One Week Makes Big Difference

During the six months that constitute what Americans consider their OUTdoor season, one week (out of about 26) can indeed make a big difference!
But a "week" isn't always 7 days from our POV, it's normally 3 or 4 out of seven!!
Thus my being LATE in reporting shouldn't interfere with NEXT week's report!!

Sorry for the lateness!!

The Gotzis Multis topped the week (sic!), but surprisingly, those thingies called the "NCAA Regioonals" produced tts share of quality marks--and some from a few unknowns!!

Katerina Johnson-Thompson and Damian Warner dominated good fields at Gotzis!

KJT scored a PR of 54 points, her 6813 total winning by close to 340 points over Laura Ikauniece's 6476!!
For KJT--who ran her 800 in splits of 59 & 69!--it makes her 19th A-T World!

The two American stars did well,.
Kendell Williams scored 6412 in 5th, with Erica Bougard's 6374 giving her 6th!

Warner's winner was 8711, but his 1st event--the 100 meters--took just 10.12 seconds!
That's Record for a Decathlon!!
Lindon Victor took the Silver with 8472 points!
Maicel Uibo scored 8353 points!!

That abomination called the NCAA Regionals is actually the "prelims & qualifying" day (or days!) for the main program happening in June!!
Whatever the reason, and whatever they call it, the athletes are our main concern here!!
And several of them came through!
(Except in the vertical jumps, where they're limited to just the Q height, so aren't really tested, or really competing!!

Also, I'm not caring whether it's the East or West regional!!
It's just the NCAA whatever!!
So I'm going to treat it as such, and combine my results into event categories--East & West, as well as Men & Women--combined!!

100, 200, 400
Jaron Flournoy--unknown to me!--ran a 200 in 20.09, missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.04 seconds!
He also ran the 100 in 10.24!
Trevor Stewart continued his fine season with a 400 of 44.55--just a sliver off his PR!

He also ran 44.77!

Andrew Hudson sprinted the half lap in 20.04, making him 23rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Cravon Gillespie, the new Ducks star, had a couple of quickie hundreds--10.01 and 10.03!!

Sha'Carri Richardson and Teahna Daniels each ran 100's of 10.99!!

This makes them 13th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, including each other!!
For Richardson, it also ties the Frosh Class Record!!

Another of those unknowns--Cambrea Sturgis--sped the 200 in 22.52!1
She's a Frosh at Oklahoma State!!
But it was Anya Annabail )sp??) who produced the most cause and effect!!

Her 22.36 was not only the Collegiate Leader, but it sent OFF my Collegiate list two VERY prominent names!!
GONE are Flojo (Florence Griffith-Joyner), her 22.39 dating from 1982!!
Also OUT is Sydney McLaughlin, her 22.39 dating from her only Collegiate season--2018!!

BTW, this makes Annabail 21st A-T Collegiate!!

Let's move to the Distances!
800, 1500, 5000, 3000SC

Notice I didn't include the 10000 here!
That's because the times were too slow!
Think in the 33's for the Women, and barely in the 28's for the Men!
YUK!!

Jasmine Fray had the fastest 800--2:02.27!

Ever hear of Sinclaire Johnson?/
Good, because neither had I!!

But she had the fastest 1500 time of all--4:09.50!!
She's from Oklahoma State, and her time makes her 15th A-T Collegiate!
She beat Jessica Hull's  4:09.90!
Third was Tanya Rawlings's 4:10.20!!

The SC for the Women was fast also!
Allie Ostrander's 9:40.05 wasn't a PR, but Erica Birk's 9:42.54 makes her 16th A-T Collegiate!

Adva Cohen's 9:44.41 makes her 23rd A-T Collegiate!!

Ostrander also took the 5000 in 15:30 and chanage!1

Hurdles
Grant Holloway comtinued strong in the 110's--running 13.10 and  and 13.19!
Daniel Roberts also was good, hitting 13.13!!
Quincy Hall had the best one lapper--48.54!!, making him 22nd A-T Collegiate!1

Field Events & Relays
The Purdue Men's 4X100 squad improved to 38.75, making them  21st A-T School!!

Gleb Dudarev's 243-5 led the Hammer Throwers!
Tripp Piperi's 68-4.25 SP beat a pair of SuperStars--Jordan Geist and Payton Otterdahl!

Abigail (NOT Alyssa!!) Wilson's DT of 200.2 makes her 20th A-T Collegiate!!

Even better was Laulaga Tausaga!

Her 205-8 DT  makes her 12th A-T Collegiate!!

One more mystery athlete!1
Eldred Henry is sudden;y a 70 foot SP man!!
His 70-5.25 not only makes him 13th A-T Collegiate, but gives him the National Record of the British Virgin Islands!!

That does it for those Collegiates, but HARK, what do we hear but the rest of the World waking up!!
Well, SOME of it!!

Anita Wlodarczyk's 241-7 HT opener didn't win, but at least we know she's still alive!!
Beating the Master were Zhang Wang's 246-11, and DeAnna Price's 243-5!

Brittney Reese's three longest LJ's were  either 22-11.75 or 23-0!
BUT--they were all windy!!

Her best legal jump was in the low 22's!!
But SHE is back!!

Filip Miheljevic had a SP measuring 71-8, giving him the National Record of Croatia!

Another Super Veterean opened up with a good one!
Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce dipped under 11 seconds with her 10.97 win !in Jamaica!

Pawel Fajdek ipened his 2019 campaign with a solid HT of 262-6!!
Magnious Kirt threw the Javelin 293-1, the World Leader!

But Andreas Hofmann did him one better, his JT reaching 294-4!1

Nikola Ogrodnikove threw the Javelin 221-1, making her 16th A-T World!

Denia Caballero had a DT of 224-7!

(Sandra Perkovic will be opening her season this coming weekend at the Stockholm DL!!)

Christian Taylor TJ of 57-3.25 edged Omar Craddock's 57-2!!

Elaine Thompson improved her season's best in the 200 to 22.40!
But more interesting was the 2nd placer--one Salwa Naser!1
Her time of 22.56 is the National Record of Bahrain!!

Gudaf Tsegay became the first Woman to go sub-4 this year, her time being 3:59.57!

She beat Axumawat Embaye's PR of 4:00.17!!
Alexa Efraimson finished far back, but her 4:04.06 is still the US Leader!!

A good Women's SP saw Liljao Gong produce the World Leading mark of 66-1.50!!
Danielle Thomas-Dodd and Chase Ealey both reached 63-0.25 in 2nd and 3rd!!

The 50000 meter Walk saw some good marks!!

The ageless Yohan Deniz sped the 31.1 mile distance in 3:37:43!!

The Women's race saw a pair of National Records!
Eleanore Gonza's 4:04:50 is the NR of Italy!
Julia  Taddus (sp?) Walked 4:05:46 for the National Record of Spain!!


Several states are holding their HS State Championships, so we have a few good marks to report!!

Clarence Foote-Talley TJ'ed 51-1.50 for the HSL!

Dana Roberson's 218-4 DT ranks him 7th A-T HS!!



Chloe Cunliffe tried 3 times at 14-6 in the PV, but missed all three!
Her topper was a measly (LOL) 14-0!!

A GREAT set of times in the "metric mile"--aka the 1600!!
Taryn Parks's 4:37.07 edged out Marlee Starliper's 4:37.45!
Too bad they couldn't have measured out the full Mile!!

Finally, Katelyn Tuohy had a good triple in her County meet!
Times of 2:12 in the 800, 4:25 in the 1500, and 9:55 in the 3K!!

As noted, the Stockholm meet is tomorrow!!

Besides Perkovic's opener (See above!), we have a super Men's flat 400--Rai Benjamin vs Michael Norman!!

See you soon!

The Shanghai Show & Bednarek's Blazers

Shanghai's DL was a meet where expectations (wishes, hopes, dreams) crashed into the proverbial wall of reality!!
It's against the law of T&F nature to run Records in an early season meet!
But Shanghai's two featured races did provide some wicked runs!

Abderrahman Samba beat Rai Benjamin in the 400H
Salwa Naser beat Sydney McLaughlin in the flat 400!

Benjamin had the lead through 300 meters and into the straight!
But he broke his rhythm on a late hurdle, and Samba's smooth-appearing long stride overtook him!
He powered through the line in 47.27, the year's fastest time--and reportedly the fastest time run in May!
Benjamin's 47.80 was--shock!--his 2nd best time after last year's 47.02!!
Samba got the Meet Record!!

For that Women's race, it came down to a matter of race strategy!
McLaughlin tends to close hard, while Naser goes out fast--and holds it!
To a T, that's how it went!
Naser sprinted out to a lead she never relinquished!
McLaughlin came on strong down the final straight, but just missed nabbing the Gold!
The score was 50.65 to 50.78 at the tape!!

But excellent races--losing to the highest of expectations!!

The longest races got the year's Leaders, but nothing near what they wanted!1

The Men's 5000 was still a race when the rabbits left after 3K!
One lap slowed to 66, and that nailed the lid on a sub-13 time!
Yomif Kejelcha's 3:47 INdoor Mile speed prevailed in 13:04.16!
Selemon Barega and Hagos Gebrhiwet both ended sub-13:05 as well!

The Women's Steeple was easily won by WR holder Beatrice Chepkoeach, as her 9:04.53 Meet Record won by 7 seconds!!

More from Shanghai later!

Remember Kenny Bednarek's emergence INdoors when he ran 20.30 as a Junior College Frosh??
OUTdoors, he opened his season with 20.29!
Safe to say those runs did NOT give any hints of what he would do at the JUCO Champs!!

His heat took all of 19.82 seconds!!
That cut his PR by a mere 0.47 seconds!
It's obviously a JC Record, but if you count him as a Collegiate runner (as I do!!), then he is now 3rd A-T on that list!!
I've always ignored Divisions in the Collegiate circle.
But what about the Community (or Junior) Colleges?
They're 2 year schools, from which athletes transfer to 4 year schools to finish their education!
Should a JC athlete be penalized for BEING a Collegiate athlete??

Whatever the official decision is, his 19.82 still is the third  fastest ever run by someone calling himseelf a College student!!
BTW, that ranks him 13th A-T US, and misses the World list by just 0.02 seconds!!

But he wasn't done!
No, the final took a measly 19.49---simply the fastest EVER windy Men's 200!!!
(Yes, faster LEGAL times have been run, but none this fast with a wind at their back!!
Said wind, BTW, was a powerful 6.1!!

We have a new STUD in the sprints!!

While on that subject, Michael Norman showed his March lap of  43.45 wasn't a fluke!
He ran the Osaka 200 in 19.84, tying his 2018 PR!!

The Women's 1500 also saw a 2019 Leader!
In a close finish, Rababe Arafi's 4:01.15 beat Gudef Tsegay by 0.10---with several more close behind!
Back in 9th or so came Alexa Efraimson, her 4:04.53 taking over the US lead for the year!!

The Shanghai Men's 100 was yet another "showdown" race!
Noah Lyles vs Christian Coleman--with a few  supporting players!
Coleman held a big lead with 30 meters to go, and seemed the probable winner!
Then from nowhere came Lyles, whose final 20 meters has to be the fastest ever!
Coleman was still sprinting hard when the finish line dips came!
The W went to Lyles--by a whisker!!
Both were timed in 9.86!!
For Lyles, it was a PR, and makes him 8th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
He's 17th A-T World, tied with 6 others!!

Bingtian Su was 3rd in 9.95, while Britain's Reece Prescod got under 10 with his 9.97!!

Other Shanghai news---
Aleaia Hobbs won the 100 in 11.03.
Blesing Okagbare was 2nd in 11.05!
The Women's PV saw Ekaterina Stefanidi,  Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou, Li Lang, and Sandi Morris all clear 15-5.75--in that order!
The Women's JT went to Huihui Lyu's 219-5, a Meet Record!
Chase Ealey got her first DL win with a SP of 62-3.75!
Omar McLead took the Men's 110H in 13.12!
Aaron Brown beat  Andre DeGrasse in a battle of Canadians in the 200--20.07 to 20.21!

The meet once known as the Oxy Invitational--now the USATF Distance Classic--produced some good times, but no Meet Records!
In case you forgot, this is the meet where Mary Cain ran her HSR of 4:04.62, and where  Mo Farah ran the 5000 in 13:12!

Rachel Schneider was the surprise winner of the Women's 5000, her 15:06.71 a big PR!
She beat Aisha Praught-Leer's 15:07.50!
But Praught-Leer nabbed the National Record of Jamaica!!
Stephanie Bruce got a PR in 4th, time of 15:17.76!
Not bad for a multi-Mom, age 34, and training as a Marathoner!!

Clay Murphy won the 800 in 1:46.10.
Nokki Hiltz won the 1500 in 4:07.71.
Karissa Schweizer was 2nd in 4:08.51, while Konstanze Klosterhalfen took 3rd in 4:09.16!
KK had run very poorly in the earlier 800--won by Kate Grace in 2:02 and change!!
Lawi Lalang ran away with the Men's 5000 in 13:25.14!

The Tucson Elite Throwers Meet saw Ryan Crouser throw the SP 74-4.50!
Sean Donnelly improved his HT to 253-3!

In an earlier race, Syd the Kid ran her first 400H of the year--time of 54.14!
This tied the Age 19 Record!!

Shadae Lawrence keeps improving in the DT!
Her latest distance was 213-5 at the Mountain West Conference--a Meet Record--and breaking her own National Record of Jamaica!!

Channel Brissett ran the 100H in 12.70!
She's 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!

Forgot to mention the Shanghai Men's JT--taken by Andreas Hofmann's 287-3!

Keturah Orji won a LJ with her 22-3.75!

Kendra Harrison ran a World Leader in the 100H--12.47!

Finally, Kayla Davis ran the 400 in 52.08.
Big whoop??
YES, when you're told she's a HS Frosh, Age 15!!
Her time is the Frosh Class Record!!

Those so called NCAA "Regionals" are next up!
YAWN!!

See you soon!

Early Season Assessment

Been considering this awhile!

Doing an early season assessment in most events, just to give a sense of where we are at this point!
With the Shanghai DL a few days away, most of the World's best haven't really opened up yet!

Despite sll the early domestic Relay and Invite meets, neither have most US athletes!

And surprisingly, some top HS'ers are included in the slow start (or NO start!) category!

Anyway, following are my thoughts on where we stand at this point of the season!

I know it's really early, but let's give it a shot!!
Some events will be grouped together, as will my 4 core groups, and both sexes also!

100-200
Good start (pun intended!), but nothing really sensational!
Except maybe Divine Oduduru's 19.76 opener!

Biggest shock was Cravon Gillespie's 9.97!
Just 1 Woman under 11, and no Man faster than 9.94!

400

Those sensational VERY early season blasts by Michael Norman and Shaunae Miller-Uibo--43.45 & 49.05!
But not much besides that!

But should be a strong year!

800
No Man under 1:44, and the Women also starting slowly!

But one good thing--Caster Semenya has been banned from Women's races!!

1500-Mile
SLOWWWW start, despite those 3:32's in the Doha DL!
Fastest Woman in the 1500 is---Ajee Wilson's 4:06!!
And a HIGH SCHOOL girl (Victoria Starcher) leads the Mile!!
In mid-May, that's simply amazing!!

3000--2 Mile--5000

VERY slow beginning in these events!
Is this because the IAAF plans to drop the 5000 from their DL's??
But shouldn't forget that solid Women's 3K at the Doha meet!

10000
I list this event separately because of that great early 10 at the Stanford Invite--the fastest ever prior to April!

Another event being killed off by those numbnuts at the IAAF!!


Half & Full Marathon
London's 26.2 was great, and Boston was good.
But this event is also on hold for awhile, as the best Marathons are in the Fall!

3000SC
Good race at Doha's DL, with Hillary Bor edging up the US list!

Women starting extremely slow!
Can Taylor Ewert be the first HS Woman going sub-10??

110H & 100H
No one in the 12's yet for the Men, but you gotta give solid chops to Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts for that great duel at the SEC's!!
Janeek Brown now in elite territoty, but will she get into the 12.4's--or even 12.3's??
What role will injuries and retirements play in these events?

400H
(ADDED later--Forgot this event!!  Sorry!)
Solid 53.61 from Delilah Muhammed!
And just saw that Sydney McLaughlin ran 54.14 at the Oxy meet last weekend!
But Samba still at 47.51 as World Leader for the Men!
Waiting for that Samba vs Rai Benjamin race!!

So looking at the running events as a whole, I see a whole lot of MIA's!
But now that the biggest part of the Relay season is over, we may get some top rank sprints!
Also need some head-to-heads!
Such as Miller-Uibo vs Syd the Kid vs Salwa Naser!
Or Samba vs Benjamin in the 400H!
A time trialed 5K or two!
Where is Almaz Ayana??
Also MIA (mostly) are Athing Mu, Katelyn Tuohy, and Taylor Ewert's 1st 20K Walk!!

HJ
Mariya Lasitskene and Muitaz Barshim haven't opened yet, so we have no 2.00 jumps for the Women, and no 2.35 or higher for the Men!

WEAK!!

LJ & TJ
Juan Echevarria had that windy 29-3, but nothing big since!

Keturah Orji opened strong with her 48-1.75!
Yanis David went 47-1!
But Caterine Ibarguen has been only LJ'ing so far!

Where are Britney Reese and Ivana Spanovic?
Those HS guys--Tony Martin & Matt Boling--impressive early!

Jasmine Moore nearing 45 feet!
Waiting on Ana Peleteiro, PPPP, and a biggie from Christian Taylor!
(Not forgetting Omar Craddock's hot opener!!)

PV
NOT hard to believe, but Mondo Duplantis seems to be the best in the WORLD!!
At 19 years of age!

Jenn Suhr has been over 16, and Sandi Morris opened strong post-surgery, etc!
Chloe Cunliffe's HSR came early, but not much since!
Olivia Gruver got her CR early, but was a DNS at the PAC-12 meet!!
Injured??
Has Renaud Lavillenie been dethroned??

SP
STRONG openers from Ryan Crouser and Tom Walsh!
Men's SP looks solid!
But the Women missing a pair of giants--Valerie Adams and Raven Saunders!
Chase Ealey's great INdoor season prepared us for her being the World Leader OUTdoors!
But still--Chase Ealey???

DT
Dan Stahl's 231-6, but not much to back him up!
Sandra Perkovic's usual early blast missing!
Is she OK?

JT
Anderson Peters had a great early throw in the Collegiate ranks, but not much since!

Skylar Ciccolini now 2nd A-T HS!!

HT
The Americans--Gwen Berry and DeAnna Price--leading the World!
No Anita Wlodarczyk or Pawel Fajdek yet!!
Trey Knight chasing HSR's!!

Multi's
VERY quiet--as expected!!
Gotzis looking good, and that's coming soon!

Will Talence be weakened by the WC's??

Overall, most of the best field event people have yet to open!
Should be a GREAT year, as measured by early marks!!

BTW, heard that Athing Mu HAS opened her OUTdoor season--with a pair of rust-busters (54 in the 400, and 4:43 in a 1500--same meet).
And Syd McLaughlin just ran 54.14 in California--her first non-Relay mark of the year!

All those sensational early marks (Norman, Crouser, Miller-Uibo, Suhr, Cunliffe, Oduduru etc etc were basically one-off's!

See what Shanghai brings!!

See you soon!

CR tops Conferences (& Mary's Back)

A PERSONAL NOTE--
Nearing 75, my physical self ain't what it used to be!
Now it's my eyesight that's worsening!
Not blind (yet!!), I have trouble seeing light print against a light background!
I need a background like I have here to be able to see and read the words!
But I still can see!!
It just takes longer to gather the material for my blog!

I've always prided myself on the SPEED at which I've posted the latest Records & Marks!
As well as the ACCURACY of what I post!!
Now I can't do either!!

So what to expect?
Fewer reports with fewer marks!
More corrections in later posts!
Maybe less (or NO??) Previews!!

What you WILL get is my same controversial opinions and my same sense of humor (HUH??), and my same LOVE of the sport!!

Now let's "see" what went down this past weekend!!

MONDO DID IT!!!!
Armand Duplantis now holds BOTH Collegiate Records--INdoors and OUTdoors!
He glided over the bar set at 6.00, or 19-8.25, at the SEC meet!!
Having seen the video, it was a clean vault, strong, fast, his powerful body went over the bar, and on landing, he pumped those arms in joyful celebration!!

Now he can try for 20 feet at the NCAA's, then turn Pro, and live happily ever after!!

While Mondo surely is the best Collegiate Male---and maybe the best in the WORLD!!--he still must face a hard core crowd at the NC's!!
Oh yeah, forgot to mention he broke the SEC Meet Record, his own Age 19 Record, and his own Frosh Class Record!!


Then there's those 110 Hurdles!!
We all knew the talents of Grant Holloway!
And maybe were impressed also by what Daniel Roberts had done INdoors this year!!

But after what THEY did at the SEC, who can we say is better??

BOTH ran 13.07, simply the second best Collegiate time on record--after the 13.00 by Renaldo Nehemiah!!
Holloway led off by taking the heats in his 13.07!
This was the SEC Meet Record, and made him 2nd A-T Collegiate, and 19th A-T US!!

But Roberts won the final with HIS 13.07!1
This of course tied him for 2nd A-T Collegiate, as well as 19th A-T US!!
Not only that, he BEAT Holloway, who ran "just" 13.12!!
WOW!!

And what to think of Cravon Gillespie??
Huh?
Who??

Cravon (Like crayon, but with a V!) merely became the first Oregon Duck to break 10 seconds in the 100 meters!!
Highlighting the PAC-12 meet, he ran an easy 10.10 in the heats on Friday--AFTER a 3 hour delay due to lightning!!
Then he blasted a 9.97 in Saturday's final, winning by 0.28 seconds!
It ties the PAC-12 Meet  Record, and is 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 6 others!
He returned later to turn a half lap in a PR of 20.17!!
This Duck ain't no waddler!!

Devin Dixon proved his INdoor speed wasn't limited to four walls and a roof-type venues!!
His 1:44.76 is the SEC Meet Record, and ranks 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!

The SEC's also saw Yanis David break through into the 47's in the TJ!
Her 47-1 is her first in that foot range, and makes her 2nd A-T Collegiate!!

Mackenzie Little threw the Javelin 194-0 to break Rachel Yurkovich's PAC-12 Meet Record!
Camryn Rogers won  the HT with her 228-11.
This makes this relative unknown 15th A-T Collegiate!!

Janeek Brown seems to have moved into truly elite class hurdling!
After an earlier 12.57, she improved to 12.55 to beat Payton Chadwick's 12.70 at the always speedy SEC's!
Brown is now 5th A-T Collegiate, while Chadwick is now 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!

Other good marks--
Jordan Geist won the PAC-12 SP with his 69-2--and was disappointed!
Hakim Sani Brown ran the Century in 9.99.
Quincy Hall took the SEC 400 in 44.60!
Another new name took the Women's race --Kaitlin Campbell won it in 51.05!

The Trojan Women of USC ran the 4X100 in 42.44 for the PAC-12 Meet Record!
That was in the heats!!
They slowed a mite in the final--to 42.45!!

The Texas State HS Championships saw some VERY good marks!!

Remember DeSoto's Women breaking the HSR in the 4X100 with their 44.44??
Well, they did it again!!
Now the HSR is 44.34!!

Jasmine Moore continues to inch toward the 45 foot line in the TJ!!
Her newest PR is 44-10 which makes her 2nd A-T HS!!
BTW, the new eTN says that mark is THIRD A-T HS!!
But I believe they're using the COMBINED marks from IN & OUT!!
Uh uh, T&FN!!
She is 2nd A-T OUTdoors!
For me, that's what is real!!

And Natthew Boling  rolls on!
His newest 100 PR is 10.13, which makes him 5th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
But maybe even better, he ran a reported 44.75 Relay leg!!
If that had been in an open race, he'd be just 0.06 seconds off the HSR!!
Where does his future lay??

Those World Relays!!
Jeez!
Was it an embarrassment of riches--or just a humongous embarressment??

First, the US 4X400 squads didn't do so well!
The Men were DQ'ed!!
(Running out of lane!)
And the Women LOST--to Poland!!
Not only that, the times weren't anything to brag about!

Jamaica's 4X200 Women also didn't do so well--despite having both Shelley Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson on board!!
One of the hand-offs was--let's say comically bumbled!!

But they couldn't match what happened during the Men's 4X100!
One dude (on Japan's team) couldn't connect with his partner the first time.
So he tried again!
Then the guy in front couldn't hold onto the baton, as it got tossed in the air like a juggling pin!!
(Where's Syd the Kid when you need her??)
Defying gravity and all of that, he finally grabbed that naughty stick, and proceeeded forward!!
And they were NOT disqualified!!

Definitely the VIRAL VIDEO of the Year!!

The times & such--
Poland's Women ran 3:27, as did the USA and Italy!
No Men's team broke 3 minutes!
But  Trinidad & Tobago won the race where the US was DQ'ed!!
Michel Cedeno ran a fantastic anchor!!
France took that Women's 4X200 where Jamaica fumbled!
Brazil's Men beat the US--38.05 to 38.07--after a bad pass on the 3rd leg!
But the Americans did win some--the Women's 4X100  and the Men's 4X200, despite a strong anchor by Akani Simbine!

But you really gotta see that Japnese baton fumble!!
It's CLASSIC!!

One more comment on this DISASTER of a meet!
Cancel future editions UNLESS you have a FULL slate of Relays!!
The 4X800, the 4X1500, the 4 X Mile, the SMR, and the DMR!!
The longest leg this time was 400 meters!
Yes, an embarrassment!!

A couple of "old" marks--
Trevor Stewart ran the 400 in 44.50!
And Kayla White ran the first  sub-11 of the year--by ANY Woman!!--with her 10.96!
She added a 200 of 22.52!

The USATF 25K Road Race--held in Grand Rapids, Michigan--saw Parker Stinson break the American Record for this 15.6 mile distance!!
His 1:13:48 broke the old mark by 30 seconds!
BTW, that's about 4:45 pace!!
Emma Bates won the Women's race in 1:23:51!

Who is the "Mary" of my title?
None other than Mary Cain!!
She's BACK!!

Or is she??

As Let's Run says, it was her first COMPLETED race in 918 days!!
Cain--who just turned 23!!--actually won this 4 Mile Road Race through NYC's Central Park!
Her time was a slow 21:50--or 5:27.5 per mile!!
She won it, but I saw no mention of who took 2nd, or any other names of other runners!
And we should remember that Central Park has hills, so the time isn't inidicative of her current shape!!

And THAT is the "to be or not to be" Question of the YEAR!!
DOES she intend to run a TRACK race this year--and WHEN??

ADDED minutes later--
Go to Let's Run for an EXCELLENT video on Mary!
In it, she explains her injury cycle and recovery--still omgoing!
She does all of the talking, and there are great shots of her running in Mammoth Lakes!!

See you soon--I hope!!
(That was sort of a joke!)

Doha DL Serious Stuff

Despite the invasion of the Women's 800 by the Unnamed Three, the Doha Diamond League meet made some important statements as to the seriousness of this OUTdoor season!
In other words, many athletes came prepared to strut!!

Danial Stahl didn't PR, but his DT of 231-6 broke the Meet Record!!
Always a good way to kick off a meet---and a season!!

Same with Delilah Muhammed in the 400H!
Her 53.61 was a World Leader by over half a second, and also got the Meet Record!!

The 200's went to Ramil Guliyev and Dina Asher-Smith in good times of 19.99 and 22.26, respectively!
Both won by big margins!

The Men's 800 had three of the expected podium contenders for the WC, and provided some last lap excitement!!

Nijel Amos emerged the victor over Emmanuel Korir and Donavan Brazier,  all running in the 1:44's!
Not fast, but competitive!

Another similar race was  had in the Women's 3000!
With Genzebe Dibaba facing Helen Obiri, it was anyone's race!
Her face grimacing down the final homestretch, Dibaba was unable to catch the fleet Kenyan Policewoman, losing 8:25.61 to 8:26.20!!

Des[ite falling in the middle of the race, Lily Rengerek got back in the mix, and ended 3rd in 8:28.81!
The Steeple WR holder, Beatrice Chepkoech, ended 4th in 8:29.02!
But Caroline Kipkirui's 8:29.47 in 5th got her the National Record of Kazikzstan!!

Obiri's final 400 was 60.9!!

Danielle Williams provided a small shock, beating the Americans in the 100H, time of 12.66!!
Tobi Amusan added  to the American defeat with her 12.73 in 2nd!!

The Men's 1500 was taken by Elijah Manangoi in 3:32.21!

Ryan Crouser took the SP over Tom Walsh, 72-7.25 to 72-4.75!

Sam Kendricks cleared 19-0.25 to easily win the PV over Thiago Braz!!

The Men's 3000SC  saw American Hillary Bor take the lead after the rabbits left the track--and almost win!!

But Soufiane El Bakkali's 8:07.22 finally prevailed!
Bor ran a PR of 8:08.81, moving him from 6th A-T US to 4th!!

A better TJ'er, Caterine Ibarguen nonetheless took the Long Jump, but her 22-2.25 winner wasn't very long!!

With Mariya Lastskene absent, the Women's HJ was wide open!
So it was left to 17 year old (born Sept 18, 2001) Ukranian Yaroslava Mahuchikh to win with a 6-5 leap!!
She's tall and slender with great form over the bar!
Watch for her this summer!!

As for the other 800, let's just say "controversy" was the real winner there!!
As you know (if you read my previous post), CAS agreed with the IAAF on the Caster Semenya situation, thus preventing her from racing over distances of 400, 800, 1500, and the Mile!!
(As Let's Run asks, Why would a person with high testosterone counts be allowed to race against Women in ANY event--even the 5000??)
But unknown to me at the time of that last post, the ban on Semenya doesn't begin until May 8th!!
So the Doha people allowed Semenya to enter at the last minute!
Also entered were the other "unnamed"--Margaret Wambui and Francine Niyonsaba!!
I'm going to continue my policy of IGNORING any marks run by the unnamed!
Thus, the WINNER of that race was Ajee Wilson, time of 1:58.83!
Raevyn Rogers was 2nd in the 1:59's!!

I urge the unnamed to please voluntarily return your medals and other awards, so they can be presented to their rightful owners in public ceremonies later this year!!

Overall, a pretty good first DL!!

The Payton Jordan meet had some big names, but their choice to run for WC or OG qualifying marks took some of the speed from their performances!

Sifan Hassan ran her first track 10000 in 31:18!!
She beat Susan Krumins by 5 seconds!

Also winning easily was Ben True in the Men's 10K, but his time of 27:52 was hardly worth mentioning!!

The Men's 5K went to Yomif Kejelcha, who only opened up on the last 2 laps!
His 13:10 easily beat Kirubel Erassa's 13:17!

In the Women's 5000, Jenny Simpson, Rachel Schneider, and Amy Eloise-Neale all ran in the 15:21's, with who else but Jenny prevailing??!!
Her last lap was about 62!!!

Jessica Hull and Clay Murphy took the 1500's in respective times of 4:12 and 3:37!

Bug whoop!

Other solid marks--
DeAnna Price got off a HT of 247-3!

Chuk Enekwechi continues to improve, his 71-8.25 gifting him the National Record of Nigeria!

Finally, a surprise HSR in the 2000SC!!
Sarah Trainor is the new Record holder, as her 6:29.08 nipped Maddie Meyers old mark of 6:29.20!!

Coming soon will be the World Relays, the Collegiate Conferences, and the Shanghai Diamond League!!

See you soon!

May Meanderings

The following are a series of thoughts & opinions I have just before the "meat" of the 2019 OUTdoor season comes into focus!

NOTE--The following was posted earlier!  Since then, I've learned that Semenya is on the start list for today's Doha 800--as are Wambui and Niyonsaba!!  Why?  Did I misunderstand the details of the ruling?  Let's Run and others believe Semenya has been banned from running the 400, 800, or the 1500/Mile!!  So why are they entered??  Confusion!

Amd none is more important---or thrills me more--than the CAS decision to uphold the IAAF's decision regarding Caster Semenya!!

And yes, I am extremely proud to say I was YEARS ahead of them on this!!

As readers of my blog know, I have ignored anything done by Semenya, Margaret  Wambui, and Francine Niyonsaba these past 5 years of my blog's existence!!

Briefly, here's what's what--
The 3 named had, and have, higher than normal levels of testosterone, thus enabling them to perform more like men than the average woman!
I saw something on Twitter recently that said the average testosterone count in a woman is 0.67!  The average for a man is 15 & change!!
The IAAF said that 5.00 would be a good cut-off point for Semenya & Co!

But even that is too high!!
(That's almost eight times the average!!)

So what happens now?
Semenya (and hopefully the other two!) are now banned from WOMEN's races in the 400, 800, and 1500/Mile!!
However, that does not prevent them from running longer distances!
In fact, Semenya recently beat the great Dominique Scott-Erfurd in a 5000 race!!

But I go even farther!!
I want them banned from the SPORT, period!!
They've ruined it enough!!
ALL of their marks---from their very first as teens, to their most recent, should be ERASED from the books!!
ALL honors won--whether Awards, Medals, Points, or any monetary winnings, must be confiscated!
These should be immediately redistributed to the deserving REAL winners!!
And done so in public--such as at Diamond Leagie meets, the World Championships in Doha, or at Tokyo's Olympic Games!!

Act NOW, IAAF and Lord Sebastan Coe!!

Thank you for indulging me this self-congratulations!!
Now for some other meanderings!!

What's up with the schedule??
Everything's been thrown akilter because of the lateness of the WC's this year!!
But it's not really THAT late!!
After all, we're talking an extra 3 weeks, not three months!!

As a former athlete (though FAR from elite!!), I believe several peaks can be had in a season, not just one or two!!
Look at what Ron Clarke  (and others of that era!) did--raced practically every week throughout the year, and raced FAST!!
Field eventers also performed regularly at top levels!!

But the powers-that-be think otherwise!!
Thus the Pre DL being held a month later, as will be the USATF/WC Trials!!

The NCAA and NBN, I believe, remain at the same place on the schedule!

What about the other  DL's, especially the ones normally held after June??

And what about those spaces between meets??
What will fill them, if anything??
Here's hoping the busy European schedule of smaller meets (Heusden-Zolder, Morton Games, etc) remains busy!
And in the US??
The TrackTown Summer Series?
Some JDL meets?
Even some All-Comers meets??

In a previous post, I spoke of their being some "new" names popping up!!
Portius Warren with a 61 foot SP!
Matthew Boling and Tony Martin with fast sprints and lengthy Long Jumps!
Then there's Payton Otterdahl!
He actually first emerged INdoors--getting that season's Collegiate Record in the SP!
Now he's a star OUTdoors as well!
Chloe Cunliffe first cleared 14-0 OUTdoors in 2018!
But she added 9 inches to that this past INdoors, and 8 inches so far this OUTdoors season!!
Janee Kassanavoid added close to 15 feet this year in the HT!!

Then there's the other side of the fence--the ones who were stars of the past--even this past INdoor season---who have yet to do anything OUTdoors so far!!

Is Raven Saunders healthy again?
She had some personal problems that caused her to leave Ole Miss suddenly!
Nothing from her, even on Twitter!
And what about Katelyn Tuohy and Athing Mu?
It's been almost two months since the NBIN, where we last heard from them!!

Sydney McLaughlin has run some VERY speedy 400 Relay legs, but no open races!
We're all waiting for her to open up with a 49 one lapper, or a 52 one lapper with hurdles!!
She's NOT in tomorrow's 400H at the Doha DL!!

And when will Taylor Ewert do her announced first 20K Walk?
BTW, I told her on Twitter I thought she could Walk 1:35 there, and she "liked" my tweet!!
Does that mean she agrees?

When will Anna Hall do her first OUTdoor Heptathlon this year??
And will she score 6000 points!
Where is INdoor star Morgan Smalls?

Then there's the old standby puzzle--WILL Mary Cain return to elite racing--EVER??

What about Mo Farah??
Now SIR Mo, he seems to have devoted himself to the Marathon, and the Half!
Has he been successful?
With Sir Mo, you need to define "successful"!
He won numerous Gold medals at the WC and OG!
But his best track time came NOT in the 5000 or 10000, but in the 1500!!
He's barely broken one hour in the Half, when his potential indicates something maybe a minute faster!
He kept on a 2:03 & change pace at last week's London Marathon, but faded to 2:05:39!!

He's now 36!
And he's hinted of a possible return to the track for 2020!!

Speaking of distance runners, what's wrong with American Men in the distances!!
We've always had great sprinters, hurdlers, and some field event stars!
But it's been awhile since we've had a multitude of fast 5K & 10K men!!

Galen Rupp and Chris Solinsky are the only two to run sub-27 in the track 10K!
Not many more have gone sub-13 in the track 5K!

Except for the Kenyan transplants on the US Army team, are there any native born Americans with that kind of distance potential??

Rupp is just now recovering from injury!
Ben True and Ryan Hill haven't progressed recently!
Evan Jager is stilll in the Steeple, but has yet to break 8 minutes!
The fastest 1500 and Mile guys are in the 3:35 and 3:55 range!
Where is Matthew Centrowitz??

Will anyone new emerge in today's Payton Jordan meet??
The Arcadia meet prides itself on the number of Boys who break 9:00 in the 3200 every year!!
But what happens to THEM??

Also on the distance front, I saw a photo of Shalane Flanagan's bandaged legs and knees post-surgery!
Looks like a late in the year return--if then!!
Will she be healthy in time for the Olympic Trials Marathon??

Finally, as my loyal readers know, I'm not the biggest fan of the DL system--mainly because of the limited number of events they have every meet!!

So what events would I include, if I had to be selective, to have in EVERY meet??

I'd have the 100 and 400, as they are "classic" distances!!
Same with the Mile!
I'd have a "long" race every meet--either a Two Mile, a 5000, or a 10K!!

Another distance race ALWAYS on my schedule would be the 3000SC!!

Both Hurdles races--the 110/100H and the 400H!
The LJ and PV!!
The SP, DT, but also either the JT or HT!!

Still not perfect, but better than what the average DL includes!!

OK, folks, enough of these meanderings for now!!

See you soon!!