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!!

London & a Mixture

Om a weekend when the 125th Penn Relays--and the 110th Drake Relays--were held, it was staid olde London Town that captured the Hurrahs and Well done's of the World's Athletics fans!
Yes, that 26.2 mile trek through the English city--seen by millions either via livestream or behind fences & ropes lining the circuitous route this venerable Marathon takes won our hearts and minds--while awful weather in Iowa & a weekend with just too MANY Relay meets--left us to behold the magnificence of Eliud Kipchoge, and the fanciful leap forth by the Ladies after a sluggish first half!!

For the 10th time, Eliud Kipchoge won the race he entered, even if 2 or 3 wannabe's held to his coat's buttons through 40K, leaving us to wonder if the GOAT still had it at age 34!

Yes, he did.
Yes, he does!
Never bet against him!

It took a stroll over 2 hours 2 minutes & 37 seconds for Kipchoge to reach the finish,while Mesenet Geremew took just 18 seconds longer!
Unlike the Women, it was an evenly paced race, with the stolid jaw of Kipchoge barely working!
No sweat for the King!

He gets the Course Record, the Age 34 Record,, and the 2nd fastest time ever run--behind only his own World Record!

Geremew gets the best 2nd Place mark, the Age 27 Record, and is now 2nd A-T World!
Third placer Mule (Yes, his name is MULE!!) Wanihun ran 2:03:16 for the best 3rd Place mark, and ranks 9th A-T World!!

Mo Farah--in a race where he said he was "prepared"--faded to a 2:05:39 finish in 5th place, after passing 35K at 2:03+ pace!!

As noted, the Women's race was run entirely differently!
A large group--led surprisingly by a 42 year old Australian named Sinead Diver (!!)--ran at just under 2:23 pace for the first 13.1 miles!!

The usual African contingent, plus super Americans Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson--let the old gal have her fun in the sun--not quite!  fun in the slightly windy, cold London fog!!

Diver actually looked pretty good--easy fluid motion, relaxed face, looking like she might last awhile!
She did--through the Half or a bit past!
That's when Gladys Cherono, Mary Kitaany, Vivian Cheruiyot--and Brigid Kosgei decided to lay the hammer down!
Chugging through a couple of sub-5 miles, they soon put Diver back on the board (so to speak!), and began to race!

Keitany maybe showed a bit of her 37 years (Tell that to the Aussie, who didn't let 5 more years than Keitany bother her much!!!).
\Before long, it was down to Cheruiyot and Kosgei.
Then Kosgei made a slight break, the gap only widening as the finish approached!

Her 2:18:20 was run with a spectacular negative split of 71:38 & 66:42---the fastest 2nd Half ever un in a full marathon!!
She gets the Age 25 Record, and moves from 9th A-T World to 7th!

Cheruiyot's 2:20:14 led a few under 2:21--Roza Dereje's 2:20:51, Gladys Cherono's 2:20:52, and Keitany's 2:20:56!!
The latter gets the Age 37 Record, and is the oldest to run a sub-2:21!!

She wasn't close to the Veteran at the end, but Emily Sisson closed as the fastest American, her 2:23:08 being run with a slight negative split!
This makes her 7th A-T US, and is the 2nd fastest debut Marathon for an American Woman!!
Molly Huddle had a bad day, yet ran 2:26 and change!!
But there's hope for the 34 year old Huddle!
The 42 year old Ms Diver ended in 2:24:11--a PR by over a minute!!

A few athletes showed they're ready for whatever comes next!!

Shaunae Miller-Uibo beat Shakima Wimbley's 51.32 by 2.27 seconds, her 49.05 the fastest run prior to June!!
This was at Florida's Tom Jones meet!!

Sandi Morris returned from injury & surgery in a big way--beating Jenn Suhr at Drake with a solid rust-buster of 15-7.25!!
And Mondo Duplantis finally got his act together, as his 19-5.75 at the LSU meet gave him the Age 19 Record and the Frosh Class Record!!
This makes him 2nd A-T Collegiate!!

Drake's Men's PV was forced inside by VERY bad weather conditions!
Thus, Chris Nilsen's 19-2.25 winner moves him from 6th A-T Collegiate INdoors, tued with 3 others, to 4th!
He also moves from 17th A-T US INdoors, tied with ELEVEN others, to 9th, tied with a measly 5 others!!
Sam Kendricks cleared 19-0.25 in 2nd!

Keturah Orji came within 1.50 inches of her Rio PR, TJ'ing 48-1.75 in a Georgia meet!!

There was some solid Long Jumping this past weekend--
Jeff Henderson went 27-4.50!

Chantel Malone leapt 22-7.25 in Georgia, beating the 22-2.25 by Ailiyah Whisby, who did a pretty good Pentathlon this past INdoor season!

Kate Hall got off a jump of 21-11.75!
And Tara Davis made a good return to action with a LJ of 21-5.25!

Tori Bowie LJ'ed 22-3 in her first meet of the year!!

Earlier, there was lots of talk about HS'er Matthew Boling!
It begam because of his sprinting, then turned some heads because of a 26-3.50 LJ!!

Boling ran a 100 in 9.98--aided greatly by a  slight breeze of 4.2--which probably means he ran 10.15 or 10.20--or slower!!

However, we may have a NEW name in Men's HS Long Jumping!!
Tony Martin (Does he sing also??  LOL) landed in the sand 26-6 from the bpard!!
This makes him 6th A-T HS!!
I spoke of a possible 27 footer from Boling in a previous post!
Could we see TWO of those babies this year??

Penn and Drake had its usual assortment of speedy Relays- mostly in their "USA vs the World" set-up!
The times were in the usual range of mid-42's and sub-3:05'sm but nothing really worth reporting!

But Penn always has great sprint Relays for HS'ers!

The Edwin Allen Women's team from Jamaica ran 43.62, the fastest ever by a HS tesm from anywhere in the World!
I heard they had a 14 year old on the team, with the oldest being 17!!

But a Women's US team from Desoto in Texas (the race being run IN Texas!!) broke the American HSR with their 44.44!!

A Women's team from USC ran 42.77, the Collegiate leader!
Houston's Men ran a 4X400 in 3:02.61 at Penn!

Grant Holloway sped the 110H in 13.25!
Janeek Brown ran the 100H in 12.57, the Collegiate leader!
This ties the Soph Class Record, and makes her 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!

Kenny Bednarek ran 20.30 INdoors this year, the best by a Division 2 athlete!
He bettered that with his 20.29 OUTdoors this past weekend!

In possibly her 1st meet as a newbie Professional, Tia Jones sped the 100H in 12.88!!
She's still a Senior in High School!
So she set the HS PRO Record for the 100H, as well as the HS PRO Senior Class Record!!
She'll have until August 31st to improve those Records!!

Jenna Prandini had a solid double--tying the World leader with her 11.10 in the Century, adding a 200 in 22.53!!

Abderrahman Samba ran the fastest 400H with his 47.51.
And Brianna Williams had a solid double, running the 100 & 200 in respective times of 11.25 and 22.89!

Some field events saw good action, including a "new" name or two!!

Darrell Hill threw the SP 71-3.25!
The Drake weather was terrible at the time when Ryan Crouser was meeting Payton Otterdahl!
They couldn't handle the slippery ring (and wet ball!!),neither clearing the 70 foot line, but with Crouser edging the Collegiate!

Shadae Lawrence had a DT of 209-7!
That's the National Record of Jamaica!!

Arianna Ince threw the Javelin 195-2!
BTW, I believe she's now married--I'll try to get her new name!!

Janee Kassanavoid added 6 inches to her recent PR in the HT, her 239-6 moving her from 11th A-T US to 10th!!

One of those new names--at least to your friendly blogger!--is one Portius Warren!
She got off a Shot Put of 61-0.75, which makes her 9th A-T Collegiate!!
Greg Thompson got off a big DT of 215-1,  which makes him 12th A-T Collegiate!

Remember Skylar Ciccolini?/
She was a top-rated JT'er in HS last year!
Well, she's now a HS Senior, and gets that Class Record with her spear chuck of 184-2!!
She moves from 5th A-T HS to 2nd!!

We have yet another HS Woman over 14 feet in the PV!!
Layla Kieffer's 14-1 makes her the 15th Woman to clear 14-0 or higher OUTdoors!
And it makes her 7th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
She's from Seattle!

While I'm on the PV, I need to make a correction from a previous post!!
I said that Annie Johnigan had cleared a new PR of 15-5!
Sorry, but her mark was "just" 15-3!!
This makes her 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others!

A DMR team from Penn had the fastest time at the (sic!) Penn Relays, their 10:59.44 making them 13th A-T School!!

Ajee Wilson ran an early season 1500 in Princeston!
Her 4:06.38 actually leads the World!!

Another incredible World Leader was run at Penn!
In the HIGH SCHOOL Women's Mlei race!!
Yes, Victoria Starcher's speedy 4:38.19 (with a final lap of 64!!) not only broke Mary Cain's iconic Meet Record (Remember her 4:39.28 run there as a Soph, with a 62.5 lsst 440??), but really does make the precocious Starcher the WORLD Leader in the Women's Mile!!
She said she'll be gning against Professionals in the Camel City meet later this spring!!
Marlee Starliper was 4 seconds behind in 2nd!
BTW, this makes Ms Starcher 7th A-T HS!!

The upcoming weekend will see the first of the DL's--in the WC city of Doha!!
Also this weekend will be the Distance Carnival at the Payton Jordan meet!!
But they'll have to go pretty fast to top that fantastic 10000 run by Emily Sisson and Molly Huddle at the earlier Stanford Invite!!

And remember, the Prefontaine Classic will also be at Stanford this year, but not on it's usual late May date!
It will be held on June 30th!!

My apologies for this late post--I had other things going on!!

See you soon!

BANG! BOOM! POW! 2019 is NOW!

As my title indicates (in no uncertain terms!), the 2019 OUTdoor season is here--now!--even before the Penn-Drake weekend, or the first Diamond League meet!!
And all it took was a handful of athletes to run, jump. and throw things better than any athlete has ever done prior to May!

Ryan Crouser propelled his 16 pound Shot Put toward the World Record line, hitting the ground at 74-7.25!!
He even had another within a inch of that!!
Rust-buster?
How about rust destroyer?!!!

This gave him the Age 26 Record!
(And no doubt the Long Beach Invite Meet Record, but I don't keep records for that meet!!)
He moves from 4th A-T US to 3rd!
And from 8th A-T World to 6th!

While Crouser ended way ahead of his opponents, a couple of them provided some good marks!
Payton Otterdahl finally passed 70 feet OUTdoors, hitting 70-1.50!
He moves from 19th A-T Collegiate to 15th!
And in 4th came Tripp Piperi's 68-11.25, which makes him 23rd A-T Collegiate!

Want speed?
Then watch Michael Norman sprint one lap of the track in 43.45 seconds!!
In April!
(And saying afterwards his goal for 2019 is to "run in the 42's"!!
The forecasters were imagining a duel between Norman and Rai Benjamin!
And they got it---until the final 40 or 50 meters!!
That's when Norman added a little edge to his sprint, nailing Benjamin to the track at 44.31!
He gets the Mt SAC Meet Record and the Age 21 Record!
His Combined Events total for the 100-200-400 is now 1:13.56 (10.27, 19.84, 43.45), and moves him from 4th A-T World to 3rd!
But he remains 2nd A-T on the US C-E list!

On my US DDD, he moves from 5th A-T to 3rd, tied with 1 other!
And he moves from 6th A-T World to 4th, tied with 1 other!
As for Benjamin, his C-E total for the 400 & 400H is now 1:31.33, and moves him from 4rd to 2nd on the World C-E list!
However, having only recently become eligible for US Records & Lists, he misses out on the US C-E list, because his 400H best was run as an Antiguan!!

But that wasn't the only spectacular sprint mark this past weekend!
Maybe you heard of the runs by Divine Oduduru!!
He sprinted the Metric century in 9.94 first!
Then--within an hour!!--he added a 200 in 19.76!!

The shorter distance ranks him 11th A-T Collegiate!
The half-lapper nets him 2nd place on the A-T Collegiate list!!
It also gets him the National Record of Nigeria!
As well as 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other!!
This was at the MJ/JJK meet, which makes it even better, because his entrance to the Collegiate list axed FROM that list one Michael Johnson, who ran 20.07 in 1988!!
A DIVINE meet, you might say!
LOL

That's the good news!
If you knew that the ONLY predictions made about Mondo Duplamtis's first Collegiate OUTdoor meet was how close to the CR he would get--NOT if hr would wind up a measly 4th (or worse??) on this weekend's survey of Collegiate PV'ers!!

Leading the way was Chris Nilsen's 19-1 at the Beach Invite!
Next in line was Zach Bradford, who cleared the Kansas Relays bar set at 18-11!
This was pretty significant, because this gave him the Frosh Class Record--before Mondo could claim it--if he does!!
It also makes him 11tth A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!
He misses the US list by just 1.75 inches--something Mondo isn't eligible for!

Then came KC Lightfoot and Jake Wooten, whose 18-8.75 marks apparently tied them in 1st at the MJ/JJK meet!
Their marks tied them at 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, including each other!!

As for Duplantis, he cleared 18-2.50 at the LSU Alumnai meet!
This event is definitely one to watch!!

The Women weren't too bad at this body twisting event either!!

Jenn Suhr did her standard acrobatics, taking the MJ/JJK meet Vault with 15-7!

The Mt SAC meet saw Annie Rhodes Johmigan PR at 15-5!
It's the Mt SAC Meet Record!
She moves from 12th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 8th, tied with 4 others!!
Olivia Gruver didn't break her Collegiate Record, but she still Vaulted a solid 15-3.50 in Long Beach!
And the Virginia Tech meet unleashed another Woman to the Collegiate elite field--name of Maddie Gardner!
While I'd never heard of her, her 14-8 was impressive, and makes her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

Omar Craddock emerged victorious in a TJ battle with Christian Taylor at the Beach meet!
His 58-0.25 beat Taylor's 56 and change!!
Craddock moves from 11th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 9th!

At a different meet, Jordan Scott TJ'ed 56-0, making him 18th A-T Collegiate!

The Throws had some solid entries to the weekend's festivities!
Alyssa Wilson returned full force to her Shot Put, nailing a foot long PR of 59-1.50!
(And Laulauga Tausaga got the same exact mark!!)
But both of them missed the A-T Collegiate list by less then 3 inches!!
Tausaga added a DT heave of 204-4 at the Beach meet (same meet as the SP!), which moves her from 17tth A-T Collegiate to 14th!!

Danielle Thomas-Dodd continued her good series of meets by breaking her own National Record of Jamaica with her 63-11 toss!!

More Throws marks--
I'll lead off with an "oldie"--meaning a week ago or so!
Who else but Trey Knight could set a new record with the Pro-weight Hammer?/
His 213-6 nets him the Junior Class Record!!
An earlier post reported his almost 20 foot PR with the HS weight implement--that being 254-0!
I'm sure there's lots more to come from this phenom!!

Brooke Anderson got the Mt SAC Meet Record with her HT of 246-3!!
She moves from 5th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th!!
Janeah Stewart threw 234-1 in 2nd!

Marcel Lomnicky took the Men's event with his 253-1!
Denzel Comenentia was a close 2nd, his 252-3 breaking his own National Record of the Netherlands!
Sam Donnelly took third with his 251-6!!
However, Donnelly also threw at the Beach Invite, and PR'ed there with his mark of 253-3!!
This made him 9th A-T US!!

Mason Finley broke his own Kansas Relays Meet Record in the DT, measuring 220-5!!
Daniel Haugh reached 245-4 with his Hammer , making him 16th A-T Collegiate, and 23rd A-T US!!

A good set of marks came in the DT, with Brian Williams's 213-5 edging Reggie Jagers's 213-4!
In 3rd was Payton Otterdahl's 205-6!
And at the LSU meet, Janee Kassanavoid hit 233-6 in the HT, but it's not a PR!!

Other good marks--
Isaac Kimeli led 9 Men ar 13:37 or faster in the Brian Clay 5000, his winning time being 13:33.47!
Among the others were Joe Klecker Rory Linkletter, and Gil Kigen!
Grant Fisher ran even faster at the Cardinal Invite, his winner timing 13:29.52!
Weini Kelatti took the Women's race in a non-PR of 15:23.46!
Second went to Alva Cohen's 15:31.01!

Charlotte Prouse ran the 5000 in 15:16.42, making her 7th A-T Collegiate!

Oliver Hoere won a mass finish 1500, his :3:37.20 edging Carlos Villerreal's 3:37.22!
A total of 11 runners went under 3:40!!
Hoere's mark made him 24th A-T Collegiate!

Hanna Green surprisingly took over the WORLD lead with her 1500 win in 4:09.33!!
Sage Hurta's 4:09.43 took the Silver, while Alexa Efraimson began her OUTdoor campaign in 3rd, time of 4:09.88!!

At Mt SAC, Kendra Harrison's 12.66 took the 100H race!
In another meet, Tonea Marshall took a 100H in 12.81!

Delilah Muhammed's 51.62 beat Kendell Ellis's 51.75 in the flat 400!
Vashti Cunningham HJ'ed 6-5.50!
Wil London took the 400 at the MJ/JJK meet in 44.93!

It's not her best--and in fact it's fairly slow--but I want to add the 53.95 one lapper run by Kaylin Whitney in Florida!
She hasn't done much of note lately, but she won this race!!

Travis (??) Stewart took a 400 in 44.54. ,making him 21st A-T Collegite!!
Even more noteworthy was the exit FROM my Collegiate DDD of one Mr Butch Reynolds his 44.58 dating back to 1981!!

I don't normally mention either wind-aided times or relay leg times, but the following are pretty significant--
Aleia Hobbs used a 3.8 wind to push her to a 10.83 Century!!
And Sydney McLaughlin seems to be limiting herself to speedy 400 legs in Relays!
She first did 49.83 in a mixed-sex race, running third leg!
Then she ran on a Women's All-Star team, her lead-off leg taking all of 50.1!!
Is she ready for a  HOT 2019--or what!!!

And in the Multi's at the Brian Clay meet--
Ayden Owens took the Men's Decathlon with his 8130 PR!
He's a USC Frosh!!
Harrison Williams also PR'ed in 2nd with his 8112!
And taking 3rd was the 8056 of Tim Ehrhardt!

The Women's event was taken by Canadian Pro Georgia Ellenwood, with 6138 points!
Kendell Gustafson was second with her score of 6078!

Now for "other" news--
I saw some great photos of the MIA Mary Cain on Instagram!
One was with her dog, another with her boyfriend, and another doing some sort of stretching exercise!
No word on future running goals or intentions, however!!

That American Record I reported for Stan Kebenai in the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile has been erased!!
The course was found to be 80 yards short!
Obviously, all times were erased from the record book!

Okay, my friends, time for a HUGE serving of bragadoccio by yours truly!!
My loyal readers know I've singled out Caster Semenya, Margaraet Wambui, and Francine Niyonsaba as being NOT eligible to run in all-WOMEN's events--due to their suspected high-testosterone counts---although Semenya's was more than just suspected!!

Anyway, in a major reveal, Niyonsaba finally admitted to having a higher than normal testosterone level!!
Yes, SHE said it!!

Thus, your friendly blogger was proven CORRECT!!

All medals etc taken by these three should be confiscated, and distributed to their RIGHTFUL owners---ASAP!!

Until then, those events where they run are an embarrassing farce!!

Next week are the Penn and Drake Relays!!
Also--the London Marathon, from which Tirunesh Dibaba has dropped!!
Hang on to your hats!!

See you soon!!

Boston (& some Track & Field)

The 123rd Boston Marathon was far different from the 2018 race!
No monsoons or tornado winds!
And Sarah Sellers ran over 7 minutes faster, but ended just 15th!
Given this good weather, the races themselves took center stage!

The Women's race was a runaway for Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia!
Taking the lead at around 5K, she extended it to three minutes at the end of the Newton Hills!
But 39 year old Edna Kiplagat broke away from a group of 3 and began a relentless attack on Degefa!
Picking up almost 30 seconds per mile, she just started her run too late!
From 3 minutes to 42 seconds, Degefa beat Kiplagat, 2:23:41 to 2:24:13!!

Fighting for the 3rd podium spot were Meskeret Assefa and comebacking Jordan Hasay!
The California-born child-woman prevailed, Hasay running 2:25:20 to Assefa's 2:25:40!
Des Linden--the 2018 Champion--ended 5th in 2:27:00, but won everyone's hearts by devoting her race to cancer suffering Gabe Grunewald!
Almost in tears in her post-race interview, she spoke poignantly of Grunewald, urging women to run "brave like Gabe"!!

Lindsay Flanagan (NOT Shalane, who apparently may need knee surgery!!), ended 9th in a PR of 2:30:07!
Sellers, the shock 2nd placer in that storm last year, ran 2:36:42 in 15th!
Another American ahead of her was Kate Landau, who ran 2:31:56!
Betsy Saina ran 2:30:42 in 10th!

The Men's race was completely different, as it took a mad dash sprint down Boylston Street to decide the outcome!
The popular Lelisa Desisa tried to out-kick Lawrence Cherono--the fastest entrant--, but couldn't quite get there, as Cherono's 2:07:57 edged Desisa's 2:07:59!!
I watched the race, and let me tell you--there's no way there was a two second gap between the two!!
More like two-tenths of a second!

Kenneth Kipkemoi took 3rd in 2:08:06,but the big story for the US was that TWO Americans ran under 2:10:00!!

Leading for a few miles was Scott Fauble, while Jared Ward led also for awhile!
But they ended in 11th and 12th, respectively!!

Fauble's 2:09:10 rates him 11th A-T US, as I include Boston as a "legal" course, while everyone else calls it an "aided" course!!
While it's a point to point race, with an elevation net drop, I knew some guys who ran the course back in the 70's, and both said it's a really tough course!
Thus my position on its "legality" for Records & Marks purposes!!

Ward ended in 2:09:25, making him 12th A-T US!!
The favored American--Dathan Ritzenhein--faded badly, and ended just 16th!
Removed FROM the US list were two significant names!
Luke Puskedra's 2:10:24 from 2015, and Garry Bjorklund's 2:10:20 dating from way back in 1980!!

Manuela Schar beat many-time Champion Tatyana McFadden in the Women's Wheelchair division!

As for those guys & gals who run, jump, and throw things, several of them made indentures into my Record Book on a relatively quiet weekend!!

Because there's no one mark that truly stands apart, I'll do this by event--or event group!

The Sprints
Quincy Hall took over the World lead in the 400 with his 44.52 at the Gamecock meet!
This makes him 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
Halfway around the world, 400H'er supreme Abderrahman Samba cut 0.02 off his flat 400 PR, his 44.60 being added to his 46.98 over the 400H adds to 1:31.58 on my Combined Events list, but doesn't change his 2nd place standing!

Derrick Kemp ran 10.03 in the 100, also at the Gamecock meet!
Evonne Britton ran the 100H in 12.81 in Grenada, while Amber Hughes ran 12.85 at the Gamecock affair!

Jordan Lavender and Wadeline Jonathas had a good 400 duel, with Lavender prevailing, 51.53 to 51.56!
Jonathas is a Junior at South Carolina!

The Grenada meet had other fast times--
Bralon Taplin took the 400 in 44.92.
Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce made a comeback of sorts, sprinting the 100 in 11.20!
Miguel Francis won the 200 in 20.16, but the BIG story was the 20.20 given to Andre DeGrasse!!
This was his fastest race past a series of injuries!!

But Justin Gatlin pulled up during the race, although he finished--in 22.18!!

Steven Gardiner ran the 200 in 20.04 in Miami!

Gabby Thomas ran a 100 PR of 11.10 at Gamecock!

But maybe the most interesting result was a time that will NEVER make my Record Book, despite its brilliance!!
Syd the Kid--aka Sydney McLaughlin--ran in a MEN's 4X400 Relay--as the ANCHOR!!
Don't know who else was on her team, or their time, but McL was ahead of the last place guy coming into the last curve!
By the top of the straight, he'd passed her--barely!!
In a dead sprint the last 90 meters, McLaughlin only lost 3 to 5 meters!
Her recorded split was a quick 49.83!!
Not bad for a "rust-buster"!!

Distances
Yes, the venerable Boston Marathon was NOT the only Distance event to be worthy of mention!
In fact, there were other Boston races to report!
The BAA 5000--a Road race--was won by Hagos Gebrhiwet and Moresaah (sp?) Ngugi!
Gebrhiwet's 13:42 beat Ben True's 13:44!
Ngugi's time was 15:15 beating Violah Lagat's 15:29!
Kim Conley ended 4th in 15:36!

The Instanbul Half was fast!
--for the Women!
Ruth Chepngetich ran 65:30, making her 10th A-T World!

The Paris Marathon was taken by Abda Milaw (sp?) in 2:07:04, while Gelete Burka took the Women's race in 2:22:55.

France's Clemence Calvin broke her National Record in 2nd, time of 2:23:41!

This MIGHT change, as I've read that she deliberately missed a drug test recently!!
But she went to court to delay or prevent a ban!!
More on that in a future post!

If you're wondering if there were any distance races on a TRACK to report--well, there are!!
From INdoors!
The annual INdoor Marathon was held again at the Armory!
CJ Albertson broke the World Record with his 2:17:59 run over the 211 laps of the 200 meter track!!
His wife--Chelsea--had cramping problems over the final kilometers, but still ran 2:54:26!
But it was Stephanie Pezzillo's 2:42:11 that won that division!
The Women's WR for this torture test is Lindsey Scherf's 2:40:55!


Hammer Throw
Trey Knight walloped his HT best by almost 20 feet, hitting 254-0!!
This moves him way up the HS A-T list--from 19th to 4th!!

Alyssa Wilson originally made her name in the Shot Put, but she may have more to offer in the Hammer Throw!!
She got an 8 foot PR at the RJ/JJK meet!
Her 231-6 moves her from 24th A-T Colllegiate to 9th!!
She also makes the A-T US list--in 19th!!
Her other throws were okay--the DT in 185-0, and her "specialty" in 56-7.50!

Also, Beatrice Llanos hit an okay 225-5 with the ball and chain!!

Discus Throw & Shot Put
These events had some good marks also!
Jordan Geist finally topped his INdoor best, hitting 70-10 in a San Diego meet!
But this is OUTdoors, so the marks are totally different!!
He moves from 18th A-T Collegiate to 10th!
He misses the US list by 4.25 inches!!
However, he does claim the Soph Class Record!!

Another to hit a big PR was Valerie Allman!
Her 220-3 in the DT moves her from 12th A-T US to 5th!
Kelsey Card came close to her PR with her 2nd place mark of 207-9!
This was at the Chula Vista Throwers meet!

The Men's event was taken by Ehsan Hadadi's 220-5!
This beat Sam Mattis's 213-4!
BTW, Allman later threw 211-5 in San Diego!

Jamaica's Danielle Thomas-Dodd threw the SP 62-4, for one of her better throws of late!
At the RJ/JJK meet, Dotun Ogundeji had a SP mark of 69-0.50!
This makes him 21st A-T Collegiate!
But Josh Autolundi was the winner with his 69-4!
And Reggie Jager got a DT of 218-8!

Javelin Throw and the Multi's
Only one Heptathlon score to report--Michelle Atherley's 5966!

Liu Huihui took down the National Record of China with her JT mark of 222-3!
But she remains 11th A-T World!

Remember Madison Wiltrout!
She's the HSR holder at 185-8 from a few years back, who then got injured and had to have surgery!!
She threw one of her better marks--landing the spear at 181-4!
Can we expect a PR from her soon??

All the Jumps
The Arkansas meet---Where else??--produced some good PV marks!
Andrew Irwin went over 19-0.25, while Tori Hoggard took the Women's event with a modest 14-6.25!
For Irwin, his OUTdoor PR misses the US list by just one half inch!!

Even better, Alyssa Jones's 6-0.75 HJ ties the Frosh Class Record!!
But she misses the HS DDD by that same one half inch!!

And Erica Bougard--best known for her Heptathlon exploits, went over the HJ bar set at 6-2.25!!

Okay, now for some corrections and additions to previous posts!!

Remember I said I'd research whether Chloe Cunliffe was the only person to hold both HSR's in the PV--INdoors and OUTdoors--at the same time!!
Well, she isn't!

A friend reminded me of the obvious other person to hold both--MONDO!!
Duplantis's HSR's both came in 2018!

I used 14-0 and 18-0 as my starting points!
That made Tori Anthony the earliest to hold both Women's HSR's!
She did 14-2.50 INdoors, and 14-1.25 OUTdoors--both in 2007!
Desiree Freier was next, her 14-2.75 INdoors and 14-7.25 OUTdoors coming in 2014!
BTW, as you might recall, she had an INdoor 14-6 mark negated by some HS federation rule!
Then came Cunliffe's marks this year!

I suppose I should give a Special Mention to the former Weeks twins!!
AS Weeks girls, they held both HSR's in 2015!!
BUT--not by the same Ms Weeks!!
Tori got the INdoor mark with her 14-4, while sister Lexi took the OUTdoor mark with her 14-7.50!!
BTW, Mondo's marks are 19-3.50 INdoors, and 19-10.25 OUTdoors!

I reported that Markus Rooth took the Arcadia Decathlon at 7248!
But I didn't know he's from Norway!!

My readers know how I'm always urging meet directors to get enroute times in some distance races--giving athletes chances at TWO Records or List makers instead of one!!

I had to ask for these times, as the Arcadia meet results page didn't have them!
But Cole Sprout and Nico Young both made my A-T HS list in the 3000--enroute to their 3200 race finishes!

Sprout was ahead of Young at that point, so his 8:10.75 nets him 18th A-T HS!
Young hit 8:11.02 at 3000, making him 19th A-T HS!!

Please, Meet Directors--when you expect great marks in distance races, time them at the 1500 or 3000 points also!!
Then you can  brag TWICE for the same athlete!!

Upcoming is the Mt SAC Relays, beginning this Thursday!!
Then follows the Penn and Drake Relays, and I believe another Stanford meet (Cardinal Invite?), and the World Relays!

Also, on the 28th, is the London Marathon!
Eliud Kipchoge headlines the Men's entrants, while Emily Sisson will be in the Women's race!!

See you soon!

Track, Roads, and Chloe C Double Dips

What an interesting set of marks to report from the past few days!
They cover practically the entire world of our sport---track, roads, and even field!!
And that's yours truly being picky as usual!!

Before I get to all that, I need to correct some errors from previous posts!!
(Yes, I'm NOT perfect!!)
LOL

First is the worst, I'm embarrassed to say!
Remember me saying that Sally Pearson had said she's "abandoning" the 100H to become a Heptathlete for Tokyo's Olympics?
Not quite!
You see, at the time I wrote that, it was March 31st here in Bellingham!
BUT--it was already April 1st Down Under!!
Yes, Good Old Sally was making an April Fools joke on us---Okay, on ME!!
My humblest apologies!
(BTW, Sally ran 12.99 in the heats in her race in Australia this weekend.
But she didn't run the final!!)

I reported that Stephanie Bruce finished 53rd in the World XC race with her time of 39:09!
Nope, she was 33rd!!
Sorry, Steph!!

Finally, I said that Olivia Gruver's 15-6.25 PV broke the Collegiate Record held by Lexi Jacobus!
Wrong again!
It was Sandi Morris who held the old mark of 15-5.75!!
(Sandi, keep those snakes away from me!!)

That last error provides a good segue to the HSR of 14-8 set by Chloe Cunliffe at the Arcadia meet!!
Yes, as my title says, Chloe C is a double dipper--meaning she now holds BOTH High School Records--the INdoor and OUTdoor marks!!
Is she the first to do so--male or female??
(I'll do some research and report on my findings next time!)

I watched the meet's livestream, and they did NOT show her HSR Vault!
No, they were too busy aiming their camera at the boys 300H'ers getting into their blocks!!
(But I later saw that jump, and she had room to spare!)
She missed 3 times at 15-0--but I feel it's only a matter of time!

Cunliffe also gets the Arcadia Meet Record and the Senior Class Record!
She moves from 6th A-T HS, tied with 7 others, to the Top!!

Bonnie Draxler PR'ed in the PV  reaching 14-9.50 at the Bush meet in late March!
She becomes 16th A-T Collegiate!

Chase Ealey is the real deal, folks!
She shot (Sic!) her way to a two foot PR at the Sun Angel meet, tossing the ball out 64-6.50, and taking over the World lead!!
She gets the Meet Record, and moves from 16th A-T US all the way to 6th!!
BTW, she had another Put measuring 64-2.50!!

Another Thrower to make major advancements in her PR was Janee Kassanavoid!!
At the Battle On the Bayou meet, she threw the Hammer 239-0!
She becomes 11th A-T US!
She's a 24 year old American!
But it was Gwen Berry (in another meet!) who took over the World lead in that event, reaching 250-1!

I have several more Throws marks worthy of reportage---
Maggie Ewen opened her season with a HT of 237-10 at Sun Angel!
Jordan Geist threw the SP 69-9.50 at Sun Angel, making him 18th A-T Collegiate!
Remember Chuk Enekwechi?
He's back in action with a SP mark near Geist's (but in separate meets)--69-9!!
But Tom Walsh topped all the SP'ers, reaching 71-10.50 in an Australian meet!

Payton Otterdahl might become as good a DT'er as he is a Shot Putter!
He PR'ed for the 3rd time this season, topping out at 206-6!
Another Meet Record fell at Sun Angel--by Laulauga Tausaga!
Her DT of 202-6 took care of that one!
It also makes her 17th A-T Collegiate!

Jillian Shippee was a very good Hammer Thrower in HS a few short years ago!
She reached 221-3 this weekend!
She's a Sophomore now at North Carolina!!
Turner Washington had a SP mark of 68-1!
And Gleb Dudarev threw the Hammer out 241-0!

Not super fast, or at least not until you know his name!
Devin Dixon--who ran the 800 INdoors in 1:45.27--won a 400 race in 45.87!1

Another INdoor stud--Tyrell Richard--now is the World Leader in the 400 after his 44.81!

The Multi's at the Jim Glick meet provided some decent marks--
Karl Saluri went over 8000 points in the Decathlon--8060 to be exact!
That's a PR for him!
Second was Johannes Erm's 7913!

I don't have Records for the HS Decathlon--meaning the one that uses HS weighted implements and 39 inch hurdles!
My list is for the Pro Dec for HS'ers!
But Marcus Rooth's 7248 with the HS tools must be quite high on that list!
Watch for him in the future!

Other good track & field stuff--
Chanel Brissett's 12.87 in the 100H takes over the World lead!!
At the Spec Towns Invite, Keturah Orji won the LJ with a solid 21-11.50!
Chanice Porter took 2nd with 21-10.25!
And Kendell Williams was a close 3rd with her 21-8!!

While Chloe Cunliffe's great HSR led the way at Arcadia, that meet had its usual accumulation of fast times in the Distances!!

The Men's 3200 (YUK!!!) had a wild battle down the final straight, with Nico Young beating the favored Cole Sprout in a fast 8:40.00!!
Sprout finished in 8:40.73!
But what a  waste of time---in every sense of that word!
For example, if the meet organizers had let them run an additional 18.688 meters (to bring them to the full Two Miles!!), they would have challenged the marks of Steve Prefontaine (8:41.5 HSR in 1969!) and Matthew Centrowitz's 8:41.55 for 5th & 6th place on the A-T HS list!
Again, a humongous waste of time!!
But all credit to the pair for an exciting race!!

Katelynn Hart was going for Katelyn Tuohy's "HSR" of 9:47.88 run at last year's Arcadia meet!
But after a first lap of 68 seconds (!!), she slowed to 4:53 at 1600, before tacking on a second 1600 of 5:06 to run 9:59.57 for an easy win!!
She's run faster at that aberrational distance!

There are a variety of Road results to report!
The Rotterdam Marathon saw Celiphine Tuliamuk improve by about 6 minutes--down to 2:26:48--taking an overall 3rd place!!
This makes her 15th A-T US!!
(The leading Woman ran 2:22:55!)

The winner of the Men's race was Marius Kipserem of Kenya!
His 2:04:10 makes this 30 year old 19th A-T World!

The Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in the Nation's Capital saw some Records fall!
The Course Record for the Men went to the 45:36 of Jamal Yimer!
For those lost in the metric world, that's a 10K of about 28:21, with 3.8 miles at the same pace added on!!

The American Record for the distance went to the 3rd placer,Stan Kebenai, who ran 46:00!
The old Record was Greg Meyer's--dating from 1983!!

The Women's Course Record was broken by winner Rosemary Wangiru's 50:42!
That's a 10000 in about 31:25, with the same 3.8 miles added on at the same pace!

Emma Bates was the first American!
Her 52:18 took 6th place overall!
That's about 32:22 for 10K, with the added 3.8 miles attached at the end!

Sifan Hassan was talking World Record before the Prague Half!
But she had to settle for the win in 65:45--not a PR!

Finally, there's the venerable Carlsbad 5000, now owned (!) by Men Keflizhigi!!
He didn't run it  but Ed Cheserek did!
And his 13:29 was 25 seconds ahead of 2nd place!

Also winning easily was newbie Pro Sharon Lokedi!
She won her first Pro race with a modest time of 15:48!
However, she won by 12 seconds, taking the lead after the first mile!

In other news, Lynna Irby announced she was leaving Georgia to become a Pro!
But she has yet to announce an agent, a new location, or a shoe deal!!
Georgia seems to be losing several top stars, almost as quickly as Oregon has in recent years!

Alexa Efraimson was on the entry list for the Sun Angel 1500 to open her season, but she was a DNS for unknown reasons!

\Well, friends, that's it for the first week of April!
And a super congrats to Chloe C on her latest HSR!!

See you soon!!

2019 Records Predictions

This Preview is more a set of personal predictions by your friendly blogger than the same done by Vegas-style wagers!
My predictions--and the odds given--are more a "wish list" than anything else!
(Thus my saying that certain Distance Records might fall, given the nature of the beast---i.e. strategic racing vs time trials!)

Some guidelines---
These are MY predictions!
Relays are NOT covered!
I will list the event, give odds, and provide a bit of commentary here and there!!

I'm doing these in inverse order---with HS going first, then the Collegiates, then the US, and lastly, the World!
As always, Men will be listed first in each group!

HIGH SCHOOL--MEN
Disappointed to say, but this year's Men's fields are pretty weak in most events!

Thus, I see no events where I can give even 80-20 odds!

The best event should be the Hammer Throw, where Trey Knight rules supreme!

But I see the Pro weighted HT having a better chance to fall than the HS weighted event!

75-25 for the Pro implement, and 30-70 for the HS Hammer!
Matthew Boling gets 60-40 odds to become the first 27 footer in the LJ!
Getting 20-80 odds are the 400, 800, 3000, Two Mile, 5000, 110H, and the Pro Decathlon!

Cole Sprout might get the HSR in the Two Mile, but I'm wary of giving greater odds--even for him!

With ZERO---or near zero--odds are the 100, 200, 1500, Mile, 10000, 3000SC, 110H, 300H, 400H, HJ, TJ, PV, SP, DT, and JT!!

HIGH SCHOOL--WOMEN
We're on another planet with the Women!!

There are so many GREAT Distancers here!

IF they go for them, practically ALL the HSR's from the Mile through the 10K can go down!

Katelyn Tuohy, Katelynn Hart, London Culbreth, Claudia Lane, Kelsey Chmiel, Taylor Ewert, and,,,,::

But give the 800 HSR to Athing Mu!
That's Mary Cain's 1:59.51!
Sort out the Mile, 3000, 2 Mile, 5000, and even the 10000 among the above named!
The SC gets "only" 80-20 0dds!!

As does the HJ and HT!!
Jasmine Moore gets 60-40 odds in the TJ!
Given 20-80 odds are the 100, 200 (Despite the presence of Brianna Williams and Tamari Davis!!).
Also given those odds are the 1500 and JT!
Given ZERO or near zero odds are the 400, 100H, 300H, 400H, LJ, SP, and DT!

COLLEGIATE--MEN
Mondo Duplamtis and Payton Otterdahl get 100-0 odds to cut down the PV and SP Records, respectively!!
Anderson Peters gets 70-30 odds to nab the JT Record!
While the 3000 is almost non-existent on the Collegiate circuit, I'm still giving it 40-60 odds, thinking maybe Grant Fisher and Morgan MccDonald might enter an open race somewhere!!
Other events given the same odds include the 1500, Mile, and DT!
The 800, 110H, and the HT get just 20-80 odds, despite having Grant Holloway in the Hurdles race!
With ZERO or near zero odds are the 100, 200, 400, 5000, 10000, 3000SC, 400H, HJ, LJ, TJ, and the Decathlon!

COLLEGIATE--WOMEN
Here again, the Women are stronger in the Distances!!
Give the Mile, 5000, and the SC 90-10 odds!
As noted in an earlier post, Olivia Gruver has already broken the CR for the PV!
This prediction is for her---or someone else!!--to do it AGAIN!!
Odds are also 90-10 for a repeat there!
Given 70-30  odds are the 3000, SP, and HT!
Give 40-60 odds for the 800, 10000, and the JT!
The Heptathlon gets 20-80 odds!

Getting ZAPPED are the 100, 200, 400, 1500, 100H, 400H, HJ, LJ, TJ, and DT!

UNITED STATES--MEN
Yes, I believe Johnny Gray's venerable 800 mark will fall, just as his INdoor mark did!!
Give it 90-10 odds!

Also in danger are the 100, , 1000, 3000SC, 400H, and the PV!
I included the 400H there--which is the WR!!--solely because Rai Benjamin is now eligible to compete for the US!!

The Two Mile gets 40-60, based mostly on the lack of available races!!
The 200, 5000, 10000, and the TJ get just 20-80 odds!
That TJ Record WAS a strong candidate for falling, but Christian Taylor and Will Claye haven't been as sharp of late!!
Getting ZERO odds are the 400, 1500, Mile, 3000, Marathon, 110H, HJ, LJ,, SP, DT, JT, HT, and the Decathlon!!

UNITED STATES--WOMEN
Forget the 100 and 200!!
Unless Flojo's "records" are erased, as they should be!!
The HJ, LJ, SP, DT, and the Heptathlon also get ZERO odds!!
With slightly better odds (15-85)are the 400 and 100H!
The 10000 gets 40-60 odds, as does the JT!
With 80-20 odds are the 800, 1000, Half and Full Marathon!
The battle between Ajee Wilson and Athing Mu could be a classic!!
The US Women have an abundance of Distance talent!
So give 90-10 odds--or better!!--to the 1500, Mile, 3000, Two  Mile, 5000, 3000SC, 400H, TJ, PV, and the HT!

WORLD--MEN
Despite the infinite talents of Selemon Barega, Sam Tefera, and Yomif Kejelcha, I see NO Distance Records falling!!
Give the 400H, LJ, and the Decathlon 80-20 odds!
Keep in mind that Juan Echevarria had a LJ of 29-3,albeit with a 3.3 wind!!
29-6 is a possibility!!
The 1500, Mile, the Half, and the PV marks get 40-60 odds!
Given SOME chance are the 800, 1000, 2 Mile, 5000, Marathon, TJ, and the 3000SC!
With NO chance are the 100, 200, 400, 3000, 10000, 110H, HJ, SP, DT, JT, and the HT!

WORLD--WOMEN!
Sydney McLaughlin is given the strongest odds for not only breaking the WR in the 400H, but taking it into another universe!!
The Mile and the Half Records get 80-20 odds!
And it might NOT be Genzebe Dibaba who gets that Mile mark!!

The 5000, HJ, PV, and the HT get 40-60 odds!

With 20-80 or thereabouts are  the 800,, 1500, Two Mile, 3000SC, Marathon, 100H, and the JT!
With NO chance arre the 100, 200, 400, 3000, 10000, LJ, TJ, SP, DT, and the Heptathlon!!

I look forward to the Shockers!!
Those are the ones who break a Record given less than 50-50 odds!!
Do it, People!!

Onward to what this blog does best--provide complete and detailed results!!

See you soon!