Blogs : Michael McCoy

Olympic Track & Field Musings

The real reason why everyone watches the Olympics started earlier this week.

Finally one of the "core sports" of both the ancient & modern Olympics.  Granted media exposure would need to be shared with all the other sports, but finally track & field fans the world over can sit down and watch their favorite sport. 

What a track & field competition it has been!!!!   

Who would've thought the world's #1 track & field team (in terms of medals won), the United States of America, would have imploded the way they did?  Based off the performances that were registered at last month's Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, the Beijing performances should have been just as impressive if not more so.

So, what happened?   

One can point to the obvious things like Tyson Gay's Trials injury.  Despite healing and recovering, Gay obviously didn't look race sharp at the Olympics.  Unfortunately, the Olympics is the last meet one wants to be sharpening one's racing skills; but Gay did what he had to do with the hand he was dealt.  Although he tried to make the most of his situation, it wasn't good enough as he didn't make the 100-meter final.

The American women being shut out of the medals in the women's 100-meter final was, I'd have to admit, a total surprise.  Folks will point to the obvious where U.S. sprinter Torrie Edwards was visibly twitching in the blocks.  The official reason was that there was no audible sound registered on the block sensors...no sound...no recall.  However, my experience as a starter and recall starter (not that I'm world-renowned or anything like that) and my discussion with starters that I know of who have more experience in high-level meets like the Olympics/World Championships/Pan-American Games points out that if you see anything visible like what Torrie was doing, you stand the sprinters up.  That's the responsibility of both the starter and the recall starter.  The starter or the recall starters failed to do that.

While the U.S. was justified to protest the race based upon a possible false-start (which Torrie claimed she had committed), I knew that such a protest would fall upon deaf ears.  Even though the IAAF has taken steps to improve the aspect of starting over the years (in light of what happened at the 2003 Outdoor World Track & Field Championships), start/race results are rarely overturned.  This has sparked a serious discussion (through real and cyperspace) of re-visiting the race starting aspect which will not be resolved soon.  I'm sure the IAAF will investigate, but the results will stand as is since this is long after the fact. 

Lolo Jones' clipping of the penultimate (that's a big word for next to last...) hurdle was heartbreaking to witness just as it was watching both the men's and women's sprint relay teams not making the final due to dropped batons.  Needless to say the snake-bit performances were spread all-around from the marathon, to the middle-distance races and sprints, to the various field events.  So, if you were a U.S. favorite to win your track & field event, the Games of the 29th Olympiad was not your time.  

However, in spite of the lows for the U.S. team, there were high moments. 

In the same race where Lolo crash & burned, Dawn Harper seized the day and captured the gold.  Both the U.S. men swept the 400-meter hurdles and the flat.  International newbies David Payne and David Oliver achieve Olympic medal status by achieving silver & bronze respectively.  Stephanie Brown-Trafton became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the discus since the 1932 Games.

The day is still not over for the U.S.

In terms of Olympic performances wowing the crowd, it has been Jamaica pure and simple.

Usain "Lightning" Bolt definitely has the Performances of the Year with his double World Record wins in both the 100- & 200-meter dashes.  Bolt is the first man to win the 100/200-meter double since Carl Lewis did it at the 1984 Games.  Bolt is the first man to hold both the 100/200-meter World Records since his countryman, Don Quarrie, did back in the 1970s.  Bolt and his Jamaican posse have mesmerized everyone at these Games.  The Jamaican women sweeping the 100, Veronica Campbell-Brown's successful defense of her 200-meter title, Melane Walker echoing her compatriot's (Deon Hemmings) win in the 400-meter hurdles by establishing an Olympic & National Record.

One has to really admire the Jamaicans based upon what they achieved at these Games and tip one's hat to their coaching staff in getting the team prepared to compete.

Although, the Games have yet to conclude, what does the performances witnessed in Beijing hold for the future of the U.S. team?

I'm sure the answers will come as that future progresses.

Olympic Training

12:03 AM, August 31, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I think the USA is still turning out amazing track and field athletes. It just so happens that many of the USA educated, and trained athletes are participating under the flag of their home countries flag! Wonder what would happen if they had to run for the country in which they trained? Go USA!!!!