First 4 Days--US Trials--Part 2

Sorry to make you wait.
But when you read this, you'll thank me, as it allows me to describe better the fantastic developments in the last parts of Day 3 and all of yesterday, day 4!
Not to mention that I came across some wild stuff from places other than Eugene, and other than the United States!!
But back to the US Track and Field Olympic Trials meet at "historic" Hayward Field!!

July 2nd (continued)
Brittney Reese's newfound consistency--meaning NOT fouling 4 or 5 times a meet!--led her to the longest Long Jump of her life---at least speaking of legal jumps!
With a 1.7 wind, Reese almost reached the elusive 24 foot mark, but nailed a great PR of 23-11.75, which set a new Meet Record!
Coming in the 4th round, she missed the Age 29 record by one-half inch!
While she remains 2nd A-T US, she moved from 13th A-T World to 9th, where she's tied with 2 others!

The busy busy Tianna Bartoletta rushed from the LJ runway to the track, where she had to deal with her heat of the 100.
After hitting a windy (2.3) 23-0.50 in the 1st round, she passed her 2nd & 3rd, ran the 100, then reached a legal 22-4.50, before passing the final 2 rounds, feeling assured she'd made the Rio team in that event!
Janay DeLoach passed a surprised (and no doubt saddened!) Sha'Keela Saunders in round 6, her 22-9 passing Saunders's 22-7.25.
Both were legal efforts, and Saunders's, her being a Kentucky Junior, would have been 5th A-T Collegiate, if it had happened in-season!!
But it does make her 18th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
Quanesha Burks was 9th, while Kate Hall was 10th, with Jasmine Todd reaching just 19-9.75 in 12th!

And speaking of those Women's 100 heats, here's what happened.
English Gardner--star of the great documentary "We Grew Wings", the story of the UO Women's teams from 1985 and 2011, the latter featuring Gardner--and one of Oregon's greatest--sprinted a 10.90 (1.8) to take the first heat by 0.23 over Tawanna Meadows.
Heat 2 saw the aforementioned Tianna Bartoletta easily take the win--her 11.03 (0.8) beating a current Duck, Deajah Stevens by 0.15.
Candace Hill made the semi's with her 11.23.
Jeneba Tarmoh was a non-Q!!
Morolake Akinosun took the 3rd heat in a just legal (2.0) 10.99.
If in-season, she would have tied for 8th A-T Collegiate!!
Ariana Washington was a fast 2nd in 11.01.
She too would have made the Collegiate list--tied for 10th--if it had happened at the NCAA's or earlier!
Even more significant, it would have made her the Frosh Class record holder!!
Alas!
The older HS Pro--Kaylin Whitney--ran 11.18 to also move on.
With a "useful" (as Tim Hutchings would say!) 3.6 wind blowing her down the track, Jenna Prandini--yet ANOTHER former Duck!!--timed 10.81 to win heat number 4.
JoAnne Atkins and Alex Anderson followed far back with 10.99 each.
In heat 5, it was "favored" Tori Bowie's turn, her legal (1.8) 10.91 whipping Barbara Pierre's 11.07.
Kim Duncan and Jasmine Todd also q'ed--on a time basis--but far back!

As expected, the Men's Javelin Q round didn't produce much, as Riley Dolezel led the pack with his throw of 251.7.
Only one other 250 footer emerged--Sean Furey's 250-2.
Tim Glover was left out of the final.

In the Decathlon HJ, Jeremy Taiwo's 7-3 tied the Dec HJ record!!, gaining him LOTS of points!
(More on this event later!)

The Men also ran fast in their 100 heats.
But Michael Rodgers had a distinct advantage, as he got the strongest breeze--a 3.8--to give him his 10.00.
Isiah Young was 2nd in 10.03.
Justin Gatlin matched Young's time in the 2nd heat, but his time was legal.
Kendell Williams--the male version!--was next in 10.07.
In 4th came Noah Lyles in a fast (for a HS'er!!) 10.16.
But, sadly, he wound up the puppy left at the pound, as he ended one spot removed from all the Q'ers ahead of him!!
No semi's!
Trentavis Friday was 5th.
Trayvon Bromell sped an injury-free 9.94 (1.2) to take heat 3.
Marvin Bracy eased into the semi in 2nd, running 10.08.
Jarrion Lawson--another who doubled in the LJ--took Lyles's spot by matching his 10.16, but less by just a bit of clock time!
Christian Coleman's 9.96, with a wind of 2.4, took heat 4.
He jut nipped Tyson Gay---maybe showed a bit of age??--who ran 9.97..
John Teeters took the last heat with his legal 10.00.
Clay Vaughn and Ronnie Baker followed.

While the 400 semi's were going on, the Men were Q'ing for the LJ final.
Jeff Henderson's windy 26-11.75 led the dozen, which included all the good ones, except Corey Crawford, who fouled out, and Terrell McClain, who was the unlucky 13th!

The first Women's 400 semi saw Fran McCorory and Allyson Felix in one of their classic duels, with Mac beating Allie, 50.28 to 50.31.
Taylor Ellis-Watson impressed in 3rd with her PR of 50.60!
Phyllis Francis--running on her home turf--finished 4th in 50.94, as Jaide Stepter was much further back--and out of it--with her 51.47.
The 2nd semi had Courtney Okolo seemingly breezing through her 50.37, a full 0.80 ahead of super vet Natasha Hastings's 51.17.
Ashley Spencer--who's going to come back in the 400H--ran 51.21 ahead of 49.91 girl Quanera Hayes's 51.28.
Shakima Wimbley ended in 5th, while DeeDee Trotter was only 8th--and last!!

Why did Tony McQuay speed through semi one in 44.24??
Sure, his 0.16 PR missed the World DDD by a mere 0.07.
And yes, his time made him 17th A-T US, tied with one other!
But how much did he leave in his reserve tank??
Whatever the future would bring, it left Gil Roberts's quick 44.67 in the dust!!
As it left Najee Glass's and Kyle Clemons's 44.79's, and Michael Cherry's 44.81.

BTW, I don't know the details, but there was some controversy here, as Cherry and Roberts supposedly tangled somewhere during the race, with Cherry first given a "9th lane" in the final, only to later have that decision reversed!!
Whatever the case with Cherry's removal, McQuay's time REMOVED a couple of 44.34's from my US DDD!!
Darnell Hall's was from 1995, while Fred Newhouse's dated from 1972.
Actually, the latter was initially a hand-timed 44.1, later given the 44.34!!

LaShawn Merritt took semi 2 in 45.05 over David Verburg's 45.19.
Jeremy Wariner was a DNF, but said he still wants to be chosen for the 4X400 Relay for Rio!
Good luck!!

The 100 semi's were HOT!!
Tori Bowie tore up the track--albeit with a 3.1 wind!--stopping the clock at 10.74!!
Still speedy in 2nd was Morolake Akinosun's 10.97.
Deajah Stevens ran 11.04, and HS Pro Candace Hill had a windy 11.07.
Jasmine Todd ended 7th in 11.30.
A 4.5 wind set Jenna Prandini sailing down the track in 10.86.
Ariana Washington followed in 10.97, with Tiffany Townsend making the final with 11.07.
Kaylin Whitney's 11.15 gave her 7th.
Semi 3 also had an aiding wind--2.5--with English Gardner nailing a 10.74--matching Bowie's time!
Tianna Bartoletta sped 10.79, while Barbara Pierre got a time Q with her 11.01.

The first 2 Men's semi's got lucky--legal winds!!
Justin Gatlin thus nailed the Age 34 record with his 9.83!!
He became the oldest man to run under 9.90!!
Christian Coleman missed the A-T US list by 0.01 with his 9.95.
Clay Vaughn was 3rd in 10.01.
In semi 2, Trayvon Bromell ran 9.86 with the aid of a max 2.0 legal breeze.
It's the Age 20 record!
(He's one week short of turning 21.)
He also owns the Age 18 & Age 19 records!!
Tyson Gay took 2nd in 10.01.
Michael Rodgers used a wind of 2.7 for his 9.98, which edged Marvin Bracy's 9.99!
Jarrion Lawson and Dentarius Locke ran 10.01's to make it through on time!

And then came the Women's HJ final!!
The 3-time mother, now aged 32--Chaunte Lowe--vs the 18 year old HS kid from Las Vegas, Vashti Cunningham!
Bring on the popcorn!!
And you know what?
There's a happy ending for both, as both succeeded in their quest for Olympic Games reservations!!

Both began jumping early---at 5-10.50--and both held perfectly clean records through the next several heights!
Cunningham needed all 3 attempts to clear 6-4.75, while Lowe remained clean through 6-5.50.
The youngster missed her 3 attempts at 6-6.25, while Lowe cleared on her 2nd try.
She also needed 2 at 6-7.
But she made it--becoming the World leader!!
She ties the Meet Record from 2012--held by the now-retired Brigetta Barrett and--herself!!
BTW, you MUST see Chaunte's post-jump celebratory contortions!!
Eerily remindful of the same dance routine practiced by another fabulous HJ'er--Blanka Vlasic--Lowe's routine brought laughter and loud cheers from the sold-out crowd!!
And me!!
For Cunningham, she breaks her own HS Pro record, as well as her own HS Pro Senior Class record!
She also moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 9th, tied with 4 others!!
If a Collegian, she'd be tied for 4th A-T!!
Inika McPherson ended a brilliant comeback (from her 2 year ban for cocaine!) with her 3rd place 6-4.
She also goes to the Olympics!!
Amina Smith jumped a good 6-3.25.

The amazing Allyson Felix amazed again!!
Starting slower than normal, she let a few get ahead of her down the backstraight and around the 2nd curve.
In 5th or 6th coming off the turn, she suddenly revved her jet engines, speeding past first one, then another, and still another, before clearing the whole field with 40 meters to go, winning by 0.26 with her astounding 49.68-astounding by virtue of how she finished!!
And she was herself shocked!!
Smiling wide-eyed, she laid down on the track, lost in trying to figure how she did it!!
Everybody loves her--and for good reason.
A magnificent Ambassador of the sport--as well as one of the greatest all-around sprinters of All-Time!!

And 2nd placer Phyllis Francis wasn't standing still.
Breaking 50 for the first time, her 49.94 makes her 19th A-T US!!
Natasha Hastings proved that veterans know how to make teams, as her 50.17 sends her to Rio.
Taylor Ellis-Watson PR'ed again--all the way to 50.25--but it fell short for her Olympic dreams.
This time!
It also falls just 0.14 short of making my US DDD list!!
Fran McCorory faded to 50.37, edging the vaunted Courtney Okolo's 50.39 in 5th and 6th.
Ashley Spencer and Quenera Hayes were far back.
Taken OFF my US list was Natasha Kaiser's 50.17 from 1992.

For the Men, it was all LaShawn Merritt.
He just took the reins, rode the stallion, and finished in 43.97, a full 0.76 ahead of Gil Roberts.
David Verburg's 44.82 took 3rd., while Arman Hall was the dreaded 4th in 45.01.
And Mr McQuay?
Probably wiped out from his 44.24, he ran 45.30 in 5th, while the Berry Man--Michael--took last in 45.90.

Remember me (and many others!!) saying the US Men's L:J was in the doldrums??
(Maybe even the whole world!!)
Well--despite most of the best jumps being heavily wind-aided--the US men EXPLODED into a world unseen since the past century in this event!!
With 7th placer Marquise Goodwin's best jump measuring 27-0.75, how long has it been since SEVEN Americans reached at least 27 feet in the same meet--windy or not??

Jeff Henderson's 3rd round leap of 28-2.25 was windy, but just enough to hold off the legal 4th round jump of Jarrion Lawson, whose 28-1.75 became the best legal jump of the day!
If still in season, it would make him 2nd A-T Collegiate!!
But it does make him 8th A-T US, and 13th A-T World!!
Will Claye's jumps--ALL of them!!--were windy, thus his 27-7.50 does NOT send him to Rio!!
He doesn't have the necessary LEGAL OG qualifier!!
Thus, if he's not injured, Marquis Dendy'will go instead, as he finished in 4th with a legal 27-7.50!
Yes, the nefarious Hayward winds strike again!!
Dendy's mark is the best 4th Place mark!!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 22nd.
Mike Hartfield also had no legal jumps, but he still jumped 27-6.50 in 5th!!
KeAndre Bates had a windy 27-3.75 in 6th, with a 26-3 legal best.
And, as noted, Mr Goodwin was 7th with his windy 27-0.75, with zero legals as well!!

The Decathlon 1500 ended 2 days of spirited competition---for the 2nd & 3rd place spots.
Mr Ashton Eaton has a standing reservation for top of the podium!!
And Eaton, with his score of 8750 points---despite a problematic hamstring--prevailed throughout!
Healthy, he easily could have added a couple of hundred (or more!!) points!!

But it was the battle for the next 2 spots that added to the crowd's devotion to their hometown boy!
Zach Ziemek was having his best Dec ever, on his way to a score that--in season--would have been threatening the Collegiate Record of Trey Hardee!
(Sadly, Hardee once again succumbed to injury, ending his quest after 4 events--although he jogged the 400 in 72+ seconds--for 90 points!!)
In the end, however, helped a lot by Taiwo's earlier reported 7-3 HJ, Ziemek's slower 1500 was too far behind Taiwo's, leaving him 12 points shy of Taiwo's PR of 8425.
For Taiwo, he moves from 19th A-T US to 11th.
ZZ's 8413 moves him from 21st to 12th on the same list!
Garrett Scantling missed his PR by just 4 points, his good 8232 taking 4th!
Devon Williams scored 7927 in 5th.
Curtis Beach, despite winning the 1500, scored just 7728 in 9th!
Harrison Williams was having a good meet---until he No-Heighted the PV!--and ended in 15th.

The 4th day ended with the Classical 100's!
And CLASSIC they were!!

The Women's final went first!
And first among the women was---English Gardner!!
She blazed down her lane to a PR of 10.74 seconds!!
Then, astounded with her time and her win---and the fact she's now going to the Olympic Games--she knelt on her home track, crying the words "Thank You, Jesus!" over and over and over again---maybe 15 or 20 times!!!--before finally rising to enormous adulation and cheers from her adoring fans!!
She moves from 15th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 7th, tied with 1 other!!
She also moves from 7th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th!

Tianna Bartoletta took 2nd, her 10.78 JUST nipping (by 0.003!!) Tori Bowie's 10.78!!
For Bartoletta, she is now 13th A-T World, tied with 2 others.
She moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 6th, also tied with 2 others.
She also ties Merlene Ottey's Age 30 record, dating from 1990!!
Bowie moves from 20th A-T World to 15th, where she's tied with 4 others!
She also moves from 10th A-T US to 6th, tied with 2 others!
It's also the best 3rd Place mark!!

Morolake Akinosun was 4th in 10.95, edging Jenna Prandini's 10.96 in 5th.
Ariana Washington was 6th in 11.01, while Barbara Pierre and Tiffany Townsend brought up the rear!

The Men's 100 final saw ONE of the "G-Men" fail to make the Rio team!
Tyson Gay's 10.03 took 5th!!
The other G-Man--Justin Gatlin--won the race, hi 9.80 breaking his own Age 34 record that he ran in the semi.
Trayvon Bromell also broke an Age record---his own Age 20 mark from his semi race!!
It ties his PR, so he remains 4th A-T US, as well as remaining 10th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Marvin Bracy shocked (or maybe didn't!!) by taking 3rd, running 9.98.
Michael Rodgers took 4th in 10.00.
Christian Coleman's 10.06 took 6th over the 7th of Jarrion Lawson's 10.07.
BTW, like Bartoletta, he had to interrupt his LJ'ing to run this race!!
Dentarius Locke was far behind in 8th!!

I know this is a HUGE post, but I have a very few good marks---from outside of Eugene!!---I need to report!

Alana Boyd PV'ed 15-9.25 to break her own National Record of Australia!!
It also gives her the Age 32 record!
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 14th.

Morgann LeLeux finally reached 15 feet, her 15-1 making her 15th A-T US, tied with "just" 7 others!!

Fabiana Murer PV'ed a PR---at Age 35, breaking her own Age 35 record!!-with a jump of 15-11.75, missing that rare 16 foot society by just one quarter inch!!
It also breaks her own National Record of Brazil, a well as the South American record!!
She moves from 6th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 5th!

And HUGE news from the Jamaican Trials!!
Elaine Thompson streaked down the track in 10.70 seconds, getting the Age 24 record!
She ties the National Record, held by Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce!!
She's now 4th A-T World, tied with SAFP!!
Speaking of whom--Ms Fraser-Pryce finished a well-back 2nd in 10.93!!
Christiana Williams was 3rd inn 10.97.
And Veronica Campbell-Brown was 4th!!
Thompson's semi was run in 10.85, against a breeze of 0.2!!

And finally, you want to know about Usain--as in Bolt??
Sure you do!
He ran his semi in 10.04.
Then he withdrew from the final--and the rest of the meet--seeking medical help for an injury--and requesting a pass for Rio!
He was told he'd have to prove his fitness in the London meet on July 22nd---or be EXCLUDED from the Jamaican team!!!!

More on this in later posts!!!

Speaking of which, I'm planning my next US Trials results post at the end of action on July 8th!!
As noted, the 5th is an off day, and the 6th has just the Hammer Throws---Qualifying and Finals!!

See you then!!