I'll get to the title story in a flash.
But I want to stick to my standard format for "Big" meet coverage--and that is to follow the schedule as closely as possible--through all the Heats, Semi's, Finals, and Field Event Qualifying.
This report will begin with the events of July 4th, then segue past the July 5th off-day to July 6th's All Hammer All Day Show, and finish with my reports on the past 2 days, July 7th & 8th.
Due to length, it will be in 2 parts!
Without further ado, then!
Sam Kendricks is the best American male Pole Vaulter since the glory days of folks like Brad Walker, Jeff Hartwig, and Tim Mack.
He proved that yet again in the PV finals at the Olympic Trials in Eugene on America's 240th birthday!
Clearing every height between 17-8.50 and 19-0.25 on 1st tries, he then needed all 3 to reach 19-4.75.
This broke the Meet Record!!
But it missed his PR by one-quarter inch!
He then missed 3 times at 6 meters, or 19-8.25.
Far behind was surprising Cale Simmons, whose 18-6.50 topped 3rd man Logan Cunningham!
A true Changing of the Guard in a mostly dormant event until Big Sam came along!
Jake Blankenship finished in 7th with 18-4.50, same as Cunningham, but with more misses!
Joey Uhle No-Heighted!
The Women's Steeplechase heats started the track action this day.
Sticking to the storyboard, Bridget Franek, Leah O'Connor, and American Record holder Emma Coburn took the 3 sections.
Franek's 9:39.93 led Courtney Frerichs's 9:40.98, with Ashley Higginson and Nicole Bush also Q'ing.
Sarah Pease didn't Q in 5th, with Rachel Johnson well back in 10th.
O'Connor ran a quick 9:35.77 to best Stephanie Garcia's 9:35.95.
Running her first Steeple of 2016, and just her 2nd race after injury problems, Colleen Quigley ran a good 9:37.05 to shake off the dust.
Not making it was Brianna Nerud, who is having her best year since HS!
Jamie Cheever didn't have her best day, ending in 8th!
The ESPN Body Issue star of 2016, Ms Coburn, ran (with clothes ON!) 9:35.28, making it look like a modest tempo run.
Oiselle's Megan Rolland and Shalaya Kipp were next, with another "HauteVolee", Mel Lawrence, next!
Becky Wade, who just had published a memoir of her world travels as an athlete (available on Amazon!), didn't Q, nor did Megan Patrignelli, who recently PR'ed big time with a 9:43!
The new Collegiate and American Record holder in the Triple Jump, Keturah Orji, jumped once---46-6---then watched her peers take their shots in the Qualifying round.
Christina Epps held steady in the 46's with a 46-2.50, while unknown (to me!!) Imani Oliver reached 46 even!
However, after some diligent research, I discovered she's 23, and had a previous PR just over 45 feet!
Her mark suddenly makes her 17th A-T US
No "names" failed to move on!
The Men's Javelin final was actually pretty good!
Curtis Thompson, who started the year with a big PR of 265 & change--a Collegiate leader at the time!--continued his hot year with a first round throw of 271-11, a PR by just over 6 feet!!
He moves from 20th A-T US to 16th.
However, because it's not "in-season", he won't move to 6th A-T Collegiate!
In Round 5, Cy Hostetler reached 273-1, short of his 275-0 PR, but a Meet Record--and the win!
Riley Dolezel took 3rd with 261-4.
One little snag, however!
Thompson's big throw fell just a few centimeters shy of the OG qualifying standard, so unless the IAAF invites him to fill a space, he won't be going to Rio!!
(Word is he WILL be invited!!)
Sam's Crouser and Humphreys finished out of the money, as did Sean Furey.
The Men's 3000SC heats also went according to Hoyle, with all the "names" moving forward, and the times adding little to the excitement of the day.
Donn Cabral took Heat 1 with 8:26.96, with Andy Bayer and Stan Kebenai also breaking 8:30, while Dan Huling strode in with 8:30.34.
Evan Jager--bun in place--jogged 8:33.73 worth of space time, leading Mason Ferlic and Hillary Bor to the line.
Also Q'ing was Cory Leslie in 4th.
Times are rarely compelling in distance heats in Championship (or other important) meets, and the Men's 5000 heats kept the tradition alive.
New "rock star" in the Collegiate ranks, Will Kincaid, sprinted just enough to lead Ryan Hill and Ben True into Q-land in the 1st heat--times in the high 13:40's.
Shadrack Kipchirchir, Diego Estrada, and Sean McGorty also made it through.
Ancient Bernard Lagat used a 53.64 last 400 to finish off a 2nd heat win of 13:48.36.
Lopez Lomong and Eric Jenkins followed, with Galen Rupp yawning his way into 6th.
Non-Q's included Len Korir (8th), Thomas Curtin (10th), and Chris Derrick in 11th.
The latter was a late entrant!
BTW, Kincaid also finished fast, his final 400 almost the same as Lagat's--53.72.
Oh man!
Do I REALLY need to tell you about the Women's 800 final?
(Wait, while I get my "Happy Pills" ready and put 9-1-1 on speed dial!)
C-R-A-S-H!!!
Okay, enough pissing about!
It started with a steady 57.46 by---Who else??--Alysia Montano, flower-bedecked as always.
Ho hum, right?
But this is a "new" Montano, so instead of ripping through a speedy 600, then hanging on, she stepped aside and allowed Ajee Wilson to bring the pack through 600 in 1:27.98, followed closely by Brenda Martinez, with Montano a few ticks back, on the outside of lane one.
Right about mid-curve, moves started being made, positioning taking place for the final mad-dash sprint for Rio passports!
And then HELL broke loose!!
Martinez started her deadly sprint, with Montano following closely.
Then SOMEthing happened--either a heel being clipped (Wilson said she felt a clip!!), or someone losing their balance.
As Martinez stumbled just a bit, Montano was in full sprint stride, and she ran right into Martinez's temporarily slowed back, knocking Brenda into the 3rd lane, trying to prevent a fall, while Montano went tumbling to the track---SPLAT!!--and it was over!
Free from the mayhem, Kate Grace--having her best year since her 1:59.47 in 2013--sprinted past a slightly catatonic Wilson, and won the "race" in a new PR of 1:59.10-Oiselle's first win of the meet!
Wilson ran 1:59.51, holding off Chrishuna Williams's 1:59.59.
Molly Ludlow was one of those who felt the shockwaves from the crash site, and while she wasm't badly affected, she was--just enough to prevent an immediate attack on the front 3---until her final sprint fell just 0.04 short of being Rio-bound!
Fourth--again!!
Promising Raevyn Rogers finished 5th, while Phoebe Wright was 6th.
Martinez took 38.63 for her last 200, knowing she'd still have the 1500 to try again!
Then there was Alysia.
Do you remember seeing a 1964 concert movie called "The T.A.M.I. Show", starring James Brown, among many other huge stars of the day?
In the song "Please Please Please", Brown became famous for falling to his knees 4 or 5 times, pleading with his woman to come back to him, while his "aide" covered his weeping shoulders with a King's robe, trying to help him up and return him to the mic to finish his song.
But every time he tried to start, he'd fall again---then again--then once more--each time his aide helping him recover!!
And THAT was the very first image that came to my mind watching Montano doing basically the very same thing---except without an assistant bringing her a "Queen's robe"!!
The sold-out crowd ate it up---as did all the Message Boards and InstaGram lunatics!!
I cried.
A fucked up ending to what SHOULD have been a FANTASTIC 800 meter race!
Too bad the "race" ended at around 650 meters!
Know how "2nd acts" hate to follow the STARS?
Then consider how the MEN's 800 finalists felt as they lined up just seconds after Montano ended her crawl to the finish!
That said, their race produced a bit of drama too--but the "normal" kind---with an upset!!
Boris Berian--everyone's new Hero--found himself leading at 400 in 50.60.
Everyone figured he'd stay there.
But Clay Murphy had other ideas.
Kicking best down the straight, he passed Berian for the win, time of 1:44.56.
His PR misses my US DDD by 0.32 seconds!
Berian goes to Rio too, off his 1:44.92 in 2nd, while veteran Charles Jock made it too with a 1:45.48.
Erik Sowinski missed out in 5th, as did Brandon Johnson in 8th, and Caz Loxsom in 9th.
(There were 9 runners because of an overturned DQ from the semi's!)
As noted, July 5th was a rest day, while the 6th was devoted entirely to the pair of Hammer Throw comps--held for the first time on Hayward's infield, instead of another city, or on the other side of the fence!!
Thousands of fans came to watch, with many being seated on bleachers ON the track near the Hammer circle!!
A solid improvement by the production crew!
And the two events were crowd pleasers, both!!
Women's 3-round qualifying came first, with American Record holder Gwen Berry among those passing on to the final.
Twelve finalists continued to the last 3 rounds, with Deanna Price holding her own among the super vets, Amber Campbell and Berry.
Then, in round 5, Price, having a strong & steady 2016, threw a PR of 239-9 to extend her lead.
If "in-season", it would have been the Collegiate Record, as it's better than Jenny Dahlgren's 239-4 from 2007!
Alas, according to the "rules" led by T&FN, CR's can only be set at or before the NCAA Championships!!
That said, she WAS leading!
Until round 6, when Berry matched her 239-9, before being thrown into 2nd by Campbell's 242-10 PR!
It's the Age 35 record, as Campbell became the oldest woman over 240 feet!!
She also broke her own Meet Record!
She moves from 6th to 4th on the A-T US list!
She still misses the World list by 2 feet 5 inches!
Price was overjoyed, crying for minutes after, being told to "Stop crying, Girl!" by her new Rio-bound teammates!
Former AR holder Amanda Bingson finished the dreaded 4th!
Another record gone by the wayside due to "in-season" rules came in the Men's HT, when specs-wearing Rudy Winkler blasted the ball and chain out 251-10, a super PR, and one that WOULD be the Soph Class record---IF!!
He does move from 17th A-T US to 10th!!
Kibwe Johnson's 246-5 took 2nd, with Conor McCullough's 243-4 also sending him to Rio!
Winkler's winning throw came in round 4.
I'll have Part 2 up in a few hours!
Friday, July 8, 2016
Monday, July 4, 2016
First 4 Days--US Trials--Part 2
Sorry to make you wait.
But when you read this, you'll thank me, as it allows me to describe better the fantastic developments in the last parts of Day 3 and all of yesterday, day 4!
Not to mention that I came across some wild stuff from places other than Eugene, and other than the United States!!
But back to the US Track and Field Olympic Trials meet at "historic" Hayward Field!!
July 2nd (continued)
Brittney Reese's newfound consistency--meaning NOT fouling 4 or 5 times a meet!--led her to the longest Long Jump of her life---at least speaking of legal jumps!
With a 1.7 wind, Reese almost reached the elusive 24 foot mark, but nailed a great PR of 23-11.75, which set a new Meet Record!
Coming in the 4th round, she missed the Age 29 record by one-half inch!
While she remains 2nd A-T US, she moved from 13th A-T World to 9th, where she's tied with 2 others!
The busy busy Tianna Bartoletta rushed from the LJ runway to the track, where she had to deal with her heat of the 100.
After hitting a windy (2.3) 23-0.50 in the 1st round, she passed her 2nd & 3rd, ran the 100, then reached a legal 22-4.50, before passing the final 2 rounds, feeling assured she'd made the Rio team in that event!
Janay DeLoach passed a surprised (and no doubt saddened!) Sha'Keela Saunders in round 6, her 22-9 passing Saunders's 22-7.25.
Both were legal efforts, and Saunders's, her being a Kentucky Junior, would have been 5th A-T Collegiate, if it had happened in-season!!
But it does make her 18th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
Quanesha Burks was 9th, while Kate Hall was 10th, with Jasmine Todd reaching just 19-9.75 in 12th!
And speaking of those Women's 100 heats, here's what happened.
English Gardner--star of the great documentary "We Grew Wings", the story of the UO Women's teams from 1985 and 2011, the latter featuring Gardner--and one of Oregon's greatest--sprinted a 10.90 (1.8) to take the first heat by 0.23 over Tawanna Meadows.
Heat 2 saw the aforementioned Tianna Bartoletta easily take the win--her 11.03 (0.8) beating a current Duck, Deajah Stevens by 0.15.
Candace Hill made the semi's with her 11.23.
Jeneba Tarmoh was a non-Q!!
Morolake Akinosun took the 3rd heat in a just legal (2.0) 10.99.
If in-season, she would have tied for 8th A-T Collegiate!!
Ariana Washington was a fast 2nd in 11.01.
She too would have made the Collegiate list--tied for 10th--if it had happened at the NCAA's or earlier!
Even more significant, it would have made her the Frosh Class record holder!!
Alas!
The older HS Pro--Kaylin Whitney--ran 11.18 to also move on.
With a "useful" (as Tim Hutchings would say!) 3.6 wind blowing her down the track, Jenna Prandini--yet ANOTHER former Duck!!--timed 10.81 to win heat number 4.
JoAnne Atkins and Alex Anderson followed far back with 10.99 each.
In heat 5, it was "favored" Tori Bowie's turn, her legal (1.8) 10.91 whipping Barbara Pierre's 11.07.
Kim Duncan and Jasmine Todd also q'ed--on a time basis--but far back!
As expected, the Men's Javelin Q round didn't produce much, as Riley Dolezel led the pack with his throw of 251.7.
Only one other 250 footer emerged--Sean Furey's 250-2.
Tim Glover was left out of the final.
In the Decathlon HJ, Jeremy Taiwo's 7-3 tied the Dec HJ record!!, gaining him LOTS of points!
(More on this event later!)
The Men also ran fast in their 100 heats.
But Michael Rodgers had a distinct advantage, as he got the strongest breeze--a 3.8--to give him his 10.00.
Isiah Young was 2nd in 10.03.
Justin Gatlin matched Young's time in the 2nd heat, but his time was legal.
Kendell Williams--the male version!--was next in 10.07.
In 4th came Noah Lyles in a fast (for a HS'er!!) 10.16.
But, sadly, he wound up the puppy left at the pound, as he ended one spot removed from all the Q'ers ahead of him!!
No semi's!
Trentavis Friday was 5th.
Trayvon Bromell sped an injury-free 9.94 (1.2) to take heat 3.
Marvin Bracy eased into the semi in 2nd, running 10.08.
Jarrion Lawson--another who doubled in the LJ--took Lyles's spot by matching his 10.16, but less by just a bit of clock time!
Christian Coleman's 9.96, with a wind of 2.4, took heat 4.
He jut nipped Tyson Gay---maybe showed a bit of age??--who ran 9.97..
John Teeters took the last heat with his legal 10.00.
Clay Vaughn and Ronnie Baker followed.
While the 400 semi's were going on, the Men were Q'ing for the LJ final.
Jeff Henderson's windy 26-11.75 led the dozen, which included all the good ones, except Corey Crawford, who fouled out, and Terrell McClain, who was the unlucky 13th!
The first Women's 400 semi saw Fran McCorory and Allyson Felix in one of their classic duels, with Mac beating Allie, 50.28 to 50.31.
Taylor Ellis-Watson impressed in 3rd with her PR of 50.60!
Phyllis Francis--running on her home turf--finished 4th in 50.94, as Jaide Stepter was much further back--and out of it--with her 51.47.
The 2nd semi had Courtney Okolo seemingly breezing through her 50.37, a full 0.80 ahead of super vet Natasha Hastings's 51.17.
Ashley Spencer--who's going to come back in the 400H--ran 51.21 ahead of 49.91 girl Quanera Hayes's 51.28.
Shakima Wimbley ended in 5th, while DeeDee Trotter was only 8th--and last!!
Why did Tony McQuay speed through semi one in 44.24??
Sure, his 0.16 PR missed the World DDD by a mere 0.07.
And yes, his time made him 17th A-T US, tied with one other!
But how much did he leave in his reserve tank??
Whatever the future would bring, it left Gil Roberts's quick 44.67 in the dust!!
As it left Najee Glass's and Kyle Clemons's 44.79's, and Michael Cherry's 44.81.
BTW, I don't know the details, but there was some controversy here, as Cherry and Roberts supposedly tangled somewhere during the race, with Cherry first given a "9th lane" in the final, only to later have that decision reversed!!
Whatever the case with Cherry's removal, McQuay's time REMOVED a couple of 44.34's from my US DDD!!
Darnell Hall's was from 1995, while Fred Newhouse's dated from 1972.
Actually, the latter was initially a hand-timed 44.1, later given the 44.34!!
LaShawn Merritt took semi 2 in 45.05 over David Verburg's 45.19.
Jeremy Wariner was a DNF, but said he still wants to be chosen for the 4X400 Relay for Rio!
Good luck!!
The 100 semi's were HOT!!
Tori Bowie tore up the track--albeit with a 3.1 wind!--stopping the clock at 10.74!!
Still speedy in 2nd was Morolake Akinosun's 10.97.
Deajah Stevens ran 11.04, and HS Pro Candace Hill had a windy 11.07.
Jasmine Todd ended 7th in 11.30.
A 4.5 wind set Jenna Prandini sailing down the track in 10.86.
Ariana Washington followed in 10.97, with Tiffany Townsend making the final with 11.07.
Kaylin Whitney's 11.15 gave her 7th.
Semi 3 also had an aiding wind--2.5--with English Gardner nailing a 10.74--matching Bowie's time!
Tianna Bartoletta sped 10.79, while Barbara Pierre got a time Q with her 11.01.
The first 2 Men's semi's got lucky--legal winds!!
Justin Gatlin thus nailed the Age 34 record with his 9.83!!
He became the oldest man to run under 9.90!!
Christian Coleman missed the A-T US list by 0.01 with his 9.95.
Clay Vaughn was 3rd in 10.01.
In semi 2, Trayvon Bromell ran 9.86 with the aid of a max 2.0 legal breeze.
It's the Age 20 record!
(He's one week short of turning 21.)
He also owns the Age 18 & Age 19 records!!
Tyson Gay took 2nd in 10.01.
Michael Rodgers used a wind of 2.7 for his 9.98, which edged Marvin Bracy's 9.99!
Jarrion Lawson and Dentarius Locke ran 10.01's to make it through on time!
And then came the Women's HJ final!!
The 3-time mother, now aged 32--Chaunte Lowe--vs the 18 year old HS kid from Las Vegas, Vashti Cunningham!
Bring on the popcorn!!
And you know what?
There's a happy ending for both, as both succeeded in their quest for Olympic Games reservations!!
Both began jumping early---at 5-10.50--and both held perfectly clean records through the next several heights!
Cunningham needed all 3 attempts to clear 6-4.75, while Lowe remained clean through 6-5.50.
The youngster missed her 3 attempts at 6-6.25, while Lowe cleared on her 2nd try.
She also needed 2 at 6-7.
But she made it--becoming the World leader!!
She ties the Meet Record from 2012--held by the now-retired Brigetta Barrett and--herself!!
BTW, you MUST see Chaunte's post-jump celebratory contortions!!
Eerily remindful of the same dance routine practiced by another fabulous HJ'er--Blanka Vlasic--Lowe's routine brought laughter and loud cheers from the sold-out crowd!!
And me!!
For Cunningham, she breaks her own HS Pro record, as well as her own HS Pro Senior Class record!
She also moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 9th, tied with 4 others!!
If a Collegian, she'd be tied for 4th A-T!!
Inika McPherson ended a brilliant comeback (from her 2 year ban for cocaine!) with her 3rd place 6-4.
She also goes to the Olympics!!
Amina Smith jumped a good 6-3.25.
The amazing Allyson Felix amazed again!!
Starting slower than normal, she let a few get ahead of her down the backstraight and around the 2nd curve.
In 5th or 6th coming off the turn, she suddenly revved her jet engines, speeding past first one, then another, and still another, before clearing the whole field with 40 meters to go, winning by 0.26 with her astounding 49.68-astounding by virtue of how she finished!!
And she was herself shocked!!
Smiling wide-eyed, she laid down on the track, lost in trying to figure how she did it!!
Everybody loves her--and for good reason.
A magnificent Ambassador of the sport--as well as one of the greatest all-around sprinters of All-Time!!
And 2nd placer Phyllis Francis wasn't standing still.
Breaking 50 for the first time, her 49.94 makes her 19th A-T US!!
Natasha Hastings proved that veterans know how to make teams, as her 50.17 sends her to Rio.
Taylor Ellis-Watson PR'ed again--all the way to 50.25--but it fell short for her Olympic dreams.
This time!
It also falls just 0.14 short of making my US DDD list!!
Fran McCorory faded to 50.37, edging the vaunted Courtney Okolo's 50.39 in 5th and 6th.
Ashley Spencer and Quenera Hayes were far back.
Taken OFF my US list was Natasha Kaiser's 50.17 from 1992.
For the Men, it was all LaShawn Merritt.
He just took the reins, rode the stallion, and finished in 43.97, a full 0.76 ahead of Gil Roberts.
David Verburg's 44.82 took 3rd., while Arman Hall was the dreaded 4th in 45.01.
And Mr McQuay?
Probably wiped out from his 44.24, he ran 45.30 in 5th, while the Berry Man--Michael--took last in 45.90.
Remember me (and many others!!) saying the US Men's L:J was in the doldrums??
(Maybe even the whole world!!)
Well--despite most of the best jumps being heavily wind-aided--the US men EXPLODED into a world unseen since the past century in this event!!
With 7th placer Marquise Goodwin's best jump measuring 27-0.75, how long has it been since SEVEN Americans reached at least 27 feet in the same meet--windy or not??
Jeff Henderson's 3rd round leap of 28-2.25 was windy, but just enough to hold off the legal 4th round jump of Jarrion Lawson, whose 28-1.75 became the best legal jump of the day!
If still in season, it would make him 2nd A-T Collegiate!!
But it does make him 8th A-T US, and 13th A-T World!!
Will Claye's jumps--ALL of them!!--were windy, thus his 27-7.50 does NOT send him to Rio!!
He doesn't have the necessary LEGAL OG qualifier!!
Thus, if he's not injured, Marquis Dendy'will go instead, as he finished in 4th with a legal 27-7.50!
Yes, the nefarious Hayward winds strike again!!
Dendy's mark is the best 4th Place mark!!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 22nd.
Mike Hartfield also had no legal jumps, but he still jumped 27-6.50 in 5th!!
KeAndre Bates had a windy 27-3.75 in 6th, with a 26-3 legal best.
And, as noted, Mr Goodwin was 7th with his windy 27-0.75, with zero legals as well!!
The Decathlon 1500 ended 2 days of spirited competition---for the 2nd & 3rd place spots.
Mr Ashton Eaton has a standing reservation for top of the podium!!
And Eaton, with his score of 8750 points---despite a problematic hamstring--prevailed throughout!
Healthy, he easily could have added a couple of hundred (or more!!) points!!
But it was the battle for the next 2 spots that added to the crowd's devotion to their hometown boy!
Zach Ziemek was having his best Dec ever, on his way to a score that--in season--would have been threatening the Collegiate Record of Trey Hardee!
(Sadly, Hardee once again succumbed to injury, ending his quest after 4 events--although he jogged the 400 in 72+ seconds--for 90 points!!)
In the end, however, helped a lot by Taiwo's earlier reported 7-3 HJ, Ziemek's slower 1500 was too far behind Taiwo's, leaving him 12 points shy of Taiwo's PR of 8425.
For Taiwo, he moves from 19th A-T US to 11th.
ZZ's 8413 moves him from 21st to 12th on the same list!
Garrett Scantling missed his PR by just 4 points, his good 8232 taking 4th!
Devon Williams scored 7927 in 5th.
Curtis Beach, despite winning the 1500, scored just 7728 in 9th!
Harrison Williams was having a good meet---until he No-Heighted the PV!--and ended in 15th.
The 4th day ended with the Classical 100's!
And CLASSIC they were!!
The Women's final went first!
And first among the women was---English Gardner!!
She blazed down her lane to a PR of 10.74 seconds!!
Then, astounded with her time and her win---and the fact she's now going to the Olympic Games--she knelt on her home track, crying the words "Thank You, Jesus!" over and over and over again---maybe 15 or 20 times!!!--before finally rising to enormous adulation and cheers from her adoring fans!!
She moves from 15th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 7th, tied with 1 other!!
She also moves from 7th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
Tianna Bartoletta took 2nd, her 10.78 JUST nipping (by 0.003!!) Tori Bowie's 10.78!!
For Bartoletta, she is now 13th A-T World, tied with 2 others.
She moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 6th, also tied with 2 others.
She also ties Merlene Ottey's Age 30 record, dating from 1990!!
Bowie moves from 20th A-T World to 15th, where she's tied with 4 others!
She also moves from 10th A-T US to 6th, tied with 2 others!
It's also the best 3rd Place mark!!
Morolake Akinosun was 4th in 10.95, edging Jenna Prandini's 10.96 in 5th.
Ariana Washington was 6th in 11.01, while Barbara Pierre and Tiffany Townsend brought up the rear!
The Men's 100 final saw ONE of the "G-Men" fail to make the Rio team!
Tyson Gay's 10.03 took 5th!!
The other G-Man--Justin Gatlin--won the race, hi 9.80 breaking his own Age 34 record that he ran in the semi.
Trayvon Bromell also broke an Age record---his own Age 20 mark from his semi race!!
It ties his PR, so he remains 4th A-T US, as well as remaining 10th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Marvin Bracy shocked (or maybe didn't!!) by taking 3rd, running 9.98.
Michael Rodgers took 4th in 10.00.
Christian Coleman's 10.06 took 6th over the 7th of Jarrion Lawson's 10.07.
BTW, like Bartoletta, he had to interrupt his LJ'ing to run this race!!
Dentarius Locke was far behind in 8th!!
I know this is a HUGE post, but I have a very few good marks---from outside of Eugene!!---I need to report!
Alana Boyd PV'ed 15-9.25 to break her own National Record of Australia!!
It also gives her the Age 32 record!
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 14th.
Morgann LeLeux finally reached 15 feet, her 15-1 making her 15th A-T US, tied with "just" 7 others!!
Fabiana Murer PV'ed a PR---at Age 35, breaking her own Age 35 record!!-with a jump of 15-11.75, missing that rare 16 foot society by just one quarter inch!!
It also breaks her own National Record of Brazil, a well as the South American record!!
She moves from 6th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 5th!
And HUGE news from the Jamaican Trials!!
Elaine Thompson streaked down the track in 10.70 seconds, getting the Age 24 record!
She ties the National Record, held by Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce!!
She's now 4th A-T World, tied with SAFP!!
Speaking of whom--Ms Fraser-Pryce finished a well-back 2nd in 10.93!!
Christiana Williams was 3rd inn 10.97.
And Veronica Campbell-Brown was 4th!!
Thompson's semi was run in 10.85, against a breeze of 0.2!!
And finally, you want to know about Usain--as in Bolt??
Sure you do!
He ran his semi in 10.04.
Then he withdrew from the final--and the rest of the meet--seeking medical help for an injury--and requesting a pass for Rio!
He was told he'd have to prove his fitness in the London meet on July 22nd---or be EXCLUDED from the Jamaican team!!!!
More on this in later posts!!!
Speaking of which, I'm planning my next US Trials results post at the end of action on July 8th!!
As noted, the 5th is an off day, and the 6th has just the Hammer Throws---Qualifying and Finals!!
See you then!!
But when you read this, you'll thank me, as it allows me to describe better the fantastic developments in the last parts of Day 3 and all of yesterday, day 4!
Not to mention that I came across some wild stuff from places other than Eugene, and other than the United States!!
But back to the US Track and Field Olympic Trials meet at "historic" Hayward Field!!
July 2nd (continued)
Brittney Reese's newfound consistency--meaning NOT fouling 4 or 5 times a meet!--led her to the longest Long Jump of her life---at least speaking of legal jumps!
With a 1.7 wind, Reese almost reached the elusive 24 foot mark, but nailed a great PR of 23-11.75, which set a new Meet Record!
Coming in the 4th round, she missed the Age 29 record by one-half inch!
While she remains 2nd A-T US, she moved from 13th A-T World to 9th, where she's tied with 2 others!
The busy busy Tianna Bartoletta rushed from the LJ runway to the track, where she had to deal with her heat of the 100.
After hitting a windy (2.3) 23-0.50 in the 1st round, she passed her 2nd & 3rd, ran the 100, then reached a legal 22-4.50, before passing the final 2 rounds, feeling assured she'd made the Rio team in that event!
Janay DeLoach passed a surprised (and no doubt saddened!) Sha'Keela Saunders in round 6, her 22-9 passing Saunders's 22-7.25.
Both were legal efforts, and Saunders's, her being a Kentucky Junior, would have been 5th A-T Collegiate, if it had happened in-season!!
But it does make her 18th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
Quanesha Burks was 9th, while Kate Hall was 10th, with Jasmine Todd reaching just 19-9.75 in 12th!
And speaking of those Women's 100 heats, here's what happened.
English Gardner--star of the great documentary "We Grew Wings", the story of the UO Women's teams from 1985 and 2011, the latter featuring Gardner--and one of Oregon's greatest--sprinted a 10.90 (1.8) to take the first heat by 0.23 over Tawanna Meadows.
Heat 2 saw the aforementioned Tianna Bartoletta easily take the win--her 11.03 (0.8) beating a current Duck, Deajah Stevens by 0.15.
Candace Hill made the semi's with her 11.23.
Jeneba Tarmoh was a non-Q!!
Morolake Akinosun took the 3rd heat in a just legal (2.0) 10.99.
If in-season, she would have tied for 8th A-T Collegiate!!
Ariana Washington was a fast 2nd in 11.01.
She too would have made the Collegiate list--tied for 10th--if it had happened at the NCAA's or earlier!
Even more significant, it would have made her the Frosh Class record holder!!
Alas!
The older HS Pro--Kaylin Whitney--ran 11.18 to also move on.
With a "useful" (as Tim Hutchings would say!) 3.6 wind blowing her down the track, Jenna Prandini--yet ANOTHER former Duck!!--timed 10.81 to win heat number 4.
JoAnne Atkins and Alex Anderson followed far back with 10.99 each.
In heat 5, it was "favored" Tori Bowie's turn, her legal (1.8) 10.91 whipping Barbara Pierre's 11.07.
Kim Duncan and Jasmine Todd also q'ed--on a time basis--but far back!
As expected, the Men's Javelin Q round didn't produce much, as Riley Dolezel led the pack with his throw of 251.7.
Only one other 250 footer emerged--Sean Furey's 250-2.
Tim Glover was left out of the final.
In the Decathlon HJ, Jeremy Taiwo's 7-3 tied the Dec HJ record!!, gaining him LOTS of points!
(More on this event later!)
The Men also ran fast in their 100 heats.
But Michael Rodgers had a distinct advantage, as he got the strongest breeze--a 3.8--to give him his 10.00.
Isiah Young was 2nd in 10.03.
Justin Gatlin matched Young's time in the 2nd heat, but his time was legal.
Kendell Williams--the male version!--was next in 10.07.
In 4th came Noah Lyles in a fast (for a HS'er!!) 10.16.
But, sadly, he wound up the puppy left at the pound, as he ended one spot removed from all the Q'ers ahead of him!!
No semi's!
Trentavis Friday was 5th.
Trayvon Bromell sped an injury-free 9.94 (1.2) to take heat 3.
Marvin Bracy eased into the semi in 2nd, running 10.08.
Jarrion Lawson--another who doubled in the LJ--took Lyles's spot by matching his 10.16, but less by just a bit of clock time!
Christian Coleman's 9.96, with a wind of 2.4, took heat 4.
He jut nipped Tyson Gay---maybe showed a bit of age??--who ran 9.97..
John Teeters took the last heat with his legal 10.00.
Clay Vaughn and Ronnie Baker followed.
While the 400 semi's were going on, the Men were Q'ing for the LJ final.
Jeff Henderson's windy 26-11.75 led the dozen, which included all the good ones, except Corey Crawford, who fouled out, and Terrell McClain, who was the unlucky 13th!
The first Women's 400 semi saw Fran McCorory and Allyson Felix in one of their classic duels, with Mac beating Allie, 50.28 to 50.31.
Taylor Ellis-Watson impressed in 3rd with her PR of 50.60!
Phyllis Francis--running on her home turf--finished 4th in 50.94, as Jaide Stepter was much further back--and out of it--with her 51.47.
The 2nd semi had Courtney Okolo seemingly breezing through her 50.37, a full 0.80 ahead of super vet Natasha Hastings's 51.17.
Ashley Spencer--who's going to come back in the 400H--ran 51.21 ahead of 49.91 girl Quanera Hayes's 51.28.
Shakima Wimbley ended in 5th, while DeeDee Trotter was only 8th--and last!!
Why did Tony McQuay speed through semi one in 44.24??
Sure, his 0.16 PR missed the World DDD by a mere 0.07.
And yes, his time made him 17th A-T US, tied with one other!
But how much did he leave in his reserve tank??
Whatever the future would bring, it left Gil Roberts's quick 44.67 in the dust!!
As it left Najee Glass's and Kyle Clemons's 44.79's, and Michael Cherry's 44.81.
BTW, I don't know the details, but there was some controversy here, as Cherry and Roberts supposedly tangled somewhere during the race, with Cherry first given a "9th lane" in the final, only to later have that decision reversed!!
Whatever the case with Cherry's removal, McQuay's time REMOVED a couple of 44.34's from my US DDD!!
Darnell Hall's was from 1995, while Fred Newhouse's dated from 1972.
Actually, the latter was initially a hand-timed 44.1, later given the 44.34!!
LaShawn Merritt took semi 2 in 45.05 over David Verburg's 45.19.
Jeremy Wariner was a DNF, but said he still wants to be chosen for the 4X400 Relay for Rio!
Good luck!!
The 100 semi's were HOT!!
Tori Bowie tore up the track--albeit with a 3.1 wind!--stopping the clock at 10.74!!
Still speedy in 2nd was Morolake Akinosun's 10.97.
Deajah Stevens ran 11.04, and HS Pro Candace Hill had a windy 11.07.
Jasmine Todd ended 7th in 11.30.
A 4.5 wind set Jenna Prandini sailing down the track in 10.86.
Ariana Washington followed in 10.97, with Tiffany Townsend making the final with 11.07.
Kaylin Whitney's 11.15 gave her 7th.
Semi 3 also had an aiding wind--2.5--with English Gardner nailing a 10.74--matching Bowie's time!
Tianna Bartoletta sped 10.79, while Barbara Pierre got a time Q with her 11.01.
The first 2 Men's semi's got lucky--legal winds!!
Justin Gatlin thus nailed the Age 34 record with his 9.83!!
He became the oldest man to run under 9.90!!
Christian Coleman missed the A-T US list by 0.01 with his 9.95.
Clay Vaughn was 3rd in 10.01.
In semi 2, Trayvon Bromell ran 9.86 with the aid of a max 2.0 legal breeze.
It's the Age 20 record!
(He's one week short of turning 21.)
He also owns the Age 18 & Age 19 records!!
Tyson Gay took 2nd in 10.01.
Michael Rodgers used a wind of 2.7 for his 9.98, which edged Marvin Bracy's 9.99!
Jarrion Lawson and Dentarius Locke ran 10.01's to make it through on time!
And then came the Women's HJ final!!
The 3-time mother, now aged 32--Chaunte Lowe--vs the 18 year old HS kid from Las Vegas, Vashti Cunningham!
Bring on the popcorn!!
And you know what?
There's a happy ending for both, as both succeeded in their quest for Olympic Games reservations!!
Both began jumping early---at 5-10.50--and both held perfectly clean records through the next several heights!
Cunningham needed all 3 attempts to clear 6-4.75, while Lowe remained clean through 6-5.50.
The youngster missed her 3 attempts at 6-6.25, while Lowe cleared on her 2nd try.
She also needed 2 at 6-7.
But she made it--becoming the World leader!!
She ties the Meet Record from 2012--held by the now-retired Brigetta Barrett and--herself!!
BTW, you MUST see Chaunte's post-jump celebratory contortions!!
Eerily remindful of the same dance routine practiced by another fabulous HJ'er--Blanka Vlasic--Lowe's routine brought laughter and loud cheers from the sold-out crowd!!
And me!!
For Cunningham, she breaks her own HS Pro record, as well as her own HS Pro Senior Class record!
She also moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 9th, tied with 4 others!!
If a Collegian, she'd be tied for 4th A-T!!
Inika McPherson ended a brilliant comeback (from her 2 year ban for cocaine!) with her 3rd place 6-4.
She also goes to the Olympics!!
Amina Smith jumped a good 6-3.25.
The amazing Allyson Felix amazed again!!
Starting slower than normal, she let a few get ahead of her down the backstraight and around the 2nd curve.
In 5th or 6th coming off the turn, she suddenly revved her jet engines, speeding past first one, then another, and still another, before clearing the whole field with 40 meters to go, winning by 0.26 with her astounding 49.68-astounding by virtue of how she finished!!
And she was herself shocked!!
Smiling wide-eyed, she laid down on the track, lost in trying to figure how she did it!!
Everybody loves her--and for good reason.
A magnificent Ambassador of the sport--as well as one of the greatest all-around sprinters of All-Time!!
And 2nd placer Phyllis Francis wasn't standing still.
Breaking 50 for the first time, her 49.94 makes her 19th A-T US!!
Natasha Hastings proved that veterans know how to make teams, as her 50.17 sends her to Rio.
Taylor Ellis-Watson PR'ed again--all the way to 50.25--but it fell short for her Olympic dreams.
This time!
It also falls just 0.14 short of making my US DDD list!!
Fran McCorory faded to 50.37, edging the vaunted Courtney Okolo's 50.39 in 5th and 6th.
Ashley Spencer and Quenera Hayes were far back.
Taken OFF my US list was Natasha Kaiser's 50.17 from 1992.
For the Men, it was all LaShawn Merritt.
He just took the reins, rode the stallion, and finished in 43.97, a full 0.76 ahead of Gil Roberts.
David Verburg's 44.82 took 3rd., while Arman Hall was the dreaded 4th in 45.01.
And Mr McQuay?
Probably wiped out from his 44.24, he ran 45.30 in 5th, while the Berry Man--Michael--took last in 45.90.
Remember me (and many others!!) saying the US Men's L:J was in the doldrums??
(Maybe even the whole world!!)
Well--despite most of the best jumps being heavily wind-aided--the US men EXPLODED into a world unseen since the past century in this event!!
With 7th placer Marquise Goodwin's best jump measuring 27-0.75, how long has it been since SEVEN Americans reached at least 27 feet in the same meet--windy or not??
Jeff Henderson's 3rd round leap of 28-2.25 was windy, but just enough to hold off the legal 4th round jump of Jarrion Lawson, whose 28-1.75 became the best legal jump of the day!
If still in season, it would make him 2nd A-T Collegiate!!
But it does make him 8th A-T US, and 13th A-T World!!
Will Claye's jumps--ALL of them!!--were windy, thus his 27-7.50 does NOT send him to Rio!!
He doesn't have the necessary LEGAL OG qualifier!!
Thus, if he's not injured, Marquis Dendy'will go instead, as he finished in 4th with a legal 27-7.50!
Yes, the nefarious Hayward winds strike again!!
Dendy's mark is the best 4th Place mark!!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 22nd.
Mike Hartfield also had no legal jumps, but he still jumped 27-6.50 in 5th!!
KeAndre Bates had a windy 27-3.75 in 6th, with a 26-3 legal best.
And, as noted, Mr Goodwin was 7th with his windy 27-0.75, with zero legals as well!!
The Decathlon 1500 ended 2 days of spirited competition---for the 2nd & 3rd place spots.
Mr Ashton Eaton has a standing reservation for top of the podium!!
And Eaton, with his score of 8750 points---despite a problematic hamstring--prevailed throughout!
Healthy, he easily could have added a couple of hundred (or more!!) points!!
But it was the battle for the next 2 spots that added to the crowd's devotion to their hometown boy!
Zach Ziemek was having his best Dec ever, on his way to a score that--in season--would have been threatening the Collegiate Record of Trey Hardee!
(Sadly, Hardee once again succumbed to injury, ending his quest after 4 events--although he jogged the 400 in 72+ seconds--for 90 points!!)
In the end, however, helped a lot by Taiwo's earlier reported 7-3 HJ, Ziemek's slower 1500 was too far behind Taiwo's, leaving him 12 points shy of Taiwo's PR of 8425.
For Taiwo, he moves from 19th A-T US to 11th.
ZZ's 8413 moves him from 21st to 12th on the same list!
Garrett Scantling missed his PR by just 4 points, his good 8232 taking 4th!
Devon Williams scored 7927 in 5th.
Curtis Beach, despite winning the 1500, scored just 7728 in 9th!
Harrison Williams was having a good meet---until he No-Heighted the PV!--and ended in 15th.
The 4th day ended with the Classical 100's!
And CLASSIC they were!!
The Women's final went first!
And first among the women was---English Gardner!!
She blazed down her lane to a PR of 10.74 seconds!!
Then, astounded with her time and her win---and the fact she's now going to the Olympic Games--she knelt on her home track, crying the words "Thank You, Jesus!" over and over and over again---maybe 15 or 20 times!!!--before finally rising to enormous adulation and cheers from her adoring fans!!
She moves from 15th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 7th, tied with 1 other!!
She also moves from 7th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
Tianna Bartoletta took 2nd, her 10.78 JUST nipping (by 0.003!!) Tori Bowie's 10.78!!
For Bartoletta, she is now 13th A-T World, tied with 2 others.
She moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 6th, also tied with 2 others.
She also ties Merlene Ottey's Age 30 record, dating from 1990!!
Bowie moves from 20th A-T World to 15th, where she's tied with 4 others!
She also moves from 10th A-T US to 6th, tied with 2 others!
It's also the best 3rd Place mark!!
Morolake Akinosun was 4th in 10.95, edging Jenna Prandini's 10.96 in 5th.
Ariana Washington was 6th in 11.01, while Barbara Pierre and Tiffany Townsend brought up the rear!
The Men's 100 final saw ONE of the "G-Men" fail to make the Rio team!
Tyson Gay's 10.03 took 5th!!
The other G-Man--Justin Gatlin--won the race, hi 9.80 breaking his own Age 34 record that he ran in the semi.
Trayvon Bromell also broke an Age record---his own Age 20 mark from his semi race!!
It ties his PR, so he remains 4th A-T US, as well as remaining 10th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Marvin Bracy shocked (or maybe didn't!!) by taking 3rd, running 9.98.
Michael Rodgers took 4th in 10.00.
Christian Coleman's 10.06 took 6th over the 7th of Jarrion Lawson's 10.07.
BTW, like Bartoletta, he had to interrupt his LJ'ing to run this race!!
Dentarius Locke was far behind in 8th!!
I know this is a HUGE post, but I have a very few good marks---from outside of Eugene!!---I need to report!
Alana Boyd PV'ed 15-9.25 to break her own National Record of Australia!!
It also gives her the Age 32 record!
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 14th.
Morgann LeLeux finally reached 15 feet, her 15-1 making her 15th A-T US, tied with "just" 7 others!!
Fabiana Murer PV'ed a PR---at Age 35, breaking her own Age 35 record!!-with a jump of 15-11.75, missing that rare 16 foot society by just one quarter inch!!
It also breaks her own National Record of Brazil, a well as the South American record!!
She moves from 6th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 5th!
And HUGE news from the Jamaican Trials!!
Elaine Thompson streaked down the track in 10.70 seconds, getting the Age 24 record!
She ties the National Record, held by Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce!!
She's now 4th A-T World, tied with SAFP!!
Speaking of whom--Ms Fraser-Pryce finished a well-back 2nd in 10.93!!
Christiana Williams was 3rd inn 10.97.
And Veronica Campbell-Brown was 4th!!
Thompson's semi was run in 10.85, against a breeze of 0.2!!
And finally, you want to know about Usain--as in Bolt??
Sure you do!
He ran his semi in 10.04.
Then he withdrew from the final--and the rest of the meet--seeking medical help for an injury--and requesting a pass for Rio!
He was told he'd have to prove his fitness in the London meet on July 22nd---or be EXCLUDED from the Jamaican team!!!!
More on this in later posts!!!
Speaking of which, I'm planning my next US Trials results post at the end of action on July 8th!!
As noted, the 5th is an off day, and the 6th has just the Hammer Throws---Qualifying and Finals!!
See you then!!
First 4 Days--US Trials--Part 1
Differences between last year's WC coverage and these US Trials.
1. Every Record and Mark is centered on one nation. While some may make my World lists, most of what happens affects US lists and Records only!
2. This meet is spread over 11 days. Two of those days (June 30th & July 6th) had, or will have, just two events--the Men's and Women's Walks on June 30th, and the Hammer Throws on the 6th! Plus, there's a complete day off--the 5th! The rest of the days are smaller, more compact.
I'm dividing this report into two parts, due to length, but also because of what developed on the 4th day!
Just too much for one post!
But I'll follow the same format I did with the WC's in Beijing.
I'll follow the schedule, instead of headlining this post with the "best" event, or best Records or Marks!
That gives the reader a better feel of "being there", watching events unfold as they happen!
Enough!
The following is my report of ALL the happenings---Heats, Semis, Finals, and Field Event Qualifying rounds!--in as close a resemblance to the actual schedule as is possible.
This covers most of the first 3 days--June 30th through July 2nd.
I'll finish this report in a separate post!!
This includes both Men's and Women's events!!
June 30th
No one in this meet was more expected to win than Maria Michta-Coffey.
She never gets DQ'ed (as far as I know!), so barring catastrophe, you just watch this super talent do her thing, and stand by in awe!
Hitting the first half (10K) in 46:05, she had a slight lead over Miranda Melville, and was on pace to break the Meet Record of 1:32:39.
But the heat, and Melville falling off the pace--leaving M-C to stride forth alone--caused her to slow to 47:35 for the 2nd half, for her winning time of 1:33:40, and her umpteenth National Championship!
Melville finished strong, time of 1:34:11, dipping under the OG Q.
They go to Rio!
Third placer Katie Burnett doesn't.
John Nunn is another fairly dependable Walker.
With Trevor Barron still on his return trip from semi-retirement, he couldn't stay with Nunn, but took 2nd, just ahead of Nick Christie.
Nunn's time of 1:25:36 doesn't qualify him for Rio, but he DOES have the Q time in the 50K!
July 1st
Ryan Crouser led the Men's SP qualifying with a throw of 68-9, with favored Joe Kovacs 2nd with 68-1.
Reese Hoffa wa 5th, while surprising Bobby Grace was the last of the 12 finalists with 65-4.75.
The real shocker was Kurt Roberts, who finished just 1.25 inches back of Grace---in a non-Q 13th!!
Cory Martin also failed to qualify!
The Men's 800 heats blew everyone away---including a trio who many thought (or hoped!) would not only make the final, but get on the podium, and be headed toward Olympic glory!!
Nick Symmonds, fighting injury, withdrew a day or two before!
He took with him most (all?) of the energy behind his planned protest against the ban on advertising one's sponsors on one's body or uniform!
Then, in the very first heat, veteran Duane Solomon made a rookie mistake.
You do NOT run the first heat slow!!
That just allows subsequent heat runners to KNOW what they need to run to pass you by in the queue of Q's!
Stupid stupid mistake!!
And that's why Solomon won't be going to Rio!
As for Collegiate Record holder Donavan Brazier, he made another rookie error!
He let up too soon, failing to time his kick perfectly.
He's also out!
Boris Borian ran the fastest heat time--a 1:46.03, while Erik Sowinski did 1:46.12.
The Women's 800 heats also saw some "sure finalists" fail to make it.
HS Junior Sammy Watson had a good excuse--she's a HS Junior (however talented!).
Vets Geena Gall and Maggie Vessey (more modestly attired than usual!) just didn't have it this day.
But what happened to Laura Roesler?
With her speed, if positioned just right, she should've had no problem making it to the semi's!
All the others made it through with ease.
Maybe the biggest surprise was Anima Banks, whose 2:02.39 was a PR!
Seems the main "news" from the early rounds or Q'ing came with who did NOT advance!
Same happened in the Men's 400 heats.
Vernon Norwood was out.
As was Fred Kerley.
Then HS'er Michael Norman failed to run up to his potential.
(In the heats and semis, you don't leave anything behind---or YOU get left behind!!)
David Verburg's 45.31 was the fastest time!
(Remembering the Beijing WC Men's heats, with those sub-44's!!)
SRR--the truly legendary Sanya Richards-Ross--has retired from Track!
Stopping about 100 meters into her 400 heat, she walked off, while the others finished their tour.
With courage and humbleness, she thanked everyone, then moved on to a new life, sure to be as glorious as her many years in the sport she loves!
Thank you, Sanya!
Courtney Okolo and Fran McCorory dipped under 51 to lead the rest to the semi's.
Allyson Felix, another whose injuries had some in doubt, ran 51.96 to ease through!
Only soon-to-be 41 Amy Acuff--among the "names"-- failed to make the final dozen in the Women's HJ qualifying!
Chaunte Lowe and Vashti Cunningham breezed through!
Brittney Reese used a wind of 2.7 to hit 23 feet on the head, leading the Dandy Dozen of the Women's LJ'ers to the final.
Twelfth was beleaguered Jasmine Todd!
HSR holder Kate Hall was 8th.
No serious fails.
The Women's DT qualifying was pretty straight-forward, with Whitney Ashley's 200-8 leading a couple of 199's (Stephanie Brown-Trafton and Kelsey Card) into the final.
Young risers Hannah Carson and Elena Bruckner didn't make the cut, nor did Anna Jelmini.
Maggie Ewen was the caboose.
Ryan Crouser whipped a fantastic PR throw of 72-6.50 in the Men's SP final to beat the favored Joe Kovacs, whose last round 72-0.25 salvaged his day!
Crouser missed the Meet Record by one-half inch!!
But he becomes 18th A-T World!!
And he moves from 15th A-T US to 11th!
He got the biggie in the 2nd round!
Another (smaller) shock was that Darrell Hill took the 3rd spot, while hitting a big PR of 70-11.75, also in round 2.
This makes him 24th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Ryan Whiting was 4th, with 68-6.50, while 38 year old Reese Hoffa hit 67-7.50.
Adam Nelson performed admirably,reaching 66-2.25 in his return from retirement.
He was 6 days shy of turning 41!
The Men's 10000 final went as planned for Galen Rupp--He won!
The way he used training surges spent everyone's energy but his own!
Strolling the first 5000 in 14:20, he had a large pack following.
But one by one, they fell away.
Ben True, Sam Chelanga, even late entry Chris Derrick.
Bernard Lagat DNF'ed after 7200, while Eric Jenkins waited another 2 laps.
Rupp cruised his 2nd half in 13:35, with a 60.73 last lap.
US Army buddies (via Kenya) Shadrack Kipchirchir and Len Korir finished 2nd and 3rd, with only Kipchirchir giving Rupp any kind of tussle.
He finished over 6 seconds back, with Korir another 15 seconds behind.
July 2nd
The Men's PV qualifying dropped HSR holder Chris Nilsen, as well as Mike Arnold, Audie Wyatt, Devin King, and Brad Walker!
All the rest of the possible contenders made it.
They held a couple of HS Miles, as part of the Nike Elite Camp!
Kate Murphy--who will race the 1500 soon!--played rabbit through 800, then left it to Annie Hill to win it in 4:44.16 from Julia Heymach's 4:45.14.
In the Boys race, Reed Brown's 4:04.73 edged Sam Worley's 4:04.86, and Casey Clinger's 4:05.96.
The next 5 also finished at sub-4:09!
Whitney Ashley dominated the Women's DT final, getting the only 3 throws over 200 feet!
She won it with her 204-2 over Shelbi Vaughan's 197-9, and Kelsey Card's 197-3.
Liz Podomenick will miss Rio because of 2 inches of tape measure, as her 197-1 fell sorrowfully short!
Super vet Stephanie Brown-Trafton was next with 195-8, while Valerie Allman reached 193-8.
The Women's 10000 had a bit more drama than the Men's.
Not so much with who won, or even who took the other Rio spots.
It went pretty much to script.
But the ACTOR'S (or actresses, in this case!!) names---and short histories---were the real story.
Go back to Beijing, 2015, the 10K final.
Molly Huddle's early celebration for getting the Bronze, only to see the fierce sprint by Emily Infeld steal it from her at the line!
Huddle vs Infeld redux, 2016.
Molly takes the lead--to steer clear of trouble--with a pack of 15 following, with Infeld tucked into the rail.
At around 3500 into the race, Kim Conley suddenly stops, bends to fix her shoe, losing a lot of yardage, forced to play catch-up.
Pulling back to within 3 seconds at 5000 (16:11 to Molly & Co's 16:08), she finally decided to save it for the 5000, DNF'ing at 8K, as she'd fallen too far off the pace to make the Rio squad.
It soon became a threesome, with Infeld and Marielle Hall tagging along as Huddle cruised through the laps.
Leading all the way, she finally put pedal to metal, delivering the lethal blow in a final lap of 68.37 (to Infeld's 72.41), during a 2nd 5000 of 15:33.
But bygones were bygones, as the happy pair hugged and smiled widely, showing a friendship only track and field people understand!
All, including Hall, were thrilled to make the team, although Huddle said later it would take an American Record of around 30:20 to have a chance to medal in Rio!
Stephanie Bruce, returning from the births of TWO children (separately, NOT twins!!), was never in it, finishing 20th.
Kellyn Taylor finished 17 seconds behind Hall's 31:54.77.
Huddle ran 31:41.52, while Infeld did 31:46.09.
Jordan Hasay finished 9th, and hinted she will turn to the marathon soon!
Things heated up in the 800 semi's!
The Women's two races saw the first sub-2's of the meet.
But the first section was won by Ajee Wilson in 2:00.81, while Kate Grace kicked hard to take 2nd in 2:00.94.
Chrishuna Williams also was an automatic Q, running 2:01.87, beating Chanelle Price's 2:01.94.
In the second section, Brenda Martinez split 58.90 and 60.74, edging the determined (to not finish 4th again!!) Molly Ludlow, 1:59.64 to 1:59.81.
Alysia Montano, NOT blasting her normal sizzler of a 1st lap, took 3rd in 2:00.20.
Raevyn Rogers and Phoebe Wright were the time Q's, with Wright having to sprint to get her place in the final!
The first non-Q was Kendra Chambers's 2:01.96.
Instead of Montano doing her normal rabbit habit, it was left to Boris Berian to show they're kindred spirits, albeit SHE with a flower in her hair, and HE covered in artistic and meaningful tattoos!!
When he spread-eagled the field in the 1st section with his 49.73, people wondered if he'd possibly gun for the American Record--or at least a PR---in a semi.
But no, he eased back on the gas, running his next lap in 55.99, for a 1:45.72.
Erik Sowinski's splits of 50.39 and 55.43 added to a 1:45.82.
His final 200 of 28.60 almost caught Berian's 29.06.
Caz Loxsom's 28.41 was even faster, so his 1:45.93 was the 3rd Q.
Brannon Kidder finished last!
Clay Murphy's 1:46.97 took the 2nd section.
Brandon Johnson and Charles Jock were the other automatics.
Shaquille Walker was too slow in 4th to advance!
While this date's (July 2nd) report isn't finished, I'm saving the remainder, plus all of July 3rd, for a separate post--again due to length, but also due to the high quality of the marks to come!!
See you soon!
1. Every Record and Mark is centered on one nation. While some may make my World lists, most of what happens affects US lists and Records only!
2. This meet is spread over 11 days. Two of those days (June 30th & July 6th) had, or will have, just two events--the Men's and Women's Walks on June 30th, and the Hammer Throws on the 6th! Plus, there's a complete day off--the 5th! The rest of the days are smaller, more compact.
I'm dividing this report into two parts, due to length, but also because of what developed on the 4th day!
Just too much for one post!
But I'll follow the same format I did with the WC's in Beijing.
I'll follow the schedule, instead of headlining this post with the "best" event, or best Records or Marks!
That gives the reader a better feel of "being there", watching events unfold as they happen!
Enough!
The following is my report of ALL the happenings---Heats, Semis, Finals, and Field Event Qualifying rounds!--in as close a resemblance to the actual schedule as is possible.
This covers most of the first 3 days--June 30th through July 2nd.
I'll finish this report in a separate post!!
This includes both Men's and Women's events!!
June 30th
No one in this meet was more expected to win than Maria Michta-Coffey.
She never gets DQ'ed (as far as I know!), so barring catastrophe, you just watch this super talent do her thing, and stand by in awe!
Hitting the first half (10K) in 46:05, she had a slight lead over Miranda Melville, and was on pace to break the Meet Record of 1:32:39.
But the heat, and Melville falling off the pace--leaving M-C to stride forth alone--caused her to slow to 47:35 for the 2nd half, for her winning time of 1:33:40, and her umpteenth National Championship!
Melville finished strong, time of 1:34:11, dipping under the OG Q.
They go to Rio!
Third placer Katie Burnett doesn't.
John Nunn is another fairly dependable Walker.
With Trevor Barron still on his return trip from semi-retirement, he couldn't stay with Nunn, but took 2nd, just ahead of Nick Christie.
Nunn's time of 1:25:36 doesn't qualify him for Rio, but he DOES have the Q time in the 50K!
July 1st
Ryan Crouser led the Men's SP qualifying with a throw of 68-9, with favored Joe Kovacs 2nd with 68-1.
Reese Hoffa wa 5th, while surprising Bobby Grace was the last of the 12 finalists with 65-4.75.
The real shocker was Kurt Roberts, who finished just 1.25 inches back of Grace---in a non-Q 13th!!
Cory Martin also failed to qualify!
The Men's 800 heats blew everyone away---including a trio who many thought (or hoped!) would not only make the final, but get on the podium, and be headed toward Olympic glory!!
Nick Symmonds, fighting injury, withdrew a day or two before!
He took with him most (all?) of the energy behind his planned protest against the ban on advertising one's sponsors on one's body or uniform!
Then, in the very first heat, veteran Duane Solomon made a rookie mistake.
You do NOT run the first heat slow!!
That just allows subsequent heat runners to KNOW what they need to run to pass you by in the queue of Q's!
Stupid stupid mistake!!
And that's why Solomon won't be going to Rio!
As for Collegiate Record holder Donavan Brazier, he made another rookie error!
He let up too soon, failing to time his kick perfectly.
He's also out!
Boris Borian ran the fastest heat time--a 1:46.03, while Erik Sowinski did 1:46.12.
The Women's 800 heats also saw some "sure finalists" fail to make it.
HS Junior Sammy Watson had a good excuse--she's a HS Junior (however talented!).
Vets Geena Gall and Maggie Vessey (more modestly attired than usual!) just didn't have it this day.
But what happened to Laura Roesler?
With her speed, if positioned just right, she should've had no problem making it to the semi's!
All the others made it through with ease.
Maybe the biggest surprise was Anima Banks, whose 2:02.39 was a PR!
Seems the main "news" from the early rounds or Q'ing came with who did NOT advance!
Same happened in the Men's 400 heats.
Vernon Norwood was out.
As was Fred Kerley.
Then HS'er Michael Norman failed to run up to his potential.
(In the heats and semis, you don't leave anything behind---or YOU get left behind!!)
David Verburg's 45.31 was the fastest time!
(Remembering the Beijing WC Men's heats, with those sub-44's!!)
SRR--the truly legendary Sanya Richards-Ross--has retired from Track!
Stopping about 100 meters into her 400 heat, she walked off, while the others finished their tour.
With courage and humbleness, she thanked everyone, then moved on to a new life, sure to be as glorious as her many years in the sport she loves!
Thank you, Sanya!
Courtney Okolo and Fran McCorory dipped under 51 to lead the rest to the semi's.
Allyson Felix, another whose injuries had some in doubt, ran 51.96 to ease through!
Only soon-to-be 41 Amy Acuff--among the "names"-- failed to make the final dozen in the Women's HJ qualifying!
Chaunte Lowe and Vashti Cunningham breezed through!
Brittney Reese used a wind of 2.7 to hit 23 feet on the head, leading the Dandy Dozen of the Women's LJ'ers to the final.
Twelfth was beleaguered Jasmine Todd!
HSR holder Kate Hall was 8th.
No serious fails.
The Women's DT qualifying was pretty straight-forward, with Whitney Ashley's 200-8 leading a couple of 199's (Stephanie Brown-Trafton and Kelsey Card) into the final.
Young risers Hannah Carson and Elena Bruckner didn't make the cut, nor did Anna Jelmini.
Maggie Ewen was the caboose.
Ryan Crouser whipped a fantastic PR throw of 72-6.50 in the Men's SP final to beat the favored Joe Kovacs, whose last round 72-0.25 salvaged his day!
Crouser missed the Meet Record by one-half inch!!
But he becomes 18th A-T World!!
And he moves from 15th A-T US to 11th!
He got the biggie in the 2nd round!
Another (smaller) shock was that Darrell Hill took the 3rd spot, while hitting a big PR of 70-11.75, also in round 2.
This makes him 24th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Ryan Whiting was 4th, with 68-6.50, while 38 year old Reese Hoffa hit 67-7.50.
Adam Nelson performed admirably,reaching 66-2.25 in his return from retirement.
He was 6 days shy of turning 41!
The Men's 10000 final went as planned for Galen Rupp--He won!
The way he used training surges spent everyone's energy but his own!
Strolling the first 5000 in 14:20, he had a large pack following.
But one by one, they fell away.
Ben True, Sam Chelanga, even late entry Chris Derrick.
Bernard Lagat DNF'ed after 7200, while Eric Jenkins waited another 2 laps.
Rupp cruised his 2nd half in 13:35, with a 60.73 last lap.
US Army buddies (via Kenya) Shadrack Kipchirchir and Len Korir finished 2nd and 3rd, with only Kipchirchir giving Rupp any kind of tussle.
He finished over 6 seconds back, with Korir another 15 seconds behind.
July 2nd
The Men's PV qualifying dropped HSR holder Chris Nilsen, as well as Mike Arnold, Audie Wyatt, Devin King, and Brad Walker!
All the rest of the possible contenders made it.
They held a couple of HS Miles, as part of the Nike Elite Camp!
Kate Murphy--who will race the 1500 soon!--played rabbit through 800, then left it to Annie Hill to win it in 4:44.16 from Julia Heymach's 4:45.14.
In the Boys race, Reed Brown's 4:04.73 edged Sam Worley's 4:04.86, and Casey Clinger's 4:05.96.
The next 5 also finished at sub-4:09!
Whitney Ashley dominated the Women's DT final, getting the only 3 throws over 200 feet!
She won it with her 204-2 over Shelbi Vaughan's 197-9, and Kelsey Card's 197-3.
Liz Podomenick will miss Rio because of 2 inches of tape measure, as her 197-1 fell sorrowfully short!
Super vet Stephanie Brown-Trafton was next with 195-8, while Valerie Allman reached 193-8.
The Women's 10000 had a bit more drama than the Men's.
Not so much with who won, or even who took the other Rio spots.
It went pretty much to script.
But the ACTOR'S (or actresses, in this case!!) names---and short histories---were the real story.
Go back to Beijing, 2015, the 10K final.
Molly Huddle's early celebration for getting the Bronze, only to see the fierce sprint by Emily Infeld steal it from her at the line!
Huddle vs Infeld redux, 2016.
Molly takes the lead--to steer clear of trouble--with a pack of 15 following, with Infeld tucked into the rail.
At around 3500 into the race, Kim Conley suddenly stops, bends to fix her shoe, losing a lot of yardage, forced to play catch-up.
Pulling back to within 3 seconds at 5000 (16:11 to Molly & Co's 16:08), she finally decided to save it for the 5000, DNF'ing at 8K, as she'd fallen too far off the pace to make the Rio squad.
It soon became a threesome, with Infeld and Marielle Hall tagging along as Huddle cruised through the laps.
Leading all the way, she finally put pedal to metal, delivering the lethal blow in a final lap of 68.37 (to Infeld's 72.41), during a 2nd 5000 of 15:33.
But bygones were bygones, as the happy pair hugged and smiled widely, showing a friendship only track and field people understand!
All, including Hall, were thrilled to make the team, although Huddle said later it would take an American Record of around 30:20 to have a chance to medal in Rio!
Stephanie Bruce, returning from the births of TWO children (separately, NOT twins!!), was never in it, finishing 20th.
Kellyn Taylor finished 17 seconds behind Hall's 31:54.77.
Huddle ran 31:41.52, while Infeld did 31:46.09.
Jordan Hasay finished 9th, and hinted she will turn to the marathon soon!
Things heated up in the 800 semi's!
The Women's two races saw the first sub-2's of the meet.
But the first section was won by Ajee Wilson in 2:00.81, while Kate Grace kicked hard to take 2nd in 2:00.94.
Chrishuna Williams also was an automatic Q, running 2:01.87, beating Chanelle Price's 2:01.94.
In the second section, Brenda Martinez split 58.90 and 60.74, edging the determined (to not finish 4th again!!) Molly Ludlow, 1:59.64 to 1:59.81.
Alysia Montano, NOT blasting her normal sizzler of a 1st lap, took 3rd in 2:00.20.
Raevyn Rogers and Phoebe Wright were the time Q's, with Wright having to sprint to get her place in the final!
The first non-Q was Kendra Chambers's 2:01.96.
Instead of Montano doing her normal rabbit habit, it was left to Boris Berian to show they're kindred spirits, albeit SHE with a flower in her hair, and HE covered in artistic and meaningful tattoos!!
When he spread-eagled the field in the 1st section with his 49.73, people wondered if he'd possibly gun for the American Record--or at least a PR---in a semi.
But no, he eased back on the gas, running his next lap in 55.99, for a 1:45.72.
Erik Sowinski's splits of 50.39 and 55.43 added to a 1:45.82.
His final 200 of 28.60 almost caught Berian's 29.06.
Caz Loxsom's 28.41 was even faster, so his 1:45.93 was the 3rd Q.
Brannon Kidder finished last!
Clay Murphy's 1:46.97 took the 2nd section.
Brandon Johnson and Charles Jock were the other automatics.
Shaquille Walker was too slow in 4th to advance!
While this date's (July 2nd) report isn't finished, I'm saving the remainder, plus all of July 3rd, for a separate post--again due to length, but also due to the high quality of the marks to come!!
See you soon!
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Olympic Trials Preview--Women
And here we go, Ladies!
Same format, same bunch of stuff!
(See my Men's Preview to see what I mean!)
20000 Walk (1:32:39)
Even though Maria Michta-Coffey is the best American Walker---Men OR Women!--and has Walked faster than this MR several times--the heat, and expectations of a tactical race--should put paid to a new MR.
That said,do NOT bet every penny you own against it happening!!
Erin Gray and Miranda Melville should be the other two who go to Rio!
Recent 50K (!!) completist Erin Taylor-Talcott, and Katie Burnett are ones to watch if disaster strikes any of the top trio.
Maria's kid sister, Katie Michta, is here too, but has the slowest seed time!
DT (216-2, or 65.89)
Two veterans of veterans--Gia Lewis-Smallwood and Stephanie Brown-Trafton--are here, but only GLS has any chance to divide the top 3.
Those should be Shelbi Vaughan, Whitney Ashley, and Liz Podomenick.
Several Collegians had great seasons, but might not be ready to challenge the Profesh's!
They are Kelsey Card, Hannah Carson, Tera Novy, and Valerie Allman.
The MR should survive to the 2020 OT's!
10000 (31:09.65)
Without Shalane Flanagan (or even the injured Erin Finn) to play "Follow the Leader", this race could turn tactical.
(Just remember what happened in the 2012 OT race!!)
Want a LOCK?
Know how to spell Molly Huddle's name??
After her, solid threats include Kim Conley and Marielle Hall.
But American Women's distance running is in the midst of an historic Renaissance, so there's a lengthy list of understudies to the Big 3.
Jordan Hasay, Natosha Rogers, Tara Welling, Kellyn Taylor, Stephanie Bruce (returning from TWO births of babies!!), and Liz Costello are ones to watch.
But Aliphine Tuliamuk and Emily Sisson could surprise.
LJ (23-8.25, or 7.22)
Brittney Reese SEEMS to have moved past her penchant for fouling her way into the abyss, so reserve her ticket for Rio!
Tianna Bartoletta has the necessary speed to hit some big ones, and Jasmine Todd--her problems at school behind her--might shock for the 3rd spot.
Janay DeLoach and Quenesha Burks could surprise.
Watch for HSR holder Kate Hall!
Only Reese has the potential to get that MR.
HJ (6-7, or 2.01)
HSR holder, and newbie Profesh, Vashti Cunningham could deflate the wheels (and the ego's!!) of her older brethren, who nonetheless, are strong candidates to complete the Rio Trio!
They are 3-time Mom Chaunte Lowe, and reformed cocaine bustee, Inika McPherson!
But don't overlook Liz Patterson and Rachel McCoy.
She has ZERO chance to make the team---or even make it out of Qualifying!!--but it will still be fascinating to see Amy Acuff jump, as she turns 41 on July 14th!!
400 (49.28)
No MR today, boys & girls!
But it will still be a fascinating race!
We have "oldies" like Allyson Felix and Fran McCorory.
We also have "other" oldies--DeeDee Trotter and Natasha Hastings!
Then we have a select duo of rookies--Courtney Okolo (who could be considered the prohibitive favorite!!) and Quanera Hayes.
No Sanya Richards-Ross??
Oh, she's here!
But she's also in deep injury recovery---which ain't going well!!
IF she makes the final (or maybe even the semi's!!), I'd be a bit surprised!
100 (10.49)
That 10.49 will still be the MR in 2116!!
That said, you can pretty much hand Rio fares to Tori Bowie and English Gardner right now!
But that 3rd spot (not to mention 4X100 Relay spots!!) is up for grabs.
Will 17 year old Candace Hill make it?
Or Kaylin Whitney?
Of those 2 HS Pro's, Hill is better in the 100.
Barbara Pierre, Jasmine Todd, , Jenna Prandini, and Ariana Washington are dark horses.
Also watch for Super Vet Carmelita Jeter!!
800 (1:57.04)
If this were 2 or 4 years ago, I'd say Ajee Wilson, Alysia Montano, and Brenda Martinez WAS our 800 team, then close the door and lock it!!
But we have a "new" group of contenders now--all of whom have a strong chance to intercept the Rio reservations of the Top 3!
Do NOT be surprised to see Laura Roesler, Raevyn Rogers, or Kate Grace on the podium!
Phoebe Wright is having her best year in a while, and we can't ignore Molly Ludlow!!
Oh yeah, keep your eyes peeled for Fashionista Maggie Vessey!!
The MR should be safe, unless someone (Alysia, you listening??) takes it out in 56 or so!
HT (235-7, or 71.81))
The new American Record holder---GWEN BERRY, folks!!!--is almost 15 feet ahead of this MR, and should DESTROY it!!
She is a L-O-C-K!!!!
Amanda Bingson--the former AR holder, and ESPN Body Issue Icon!!--should be as solid a lock, but she has yet to hit 240 this year!
Amber Campbell is always in the mix.
Oiselle's only HT'er--Brittney Henry--is looking good this year.
Jeneva Stevens and DeAnna Price are ones to watch!
SP (63-5, or 19.33)
Four Americans are in this field who have surpassed this MR at one time or another!
Of those, Jill Camarena-Williams is probably the weakest, currently, as she's coming back from injury and giving birth!
But don't count her out!
More solid contenders are the Shot Diva, Michelle Carter, as well as the suddenly surging Tia Brooks, and that explosive Collegian, Raven(ous!!)Saunders!!
Others with some street cred include Jeneva Stevens, Brittney Smith, and Felicia Johnson.
A wild (Card) is---Kelsey Card!!
(OK, apologies for these lame jokes!!)
TJ (47-5, or 14.45)
The US of A hasn't had as great a threat to the rest of the world in the Women's TJ in a long time as we do now with 20 year old Collegian Keturah Orji!
She not only broke the Collegiate Record, but the American Record as well, this year!!
And she can only get better, with 48 feet on the horizen!
So the MR is definitely under a blitz attack from this phenom!!
Andrea Geubelle is having maybe her best year ever.
The other team spot is wide open!
Watch for Christina Epps, Bria Matthews, April Sinkler, and Christina Manning.
3000SC (9:27.59)
Besides being a TWO-time American Record breaker, and one of the upcoming group of ESPN Body Issue nudes (Issue comes out July 6th!!), Emma Coburn is also our most reliable female SC'er!!
Always in the race--whichever race you're talking about!!--she's on her way to Rio!!
After her, we have a great group of sub-9:30 women, all of whom have a chance to join Emma in Brazil!!
Courtney Frerichs, Colleen Quigley, Leah O'Connor, Ashley Higginson, Bridget Franek, Stephanie Garcia, and Jamie Cheever all fit that description.
There's the HSR holder, who finally went sub-10:00, down to 9:50--Brianna Nerud.
Also watch for surprises from much-improved Megan Patrignelli and Oiselle's Megan Rolland.
Don't neglect Nicole Bush or Shalaya Kipp, either!
100H (12.33)
The US could stock the teams of maybe a dozen or more other nations with our 100H "leftovers", we're so deep in this event!!
Even the newest group of High School kids (none of whom made it here!!) would be included on such a roster!!
That said, HOW do you choose the 3 who will be heading to Rio??
Let's begin with the 12.24 girl, Kendra Harrison!
Then add a dash of Jasmin Stowers.
Pepper this stew with the Queen--that "other" Ms Harrison!
But don't forget to sprinkle this salad with Brianna Rollins, Sharika Nelvis, Kristi Castlin, and Nia Ali.
And guess what?
That Olympic Bobsledder, notorious celibate, and InstaGram Icon--Lolo Jones--scratched due to lingering injuries!!
And can anyone explain why Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the young 12.69 gal, is here?
She's supposedly Puerto Rican--and in fact, is supposedly the PR record holder!!--yet she's here in the US Trials!!
I realize PR is sort of our "stepchild"--but is Miss C-Q eligible for both??
Heptathlon (7215)
This MR might not make it to the 22nd century, but it'll be close!!
So who's our top candidate?
I'm going to stake my place on the proverbial limb, and say her name is Kendell Williams!
Barbara Nwaba is VERY strong, but I'm also seeing another Collegian--Erica Bougard--preventing the Old School's Sharon Day-Monroe from going to Rio.
Watch for Heather Mills-Koch.
JT (201-9, or 61.50)
This MR should go down--hard!!
Maybe by all 3 of the medalists!
They should be super-vet Kara Winger, and newbies Maggie Malone and Hannah Carson.
Also watch for Brittany Borman, Arianna Ince, and Maggie's younger sister, Audrey Malone!
PV (16-1.75, or 4.92)
Once the surest of Solid Locks--the trio of Jenn Suhr, Sandi Morris, and Demi Payne all have BIG question marks next to their names--all injury related!!
(Morris & Payne because of freakish broken pole accidents, and Suhr for chronic injuries!)
That said, do NOT bet against any or all of them!!
I'm naming Morris & Suhr as---heh, SURE bets!!--with Payne the most doubtful!
IF any of them can't get it done, vets such as Mary Saxer and Kylie Hutson could fill in.
Also watch for Kristin Hixson, Becky Holliday, and Katie Nageotte.
Surprise Collegiate threats could come from Megan Clark and 19 year old Lexi Weeks.
Don't overlook Kristin Brown either!
400H (52.95)
This MR is fairly safe, but not entirely!!
Okay, folks, how good (great!!) is 16 year old Sydney McLaughlin??
(She'll turn 17 on August 7th!)
I'm saying she will win this race, and be on the plane to Brazil!!
Shamier Little--one of the most fascinating Tweeters I know!!--will give the youngster a righteous battle!
Also look for Georgeanne Moline and Ashley Spencer.
Others who might challenge (at least to make the final!!) are Cassandra Tate, Delilah Muhammad, Tiffany McWilliams, Jaide Stepter, and maybe even another HS kid---Anna Cockrell!
5000 (14:45.35)
Despite the strength of this field, and the fact the Number One stud here is the AR holder, I don't see this MR falling!!
(I'd be happy if even just Molly Huddle dips under 15:00!!)
With Huddle doubling back from the 10K, she might have a little mob following her as she strolls around the oval.
The strongest threat might be new 4:03.39 1500 gal, Shelby Houlihan!
But Molly needs to check her rear-view mirror too for Abbey D'Agostino, Nicole Tully, Katie Mackey, Emily Infeld, Marielle Hall, Kim Conley, Emily Sisson, and Natosha Rogers.
One who MIGHT have been a stronger challenger--but who is now on the road back from injury--is young Allie Ostrander.
But she'll be interesting to watch anyway!!
Gabe Grunewald and Lauren Paquette could surprise!
200 (21.69)
That MR is held by Allyson Felix!
(See my 400 comments for more on Felix!)
With Felix possibly not at the top of her game, watch for Tori Bowie to be the tape breaker here!
With Felix STILL a good candidate for a Rio spot, add Jenna Prandini as the most likely 3rd member.
But HS Profeshes Kaylin Whitney and Candace Hill should NOT be ignored!!
Watch too for Candyce McGrone, Ariana Washington, and Jeneba Tarmoh!
1500 (3:58.92)
Maybe THE most fascinating---and deepest!--field here!!
Don't think the MR will fall--unless someone decides to try to throw down the gauntlet to the Major Domos--Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson!!
Who might they be?
Morgan Uceny is having her best year in a long time!!
So is Kate Grace--and she has 1:59.47 speed!!
Treniere Moser, Heather Kampf, Shelby Houlihan, Brenda Martinez (IF she doubles here!!), Cory McGee, and Gabe Grunewald are all strong candidates for that 3rd Rio place.
BUT--we should NOT underestimate the potentials of the youngsters!!
Start with Alexa Efraimson, the most proven AND consistent teenager in the pack, as well as one with the best set of PR's---2:01.11 and 4:03.39!!
Then add HS Junior Kate Murphy, who has a WICKED kick!!
And watch for a couple of 20 year olds, but already "veterans"--Elise Cranny and Mary Cain.
One I will be watching for---and hope she makes the final!!--will be Sarah Brown!
As you know, she gave birth to her 1st child in early March, but has been saying ever since her pregnancy was announced that she intends to try for Rio!
IF she makes the final (and especially if she makes the TEAM!!!), it will be THE most amazing story of the meet---and the Olympic Games itself!!
The first events--the Men's and Women's 20000 meter Walks--begin in less than 4 hours!
Enjoy the meet!
And expect DETAILED coverage of all the results--as often as possible--throughout the meet!!
Same format, same bunch of stuff!
(See my Men's Preview to see what I mean!)
20000 Walk (1:32:39)
Even though Maria Michta-Coffey is the best American Walker---Men OR Women!--and has Walked faster than this MR several times--the heat, and expectations of a tactical race--should put paid to a new MR.
That said,do NOT bet every penny you own against it happening!!
Erin Gray and Miranda Melville should be the other two who go to Rio!
Recent 50K (!!) completist Erin Taylor-Talcott, and Katie Burnett are ones to watch if disaster strikes any of the top trio.
Maria's kid sister, Katie Michta, is here too, but has the slowest seed time!
DT (216-2, or 65.89)
Two veterans of veterans--Gia Lewis-Smallwood and Stephanie Brown-Trafton--are here, but only GLS has any chance to divide the top 3.
Those should be Shelbi Vaughan, Whitney Ashley, and Liz Podomenick.
Several Collegians had great seasons, but might not be ready to challenge the Profesh's!
They are Kelsey Card, Hannah Carson, Tera Novy, and Valerie Allman.
The MR should survive to the 2020 OT's!
10000 (31:09.65)
Without Shalane Flanagan (or even the injured Erin Finn) to play "Follow the Leader", this race could turn tactical.
(Just remember what happened in the 2012 OT race!!)
Want a LOCK?
Know how to spell Molly Huddle's name??
After her, solid threats include Kim Conley and Marielle Hall.
But American Women's distance running is in the midst of an historic Renaissance, so there's a lengthy list of understudies to the Big 3.
Jordan Hasay, Natosha Rogers, Tara Welling, Kellyn Taylor, Stephanie Bruce (returning from TWO births of babies!!), and Liz Costello are ones to watch.
But Aliphine Tuliamuk and Emily Sisson could surprise.
LJ (23-8.25, or 7.22)
Brittney Reese SEEMS to have moved past her penchant for fouling her way into the abyss, so reserve her ticket for Rio!
Tianna Bartoletta has the necessary speed to hit some big ones, and Jasmine Todd--her problems at school behind her--might shock for the 3rd spot.
Janay DeLoach and Quenesha Burks could surprise.
Watch for HSR holder Kate Hall!
Only Reese has the potential to get that MR.
HJ (6-7, or 2.01)
HSR holder, and newbie Profesh, Vashti Cunningham could deflate the wheels (and the ego's!!) of her older brethren, who nonetheless, are strong candidates to complete the Rio Trio!
They are 3-time Mom Chaunte Lowe, and reformed cocaine bustee, Inika McPherson!
But don't overlook Liz Patterson and Rachel McCoy.
She has ZERO chance to make the team---or even make it out of Qualifying!!--but it will still be fascinating to see Amy Acuff jump, as she turns 41 on July 14th!!
400 (49.28)
No MR today, boys & girls!
But it will still be a fascinating race!
We have "oldies" like Allyson Felix and Fran McCorory.
We also have "other" oldies--DeeDee Trotter and Natasha Hastings!
Then we have a select duo of rookies--Courtney Okolo (who could be considered the prohibitive favorite!!) and Quanera Hayes.
No Sanya Richards-Ross??
Oh, she's here!
But she's also in deep injury recovery---which ain't going well!!
IF she makes the final (or maybe even the semi's!!), I'd be a bit surprised!
100 (10.49)
That 10.49 will still be the MR in 2116!!
That said, you can pretty much hand Rio fares to Tori Bowie and English Gardner right now!
But that 3rd spot (not to mention 4X100 Relay spots!!) is up for grabs.
Will 17 year old Candace Hill make it?
Or Kaylin Whitney?
Of those 2 HS Pro's, Hill is better in the 100.
Barbara Pierre, Jasmine Todd, , Jenna Prandini, and Ariana Washington are dark horses.
Also watch for Super Vet Carmelita Jeter!!
800 (1:57.04)
If this were 2 or 4 years ago, I'd say Ajee Wilson, Alysia Montano, and Brenda Martinez WAS our 800 team, then close the door and lock it!!
But we have a "new" group of contenders now--all of whom have a strong chance to intercept the Rio reservations of the Top 3!
Do NOT be surprised to see Laura Roesler, Raevyn Rogers, or Kate Grace on the podium!
Phoebe Wright is having her best year in a while, and we can't ignore Molly Ludlow!!
Oh yeah, keep your eyes peeled for Fashionista Maggie Vessey!!
The MR should be safe, unless someone (Alysia, you listening??) takes it out in 56 or so!
HT (235-7, or 71.81))
The new American Record holder---GWEN BERRY, folks!!!--is almost 15 feet ahead of this MR, and should DESTROY it!!
She is a L-O-C-K!!!!
Amanda Bingson--the former AR holder, and ESPN Body Issue Icon!!--should be as solid a lock, but she has yet to hit 240 this year!
Amber Campbell is always in the mix.
Oiselle's only HT'er--Brittney Henry--is looking good this year.
Jeneva Stevens and DeAnna Price are ones to watch!
SP (63-5, or 19.33)
Four Americans are in this field who have surpassed this MR at one time or another!
Of those, Jill Camarena-Williams is probably the weakest, currently, as she's coming back from injury and giving birth!
But don't count her out!
More solid contenders are the Shot Diva, Michelle Carter, as well as the suddenly surging Tia Brooks, and that explosive Collegian, Raven(ous!!)Saunders!!
Others with some street cred include Jeneva Stevens, Brittney Smith, and Felicia Johnson.
A wild (Card) is---Kelsey Card!!
(OK, apologies for these lame jokes!!)
TJ (47-5, or 14.45)
The US of A hasn't had as great a threat to the rest of the world in the Women's TJ in a long time as we do now with 20 year old Collegian Keturah Orji!
She not only broke the Collegiate Record, but the American Record as well, this year!!
And she can only get better, with 48 feet on the horizen!
So the MR is definitely under a blitz attack from this phenom!!
Andrea Geubelle is having maybe her best year ever.
The other team spot is wide open!
Watch for Christina Epps, Bria Matthews, April Sinkler, and Christina Manning.
3000SC (9:27.59)
Besides being a TWO-time American Record breaker, and one of the upcoming group of ESPN Body Issue nudes (Issue comes out July 6th!!), Emma Coburn is also our most reliable female SC'er!!
Always in the race--whichever race you're talking about!!--she's on her way to Rio!!
After her, we have a great group of sub-9:30 women, all of whom have a chance to join Emma in Brazil!!
Courtney Frerichs, Colleen Quigley, Leah O'Connor, Ashley Higginson, Bridget Franek, Stephanie Garcia, and Jamie Cheever all fit that description.
There's the HSR holder, who finally went sub-10:00, down to 9:50--Brianna Nerud.
Also watch for surprises from much-improved Megan Patrignelli and Oiselle's Megan Rolland.
Don't neglect Nicole Bush or Shalaya Kipp, either!
100H (12.33)
The US could stock the teams of maybe a dozen or more other nations with our 100H "leftovers", we're so deep in this event!!
Even the newest group of High School kids (none of whom made it here!!) would be included on such a roster!!
That said, HOW do you choose the 3 who will be heading to Rio??
Let's begin with the 12.24 girl, Kendra Harrison!
Then add a dash of Jasmin Stowers.
Pepper this stew with the Queen--that "other" Ms Harrison!
But don't forget to sprinkle this salad with Brianna Rollins, Sharika Nelvis, Kristi Castlin, and Nia Ali.
And guess what?
That Olympic Bobsledder, notorious celibate, and InstaGram Icon--Lolo Jones--scratched due to lingering injuries!!
And can anyone explain why Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the young 12.69 gal, is here?
She's supposedly Puerto Rican--and in fact, is supposedly the PR record holder!!--yet she's here in the US Trials!!
I realize PR is sort of our "stepchild"--but is Miss C-Q eligible for both??
Heptathlon (7215)
This MR might not make it to the 22nd century, but it'll be close!!
So who's our top candidate?
I'm going to stake my place on the proverbial limb, and say her name is Kendell Williams!
Barbara Nwaba is VERY strong, but I'm also seeing another Collegian--Erica Bougard--preventing the Old School's Sharon Day-Monroe from going to Rio.
Watch for Heather Mills-Koch.
JT (201-9, or 61.50)
This MR should go down--hard!!
Maybe by all 3 of the medalists!
They should be super-vet Kara Winger, and newbies Maggie Malone and Hannah Carson.
Also watch for Brittany Borman, Arianna Ince, and Maggie's younger sister, Audrey Malone!
PV (16-1.75, or 4.92)
Once the surest of Solid Locks--the trio of Jenn Suhr, Sandi Morris, and Demi Payne all have BIG question marks next to their names--all injury related!!
(Morris & Payne because of freakish broken pole accidents, and Suhr for chronic injuries!)
That said, do NOT bet against any or all of them!!
I'm naming Morris & Suhr as---heh, SURE bets!!--with Payne the most doubtful!
IF any of them can't get it done, vets such as Mary Saxer and Kylie Hutson could fill in.
Also watch for Kristin Hixson, Becky Holliday, and Katie Nageotte.
Surprise Collegiate threats could come from Megan Clark and 19 year old Lexi Weeks.
Don't overlook Kristin Brown either!
400H (52.95)
This MR is fairly safe, but not entirely!!
Okay, folks, how good (great!!) is 16 year old Sydney McLaughlin??
(She'll turn 17 on August 7th!)
I'm saying she will win this race, and be on the plane to Brazil!!
Shamier Little--one of the most fascinating Tweeters I know!!--will give the youngster a righteous battle!
Also look for Georgeanne Moline and Ashley Spencer.
Others who might challenge (at least to make the final!!) are Cassandra Tate, Delilah Muhammad, Tiffany McWilliams, Jaide Stepter, and maybe even another HS kid---Anna Cockrell!
5000 (14:45.35)
Despite the strength of this field, and the fact the Number One stud here is the AR holder, I don't see this MR falling!!
(I'd be happy if even just Molly Huddle dips under 15:00!!)
With Huddle doubling back from the 10K, she might have a little mob following her as she strolls around the oval.
The strongest threat might be new 4:03.39 1500 gal, Shelby Houlihan!
But Molly needs to check her rear-view mirror too for Abbey D'Agostino, Nicole Tully, Katie Mackey, Emily Infeld, Marielle Hall, Kim Conley, Emily Sisson, and Natosha Rogers.
One who MIGHT have been a stronger challenger--but who is now on the road back from injury--is young Allie Ostrander.
But she'll be interesting to watch anyway!!
Gabe Grunewald and Lauren Paquette could surprise!
200 (21.69)
That MR is held by Allyson Felix!
(See my 400 comments for more on Felix!)
With Felix possibly not at the top of her game, watch for Tori Bowie to be the tape breaker here!
With Felix STILL a good candidate for a Rio spot, add Jenna Prandini as the most likely 3rd member.
But HS Profeshes Kaylin Whitney and Candace Hill should NOT be ignored!!
Watch too for Candyce McGrone, Ariana Washington, and Jeneba Tarmoh!
1500 (3:58.92)
Maybe THE most fascinating---and deepest!--field here!!
Don't think the MR will fall--unless someone decides to try to throw down the gauntlet to the Major Domos--Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson!!
Who might they be?
Morgan Uceny is having her best year in a long time!!
So is Kate Grace--and she has 1:59.47 speed!!
Treniere Moser, Heather Kampf, Shelby Houlihan, Brenda Martinez (IF she doubles here!!), Cory McGee, and Gabe Grunewald are all strong candidates for that 3rd Rio place.
BUT--we should NOT underestimate the potentials of the youngsters!!
Start with Alexa Efraimson, the most proven AND consistent teenager in the pack, as well as one with the best set of PR's---2:01.11 and 4:03.39!!
Then add HS Junior Kate Murphy, who has a WICKED kick!!
And watch for a couple of 20 year olds, but already "veterans"--Elise Cranny and Mary Cain.
One I will be watching for---and hope she makes the final!!--will be Sarah Brown!
As you know, she gave birth to her 1st child in early March, but has been saying ever since her pregnancy was announced that she intends to try for Rio!
IF she makes the final (and especially if she makes the TEAM!!!), it will be THE most amazing story of the meet---and the Olympic Games itself!!
The first events--the Men's and Women's 20000 meter Walks--begin in less than 4 hours!
Enjoy the meet!
And expect DETAILED coverage of all the results--as often as possible--throughout the meet!!
Olympic Trials Preview--Men
I'm going to try to fit this into 1 post, so let's not waste space!
I'll be listing the events in the order of the Finals!!
Given are the Meet Records and the names to watch!
Please refer to the Meet Schedule I provided earlier for all the dates and times of each event!
Note: The OT Meet Records are NOT the same as the USATF Championship MR's!! Also, MR's set in the 1980 OT's are included, even though we boycotted those Games!!
20000 Walk (1:23:00.1)
Trevor Barron was once seen as America's great Walker of the future--then he "retired". But he's back, hopefully better than ever! (That MR is his!!)
Nick Christie and John Nunn should be the other Rio team members!
Also watch for Emmanuel Corvera.
This event will be held in Salem on a one kilometer course!!
The MR could fall, except it's supposed to be in the 80's, and these races are normally tactical--just to make the team!!
SP (72-7, or 22.12)
Joe Kovacs has been fairly consistent, so he should win this!
Reese Hoffa is the best of the "oldies".
Ryan Crouser just PR'ed, and seems ready for a big move up!!
Also look for Kurt Roberts, Darrell Hill, Jordan Clarke as 3 "middle grounders" to watch.
But don't forget a couple of stalwarts--Ryan Whiting and the comebacking Adam Nelson, who turns 41 on July 7th!!
MR is vulnerable, especially with Kovacs!!
10000 (27:25.33)
Will Galen Rupp want to win, or just make the team?
He's been beaten recently, so I'm predicting Ben True is going to win this! Rupp should be close, however. Third spot might be a dogfight, with Hassan Mead, Eric Jenkins, and Sam Chelanga with the best chances.
Also keep eyes on Diego Estrada, Len Korir, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and the Ancient One, Bernard Lagat!
In fact, I wouldn't be at all shocked to see him on the Podium!!
As for the MR, this is a Championship race, and you know how THOSE usually go!!
Then again, we have some fast dudes here!!
Decathlon (9039 points)
Ashton Eaton.
Okay, you can go back to sleep now!
Assuming he doesn't get speared by a javelin or a pole (LOL), he'll be going to Rio!
Watch his first 2 events to see if he's on a WR pace!
But that's doubtful!!
Trey Hardee is a HUGE question mark, IMHO!
He's been injury prone, and I just can't put ALL my trust in him to make this team!
(I'll probably be crying later for being such a dumb ass!!)
Anyway, look for Jeremy Taiwo and Zach Ziemek to possibly steal Hardee's Rio ticket!
Devon Williams, Harrison Williams, and Curtis Beach are 3 others to watch.
LJ (28-9, or 8.76))
That MR is safe!
In fact, I'd be super pleased if even ONE jump (windy or not!!) went 28 feet!!
Marquise Goodwin & Marquis Dendy could top the Podium.
Jarrion Lawson should pick up the 3rd spot.
But Jeff Henderson, Will Claye, and Mike Hartfield are certainly threats!
400 (43.44)
Without Kirani James or Wayde Van Niekerk to challenge him, don't expect LaShawn Merritt to get the Meet Record!
(Although he might break 44!!)
David Verburg is a steady sub-45 guy, and Gil Roberts has had a good year so far.
Michael's Cherry & Berry are ones to watch, as are Vernon Norwood, Arman Hall, and Jeremy Wariner!
But want a real shock candidate?
Look to see if HS'er Michael Norman makes it to the final!!
100 (9.77)
The G-Men are back--aka Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay!
As for Trayvon Bromell, only question is if he's 100% healthy!!
If he is, he's pretty much a lock for 3rd! (Or higher??)
Marvin Bracy is the super dark horse here.
But also expect Ryan Bailey, Mike Rodgers, and Clay Vaughn to make it at least as far as the semi's!
A REAL shock threat is HS'er Noah Lyles!!
The MR could fall, but probably won't--even with Hayward Field's notorious winds!!
PV (19-4.25, or 5.90)
Sam Kendricks is our own Little Bubka (or Lavillenie??).
He should win here!
And even threaten the MR!
Jake Blankenship is good, but NOT a lock!!
Devin King had a good spring, and might have the momentum to make the team!
Brad Walker is an oldie, but hasn't shown much recently.
Watch also for Joey Uhle, Mike Arnold, Audie Wyatt, and the HSR holder, Chris Nilsen!
(Would be nice if Nilsen at least made the final!!)
JT (270-4, or 82.40)
A weak event that could use some juice!
Regrettably, the juice can isn't even half full!
Nonetheless, expect Riley Dolazel and Cy Hostetler to rule the roost here!
Tim Glover might sneak into the 3rd spot, ahead of Sean Furey, and 2 Sam's--Humphreys and Crouser!
Even though it's not a great field, the MR could fall!!
800 (1:42.80)
That MR is SOOOOOO close to the American Record, and I would LOVE it if both went down!!
With new stars like Boris Berian and Donavan Brazier, we might just see a "fast" race--meaning sub-1:44!
But sub-1:43?
Doubtful!
Berian is one of my Super Heroes--for his forcing Nike to surrender in their lawsuit against this former McDonald's burger flipper!!
But Brazier--however talented he is--is still too young to have established real consistency!
So I'm picking him for 4th!
Eric Sowinski has the wheels, and Duane Solomon has the savvy!
Caz Loxsom, Brannon Kidder, and Clay Murphy are others to watch.
Nick Symmonds---who's going to lead a HUGE protest here (giving out 24,000 strips of black tape, asking all athletes and everyone in the stands to wear it, wanting athletes to be allowed to advertise their sponsors on their uniforms and/or bodies!!)-is injured, but has said he'll jump hoops to get to the track!!
Love you guys---Boris & Nick!!!
HT (262-10, or 80.12)
Old standbys AG Kruger and Kibwe Johnson should lead this soft trio, with Rudy Winkler possibly adding some spice!
The MR is VERY safe!!
Conor McCullough, Sean Donnelly, amd Mike Lihrman are possibles--at least to make it out of Qualifying!
DT (225-4, or 68.69)
The Men's Throws--except for the SP--aren't even NEAR World Class--and the Discus is no different!
But Tavis Bailey has been having a solid 2016, so watch for him to make it to the top of the ladder!
Jared Schuurmans is a strong veteran, , and Rodney Brown is good for a team spot too.
Jason Young is a threat for that 3rd spot, as are younger throwers, Mason Finley and Sam Mattis!
3000SC (8:15.02)
The MR could fall, especially with Evan Jager in the field!
Remember that 57 (!!) last lap he ran not long ago??
WITH hurdles and water pit!!
Dan Huling is solid for the 2nd spot, while Cory Leslie is another who's been having a good 2016.
Don Cabral, Andy Bayer, Craig Forys are also comers, while Stan Kebenai and Mason Ferlic are dark horses!
TJ (58-4, or 17.78)
Will Christian Taylor break the MR?
In fact, will he threaten the WORLD Record??
If those tricky Hayward winds turn just right.....!!!!
Omar Craddock and Will Claye are fairly solid bets for the other team spots!
But watch for surprise leaps forward (Pun intended!!) by Chris Benard, Chris Carter, and Eric Sloan!
5000 (13:22.67)
Galen Rupp is entered here, but he's looking toward a Marathon and 10000 double!
So even if he does run this---and win!---it's almost a certainty he won't run this event in Rio!!
Thus I'm NOT including him in my Preview here!!
Ryan Hill has the kick to take this, but kicks are also the forte's of Eric Jenkins and Ben True!
Even if the race is a bit tactical, fast finishes could bring them in the vicinity of the MR!!
(BTW, Rupp holds that mark!!)
Watch too for Hassan Mead, Garrett Heath, Paul Chelimo, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and even Bernard Lagat--although he's likely to pass this event if he makes the 10K team---unless he runs it (like Rupp) just as a workout!!
200 (19.66)
Those G guys are back, but expect only Justin Gatlin to make this event's podium!
While Tyson Gay can be formidable here, look for Ameer Webb to follow Gatlin to the tape, with Walter Dix and Trayvon Bromell SOLID threats!!
Two HS'ers could add some fuel to the fire--Michael Norman and Noah Lyles!
And don't forget Isiah Young and the veteran, Wallace Spearmon!
I'd watch the wind reading if they get close to 19.66!!
110H (12.92)
Supposed to be one of our strongest events, but recently it's been "foreigners" who have led the way.
But David Oliver doesn't believe in losing--to anyone!!
And I doubt he'll lose here!!
Aries Merritt will probably be the crowd's favorite--win OR lose!!!
That 3rd spot is up for grabs--with Ronnie Ash probably just a wee bit ahead of the others, who include Aleec Harris, Jason Richardson, Devon Allen, Ryan Wilson, and Jarret Eaton!
The MR is pretty safe!
HJ (7-8.50, or 2.35)
Erik Kynard is such a LOCK, you can throw away the key!!
Jesse Williams is a strong veteran, but I'm seeing him just missing the Rio squad.
Replacing him could be newbies like Avion Jones and Bryan McBride!
Jeron Robinson, Randy Cunningham, Brad Adkins, and Ricky Robertson are others to watch!
If Kynard is HOT, the MR could go down (as long as the BAR doesn't!!).
400H (47.37)
No MR here!
But the Dutch & Futch Show could prevail, with maybe Bershawn Jackson sneaking in between them!!
That's Johnny Dutch and Eric Futch, BTW!!
Look for veterans like Kerron Clement, Jeshua Anderson, and Michael Tinsley to make things interesting!
A "shock" candidate is Taylor McLaughlin!!
1500 (3:35.15)
The meet's closer!!
But Steve Scott's "boycott year" MR will probably survive!
Matthew Centrowitz is pretty close to the "solidest" of locks here!!
But if it's a tactical race, there's a bunch of good kickers who could make Centro sweat a little!!
They include Ben Blankenship, Robby Andrews, and Leo Manzano.
I'm leaving King Leo the Lionhearted OFF the podium.
He runs too hot & cold for me to be confident of him making it!
Watch for Will Leer, Colby Alexander, Izaic Yorks, and Jeff See.
If Kyle Merber can get away from his Twitter habit for a few minutes, he might shoot some arrows at the ones ahead of him!!
I'll have the Women's Preview up in a few hours!!
See you then!
I'll be listing the events in the order of the Finals!!
Given are the Meet Records and the names to watch!
Please refer to the Meet Schedule I provided earlier for all the dates and times of each event!
Note: The OT Meet Records are NOT the same as the USATF Championship MR's!! Also, MR's set in the 1980 OT's are included, even though we boycotted those Games!!
20000 Walk (1:23:00.1)
Trevor Barron was once seen as America's great Walker of the future--then he "retired". But he's back, hopefully better than ever! (That MR is his!!)
Nick Christie and John Nunn should be the other Rio team members!
Also watch for Emmanuel Corvera.
This event will be held in Salem on a one kilometer course!!
The MR could fall, except it's supposed to be in the 80's, and these races are normally tactical--just to make the team!!
SP (72-7, or 22.12)
Joe Kovacs has been fairly consistent, so he should win this!
Reese Hoffa is the best of the "oldies".
Ryan Crouser just PR'ed, and seems ready for a big move up!!
Also look for Kurt Roberts, Darrell Hill, Jordan Clarke as 3 "middle grounders" to watch.
But don't forget a couple of stalwarts--Ryan Whiting and the comebacking Adam Nelson, who turns 41 on July 7th!!
MR is vulnerable, especially with Kovacs!!
10000 (27:25.33)
Will Galen Rupp want to win, or just make the team?
He's been beaten recently, so I'm predicting Ben True is going to win this! Rupp should be close, however. Third spot might be a dogfight, with Hassan Mead, Eric Jenkins, and Sam Chelanga with the best chances.
Also keep eyes on Diego Estrada, Len Korir, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and the Ancient One, Bernard Lagat!
In fact, I wouldn't be at all shocked to see him on the Podium!!
As for the MR, this is a Championship race, and you know how THOSE usually go!!
Then again, we have some fast dudes here!!
Decathlon (9039 points)
Ashton Eaton.
Okay, you can go back to sleep now!
Assuming he doesn't get speared by a javelin or a pole (LOL), he'll be going to Rio!
Watch his first 2 events to see if he's on a WR pace!
But that's doubtful!!
Trey Hardee is a HUGE question mark, IMHO!
He's been injury prone, and I just can't put ALL my trust in him to make this team!
(I'll probably be crying later for being such a dumb ass!!)
Anyway, look for Jeremy Taiwo and Zach Ziemek to possibly steal Hardee's Rio ticket!
Devon Williams, Harrison Williams, and Curtis Beach are 3 others to watch.
LJ (28-9, or 8.76))
That MR is safe!
In fact, I'd be super pleased if even ONE jump (windy or not!!) went 28 feet!!
Marquise Goodwin & Marquis Dendy could top the Podium.
Jarrion Lawson should pick up the 3rd spot.
But Jeff Henderson, Will Claye, and Mike Hartfield are certainly threats!
400 (43.44)
Without Kirani James or Wayde Van Niekerk to challenge him, don't expect LaShawn Merritt to get the Meet Record!
(Although he might break 44!!)
David Verburg is a steady sub-45 guy, and Gil Roberts has had a good year so far.
Michael's Cherry & Berry are ones to watch, as are Vernon Norwood, Arman Hall, and Jeremy Wariner!
But want a real shock candidate?
Look to see if HS'er Michael Norman makes it to the final!!
100 (9.77)
The G-Men are back--aka Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay!
As for Trayvon Bromell, only question is if he's 100% healthy!!
If he is, he's pretty much a lock for 3rd! (Or higher??)
Marvin Bracy is the super dark horse here.
But also expect Ryan Bailey, Mike Rodgers, and Clay Vaughn to make it at least as far as the semi's!
A REAL shock threat is HS'er Noah Lyles!!
The MR could fall, but probably won't--even with Hayward Field's notorious winds!!
PV (19-4.25, or 5.90)
Sam Kendricks is our own Little Bubka (or Lavillenie??).
He should win here!
And even threaten the MR!
Jake Blankenship is good, but NOT a lock!!
Devin King had a good spring, and might have the momentum to make the team!
Brad Walker is an oldie, but hasn't shown much recently.
Watch also for Joey Uhle, Mike Arnold, Audie Wyatt, and the HSR holder, Chris Nilsen!
(Would be nice if Nilsen at least made the final!!)
JT (270-4, or 82.40)
A weak event that could use some juice!
Regrettably, the juice can isn't even half full!
Nonetheless, expect Riley Dolazel and Cy Hostetler to rule the roost here!
Tim Glover might sneak into the 3rd spot, ahead of Sean Furey, and 2 Sam's--Humphreys and Crouser!
Even though it's not a great field, the MR could fall!!
800 (1:42.80)
That MR is SOOOOOO close to the American Record, and I would LOVE it if both went down!!
With new stars like Boris Berian and Donavan Brazier, we might just see a "fast" race--meaning sub-1:44!
But sub-1:43?
Doubtful!
Berian is one of my Super Heroes--for his forcing Nike to surrender in their lawsuit against this former McDonald's burger flipper!!
But Brazier--however talented he is--is still too young to have established real consistency!
So I'm picking him for 4th!
Eric Sowinski has the wheels, and Duane Solomon has the savvy!
Caz Loxsom, Brannon Kidder, and Clay Murphy are others to watch.
Nick Symmonds---who's going to lead a HUGE protest here (giving out 24,000 strips of black tape, asking all athletes and everyone in the stands to wear it, wanting athletes to be allowed to advertise their sponsors on their uniforms and/or bodies!!)-is injured, but has said he'll jump hoops to get to the track!!
Love you guys---Boris & Nick!!!
HT (262-10, or 80.12)
Old standbys AG Kruger and Kibwe Johnson should lead this soft trio, with Rudy Winkler possibly adding some spice!
The MR is VERY safe!!
Conor McCullough, Sean Donnelly, amd Mike Lihrman are possibles--at least to make it out of Qualifying!
DT (225-4, or 68.69)
The Men's Throws--except for the SP--aren't even NEAR World Class--and the Discus is no different!
But Tavis Bailey has been having a solid 2016, so watch for him to make it to the top of the ladder!
Jared Schuurmans is a strong veteran, , and Rodney Brown is good for a team spot too.
Jason Young is a threat for that 3rd spot, as are younger throwers, Mason Finley and Sam Mattis!
3000SC (8:15.02)
The MR could fall, especially with Evan Jager in the field!
Remember that 57 (!!) last lap he ran not long ago??
WITH hurdles and water pit!!
Dan Huling is solid for the 2nd spot, while Cory Leslie is another who's been having a good 2016.
Don Cabral, Andy Bayer, Craig Forys are also comers, while Stan Kebenai and Mason Ferlic are dark horses!
TJ (58-4, or 17.78)
Will Christian Taylor break the MR?
In fact, will he threaten the WORLD Record??
If those tricky Hayward winds turn just right.....!!!!
Omar Craddock and Will Claye are fairly solid bets for the other team spots!
But watch for surprise leaps forward (Pun intended!!) by Chris Benard, Chris Carter, and Eric Sloan!
5000 (13:22.67)
Galen Rupp is entered here, but he's looking toward a Marathon and 10000 double!
So even if he does run this---and win!---it's almost a certainty he won't run this event in Rio!!
Thus I'm NOT including him in my Preview here!!
Ryan Hill has the kick to take this, but kicks are also the forte's of Eric Jenkins and Ben True!
Even if the race is a bit tactical, fast finishes could bring them in the vicinity of the MR!!
(BTW, Rupp holds that mark!!)
Watch too for Hassan Mead, Garrett Heath, Paul Chelimo, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and even Bernard Lagat--although he's likely to pass this event if he makes the 10K team---unless he runs it (like Rupp) just as a workout!!
200 (19.66)
Those G guys are back, but expect only Justin Gatlin to make this event's podium!
While Tyson Gay can be formidable here, look for Ameer Webb to follow Gatlin to the tape, with Walter Dix and Trayvon Bromell SOLID threats!!
Two HS'ers could add some fuel to the fire--Michael Norman and Noah Lyles!
And don't forget Isiah Young and the veteran, Wallace Spearmon!
I'd watch the wind reading if they get close to 19.66!!
110H (12.92)
Supposed to be one of our strongest events, but recently it's been "foreigners" who have led the way.
But David Oliver doesn't believe in losing--to anyone!!
And I doubt he'll lose here!!
Aries Merritt will probably be the crowd's favorite--win OR lose!!!
That 3rd spot is up for grabs--with Ronnie Ash probably just a wee bit ahead of the others, who include Aleec Harris, Jason Richardson, Devon Allen, Ryan Wilson, and Jarret Eaton!
The MR is pretty safe!
HJ (7-8.50, or 2.35)
Erik Kynard is such a LOCK, you can throw away the key!!
Jesse Williams is a strong veteran, but I'm seeing him just missing the Rio squad.
Replacing him could be newbies like Avion Jones and Bryan McBride!
Jeron Robinson, Randy Cunningham, Brad Adkins, and Ricky Robertson are others to watch!
If Kynard is HOT, the MR could go down (as long as the BAR doesn't!!).
400H (47.37)
No MR here!
But the Dutch & Futch Show could prevail, with maybe Bershawn Jackson sneaking in between them!!
That's Johnny Dutch and Eric Futch, BTW!!
Look for veterans like Kerron Clement, Jeshua Anderson, and Michael Tinsley to make things interesting!
A "shock" candidate is Taylor McLaughlin!!
1500 (3:35.15)
The meet's closer!!
But Steve Scott's "boycott year" MR will probably survive!
Matthew Centrowitz is pretty close to the "solidest" of locks here!!
But if it's a tactical race, there's a bunch of good kickers who could make Centro sweat a little!!
They include Ben Blankenship, Robby Andrews, and Leo Manzano.
I'm leaving King Leo the Lionhearted OFF the podium.
He runs too hot & cold for me to be confident of him making it!
Watch for Will Leer, Colby Alexander, Izaic Yorks, and Jeff See.
If Kyle Merber can get away from his Twitter habit for a few minutes, he might shoot some arrows at the ones ahead of him!!
I'll have the Women's Preview up in a few hours!!
See you then!
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Complete Olympic Trials Schedule
Before I do the schedule, I have a few good marks to report!!
In the Hengelo meet, the Ethiopians held their Olympic Trials for the 10000 meters!
And Almaz Ayana--in her first ever track 10K---ran 30:07.00 to easily defeat Tirunesh Dibaba in her return to track racing, after a long lay-off!!
She makes TWO of my Combined Events lists!
She's now 4th on the 3000-5000-10000 list!
Her times of 8:22.22, 14:12.59, and the 30:07.00 add to 52:41.81.
She's 3rd on the 5000-10000 list, with her 14:12.59 and 30:07.00 adding to 44:19.59!
Geleta Burka nipped the legendary Tirunesh, 30:28.47 to 30:28.53.
That was a 20 second PR for Burka!
Netsanet Gudeta ran 30:36.75 in 4th, with Genet Yalew 5th in 30:37.38
Sebere Teferi followed in 30:40.59.
Three others ran in the 30:50's.
The Men's race saw three under 27:00.
Yegrem Demelash took the win in 26:51.11
Then came Tamirat Tola in 26:57.45, followed closely behind by Abadi Embaye's 26:57.88.
The latter is said to be just 17, born the usual African date of January 1st, but in 1999.
If the YEAR is correct, then he definitely gets my Age "0-17" record, becoming the first of that age to break 27!!
I'm NOT entering that as the record---yet!---until I can verify his age!
BTW, Ken Bekele DNF'ed around the 6000 meters point!
Thomas Kohler exploded out to 299-6 (91.28) in the Javelin Throw!
He moves from 15th A-T World to 10th, tied with 1 other!
Jan Kudlicki PV'ed 19-1.50 for the Czech Republic National Record!
And Michelle Lee Ahye's 22.33 in the 200 is the National Record of Trinidad & Tobago!
She also ran 10.94 in her 100 heat, then won the final with 11.00!
The Olympic Trials Schedule.
I will list the date, the time (Pacific Time), the Gender, the Event, then whether it's a Heat or whatever!
Letters used: Men (M), Women (W), Heat (H), Semi (S), Final (F), Qualifying (Q).
July 5th is an off day.
June 30th
9:00 a.m. The 20K Walks (F). Men begin at 9:00, the Women 1 minute later!
July 1st
11 a.m. Only morning event is Q for M SP.
4:00 to 6:15 p.m., (in order!) Women's DT Q, M 800 H, W HJ Q, W 800 H, W LJ Q, M 400 H, M SP F, W 400 H, and M 10000 F.
July 2nd
9:45 a.m. (with 5th event starting at 2:55 p.m.) M Decathlon (100, LJ, SP, HJ, 400)
10:30 a.m. to 1:46 p.m. M PV Q, W DT F, W 10000 F, W 800 S, W LJ F, M 800 S, W 100 H, M JT Q, M 100 H, W 400 S, M LJ Q, and M 400 S.
(As noted, the Dec 400 will follow this last event at 2:55!)
July 3rd
10:00 a.m.(with 10th event at 5:33 p.m.) M Decathlon (110H, DT, PV, JT, 1500)
3:15 to 5:53 p.m. W HJ F, W 100 S, M LJ F, M 100 F, W 400 F, M 400 F, Masters 1500 Races, M & W, W 100 F, and M 100 F.
The Dec 1500 is scheduled for after the Masters events, and before the 100's!
July 4th
3:30 to 5:51 p.m. M PV F, W 3000SC H, W TJ Q, M JT F, M 3000SC H, M 5000 H, W 800 F, and M 800 F.
July 6th
Hammer Throws ONLY!!
1:00 W Q
3:00 W F
5:00 M Q
7:00 M F
Crazy, huh??
July 7th
11:00 a.m. W SP Q
3:30 to 7:48 p.m. W JT Q, W 5000 H, M TJ Q, W 100H H, M 200 H, W 400H H, M DT Q, W SP F, W 1500 H, W TJ F, M 400H H, M 1500 H, and the W 3000SC F!
July 8th
3:00 to 5:54 p.m. W PV Q, M 110H H, W 200 H, M DT F, W 100H S, M HJ Q, M 1500 S, W 400H S, M 400H S, W 1500 S, M 3000SC F, M 200 S, and W 100H F!!
July 9th
12:30 to 4:40 p.m. W Heptathlon (100H, HJ, SP, 200)
4:00 to 5:52 p.m. W JT F, M TJ F, M 110H S, W 200 S, M 5000 F, M 200 F, and M 110H F.
The Hept 200 is scheduled between the M 110H S and the W 200 S.
July 10th
1:45 to 4:11 p.m. W Heptathlon (LJ, JT, 800)
2:30 to 5:20 p.m. (All Finals!!) W PV, M HJ, W 400H, W 5000, M 400H, W 1500, W 200, and the M 1500!!
The Hept 800 is scheduled between the W 400H and the W 5000!
Coming in the next few hours---
Detailed Previews of ALL events, with separate posts for Men and Women!!
In the Hengelo meet, the Ethiopians held their Olympic Trials for the 10000 meters!
And Almaz Ayana--in her first ever track 10K---ran 30:07.00 to easily defeat Tirunesh Dibaba in her return to track racing, after a long lay-off!!
She makes TWO of my Combined Events lists!
She's now 4th on the 3000-5000-10000 list!
Her times of 8:22.22, 14:12.59, and the 30:07.00 add to 52:41.81.
She's 3rd on the 5000-10000 list, with her 14:12.59 and 30:07.00 adding to 44:19.59!
Geleta Burka nipped the legendary Tirunesh, 30:28.47 to 30:28.53.
That was a 20 second PR for Burka!
Netsanet Gudeta ran 30:36.75 in 4th, with Genet Yalew 5th in 30:37.38
Sebere Teferi followed in 30:40.59.
Three others ran in the 30:50's.
The Men's race saw three under 27:00.
Yegrem Demelash took the win in 26:51.11
Then came Tamirat Tola in 26:57.45, followed closely behind by Abadi Embaye's 26:57.88.
The latter is said to be just 17, born the usual African date of January 1st, but in 1999.
If the YEAR is correct, then he definitely gets my Age "0-17" record, becoming the first of that age to break 27!!
I'm NOT entering that as the record---yet!---until I can verify his age!
BTW, Ken Bekele DNF'ed around the 6000 meters point!
Thomas Kohler exploded out to 299-6 (91.28) in the Javelin Throw!
He moves from 15th A-T World to 10th, tied with 1 other!
Jan Kudlicki PV'ed 19-1.50 for the Czech Republic National Record!
And Michelle Lee Ahye's 22.33 in the 200 is the National Record of Trinidad & Tobago!
She also ran 10.94 in her 100 heat, then won the final with 11.00!
The Olympic Trials Schedule.
I will list the date, the time (Pacific Time), the Gender, the Event, then whether it's a Heat or whatever!
Letters used: Men (M), Women (W), Heat (H), Semi (S), Final (F), Qualifying (Q).
July 5th is an off day.
June 30th
9:00 a.m. The 20K Walks (F). Men begin at 9:00, the Women 1 minute later!
July 1st
11 a.m. Only morning event is Q for M SP.
4:00 to 6:15 p.m., (in order!) Women's DT Q, M 800 H, W HJ Q, W 800 H, W LJ Q, M 400 H, M SP F, W 400 H, and M 10000 F.
July 2nd
9:45 a.m. (with 5th event starting at 2:55 p.m.) M Decathlon (100, LJ, SP, HJ, 400)
10:30 a.m. to 1:46 p.m. M PV Q, W DT F, W 10000 F, W 800 S, W LJ F, M 800 S, W 100 H, M JT Q, M 100 H, W 400 S, M LJ Q, and M 400 S.
(As noted, the Dec 400 will follow this last event at 2:55!)
July 3rd
10:00 a.m.(with 10th event at 5:33 p.m.) M Decathlon (110H, DT, PV, JT, 1500)
3:15 to 5:53 p.m. W HJ F, W 100 S, M LJ F, M 100 F, W 400 F, M 400 F, Masters 1500 Races, M & W, W 100 F, and M 100 F.
The Dec 1500 is scheduled for after the Masters events, and before the 100's!
July 4th
3:30 to 5:51 p.m. M PV F, W 3000SC H, W TJ Q, M JT F, M 3000SC H, M 5000 H, W 800 F, and M 800 F.
July 6th
Hammer Throws ONLY!!
1:00 W Q
3:00 W F
5:00 M Q
7:00 M F
Crazy, huh??
July 7th
11:00 a.m. W SP Q
3:30 to 7:48 p.m. W JT Q, W 5000 H, M TJ Q, W 100H H, M 200 H, W 400H H, M DT Q, W SP F, W 1500 H, W TJ F, M 400H H, M 1500 H, and the W 3000SC F!
July 8th
3:00 to 5:54 p.m. W PV Q, M 110H H, W 200 H, M DT F, W 100H S, M HJ Q, M 1500 S, W 400H S, M 400H S, W 1500 S, M 3000SC F, M 200 S, and W 100H F!!
July 9th
12:30 to 4:40 p.m. W Heptathlon (100H, HJ, SP, 200)
4:00 to 5:52 p.m. W JT F, M TJ F, M 110H S, W 200 S, M 5000 F, M 200 F, and M 110H F.
The Hept 200 is scheduled between the M 110H S and the W 200 S.
July 10th
1:45 to 4:11 p.m. W Heptathlon (LJ, JT, 800)
2:30 to 5:20 p.m. (All Finals!!) W PV, M HJ, W 400H, W 5000, M 400H, W 1500, W 200, and the M 1500!!
The Hept 800 is scheduled between the W 400H and the W 5000!
Coming in the next few hours---
Detailed Previews of ALL events, with separate posts for Men and Women!!
Monday, June 27, 2016
Hurdles Party Time at USATF JR's
No events held more expectations, or resulted in more mind-bending results, than the Women's hurdles.
Take your pick.
You had the HSR holder in the 400H--Sydney McLaughlin--readying for the Olympic Trials.
You had as deep a field---on the HS level---as any seen at the Professional level among USA Women in the 100H.
For the Men, while somewhat less in deed, you had a strong trio ready to roar in the Sprint Hurdles.
And you had Sydney's brother Taylor ready to prove that not ALL the McLaughlin family Hurdling talent laid on the female side!
Let the Games begin!!
Sydney?
Eh.
She ran a measly 54.54 to win the long race.
(I'm KIDDING, folks!!)
A mere 0.08 slower than her HSR, she surely looked ready for more---a LOT more!
Cruising to victory, she set the USATF JR's Meet Record, breaking her own mark!!
While she wasn't seriously challenged, the 2nd & 3rd placers ran better than ever!
Anna Cockrell broke into the 55's, running an 0.39 PR, her 55.89 moving her up 1 spot on the A-T HS list, from 5th to 4th!
And Brandee Johnson really revved up her game, timing 56.16, and moving all the way from 17th to 6th on the A-T HS list!!
In the heats, McLaughlin ran 56.62, while Cockrell did 57.05.
Taylor McLaughlin strode to a win in the 400H with his non-PR of 50.74.
He had run his heat in 51.04.
Norman Grimes, with a 50.10 PR, ran just 54.99 in his heat!
Don't know why!
In the 110H, Marcus Krah took control in the heats, running a quick, though non-PR time of 13.37.
But in the final, he ripped a 13.25, with a legal wind of 1.6.
This moved him from 4th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 3rd.
Two other HS'ers took 3rd & 4th.
(I'm not mentioning the 2nd placer, a collegian, as they don't use the 39 inch hurdles!!)
Grant Holloway ran 13.37, making him 9th A-T HS, tied with 1 other.
Then came Trey Cunningham, also timed in 13.37.
He moved from 20th A-T HS, tied with 3 others, to 9th, where he's now tied with Holloway!
Another threat, Chad Zallow, was DQ'ed!
I saved the best--and most startling!!--for last! (Among the Hurdles races, that is!)
Remember the name Tia Jones.
A 15 year old Freshman (She turns 16 in September!!), she shocked everyone--maybe including herself!!--by SMASHING through the 13 second barrier, and by breaking the High School Record of Dior Hall, and by breaking the Meet Record held by Kendell Williams----running a spectacular time of 12.84 (1.2), while beating an All-Star field in the doing!
And that was in the HEATS!!!
You heard me!
In the frigging HEATS!!
She blasted off the blocks, leaving all her older rivals behind, and arrived at the tape in just 12.84 seconds, WAY ahead of anyone's most insane predictions or dreams!!
Ir's the HSR, the Frosh Class record, the World Age 15 record, and the USATF JR's Meet Record!!
She moved from 7th to 1st on the A-T HS list!
In a separate heat, with a wind of 0.6, Tonea Marshall ran a non-PR (!) of 13.07,
Next in the same heat came Chanel Brissett's non-PR of 13.13, followed by Alexis Duncan in 13.16
For Duncan, she moved from 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 9th.
Next (in Jones's heat) came USC Collegian Jasmyne Graham, with her 13.21.
Ashley Miller ran 13.25, while Jayla Stewart ran 13.29.
Then came the final!
What would the sprightly young Tia do for an encore?
All eyes focused on this incredible phenom!
She ran 13.05.
In any other situation, any other race, this would have been a PR by 0.09 seconds, and still the Frosh Class record.
In this race, she was nipped by the fast improving Duncan!
Her winning 13.04 moved her from 9th to 6th, where she's tied with 1 other!
They're on their way to Poland!!
There were no more PR's, but the times were still good, with a legal wind of 0.3.
Anna Cockrell, a two-time Hurdles talent, ran 13.21 in 3rd, followed by Ashley Miller (13.22), Graham (13.25), Brissett (13.29), Stewart (13.32), with Marshall bringing up the rear with her 13.50.
(Not sure why Marshall wasn't up to her high standards here!)
Candace Hill, the new Pro, took care of Kaylin Whitney's then-HSR (as well as MR) of 11.10, sprinting the 100 in 11.09--in her heat!
Using a near-max wind of 1.9, Hill's time was an MR, as well as a HS PRO record, and a HS PRO Junior Class record!
She went on to run 11.24 to win the final (1.2).
Second was a full 0.17 seconds behind!
She scratched from the 200, even though she'd said in an interview that she wanted a time of 22.3 in the final!
She'd won her heat easily in 22.76.
Jayla Kirkland used Hill's absence to beat Taylor Bennett's 23.20 with her 23.16.
Michael Norman and Noah Lyles were 2 other sprinters being closely watched here!
Lyles--whose brother Josephus didn't run in the meet, and in fact ended his season, due to slow recovery from an injury--ran a great time of 10.08 in the 100.
But he was foiled by a JUST-illegal wind of 2.2!
Norman--after a heat time of 20.54 (0.8), tore up the track in the final, timing 20.15.
This was a USATF JR's Meet Record--beating the 20.18 by one Noah Lyles!!
Norman moved from 5th A-T HS to 3rd--just 0.02 from tying the HSR!!
The distance crowd performed very well overall, with some fast times--but it was the Women's 5000 that produced the most unexpected result!
Anna Rohrer, a Notre Dame Freshman, had run 15:32 INdoors, losing only to her teammate Molly Seidel!
No HS'er in the field had run faster than 16:28, a time Fiona O'Keefe had run earlier this OUTdoor season.
She seemed a safe bet for an easy ticket to Poland!
The race proceeded at a good clip, with the HS star tagging along in the shadow of the older Rohrer.
Now experienced in tight races (See my Brooks PR report on the Women's 2 Mile there!), O'Keefe clung to Rohrer like a barnacle to a rock.
With just over a lap to go, Rohrer started her kick, putting some distance between them, appearing on her way to a solid win.
But her engine stalled.
Running an "average" final lap of 71, O'Keefe finally won by a second, 15:56.84 to Rohrer's 15:57.92.
It's the Meet Record (by almost 14 seconds!!), and moves her from 17th A-T HS to 6th!!
Bella Burda was a far back 3rd in 16:43 and change!
If only Kate Murphy cared (or knew!) about HSR's!
With a 4:07.21 PR in the 1500 (off a 62 last 400!!), she has definite HSR (and then some!!) potential, probably in the range of a sub-8:50 for 3000 meters!!
But she's on her way to Eugene soon, where she'll face the likes of AR holder Shannon Rowbury and iconic Jenny Simpson, with possibly THREE races to run (if she makes the semis and final!!).
So here, in Clovis CA, she was more interested in "just" winning, and gaining a free ride to Europe for the WJC's!
This explains her winning time of 9:10.51 over the 9:11.66 of Katie Rainsberger!!
Missing the 1975 HSR of Lynn Bjorklund by less than 2 seconds, her time is the new Meet Record (beating Mary Cain's mark from 2014!), as well as the Junior Class record!
It makes her 2nd A-T HS!!
Rainsberger sprinted into 3rd on the same list!
They were followed by Destiny Collins, who ran her final HS race in a non-PR 9:21.44.
Knocked OFF my DDD were a couple of "oldies".
Gone are Sarah Schwald's 9:22.57 from 1990, as well as Aileen O'Connor's 9:22.68, dating back 39 years, to 1977!!
Two different young stars of the middle distances had a great duel in the 1500.
At least over the last 800!!
With an easy (!?) target of Mary Cain's 4:14.74 MR to beat, the duo of Christine Aragon (4:09.27 PR) and Alexa Efraimson (4:03.39 as a post-HS Profesh) took off together from the gun---slowly!
Hitting the 700 meter post at a snail's pace (for THEM!!) 2:09, they were aimed at finishing in a MoBot-style 4:30 or so--or just under 4:50 Mile pace!!
But Alexa, who has some serious street cred toward making the Rio squad, then upped the ante to a 62.7 lap to the 1100 line, followed like a preying hawk by Aragon.
It was only in the still-fast last 400 that Efraimson was able to put her young wannabe away, where they ran credible times in the mid-60's.
Their final 800's were 2:07.3 (Efraimson) and 2:08.3 (Aragon)!
THOSE 2 laps work out to a potential time of 3:58 or so!!
Shannon and Jenny may be locks (??), but that 3rd spot is gonna be a RACE!!!
And these 2 (as well as Kate Murphy) should have all the "adults" watching their backs!!
Both 800's produced Meet Records, but the Men's race winner was NOT named Donavan Brazier!!
A last minute scratch---or maybe just a DNS--Mr Brazier was maybe saving his all for next week's Trials!
Meanwhile, Vincent Crisp (Huh? Who??) took the win with the MR time of 1:46.87.
(How much faster might Brazier have taken it down??)
He beat Brian Bell's 1:47.18, and Carlton Orange's 1:47.87.
First HS'er--in 5th--was Brandon McGorty, with a 1:49.21.
In the Women's 800 heats, HS'er Ailiyah Miller ran 2:04.07, becoming 21st A-T HS.
Caitlin Collier, who recently ran a 1500 PR of 4:19.05 (See a previous post!), finished in 2:04.89, missing my DDD by 0.49 seconds.
But the final was a rip-roaring doozy!!
Sammy Watson--she of the 2:03.06 PR--outsprinted Miller by just 0.05, both nailing Trials Q's!!
Watson's 2:02.91 is the USATF JR's Meet Record!!
It was the oldest MR too--LeAnn Warren's 2:03.1 from 1979!!
This moved her from 11th to 9th on the A-T HS list!
VERY close behind came Miller's 2:02.96, which moves her all the way from 21st to 10th on the same HS list!!
In 3rd was surprising Ruby Stauber, whose 2:03.43 makes her 16th A-T HS!!
Knocked OFF my list was a real oldie--Ann Regan's 1977 time of 2:04.4!
The Women's HT was a biggie!
Joy McArthur, a newcomer to the HS list recently, upped her game to 203-8, which moves her from 5th to 2nd on the A-T HS list!
She'd had an earlier-round PR of 199-3, along with 4 fouls!
Ohio State's Olatoye Sade hit 198-8, with Haley Showalter next with 194-1.
In 4th, with a big PR throw of 191-2, came Shot Putter-supreme Alyssa Wilson!!
It makes her 14th A-T HS!!
Wilson won her specialty with 52-7.25, over 3 feet shy of her Junior Class record!!
Elena Bruckner threw just 51-0.75 in 2nd.
The Men's SP--which used a 13.2 pound ball!!--saw the 12 pound star trio of 2016 prevail!
Tripp Piperi won with 66-2.50---which for my purposes, is meaningless and useless!!
Bronson Osborn was next with 65-11.25, with Jordan Geist's 64-3.50 following.
Chris Nilsen found it less windy here, so nailed another 18 footer, his 18-0.50 prevailing over Deakin Volz's 17-10.50.
Nilsen made the height on his 3rd try, then missed 3 times at 18-6.50!
In the Women's PV, Collegian Mackenzie Shell went out after clearing 13-3.50.
She finished 5th.
The winner was Rachel Baxter, whose 13-9.25 matched Carson Dingler's 2nd place mark.
Dingler moves from 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 13th!
The Multis were taken by Cale Wagner, who scored 7532 points in what appears to be his first Decathlon (!!), and by NBN winner Emma Fitzgerald's 5451, which missed her NBN score by 13 points!!
Kaylee Hinton, who was fighting for the win after 5 events, fouled 3 times in the JT, finishing back in 10th after running the 800!
Other USATF JR events included---
Anali Cisneros Walking to a 10K win of 51:24.73, with Mile record holder Lauren Harris far back in 3rd.
Cameron Haught taking the Men's Walk with his 47:04.32.
Lynna Irby winning the 400 in 52.51, after a heat in 53.10.
Kahmari Montgomery edging Wil London in the Men's 400, 45.61 to 45.64!
Bobby Colantonio defeated Adam Kelly in the HT (NOT the HS weighted implement!!), 243-2 to 239-6!
Katelyn Gochenour taking the JT with her 163-10.
Madison Wiltrout was 5th.
Elena Bruckner beating Kiana Phelps in the DT, 179-10 to 176-9.
In 3rd was Josephine Schaefer, a HS Junior, her 176-3 making her 24th A-T HS!
Haley Showalter finished 11th, while Alyssa Wilson had 3 fouls!
Connor Bandel took the Men's "junior" weight Discus Throw with 202-7.
Darius Corbin took the HJ with 7-3.25, while Nicole Green won her gender's event with 6-0.
Charles Brown (No jokes, please!) of Texas Tech won the TJ with 53-7.75.
JaMari Ward was just 6th!
But Ward won the LJ, leaping a solid 25-8.75!
This makes him 23rd A-T HS, tied with 2 others!
Harrison Schrage was 2nd with 25-3.25.
Hudson Keffer of Arizona State won the JT with 229-10.
Liam Christensen had 3 fouls!!
The first 4 guys in the 10000 finished within 0.69 of each other, with Thomas Pollard's 30:46.04 prevailing.
Alaskan HS'er Levi Thomet was a creditable 4th in 30:46.73, but missed the HS list by 16 seconds!
Bria Matthews took a close Women's LJ with her 21-3.50 win over Samiyah Samuels's 21-1.50.
It makes Samuels 9th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!
Matthews also won her specialty, the TJ, with a modest 43-2.25.
HS'er Chinne Okoronkwo was 2nd with 42-8.25.
At 1100 (in the Men's 1500), Austin Tamagno led in 2:51.20.
But he was outkicked by 2 Collegians, with Diego Zarate's 56 final lap leading to a time of 3:47.53.
Tamagno ran his final 400 in 57.7!
The 3000SC's were won in pedestrian (Read: SLOW!) times of 10:31.11 (Devin Clark) and 8:56.03 (Alex Rogers).
HS'er Eion Nohilly, who ran 9:06 recently, was 4th in 9:10 and change.
In 8th in the Women's race was HS'er Marissa Flournoy's 10:48.68, which make her 9th A-T HS!
Finally (at the JR's meet!) was the Men's 5000!
I'm embarrassed to reveal the winning time.
Let's just say that the two leading WOMEN in their 5K would have been somewhat competitive here!!
Zachary Snider ran (Errrr, CRAWLED!!!) the distance in 15:28.46!
(Remember, Anna Rohrer's PR is her INdoor 15:32.03!!)
Want more??
Well, I HAVE more!!
Take a breather, then come back in and sit down!!
Khalifa St Fort--the (almost!) forgotten (by ME!!) HS PRO--ran 11.15 in the Trinidad & Tobago Oly Trials, which is the new HS PRO Senior Class record!!
Also in this meet, Michael Cedeno won the 400 in 44.45!
In the African Championships---just days before the Kenyan Olympic trials!--22 year old Alice Aprot won the 10000 in 30:26.94, a startling 58 second track PR (She ran a Road 10K in 31:02!).
Wayde Van Niekerk won the 200 in a quick 20.02.
In the Ratingen Multis meet, Jessica Ennis-Hill scored a big 6733 points, indicating super fitness before Rio!
The Men's Decathlon was won with a PR of 8605 by Germany's Arthur Abele!!
He misses my World DDD by 49 points!
Renaud Lavillenie got a World leading PV with his 19-6.25!
Pawel Fajdek threw the Hammer 268-7.
What better way to end (Yes, END!!) this BOOK than with an American Record??
Shalane Flanagan's winning time at the BAA race did the job, her time being 30:52!
She beat her own 31:03, run last October!
And she had some challengers!
Edna Kiplagat, now 36 years old (Flanagan will turn 35 in just 11 days!!), ran 31:06, after sticking with Flanagan through 5 miles!
Getting a big PR in 3rd was Flanagan's friend, training partner, and Olympic Trials Marathon savior, Amy Cragg, who timed out in 31:31.
Daniel Chebii took the Men;s race in 27:55.
In 4th was Dathan Ritzenhein's 28:12.
Next??
My MASSIVE Olympic Trials Preview posts---one for each gender!
That (hopefully!!) will be followed by my blog's blanket coverage of the US Trials...beginning in about 81 hours with the 20000 Meter Walks!!
See you soon!!
Take your pick.
You had the HSR holder in the 400H--Sydney McLaughlin--readying for the Olympic Trials.
You had as deep a field---on the HS level---as any seen at the Professional level among USA Women in the 100H.
For the Men, while somewhat less in deed, you had a strong trio ready to roar in the Sprint Hurdles.
And you had Sydney's brother Taylor ready to prove that not ALL the McLaughlin family Hurdling talent laid on the female side!
Let the Games begin!!
Sydney?
Eh.
She ran a measly 54.54 to win the long race.
(I'm KIDDING, folks!!)
A mere 0.08 slower than her HSR, she surely looked ready for more---a LOT more!
Cruising to victory, she set the USATF JR's Meet Record, breaking her own mark!!
While she wasn't seriously challenged, the 2nd & 3rd placers ran better than ever!
Anna Cockrell broke into the 55's, running an 0.39 PR, her 55.89 moving her up 1 spot on the A-T HS list, from 5th to 4th!
And Brandee Johnson really revved up her game, timing 56.16, and moving all the way from 17th to 6th on the A-T HS list!!
In the heats, McLaughlin ran 56.62, while Cockrell did 57.05.
Taylor McLaughlin strode to a win in the 400H with his non-PR of 50.74.
He had run his heat in 51.04.
Norman Grimes, with a 50.10 PR, ran just 54.99 in his heat!
Don't know why!
In the 110H, Marcus Krah took control in the heats, running a quick, though non-PR time of 13.37.
But in the final, he ripped a 13.25, with a legal wind of 1.6.
This moved him from 4th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 3rd.
Two other HS'ers took 3rd & 4th.
(I'm not mentioning the 2nd placer, a collegian, as they don't use the 39 inch hurdles!!)
Grant Holloway ran 13.37, making him 9th A-T HS, tied with 1 other.
Then came Trey Cunningham, also timed in 13.37.
He moved from 20th A-T HS, tied with 3 others, to 9th, where he's now tied with Holloway!
Another threat, Chad Zallow, was DQ'ed!
I saved the best--and most startling!!--for last! (Among the Hurdles races, that is!)
Remember the name Tia Jones.
A 15 year old Freshman (She turns 16 in September!!), she shocked everyone--maybe including herself!!--by SMASHING through the 13 second barrier, and by breaking the High School Record of Dior Hall, and by breaking the Meet Record held by Kendell Williams----running a spectacular time of 12.84 (1.2), while beating an All-Star field in the doing!
And that was in the HEATS!!!
You heard me!
In the frigging HEATS!!
She blasted off the blocks, leaving all her older rivals behind, and arrived at the tape in just 12.84 seconds, WAY ahead of anyone's most insane predictions or dreams!!
Ir's the HSR, the Frosh Class record, the World Age 15 record, and the USATF JR's Meet Record!!
She moved from 7th to 1st on the A-T HS list!
In a separate heat, with a wind of 0.6, Tonea Marshall ran a non-PR (!) of 13.07,
Next in the same heat came Chanel Brissett's non-PR of 13.13, followed by Alexis Duncan in 13.16
For Duncan, she moved from 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 9th.
Next (in Jones's heat) came USC Collegian Jasmyne Graham, with her 13.21.
Ashley Miller ran 13.25, while Jayla Stewart ran 13.29.
Then came the final!
What would the sprightly young Tia do for an encore?
All eyes focused on this incredible phenom!
She ran 13.05.
In any other situation, any other race, this would have been a PR by 0.09 seconds, and still the Frosh Class record.
In this race, she was nipped by the fast improving Duncan!
Her winning 13.04 moved her from 9th to 6th, where she's tied with 1 other!
They're on their way to Poland!!
There were no more PR's, but the times were still good, with a legal wind of 0.3.
Anna Cockrell, a two-time Hurdles talent, ran 13.21 in 3rd, followed by Ashley Miller (13.22), Graham (13.25), Brissett (13.29), Stewart (13.32), with Marshall bringing up the rear with her 13.50.
(Not sure why Marshall wasn't up to her high standards here!)
Candace Hill, the new Pro, took care of Kaylin Whitney's then-HSR (as well as MR) of 11.10, sprinting the 100 in 11.09--in her heat!
Using a near-max wind of 1.9, Hill's time was an MR, as well as a HS PRO record, and a HS PRO Junior Class record!
She went on to run 11.24 to win the final (1.2).
Second was a full 0.17 seconds behind!
She scratched from the 200, even though she'd said in an interview that she wanted a time of 22.3 in the final!
She'd won her heat easily in 22.76.
Jayla Kirkland used Hill's absence to beat Taylor Bennett's 23.20 with her 23.16.
Michael Norman and Noah Lyles were 2 other sprinters being closely watched here!
Lyles--whose brother Josephus didn't run in the meet, and in fact ended his season, due to slow recovery from an injury--ran a great time of 10.08 in the 100.
But he was foiled by a JUST-illegal wind of 2.2!
Norman--after a heat time of 20.54 (0.8), tore up the track in the final, timing 20.15.
This was a USATF JR's Meet Record--beating the 20.18 by one Noah Lyles!!
Norman moved from 5th A-T HS to 3rd--just 0.02 from tying the HSR!!
The distance crowd performed very well overall, with some fast times--but it was the Women's 5000 that produced the most unexpected result!
Anna Rohrer, a Notre Dame Freshman, had run 15:32 INdoors, losing only to her teammate Molly Seidel!
No HS'er in the field had run faster than 16:28, a time Fiona O'Keefe had run earlier this OUTdoor season.
She seemed a safe bet for an easy ticket to Poland!
The race proceeded at a good clip, with the HS star tagging along in the shadow of the older Rohrer.
Now experienced in tight races (See my Brooks PR report on the Women's 2 Mile there!), O'Keefe clung to Rohrer like a barnacle to a rock.
With just over a lap to go, Rohrer started her kick, putting some distance between them, appearing on her way to a solid win.
But her engine stalled.
Running an "average" final lap of 71, O'Keefe finally won by a second, 15:56.84 to Rohrer's 15:57.92.
It's the Meet Record (by almost 14 seconds!!), and moves her from 17th A-T HS to 6th!!
Bella Burda was a far back 3rd in 16:43 and change!
If only Kate Murphy cared (or knew!) about HSR's!
With a 4:07.21 PR in the 1500 (off a 62 last 400!!), she has definite HSR (and then some!!) potential, probably in the range of a sub-8:50 for 3000 meters!!
But she's on her way to Eugene soon, where she'll face the likes of AR holder Shannon Rowbury and iconic Jenny Simpson, with possibly THREE races to run (if she makes the semis and final!!).
So here, in Clovis CA, she was more interested in "just" winning, and gaining a free ride to Europe for the WJC's!
This explains her winning time of 9:10.51 over the 9:11.66 of Katie Rainsberger!!
Missing the 1975 HSR of Lynn Bjorklund by less than 2 seconds, her time is the new Meet Record (beating Mary Cain's mark from 2014!), as well as the Junior Class record!
It makes her 2nd A-T HS!!
Rainsberger sprinted into 3rd on the same list!
They were followed by Destiny Collins, who ran her final HS race in a non-PR 9:21.44.
Knocked OFF my DDD were a couple of "oldies".
Gone are Sarah Schwald's 9:22.57 from 1990, as well as Aileen O'Connor's 9:22.68, dating back 39 years, to 1977!!
Two different young stars of the middle distances had a great duel in the 1500.
At least over the last 800!!
With an easy (!?) target of Mary Cain's 4:14.74 MR to beat, the duo of Christine Aragon (4:09.27 PR) and Alexa Efraimson (4:03.39 as a post-HS Profesh) took off together from the gun---slowly!
Hitting the 700 meter post at a snail's pace (for THEM!!) 2:09, they were aimed at finishing in a MoBot-style 4:30 or so--or just under 4:50 Mile pace!!
But Alexa, who has some serious street cred toward making the Rio squad, then upped the ante to a 62.7 lap to the 1100 line, followed like a preying hawk by Aragon.
It was only in the still-fast last 400 that Efraimson was able to put her young wannabe away, where they ran credible times in the mid-60's.
Their final 800's were 2:07.3 (Efraimson) and 2:08.3 (Aragon)!
THOSE 2 laps work out to a potential time of 3:58 or so!!
Shannon and Jenny may be locks (??), but that 3rd spot is gonna be a RACE!!!
And these 2 (as well as Kate Murphy) should have all the "adults" watching their backs!!
Both 800's produced Meet Records, but the Men's race winner was NOT named Donavan Brazier!!
A last minute scratch---or maybe just a DNS--Mr Brazier was maybe saving his all for next week's Trials!
Meanwhile, Vincent Crisp (Huh? Who??) took the win with the MR time of 1:46.87.
(How much faster might Brazier have taken it down??)
He beat Brian Bell's 1:47.18, and Carlton Orange's 1:47.87.
First HS'er--in 5th--was Brandon McGorty, with a 1:49.21.
In the Women's 800 heats, HS'er Ailiyah Miller ran 2:04.07, becoming 21st A-T HS.
Caitlin Collier, who recently ran a 1500 PR of 4:19.05 (See a previous post!), finished in 2:04.89, missing my DDD by 0.49 seconds.
But the final was a rip-roaring doozy!!
Sammy Watson--she of the 2:03.06 PR--outsprinted Miller by just 0.05, both nailing Trials Q's!!
Watson's 2:02.91 is the USATF JR's Meet Record!!
It was the oldest MR too--LeAnn Warren's 2:03.1 from 1979!!
This moved her from 11th to 9th on the A-T HS list!
VERY close behind came Miller's 2:02.96, which moves her all the way from 21st to 10th on the same HS list!!
In 3rd was surprising Ruby Stauber, whose 2:03.43 makes her 16th A-T HS!!
Knocked OFF my list was a real oldie--Ann Regan's 1977 time of 2:04.4!
The Women's HT was a biggie!
Joy McArthur, a newcomer to the HS list recently, upped her game to 203-8, which moves her from 5th to 2nd on the A-T HS list!
She'd had an earlier-round PR of 199-3, along with 4 fouls!
Ohio State's Olatoye Sade hit 198-8, with Haley Showalter next with 194-1.
In 4th, with a big PR throw of 191-2, came Shot Putter-supreme Alyssa Wilson!!
It makes her 14th A-T HS!!
Wilson won her specialty with 52-7.25, over 3 feet shy of her Junior Class record!!
Elena Bruckner threw just 51-0.75 in 2nd.
The Men's SP--which used a 13.2 pound ball!!--saw the 12 pound star trio of 2016 prevail!
Tripp Piperi won with 66-2.50---which for my purposes, is meaningless and useless!!
Bronson Osborn was next with 65-11.25, with Jordan Geist's 64-3.50 following.
Chris Nilsen found it less windy here, so nailed another 18 footer, his 18-0.50 prevailing over Deakin Volz's 17-10.50.
Nilsen made the height on his 3rd try, then missed 3 times at 18-6.50!
In the Women's PV, Collegian Mackenzie Shell went out after clearing 13-3.50.
She finished 5th.
The winner was Rachel Baxter, whose 13-9.25 matched Carson Dingler's 2nd place mark.
Dingler moves from 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 13th!
The Multis were taken by Cale Wagner, who scored 7532 points in what appears to be his first Decathlon (!!), and by NBN winner Emma Fitzgerald's 5451, which missed her NBN score by 13 points!!
Kaylee Hinton, who was fighting for the win after 5 events, fouled 3 times in the JT, finishing back in 10th after running the 800!
Other USATF JR events included---
Anali Cisneros Walking to a 10K win of 51:24.73, with Mile record holder Lauren Harris far back in 3rd.
Cameron Haught taking the Men's Walk with his 47:04.32.
Lynna Irby winning the 400 in 52.51, after a heat in 53.10.
Kahmari Montgomery edging Wil London in the Men's 400, 45.61 to 45.64!
Bobby Colantonio defeated Adam Kelly in the HT (NOT the HS weighted implement!!), 243-2 to 239-6!
Katelyn Gochenour taking the JT with her 163-10.
Madison Wiltrout was 5th.
Elena Bruckner beating Kiana Phelps in the DT, 179-10 to 176-9.
In 3rd was Josephine Schaefer, a HS Junior, her 176-3 making her 24th A-T HS!
Haley Showalter finished 11th, while Alyssa Wilson had 3 fouls!
Connor Bandel took the Men's "junior" weight Discus Throw with 202-7.
Darius Corbin took the HJ with 7-3.25, while Nicole Green won her gender's event with 6-0.
Charles Brown (No jokes, please!) of Texas Tech won the TJ with 53-7.75.
JaMari Ward was just 6th!
But Ward won the LJ, leaping a solid 25-8.75!
This makes him 23rd A-T HS, tied with 2 others!
Harrison Schrage was 2nd with 25-3.25.
Hudson Keffer of Arizona State won the JT with 229-10.
Liam Christensen had 3 fouls!!
The first 4 guys in the 10000 finished within 0.69 of each other, with Thomas Pollard's 30:46.04 prevailing.
Alaskan HS'er Levi Thomet was a creditable 4th in 30:46.73, but missed the HS list by 16 seconds!
Bria Matthews took a close Women's LJ with her 21-3.50 win over Samiyah Samuels's 21-1.50.
It makes Samuels 9th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!
Matthews also won her specialty, the TJ, with a modest 43-2.25.
HS'er Chinne Okoronkwo was 2nd with 42-8.25.
At 1100 (in the Men's 1500), Austin Tamagno led in 2:51.20.
But he was outkicked by 2 Collegians, with Diego Zarate's 56 final lap leading to a time of 3:47.53.
Tamagno ran his final 400 in 57.7!
The 3000SC's were won in pedestrian (Read: SLOW!) times of 10:31.11 (Devin Clark) and 8:56.03 (Alex Rogers).
HS'er Eion Nohilly, who ran 9:06 recently, was 4th in 9:10 and change.
In 8th in the Women's race was HS'er Marissa Flournoy's 10:48.68, which make her 9th A-T HS!
Finally (at the JR's meet!) was the Men's 5000!
I'm embarrassed to reveal the winning time.
Let's just say that the two leading WOMEN in their 5K would have been somewhat competitive here!!
Zachary Snider ran (Errrr, CRAWLED!!!) the distance in 15:28.46!
(Remember, Anna Rohrer's PR is her INdoor 15:32.03!!)
Want more??
Well, I HAVE more!!
Take a breather, then come back in and sit down!!
Khalifa St Fort--the (almost!) forgotten (by ME!!) HS PRO--ran 11.15 in the Trinidad & Tobago Oly Trials, which is the new HS PRO Senior Class record!!
Also in this meet, Michael Cedeno won the 400 in 44.45!
In the African Championships---just days before the Kenyan Olympic trials!--22 year old Alice Aprot won the 10000 in 30:26.94, a startling 58 second track PR (She ran a Road 10K in 31:02!).
Wayde Van Niekerk won the 200 in a quick 20.02.
In the Ratingen Multis meet, Jessica Ennis-Hill scored a big 6733 points, indicating super fitness before Rio!
The Men's Decathlon was won with a PR of 8605 by Germany's Arthur Abele!!
He misses my World DDD by 49 points!
Renaud Lavillenie got a World leading PV with his 19-6.25!
Pawel Fajdek threw the Hammer 268-7.
What better way to end (Yes, END!!) this BOOK than with an American Record??
Shalane Flanagan's winning time at the BAA race did the job, her time being 30:52!
She beat her own 31:03, run last October!
And she had some challengers!
Edna Kiplagat, now 36 years old (Flanagan will turn 35 in just 11 days!!), ran 31:06, after sticking with Flanagan through 5 miles!
Getting a big PR in 3rd was Flanagan's friend, training partner, and Olympic Trials Marathon savior, Amy Cragg, who timed out in 31:31.
Daniel Chebii took the Men;s race in 27:55.
In 4th was Dathan Ritzenhein's 28:12.
Next??
My MASSIVE Olympic Trials Preview posts---one for each gender!
That (hopefully!!) will be followed by my blog's blanket coverage of the US Trials...beginning in about 81 hours with the 20000 Meter Walks!!
See you soon!!
Friday, June 24, 2016
USATF JR's Preview--& much more
I almost decided to NOT do a Preview of the USATF Junior Championships, beginning in a few hours in STEAMING (100+ temps!!) Clovis, California!!
Reason being, I checked back to 2014 & 2015 to see what format I'd used for this same meet's Preview in THOSE years--only to discover I didn't DO a Preview either year!!
Poor memory aside, there's another reason for not doing an extensive Preview!
There's only a limited number of really LOADED events. The others have so few notable names that I just didn't see the need for an extensive Preview!
That said, I'll begin this post with the latest in the Records & Marks departments, THEN do a complete, but limited Preview of the US Trials for the World Junior meet!
She is back!!
After 3 years off the charts--due to pregnancy & injuries--Yelena Isinbayeva of the embattled nation of Russia, attempted the World Record height in the PV of 5.07 (16-7.50) in the Russian Championships!
She missed her one attempt, but MADE 4.90, or 16-0.75, to take over the World lead!!
She gets the Age 34 record, OUTdoor variety!
Thus, she is the oldest OUTdoor 16 footer ever!!
Isi opened at 4.60, making it on 1st attempt, then made 4.80 on her 2nd.
She then passed 4.85, moving to the 4.90, which took all 3 tries!
And she didn't have it easy!
Anzhelika Sidorova had the meet of her life, going over 15-11.
She moves from 15th A-T World to 6th, tied with one other!
Sergey Shubenkov ran the 110H in 13.20, after a heat of 13.27.
Anna Chicherova's 6-6 HJ prevailed over Mariya Kuchina's 6-5.
Darya Klishina LJ'ed 22-5.25.
Antonina Krivoshapka ran 400 in 50.70.
Yekaterina Ivanova ran the 3000SC in 9:24.66.
Aleksandra Galyaeva ran 800 meters in 2:01.22.
Ilya Shkuranev won the Decathlon with 8292 points.
And some of those people WILL be in Rio, according to some sources, but maybe NOT wearing Russian colors!
(That's absurd!! Who would NOT know they're from Russia, especially if they medal, and are handed a giant Russian flag to wave as they do a victory lap?? And what music will be played, as they stand proudly on the podium? The theme from "SHAFT"???)
In a meet in Madrid, Yulimar Rojas moved into the stratosphere of TJ'ing, hurtling through the air all the way to 49-3.50 in the 6th round!
She gets the Age 20 record, which also exceeds the best by a 21 year old!!
It also breaks her own National Record of Venezuela!
She becomes 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other!!
April Steiner-Bennett recently PV'ed 14-11, becoming the Age 36 record holder!
Nery Brenes ran 400 meters in 44.60, breaking his own National Record of Costa Rica.
In the Stumptown meet in Portland--basically a "Last Chance" meet to qualify for the Trials--there were some interesting results, although times were slower than expected, perhaps partially due to it raining during the meet.
Galen Rupp was handed his hat by TWO Collegians in the 5000!!
Justyn Knight beat Woody Kincaid, 13:26.36 to 13:27.32.
And Kincaid just nipped Rupp at the line by 0.02!!
If you're unfamiliar with Kincaid, he's from Portland U, and beat Ed Cheserek earlier this year, back when Ches was recovering from a cold!
Kincaid PR'ed by 5 seconds over his NCAA time, which in turn was a PR by more than 10 seconds!
Brian Schrader was 4th, while Eric Jenkins finished in 7th!
Lucy Oliver (formerly Van Dalen) of New Zealand won the Women's 5000 in 15:24.00.
Tara Welling, a former NOP member, beat current NOP'er Jordan Hasay, 15:26.80 to 15:29.70, although they finished 2nd & 4th!
Aisling Cuffe ended in 5th with 15:35, while Mary Cain couldn't even beat her HSR of 3 years ago, running just 15:49.20 back in 11th place!
Cain also finished 3rd in the earlier 1500, running 4:13.16, behind winner Colleen Quigley's 4:12.21 and 2nd placer Brie Felnagle's 4:12.85.
Looks like Quigley's in shape to challenge for a 3000SC team position at the Trials!!
Speaking of the Women's Steeple, HSR holder (10:00.72 in 2012) Brianna Nerud seems to finally be tapping some of her potential!!
She finished 3rd, with a PR by 8 seconds, time of 9:50.90.
Winning--with an 11 second PR!!--was Megan Patrignelli, who ran 9:43.37!
Erin Teschuk took 2nd in 9:48.65.
Tabor Stevens took the Men's SC in 8:37.42, with HSR holder Bailey Roth back in 4th with a non-PR time of 8:40.21.
Jenna Westaway and Chris Low took the 800's, times of 2:01.97 and 1:47.14.
Matthew Centrowitz sprinted to a decisive win in the 1500, time of 3:37.81, with Andy Wheating well back in 3:40.22.
Further back--in 7th, 10th, and 16th (last!) were Ed Cheserek, Grant Fisher, and Matthew Maton!!
Before I begin my Preview of the USATF Juniors, BIG news!!
Brigetta Barrett, 2nd A-T US in the HJ, has apparently retired!
Garry Hill said this on the T&FN Message Board, but without providing any link or other way to source this news!!
Her Twitter site says nothing about it, it being filled with stuff about her acting and singing careers!!
More on this when (and if) I find out anything!
With a High Schooler being our best HJ hope now, and with Barrett's one-time Arch Rival Chaunte Lowe being seemingly stuck in the 6-4 to 6-5 range, Barrett's absence will be HUGELY felt!!
She's been fighting injuries the past few years!!
Following is my brief Preview of the Men's events of the USATF Junior Championships.
I'll list the event, the Meet Record, then some names to watch for!
100 (10.00) Noah Lyles, apparently NOT injured (as I'd apparently mistakenly stated in a previous post!), should be heavily favored here! Watch also for his brother Josephus--although he's better in the 400--and Darryl Haraway! The MR should be safe!
200 (20.18) This was supposed to be a MAJOR contest between Noah Lyles and Michael Norman, but Lyles will run just the 100. Norman, also best at 400, COULD challenge Lyles's MR!! Kahmari Montgomery is also one to watch for!
400 (45.01) While I doubt anyone will dip into the 44's, the winner should come from the foursome of Josephus Lyles, Montgomery, Will Allen, or Wil London.
800 (1:47.45) If the MR survives the blitz run of Donavan Brazier, I may quit making predictions!!! It's gonna GO DOWN!! But Brandon McGorty, Carlton Orange, and Myles Marshall should battle for places. One thing to note: Only the winner of each heat automatically advances to the final, with the other places being determined by time! Brazier, Marshall, and McGorty are all in the 2nd heat!!
1500 (3:42.8) The only familiar name is Austin Tamagno, he of the 4:01 Mile earlier this year as a HS'er! If he tries to run fast, the MR could fall!
5000 (13:55.7) Olin Hacker and Alex Ostberg are good, but probably won't run under 14:00!
10000 (29:11.2) Never bet against those tough Alaskans! Thus, put Levi Thomet as the best bet to win here! The MR should survive.
3000SC (8:48.2) Recent HS 9:06 man Eion Nohilly could win, but even if he breaks 9:00, will fall short of the MR!
110H (13.21) They run the HS hurdle height here--39 inches! Chad Zallow, Marcus Krah, and Grant Holloway look to be the favorites. Unless they catch a perfect wind in a perfect race, the MR should remain the same!
400H (49.28) Norman Grimes has run 50.10, but not in awhile! Sydney's older brother, Taylor McLaughlin, is certainly one Grimes should fear!! But the MR appears safe.
10000 Walk (42:50.20) Cameron Haught appears to be the best here! Have no idea if he's ready to challenge the Meet Record, however! But it will be exciting to find out!! He'd have to average just under 1:43 per lap!!
HJ (7-5.25) With HS'er Darryl Sullivan having jumped 7-4 this year, and with Jaron Brooks in this also, the MR could be challenged--at least for a tie!
LJ (26-9.75) Barring a HUGE breakthrough, this MR is here for another year (or decade??). But there's still a good 4-some to watch--Grant Holloway, JaMari Ward, Harrison Schrage, and Rayvon Grey!
TJ (55-2.75) This MR can be put away for another year also! Schrage and Ward should duke it out here too!
PV (18-2) Chris Nilsen said heavy winds disrupted his attempts at NBN, thus explaining his 16-8.75 winner there. That should change here!! The MR is certainly in danger! Good former or current HS'ers will fight for places--including Brandon Bray, Deakin Volz, Paulo Benavides, and Rich McWhorter! Mondo Duplantis---IF he intends to go to WJC's---will probably represent Sweden again, as he's MIA in this event!
SP (64-6.50) That MR is for the 16 pounder! Didn't see any other record listed, so not sure what the Shot's weight will be. That said, the 3 best 2016 HS'ers are all here---Jordan Geist, Bronson Osborn, and Tripp Piperi!! (I'd LOVE to see what they could do with the 16!! See a VERY early "editorial" post on that subject, dating from December 2013!!)
DT (190-9) Again, the MR is with the Pro weighted plate!! And the same 3 HS'ers could prevail here too!!
JT (238-4) Liam Christensen recently threw the Jav 232-1. He looks the best bet here!
HT (256-10 & 213-3) Both weights MR's are given here, for some reason! With Bobby Colantonio and Adam Kelly fighting it out, one or the other could be challenged!!
Decathlon (8016 & 7599) Both Dec MR's---for the adult weights & hurdle heights, and for the "Junior" versions of same--are given! And I didn't see ANY familiar names on the heat sheets!! Might make it more exciting to watch!!
And now for the Women's Preview!
100 (11.10) Candace Hill is now a Professional!! But she hasn't come close to her HSR time of 10.98 yet this year! However, 11.10 is within her wheelhouse!! Watch for NCAA INdoor 60 winner Teahna Daniels and HS'er Lynna Irby to follow Hill to the tape!
200 (22.49) Hill ran a windy 22.38 recently! She could get this record with a good (legal!) wind...even in a heat!! Irby is back again as her main rival.
400 (50.69) Is Irby TRIPLING??? She's listed in all 3 speed events!! But Kaelin Roberts should win here, with Zola Golden, Symone Mason, and Irby (if she's here!) set to challenge! The MR seems safe!
800 (2:03.1) Sammy Watson JUST missed the Trials Q time of 2:03 recently! She WANTS it!! So look for a 59 or 60 first 400!!! Aliyah Miller, Gabrielle Wilkinson, Sophie Cantine , and Caitlin Collier might all crack 2:08!
1500 (4:14.74) Oh BOY!!! This field is EFFing LOADED!!! Alexa Efraimson, 19 year old Pro! Kate Murphy, 4:07.21 with a 62 last lap! Katie Rainsberger, Christine Aragon, both among the best-ever HS'ers!! Add Cantine, Wilkinson, Jordyn Colter, and Julia Heymach for seasoning!! Mary Cain's MR is GONE!!!
3000 (9:15.81) The other Cain MR is probably gone also!! BUT....with Murphy doubling here, and with her serious chance to at least make the Trials final....don't look for a super fast time here! That said, for a 4:07 girl with a 62 last lap kicking ability, 9:15 should be a stroll in the park for her!! But Rainsberger is here also, along with Destiny Collins, Fiona O'Keefe, and Heymach!
5000 (16:10.60) Anna Rohrer, who was VERY fast as a Notre Dame Frosh this year, should win this, with the MR well within her sights (except for the expected 100+ temps!!)!! O'Keefe and Bella Burda have wheels, but Rohrer has A-One Radials!!
10000 (34:22.32) Guess What? There AIN'T no 10K for Women!! At least not for RUNNERS!! WHY???? Discrimination & blatant Sexism--that's why!!! The MR is from the days when they DID have a Track 10000 for Women!! Bring it BACK!!
3000SC (10:15.8) Devin Clark ran one of the fastest-ever Collegiate Frosh Steeples this year, a 9:48. Rylee Bowen is a good HS Steepler, but nowhere near Clark. The MR could go, if it's not too hot!
100H (12.87) Despite having one of the greatest fields of the entire meet, this MR appears safe! However, don't be surprised to see AT LEAST one...maybe 2 or 3!...women dipping under 13 here!! This is possibly the "Year of...." for this event for HS'ers!! And the best are all here! Tonea Marshall, Tia Jones, Chanel Brissett, Anna Cockrell, Alexis Duncan, Brandee Johnson, and Reonna Collier! WHEW!!
400H (55.43) Sydney McLaughlin--54.46 for the HSR, Age 16 record, and every other "teen" record extant!! Cockrell and Johnson will follow---far behind!! The MR is 53.51 girl's Shamier Little's!! But probably not for much longer!
10000 Walk (50:24.45) Lauren Harris, the only girl to break 7:00 for the mile (both INdoors and OUTdoors!!), and trained by Maria Michta-Coffey's husband, should win this.....in a WALK!! (Heh.) BTW, the MR belongs to.....Maria Michta (without the Coffey!)!! Pace needed is about 2:01 per lap!!
HJ (6-2.75) Barring a breakthrough performance by favored Nicole Greene, this MR should survive.
LJ (21-8) Ones to watch for are Bria Matthews, Tara Davis, Samiyah Samuels, and Taylor DeLoach. The MR might not survive!
TJ (44-11.75) Matthews has a 45 footer to her name! Barely! Also watch for Davis, Chinne Okoronkwo, and Asa Garcia!
PV (14-1.25) This COULD be a battle between Collegian Mackenzie Shell and HS'er Rachel Baxter!! If both are ON, the MR is NOT safe!! Baxter has been over 14-2 and 14-3, while Shell is the 2nd best Collegiate Frosh---behind only Lexi Weeks, who isn't eligible for this meet!! Also watch for Andrea Willis, Carson Dingler, Olivia Gruver, and Erika Malaspina!
SP (57-7.75) This MR appears safe, but Alyssa Wilson is the 2nd best HS Putter ever at 55-9.25!! Elena Bruckner, Nickolette Dunbar, and Kathleen Young are formidable too!
DT (198-9) Haley Showalter should take this one, with the MR a distant wish! Look also for Kiana Phelps, as well as HS'ers Wilson, Bruckner, and Young.
JT (175-0) HSR holder Madison Wiltrout, despite a great comeback from 2015 surgery, is still over 20 feet removed from her 185-8 best! Without a HUGE advancement, the MR should be safe! Katelyn Gochenour has thrown 171 this year!
HT (223-6) One of the better MR's, look for it to easily pass through to 2017 untouched! Alva Hicks and Joy McArthur will join Wilson and Showalter as prime challengers.
Heptathlon (5600) Emma Fitzgerald scored 5464 points to win NBN last week!! Can she better that just a week later?? Watch too for Kaylee Hinton!
Enjoy the meet!
And your weekend!
This now ANCIENT (I turned 72 today!!! Arrgghh!!!!) chronicler will report on it---in DETAIL--soon after it ends!!
MAJOR NEWS!!
Boris Berian, former quarter-pounder flipper at McDonalds, has BLASTED Goliathan Corporate Monster Nike OUT OF THE WATER!!
The shoe & apparel giant SURRENDERED to the Mighty Mite of the Men's 800 in its insane and arrogant lawsuit!!
Boris vs Goliath----and guess who the fuck WIMPED OUT!!!!
WE are the Champions-----Indeed!!!
Reason being, I checked back to 2014 & 2015 to see what format I'd used for this same meet's Preview in THOSE years--only to discover I didn't DO a Preview either year!!
Poor memory aside, there's another reason for not doing an extensive Preview!
There's only a limited number of really LOADED events. The others have so few notable names that I just didn't see the need for an extensive Preview!
That said, I'll begin this post with the latest in the Records & Marks departments, THEN do a complete, but limited Preview of the US Trials for the World Junior meet!
She is back!!
After 3 years off the charts--due to pregnancy & injuries--Yelena Isinbayeva of the embattled nation of Russia, attempted the World Record height in the PV of 5.07 (16-7.50) in the Russian Championships!
She missed her one attempt, but MADE 4.90, or 16-0.75, to take over the World lead!!
She gets the Age 34 record, OUTdoor variety!
Thus, she is the oldest OUTdoor 16 footer ever!!
Isi opened at 4.60, making it on 1st attempt, then made 4.80 on her 2nd.
She then passed 4.85, moving to the 4.90, which took all 3 tries!
And she didn't have it easy!
Anzhelika Sidorova had the meet of her life, going over 15-11.
She moves from 15th A-T World to 6th, tied with one other!
Sergey Shubenkov ran the 110H in 13.20, after a heat of 13.27.
Anna Chicherova's 6-6 HJ prevailed over Mariya Kuchina's 6-5.
Darya Klishina LJ'ed 22-5.25.
Antonina Krivoshapka ran 400 in 50.70.
Yekaterina Ivanova ran the 3000SC in 9:24.66.
Aleksandra Galyaeva ran 800 meters in 2:01.22.
Ilya Shkuranev won the Decathlon with 8292 points.
And some of those people WILL be in Rio, according to some sources, but maybe NOT wearing Russian colors!
(That's absurd!! Who would NOT know they're from Russia, especially if they medal, and are handed a giant Russian flag to wave as they do a victory lap?? And what music will be played, as they stand proudly on the podium? The theme from "SHAFT"???)
In a meet in Madrid, Yulimar Rojas moved into the stratosphere of TJ'ing, hurtling through the air all the way to 49-3.50 in the 6th round!
She gets the Age 20 record, which also exceeds the best by a 21 year old!!
It also breaks her own National Record of Venezuela!
She becomes 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other!!
April Steiner-Bennett recently PV'ed 14-11, becoming the Age 36 record holder!
Nery Brenes ran 400 meters in 44.60, breaking his own National Record of Costa Rica.
In the Stumptown meet in Portland--basically a "Last Chance" meet to qualify for the Trials--there were some interesting results, although times were slower than expected, perhaps partially due to it raining during the meet.
Galen Rupp was handed his hat by TWO Collegians in the 5000!!
Justyn Knight beat Woody Kincaid, 13:26.36 to 13:27.32.
And Kincaid just nipped Rupp at the line by 0.02!!
If you're unfamiliar with Kincaid, he's from Portland U, and beat Ed Cheserek earlier this year, back when Ches was recovering from a cold!
Kincaid PR'ed by 5 seconds over his NCAA time, which in turn was a PR by more than 10 seconds!
Brian Schrader was 4th, while Eric Jenkins finished in 7th!
Lucy Oliver (formerly Van Dalen) of New Zealand won the Women's 5000 in 15:24.00.
Tara Welling, a former NOP member, beat current NOP'er Jordan Hasay, 15:26.80 to 15:29.70, although they finished 2nd & 4th!
Aisling Cuffe ended in 5th with 15:35, while Mary Cain couldn't even beat her HSR of 3 years ago, running just 15:49.20 back in 11th place!
Cain also finished 3rd in the earlier 1500, running 4:13.16, behind winner Colleen Quigley's 4:12.21 and 2nd placer Brie Felnagle's 4:12.85.
Looks like Quigley's in shape to challenge for a 3000SC team position at the Trials!!
Speaking of the Women's Steeple, HSR holder (10:00.72 in 2012) Brianna Nerud seems to finally be tapping some of her potential!!
She finished 3rd, with a PR by 8 seconds, time of 9:50.90.
Winning--with an 11 second PR!!--was Megan Patrignelli, who ran 9:43.37!
Erin Teschuk took 2nd in 9:48.65.
Tabor Stevens took the Men's SC in 8:37.42, with HSR holder Bailey Roth back in 4th with a non-PR time of 8:40.21.
Jenna Westaway and Chris Low took the 800's, times of 2:01.97 and 1:47.14.
Matthew Centrowitz sprinted to a decisive win in the 1500, time of 3:37.81, with Andy Wheating well back in 3:40.22.
Further back--in 7th, 10th, and 16th (last!) were Ed Cheserek, Grant Fisher, and Matthew Maton!!
Before I begin my Preview of the USATF Juniors, BIG news!!
Brigetta Barrett, 2nd A-T US in the HJ, has apparently retired!
Garry Hill said this on the T&FN Message Board, but without providing any link or other way to source this news!!
Her Twitter site says nothing about it, it being filled with stuff about her acting and singing careers!!
More on this when (and if) I find out anything!
With a High Schooler being our best HJ hope now, and with Barrett's one-time Arch Rival Chaunte Lowe being seemingly stuck in the 6-4 to 6-5 range, Barrett's absence will be HUGELY felt!!
She's been fighting injuries the past few years!!
Following is my brief Preview of the Men's events of the USATF Junior Championships.
I'll list the event, the Meet Record, then some names to watch for!
100 (10.00) Noah Lyles, apparently NOT injured (as I'd apparently mistakenly stated in a previous post!), should be heavily favored here! Watch also for his brother Josephus--although he's better in the 400--and Darryl Haraway! The MR should be safe!
200 (20.18) This was supposed to be a MAJOR contest between Noah Lyles and Michael Norman, but Lyles will run just the 100. Norman, also best at 400, COULD challenge Lyles's MR!! Kahmari Montgomery is also one to watch for!
400 (45.01) While I doubt anyone will dip into the 44's, the winner should come from the foursome of Josephus Lyles, Montgomery, Will Allen, or Wil London.
800 (1:47.45) If the MR survives the blitz run of Donavan Brazier, I may quit making predictions!!! It's gonna GO DOWN!! But Brandon McGorty, Carlton Orange, and Myles Marshall should battle for places. One thing to note: Only the winner of each heat automatically advances to the final, with the other places being determined by time! Brazier, Marshall, and McGorty are all in the 2nd heat!!
1500 (3:42.8) The only familiar name is Austin Tamagno, he of the 4:01 Mile earlier this year as a HS'er! If he tries to run fast, the MR could fall!
5000 (13:55.7) Olin Hacker and Alex Ostberg are good, but probably won't run under 14:00!
10000 (29:11.2) Never bet against those tough Alaskans! Thus, put Levi Thomet as the best bet to win here! The MR should survive.
3000SC (8:48.2) Recent HS 9:06 man Eion Nohilly could win, but even if he breaks 9:00, will fall short of the MR!
110H (13.21) They run the HS hurdle height here--39 inches! Chad Zallow, Marcus Krah, and Grant Holloway look to be the favorites. Unless they catch a perfect wind in a perfect race, the MR should remain the same!
400H (49.28) Norman Grimes has run 50.10, but not in awhile! Sydney's older brother, Taylor McLaughlin, is certainly one Grimes should fear!! But the MR appears safe.
10000 Walk (42:50.20) Cameron Haught appears to be the best here! Have no idea if he's ready to challenge the Meet Record, however! But it will be exciting to find out!! He'd have to average just under 1:43 per lap!!
HJ (7-5.25) With HS'er Darryl Sullivan having jumped 7-4 this year, and with Jaron Brooks in this also, the MR could be challenged--at least for a tie!
LJ (26-9.75) Barring a HUGE breakthrough, this MR is here for another year (or decade??). But there's still a good 4-some to watch--Grant Holloway, JaMari Ward, Harrison Schrage, and Rayvon Grey!
TJ (55-2.75) This MR can be put away for another year also! Schrage and Ward should duke it out here too!
PV (18-2) Chris Nilsen said heavy winds disrupted his attempts at NBN, thus explaining his 16-8.75 winner there. That should change here!! The MR is certainly in danger! Good former or current HS'ers will fight for places--including Brandon Bray, Deakin Volz, Paulo Benavides, and Rich McWhorter! Mondo Duplantis---IF he intends to go to WJC's---will probably represent Sweden again, as he's MIA in this event!
SP (64-6.50) That MR is for the 16 pounder! Didn't see any other record listed, so not sure what the Shot's weight will be. That said, the 3 best 2016 HS'ers are all here---Jordan Geist, Bronson Osborn, and Tripp Piperi!! (I'd LOVE to see what they could do with the 16!! See a VERY early "editorial" post on that subject, dating from December 2013!!)
DT (190-9) Again, the MR is with the Pro weighted plate!! And the same 3 HS'ers could prevail here too!!
JT (238-4) Liam Christensen recently threw the Jav 232-1. He looks the best bet here!
HT (256-10 & 213-3) Both weights MR's are given here, for some reason! With Bobby Colantonio and Adam Kelly fighting it out, one or the other could be challenged!!
Decathlon (8016 & 7599) Both Dec MR's---for the adult weights & hurdle heights, and for the "Junior" versions of same--are given! And I didn't see ANY familiar names on the heat sheets!! Might make it more exciting to watch!!
And now for the Women's Preview!
100 (11.10) Candace Hill is now a Professional!! But she hasn't come close to her HSR time of 10.98 yet this year! However, 11.10 is within her wheelhouse!! Watch for NCAA INdoor 60 winner Teahna Daniels and HS'er Lynna Irby to follow Hill to the tape!
200 (22.49) Hill ran a windy 22.38 recently! She could get this record with a good (legal!) wind...even in a heat!! Irby is back again as her main rival.
400 (50.69) Is Irby TRIPLING??? She's listed in all 3 speed events!! But Kaelin Roberts should win here, with Zola Golden, Symone Mason, and Irby (if she's here!) set to challenge! The MR seems safe!
800 (2:03.1) Sammy Watson JUST missed the Trials Q time of 2:03 recently! She WANTS it!! So look for a 59 or 60 first 400!!! Aliyah Miller, Gabrielle Wilkinson, Sophie Cantine , and Caitlin Collier might all crack 2:08!
1500 (4:14.74) Oh BOY!!! This field is EFFing LOADED!!! Alexa Efraimson, 19 year old Pro! Kate Murphy, 4:07.21 with a 62 last lap! Katie Rainsberger, Christine Aragon, both among the best-ever HS'ers!! Add Cantine, Wilkinson, Jordyn Colter, and Julia Heymach for seasoning!! Mary Cain's MR is GONE!!!
3000 (9:15.81) The other Cain MR is probably gone also!! BUT....with Murphy doubling here, and with her serious chance to at least make the Trials final....don't look for a super fast time here! That said, for a 4:07 girl with a 62 last lap kicking ability, 9:15 should be a stroll in the park for her!! But Rainsberger is here also, along with Destiny Collins, Fiona O'Keefe, and Heymach!
5000 (16:10.60) Anna Rohrer, who was VERY fast as a Notre Dame Frosh this year, should win this, with the MR well within her sights (except for the expected 100+ temps!!)!! O'Keefe and Bella Burda have wheels, but Rohrer has A-One Radials!!
10000 (34:22.32) Guess What? There AIN'T no 10K for Women!! At least not for RUNNERS!! WHY???? Discrimination & blatant Sexism--that's why!!! The MR is from the days when they DID have a Track 10000 for Women!! Bring it BACK!!
3000SC (10:15.8) Devin Clark ran one of the fastest-ever Collegiate Frosh Steeples this year, a 9:48. Rylee Bowen is a good HS Steepler, but nowhere near Clark. The MR could go, if it's not too hot!
100H (12.87) Despite having one of the greatest fields of the entire meet, this MR appears safe! However, don't be surprised to see AT LEAST one...maybe 2 or 3!...women dipping under 13 here!! This is possibly the "Year of...." for this event for HS'ers!! And the best are all here! Tonea Marshall, Tia Jones, Chanel Brissett, Anna Cockrell, Alexis Duncan, Brandee Johnson, and Reonna Collier! WHEW!!
400H (55.43) Sydney McLaughlin--54.46 for the HSR, Age 16 record, and every other "teen" record extant!! Cockrell and Johnson will follow---far behind!! The MR is 53.51 girl's Shamier Little's!! But probably not for much longer!
10000 Walk (50:24.45) Lauren Harris, the only girl to break 7:00 for the mile (both INdoors and OUTdoors!!), and trained by Maria Michta-Coffey's husband, should win this.....in a WALK!! (Heh.) BTW, the MR belongs to.....Maria Michta (without the Coffey!)!! Pace needed is about 2:01 per lap!!
HJ (6-2.75) Barring a breakthrough performance by favored Nicole Greene, this MR should survive.
LJ (21-8) Ones to watch for are Bria Matthews, Tara Davis, Samiyah Samuels, and Taylor DeLoach. The MR might not survive!
TJ (44-11.75) Matthews has a 45 footer to her name! Barely! Also watch for Davis, Chinne Okoronkwo, and Asa Garcia!
PV (14-1.25) This COULD be a battle between Collegian Mackenzie Shell and HS'er Rachel Baxter!! If both are ON, the MR is NOT safe!! Baxter has been over 14-2 and 14-3, while Shell is the 2nd best Collegiate Frosh---behind only Lexi Weeks, who isn't eligible for this meet!! Also watch for Andrea Willis, Carson Dingler, Olivia Gruver, and Erika Malaspina!
SP (57-7.75) This MR appears safe, but Alyssa Wilson is the 2nd best HS Putter ever at 55-9.25!! Elena Bruckner, Nickolette Dunbar, and Kathleen Young are formidable too!
DT (198-9) Haley Showalter should take this one, with the MR a distant wish! Look also for Kiana Phelps, as well as HS'ers Wilson, Bruckner, and Young.
JT (175-0) HSR holder Madison Wiltrout, despite a great comeback from 2015 surgery, is still over 20 feet removed from her 185-8 best! Without a HUGE advancement, the MR should be safe! Katelyn Gochenour has thrown 171 this year!
HT (223-6) One of the better MR's, look for it to easily pass through to 2017 untouched! Alva Hicks and Joy McArthur will join Wilson and Showalter as prime challengers.
Heptathlon (5600) Emma Fitzgerald scored 5464 points to win NBN last week!! Can she better that just a week later?? Watch too for Kaylee Hinton!
Enjoy the meet!
And your weekend!
This now ANCIENT (I turned 72 today!!! Arrgghh!!!!) chronicler will report on it---in DETAIL--soon after it ends!!
MAJOR NEWS!!
Boris Berian, former quarter-pounder flipper at McDonalds, has BLASTED Goliathan Corporate Monster Nike OUT OF THE WATER!!
The shoe & apparel giant SURRENDERED to the Mighty Mite of the Men's 800 in its insane and arrogant lawsuit!!
Boris vs Goliath----and guess who the fuck WIMPED OUT!!!!
WE are the Champions-----Indeed!!!
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