.89
2 Mile--9:36.00 (0.34) 9:35.66 9:50.07 (4.08) 9:45.99
5000---15:13.86 (0.14) 15:13.72 15:43.04 (0.84) 15:42.20
60H----7.82 (same) 7.82 7.93 (0.02) 7.91
HJ-----6-6.75 (0.25) 6-7 6-3.25 (same) 6-3.25
LJ-----22-10.50 (0.25) 22.10.75 21-8.75 (0.75) 21-9.50
TJ-----48-2 (0.25) 48-2.25 44-6.75 (1.25) 44-8
PV----15-3.50 (1.50) 15-5 14-7.25 (1.75) 14-9
SP----67-6.25 (same) 67-6.25 59-1.25 (2.25) 59.3.50
WT---73-2.50 (0.75) 73-3.25 71-10.25 (4.50) 72-2.75
Multi---4768 (1 pt) 4769 4253 (36 pts) 4289
4X400R 3:36.17 (same) 3:36.17 (NO LIST)
NOTES
Same rules apply for the Women, as regards the 1600 & 3200.
Also, I was working on the Women's 600, 1000, etc last year as well!
The US 2000 list is short of 24.
One other comment!
With the 1 Mile being run OUTdoors in 2016, I'm hoping the Collegiates will begin running fast Miles INdoors too!
Most of the middle & long distance marks SHOULD be much tougher--based on the self-named "Renaissance" in Female distance running in recent years!
For example, the HS 5000 minimum SHOULD be closer to 16:40 than 17:00!!
A few good marks came in from a JDL meet on December 19th--the North Carolina Runners Holiday Invitational!
Anna Cockrell showed she might be the dominant HS Hurdler (and sprinter?) this year, as she ran good 55 and 55H times of 6.97 and 7.70.
Both times would have ranked high on the 2015 lists!
(I don't keep lists for 55's, but thought these times were worth noting! See my post on this subject from December 2013!!)
Cockrell also ran a 300 in 38.78.
On the Boy's 55, Daniel Estrada had a solid time of 6.29.
In the 55H, Elliott Grunos (sp?) ran 7.37.
Dylan Peebles ran a 300 in 34.65.
An 11th Grader--Sara Platek--ran a good 3200, time of 10:33.44.
And in a meet just 2 or 3 days after becoming the 3rd best Women's HS Shot Putter INdoors with her shocking 54-5, Alyssa Wilson proved she's the one to watch this year, throwing another biggie--53-11.
That was on December 21st!
That Camel City Classic meet scheduled for January 30th is sounding even better!
Three Top Tier HS'ers are going to compete in the Open (Pro, Collegiate) events!!
Anna Cockrell and Kate Murphy have been added, while the already-announced Drew Hunter has switched from the Mile to the 3000!
In that event, he'll face Bernard Lagat, among others!
A CORRECTION!
In my own 2015-2016 INdoor Schedule I provided awhile back, AND in the January issue of Track and Field News, the New Balance Boston meet was reported as being on February 27th!
It is NOT!!
This iconic meet is on February 14th!!
Valentine's Day!!
LOL
A meet I didn't list in my schedule was the 7th Asian Indoor Championships, scheduled for February 19th to the 21st!
I'm reporting it now, as it's sounding like it might be something worth watching!
It's being held in Doha, Qatar, and the Chief Qatarian--Mutaz Barshim--will be there!!
Also, the announcement said this will be a last chance meet for Asians interested in qualifying for the Portland World Championships!!
Finally, with all the NOISE being thrown about because the NCAA decided to add 109 meters of running to their OUTdoor 1500 meter event, I thought the following bit of trivia might be interesting.
Some of you might already know this--I did!--but there are World Records for the INdoor Marathon!!
That's correct--that's the 26.2 Mile race normally run on straight-ahead roads OUTdoors, NOT on INdoor 200 meter tracks!!
On an OUTdoor track, that would necessitate running 105 laps, plus another 195 meters!
But on a 200 meter INdoor track, you need to make almost 211 full circuits!!
Oversize Track marks are listed, but NOT eligible for WR's.
There is a track in Arlington VA that's 208 meters (!!) around--which IS accepted as a "legal" track!
(WHY did they make it 208 meters?? Weird!! As weird as Seattle making their's 307 instead of 300 meters! If you MUST build an OT, at least make it a round number!!)
A guy named Michael Wardian runs this race often, and holds the WR with his 2:27:21 from July 1, 2010.
Some ancient Olympians have run the INdoor Marathon!
Remember names like Dorando Pietri, John Hayes, and Tom Longboat?
The Women's WR (for a "legal" track!) is Melissa Gillette's 3:08.53.8, run on February 12, 2012 in Goshen, Indiana!
However, the fastest Women's time (but on an OT) is Monica Kalicinska's 2:53:53, run in Toronto on January 4th, 2014.
Nicole Porath has the only other Women's time of under three hours--although also on an OT--her time of 2:57:34 being run in Northfield, Minnesota on January 6th, 2013.
Not sure if this is in every race, but some of them say you can (or must?) change direction every 30 minutes!
If you want to see a list of the fastest times (about 30 deep?) for both Men and Women, just Google "Indoor Marathon list (or records)"!!
So I don't wanna hear any more complaints from you WIMPY Collegians about having to run an additional 109 lousy friggin' meters!!
SHADDUP!!
LOL
Next posts will probably be on December 31st---my picks for 2015's (OUTdoor) Athletes of the Year for the World and the United States!
(The Collegiate and High School AOY's (for OUTdoors) were done in September!)
OOPS!
Almost forgot to mention!
I received my copy of the book advertised in the January issue of T&FN--"World's Greatest in Athletics", with Athletics Annual's Peter Matthews one of the 3 editors!
It costs a total of $69 ($49 for the book, $20 for shipping), and is WORTH EVERY PENNY!!
I wanted to do a longer critique of it in this post, but this is already too long.
But here's a sneak preview of my upcoming review.
It's 832 pages, and is basically divided into 3 sections.
1. Top Ten Rankings for Most Events, All-Time, ending as of December 31st, 2014. Lots of details about the Top Ranker!
2. Deep All time lists for EVERY OUTdoor Event---most of them 500 deep!! (Some of the newer Women's events go "just" 300 or 400 deep!!)
3. Decade by Decade (from the 1900 to the 2010 decade!) Top Ten lists for EVERY event!!
In my longer review (coming????), I will go into much more depth, and will offer some fascinating bits of trivia I've seen in the few brief hours I've spent perusing it!!
Should be soon!
Monday, December 21, 2015
Standards of Excellence (& a STUNNER!)
Alyssa Wilson (Monsignor Donovan HS, Toms River NJ) threw the Shot a "Raven-esque" 54-5 to BLAST her way into HSR talk for the 2016 INdoor season, which is still "in utero" in December 2015!
In an amazing 1st meet of her season, Wilson's 54-5 suddenly puts her 3rd All-Time INdoors, behind only HSR holder Raven Saunders, and former HSR holder Michelle Carter!
That is one hellaciously exclusive little club!
But unlike Ms Saunders, who came from the mid-40's in December 2013--almost EXACTLY 2 years ago!!--all the way to 52-3, then 53-8 before Christmas--Wilson had a solid year's foundation to work from!
Her OUTdoor marks from 2015 were 51-5 (SP), 153-4 (DT), and 170-3 (HT).
INdoors last year, she had SP & WT marks of 48-6.50 & 51-7.
This shocking mark also crushed Heather Colyer's 11th Grade record of 52-5.75, dating from 1997, by almost 2 whole feet!
BTW, she also won the WT with her winning distance of 50-10.
Also from the Bishop Loughlin Games--
Josh McLemore won the 300 in 34.32.
Amanda Crawford won from Sammy Watson, also in the 300, time of 38.80, with 1000 winner (2:56.84) Watson in 4th with 40.07.
Kemami Mighty (Real name!! LOL) took the 600 in 1:21.15.
And Alyssa Aldridge had a good 2 Mile (NOT 3200!!) time of 10:42.25 to start her year!
At the Armory, in the AT&T Hall of Fame Invite, Aidan Tooker ran what was reported as the fastest-EVER HS INdoor Mile in the month of December--time of 4:09.38!
His last lap was about 61.2.
Haven't verified this yet, but the 2nd BU Mini-Meet results show a couple of fast Mile times!
John Gregorek's time is listed as 3:58.15.
And Erin Donohue's time is said to be 4:31.24.
If correct, those are solid early season times!
Finally (in the results dept), we have another National Record for New Zealand--OUTdoors!
If you recall, Eliza McCartney--then 18 years old--PV'ed 14-9 to break her own NR of 14-7.25.
Well, she's done it again!!
She raised the bar a whopping 5.75 inches (total of 7.50, if you go back to her 14-7.25!), going over at 15-2.75.
It was announced as a "World Junior Record".
Which this blog, of course, does NOT recognize!
(She was born December 11, 1996.)
The OUTdoor Age 19 record remains Holly (Bleasdale) Bradshaw's 15-5 from 2011.
Of course, McCartney has until December 10th, 1996 to break THAT record!!
The Collegiate and Professional worlds were quiet this weekend, but the Bowerman Award winners were announced in a well-produced 2 hour show, the entire webcast of which is available to all (free of charge!!) on Flotrack!
(I watched it earlier--tears in my eyes! LOL)
Oh yeah, the winners were Jenna Prandini and Marquis Dendy!
What was NOT quiet has been the reaction to the NCAA decision to race the Mile (replacing the 1500) at its OUTdoor Championship, beginning in 2016.
If you read my previous post, you KNOW my feelings about it.
But while I am happy with what I said, what Flotrack's Taylor Dutch wrote is puzzling to me--and saddens me greatly!
Trying to wrap up the conflagration in a few neat paragraphs, Ms Dutch dug the hole a few feet (or METERS??) deeper!
I'm paraphrasing here, but her essential message was that there is no female equivalent mark of excellence as that provided for men with the target mark of a sub-4 minute Mile!
(Some on Social Media had suggested that 4:30 was the Women's comparative!)
I respect her, but it saddens me to think she sees women's slower times as not EQUAL to standards of excellence developed for men over centuries of time!
There's no argument that women run slower, jump lower or shorter, and throw things less distance (or similar distances, but with less poundage in their implements!) than men do.
That's a physiological fact long accepted by both genders--with NO loss of respect for women's efforts and their strength and talent!
So when Dutch wrote that she saw a 4:30 Mile time as "not as marketable" as the sub-4:00 is for men, I cringed--then became saddened.
If we take Dutch's idea, and extend it to EVERY event in T&F, then of COURSE women will SEEM to be "less marketable" than men!
But what if we took the times, distances, and heights that WOMEN have produced--mostly just in the last 40+ years, since Title IX became law--and make THOSE the criterion by which we measure excellence in our sport--and make THOSE marks the standards for "marketability"??
When a fan with an open mind attends or watches a track meet (Track AND Field meet--pardon! LOL), doesn't that person feel as much thrill seeing Female Athlete A run the Mile in 4:28 as when Male Athlete B wins his race in 3:58?
Or when a Woman PV's 15-5, is there not as much applause as when her male equivalent Vaults 19-0.25?
How about when a Gal sprints a 10.87, while a Guy dashes the same 100 meters in 9.86?
And on and on and on, in EVERY event!!
So here--just off the top of my head--I'm going to extend to Taylor Dutch (and all the naysayers of the NCAA's decision!) MY suggestions for a WOMAN's "marketable" standard of excellence in each of the various INdoor events!
The marks offered are the MINIMAL mark (such as is 3:59.99 for the Men's Mile).
(And remember, these are for INdoors---different marks would be offered for OUTdoors!)
Try these!
60-----7.09
200----22.39
400----50.49
600----1:26.99
800----1:59.99
1000---2:34.99
1500---4:04.99
1 Mile--4:24.99
3000---8:39.99
2 Mile--9:19.99
5000---15:09.99
60H----7.89
HJ------6-6.75 (2.00 meters)
LJ------22-10 (6.96)
TJ------48-0 (14.63)
PV-----15-0 (4.57)
SP-----61-0 (18.59)
WT----75-0 (22.86)
Pent----4500
(NOTE: The Field event marks could be reversed--giving round numbers for the Metric measurement, and their "odd" equivalents in English measure! Such as the PV being 4.60 in metric, and 15-1 in feet and inches!)
As I said, these were "quickie" suggestions--NOT considered over a lengthy stretch of time!
I'm sure if I really thought about it, I would come up with different figures!
Also, I was looking at this from an American's P.O.V--so I kept the marks at least somewhat realistic for American women to reach!
But whatever marks one chooses, for them to become "marketable" to the "masses" takes more than just the numbers themselves.
We need the ATHLETES to see those numbers as marketable!
And THAT requires Pride of Ownership!
A man OWNS the sub-four minute Mile as HIS Badge of Honor--if he's a middle distance runner.
Just as a Male PV'er sees 18 or 19 feet as highly respectable, so should a Female see 14 or 15 feet the same way!
When a woman breaks 2 minutes in the 800--whether INdoors or OUTdoors!---isn't she PROUD of her accomplishment?
Aren't the fans in the stands, or watching on TV, happy for the Woman who just broke two minutes for the first time??
Or 4:30 in the Mile?
Taylor Dutch--think about this--and what you wrote in your Flotrack article!
Ask yourself this--
When one of your compatriots runs her heart out, and crosses the line in a sprinter's dip, and then you watch her as she stares at the large clock on the infield, seeing she has just run her FIRST Mile under 4:30---even if just by a few tenths of a second---and you see her sweat-soaked face break out in a splendiferously beautiful smile--her very own PRIDE visable to all---then ask yourself, Taylor Dutch, whether a sub-4:30 Mile for a Woman is as RICH a Standard of Excellence for your gender as that sub-4 is for the Guys!!
Know what?
I think, as this season develops--first INdoors, then to OUTdoors, we will see the switch to the Mile for Collegians as a POSITIVE!
And women will see a sub-4:30 as a goal to aim for!
NOTE: This post was meant to include the minimal marks necessary to be included on my T&F Record Book's DDD (Top 24 Performers) lists for INdoors.
But I've run out of room here.
So, sometime in the next day or three, I WILL present my chart of the 24th Performer for the INdoor events--as I did last year!
(Last year, that post was on December 2nd! It will be about 3 weeks later this year!)
See you soon!
In an amazing 1st meet of her season, Wilson's 54-5 suddenly puts her 3rd All-Time INdoors, behind only HSR holder Raven Saunders, and former HSR holder Michelle Carter!
That is one hellaciously exclusive little club!
But unlike Ms Saunders, who came from the mid-40's in December 2013--almost EXACTLY 2 years ago!!--all the way to 52-3, then 53-8 before Christmas--Wilson had a solid year's foundation to work from!
Her OUTdoor marks from 2015 were 51-5 (SP), 153-4 (DT), and 170-3 (HT).
INdoors last year, she had SP & WT marks of 48-6.50 & 51-7.
This shocking mark also crushed Heather Colyer's 11th Grade record of 52-5.75, dating from 1997, by almost 2 whole feet!
BTW, she also won the WT with her winning distance of 50-10.
Also from the Bishop Loughlin Games--
Josh McLemore won the 300 in 34.32.
Amanda Crawford won from Sammy Watson, also in the 300, time of 38.80, with 1000 winner (2:56.84) Watson in 4th with 40.07.
Kemami Mighty (Real name!! LOL) took the 600 in 1:21.15.
And Alyssa Aldridge had a good 2 Mile (NOT 3200!!) time of 10:42.25 to start her year!
At the Armory, in the AT&T Hall of Fame Invite, Aidan Tooker ran what was reported as the fastest-EVER HS INdoor Mile in the month of December--time of 4:09.38!
His last lap was about 61.2.
Haven't verified this yet, but the 2nd BU Mini-Meet results show a couple of fast Mile times!
John Gregorek's time is listed as 3:58.15.
And Erin Donohue's time is said to be 4:31.24.
If correct, those are solid early season times!
Finally (in the results dept), we have another National Record for New Zealand--OUTdoors!
If you recall, Eliza McCartney--then 18 years old--PV'ed 14-9 to break her own NR of 14-7.25.
Well, she's done it again!!
She raised the bar a whopping 5.75 inches (total of 7.50, if you go back to her 14-7.25!), going over at 15-2.75.
It was announced as a "World Junior Record".
Which this blog, of course, does NOT recognize!
(She was born December 11, 1996.)
The OUTdoor Age 19 record remains Holly (Bleasdale) Bradshaw's 15-5 from 2011.
Of course, McCartney has until December 10th, 1996 to break THAT record!!
The Collegiate and Professional worlds were quiet this weekend, but the Bowerman Award winners were announced in a well-produced 2 hour show, the entire webcast of which is available to all (free of charge!!) on Flotrack!
(I watched it earlier--tears in my eyes! LOL)
Oh yeah, the winners were Jenna Prandini and Marquis Dendy!
What was NOT quiet has been the reaction to the NCAA decision to race the Mile (replacing the 1500) at its OUTdoor Championship, beginning in 2016.
If you read my previous post, you KNOW my feelings about it.
But while I am happy with what I said, what Flotrack's Taylor Dutch wrote is puzzling to me--and saddens me greatly!
Trying to wrap up the conflagration in a few neat paragraphs, Ms Dutch dug the hole a few feet (or METERS??) deeper!
I'm paraphrasing here, but her essential message was that there is no female equivalent mark of excellence as that provided for men with the target mark of a sub-4 minute Mile!
(Some on Social Media had suggested that 4:30 was the Women's comparative!)
I respect her, but it saddens me to think she sees women's slower times as not EQUAL to standards of excellence developed for men over centuries of time!
There's no argument that women run slower, jump lower or shorter, and throw things less distance (or similar distances, but with less poundage in their implements!) than men do.
That's a physiological fact long accepted by both genders--with NO loss of respect for women's efforts and their strength and talent!
So when Dutch wrote that she saw a 4:30 Mile time as "not as marketable" as the sub-4:00 is for men, I cringed--then became saddened.
If we take Dutch's idea, and extend it to EVERY event in T&F, then of COURSE women will SEEM to be "less marketable" than men!
But what if we took the times, distances, and heights that WOMEN have produced--mostly just in the last 40+ years, since Title IX became law--and make THOSE the criterion by which we measure excellence in our sport--and make THOSE marks the standards for "marketability"??
When a fan with an open mind attends or watches a track meet (Track AND Field meet--pardon! LOL), doesn't that person feel as much thrill seeing Female Athlete A run the Mile in 4:28 as when Male Athlete B wins his race in 3:58?
Or when a Woman PV's 15-5, is there not as much applause as when her male equivalent Vaults 19-0.25?
How about when a Gal sprints a 10.87, while a Guy dashes the same 100 meters in 9.86?
And on and on and on, in EVERY event!!
So here--just off the top of my head--I'm going to extend to Taylor Dutch (and all the naysayers of the NCAA's decision!) MY suggestions for a WOMAN's "marketable" standard of excellence in each of the various INdoor events!
The marks offered are the MINIMAL mark (such as is 3:59.99 for the Men's Mile).
(And remember, these are for INdoors---different marks would be offered for OUTdoors!)
Try these!
60-----7.09
200----22.39
400----50.49
600----1:26.99
800----1:59.99
1000---2:34.99
1500---4:04.99
1 Mile--4:24.99
3000---8:39.99
2 Mile--9:19.99
5000---15:09.99
60H----7.89
HJ------6-6.75 (2.00 meters)
LJ------22-10 (6.96)
TJ------48-0 (14.63)
PV-----15-0 (4.57)
SP-----61-0 (18.59)
WT----75-0 (22.86)
Pent----4500
(NOTE: The Field event marks could be reversed--giving round numbers for the Metric measurement, and their "odd" equivalents in English measure! Such as the PV being 4.60 in metric, and 15-1 in feet and inches!)
As I said, these were "quickie" suggestions--NOT considered over a lengthy stretch of time!
I'm sure if I really thought about it, I would come up with different figures!
Also, I was looking at this from an American's P.O.V--so I kept the marks at least somewhat realistic for American women to reach!
But whatever marks one chooses, for them to become "marketable" to the "masses" takes more than just the numbers themselves.
We need the ATHLETES to see those numbers as marketable!
And THAT requires Pride of Ownership!
A man OWNS the sub-four minute Mile as HIS Badge of Honor--if he's a middle distance runner.
Just as a Male PV'er sees 18 or 19 feet as highly respectable, so should a Female see 14 or 15 feet the same way!
When a woman breaks 2 minutes in the 800--whether INdoors or OUTdoors!---isn't she PROUD of her accomplishment?
Aren't the fans in the stands, or watching on TV, happy for the Woman who just broke two minutes for the first time??
Or 4:30 in the Mile?
Taylor Dutch--think about this--and what you wrote in your Flotrack article!
Ask yourself this--
When one of your compatriots runs her heart out, and crosses the line in a sprinter's dip, and then you watch her as she stares at the large clock on the infield, seeing she has just run her FIRST Mile under 4:30---even if just by a few tenths of a second---and you see her sweat-soaked face break out in a splendiferously beautiful smile--her very own PRIDE visable to all---then ask yourself, Taylor Dutch, whether a sub-4:30 Mile for a Woman is as RICH a Standard of Excellence for your gender as that sub-4 is for the Guys!!
Know what?
I think, as this season develops--first INdoors, then to OUTdoors, we will see the switch to the Mile for Collegians as a POSITIVE!
And women will see a sub-4:30 as a goal to aim for!
NOTE: This post was meant to include the minimal marks necessary to be included on my T&F Record Book's DDD (Top 24 Performers) lists for INdoors.
But I've run out of room here.
So, sometime in the next day or three, I WILL present my chart of the 24th Performer for the INdoor events--as I did last year!
(Last year, that post was on December 2nd! It will be about 3 weeks later this year!)
See you soon!
Saturday, December 19, 2015
The Mile in a Metric World
In a daring move, the NCAA has accepted a proposal to run the Mile instead of the 1500 in its OUTdoor Championship meet, just as it now does in its INdoor version.
Also, individual Conferences will have the option to do either distance in their Conference meets.
This has EXPLODED across the Social Media world, with definitive sides being taken, even (especially?) among some of those who would be directly affected--the current crop of Collegiate middle distance runners.
I strongly and totally support this decision!
So let's take a breath, and see how we came to this point, and what it all means.
When I started running--in 1962--all OUTdoor tracks were 440 yards around, making it exactly 4 full laps to the Mile.
By around 1980, the switch to 400 meter tracks was on.
And with that switch--a very expensive one!--came a change in which distances runners raced over.
From 220 yards to the 200 meters.
From 440 yards to the 400.
From 880 yards to the 800.
Those were easy, based on the new track measurements.
But some events saw even more drastic revisions.
The 3 Mile became the 5000 meters, a difference of 188 yards, or about 172 meters.
The 6 Mile became the 10000 meters, a difference of 376 yards, or about 344 meters.
A VERY short distance was subtracted from the 120 yard Hurdles, when they changed it to the 110 meter Hurdles.
But with this switch to metric tracks came the decision to eliminate the TWO Mile!
Two Miles is 3218 meters.
Instead of keeping the Deuce, Collegiates then raced the 3000 meters.
Which was okay, I guess, except that the Two Mile has always been my favorite distance!
So when US High Schools changed to metric tracks, they wanted to stay as close to the Mile and Two Mile as they could.
Instead of adopting the 1500 and 3000 meter runs as their go-to's, they went the absurd route of just doing 4 or 8 laps of these new metric tracks (just as the Mile & 2 Mile were 4 & 8 laps of 440 yard tracks!)--thus "inventing" the 1600 and 3200 meter race distances!
The history of the English distance was so strong, and its legacy so ingrained in American psyches, that we as a nation have thus far held off a 100% switch to the metric system.
What would happen when/if we DO switch?
Well, have you been to Canada recently?
As soon as you cross the border (For me, it's at the Peace Arch in Blaine WA!), Speed Limit signs change from 65 MPH (Miles Per Hour) to 100 km (kilometers) Per Hour.
For ultra-distance runners, that should be an easy one to figure out--it's about 62 MPH!!
Then you'd be changing how you measure temperature--from Fahrenheit to Celcius.
All the gasoline prices would confuse you, as we'd be measuring it in "imperial" gallons, which comes out a whole lot "cheaper" than the US gallon!
(Funny story. When my wife & I drove into Vancouver B.C. on our honeymoon 25 years ago, we saw a gas sign saying a gallon was 59 cents! At that time, I believe US gallons sold at around $2.00. So we were temporarily amazed--until we figured out the reason! LOL)
But back to Track and Field.
Think what would happen with Field Events!
A Shot Put of 70 feet would become 21.34 meters.
A 300 foot Javelin Throw would then measure 91.44 meters!
A Long Jump of 28 feet becomes 8.53 meters.
And what about Our National Pastime--baseball?
Would the pitcher's mound still be 60 feet 6 inches from home plate--or its metric equivalent?
Would a football field be 100 yards, or as noted above, 91.44 meters?
(Imagine ESPN announcers screaming at you that the 49er's just ran the ball back 87.38 meters for a Touchdown!! How exciting is THAT?)
What degree of difficulty is involved in doing the switch that the NCAA has decided on?
I'll tell you!
A coach--or even one of those dumb jocks!---could take a tape measure, mark the place 9.344 meters BACK of the current finish line, maybe install a PERMANENT marker on the curb, and VOILA, you've got the starting line for the Mile!
(Do the same for the TWO Mile, except measure & mark back 18.688 meters behind the current finish line!)
So what would happen to all those wonderful 1600 & 3200 "records" and other fast times run over those distances these past 35 or so years?
The SAME EXACT thing that happened to all those 120 YARD Hurdles marks, and those 220, 440, and 880 YARD records--not to mention all those 3 & 6 MILE times that have disintegrated from people's bin of awareness!
(Who seeks out the HISTORY of our sport anymore---except nerdish historian geeks like yours truly??)
The late co-founder of The Bible of the Sport, Cordner Nelson of Track and Field News, published a FANTASTIC history of the Mile (and the 1500 meters!!) back in 1985, covering the entire history of the event, all the way back to the mid-1800's, up to the 1984 season and the Olympic Games of that year!
It's called "The Milers", and was co-written by Roberto Quercetani!
I URGENTLY recommend you seek out a copy (Amazon??)--and read it!
It has the FULL history of the event, with MANY great photos, and TONS of stats!
It's a fascinating read that will instill in your "metric brain" the LEGACY of the Mile!
(BTW, a BIG negative to this book is that it does NOT include a women's history! For that, I would recommend you turn to Frank Murphy's great work "The Silence of Great Distance". That book DOES have an EXCELLENT historic account of the evolution of women's distance records!)
Sheila Reid took the reins yesterday on Twitter, saying it was a bad move, and that for women, there's no "iconic" standard of greatness, as the Four Minute Mile is for the men!
WRONG---mostly!
The MEN'S Mile history (See Nelson's book!!) dates back, as noted, to the Civil War era, or before!
(That's the American Civil War, folks! LOL)
But the women?
Their Mile history extends back only about 50 years--or less.
But so do SEVERAL women's events--in which men have practiced them for 100 years--with the Discus & Javelin (among others) dating back MILLENNIA's!!
The TJ, PV, HT!
And on the track, the 5000, 10000, the 3000SC and even the 1500, which didn't become an Olympic event for women until 1972!!
(What would happen to the Marathon, that race which extends 26 MILES 385 YARDS? Or 42,195 meters! Would they reduce the distance to a round METRIC number, such as 40,000 meters--or raise it to 50K?? Can't imagine a headline saying "Kipsang runs WR at the Berlin 42,195 meter race!"---can you?)
For an event that basically BEGAN (for women) around the time of the passage of Title IX--just over 40 years ago--MUCH progress has been made.
Same with the other events "new" to women!
So Sheila Reid's complaint doesn't hold up very well--if you take into account the brief history they've celebrated!
Reid said a 4:30 for women doesn't hold the same "marketability" as does the sub-4:00 for men!
True!
But why CAN'T it?
If the ATHLETES--and the coaches, and the SPORT in general--EMBRACE a certain time as being "marketable"--then it WILL be!!
4:30.
Or 4:25.
Or 4:20.
(Keep in mind that Genzebe Dibaba's 3:50.07 WR for 1500 meters is equal to (if run at the same pace!) a Mile in 4:06 or 4:07!!)
Even Shannon Rowbury's new American Record is worth a Mile in 4:12 or 4:13!!
And the TWO Mile?
How thrilling was it to note that Daniel Komen's 7:58.81 WR was TWO 3:59.4's run back to back, non-stop!
(BTW, Roger Bannister's FIRST sub-4 was---3:59.4!!)
For the Women, I was just as thrilled when Meseret Defar ran the Deuce in 8:58.58 in Brussels in 2007!
That's TWO 4:29 Miles run consecutively, non-stop!
Sheila, embrace THOSE historic moments!!
(Her Mile PR is her INdoor time of 4:27.02, at Millrose in 2013--leading Mary Cain to her HSR of 4:28.25!!
Who says the MILE can't be ICONIC--and IMPORTANT--for women??
It can, and with the blessing of the NCAA, it WILL!!
On a personal note, I'm looking forward to ALL my MILE DDD's being DRASTICALLY revised this spring!!
BRAVO!!
Also, individual Conferences will have the option to do either distance in their Conference meets.
This has EXPLODED across the Social Media world, with definitive sides being taken, even (especially?) among some of those who would be directly affected--the current crop of Collegiate middle distance runners.
I strongly and totally support this decision!
So let's take a breath, and see how we came to this point, and what it all means.
When I started running--in 1962--all OUTdoor tracks were 440 yards around, making it exactly 4 full laps to the Mile.
By around 1980, the switch to 400 meter tracks was on.
And with that switch--a very expensive one!--came a change in which distances runners raced over.
From 220 yards to the 200 meters.
From 440 yards to the 400.
From 880 yards to the 800.
Those were easy, based on the new track measurements.
But some events saw even more drastic revisions.
The 3 Mile became the 5000 meters, a difference of 188 yards, or about 172 meters.
The 6 Mile became the 10000 meters, a difference of 376 yards, or about 344 meters.
A VERY short distance was subtracted from the 120 yard Hurdles, when they changed it to the 110 meter Hurdles.
But with this switch to metric tracks came the decision to eliminate the TWO Mile!
Two Miles is 3218 meters.
Instead of keeping the Deuce, Collegiates then raced the 3000 meters.
Which was okay, I guess, except that the Two Mile has always been my favorite distance!
So when US High Schools changed to metric tracks, they wanted to stay as close to the Mile and Two Mile as they could.
Instead of adopting the 1500 and 3000 meter runs as their go-to's, they went the absurd route of just doing 4 or 8 laps of these new metric tracks (just as the Mile & 2 Mile were 4 & 8 laps of 440 yard tracks!)--thus "inventing" the 1600 and 3200 meter race distances!
The history of the English distance was so strong, and its legacy so ingrained in American psyches, that we as a nation have thus far held off a 100% switch to the metric system.
What would happen when/if we DO switch?
Well, have you been to Canada recently?
As soon as you cross the border (For me, it's at the Peace Arch in Blaine WA!), Speed Limit signs change from 65 MPH (Miles Per Hour) to 100 km (kilometers) Per Hour.
For ultra-distance runners, that should be an easy one to figure out--it's about 62 MPH!!
Then you'd be changing how you measure temperature--from Fahrenheit to Celcius.
All the gasoline prices would confuse you, as we'd be measuring it in "imperial" gallons, which comes out a whole lot "cheaper" than the US gallon!
(Funny story. When my wife & I drove into Vancouver B.C. on our honeymoon 25 years ago, we saw a gas sign saying a gallon was 59 cents! At that time, I believe US gallons sold at around $2.00. So we were temporarily amazed--until we figured out the reason! LOL)
But back to Track and Field.
Think what would happen with Field Events!
A Shot Put of 70 feet would become 21.34 meters.
A 300 foot Javelin Throw would then measure 91.44 meters!
A Long Jump of 28 feet becomes 8.53 meters.
And what about Our National Pastime--baseball?
Would the pitcher's mound still be 60 feet 6 inches from home plate--or its metric equivalent?
Would a football field be 100 yards, or as noted above, 91.44 meters?
(Imagine ESPN announcers screaming at you that the 49er's just ran the ball back 87.38 meters for a Touchdown!! How exciting is THAT?)
What degree of difficulty is involved in doing the switch that the NCAA has decided on?
I'll tell you!
A coach--or even one of those dumb jocks!---could take a tape measure, mark the place 9.344 meters BACK of the current finish line, maybe install a PERMANENT marker on the curb, and VOILA, you've got the starting line for the Mile!
(Do the same for the TWO Mile, except measure & mark back 18.688 meters behind the current finish line!)
So what would happen to all those wonderful 1600 & 3200 "records" and other fast times run over those distances these past 35 or so years?
The SAME EXACT thing that happened to all those 120 YARD Hurdles marks, and those 220, 440, and 880 YARD records--not to mention all those 3 & 6 MILE times that have disintegrated from people's bin of awareness!
(Who seeks out the HISTORY of our sport anymore---except nerdish historian geeks like yours truly??)
The late co-founder of The Bible of the Sport, Cordner Nelson of Track and Field News, published a FANTASTIC history of the Mile (and the 1500 meters!!) back in 1985, covering the entire history of the event, all the way back to the mid-1800's, up to the 1984 season and the Olympic Games of that year!
It's called "The Milers", and was co-written by Roberto Quercetani!
I URGENTLY recommend you seek out a copy (Amazon??)--and read it!
It has the FULL history of the event, with MANY great photos, and TONS of stats!
It's a fascinating read that will instill in your "metric brain" the LEGACY of the Mile!
(BTW, a BIG negative to this book is that it does NOT include a women's history! For that, I would recommend you turn to Frank Murphy's great work "The Silence of Great Distance". That book DOES have an EXCELLENT historic account of the evolution of women's distance records!)
Sheila Reid took the reins yesterday on Twitter, saying it was a bad move, and that for women, there's no "iconic" standard of greatness, as the Four Minute Mile is for the men!
WRONG---mostly!
The MEN'S Mile history (See Nelson's book!!) dates back, as noted, to the Civil War era, or before!
(That's the American Civil War, folks! LOL)
But the women?
Their Mile history extends back only about 50 years--or less.
But so do SEVERAL women's events--in which men have practiced them for 100 years--with the Discus & Javelin (among others) dating back MILLENNIA's!!
The TJ, PV, HT!
And on the track, the 5000, 10000, the 3000SC and even the 1500, which didn't become an Olympic event for women until 1972!!
(What would happen to the Marathon, that race which extends 26 MILES 385 YARDS? Or 42,195 meters! Would they reduce the distance to a round METRIC number, such as 40,000 meters--or raise it to 50K?? Can't imagine a headline saying "Kipsang runs WR at the Berlin 42,195 meter race!"---can you?)
For an event that basically BEGAN (for women) around the time of the passage of Title IX--just over 40 years ago--MUCH progress has been made.
Same with the other events "new" to women!
So Sheila Reid's complaint doesn't hold up very well--if you take into account the brief history they've celebrated!
Reid said a 4:30 for women doesn't hold the same "marketability" as does the sub-4:00 for men!
True!
But why CAN'T it?
If the ATHLETES--and the coaches, and the SPORT in general--EMBRACE a certain time as being "marketable"--then it WILL be!!
4:30.
Or 4:25.
Or 4:20.
(Keep in mind that Genzebe Dibaba's 3:50.07 WR for 1500 meters is equal to (if run at the same pace!) a Mile in 4:06 or 4:07!!)
Even Shannon Rowbury's new American Record is worth a Mile in 4:12 or 4:13!!
And the TWO Mile?
How thrilling was it to note that Daniel Komen's 7:58.81 WR was TWO 3:59.4's run back to back, non-stop!
(BTW, Roger Bannister's FIRST sub-4 was---3:59.4!!)
For the Women, I was just as thrilled when Meseret Defar ran the Deuce in 8:58.58 in Brussels in 2007!
That's TWO 4:29 Miles run consecutively, non-stop!
Sheila, embrace THOSE historic moments!!
(Her Mile PR is her INdoor time of 4:27.02, at Millrose in 2013--leading Mary Cain to her HSR of 4:28.25!!
Who says the MILE can't be ICONIC--and IMPORTANT--for women??
It can, and with the blessing of the NCAA, it WILL!!
On a personal note, I'm looking forward to ALL my MILE DDD's being DRASTICALLY revised this spring!!
BRAVO!!
Monday, December 14, 2015
Roads & XC Rule Week
Just 8 days after I hyperventilated about what a fast start we've seen to the 2015-2016 INdoor T&F season, that segment of our sport decides to go into cruise mode!
I'm not saying nothing of note happened.
I'll soon report all the good marks.
It just didn't raise the bar--so to speak.
But not to fear, because action on the macadam & dirt-grass trails was relentless.
Let's begin with the final High School XC meet of the year--Footlocker.
They who were supposed to win--did.
Weini Kelati and Drew Hunter each displayed fearless front-running talent that brought them to seemingly easy victories.
The Women's race was first, and Kelati--just turned 19, even though just an academic sophomore--took off and disappeared.
She opened a 20 meter gap in the first 800, and hit the mile in 5:14.
But a group of 3 or 4, including eventual 2nd placer Maryjeanne Gilbert, soon closed the gap.
After the first loop's uphill stretch, it became Gilbert & Kelati side by side, or one just inches ahead.
Every time one took the lead, the other reeled her in.
But after the 2nd run up the hill, Kelati took off, and moved her short legs (She's barely 5 feet tall!) to the tape, with Gilbert sprinting too, but running out of time!
Kelati won by just 0.90 seconds, with 4:43 Miler Nevada Mareno 3rd some 7 seconds behind Gilbert.
Taylor Werner was 5th, while the 1st Soph, Madison Troy, was 7th.
Hannah DeBalsi was 12th, Stephanie Jenks 16th, and Annie Hill 22nd.
The Men's race was a lot simpler.
It was all Drew Hunter!
Like Kelati, he led from the gun, opening a gap after 400, and widening it all the way to the finish!
His time of 14:55 didn't break the FL record, but wasn't bad for a solo outing.
Phil Rocha finished 12 seconds back, with Ben Veatch 3rd.
The Men's field didn't have as many "name" runners as the female side, but Hunter's run was in the "SUPER" elite class!
The USATF Club XC races were in San Francisco, and had strong fields.
Garrett Heath sprinted past Jonathan Grey in the final 400, his 29:06 topping Grey's 29:10.
Scott Fauble was 3rd, but 16 seconds behind Grey, with Trevor Dunbar in 4th in 29:30.
Ben Bruce ended in 23rd, with AJ Acosta 36th, Tabor Stevens in 64th, and Scott Bauhs in 92nd.
Alan Webb--aka "retired", finished 182nd in 32:45, with 800 guys Nick Symmonds (219th) and Casimir Loxsom (275th) at least not last of the 411 finishers!
Amy Van Alstine surprised some by winning the Women's 6K race in 19:51, with Laura Thweatt 2nd in 19:52, and recent 32:08 Track 10K racer Rochelle Kanuho 3rd another second back.
A woman who I hadn't heard anything from for a year or two--Cally Macumber--finished 4th, running the same 20:02 time as 5th placer Emma Bates.
Ageless Wonder Jen Rhines took 8th in 20:06!
Other familiar names were--Jessica Tonn (10th), Emily Lipari (13th), Bridget Franek (16th), Hillary Holt (20th), Jamie Cheever (21st), Tara (Erdmann) Welling (27th), Juliet Bottorff (31st), Chris Cazzola (64th), Lea Wallace (118th), and Megan Malasarte (162nd) out of 346 finishers!
Sean Dunfee broke the Canadian 50000 Walk Record while winning the Australian (!!) National Championship race, his NR time being 3:43:45!
In the same race, the South Africa National Record went to the 3:54:12 of Marc Mundell.
BTW, this was the best by ANY African, not just a South African!!
The latest Road result to come in opened up a floodgate of speculation!
The question became---after Galen Rupp destroyed the field in a Portland Half-Marathon, running a great 1:01:20!!--Will Rupp run the OT Marathon in February?
And if he does (and finishes Top 3), would he try to double in Rio--as the 26.2 comes 7 or 8 days after the 6.2?
He SAYS he hasn't decided yet.
But his time shows he's capable of at least a 2:08!!
(Keep in mind, too, that his Half was NOT paced (except by a motorcycle!), and he wore more than he normally does when racing, so the talk was that he did it as PART of a workout!!
True, to an extent, as AlSal supposedly put him through the paces AFTER the 13.1.)
Well, let's take a peek at what happened on INdoor Tracks & Fields!
To tell the truth, NONE of the recent marks really stood out from the rest, so I'll just list them as if I'm listing groceries I need to buy!
(Okay, it wasn't BAD---it just wasn't that GREAT!! LOL)
Michelle Lee Ayhe sprinted 60 meters in 7.14, and added a 200 in 23.19, both season leaders.
Some good 5000's came from the Hoosier meet.
William Kincaid and Futsam Zenasellassie both ran 13:44's.
Four others got times of 13:49 or 13:50.
Carly Muscaro ran a decent 500, her time being 1:10.94.
Janay DeLoach took a 60H race in 8.15--after a heat in 8.14!
Mustafa Hassam threw the Shot out 67-1.50.
Cameron Brown had a WT of 72-11.75.
Beckie Famurewa threw the Weight 69-6.25.
Sha'Keela Saunders had a good LJ--measuring 21-6.25.
Tynita Butts has HJ'ed 6-2 already!
Amy Acuff, now 40, HJ'ed 5-10.75.
Texas A&M ran the 4X400 Relay, both Men and Women!
The Men, Donavan Brazier on 3rd leg, and with Richard Rose anchoring--They're both Frosh!!--timed an okay 3:08.38.
The Women, with Shamier Little on 2nd leg, and Aaliyah Brown on anchor, ran 3:39.65.
Brazier, who led the OUTdoor HS 800 list last spring with his 1:47.55, also won the Mile, time of 4:07.36!
Two HS marks came in worth mentioning!
Andrea Willis PV'ed 13-5.25 to become 15th A-T HS, tied with one other!
And Tatiana Marsh, who became the Frosh Class Record holder last year with her TJ of 41-2--opened her season with a solid 40-11 jump, just 3 inches from her PR!
Also, you might be interested in knowing that Nevada Mareno's 4:43.49 Mile from that November 21st JDL meet not only leads the HS list, but if she were a Collegian, would lead THAT list as well!
The fastest Collegiate Miler--Jamie Morrissey of Michigan--has run "just" 4:44.56 so far!!
Sam Watts ran the fastest 200 so far this season, time of 20.95.
And Ronnie Baker has the fastest 60--time of 6.61.
I have a few CORRECTIONS to make before closing!
Two women got married since last Track season!
I already reported about Chelsea Reilly becoming Chelsea Sodaro!
Now it's Jess Herauf becoming Jess LEHMAN!!
In my Age Records Predictions post, under Age 28, I said that Tiffany Porter would have a 60H time of 7.63 as her target!
Well, Porter will be 28 this INdoor season, but that 7.63?
That was the time run by Lyudmila Engqvist in 1993, which was (then) called the World Record!
Turns out that her time was taken off the books because of a retroactive drug ban!
It was MY fault, as I should have remembered that the WR is now Susan Kallur's 7.68!!
The last "correction" I need to make might not NEED a correction!!
I reported the 15:31.62 5000 time by Courtney Frerichs as a Collegiate list-reaching mark!
Well, in today's eTN, she's listed as "unattached" for that race!
She DID run on (In fact, LEAD!) New Mexico's team to the NCAA XC title just 3 weeks ago!
I checked around, and found out she's starting her 1st semester as a Grad student.
But I don't know if her eligibility ended with XC, or whether it extends to INdoor Track!
(I tweeted her to ask her status, but no reply as yet.)
For the time being, I've removed her time from my Collegiate DDD--though she remains on my US list, of course!
Will let you know if I find out she's still eligible as a Collegiate athlete!
ADDED Minutes later!!
Just heard from Ms Frerichs!!
She tweeted that she does NOT have INdoor eligibility, and that's why she ran as unattached!
BUT---she WILL have OUTdoor eligibility in the 2016 OUTdoor season!
Thanks, Courtney, for replying so quickly!
See you all soon!
I'm not saying nothing of note happened.
I'll soon report all the good marks.
It just didn't raise the bar--so to speak.
But not to fear, because action on the macadam & dirt-grass trails was relentless.
Let's begin with the final High School XC meet of the year--Footlocker.
They who were supposed to win--did.
Weini Kelati and Drew Hunter each displayed fearless front-running talent that brought them to seemingly easy victories.
The Women's race was first, and Kelati--just turned 19, even though just an academic sophomore--took off and disappeared.
She opened a 20 meter gap in the first 800, and hit the mile in 5:14.
But a group of 3 or 4, including eventual 2nd placer Maryjeanne Gilbert, soon closed the gap.
After the first loop's uphill stretch, it became Gilbert & Kelati side by side, or one just inches ahead.
Every time one took the lead, the other reeled her in.
But after the 2nd run up the hill, Kelati took off, and moved her short legs (She's barely 5 feet tall!) to the tape, with Gilbert sprinting too, but running out of time!
Kelati won by just 0.90 seconds, with 4:43 Miler Nevada Mareno 3rd some 7 seconds behind Gilbert.
Taylor Werner was 5th, while the 1st Soph, Madison Troy, was 7th.
Hannah DeBalsi was 12th, Stephanie Jenks 16th, and Annie Hill 22nd.
The Men's race was a lot simpler.
It was all Drew Hunter!
Like Kelati, he led from the gun, opening a gap after 400, and widening it all the way to the finish!
His time of 14:55 didn't break the FL record, but wasn't bad for a solo outing.
Phil Rocha finished 12 seconds back, with Ben Veatch 3rd.
The Men's field didn't have as many "name" runners as the female side, but Hunter's run was in the "SUPER" elite class!
The USATF Club XC races were in San Francisco, and had strong fields.
Garrett Heath sprinted past Jonathan Grey in the final 400, his 29:06 topping Grey's 29:10.
Scott Fauble was 3rd, but 16 seconds behind Grey, with Trevor Dunbar in 4th in 29:30.
Ben Bruce ended in 23rd, with AJ Acosta 36th, Tabor Stevens in 64th, and Scott Bauhs in 92nd.
Alan Webb--aka "retired", finished 182nd in 32:45, with 800 guys Nick Symmonds (219th) and Casimir Loxsom (275th) at least not last of the 411 finishers!
Amy Van Alstine surprised some by winning the Women's 6K race in 19:51, with Laura Thweatt 2nd in 19:52, and recent 32:08 Track 10K racer Rochelle Kanuho 3rd another second back.
A woman who I hadn't heard anything from for a year or two--Cally Macumber--finished 4th, running the same 20:02 time as 5th placer Emma Bates.
Ageless Wonder Jen Rhines took 8th in 20:06!
Other familiar names were--Jessica Tonn (10th), Emily Lipari (13th), Bridget Franek (16th), Hillary Holt (20th), Jamie Cheever (21st), Tara (Erdmann) Welling (27th), Juliet Bottorff (31st), Chris Cazzola (64th), Lea Wallace (118th), and Megan Malasarte (162nd) out of 346 finishers!
Sean Dunfee broke the Canadian 50000 Walk Record while winning the Australian (!!) National Championship race, his NR time being 3:43:45!
In the same race, the South Africa National Record went to the 3:54:12 of Marc Mundell.
BTW, this was the best by ANY African, not just a South African!!
The latest Road result to come in opened up a floodgate of speculation!
The question became---after Galen Rupp destroyed the field in a Portland Half-Marathon, running a great 1:01:20!!--Will Rupp run the OT Marathon in February?
And if he does (and finishes Top 3), would he try to double in Rio--as the 26.2 comes 7 or 8 days after the 6.2?
He SAYS he hasn't decided yet.
But his time shows he's capable of at least a 2:08!!
(Keep in mind, too, that his Half was NOT paced (except by a motorcycle!), and he wore more than he normally does when racing, so the talk was that he did it as PART of a workout!!
True, to an extent, as AlSal supposedly put him through the paces AFTER the 13.1.)
Well, let's take a peek at what happened on INdoor Tracks & Fields!
To tell the truth, NONE of the recent marks really stood out from the rest, so I'll just list them as if I'm listing groceries I need to buy!
(Okay, it wasn't BAD---it just wasn't that GREAT!! LOL)
Michelle Lee Ayhe sprinted 60 meters in 7.14, and added a 200 in 23.19, both season leaders.
Some good 5000's came from the Hoosier meet.
William Kincaid and Futsam Zenasellassie both ran 13:44's.
Four others got times of 13:49 or 13:50.
Carly Muscaro ran a decent 500, her time being 1:10.94.
Janay DeLoach took a 60H race in 8.15--after a heat in 8.14!
Mustafa Hassam threw the Shot out 67-1.50.
Cameron Brown had a WT of 72-11.75.
Beckie Famurewa threw the Weight 69-6.25.
Sha'Keela Saunders had a good LJ--measuring 21-6.25.
Tynita Butts has HJ'ed 6-2 already!
Amy Acuff, now 40, HJ'ed 5-10.75.
Texas A&M ran the 4X400 Relay, both Men and Women!
The Men, Donavan Brazier on 3rd leg, and with Richard Rose anchoring--They're both Frosh!!--timed an okay 3:08.38.
The Women, with Shamier Little on 2nd leg, and Aaliyah Brown on anchor, ran 3:39.65.
Brazier, who led the OUTdoor HS 800 list last spring with his 1:47.55, also won the Mile, time of 4:07.36!
Two HS marks came in worth mentioning!
Andrea Willis PV'ed 13-5.25 to become 15th A-T HS, tied with one other!
And Tatiana Marsh, who became the Frosh Class Record holder last year with her TJ of 41-2--opened her season with a solid 40-11 jump, just 3 inches from her PR!
Also, you might be interested in knowing that Nevada Mareno's 4:43.49 Mile from that November 21st JDL meet not only leads the HS list, but if she were a Collegian, would lead THAT list as well!
The fastest Collegiate Miler--Jamie Morrissey of Michigan--has run "just" 4:44.56 so far!!
Sam Watts ran the fastest 200 so far this season, time of 20.95.
And Ronnie Baker has the fastest 60--time of 6.61.
I have a few CORRECTIONS to make before closing!
Two women got married since last Track season!
I already reported about Chelsea Reilly becoming Chelsea Sodaro!
Now it's Jess Herauf becoming Jess LEHMAN!!
In my Age Records Predictions post, under Age 28, I said that Tiffany Porter would have a 60H time of 7.63 as her target!
Well, Porter will be 28 this INdoor season, but that 7.63?
That was the time run by Lyudmila Engqvist in 1993, which was (then) called the World Record!
Turns out that her time was taken off the books because of a retroactive drug ban!
It was MY fault, as I should have remembered that the WR is now Susan Kallur's 7.68!!
The last "correction" I need to make might not NEED a correction!!
I reported the 15:31.62 5000 time by Courtney Frerichs as a Collegiate list-reaching mark!
Well, in today's eTN, she's listed as "unattached" for that race!
She DID run on (In fact, LEAD!) New Mexico's team to the NCAA XC title just 3 weeks ago!
I checked around, and found out she's starting her 1st semester as a Grad student.
But I don't know if her eligibility ended with XC, or whether it extends to INdoor Track!
(I tweeted her to ask her status, but no reply as yet.)
For the time being, I've removed her time from my Collegiate DDD--though she remains on my US list, of course!
Will let you know if I find out she's still eligible as a Collegiate athlete!
ADDED Minutes later!!
Just heard from Ms Frerichs!!
She tweeted that she does NOT have INdoor eligibility, and that's why she ran as unattached!
BUT---she WILL have OUTdoor eligibility in the 2016 OUTdoor season!
Thanks, Courtney, for replying so quickly!
See you all soon!
Thursday, December 10, 2015
INdoor Record Predictions--Women
MAJOR Announcement!!
Just after posting my Men's Predictions, I went to Twitter to see what's what.
Here's what I found!
Molly Huddle will try to break the American Record in the 5000 meters in the Millrose Games!
That record is Shalane Flanagan's 14:47.62 from 2009.
If successful (or even close!), she'd also get the Age 31 record (14:54.73)
Right now, Flanagan's mark ranks her 8th A-T World!
Huddle's INdoor PR of 15:13+ is probably 25th or 26th A-T World at present!
But the Millrose announcement didn't stop with Huddle!
Also set to compete are Andre De Grasse, Ashton Eaton (60H & LJ), Aleec Harris, Lalonde Gordon (400), Eric Jenkins, Derek Drouin, Robbie Andrews, and Chris O'Hare among the men.
For the women, we'll see (besides Huddle) Shannon Rowbury (1 Mile), Jenna Prandini, Sandi Morris (PV), Queen Harrison (60H), Ajee Wilson, Kendall Baisden, Jordan Hasay (the 5K??), Nicole Tully, and Kerri Gallagher!
BTW, before I start my Women's Predictions, I have a correction to make, and a news item!
In my last results post, I said Chelsea Reilly took 2nd in the Sacramento track 10000.
Well, sort of!
Chelsea did take 2nd in that race.
Except it was newly married Chelsea SODARO who ran so well!!
Her wedding was early November!
Also, Meseret Defar ran her first post-pregnancy race!!
She easily won a Road 15K, running 50:04.
Her 5K splits were 16:56, 16:50, and--16:18!!
I'd say she's BAAAACCKKK!!!
Onto the Predictions!
WORLD--WOMEN
As with the Men, the 60 mark of 6.92 is fairly inviolable!
But not entirely impossible!
Merlene Ottey's WR 200 of 21.87 is a bit easier, IMO.
And if Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson (& SAFP & Allyson Felix!) make the attempt?
Then the odds go to 80-20 for the record being broken!
The 400 could go, even though it's now 33 years old. (In 2016, it will be 34 years old!)
But only Felix, Shaunae Miller, SRR, and Fran McCorory have any chance at it!
Alysia Montano ALMOST got the WR in the 600 (1:23.44) in 2013 with her 1:23.59.
Can she, or Ajee Wilson (or??) take it down?
What will Genzebe Dibaba run, if anything?
No announcements of record attempts--yet--from her!
But let's put it this way!
If she's in her 3:50.07 OUTdoor 1500 WR shape, then EVERY INdoor record can fall!!
The 800 (1:55.82), 1000 (2:30.94), 1500 (3:55.17), Mile (4:17.14), 3000 (8:16.60), 2 Mile (9:00.48) and 5000 (14:18.86), with the 1500, 3000, 2 Mile, and 5000 belonging to GD already!
Will Almaz Ayana and Viola Kibiwot join any record chases??
The 60H WR of Susan Kallur (7.68) SHOULD go--especially with all the great hurdlers this world has!
I'll give it 55-45 odds of going!
One of these days, another woman will reach 6-10 again in the HJ, whether INdoors or OUTdoors!
Ditto with 24 feet in the LJ.
But probably not THIS INdoor season!
Still, I'll give, say, 30-70 odds for both!
Can Caterine Ibarguen get the TJ mark of 50-4.75?
Possible, but without serious competition, probably not!
Jenn Suhr won't be at the WC in 2016 (See previous post!), and maybe not Isi either!
With the PV field thus weakened, look for Suhr's WR Vault of 16-5.50 from 2013 surviving into 2017.
The SP record is other-worldly--so forget it!
But the WT mark of 83-10.25?
50-50.
If KJT and BTE and JEH all compete in Portland's Heptathlon, look for all three hitting 5000+ territory, with the WR a 90-10 likelihood!
Three Relays might see new WR's---IF shots are taken at them!
They are the 4X400 (3:23.37), 4X800 (8:06.24), and the DMR (10:42.57).
UNITED STATES--WOMEN
The AR for the 60 is "only" 6.95, but still unlikely to fall!
But the 200 (22.18) and 400 (50.46) could go!
Prandini, Felix, Jeneba Tarmoh, and Candyce McGrone are the serious candidates for the 200, with Felix, SRR, and McCorory being the standbys for the 400.
With Huddle said to be shooting for the 5000 mark, EVERY mid-and long distance AR could go down!
Several 800 types could challenge the 600, 800 (1:58.71), and 1000 (2:34.19) AR's.
Rowbury, Jenny Simpson, and too many others to list here could challenge the longer distances--1500 (3:59.98), Mile (4:20.5), 3000 (8:33.25), and 2 Mile (9:18.35)--with Huddle (and???) going for the 5K.
Forget the Beijing 100H debacle earlier this year!
Lolo Jones's 7.72 60H AR is NOT that great!
Not with the WEALTH of female hurdle power the US has!
Don't be shocked if SEVERAL women go 7.65 or faster!!
IF Chaunte Lowe herself--and Brigetta Barrett--make STRONG returns to form, then Lowe's HJ mark of 6-7.50 can go.
Tianna Bartoletta and Brittney Reese could challenge Reese's LJ mark of 23-7.50.
And watch for Keturah Orji to go after the TJ mark of 46-8.25!
She's just 3 inches away!
Will Raven Saunders join "Shot Diva" Michelle Carter in chasing the SP record of 65-3.25?
That, and the WT mark (See the WR section!), can fall!
55-45 odds for both!
IF Kendell Williams lets loose at NCAA's (and/or USATF??), the Pentathlon AR of 4805 can go.
The DMR record can go. (See my World's comment!)
As can the 4X400 mark of 3:24.83!
COLLEGIATE--WOMEN
The Collegiate Women's sprint corps is ALWAYS strong and deep!
Thus, the CR's of 7.08 and 22.40 in the 60 and 200 are vulnerable!
But with Jenna Prandini turning Pro, erase her from your list of record-chasing possibles!
The 400 mark is also the American Record, and with Kendall Baisden ALSO a Professional now, erase HER from your 400 list of Collegiate Record breaking eligibles!
The Collegiate middle and long distance lists are fairly deep--but missing Collegiate age Pro's like Alexa Efraimson and Mary Cain!
But who needs THEM when you have so many others raring to go?!
The CR's are 1:27.78 (600), 2:00.75 (800), 2:41.00 (1000), 4:09.77 (1500), 4:25.91 (Mile), 8:42.03 (3000), and 15:12.22 (5000).
Will be interesting to see which top Freshman--Allie Ostrander, Anna Rohrer??--go for fast times INdoors!
They might not get the overall CR's, but they could reach high places on my Collegiate Top 24's!
Most likely records to go?
I'd say the 800, 1000, 1500, and 5000.
55-45 for all!
Brianna Rollins's 7.78 over the 60H is tough, but women like Dior Hall are coming on strong!
With Prandini gone from the Collegiate ranks, the LJ record of 22-8 will probably remain into 2017.
Look for Orji to POSSIBLY reach 47 feet in the TJ!
Saunders MIGHT (WILL??) get Tia Brooks's SP mark of 63-0.75!
The WT record--also the WORLD & American Records--will remain!!
Look for Williams to erase her own CR in the Heptathlon!
The weakest Relay mark might be the 4X800 (8:25.5).
That's about 2:06.3 per leg!
HIGH SCHOOL--WOMEN
As noted in my Men's post, don't expect many (any??) HSR's until the NBIN meet in March!
But we SHOULD expect the usual barrage of HSR's there!
A full TWELVE HSR's date from 2013, 2014, and 2015.
And then there's three HS PRO records from 2014--all belonging to Mary Cain--making it 15 HSR's from the past 3 years!
Speaking of those early-signing Professionals, you can eliminate both Kaylin Whitney and Candace Hill from your "amateur" HS record-breaking eligibles!
(But both CAN set HS PRO records in the 60 and 200, as they remain HS'ers, even if not HSR eligible!!)
Nonetheless, look for such as Teahna Daniels, Lauren Rain Williams, and Khalifa St Fort to challenge the 60 (7.19) and 200 (22.97) HSR's.
In the 400 (and the 300 too!), watch what Sydney McLaughlin does in 2016!
The records are 36.96 and 51.93.
The mid-and long distances remain strong--even if missing SUPERstars like Cain & Efraimson!
There's several candidates talented enough to challenge the 600 (1:28.87), 800 (2:01.8), 1000 (2:43.40), and 5000 (16:10.79) marks.
And I wouldn't totally forget Cain's 4 amateur HSR's--4:11.72 & 4:28.25 for the 1500 & Mile, 9:04.51 & 9:38.68 for the 3000 and 2 Mile!
Again, too many to list here!
But look AGAIN for a 5000 HSR at NBIN!!
If it happens, that would make it SIX consecutive years when the HSR was broken at NBIN!!
(And a sub-16:00 time is VERY doable!!)
Anna Cockrell began the season with TWO 8.29 times for 60H.
The HSR is 8.11.
Can she (or McLaughlin!) get it?
Odds are 35-65!
Will Vashti Cunningham HJ INdoors in 2016?
If so, it's BYE-BYE to Lisa Bernhagen's 32 year old (in 2016) HSR of 6-3!!
If Courtney Corrin goes to NBIN, the 21-7.50 LJ record can go.
Otherwise, give it, at best, 35-65.
There's no Keturah among the TJ candidates, so forget THAT record!
The Pole Vault?
Well, both Tori and Lexi Weeks are competing as Arkansas Razorback Frosh in 2016.
Even so, expect to see at least one 14-footer in 2016, and maybe 3 or 4!
Can any get Tori's INdoor mark of 14-4?
Yes!
I'd give it 50-50 odds!
Forget the Throws--both Saunders's SP mark (56-7.50), and Shelbi Ashe's WT mark of 68-2.50!
Also eliminate Williams's Pent mark of 4068 from your list of fallible HSR's!
As for the Relays, my same caveat applies here!
ALL of the HSR's could fall, and at least one WILL!
Which one(s)??
Hopefully, I'll have more incredible December marks to report in a few days--probably Monday!
And/or other news items!
(My post with the LEAST marks needed for my Top 24's will come soon---but not sure when exactly!)
See you!
Enjoy!
Just after posting my Men's Predictions, I went to Twitter to see what's what.
Here's what I found!
Molly Huddle will try to break the American Record in the 5000 meters in the Millrose Games!
That record is Shalane Flanagan's 14:47.62 from 2009.
If successful (or even close!), she'd also get the Age 31 record (14:54.73)
Right now, Flanagan's mark ranks her 8th A-T World!
Huddle's INdoor PR of 15:13+ is probably 25th or 26th A-T World at present!
But the Millrose announcement didn't stop with Huddle!
Also set to compete are Andre De Grasse, Ashton Eaton (60H & LJ), Aleec Harris, Lalonde Gordon (400), Eric Jenkins, Derek Drouin, Robbie Andrews, and Chris O'Hare among the men.
For the women, we'll see (besides Huddle) Shannon Rowbury (1 Mile), Jenna Prandini, Sandi Morris (PV), Queen Harrison (60H), Ajee Wilson, Kendall Baisden, Jordan Hasay (the 5K??), Nicole Tully, and Kerri Gallagher!
BTW, before I start my Women's Predictions, I have a correction to make, and a news item!
In my last results post, I said Chelsea Reilly took 2nd in the Sacramento track 10000.
Well, sort of!
Chelsea did take 2nd in that race.
Except it was newly married Chelsea SODARO who ran so well!!
Her wedding was early November!
Also, Meseret Defar ran her first post-pregnancy race!!
She easily won a Road 15K, running 50:04.
Her 5K splits were 16:56, 16:50, and--16:18!!
I'd say she's BAAAACCKKK!!!
Onto the Predictions!
WORLD--WOMEN
As with the Men, the 60 mark of 6.92 is fairly inviolable!
But not entirely impossible!
Merlene Ottey's WR 200 of 21.87 is a bit easier, IMO.
And if Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson (& SAFP & Allyson Felix!) make the attempt?
Then the odds go to 80-20 for the record being broken!
The 400 could go, even though it's now 33 years old. (In 2016, it will be 34 years old!)
But only Felix, Shaunae Miller, SRR, and Fran McCorory have any chance at it!
Alysia Montano ALMOST got the WR in the 600 (1:23.44) in 2013 with her 1:23.59.
Can she, or Ajee Wilson (or??) take it down?
What will Genzebe Dibaba run, if anything?
No announcements of record attempts--yet--from her!
But let's put it this way!
If she's in her 3:50.07 OUTdoor 1500 WR shape, then EVERY INdoor record can fall!!
The 800 (1:55.82), 1000 (2:30.94), 1500 (3:55.17), Mile (4:17.14), 3000 (8:16.60), 2 Mile (9:00.48) and 5000 (14:18.86), with the 1500, 3000, 2 Mile, and 5000 belonging to GD already!
Will Almaz Ayana and Viola Kibiwot join any record chases??
The 60H WR of Susan Kallur (7.68) SHOULD go--especially with all the great hurdlers this world has!
I'll give it 55-45 odds of going!
One of these days, another woman will reach 6-10 again in the HJ, whether INdoors or OUTdoors!
Ditto with 24 feet in the LJ.
But probably not THIS INdoor season!
Still, I'll give, say, 30-70 odds for both!
Can Caterine Ibarguen get the TJ mark of 50-4.75?
Possible, but without serious competition, probably not!
Jenn Suhr won't be at the WC in 2016 (See previous post!), and maybe not Isi either!
With the PV field thus weakened, look for Suhr's WR Vault of 16-5.50 from 2013 surviving into 2017.
The SP record is other-worldly--so forget it!
But the WT mark of 83-10.25?
50-50.
If KJT and BTE and JEH all compete in Portland's Heptathlon, look for all three hitting 5000+ territory, with the WR a 90-10 likelihood!
Three Relays might see new WR's---IF shots are taken at them!
They are the 4X400 (3:23.37), 4X800 (8:06.24), and the DMR (10:42.57).
UNITED STATES--WOMEN
The AR for the 60 is "only" 6.95, but still unlikely to fall!
But the 200 (22.18) and 400 (50.46) could go!
Prandini, Felix, Jeneba Tarmoh, and Candyce McGrone are the serious candidates for the 200, with Felix, SRR, and McCorory being the standbys for the 400.
With Huddle said to be shooting for the 5000 mark, EVERY mid-and long distance AR could go down!
Several 800 types could challenge the 600, 800 (1:58.71), and 1000 (2:34.19) AR's.
Rowbury, Jenny Simpson, and too many others to list here could challenge the longer distances--1500 (3:59.98), Mile (4:20.5), 3000 (8:33.25), and 2 Mile (9:18.35)--with Huddle (and???) going for the 5K.
Forget the Beijing 100H debacle earlier this year!
Lolo Jones's 7.72 60H AR is NOT that great!
Not with the WEALTH of female hurdle power the US has!
Don't be shocked if SEVERAL women go 7.65 or faster!!
IF Chaunte Lowe herself--and Brigetta Barrett--make STRONG returns to form, then Lowe's HJ mark of 6-7.50 can go.
Tianna Bartoletta and Brittney Reese could challenge Reese's LJ mark of 23-7.50.
And watch for Keturah Orji to go after the TJ mark of 46-8.25!
She's just 3 inches away!
Will Raven Saunders join "Shot Diva" Michelle Carter in chasing the SP record of 65-3.25?
That, and the WT mark (See the WR section!), can fall!
55-45 odds for both!
IF Kendell Williams lets loose at NCAA's (and/or USATF??), the Pentathlon AR of 4805 can go.
The DMR record can go. (See my World's comment!)
As can the 4X400 mark of 3:24.83!
COLLEGIATE--WOMEN
The Collegiate Women's sprint corps is ALWAYS strong and deep!
Thus, the CR's of 7.08 and 22.40 in the 60 and 200 are vulnerable!
But with Jenna Prandini turning Pro, erase her from your list of record-chasing possibles!
The 400 mark is also the American Record, and with Kendall Baisden ALSO a Professional now, erase HER from your 400 list of Collegiate Record breaking eligibles!
The Collegiate middle and long distance lists are fairly deep--but missing Collegiate age Pro's like Alexa Efraimson and Mary Cain!
But who needs THEM when you have so many others raring to go?!
The CR's are 1:27.78 (600), 2:00.75 (800), 2:41.00 (1000), 4:09.77 (1500), 4:25.91 (Mile), 8:42.03 (3000), and 15:12.22 (5000).
Will be interesting to see which top Freshman--Allie Ostrander, Anna Rohrer??--go for fast times INdoors!
They might not get the overall CR's, but they could reach high places on my Collegiate Top 24's!
Most likely records to go?
I'd say the 800, 1000, 1500, and 5000.
55-45 for all!
Brianna Rollins's 7.78 over the 60H is tough, but women like Dior Hall are coming on strong!
With Prandini gone from the Collegiate ranks, the LJ record of 22-8 will probably remain into 2017.
Look for Orji to POSSIBLY reach 47 feet in the TJ!
Saunders MIGHT (WILL??) get Tia Brooks's SP mark of 63-0.75!
The WT record--also the WORLD & American Records--will remain!!
Look for Williams to erase her own CR in the Heptathlon!
The weakest Relay mark might be the 4X800 (8:25.5).
That's about 2:06.3 per leg!
HIGH SCHOOL--WOMEN
As noted in my Men's post, don't expect many (any??) HSR's until the NBIN meet in March!
But we SHOULD expect the usual barrage of HSR's there!
A full TWELVE HSR's date from 2013, 2014, and 2015.
And then there's three HS PRO records from 2014--all belonging to Mary Cain--making it 15 HSR's from the past 3 years!
Speaking of those early-signing Professionals, you can eliminate both Kaylin Whitney and Candace Hill from your "amateur" HS record-breaking eligibles!
(But both CAN set HS PRO records in the 60 and 200, as they remain HS'ers, even if not HSR eligible!!)
Nonetheless, look for such as Teahna Daniels, Lauren Rain Williams, and Khalifa St Fort to challenge the 60 (7.19) and 200 (22.97) HSR's.
In the 400 (and the 300 too!), watch what Sydney McLaughlin does in 2016!
The records are 36.96 and 51.93.
The mid-and long distances remain strong--even if missing SUPERstars like Cain & Efraimson!
There's several candidates talented enough to challenge the 600 (1:28.87), 800 (2:01.8), 1000 (2:43.40), and 5000 (16:10.79) marks.
And I wouldn't totally forget Cain's 4 amateur HSR's--4:11.72 & 4:28.25 for the 1500 & Mile, 9:04.51 & 9:38.68 for the 3000 and 2 Mile!
Again, too many to list here!
But look AGAIN for a 5000 HSR at NBIN!!
If it happens, that would make it SIX consecutive years when the HSR was broken at NBIN!!
(And a sub-16:00 time is VERY doable!!)
Anna Cockrell began the season with TWO 8.29 times for 60H.
The HSR is 8.11.
Can she (or McLaughlin!) get it?
Odds are 35-65!
Will Vashti Cunningham HJ INdoors in 2016?
If so, it's BYE-BYE to Lisa Bernhagen's 32 year old (in 2016) HSR of 6-3!!
If Courtney Corrin goes to NBIN, the 21-7.50 LJ record can go.
Otherwise, give it, at best, 35-65.
There's no Keturah among the TJ candidates, so forget THAT record!
The Pole Vault?
Well, both Tori and Lexi Weeks are competing as Arkansas Razorback Frosh in 2016.
Even so, expect to see at least one 14-footer in 2016, and maybe 3 or 4!
Can any get Tori's INdoor mark of 14-4?
Yes!
I'd give it 50-50 odds!
Forget the Throws--both Saunders's SP mark (56-7.50), and Shelbi Ashe's WT mark of 68-2.50!
Also eliminate Williams's Pent mark of 4068 from your list of fallible HSR's!
As for the Relays, my same caveat applies here!
ALL of the HSR's could fall, and at least one WILL!
Which one(s)??
Hopefully, I'll have more incredible December marks to report in a few days--probably Monday!
And/or other news items!
(My post with the LEAST marks needed for my Top 24's will come soon---but not sure when exactly!)
See you!
Enjoy!
INdoor Record Predictions--Men
I've been promising these predictions for awhile, but noticed I didn't do them for last year until early January!
Can't remember my reasoning, but probably was because I wanted more info on who would be competing where (and in which events) before I said definitively this or that record could fall!
But with this year's INdoor season ending with the World Championships, and with the season already happening (See previous post!), I feel it's time to do this--now!
To that end, a brief "editorial" comment.
Jenn Suhr, who began her season with a PV of 15-9 last week (Again, see previous post!), has stated that she probably will NOT compete at the USATF meet, and thus also forego the WC!
This is a mistake!
This WC is in the United States!
For any top American to opt OUT of trying for the team is akin, IMO, to, say, Fabiana Murer opting OUT of trying for HER Brazil National team for Rio!!
Barring serious injury, pregnancy, or a drug ban, I see NO good excuse for missing the Trials for either the WIC or the OG in 2016!
In a year when Yelena Isinbayeva might be banned from competing, Suhr's decision becomes even more ridiculous--as she'd be a clear medal favorite!
But what makes this a decision I can't--and won't--condone is the fact she ALSO stated she WILL be competing in several meets up through mid-February!
If she were skipping the ENTIRE INdoor season would be one thing!
But for her to be active over a period of about 9 weeks (last week to the Boston meet, which she says will END her INdoor season!), and then to not go to Portland for the USATF and WC is an entirely different story!
(There's already several people who agree with me!)
Now for my INdoor Records predictions!
They will be in my 4 core groups--World, US, Collegiate, and HS, and will be separated by gender.
So let's begin!
WORLD--MEN
Mo Greene's 6.39 from 2001 will be the 60 WR another year!
But, if anyone can break it, look for new Pro's Trayvon Bromell or Andre De Grasse as the most likely!
Same goes for Frank Fredericks's 19.92 in the 200.
That one SHOULD go, but probably won't, as INdoor 200's are becoming rarer!
Kerron Clement's 44.57 has a solid chance to go!
That is, IF all those sub-44 guys from the Beijing WC race INdoors!
The 800, 1000, 1500, and 1 Mile will remain as is--1:42.67, 2:14.96, 3:31.18, 3:48.45--into 2017!
I'm not saying they CAN'T be broken.
Just saying they probably WON'T!!
(Even with several candidates with solid credentials available!)
Mo Farah has said he'll race ONCE this season--in the Glasgow 3000.
Will he remove Dan Komen's 7:24.90 from the Books?
He COULD!
IF he tries for it the same way he tried for the 2 Mile WR last year!
Speaking of which, I wish he (or others!) would take a stab at Mo's 8:03.40 in the Deuce!
The 5000--Ken Bekele's 12:49.60 from 2004--is a good WR, but with even OUTdoor sub-12:50's being rare recently, I can't see an INdoor sub-12:50 this year!
Forget Colin Jackson's 7.30 in the 60H--one of the BEST WR's in ANY event!!
The Vertical Jumps (HJ & PV) could both go, with the odds very close to 50-50!
While Renaud Lavillenie is probably the only serious candidate to break his own WR in the PV, the HJ has several, despite the weak results from Beijing--and most of 2015!
Carl Lewis's 28-10.25 will remain as is!
But Teddy Tamgho's TJ of 58.9.50 might not even be podium material on my DDD list at season's end!
Tamgho himself might even be one of the ones--along with Pablo Pichardo and Christian Taylor--to break it!
Randy Barnes's 74-4.25 in the SP is HUGE, but so is Joe Kovacs's talent!
Still, it's no better than a 50-50 shot---pun intended!
I can see Lance Deal's WT mark going down.
His 84-10.25 is great, but remember, we saw 2 new guys crossing the 80 foot divide in 2015.
Michael Lihrman and Chuk Enekwechi are good candidates for the honors!
Ashton Eaton has committed to competing in the USATF & WC, so his Heptathlon WR of 6645 is VERY likely to go!!
The past 2 years have seen the 4X800 and DMR records falling!
They--and the 4X400--could go!
But it comes down to WHO runs them!
UNITED STATES--MEN
As noted above, Bromell would be a strong pick to break the sprint WR's--if he competes INdoors!
Justin Gatlin would be too--but he's unlikely to compete INdoors.
So the 60 & 200 US records will remain!
LaShawn Merritt would be the most likely (among Americans!) to take down Clement's mark in the 400.
ALL of the middle distance events have relatively easy AR's!
The 1500 is probably the best candidate to go---with Matthew Centrowitz set to compete INdoors!
The AR is 3:33.34 by Bernard Lagat from 2005.
He also has the Mile mark--3:49.89--also from 2005.
Galen Rupp came close--1 second slower--a couple of years ago.
If Centro WANTS it--BOTH!--they can be erased!
With Galen Rupp set to race a Half Marathon this weekend (!!), and with RUMORS that he might race the OT Marathon in February (doubtful!), I can't see him doing much INdoors in 2016.
Thus his 3000 (7:30.16), 2 Mile (8:07.41), and 5000 (13:01.26) AR's should remain as they are!
Forget the 7.36 in the 60H--by Allen Johnson and Roger Kingdom!
Won't even be close!
Hollis Conway's 7:10.50 HJ could go--if Eric Kynard joins the other World elites in INdoor competitions!
But forget the 19-9 PV mark and Lewis's LJ mark!
(See the World remarks for AR chances in the TJ, SP, and WT.)
See my World comments for the Hept!
All 3 Relays (4X400, 4X800 & DMR) are vulnerable by US teams!
COLLEGIATE--MEN
With Bromell & De Grasse turning Professional, the Collegiate sprint ranks are considerably weaker than they were!
With Wallace Spearmon's CR of 20.10 being also the US record, I don't know of any College guys left capable of taking it down.
ALMOST the same goes for the 6.45 in the 60.
I'd give that one a 35-65 odds--in other words, unlikely, but possible!
Clement's WR and US record is also the CR!
2017 will begin with his mark remaining as the CR!
The 1000 CR (2:18.55 in 2014) is still pretty weak!
Any guy who can run at least 1:46+ or faster is a candidate!
And with the 1K being a Collegiate favorite, I'll predict it will go!
All of the other distance events--the 1500 & Mile, the 3000 and 5000--are dependent on whether Ed Cheserek RACES them (not JOGS them!!)--and whether anyone else have the BALLS to challenge him!!
The CR's are 3:37.25, 3:52.88, 7:38.59, and 13:08.28.
Omar McLeod's 7.45 CR in the 60H is fairly safe--because Mr McLeod is now a Pro!
The lure of the Pro world took another Collegiate elite off the boards in the PV--he being Shawn Barber!
So forget Barber's PV record from going down!
Same goes for all the other jumps--the HJ (7-9.25), LJ (28-2.25), and TJ (57-5)!
Ryan Whiting's 71-3.50 in the SP can go, but with Ryan Crouser graduated, it's doubtful.
With Enekwechi and Rudy Winkler still competing Collegiately, Lihrman's WT mark is a possibility to fall!
Forget Eaton's 6499 in the Heptathlon.
I can see someone--or someoneS--getting a score of 6200--or even low-6300--but 6499 is off the table!
Watch the meets at Penn State to see if the 4X200 CR falls!
It's now 1:24.70.
The 4X400 (3:02.86) can go, as could both distance Relays--the 4X800 (7:17.45) and DMR (9:25.97).
Of course, as with ALL races run on INdoor ovals, only marks made on tracks measuring 200 meters are eligible for records!!
HIGH SCHOOL--MEN
It's both good and bad news that most HSR's happen at the New Balance INdoor Nationals meet---which happens the 2nd week of March!
I wish there were other SUPER elite HS meets scattered throughout the season!
But, aside from "Dream" Miles at the Millrose meet, the INdoor HS season finds only scattered meets with high quality fields strong enough to produce marks of HSR quality!
Nonetheless, even if we have to wait another three-plus months, we should see the following predictions coming to fruition sometime in 2016.
Noah Lyles isn't going the Pro route--as he's already signed on to compete at Florida starting in 2017.
So put him on your short list to break the 60 (6.57) and 200 (20.69) HSR's--especially the latter!
He could DESTROY that one!!
Watch for Grant Holloway to be a possible challenger, especially in the 60.
The 300 (33.05) and 400 (45.92) HSR's are tough, but last year saw a couple of guys run solid 300's, with Lyle's brother Josephus being a PRIME challenger for both!
(If the latter tries the 600, look for Strymar Livingston's 600 mark of 1:17.58 going down too!)
With Drew Hunter in the mix, ANY distance he runs will see either a HSR being set, or at worst, a Top 10 mark!
And yes, that DOES include Alan Webb's near-legendary 3:43.27 (1500) and 3:59.86 (Mile) HSR's, both dating from 2001.
But he could ALSO get Ed Cheserek's (!!) HSR's too--the 3000 & 2 Mile (8:05.46 & 8:39.15) and his 5000 mark of 13:57.04.
Hunter seems THAT good!!
As always, however, much is dependent on who runs at NBIN!
Mr Holloway also has 60H talents!
Both the 39 inch (7.57) and 42 inch (7.85) HSR's could fall!
(Unless too many of Grant's hurdles do!! LOL)
The HJ (7-5.25), SP (77-2.50), and WT (93-3.25) HSR's will still be there in 2017!
But look for Ja Mari Ward to challenge both Horizontal Jump records--26-6.50 in the LJ, and 52-7.50 in the TJ.
Look for 10th Grader Mondo Duplantis to vie for the PV record of 17-11.25.
But with the HS Vault ranks losing the likes of Paulo Benavides, Tommy Dial, and Deakin Volz, I would still look for others to rise up (literally!! LOL) to challenge Duplantis!
I'd give the odds of an 18 footer happening as BETTER than 50-50! Maybe even 75-25!
Gunnar Nixon's Pentathlon HSR of 4307 will remain!
And, as ever, predicting HSR's for the Relays is a fools errand!
But I would hope that there's a team somewhere who can bring the 4X1Mile mark under 17 minutes!!
It's now 17:07.17.
The Women's predictions will be posted in a few hours!
Can't remember my reasoning, but probably was because I wanted more info on who would be competing where (and in which events) before I said definitively this or that record could fall!
But with this year's INdoor season ending with the World Championships, and with the season already happening (See previous post!), I feel it's time to do this--now!
To that end, a brief "editorial" comment.
Jenn Suhr, who began her season with a PV of 15-9 last week (Again, see previous post!), has stated that she probably will NOT compete at the USATF meet, and thus also forego the WC!
This is a mistake!
This WC is in the United States!
For any top American to opt OUT of trying for the team is akin, IMO, to, say, Fabiana Murer opting OUT of trying for HER Brazil National team for Rio!!
Barring serious injury, pregnancy, or a drug ban, I see NO good excuse for missing the Trials for either the WIC or the OG in 2016!
In a year when Yelena Isinbayeva might be banned from competing, Suhr's decision becomes even more ridiculous--as she'd be a clear medal favorite!
But what makes this a decision I can't--and won't--condone is the fact she ALSO stated she WILL be competing in several meets up through mid-February!
If she were skipping the ENTIRE INdoor season would be one thing!
But for her to be active over a period of about 9 weeks (last week to the Boston meet, which she says will END her INdoor season!), and then to not go to Portland for the USATF and WC is an entirely different story!
(There's already several people who agree with me!)
Now for my INdoor Records predictions!
They will be in my 4 core groups--World, US, Collegiate, and HS, and will be separated by gender.
So let's begin!
WORLD--MEN
Mo Greene's 6.39 from 2001 will be the 60 WR another year!
But, if anyone can break it, look for new Pro's Trayvon Bromell or Andre De Grasse as the most likely!
Same goes for Frank Fredericks's 19.92 in the 200.
That one SHOULD go, but probably won't, as INdoor 200's are becoming rarer!
Kerron Clement's 44.57 has a solid chance to go!
That is, IF all those sub-44 guys from the Beijing WC race INdoors!
The 800, 1000, 1500, and 1 Mile will remain as is--1:42.67, 2:14.96, 3:31.18, 3:48.45--into 2017!
I'm not saying they CAN'T be broken.
Just saying they probably WON'T!!
(Even with several candidates with solid credentials available!)
Mo Farah has said he'll race ONCE this season--in the Glasgow 3000.
Will he remove Dan Komen's 7:24.90 from the Books?
He COULD!
IF he tries for it the same way he tried for the 2 Mile WR last year!
Speaking of which, I wish he (or others!) would take a stab at Mo's 8:03.40 in the Deuce!
The 5000--Ken Bekele's 12:49.60 from 2004--is a good WR, but with even OUTdoor sub-12:50's being rare recently, I can't see an INdoor sub-12:50 this year!
Forget Colin Jackson's 7.30 in the 60H--one of the BEST WR's in ANY event!!
The Vertical Jumps (HJ & PV) could both go, with the odds very close to 50-50!
While Renaud Lavillenie is probably the only serious candidate to break his own WR in the PV, the HJ has several, despite the weak results from Beijing--and most of 2015!
Carl Lewis's 28-10.25 will remain as is!
But Teddy Tamgho's TJ of 58.9.50 might not even be podium material on my DDD list at season's end!
Tamgho himself might even be one of the ones--along with Pablo Pichardo and Christian Taylor--to break it!
Randy Barnes's 74-4.25 in the SP is HUGE, but so is Joe Kovacs's talent!
Still, it's no better than a 50-50 shot---pun intended!
I can see Lance Deal's WT mark going down.
His 84-10.25 is great, but remember, we saw 2 new guys crossing the 80 foot divide in 2015.
Michael Lihrman and Chuk Enekwechi are good candidates for the honors!
Ashton Eaton has committed to competing in the USATF & WC, so his Heptathlon WR of 6645 is VERY likely to go!!
The past 2 years have seen the 4X800 and DMR records falling!
They--and the 4X400--could go!
But it comes down to WHO runs them!
UNITED STATES--MEN
As noted above, Bromell would be a strong pick to break the sprint WR's--if he competes INdoors!
Justin Gatlin would be too--but he's unlikely to compete INdoors.
So the 60 & 200 US records will remain!
LaShawn Merritt would be the most likely (among Americans!) to take down Clement's mark in the 400.
ALL of the middle distance events have relatively easy AR's!
The 1500 is probably the best candidate to go---with Matthew Centrowitz set to compete INdoors!
The AR is 3:33.34 by Bernard Lagat from 2005.
He also has the Mile mark--3:49.89--also from 2005.
Galen Rupp came close--1 second slower--a couple of years ago.
If Centro WANTS it--BOTH!--they can be erased!
With Galen Rupp set to race a Half Marathon this weekend (!!), and with RUMORS that he might race the OT Marathon in February (doubtful!), I can't see him doing much INdoors in 2016.
Thus his 3000 (7:30.16), 2 Mile (8:07.41), and 5000 (13:01.26) AR's should remain as they are!
Forget the 7.36 in the 60H--by Allen Johnson and Roger Kingdom!
Won't even be close!
Hollis Conway's 7:10.50 HJ could go--if Eric Kynard joins the other World elites in INdoor competitions!
But forget the 19-9 PV mark and Lewis's LJ mark!
(See the World remarks for AR chances in the TJ, SP, and WT.)
See my World comments for the Hept!
All 3 Relays (4X400, 4X800 & DMR) are vulnerable by US teams!
COLLEGIATE--MEN
With Bromell & De Grasse turning Professional, the Collegiate sprint ranks are considerably weaker than they were!
With Wallace Spearmon's CR of 20.10 being also the US record, I don't know of any College guys left capable of taking it down.
ALMOST the same goes for the 6.45 in the 60.
I'd give that one a 35-65 odds--in other words, unlikely, but possible!
Clement's WR and US record is also the CR!
2017 will begin with his mark remaining as the CR!
The 1000 CR (2:18.55 in 2014) is still pretty weak!
Any guy who can run at least 1:46+ or faster is a candidate!
And with the 1K being a Collegiate favorite, I'll predict it will go!
All of the other distance events--the 1500 & Mile, the 3000 and 5000--are dependent on whether Ed Cheserek RACES them (not JOGS them!!)--and whether anyone else have the BALLS to challenge him!!
The CR's are 3:37.25, 3:52.88, 7:38.59, and 13:08.28.
Omar McLeod's 7.45 CR in the 60H is fairly safe--because Mr McLeod is now a Pro!
The lure of the Pro world took another Collegiate elite off the boards in the PV--he being Shawn Barber!
So forget Barber's PV record from going down!
Same goes for all the other jumps--the HJ (7-9.25), LJ (28-2.25), and TJ (57-5)!
Ryan Whiting's 71-3.50 in the SP can go, but with Ryan Crouser graduated, it's doubtful.
With Enekwechi and Rudy Winkler still competing Collegiately, Lihrman's WT mark is a possibility to fall!
Forget Eaton's 6499 in the Heptathlon.
I can see someone--or someoneS--getting a score of 6200--or even low-6300--but 6499 is off the table!
Watch the meets at Penn State to see if the 4X200 CR falls!
It's now 1:24.70.
The 4X400 (3:02.86) can go, as could both distance Relays--the 4X800 (7:17.45) and DMR (9:25.97).
Of course, as with ALL races run on INdoor ovals, only marks made on tracks measuring 200 meters are eligible for records!!
HIGH SCHOOL--MEN
It's both good and bad news that most HSR's happen at the New Balance INdoor Nationals meet---which happens the 2nd week of March!
I wish there were other SUPER elite HS meets scattered throughout the season!
But, aside from "Dream" Miles at the Millrose meet, the INdoor HS season finds only scattered meets with high quality fields strong enough to produce marks of HSR quality!
Nonetheless, even if we have to wait another three-plus months, we should see the following predictions coming to fruition sometime in 2016.
Noah Lyles isn't going the Pro route--as he's already signed on to compete at Florida starting in 2017.
So put him on your short list to break the 60 (6.57) and 200 (20.69) HSR's--especially the latter!
He could DESTROY that one!!
Watch for Grant Holloway to be a possible challenger, especially in the 60.
The 300 (33.05) and 400 (45.92) HSR's are tough, but last year saw a couple of guys run solid 300's, with Lyle's brother Josephus being a PRIME challenger for both!
(If the latter tries the 600, look for Strymar Livingston's 600 mark of 1:17.58 going down too!)
With Drew Hunter in the mix, ANY distance he runs will see either a HSR being set, or at worst, a Top 10 mark!
And yes, that DOES include Alan Webb's near-legendary 3:43.27 (1500) and 3:59.86 (Mile) HSR's, both dating from 2001.
But he could ALSO get Ed Cheserek's (!!) HSR's too--the 3000 & 2 Mile (8:05.46 & 8:39.15) and his 5000 mark of 13:57.04.
Hunter seems THAT good!!
As always, however, much is dependent on who runs at NBIN!
Mr Holloway also has 60H talents!
Both the 39 inch (7.57) and 42 inch (7.85) HSR's could fall!
(Unless too many of Grant's hurdles do!! LOL)
The HJ (7-5.25), SP (77-2.50), and WT (93-3.25) HSR's will still be there in 2017!
But look for Ja Mari Ward to challenge both Horizontal Jump records--26-6.50 in the LJ, and 52-7.50 in the TJ.
Look for 10th Grader Mondo Duplantis to vie for the PV record of 17-11.25.
But with the HS Vault ranks losing the likes of Paulo Benavides, Tommy Dial, and Deakin Volz, I would still look for others to rise up (literally!! LOL) to challenge Duplantis!
I'd give the odds of an 18 footer happening as BETTER than 50-50! Maybe even 75-25!
Gunnar Nixon's Pentathlon HSR of 4307 will remain!
And, as ever, predicting HSR's for the Relays is a fools errand!
But I would hope that there's a team somewhere who can bring the 4X1Mile mark under 17 minutes!!
It's now 17:07.17.
The Women's predictions will be posted in a few hours!
Sunday, December 6, 2015
It's Only December--Really!!
This is my post for December 6th, 2015.
Really!
It might SEEM like a mid-January report, but I assure you, it's not!
(In my summary (See below!), I'll give some data to PROVE this is the best start to an INdoor season since---well, since I began my blog almost two years ago!)
Without any more BS, here's what I have.
The NXN Cross Country races provided some real shockers--and a tinge of normality.
The latter was provided by the winner of the Women's race--Katie Rainsberger!
Her time of 16:56.80 easily beat Ella Donaghu's 17:10.20.
It was a course record, but not an NXN record, as that belongs to Alexa Efraimson from the 2013 race.
Callie Logue was 3rd in 17:14.20.
The first Freshman was 4th placer Kelsey Chmiel's 17:15.40.
But two of the favorites didn't have their best days.
Stephanie Jenks was with the lead group for awhile, but fell back to 25th.
Destiny Collins was 31st.
Maybe the most amazing performance of the entire day was that of the 14th place Woman.
Grace Ping---a 12 year old 7th grader!!!--ran 17:25.70--just 28.90 behind one of the best HS'ers in the US of A!!
The Men's race produced an even bigger shock, as heavily favored Austin Tamagno finished just 26th, a full 30 seconds in back of winner Casey Clinger, who timed out in 15:03.20.
Ben Veatch was 2nd in 15:04.8, with Alex Parsons 3rd in 15:05.6.
Fayetteville-Manlius won their 9th Women's title, while Great Oak took the Men's.
In the West Regional for next week's Footlocker races, Garek Bielaczyc upset favored Phillip Rocha, 15:21.60 to 15:27.10!
The Women's race was taken by a 10th Grader, as Annie Hill's 18:12.60 beat Kate Hunter's 18:13.80.
In my previous post, I reported on a Japan track 10000, won in National Record time.
Well, I have 2 more (OUTdoor) track 10K results for you!
In Melbourne, Australia, Eloise Wellings took the Women's race in 32:02.61.
The Men's race went to the 28:03.69 of David McNeill.
Just ended in Sacramento (CA) was the new Pacific Pursuit 10K meet.
The idea was to secure early Olympic Qualifiers of 28:00 and 32:15.
The Women were more successful than the Men!
Kim Conley took the lead after a 15:53 first 5000, but running alone, couldn't hold the pace, finishing in 31:58.54.
Chelsea Reilly was 2nd in 32:05.84, while Rochelle Kanuho completed her 1st track 10K in 3rd, time of 32:08.76!
They were the only ones to get the Q time, as Jordan Hasay was never close, finishing 8th in 32:46 & change.
Jen Rhines finished 12th in 33:05.03, which some said is an American "Masters" record!
Don't know!
I don't keep "Masters" records!
I DO have the record for the Age 40 & over gang--that being Edith Masai's 31:31.18 from 2007.
As for the American 40 & over mark, I have no idea.
It MIGHT be Rhines's time from today.
But take note of this---Francie Larrieu ran 31:28.92 at Age 38, which is one of the better AMERICAN times from the late 30's age range or older!
The lone Collegiate entrant--NCAA XC winner Molly Seidel--was a late scratch, reason unknown!
While he didn't scratch, Ben Blankenship was a DNF, as he dropped out after 8000 in 23:00.
The winner of the Men's race was Venezuelan Marvin Blanco, who broke the National Record with his time of 28:31.13.
Erik Olson was a second back, while Sean Quigley took 3rd in 28:50.41.
Nowhere near their Q goals!!
The venerable Fukuoka Marathon was taken by Patrick Makau in 2:08:18.
Getu Feleke was 13 seconds back, with Satoru Sasaki 3rd in 2:08:55.
Dennis Kimetto was an early DNF--just past the 5K point, where he was over a minute behind the leaders!!
Kara Goucher is back!
She pulled a "Molly Huddle" in the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half--leading from the gun, and winning by 81 seconds from Canadian Sasha Gollish, times of 1:11:09 and 1:12:30.
Running a planned "tempo", Shalane Flanagan and Amy Cragg finished together in 1:12:48.
(Goucher said in her post-race interview that she was surprised Shalane didn't challenge her. But in a pre-race interview, Flanagan announced her plan to run the pace she did! I guess Kara didn't see it!)
Aaron Braun jogged the Men's race in 1:04:11.
And now we come to the INdoor T&F report!
After I'm done, you tell me if you believe it's still just the 1st week of December!!
As in the past 2 Decembers, the Boston University track provided fast 5000 races.
The Men's was won by Gilbert Kirui's 13:50.48.
Two others ran 13:53's.
But in the Women's race, we got a DDD list-making mark!
Courtney Frerich, leader of New Mexico's winning team at the NCAA XC meet, won in 15:31.62.
This makes her 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other.
It's also 11th A-T US!
Erika Kemp, Liv Westphal, and Sarah Collins all ran 15:45's, in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Also breaking 16:00 was 5th placer Laura Hottenrott, time of 15:47.28.
Another New Mexico athlete, Molly Renfer, ran a 16:02.
Raven Saunders started her new career at Ole Miss by shattering the school SP record by about 6 feet (!!), with her opening shot of 58-8.50!
It misses the Soph Class record by 10.50 inches!
After that, she also won the WT with a two METER PR of 63-11.75!
Sean Tobin won the Mile race at this Birmingham (AL) meet, time of 4:02.97.
Other WT marks (at various meets) came from Felisha Johnson (73-10.25), DeAnna Price (Saunder's old SIU teammate!--distance of 71-0.75), and Rudy Winkler (67-9).
Good early Multi's came from Luca Weiland (5814 Heptathlon) and Jess Herauf (4242 Pentathlon).
Anna Cockrell had the best HS marks, running the 60H in 8.29--and doing it TWICE!
She also had a 400 in 57+.
Kayla Caldwell PV'ed 14-1.25.
But Jenn Suhr--in a different meet--slightly out-jumped her!
Would you believe a Best-Ever-in-December 15-9 for Jenn Suhr??!!
She began with a miss at 4.55, then made it on 2nd try.
She then got her 15-9 on 1st attempt, before missing 3 times at 4.90 (16-0.75).
And she said she wasn't satisfied!!
BTW, she missed the Age 33 record by one inch!!
I'll have a few more newsy items, but first, let's compare this INdoor season's early marks to those from the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons.
(And you can look back to my blog posts from those years for the raw data!)
In 2013 (the 2013-2014 season), you'll remember my excitement when Abbey D'Agostino ran the "fastest 5000 in December", with her 15:40.55.
But that was on the weekend of December 13th-15th!
Also in mid-December that year were other good 5K's, those of Emily Sisson, Sarah Collins, and Laura Nagel, all in the low 15:40's range.
Then a week later came the shocking news of Raven Saunders's emergence in the SP, from the mid-40's range to 52-3, then again to 53-8, making her (then) one of the best-ever INdoor HS SP'ers!
A year later, there was even more excitement when Ryen Frazier ran a 4:44.20 Mile in the JDL All-Comers meet on November 22nd!
I then commented on how early this first INdoor mark came, relative to those mid-December 5K's from 2013!
Then, on November 30th, Richard Rose ran a good early season 600 of 1:20.98.
But the season EXPLODED on December 6th with that fantastic 5000 at BU, when Sarah DiSanza beat Emily Sisson and Liv Westphal, times of 15:20.57, 15:21.84, and 15:31.62.
Raven Saunders reached 56-3.75 in her first Collegiate meet in the SP.
A week later, around December 13th, Rachel Johnson and Brian Shrader ran more fast 5K's, times of 15:40+ & 13:40+.
Chuk Enechwechi (75-6) and Sophie Lozano (70-9.25) had solid WT's!
Erica Twiss got a Pentathlon score of 4136.
And 9th Grader Tatiana Marsh began her march to the Frosh Class record (41-2) by TJ'ing 39-3.
Then, on the 3rd weekend of December (the 21st-22nd), we got 8 more good marks in various events.
Quite a start, eh?!
Well, not quite!
First, Nevada Mareno's JDL Mile came one day earlier than Ryen Frazier's!
(And she added that OUTdoor 3200 of 10:02 a few hours later!!)
But then look at what happened this year in December's 1st week, as compared to the same week last year!
Sure, you had those FAST 5K's from DiSanza & Co, and the 56 footer from Saunders.
But that was IT!!
This year, we've had all the T&F stuff reported above---especially Suhr's 15-9, Raven's 58-footer, Herauf's 4242 a mere 106 points better than Twiss's from 2014 (plus Wieland's Hept mark!), Cockrell's TWO 8.29 60H marks, and some very decent WT's!
The QUANTITY of QUALITY marks from this December beats the fewer quality marks from 2014.
(Note that where I said above that Frerich's 15:31.62 TIED her with 1 other---that "1 other" was Westphal's time from that BU race with DiSanza!!)
Now, we should keep in mind that this is just the first week of December.
In 2014 especially, good marks followed on the following 2 weekends leading up to Christmas.
Will the same happen this year, or is this the last of the rush of list-making marks we'll find this month?
(I strongly doubt that!!)
Suffice to say---and I only have the data from the past 2 Decembers (& Novembers!) to compare it to---this INdoor season has gotten off to the DEEPEST start---and in some cases (Suhr!) the BEST start---of the three!
I'll end this lengthy post with a few important news items!
Remember me saying how Andre De Grasse was the lone potential Collegiate Record breaker left after Trayvon Bromell, then Trentavis Friday turned Pro early?
HA!
Mr De Grasse---proving his own Mother wrong!!--went the Pro route too, signing with Puma!
And his reported signing figure?
Would you believe 11.25 MILLION dollars??!!
I'm not sure if this was reported earlier, but it made the News section of T&FN website recently.
Birmingham will be the site for the 2016 INdoor NCAA Championships!
Running Times magazine is ceasing publication after its January-February issue!!
Runners World continues, and will probably incorporate some of Running Times's content--mainly that of reporting more race results!
As for me, except for an occasional issue, I haven't bought either magazine on a regular basis for DECADES!!
The Camel City Elite meet, set for January 30th, is turning into a Millrose-Boston-style MAJOR meet, if you go by the slough of announcements of early entrants.
Shannon Rowbury had been reported earlier.
(Though she's switched from the Mile to the 3000!!)
But now you can add the following:
Keri Gallagher
Nick Symmonds
Melissa Bishop
Heather Kampf
Brianna Rollins
the Eaton's (Ashton and BTE)
Casimir Loxsom
Katie Mackey
Bernard Lagat (the 3000)
and
Matthew Centrowitz!!
Next posts---I PROMISE!!--will finally get around to predicting which World, US, Collegiate & HS records might fall, followed by another post listing the LEAST marks needed to make my Top 24's in the above 4 categories!
Soon!
Really!
It might SEEM like a mid-January report, but I assure you, it's not!
(In my summary (See below!), I'll give some data to PROVE this is the best start to an INdoor season since---well, since I began my blog almost two years ago!)
Without any more BS, here's what I have.
The NXN Cross Country races provided some real shockers--and a tinge of normality.
The latter was provided by the winner of the Women's race--Katie Rainsberger!
Her time of 16:56.80 easily beat Ella Donaghu's 17:10.20.
It was a course record, but not an NXN record, as that belongs to Alexa Efraimson from the 2013 race.
Callie Logue was 3rd in 17:14.20.
The first Freshman was 4th placer Kelsey Chmiel's 17:15.40.
But two of the favorites didn't have their best days.
Stephanie Jenks was with the lead group for awhile, but fell back to 25th.
Destiny Collins was 31st.
Maybe the most amazing performance of the entire day was that of the 14th place Woman.
Grace Ping---a 12 year old 7th grader!!!--ran 17:25.70--just 28.90 behind one of the best HS'ers in the US of A!!
The Men's race produced an even bigger shock, as heavily favored Austin Tamagno finished just 26th, a full 30 seconds in back of winner Casey Clinger, who timed out in 15:03.20.
Ben Veatch was 2nd in 15:04.8, with Alex Parsons 3rd in 15:05.6.
Fayetteville-Manlius won their 9th Women's title, while Great Oak took the Men's.
In the West Regional for next week's Footlocker races, Garek Bielaczyc upset favored Phillip Rocha, 15:21.60 to 15:27.10!
The Women's race was taken by a 10th Grader, as Annie Hill's 18:12.60 beat Kate Hunter's 18:13.80.
In my previous post, I reported on a Japan track 10000, won in National Record time.
Well, I have 2 more (OUTdoor) track 10K results for you!
In Melbourne, Australia, Eloise Wellings took the Women's race in 32:02.61.
The Men's race went to the 28:03.69 of David McNeill.
Just ended in Sacramento (CA) was the new Pacific Pursuit 10K meet.
The idea was to secure early Olympic Qualifiers of 28:00 and 32:15.
The Women were more successful than the Men!
Kim Conley took the lead after a 15:53 first 5000, but running alone, couldn't hold the pace, finishing in 31:58.54.
Chelsea Reilly was 2nd in 32:05.84, while Rochelle Kanuho completed her 1st track 10K in 3rd, time of 32:08.76!
They were the only ones to get the Q time, as Jordan Hasay was never close, finishing 8th in 32:46 & change.
Jen Rhines finished 12th in 33:05.03, which some said is an American "Masters" record!
Don't know!
I don't keep "Masters" records!
I DO have the record for the Age 40 & over gang--that being Edith Masai's 31:31.18 from 2007.
As for the American 40 & over mark, I have no idea.
It MIGHT be Rhines's time from today.
But take note of this---Francie Larrieu ran 31:28.92 at Age 38, which is one of the better AMERICAN times from the late 30's age range or older!
The lone Collegiate entrant--NCAA XC winner Molly Seidel--was a late scratch, reason unknown!
While he didn't scratch, Ben Blankenship was a DNF, as he dropped out after 8000 in 23:00.
The winner of the Men's race was Venezuelan Marvin Blanco, who broke the National Record with his time of 28:31.13.
Erik Olson was a second back, while Sean Quigley took 3rd in 28:50.41.
Nowhere near their Q goals!!
The venerable Fukuoka Marathon was taken by Patrick Makau in 2:08:18.
Getu Feleke was 13 seconds back, with Satoru Sasaki 3rd in 2:08:55.
Dennis Kimetto was an early DNF--just past the 5K point, where he was over a minute behind the leaders!!
Kara Goucher is back!
She pulled a "Molly Huddle" in the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half--leading from the gun, and winning by 81 seconds from Canadian Sasha Gollish, times of 1:11:09 and 1:12:30.
Running a planned "tempo", Shalane Flanagan and Amy Cragg finished together in 1:12:48.
(Goucher said in her post-race interview that she was surprised Shalane didn't challenge her. But in a pre-race interview, Flanagan announced her plan to run the pace she did! I guess Kara didn't see it!)
Aaron Braun jogged the Men's race in 1:04:11.
And now we come to the INdoor T&F report!
After I'm done, you tell me if you believe it's still just the 1st week of December!!
As in the past 2 Decembers, the Boston University track provided fast 5000 races.
The Men's was won by Gilbert Kirui's 13:50.48.
Two others ran 13:53's.
But in the Women's race, we got a DDD list-making mark!
Courtney Frerich, leader of New Mexico's winning team at the NCAA XC meet, won in 15:31.62.
This makes her 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other.
It's also 11th A-T US!
Erika Kemp, Liv Westphal, and Sarah Collins all ran 15:45's, in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Also breaking 16:00 was 5th placer Laura Hottenrott, time of 15:47.28.
Another New Mexico athlete, Molly Renfer, ran a 16:02.
Raven Saunders started her new career at Ole Miss by shattering the school SP record by about 6 feet (!!), with her opening shot of 58-8.50!
It misses the Soph Class record by 10.50 inches!
After that, she also won the WT with a two METER PR of 63-11.75!
Sean Tobin won the Mile race at this Birmingham (AL) meet, time of 4:02.97.
Other WT marks (at various meets) came from Felisha Johnson (73-10.25), DeAnna Price (Saunder's old SIU teammate!--distance of 71-0.75), and Rudy Winkler (67-9).
Good early Multi's came from Luca Weiland (5814 Heptathlon) and Jess Herauf (4242 Pentathlon).
Anna Cockrell had the best HS marks, running the 60H in 8.29--and doing it TWICE!
She also had a 400 in 57+.
Kayla Caldwell PV'ed 14-1.25.
But Jenn Suhr--in a different meet--slightly out-jumped her!
Would you believe a Best-Ever-in-December 15-9 for Jenn Suhr??!!
She began with a miss at 4.55, then made it on 2nd try.
She then got her 15-9 on 1st attempt, before missing 3 times at 4.90 (16-0.75).
And she said she wasn't satisfied!!
BTW, she missed the Age 33 record by one inch!!
I'll have a few more newsy items, but first, let's compare this INdoor season's early marks to those from the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons.
(And you can look back to my blog posts from those years for the raw data!)
In 2013 (the 2013-2014 season), you'll remember my excitement when Abbey D'Agostino ran the "fastest 5000 in December", with her 15:40.55.
But that was on the weekend of December 13th-15th!
Also in mid-December that year were other good 5K's, those of Emily Sisson, Sarah Collins, and Laura Nagel, all in the low 15:40's range.
Then a week later came the shocking news of Raven Saunders's emergence in the SP, from the mid-40's range to 52-3, then again to 53-8, making her (then) one of the best-ever INdoor HS SP'ers!
A year later, there was even more excitement when Ryen Frazier ran a 4:44.20 Mile in the JDL All-Comers meet on November 22nd!
I then commented on how early this first INdoor mark came, relative to those mid-December 5K's from 2013!
Then, on November 30th, Richard Rose ran a good early season 600 of 1:20.98.
But the season EXPLODED on December 6th with that fantastic 5000 at BU, when Sarah DiSanza beat Emily Sisson and Liv Westphal, times of 15:20.57, 15:21.84, and 15:31.62.
Raven Saunders reached 56-3.75 in her first Collegiate meet in the SP.
A week later, around December 13th, Rachel Johnson and Brian Shrader ran more fast 5K's, times of 15:40+ & 13:40+.
Chuk Enechwechi (75-6) and Sophie Lozano (70-9.25) had solid WT's!
Erica Twiss got a Pentathlon score of 4136.
And 9th Grader Tatiana Marsh began her march to the Frosh Class record (41-2) by TJ'ing 39-3.
Then, on the 3rd weekend of December (the 21st-22nd), we got 8 more good marks in various events.
Quite a start, eh?!
Well, not quite!
First, Nevada Mareno's JDL Mile came one day earlier than Ryen Frazier's!
(And she added that OUTdoor 3200 of 10:02 a few hours later!!)
But then look at what happened this year in December's 1st week, as compared to the same week last year!
Sure, you had those FAST 5K's from DiSanza & Co, and the 56 footer from Saunders.
But that was IT!!
This year, we've had all the T&F stuff reported above---especially Suhr's 15-9, Raven's 58-footer, Herauf's 4242 a mere 106 points better than Twiss's from 2014 (plus Wieland's Hept mark!), Cockrell's TWO 8.29 60H marks, and some very decent WT's!
The QUANTITY of QUALITY marks from this December beats the fewer quality marks from 2014.
(Note that where I said above that Frerich's 15:31.62 TIED her with 1 other---that "1 other" was Westphal's time from that BU race with DiSanza!!)
Now, we should keep in mind that this is just the first week of December.
In 2014 especially, good marks followed on the following 2 weekends leading up to Christmas.
Will the same happen this year, or is this the last of the rush of list-making marks we'll find this month?
(I strongly doubt that!!)
Suffice to say---and I only have the data from the past 2 Decembers (& Novembers!) to compare it to---this INdoor season has gotten off to the DEEPEST start---and in some cases (Suhr!) the BEST start---of the three!
I'll end this lengthy post with a few important news items!
Remember me saying how Andre De Grasse was the lone potential Collegiate Record breaker left after Trayvon Bromell, then Trentavis Friday turned Pro early?
HA!
Mr De Grasse---proving his own Mother wrong!!--went the Pro route too, signing with Puma!
And his reported signing figure?
Would you believe 11.25 MILLION dollars??!!
I'm not sure if this was reported earlier, but it made the News section of T&FN website recently.
Birmingham will be the site for the 2016 INdoor NCAA Championships!
Running Times magazine is ceasing publication after its January-February issue!!
Runners World continues, and will probably incorporate some of Running Times's content--mainly that of reporting more race results!
As for me, except for an occasional issue, I haven't bought either magazine on a regular basis for DECADES!!
The Camel City Elite meet, set for January 30th, is turning into a Millrose-Boston-style MAJOR meet, if you go by the slough of announcements of early entrants.
Shannon Rowbury had been reported earlier.
(Though she's switched from the Mile to the 3000!!)
But now you can add the following:
Keri Gallagher
Nick Symmonds
Melissa Bishop
Heather Kampf
Brianna Rollins
the Eaton's (Ashton and BTE)
Casimir Loxsom
Katie Mackey
Bernard Lagat (the 3000)
and
Matthew Centrowitz!!
Next posts---I PROMISE!!--will finally get around to predicting which World, US, Collegiate & HS records might fall, followed by another post listing the LEAST marks needed to make my Top 24's in the above 4 categories!
Soon!
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