The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships bring together many of the top track and field athletes this weekend, including numerous women that were on the Olympic Team this past summer. Headliner events in Boston are the 60m hurdles, mile, pole vault and weight throw. With Lolo Jones and Jenn Stuczynski leading the way, the stars will be out Saturday and Sunday.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the entire USATF Indoor T&F Championship is Lolo Jones. Jones, who's been looking for redemption all indoor season, heads to Boston as the clear favorite among a solid field of competition in the 60m hurdles.
The Asics-sponsored athlete ran 7.82 in Europe two weeks ago, which easiliy leads the field. Danielle Carruthers ran 7.95 in Spain two weeks prior as well, which makes her the only other athlete clocking a sub-8 time so far this season other than Jones. Hyleas Fountain is also entered in the field.
Tianna Madison and Lisa Barber lead an always fast field of 60m dash contestants. Madison has raced sparingly this indoor season, but did clock a 6.69 performance in the 55m dash in late-January.
Meanwhile, Barber has been impressive all indoor season, running her fastest mark of 7.19 while winning the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, where she edged Carmelita Jeter by .01. Jeter has scratched for the event.
In the 400m dash, three athletes have run sub-53 second times. Nina GIlbert (52.28), Shana Cox (52.57) and Miriam Barnes (52.96) have clearly established themselves as the top three in the field. Many anticipate a Gilbert v. Cox battle to the finish.
Athletes to Watch: Tianna Madison (Nike), Lisa Barber (adidas), Gloria Asumnu (adidas), Nina Gilbert (unattached), Shana Cox (adidas), Miriam Barnes (Nike), Lolo Jones (Asics), Danielle Carruthers (unattached), Hyleas Fountain (Nike).
Distance
The best distance event of the weekend on the women's side is easily the mile. The roster of contestants is loaded, as athletes like Anna Willard, Lindsey Gallo, Jen Rhines, Sara Hall and Shayne Culpepper dot the line-up. Willard is considered, but just barely, the pre-race favorite, having won the Tyson Inivtational two weeks ago in 4:30.69.
Gallo should provide a strong challenge, especially considering her personal best performance at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, which saw her win the event in 4:27.90. Culpepper is the darkhorse in the field, having started racing again only a few weeks ago after taking over a year off due to having another child.
A major clash of talent takes place in the 3,000m race. Olympians Amy Yoder-Begley and Jen Rhines square off, with Yoder-Begley running a top seed time of 9:02.58 earlier this season in Scotland. Rhines, who's also entered in the mile, should be pushing to break the nine minute barrier with Yoder-Begley. Julie Culley and Rebecca Donoghue are among others challenging for a top three finish.
In the 800m dash, Alice Schmidt had been having a good season, but scratched out of this weekend's competition, leaving perennial favorite Hazel Clark at the top of the lists. Clark placed second behind Schmidt at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games a few weeks back, running her seasonal best time of 2:03.19. Coming in closely behind her at Reebok BIG was Katie Waits, who placed third with a 2:04.07 effort. Clark and Waits are the only athletes entered who've run under 2:05 this season.
Athletes to Watch: Hazel Clark (Nike), Katie Waits (Reebok), Lindsey Gallo (Reebok), Anna Willard (Nike), Sara Hall (Asics), Julie Culley (New York Athletic Club), Amy Yoder-Begley (Nike), Jen Rhines (adidas), Shayne Culpepper (Nike), Sara Vaughn (adidas).
Jumps
Once again, Jenn Stuczynski will be the highlight of the field events. Stuczynski has become the star of the indoor U.S. circuit, breaking her American record in the pole vault, while winning time and time again. This weekend Stuczynski tries to break her American record of 15-09.75 (4.82) once again. Her closest competition comes from Stacy Dragila, who'll look to improve upon her 15-01.50 seasonal best from the Millrose Games.
Another great field event to watch will be the women's high jump. A Sharon Day v. Amy Acuff dual is to be expected. Both athletes have been at the top of American high jumping for a while, and both have won big events this season. Day won the Run for a Dream meet in Fresno, California in mid-January with a season's best 6-04 (1.93m). Acuff continues to shine in big level events, with her top leap of 6-03.50 (1.92m) coming in a victory at the Millrose Games. However, Becky Christensen of Harvard cannot be overlooked. She's gone 6-03.25 (1.91m) this season and consistently shows up big at national-level events.
Hayleas Fountain will have a busy weekend, as she's entered in the 60m hurdles and long jump. In the long jump she comes in as the pre-event favorite, holding the top seed mark of 21-05.50 (6.54m). She'll receive strong competition from Funmilayo Jimoh, who seasonal best is just off Fountain's mark at 21-04.75 (6.52m). In the triple jump Crystal Manning, Erica McLain and Toni Smith will contest for the top spot on the awards stand.
Athletes to Watch: Jenn Stuczynski (adidas), Stacy Dragila (Nike), Sharon Day (Asics), Amy Acuff (Asics), Becky Christensen (unattached), Hyleas Fountain (Nike), Funmilayo Jimoh (Nike), Crystal Manning (unattached), Erica McLain (Nike), Toni Smith (unattached).
Throws
A great battle of talent should take place in the weight throw, as Amber Campbell and Erin Gilreath will fight it out for top billing in the event. Campbell enters the meet having throwing nearly three and a half feet farther than Gilreath this season with her toss of 77-10.25 (23.73), but that took place over six weeks ago. Gilreath's best mark of the season was 74-05.75 (22.70), which came three weeks ago. Both will push the 75 foot barrier.
In the shot put, Jill Camarena, Liz Wanless and Karen Shump all have what it takes to bring home the victory. Camarena has the top throw of the season according to the USATF lists. She threw 58-06.50 (17.84) at the AF Invitational two weeks ago. Wanless trails closesly behind with a top mark of 58-03 (17.75m), while Shump threw 57-01.50 (17.41m) three weeks ago.
Athletes to Watch: Amber Campbell (Mjolnir Throwers Club), Erin Gilreath (New York Athletic Club), Elizabeth Wanless (New York Athletic Club), Jillian Camarena (unattached), Karen Shump (University of Oklahoma).
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Many of the top athletes from around the country will gather in Boston this weekend to take part in the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men's line up this year showcases some great head to head match ups. The men's 60m dash, mile, high jump and shot put lead the way, as the stars of the sport vie for national championship bragging rights.
A close field should mean one heck of a race this weekend in the 60m dash. Consistent contenders Ivory Williams, Carlos Moore and Mark Jelks all have shown flashes of potential to come up with the victory. Each have run under 6.60 this winter. Stars Dabryan Blanton and D'Angelo Cherry have each shown some big results this indoor season as well, while Kendall Stevens ran 6.57 in Germany earlier this month.
Meanwhile, in the 60m hurdles, Terrence Trammell looks to capture another national title. Trammell has shown excellent early season form in both the 60m hurdles and 60m dash, coming up with victories in both this season. He'll once again be the favorite, but receives strong challenges from the likes of Dexter Faulk, Eric Mitchum and Christopher Conway among others.
In the 400m dash, Jamaal Torrence leads the field, coming in with the top seed time of 46.47. Torrence leads a list of seven seperate athletes that have run under 47 seconds, which also includes Torrence's biggest competition in Kelly Willie, James Davis and James Groce.
Athletes to Watch: Ivory Williams (Nike), D'Angelo Cherry (Mississippi State), Carlos Moore (Cheetah Int.l' Track Club), Mark Jelks (Nike), Kendall Stevens (unattached), Jamaal Torrence (Nike), Kelly Willie (Nike), James Davis (unattached), Terrence Trammell (unattached), Dexter Faulk (Nike), Eric Mitchum (adidas).
Distance
Earlier this week, both Nick Symmonds and Bernard Lagat pulled out of the championship. Symmonds sited illness, while Lagat came down with an injury. Both athletes will be missed, but there is plenty of competition left to make each of the men's distance races worth watching.
The 800m is the easiest one to lable a favorite, as Khadevis Robinson has clearly established himself as the man to beat. With so many of the top half mile standouts competing on the collegiate scene, this field is wide open for who will finish in the top three after Robinson.
The mile is a bit more complex, especially after Lagat scratching from the field. With Lagat out, Chris Lukezic jumps into the pre-race favorite roll, especially after placing second at the Tyson Invitational two weeks back at the University of Arkansas, only finishing behind Olympic bronze medalist Nick Willis. Rob Myers and Alan Webb are considered favorites as well in the event, both having the potential to score the victory.
The 3,000m is perhaps the most wide open event, with a half dozen individuals capable of having a big day. Nike athletes Josh Rohatinsky and Jonathon Riley lead the way, as Rohatinsky has top seed time in the field this year and Riley is a multiple indoor national champion at the distance. Brian Olinger is having a solid start to his track season as well, running 7:51.13 for 3k and 13:54.24 for 5k thus far.
Athletes to Watch: Khadvevis Robinson (Nike), Chris Lukezic (Reebok), Alan Webb (Nike), Rob Myers (Reebok), Josh Rohatinsky (Nike), Brian Olinger (Reebok), Jonathon Riley (Nike),
Jumps
A lot of press has been given the past few weeks, with top high jumper Jesse Williams stating that high jumpers do not get enough attention in the United States track and field scene. Well, Williams and his fellow leapers get a chance to show their stuff this weekend, as the high jump is easily one of the most competitive fields in the event.
Williams headlies with a top U.S. mark of 7-08.75 (2.36), which he earned over in Banksa Bystrica a few weeks ago. While Williams is the favorite, he won't be without strong competition. Consistent contender Andra Manson is also entered and comes in with some momentum after leaping 7-07 in Glasgow at the end of January. Dustin Jonas, Keith Moffatt and Jim Dilling all have seed marks of 7-02.50 (2.20m) or higher as well.
In the pole vault, Jeremy Scott and Darren Niedermeyer top the start lists. Scott won a meet overseas in Linz earlier this month with a top clearance of 18-10.75 (5.76m), while Niedermeyer cleared 18-04.50 (5.60m) to win the Pole Vault Summit in early January. Jacob Pauli is also entered in the field with a top mark of just over 19-00
In the long jump Matt Turner is the pre-event favorite, entered as the only athlete with a seed over 26 feet, as Turner ranks number one in the country thus far with a best leap of 26-04.25 (8.03), which took place three weeks ago at the New Mexico Classic. And while Turner is the top seed quite clearly in the long jump, Brandon Roulhac is easily the favorite in the triple jump after his 55-04.75 (16.88) best overseas two weeks prior.
Athletes to Watch: Jesse Williams (Nike), Andra Mason (Nike), Dustin Jonas (Nike), Jeremy Scott (unattached), Darren Niedermeyer (unattached), Matt Turner (unattached), Brandon Roulhac (Shore Athletic Club), Tydree Lewis (unattached).
Throws
The three headed shot put monster of Adam Nelson, Christian Cantwell and Reese Hoffa will be a party of one this weekend, as Nelson is the only one entered in the field. After being edged out by Hoffa at the Tyson Invitational by a mere two inches, Nelson will be looking to get back atop the podium. However, he'll have experienced competition from Russ Winger, Dan Taylor and Cory Martin, all three tossing over 66 feet this season.
In the weight throw, the two big men of the event will battle it out for top billing. Thomas Freeman and A.G. Kruger have shown time and again why they are the top two in the country with the weight. Kruger has thrown a season's best of 79-01.25 (24.11), who Freeman eclipsed the 80 foot barrier two weeks ago with a toss of 80-03.75 (24.48m).
Athletes to Watch: Adam Nelson (Nike), Russ Winger (unattached), Dan Taylor (Nike), Cory Martin (unattached), Thomas Freeman (unattached), A.G. Kruger (Nike).
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What a night it was in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Every year the Tyson Invitational hosts some of the biggest performances of the indoor season and this year certainly was no exception. From the first race to the last, the crowd stood on their feet, cheering loudly and the athletes performed at the highest of levels. The highlight of the night may have been the first event of the evening, which saw Oregon senior Galen Rupp break the American 5k record, as he raced to a second place finish in 13:18.22. Here's our post-event race breakdown. Complete Race Results (Flash Results)
Men's 5,000m
Oregon's Galen Rupp set a new American and Collegiate Record in the 5,000m (Kirby Lee)
Much anticipation surrounded Friday's first event of the evening. The men's 5,000m race brought together a strong contingent of talent, including Galen Rupp (Oregon), Bekana Daba (Ethiopia), Sam Chelanga (Liberty) and Markos Geneti (Ethiopia). These four, along with some solid pacing by former Arkansas standout Seth Summerside, set the tone for the rest of the Visa Championship Series event.
The race started off a bit slower than the top runners had wanted. Summerside took the group through the 1,600m mark at 4:19, while pushing the pace faster over the next few laps to get the group back onto pace around 8:34 at 3,200m. With Summerside leading, the group of four could relax and strategize for the coming push that was bound to happen in the later stages of the race.
As Summerside dropped off his pacing duties, Daba and Geneti took turns leading for much of the next six laps. Daba would lead a lap or two and then Geneti would take over with the pacing. With a mile to go Geneti started to fade back, with Rupp moving onto Daba's shoulder. A few times Daba suggested to Rupp that he take the lead, but Rupp stayed back, staying patient and racing his strategy.
With 800 meters to go Rupp took the lead, pressing the pace and dropping Geneti. However, despite picking up the pace drastically, Daba and Chelanga still kept with. With 400 meters to go Rupp maintained the pace up front, as it looked like Chelanga might fall off the back, but the Liberty star kept pushing and maintaining contact.
Into the final lap the trio went, with Rupp still leading. With 150 meters to go Daba retook the lead, as Rupp tried to fend him off and then stay with. Chelanga still maintained third, just off their shoulders. The final 100 meters were a blur, as Rupp came up to challenge, but Daba responded immediately and pulled away to victory in 13:17.89. Rupp came home in second, setting a new collegiate and American record with a time of 13:18.12, while Chelanga broke the previous collegiate record as well finishing third in 13:19.79.
Top Five
1. Bekana Daba (ETH) - 13:17.89
2. Galen Rupp (Oregon) - 13:18.12
3. Sam Chelenga (Liberty) - 13:19.79
4. Markos Geneti (ETH) - 13:31.71
5. Shawn Forrest (Arkansas) - 13:37.77
John McDonnell Mile
Nick Willis claimed the mile run with his time of 4:02.70 (Kirby Lee)
A monster line-up looked way too timid early on in Friday evening's race, as the pack decided not to follow Mark Thompson, but rather create their own race, one that was most certainly going to be a sit-n-kick style of race. Thompson shot out to the lead early, rabbiting the race along at four minute pace, with no one even within 35 meters at one point.
Thompson took himself through the 400m mark in 59.4 seconds, then came through the 800m mark in similar fashion, running alone at 2:02.7. Once Thompson dropped out the real racing began.
It seemed as though Olympian Nick Willis (Reebok) wanted to let others lead, so hometown star Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas) took the lead and pushed the pace. As Ulrey continued to push, the crowd rose to their feet and cheered on the athletes, especially once Alan Webb (Nike) made a move into fourth place after starting the race off a bit further back.
At 1,200m to go Willis and Ulrey had gapped the field a bit, but the race was far from over. With 200 meters to go it looked as if Ulrey was going to mount a challenge at Willis, however, the Razorback fell just past the start line, sitting there stunned that he wasn't going to have any opportunity to take on the Olympic bronze medalist.
With Ulrey out, Willis was able to clearly gap the field, cruising home to victory with a comfortable 4:02.70 effort. Clearly the class of the field, Willis raised his arms in victory, showing once again why he's moving up the world ranks in the event, establishing himself among the world's elite.
Behind Willis came a hard closing Chris Lukezic (Reebok), finishing second in 4:03.87, while Rob Myers (Reebok) finished third in 4:05.13. Webb finished fourth in 4:05.60, looking a bit dejected afterwards, using too much energy positioning himself, while Julius Kiptoo Bor (Cloud County CC) took advantage of his late race day call up and finished fifth in 4:07.44.
Top Five
1. Nick Willis (Reebok) - 4:02.70
2. Chris Lukezic (Reebok) - 4:03.87
3. Rob Myers (Reebok) - 4:05.13
4. Alan Webb (Nike) - 4:05.60
5. Julius Kiptoo Bor (Cloud County CC) - 4:07.44
Women's Mile
Anna Willard was strong in the women's mile, clocking 4:30.69 for the title (Kirby Lee)
Despite Olympians Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) and Alice Schmidt (Nike) scratching from Friday's women's mile, the race was loaded with one of the better fields you'll see this year, indoors or outdoors. A strong list of competitors, led by Olympian Anna Willard (Nike) and NCAA favorites Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech), Brie Felnagle (North Carolina) and Sarah Bowman (Tennesee), made this one of the best races of the night.
Erica Fountain, the rabbit, took the pace out fast, with the first 400m being run in 65.4. Off her shoulder ran Bowman, while the rest of the pack spread out quickly and sat back a few meters. At the 600m mark Fountain dropped out and Bowman took over, trying to open up the lead a bit more, while Treniere Clement (Nike) and Willard followed about ten meters back in second and third.
Clement eventually would fade from the front, but Willard continued to push, while Kipyego and Felnagle moved up into the top four. Bowman hit the 800m point just under 2:15. From there, Kipyego took the lead and kept the pace steady, pushing from 900m to 1,200m, hitting the 1,200m mark at 3:24.8 with Willard and Felnagle closely in tow.
At that point Willard took over the lead and made her push to the finish. Felnagle also passed Kipyego, and with 200 meters to go it seemed as if Felnagle had a chance, but Willard continued to drive and won in a new indoor PR of 4:30.69. Kipyego came back to get second in 4:32.01, while Felnagle hung on to finish third in 4:32.17.
Behind the top three, Marina Muncan (New Balance) finished fourth in 4:34.05, while Bowman tried to hang on and finished fifth overall in 4:34.69. Muncan ran a great race, starting out near the back of the pack and slowly picking off runners throughout the race.
Top Five
1. Anna Willard (Nike) - 4:30.69
2. Brie Felnagle (North Carolina) - 4:32.01
3. Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) - 4:32.17
4. Marina Muncan (New Balance) - 4:34.05
5. Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) - 4:34.69
Men's Shot Put
Reese Hoffa came away with the shot put with his heave of 69-01.25 (Kirby Lee)
The men's shot put event was obviously one of the highlight events of Friday evening's lineup. With Olympians Reese Hoffa (NYAC) and Adam Nelson (Nike) in the field, fireworks were bound to happen. It seems whenever those two get together something big happens.
From the first round the two went at it, easily establishing themselves as the two best in the field. Nelson threw the top mark in the first round, throwing 67-08.75 (20.64m), over a foot better than Cory Martin's (Nike) first round mark of 66-04.25 (20.22m), which ranked Martin second at the time. Hoffa scratched the first round.
The second attempt left Nelson furthering his lead to a best toss of 68-07 (20.90), while Hoffa got on the board just behind him at 67-08 (20.62m). Nelson seemed to have the advantage at this point, especially after throwing an even better throw in the third round at 68-11.75 (21.01m), while Hoffa scratched.
But it all came down to the last throw, which saw Hoffa top Nelson's third round mark by two inches, throwing 69-01.25 (21.06m) and hanging on for the win, with Nelson throwing 67-09 (20.65m) on his last throw. Another classic battle between these two came down to the final round. The crowd got into it, Nelson dove into his bag of hyper-emotions and Reese used his quiet energy to take home the title. What a perfect event.
Top Five
1. Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - 69-01.25
2. Adam Nelson (Nike) - 68-11.25
3. Russ Winger (USA) - 67-00
4. Dan Taylor (Nike) - 66-07.25
5. Cory Martin (Nike) - 66-4.25
Women's Pole Vault
With a trio of athletes in the field scratching before the first run, that left a total of four athletes in the women's pole vault competition. After the first run at 4.06m, the field was cut down to two, as Arkansas' athletes Katie Stripling and Tina Sutej no heighted.
That left rivals Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) and Stacy Dragila (Nike) going at it. After Stuczynski's American record performance last weekend of 15-09.75 (4.82m), many wondered just how much higher she could go. Well, Dragila cleared her way up to 4.53m, but couldn't clear 4.63m, missing on three close efforts.
With Stuczynski clearing 4.63m, she then moved the bar up to 15-10 (4.83m), a quarter-inch higher than her American record set last week at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. While Stuczynski came close, she missed on all three attempts, accepting the victory and looking ahead the U.S. T&F Championships in a few weeks time.
Top Four
1. Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - 15-02.25 (4.63m)
2. Stacy Dragila (Nike) - 14-10.25 (4.53m)
3. Katie Stripling (Arkansas) - NH
4. Tina Sutej (Arkansas) - NH
Men's 400m
Xavier Carter made his season debut a good one with a win in the 400m (Kirby Lee)
All eyes were on Xavier Carter (Nike) Friday evening in the men's 400 meter dash. Since the Olympic Trials Carter had been quiet, but rumors out of his training camp had him being in the best early season shape he had ever been in. As Carter lined up to start the race, he looked like he dropped some weight heading into the season.
Once the gun sounded he proved that he was in great shape, grabbing the lead early and not letting it go all the way to the finish. Carter ran all the way to the line and won in 46.98, while Michael Tinsley (adidas) placed second a half step behind in 47.01. Florida's Calvin Smith also finished strong with a 47.03 effort.
Pre-race favorite Renny Quow (Trinidad) did not finish, due to falling in the first 100m and unable to finish the race. Quow got tripped up, but he should feel very confident heading towards the World T&F Championships next month having completed a very successful indoor season in the U.S., especially after his 400m victory last weekend at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.
Carter stated afterward that he's headed to England next weekend to compete in a race, then heading to Australia immediately after that to take part in 1-2 races. The former-LSU star wants to get his season going after having a rough 2008.
Top Finishers
1. Xavier Carter (Nike) - 46.98
2. Michael Tinsley (adidas) - 47.01
3. Calvin Smith (Florida) - 47.08
4. Lanceford Spence (Puma) - 48.18
DNF Renny Quow (Trinidad)
Women's 3,000m
With a few key athletes dropping out in the final day leading up to Friday's event, including U.S. Cross Country Championship top-five finisher Delilah DiCrescenzo (Puma), the women's 3,000m was left without a big-time star in the field. Despite the lack of true frontrunning, Canada's Alex Becker put on quite the show, easily running away from the rest of the field and coasting in to a five second victory in 9:23.78.
Becker cleared the field early on, going through the first mile in 4:56, while the chase pack consisted of the rest of the eight person field. Around the 2,400m mark the race started to spread out, as Auburn's Hollie Knight started to fade and Lillian Badaru (Texas Tech), Denise Bargiachi (Arkansas) and Jackie Areson (Tennessee) took over.
Into the final lap second place was anyone's to take and Badaru showed why she's one of the best in the NCAA. She put in a strong finish to beat out Bargiachi 9:28.90-9:29.63. Tennessee teammates Areson and Katie VanHorn finished fourth and fifth respectively.
A loaded field meant anything could happen and with every athlete getting a good start, it seemed like a tie up top could certainly take place. As the athletes approached the finish line, the fans stood up and gasped, as six athletes finished within .09 of one another.
Carmelita Jeter (Nike) crossed the line first, finishing in 7.20 and improving upon her second place finish last weekend at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Bianca Knight (adidas) finished second overall in 7.26, while Gloria Asumnu (adidas) finished in third with the same time. Me'Lisa Barber (USA), who won the 60m dash at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, placed fourth in 7.28. Muna Lee (Nike) finished in the same time at 7.28, while Marshevet Hooker (adidas) placed sixth in 7.29. Such a close race!
Nick Symmonds held off a strong field with his winning time of 1:47.72 (Kirby Lee)
A torrid opening pace by '08 indoor 800m champion Tyler Mulder (Northern Iowa) made for a great race. Mulder shot to the lead right from the beginning, bringing the talented field through the first 200 meters in 25.31, while opening up a rather large gap in the next 200 meters, clearing the half way point at 51.27.
Behind Mulder Olympian Nick Symmonds (Nike OTC) and Khadevis Robinson (Nike) were bidding their time, keeping a watchful eye on Mulder, but showing the confidence and calm of veterans. Symmonds sat in the back through the 400 meter mark as usual, but started to move with 200 meters to go.
At that point Symmonds pushed ahead, moving on Mulder, with Robinson following on his shoulder as he moved up past the rest of the field. Into the final 75 meters of the race it seemed as though Robinson might have enough to overtake Symmonds, but Symmonds just had enough left to out lean Robinson, winning the race 1:47.72-1:47.76. Mulder hung on for a strong third place finish in 1:48.53.
Top Five
1. Nick Symmonds (Nike OTC) - 1:47.72
2. Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - 1:47.76
3. Tyler Mulder (Northern Iowa) - 1:48.53
4. David Krummenacker (adidas) - 1:49.28
5. Alex McClary (Arkansas) - 1:49.37
Women's 300m
It may be considered, or may not be, the American record, but Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) claimed victory in the women's 300 meter event Friday evening in 36.45. The meet announcer claimed that Solomon's mark bested the old American record, however, Allyson Felix' 36.33 is still listed as the top American mark. With the meet management claiming Felix' race had some technical violations, Solomon is now the U.S. record holder in the event.
Regardless, Solomon impressed, running away from the field over the second half of the race and earning the victory. Monica Hargrove (USA) placed second in 36.85, giving Solomon the strongest challenge, especially over the first 200m, while Shana Cox (adidas) placed third in 38.00.
Top Four
1. Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) - 36.45
2. Monica Hargrove (USA) - 36.85
3. Shana Cox (adidas) - 38.00
4. Sasha Rolle (Bahamas) - 38.85
Men's 60m
Terrance Trammell edged the field at the tape clocking 6.56 seconds (Kirby Lee)
Terrrence Trammell (Track Star Apparel) is off to a great start to his '09 track season and on Friday night he continued that momentum moving forward. Trammell started the night's 60m dash with a great start and used his short speed strength to maintain his distance from the rest of the field. Trammell beat one of the strongest fields assembled this year, taking home the title with a 6.56 finish.
Coming in a close second was Michael Rodgers (Nike). Rodgers, who won the Reebok Boston Indoor Games 60m event last weekend in 6.58, finished with the same time, outdistancing third place finisher Ivory Williams (USA) by .01. Rounding out the top five were Travis Padgett (adidas) in 6.63 and Trindon Holliday (LSU) in 6.64.
Top Five
1. Terrance Trammell (Track Star Apparel) - 6.56
2. Michael Rodgers (Nike) - 6.58
3. Ivory Williams (USA) - 6.59
4. Travis Padgett (adidas) - 6.63
5. Trindon Holliday (LSU) - 6.64
Women's 200m
Bianca Knight clocked the fastest time in the world this year (Kirby Lee)
Heading into Friday night's competition, Bianca Knight (adidas) had stated that she wanted to try and break the 200m record, especially considering a year before in the same building she just missed the 200m record with her 22.40 effort at the NCAA Indoor T&F Championships.
Lining up Knight looked strong and ready, but her first 100 meters proved too slow and Knight had to settle for the win but no record. Knight was clearly the class of the field, claiming first with a 22.88 finishing mark, well up on second place. Runner-up went to Nickesha Anderson (Jamaica), who ran 23.60, while Natasha Hastings (Nike) placed third in 23.70.
Top Three
1. Bianca Knight (adidas) - 22.88
2. Nickesha Anderson (Jamaica) - 23.60
3. Natasha Hastings (Nike) - 23.70
Men's 200m
A lighting fast start for Michael Rodgers (Nike) wasn't enough to hold off late charging athletes in Lionel Larry (adidas) and Chris Berrian (USA). Rodgers took out the race very fast, pushing the first 100 meters. He used his superior opening speed to overtake the rest of the field, but that backfired over the final 100m, which saw him go from first to third.
Larry came back strong and powered home for the win, while Berrian came in strong in the final 40 meters to overtake Rodgers as well. Larry raised his hands in victory, but had he won?
The then yellow flag went up. The final announcement had Larry being disqualified, as well as Chris Lawson (unattached). Berrian was named the winner and Rodgers moved up to take second place.
Top Finishers
1. Chris Berrian (USA) - 20.67
2. Michael Rodgers (Nike) - 20.83
Women's 4x400m Relay
While the race was close early on, Penn State showed why they are one of the top 4x400m relay teams in the country, as they easily gapped the field and went on to victory. The top ranked squad in the nation held on to their top time, crossing in first in 3:36.77.
South Carolina entered the meet with hopes to upset the Nittany Lions, but that dream came crashing to a halt, as their lead runner fell hard over the rail on the second lap of the race. With South Carolina out, Penn State surged forward, with LSU and Arkansas hanging on as best they could. As Penn State pulled away, LSU and Arkansas continued to battle, with LSU pulling ahead in the final 50m of the race to beat the hometown Razorbacks 3:39.56-3:40.14.
Top Three
1. Penn State - 3:36.77
2. LSU - 3:39.56
3. Arkansas - 3:40.14
Men's 4x400m Relay
Georgia freshman Torrin Lawrence anchored the Bulldogs to the 4x400m title (Kirby Lee)
With four of the top six collegiate 4x400m relay teams in the field, this race had the makings of greatness. From the start, Florida, who ranks #1 in the country currently, took the lead and continued to push the pace, while Georgia and Arkansas continued to hang about 10m off the Gators. As in any 4x400m relay when you have that much talent on one track, the race came down to the anchor leg and the Bulldogs proved they had the best.
With 200m to go it looked as if Florida might hold on to the lead, but Georgia's anchor leg kept driving and in the final 70 meters of the race took over the lead from Florida and cruised home with the second best time in the country, 3:07.96. Florida finished second in 3:09.02, while the host Razorbacks finished third with their seasonal PR of 3:10.50. LSU, who ranked sixth coming in, faded over the final two legs to finish fourth in 3:13.03, while #6 South Carolina certainly didn't run their "A" team and finished far back in fifth in 3:26.73.
Top Five
1. Georgia - 3:07.96
2. Florida - 3:09.02
3. Arkansas - 3:10.50
4. LSU - 3:13.03
5. South Carolina - 3:26.73
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Tyson Invitational Coverage
**Thank you everyone who followed our live race coverage on here and on Twitter. In-depth summaries of each event coming.
**Post-race Rupp interview is up on Trackshark! Check it out HERE.
Men's Mile
Thompson drops out after 800m, Ulrey takes over and leads. Willis sits on his shoulder, still a large pack because of early SLOW pace. Ulrey falls with 200m to go and Willis puts in one more burst and coasts to victory. He was in a class of his own.
Top Five
1. Nick Willis (Reebok) - 4:02.70
2. Chris Lukezic (Reebok) - 4:03.87
3. Rob Myers (Reebok) - 4:05.13
4. Alan Webb (Nike) - 4:05.60
5. Julius Kiptoo Bor (Cloud County CC) - 4:07.44
Mark Thompson out fast, builds large lead, no one else wants to follow. Thompson through 400m at 59.38, 800m at 2:02.69, everyone else through 800m at 2:06 high.
They are honoring John McDonnell. Everyone is on their feet. Great coach of all time!!!
Men's 200m
Larry is DQ'd, so Chris Berrian wins in 20.67. Rodgers second in 20.83.
Results are unofficial due to yellow flag. Michael Rodgers got out very fast, putting a gap on the field early on. However, Lionel Larry came on strong off the final turn and passed both Rodgers and Chris Berrian on the outside. Larry wins!
Top Finishers
1. Chris Berrian (USA) - 20.67
2. Michael Rodgers (Nike) - 20.83
Women's Pole Vault
It was pretty clear early on that Jenn Stuczynski would win. She cleared 15-02.25 (4.63m), beating Stacy Dragila for the win, then took three attemps at a new American record of 15-10 (4.83m). While she missed on all three attempts, she is close to pushing that American record even higher up.
Top Four
1. Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - 15-02.25 (4.63m)
2. Stacy Dragila (Nike) - 14-10.25 (4.53m)
3. Katie Stripling (Arkansas) - NH
4. Tina Sutej (Arkansas) - NH
Women's 200m
Bianca Knight (adidas) got out fast, wanting to break the American Record. While she didn't get the American Record, she did win in 22.88 and ran the fastest mark in the world this year. She went for it and beat a few very strong competitors. Congrats to Bianca!
Top Three
1. Bianca Knight (adidas) - 22.88
2. Nickesha Anderson (Jamaica) - 23.60
3. Natasha Hastings (Nike) - 23.70
Can Bianca Knight break the national record? We'll find out shortly. She ran 22.40 to set the collegiate record last year. American record is from 1996, Gwen Torrence in 22.33.
Men's 4x400m Relay
A close fought race had Florida claiming the lead early and holding it through three legs. However, Georgia always held tough and their anchor leg came up big and passed Florida's anchor over the final 75 meters. Is there any question why this is one of the most exciting races every single track meet?!?
Top Five
1. Georgia - 3:07.96
2. Florida - 3:09.02
3. Arkansas - 3:10.50
4. LSU - 3:13.03
5. South Carolina - 3:26.73
The fans are really getting into it, chanting their school songs!
Women's Mile
Kipyego takes the lead at 1,000m and pushes through the 1,200m mark in 3:24.8. Willard takes the lead with 300m to go and pushes, breaking up the pack. Willard continues to drive, with Felnagle and Kipyego continuing to maintain contact. Willard really goes with 150m to go and despite Felnagle's best push down the backstretch, she simply can't be caught, running to victory in a new indoor PR of 4:30.69.
Top Five
1. Anna Willard (Nike) - 4:30.69
2. Brie Felnagle (North Carolina) - 4:32.01
3. Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) - 4:32.17
4. Marina Muncan (New Balance) - 4:34.05
5. Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) - 4:34.69
And they're off! The rabbit goes out at a good clip. Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) sitting on her shoulder. First 400m is 65.4. Bowman looks strong and takes over the lead right after the rabbit drops and she starts to push the pace. Clement and Willard in 2-3. Kipyego and Felnagle now move into 3-4. Willard second. 2:14.9 at 800m.
They are on the track and ready to race. Christin Wurth-Thomas and Alice Schmidt are scratches, Michigan's Geena Gall is in.
Men's 60m
The race started out fast, lots of good starts, but Terrance Trammell got out best. He kept on pushing and simply ran away from the field. Trammell is having a great indoor season and it just keeps on rolling along for him. Great race!
Top Five
1. Terrance Trammell (Track Star Apparel) - 6.56
2. Michael Rodgers (Nike) - 6.58
3. Ivory Williams (USA) - 6.59
4. Travis Padgett (adidas) - 6.63
5. Trindon Holliday (LSU) - 6.64
Women's 4x400m Relay
South Carolina's lead leg tripped on the rail and they are out. Penn State takes the lead and never looks back. Pull off the victory. LSU second. Arkansas third.
Top Three
1. Penn State - 3:36.77
2. LSU - 3:39.56
3. Arkansas - 3:40.14
The college teams are starting to make some noise. School cheers. They're getting noisy. This is great!
Women's 300m
Shalonda Solomon off to a great start. Keeps on hammering. Monica Hargrove keeping pace. Solomon pulls away in the final 50m to win in a new American Record of 36.45!
Top Four
1. Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) - 36.45
2. Monica Hargrove (USA) - 36.85
3. Shana Cox (adidas) - 38.00
4. Sasha Rolle (Bahamas) - 38.85
Top Five
1. Nick Symmonds (Nike OTC) - 1:47.72
2. Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - 1:47.76
3. Tyler Mulder (Northern Iowa) - 1:48.53
4. David Krummenacker (adidas) - 1:49.28
5. Alex McClary (Arkansas) - 1:49.37
Symmonds closed strong, but so did Khadevis Robinson! Lean at the tape. Too close to call!
The men's race is off. This field is so good! First 400m has the pack going through in 51.27. Tyler Mulder really set the pace. Symmonds closing with 200m to go.
Women's 60m
Wow! That was so close!!! Jeter wins with a lean. She wins in 7.20, tying her best mark of the seaso, which also ranks her fourth in the world.
Alex Becker of Canada started with the field but slowly broke away, now looks like she won't get caught. Lillian Badaru (Texas Tech) is leading the chase pack of four. Becker hangs on to win.
Delilah DiCrescenzo, who was considered the favorite coming in after placing in the top five last weekend at the USATF Cross Country Championships, dropped out. This race is wide open.
Men's 400m
Xavier Carter got out fast, with Renny Quow falling in the first 100m. Four man race now. Calvin Smith comes up to challenge Carter at the 200m mark, as they pass through at 21.69. Carter looks strong, holds off a late charging Michael Tinsley in the final strides, wins his season opener in 46.98!
1. Xavier Carter - 46.98
2. Michael Tinsley - 47.01
3. Calvin Smith - 47.08
4. Lanceford Spence - 48.18
DNF Renny Quow
They delayed the 400m dash for 12 minutes to feature the men's shot put and women's pole vault. The guys are ready to go now. Xavier Carter is opening up his season and looks the fittest he's looked this early in the season ever.
Men's Shot Put
Reese Hoffa just threw 69-01.25 on his last throw. Takes the lead. Nelson comes up, pumped up, but comes up just short. Great night for the big men.
Top Five
1. Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - 69-01.25
2. Adam Nelson (Nike) - 68-11.25
3. Russ Winger (USA) - 67-00
4. Dan Taylor (Nike) - 66-07.25
5. Cory Martin (Nike) - 66-4.25
The fans are really into the shot put. These guys are egging the crowd on. Adam Nelson is in fine form. He leads after two rounds with a 68-07 mark. Nelson extends his mark.
Men's 5,000m
New American Record for Galen Rupp!!! Rupp runs a great race and smashed the old record. Places second in 13:18.12. He broke the collegiate record in the process, as did Sam Chelenga (Liberty), who placed third in 13:19.79.
Top Five
1. Bekana Daba (ETH) - 13:17.89
2. Galen Rupp (Oregon) - 13:18.12
3. Sam Chelenga (Liberty) - 13:19.79
4. Markos Geneti (ETH) - 13:31.71
5. Shawn Forrest (Arkansas) - 13:37.77
The race is off. Galen Rupp, Sam Chelanga, Bekana Daba and Markos Geneti are considered the four favorites. Rupp tucks in early and sits on the nice early pace. First 200m is 32 seconds. First 400m is 65.2. 800m in 2:10.5.
1 Mile Split - 4:18.9. Former Razorback Seth Summerside leads the pack with Rupp sitting in fifth.
2 Mile Split - 8:34.98 . Bekana Daba and Markos Geneti push pace after Summerside drops. Rupp looking strong in third place.
Rupp goes at 12:05! Daba sits on him with Chelenga hanging strong in third. Rupp really pressing with 400m to go.
Rupp new American record! 13:18.12. Daba wins in 13:17.98. What a race! Old record was Doug Padilla at 13:20.55 back in 1981.
Pre-Event
Randal Tyson Stadium is filling up fast. The excitement is building rapidly. Jenn Stuczynski is warming up in the pole vault and the crowd is keeping a close eye on that. ESPN cameras are up and shooting everything, while the TV commentators are doing their pre-event coverage. 15 minutes to go!!!
Earlier Coverage
While Friday evening represents the best action of the Tyson Invitational, earlier in the day saw many of the top collegians test their skills on the ever impressive Randal Tyson track. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Torrin Lawrence (Georgia), who's only a freshman, ran the fastest time in the world at 400m, beating a strong list of competitors with a 46.18 effort.
- Freshman Marcus Rowland (Auburn) ran a DI provisional time to win the men's 60m dash in 6.66.
- Kya Brookins (South Carolina) won the women's 60m dash in 7.28, besting runner-up Lynne Layne (Tennessee) by .05.
- Kristal Yush (NYAC) won the women's weight throw in an impressive 70-06.25 (21.49m).
- Phoebe Wright (Tennesse) won the women's 800m event with her time of 2:04.71, ranking her in the top six collegiately. Her teammate, Chanelle Price, won her heat in the event, running the second best time of the day in 2:08.00.
- Tiffany Ofili (Michigan) won her heat of the women's 60m hurdles with the top time of the day, easily qualifying for Saturday's final with a time of 8.05.
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If you think back over the past 2-3 years, what would you consider the most exciting field events in the American landscape? Many would say that the women's pole vault and the men's shot put. Well, the staff of the Tyson Invitational would agree, as the two events are the only field events of the competition. In the women's pole vault newly minted American record holder Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) leads the way, while Olympians Reese Hoffa (Nike) and Adam Nelson (Nike) clash in the men's shot put.
Last weekend was quite the weekend for Jenn Stuczynski (adidas). It was all too obvious from the start of the indoor track and field season that she desperately wanted to take down the American record, and this past Saturday at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games she accomplished that feat. Stuczynski cleared 15-09.75 (4.82m), taking home the record and the pay check for the victory.
This weekend Stuczynski will once challenge herself to soar over new heights. With the pressure of breaking the American record now off her shoulders, it wouldn't be surprising to see her go even higher this time around.
While Stuczynski is the clear favorite, a few other athletes will be taking their shot at improving their seasonal bests. Stacy Dragila (Nike) vaulted 14-06 (4.42m) to place second last weekend in Boston, but her best this year came a week earlier at the Millrose Games, where she cleared 15-01.50 (4.61m). Dragila will once again look to clear the 15-00 barrier.
Two collegiate athletes to keep an eye on are Natalie Willer (Nebraska) and Katie Stripling (Arkansas). Currently the duo ranks #2 and #4 on the NCAA DI rankings, with Willer having a seasonal best of 14-00 (4.27m) and Stripling coming in less than one inch less at 13-11.25 (4.25m). Both athletes will look to top the 14-00 barrier and perhaps vault the top mark in the NCAA this season thus far.
[Ed. Note. Nebraska's Natalie Willer is out of the event, replaced with Arkansas' Tina Sutej]
Men's Shot Put Meet Record: Adam Nelson - 22.40m (73' 6") - 2008
Adam Nelson (Nike) versus Reese Hoffa (Nike). That's the top match up in the men's shot put this Friday night. These two have battled countless times over the past few years and they'll be at it again at the Tyson Invitational. The last time these two met, Nelson ended up winning the Millrose Games event with a toss of 68-02.50 (20.79m), which currently ranks Nelson as the top shot put thrower in the country. Hoffa finished third that day behind Nelson and Christian Cantwell with a top throw of 67-02.25 (20.48m).
While both athletes were not pleased with their marks, both expecting to clear the 70 foot barrier, they get a chance to push farther this weekend, with a great group of competition. Nelson is considered the pre-event favorite, especially considering his luck in Fayetteville. Last year, Nelson broke the meet record with his incredible throw of 73-06 (22.40m). While it remains to be seen if he can reach that mark this time around, you know he'll be shooting for it.
Hoffa is looking to build on his seasonal best performance at the meet in Malmo a week and a half ago, where he threw 67-06.25 (20.58m). For both Nelson and Hoffa a throw gliding over the 70 foot mark is certainly a realistic event.
The other three challengers in the field are Dan Taylor (Nike), Dorian Scott (Nike) and Cory Martin (Nike). Taylor is perhaps the biggest threat of the three to upset Nelson and Hoffa. He placed fourth two weeks ago at the Millrose Games, putting up a top mark of 64-11.25 (19.79m). Taylor has shown that he is capable of a 70 foot throw when he is at his best, so an upset of sorts could very well take place.
[Ed. Note. Russ Winger has been added to the field]
Participants: Reese Hoffa (Nike), Adam Nelson (Nike), Dorian Scott (Nike), Dan Taylor (Nike), Russ Winger (USA) and Cory Martin (Nike).
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As usual, the Tyson Invitational will showcase many of the world's best distance runners this coming weekend. Top professional and NCAA talent highlight all of the distance races, each having deep fields that should produce some phenomenal races. 2008 Olympians Nick Willis, Galen Rupp, Nick Symmonds, Christian Smith and Anna Willard headline.
Last weekend at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, Galen Rupp (Oregon) lost to Ethiopian Bekana Daba (adidas) in the men's 3,000m 7:41.88-7:44.69. This weekend Rupp gets his chance at redemption as he takes on Bekana once again, this time in the 5,000m.
Rupp has been very active this indoor season, running an early season mile, anchoring his team's DMR two weeks ago in Washington and racing in Boston last weekend in the 3k. His indoor progression leaves him yet to run the 5k and many wonder just how fast the Olympian can run. Daba and Rupp should battle and a sub-13:25 effort is not out of the question. Both are fit and race ready. Do not be surprised if the meet record of 13:32.01 set by former Razorback Alistair Cragg last year is taken down.
Along with Rupp and Daba are NCAA cross country runner-up Sam Chelenga (Liberty) and Ethiopian Markos Geneti (adidas). Chelenga, who's been fairly quiet this indoor season, won the 3k at Penn State last weekend in 8:00.99, winning easily by twelve seconds. Geneti finished third at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, finishing just over two seconds back from Rupp in 7:46.74. Both should challenge up front at some point during the race.
Additional collegiate talent fill the field. Arkansas' Shawn Forrest ran 7:51.07 for 3,000m two weeks ago, while Auburn's Girma Mecheso (14:01.24 5k) and Elkanah Kibet (8:03.83 3k) are entered as well.
[Ed. Note. Former Arkansas standout Seth Summerside (adidas) is now entered in the 5k.]
Participants: Galen Rupp (Oregon), Sam Chelenga (Liberty), Shawn Forrest (Arkansas), James Strang (Arkansas), Colby Wissel (Kansas), Girma Mecheso (Auburn), Elkanah Kibet (Auburn), Markos Geneti (adidas), Bekana Daba (adidas), Steven Sambo (Rend Lake CC), Jonathan Pierce (USA), Seth Summerside (adidas).
Last weekend at the U.S. Cross Country Championships Delilah DiCrescenzo (Puma) ran to a third place finish, her highest showing in a national competition. This weekend, DiCrescenzo gets to test her limits once again at the Tyson Invitational, this time headlining the 3,000m event. Three weeks ago DiCrescenzo placed second at the Terrier Invitational in Boston, running a 9:16.40 3k tune-up race. She lost to Irene Kimaiyo (Puma), who is also entered in the race Friday evening.
While DiCrescenzo and Kimaiyo are the only two professional runners in the field, they will certainly feel the pressure from a handful of the top collegiate women. Lillian Badaru (Texas Tech), who often gets overshadowed by teammate Sally Kipyego, will be looking for the win after running 16:21.59 for 5,000m earlier this indoor season.
Behind her there are three Arkansas runners in the field, who will have the support of the hometown crowd. Catherine White, Denise Bargiachi, and Christine Kalmer all look to set personal bests in the event and possibly win the race.
Despite so much talent, perhaps the most favored athlete in the field is Holly Knight (Auburn). Knight has time and again over the past two years shown that she is one of the top, if not the top, runner in the SEC and she'll have her shot to prove it once again at the University of Arkansas this weekend.
[Ed. Note. Delilah DiCrescenzo has withdrawn from the competition]
Participants: Irene Kimaiyo (Puma), Catherine White (Arkansas), Lillian Badaru (Texas Tech), Holly Knight (Auburn), Denise Bargiachi (Arkansas), Christine Kalmer (Arkansas), Alex Becker (Tulsa), Genevieve LaCaze (Florida), Wendi Robinson (Indiana), Sarah Medeback (Georgia).
The men's 800m field is loaded with talent and should be quite the race. Olympian Nick Symmonds (Nike OTC) won the Reebok Boston Indoor Games 1,000m race last weekend in 2:20.52 and has to be considered the favorite heading into Friday's race. However, 2008 NCAA Indoor Champion Tyler Mulder (Northern Iowa) is entered in the field, as his Khadevis Robinson (Nike).
Symmonds has shown time and again over the past two years that he is the strongest talent American talent in the 800m distance, but Robinson may have something to prove this time around, making his first 800m race of the 2009 track season. Robinson has added training partners to his routine for the first time in a few years, which could benefit him immensely. Meanwhile, Mulder ranks second in the NCAA with his 1:48.79 effort last weekend at the Meyo Invitational.
A few others to keep an eye on are Matt Scherer (Nike OTC) and David Krummenacker (adidas). Krummenacker was fourth at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games last weekend with a 2:21.98 effort, while Scherer opened up his season with a fine 1:49.16 performance. Both are proven competitors, with big race experience.
Participants: Nick Symmonds (Nike OTC), Khadevis Robinson (Nike), Tyler Mulder (Northern Iowa), Matt Scherer (Nike OTC), David Krummenacker (adidas), Alex McClary (Arkansas), Moise Joseph (Haiti), Jamaal James (LSU).
Three Olympians, perhaps the great NCAA runner ever, and two of the best young American talents in the country are all assembled in this year's women's mile at the Tyson Invitational. Olympic 1,500m runner and former Razorback standout Christin Wurth-Thomas heads the field, opening up her season at the meet and eying her 4:27.18 meet record set a year ago.
Following on her shoulder is one of the deepest distance fields seen this year. Olympic steepler Anna Willard (Nike) should make a run at victory, working on getting some speed into her early season preparation, while 800m Olympian Alice Schmidt (adidas) moves up to test her skills in the longer distance. Schmidt ran 2:03.05 last weekend in the 800m at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.
Behind the trio of Olympians comes a trio of collegiate stars. Perhaps the best runner in NCAA history, Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) looks to test her talents in the field, moving down from her usual 3k and 5k races. Kipyego enters Friday's competition riding a wave of positive momentum after breaking the collegiate 3k record last weekend with her runner-up 8:48.77 performance at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.
Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) and Brie Felnagle (North Carolina) are favorites to mix it up for the victory as well. No one is running better than Bowman currently, running a 2:04.58 800m effort two weeks ago and a 4:35.35 mile effort a week before that. She's really hit her stride in her final collegiate indoor campaign. Meanwhile, Felnagle won the 3k at the Armory Collegiate Invitational last weekend in 9:04.58, a solid tune-up for this weekend's race.
[Ed. Note. Christin Wurth-Thomas and Alice Schmidt are out of the mile Friday night, while Genna Gall of the University of Michigan is now entered.]
Participants: Brie Felnagle (North Carolina), Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech), Anna Willard (Nike), Sarah Bowman (Tennessee), Treniere Clement (Nike), Katie Waits (Reebok), Geena Gall (Michigan), Marina Muncan (New Balance), Courtney Babcock (Mountain West Track Club).
John McDonnell Mile Meet Record: Bernard Lagat (USA) - 3:49.89 - 2005
The marquee event of the Tyson Invitational, the mile this year will be named after coaching legend, and recently retired Arkansas coach, John McDonnell. The talent in this year's edition is fantastic, led by Olympic 1,500m bronze medalist Nick Willis (Reebok), American mile record holder Alan Webb (Nike) and rising collegiate star Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas).
Willis enters the meet as the heavy favorite to win the event. Since the Olympics he's been a roll, coming up big numerous times and showing that he's taken that step into becoming a consistent contender on the international stage. Last weekend at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, Willis took home the victory with an impressive 3:53.54 effort.
Meanwhile, Webb seems to be slowly rounding into form, placing well back at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games with his fourth place 3:57.64 effort. However, he needs to start somewhere this year after ending his '08 season on such a poor note and fans will certainly be encouraging him to regain the lost glory of being America's top middle distance runner.
The loudest cheer at the starting line could very well be for Ulrey. The Razorback standout has been on a tear this indoor season, running 3:57.60 earlier in the season at the Razorback Invitational, while clocking a 3:54 1600m leg at the Washington Invitational two weeks ago, leading his DMR team to victory over a mighty Oregon squad. If any athlete in the field is showing the necessary talent to upset Willis currently, it's Ulrey.
A few other participants should mix it up for a top three finish at somepoint as well. Chris Lukezic (Reebok) placed third at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games with a 3:56.04 mile effort, while Rob Myers (Reebok) has broken four minutes this season as well.
The biggest X-factor in the field is Olympic 800m runner Christian Smith (Nike OTC). Smith ran to a runner-up finish last weekend in the 1,000m race at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. His effort of 2:21.06 could only be bested by fellow Olympian Nick Symmonds. This week Smith moves up in distance to test his talents in a race that he's excelled at numerous times, including a NCAA victory in Arkansas in 2006.
The stars will be lined up in Arkansas this weekend and as usual the times should be blazing.
[Ed. Note. Arkansas' Andy McClary has withdrawn, while Cloud CC's Julius Kiptoo Bor has entered]
Participants: Nick Willis (Reebok), Alan Webb (Nike), Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas), Chris Lukezic (Reebok), Julius Kiptoo Bor (Cloud CC), Rob Myers (Reebok), Christian Smith (Nike OTC), John Richardson (Reebok), Max Smith (Puma), Adam Perkins (USA).
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The start of the indoor track and field season kicked off in December on the east coast, but the first week in February was the biggest week of the season thus far. From Robby Andrews breaking the high school 1,000m record, to U.S. Cross Country Nationals, to National Signing Day, this impact of this past week reached from coast to coast. Welcome to the first issue of Distance Gala Weekly. We hope you enjoy!
Robby Andrews Breaks 1,000m National Record at New Balance Collegiate Invite
Back in 2001, Alan Webb set national records indoors at the 1,000m, 1,500m and mile distances. He also earned U.S. #3 marks in the 3,000m and two-mile events. Webb has time and again been labeled the king of high school middle-distance running. Well, that title changed a bit Friday night, as New Jersey's Robby Andrews (Sr., Manalapan, NJ) smashed Webb's record in the 1,000m.
Andrews ran a smart race from start to finish, trumping the competition by over three and a half seconds, while taking home the victory in 2:22.28, 1.4 seconds ahead of Webb's record. Andrews' record breaking performance was a bit of a shock, but early season results indicated he was capable of a very big performance. However, breaking one of Webb's records will certainly bring more attention to the University of Virginia signee over the coming months.
While Andrews captured most of the headlines from Friday's prep action, the girl's 1,000m race had its own highlights. Jillian Smith (Sr., Southern Regional, NJ), who ranked U.S. #1 in the mile last year indoors and U.S. #4 outdoors in the 800m, ran the fourth fastest 1,000m time ever. Smith ran away from the field, winning by more than four seconds in 2:46.09. Smith had an excellent fall of cross country performances, but ended her season after state, foregoing Foot Locker and Nike Cross Nationals, in order to prepare for the track season. It seems to be paying off thus far.
New Balance Collegiate Invitational Meet Results
Boys Top Five All-Time 1,000m Marks
2:22.28 - Robby Andrews (Manalapan, NJ) 2009
2:23.68 - Alan Webb (South Lakes, VA) 2001
2:23.85 - George Kersh (Pearl H.S., MS) 1987
2:24.10 - Miles Irish (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake H.S., NY) 1983
2:24.13 - Alan Webb (South Lakes H.S., VA) 2001
Girls Top Five All-Time 1,000m Marks
2:43.40 - Sarah Bowman (Fauquier H.S., VA) 2005
2:45.46 - Arianna Lambie (Bromfield H.S., MA) 2003
2:45.76 - Chanelle Price (Easton Area H.S., PA) 2008
2:46.09 - Jillian Smith (Southern Regional H.S., NJ) 2009
2:47.21 - Catherine Doswell (St. Catherine's H.S., VA) 2005
Prep Stars Shine at Reebok Boston Indoor Games
It was a big weekend for high school distance runners on the track this week. While the New Balance Collegiate Invitational captured many headlines Friday evening and Saturday morning, the highlight of the weekend as the Reebok Boston Indoor Games high school mile races. The closest of battles took place in the boy's race, as Mac Fleet (Sr., University City, CA) and Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI) led four athletes under 4:10, in the best race of the season thus far.
In the end, Fleet used an overwhelming kick to overtake the field and earn the big victory. Fleet crossed the line in 4:09.06, barely outdistancing Springer, who ran 4:09.16. Patrick McGregor (Sr., Hoover, AL) placed third in 4:09.41, while The Woodlands (TX) senior teammates Drew Butler and Reed Conner finished 4-5 respectively in 4:09.62 and 4:11.26.
On the girl's side, Emily Lipari (Jr., Roslyn, NY) led for much of the race, before Canada's Jessica Parry took over. Parry, who's headed to Florida State University next fall, bested Lipari 4:51.26-4:53.29. Illinois' Stephanie Brown (Sr., Tri-Valley, IL) was third in 4:54.87.
Reebok Boston Indoor Games Results
Reebok BIG Boys Mile (Top 5)
4:09.06 - Mac Fleet (Sr., University City, CA)
4:09.16 - Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI)
4:09.41 - Patrick McGregor (Sr., Hoover, AL)
4:09.62 - Drew Butler (Sr., The Woodlands, TX)
4:11.26 - Reed Conner (Sr., The Woodlands, TX)
Brasovan, Nicolls Lead Prep Stars at U.S Cross Country Nationals Ashley Brasovan (Sr., Wellington, FL) and Allie McLaughlin (Sr., Air Academy, CO) last saw each other at Foot Locker Nationals, where McLaughlin led much of the race, before being overtaken in the final 800m by eventual race winner Jordan Hasay and runner-up Brasovan. Well, McLaughlin and Brasovan met again Saturday at U.S. Cross Country Nationals, with the results similar to Foot Locker.
From the gun McLaughlin took off at a torrid pace, distancing herself from Neely Spence (Shippensburg, PA) and Brasovan. However, the early pace took its toll on the Colorado senior, as Spence, then Brasovan, passed her over the final 2k of the race. Spence ended up winning in 20:43, while Brasovan finished second in 20:57. The surprise third place finisher was Alex Dunne (Sr., San Clemente, CA), who overtook McLaughlin in the final stretch of the race 21:05-21:10. Other top prep performers were Molly Grabill (So., Rancho Bernardo, CA) in 8th place and Rolonda Jumbo (Fr., Chinle, NM) in 9th place.
In the Junior Men's race, German Fernandez (Oklahoma State) ran away from Chris Derrick (Stanford) and Luke Puskedra (Oregon) on the final lap of the 8k race, easily winning the battle among three of the best collegiate freshmen of all time. Fernandez ran to a 19 second victory, winning in 23:20.
The top prep in the race was Bobby Nicolls (Sr., Regis, CO). Nicolls, who decided to call his season after his state meet this past fall, ran a tactically sound race, earning an 11th place finish in 25:02. Foot Locker Nationals third place finisher Thomas Porter (Sr., Mountain View, VA) placed 15th overall in 25:24.
National Signing Day This past Wednesday was National Signing Day. High school seniors from around the country made their college decisions final, signing their Letter of Intent with the college of their choice. While a few select senior distance runners are still deciding where they'll attend next fall, most of the top standouts have made their decision.
The most notable of all the choices was Jordan Hasay's (Sr., Mission Prep, CA) selection to attend the University of Oregon next fall. The news of Hasay's decision was released through an online press conference, where Hasay made her choice known to anyone who wanted to watch.
Further complete and in-depth recruiting coverage will be in next week's Distance Gala Weekly.
Catching Up with Bobby Nicolls (Courtesy of Trackshark.com)
Bobby Nicolls (Sr., Regis H.S., CO) had a rough cross country season, but he made his college decision look easy, as he verbally committed to the Sooners early and will join a young and talented squad in Norman next fall. Nicolls took some time out of his busy week to answer a few questions in regards to his choice of Oklahoma and how his current training is going.
Trackshark (TS): You committed to the University of Oklahoma a bit earlier than most other top athletes committed to programs. Why did you choose Oklahoma to continue your academic and running careers?
Bobby Nicolls (BN): There are so many reasons why I choose OU, but I'll keep it brief and only mention a few. All the schools I looked at had great programs, coaches, and teammates in place, so that wasn't a huge factor in deciding. In the end I just felt at home at OU, it's a place that I will love running at, but would also choose to go to if I could never run another step again. The school and the track team are both on the rise, and I really wanted to be a part of a building process. There are a lot of firsts that we can still accomplish at OU and myself along with the rest of the team believes that we have what it takes to fulfill our high expectations.
Speaking of the team, that was another big deciding factor. There is such a camaraderie and dedication to success that I couldn't help but notice, and I am already good friends with some of the guys, and I have always felt that running with friends not only makes workouts more enjoyable but even easier. I felt the same way about the most important part of OU academics, the faculty I met was very supportive and down to earth and the university continues to polish its reputation. That's a fairly long answer, but like I said, I could talk all day.
TS: You're fairly good friends with Sooner freshman Kevin Williams. Did that play a role into choosing Oklahoma at all?
BN: Well everyone knows that I think Kevin is one of the coolest guys alive, at least everyone who knows me is familiar with my opinion on him. Kevin is a very talented runner, a great training partner and an awesome friend. He was also someone I looked up to a lot last year and was a good example for me. However, I would have been a fool to make my decision based on one guy and being friends with Kevin didn't really factor into my choice too much. There are many other reasons why I choose OU and that was enough for me.
Obviously I had an inclination to run with my friends but I'm not going to Oklahoma to just hang with the boys, I'm going to win races and get an outstanding education. Having said that an 8:51 2 high school 2 miler is someone I want on my team and he is a huge building block for our success at OU. Who knows, maybe subconsciously I just wanted to go to school with my friends, Bill Kogel is also a good friend of mine, in that case I hope Oklahoma athletes can continue to befriend some of the best athletes in the country it'll make recruiting really easy.
TS: You decided to cut your season short after the Colorado state meet. What happened? Are you better?
BN: After state I was just completely run down, I remember barely being able to walk back to our team tent, and then throwing up a lot. I had battled some bouts of the flu and couldn't do the things I was training to do. My main goal in XC was to win footlocker and once I realized that wasn't possible with the way my body felt I had to take a break and get ready for what I hope will be a huge track season. So far the time off has helped, training is going well and I feel very strong, so yes I am back and healthy.
[Ed. Note: Nicolls finished as the top high school athlete at the U.S. Cross Country Championships on Saturday, placing 11th overall]
The Midwest Distance Gala is one of the premier post-season high school track competitions in the United States. Through strong competition and a professional environment, the Midwest Distance Gala has continued a steady rate of growth and success. The fifth edition of the event takes place on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. For more information please visit the Midwest Distance Gala website at www.midwestdistancegala.com. To receive more Midwest Distance Gala info follow us on twitter.
With Dathan Ritzenhein sitting out Saturday's race due to illness, Meb Keflezighi (Nike) entered the U.S. Cross Country Championships as the favorite. From the gun, Meb dared any runner in the field to challenge him, starting off at a torrid pace and building a comfortable lead in the first 2k. At 4k Meb had a ten second lead on the rest of the field, showing that his U.S. Half Marathon victory in January was a mere stepping stone to what he is hoping is a monster 2009 season.
The early pace Meb established continued to keep the gap on the rest of the field, dragging out a lead of 12 seconds at the 6k mark. The chase pack of Jorge Torres (Reebok), Ed Moran (Nike), Bobby Curtis (Reebok) and Tim Nelson (Nike) worked together, trying to keep within striking distance of Meb.
Over the course of the race it seemed as though no one would catch Meb, as the chase pack remained 8-10 seconds behind him for nearly 8k. However, in the final stretch of the race, Nelson and Curtis began to make up ground on the leader. In the final 400m of the race, Nelson started to make his move, pushing hard to the finish. Meb, perhaps unaware of the fast closing Nelson, had his eyes focused on the finish, but Nelson continued to close the gap. In the final strides of the race Nelson nearly overtook Meb but Meb kept just ahead of Nelson at the finish, creating the most exciting finish of the day. Both athletes finished in 36:06.
Behind those two came the trio of Curtis, Torres and Moran. Curtis ran a tactically smart race and closed well with a third place finish in 36:09. Torres, who led the chase pack for much of the race, finished fourth in 36:19, while Moran claimed fifth place with his finishing time of 36:16.
Perhaps the most impressive race of the day was run by Ryan Vail (Oklahoma State). The college senior started off rather conservative and worked his way up through the field, and eventually finished sixth in 36:24. Vail knew he couldn't match the torrid early pace set by Meb, so his kept patient and ran strong over the second half of the race.
Rounding out the top then were Brett Gotcher (McMillan Elite), Ed Torres (Reebok), Max King (Bowerman Athletic Club) and David Nightingale (ZAP Fitness). All four have a shot to run on the World Championship squad, as it reamins to be seen who will run on the squad heading to Jordan in a few weeks time.
While Meb dominated much of the race, the surprise run of Tim Nelson showed that U.S. distance running is continuing its upswing, as new stars emerge at nearly every national championship. Nelson has been overshadowed a bit by training partners Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky over the past few years, but this results should propel him into the spotlight he so rightly earned. Perfect weather and course conditions created a fun atmosphere for athletes and fans alike, and the Meb/Nelson finish was an exciting finish to a wonderful day of racing.
Race Notes: Jorge Torres will not run on the World Championship squad. Torres is going to get an earlier start to his track season compared to years past due to getting married this coming July. Meb Keflezighi is undecided as to whether he'll compete in the World XC Championships, citing that he has to talk over the decision with his coach, choosing what will best prepare him for the London Marathon in April.
Results - Top Ten
1. Meb Keflezighi (Nike) - 36:06
2. Tim Nelson (Nike) - 36:06
3. Bobby Curtis (Reebok) - 36:09
4. Jorge Torres (Reebok) - 36:16
5. Ed Moran (Nike) - 36:18
6. Ryan Vail (Oklahoma State) - 36:24
7. Brett Gotcher (McMillan Elite) - 36:41
8. Ed Torres (Reebok) - 36:45
9. Max King (Bowerman Athletic Club) - 36:54
10. David Nightingale (ZAP Fitness) - 37:00
Women's Race
Team USA Minnesota came into Saturday with a strong group of competitors. Teammates and pre-race favorites to challenge for the win, Katie McGregor and Emily Brown, both had solid training leading up to the race and seemed poised to make a run at the national title. From the gun both McGregor and Brown jumped to the lead, pulling away from the rest of the field early and looking very strong as they rolled over the challenging Deerwood, Maryland course. Through the first 2k the two established a 10+ second lead on the rest of the field and ran stride for stride with one another.
Just before the 4k mark, McGregor dropped out of the race, leaving Brown all alone, nearly 20 seconds up on the field. For the rest of the race Brown ran alone, building her lead to nearly 40 seconds at one point and coasting over the challenging course. Her three earlier season races seemed to pay off in a big way, as she ran smart and in control the entire time.
Behind Brown a battle for second place was taking place between Delilah Dicrescenzo (PUMA), Julie Culley (NYAC), Kathy Newberry (NYAC) and Rebecca Donaghue (New Balance Boston). The quartet ran together from the start of the race until the final 3k, at which point Dicrescenzo and Culley broke free a bit. However, Culley ran away from Dicrescenzo and Newberry started to slowly catch her.
Coming into the final 400m, Brown looked relaxed and confident, taking home her first national title. Brown finished the 8k race in 26:58, 32 seconds ahead of race runner-up Culley. Culley closed the race strong, running away from NYAC teammate Newberry and Dicrescenzo to finish in 27:30. Newberry edged Dicrescenzo over the final 800m of the race, earning another trip to the World Champs with a third place time of 27:40. Dicrescenzo and Donaghue placed fourth and fifth in 27:43 and 27:46, rounding out the only runners to dip under the 28 minute barrier.
Brown's dominating performance was incredibly impressive. Running alone up front for much of the race showed that she's quickly establishing herself in the American distance running community as one of the top runners to watch in 2009. While she won't be taking her talents to Jordan to compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships (she has to finish up her degree at Minnesota), we'll be seeing much more of Brown this year as she continues to improve and show that she can compete among the nation's best.
Race Notes: Pre-race favorite Amy Yoder-Begley did not compete due to coming down with an illness earlier in the week. Katie McGregor seemed ok after the race, noting that she dropped out but did not sustain an injury.
Results - Top Ten
1. Emily Brown (Team USA Minnesota) - 26:58
2. Julie Culley (NYAC) - 27:30
3. Katherine Newberry (NYAC) - 27:40
4. Delilah Dicrescenzo (Puma) - 27:43
5. Rebecca Donaghue (New Balance Boston) - 27:46
6. Samia Akbar (Reebok) - 28:02
7. Lindsey Scherf (Oregon) - 28:07
8. Clara Grandt (West Virginia) - 28:22
9. Kasie Enman (BAA) - 28:28
10. Julia Lucas (Reebok) - 28:30
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Spence Earns Junior Women's Title Over Brasovan, McLaughlin
The expected clash between Neely Spence (Shippensburg), Ashley Brasovan (Wellington H.S.) and Allie McLaughlin (Air Academy) exceeded expectations Saturday at the U.S. Cross Country Championships. From the gun McLaughlin ran her typical race, running nearly all out the first 400m of the race and settling in to a very fast pace from there. Over the first 800m she gapped the rest of the field by nearly five seconds, eventually pushing that out to nearly ten seconds.
With such a fast early pace, the field spread out quickly. Spence and Brasovan chased McLaughlin, but it took quite a while for the two to catch and pass McLaughlin. Spence charged up the hill on the final lap and overtook the leader, pushing the pace and gapping Brasovan at the same time. Spence quickly established her lead, but it wasn't safe from Brasovan, who seemed to bide her time and move up significantly over the final 1200m.
In the final straight, it became clear that Spence would take home the national title. Looking stronger than ever, Spence crossed the line in 20:43. Brasovan closed well and finished in the runner-up position in 20:47. In the last 800m McLaughlin faded badely, as California prep Alex Dunne (San Clemente H.S.) caught and passed McLaughlin, finishing third in 21:05. McLaughlin finished fourth in 21:10, while Sara Vaughn (Alabama) ran a great race finishing fifth in 21:32.
With McLaughlin pushing the pace early and daring the other runners to go and catch her, this race was one of the most exciting of the day. Spence ran a great race tactically and showed that she's taken a big step in her training and racing during her freshman year in college.
Brasovan once again showed that she is one of the better cross country runners in high school history, while Alex Dunne proved that she could very easily be the breakthrough high school athlete this spring, similar to the jump in results fellow Californian Laurynne Chetelat (now at Stanford) saw last spring.
Perfect weather, a good course and great competition helped create an outstanding atmosphere for Saturday's U.S. Cross Country Championships. The race that seemed to have the most buzz heading, the junior men's race, did not disappoint, as the trio of German Fernandez (Oklahoma State), Chris Derrick (Stanford) and Luke Puskedra (Oregon) put on quite the show. From the gun these three grabbed the top three spots and until the last 2k they were running stride for stride with one another.
It was obviously clear early on that few in the field could hang at such a rapid pace early on. Through the first lap only five remained in the top group. The trio ran three across, while Oklahoma's Kevin Williams and Arkansas' Eric Fernandez ran right off their shoulders. On the next lap Fernandez, Derrick and Puskedra broke free, with Fernandez trying to continually bridge the gap, with Williams falling off him. At 3k Fernandez pushed the downhill, gapping both Derrick and Puskedra. However, Puskedra caught back up in the next 100m and the two continued to push the pace.
At the 4k mark Derrick caught back up to the duo and the three ran together, looking incredibly strong and in control. Behind them Fernandez and Williams remained in 4-5, while a chase pack led by Syracuse's Tito Medrano, Patrick DuPont, Washington's Joey Bywater, NC State's Ryan Hill and Oklahoma State's Ryan Prentice started to move forward and establish themselves as the leaders of the rest of the field.
Much of the next lap (2k loops) remained the same, but approaching the 6k mark athletes started to make their final push. Up the hill leading to the 6k mark Fernandez pushed hard as Derrick stuck and Puskedra fell off just a bit. Over the next 600m Fernandez started to gap both Puskedra and Derrick and it was apparent that he was making his big move.
Behind the three the chase pack caught up to Williams and Fernandez and pushed on by them. Hill led the pack with the Syracuse duo looking very strong as well. Over the final 2k Fernandez easily gapped Derrick and Puskedra, while Derrick pushed and broke Puskedra over the final mile and the three finished in that order. Fernandez won in a blazing 23:20, with Derrick placing second in 23:39 and Puskedra third in 23:53.
The race for the final few teams spots was close. Hill finished fourth in 24:35, DuPont fifth in 24:39, Medrano sixth in 24:42 and Bywater seventh in 24:50. Prentice, Fernandez and Syracuse's Griff Graves finished 8-10, all with the same finishing time of 24:55.
The possibilities of sending three of the best young runners in U.S. history over to Jordan to compete in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships is enticing. All three have to factor in what they want to accomplish this season and how important running cross country is to their track goals, but fans can only hope that all three decide to go.
Race Notes: Colby Lowe (Oklahoma State) was scheduled to compete in Saturday's race, but the college freshman had to withdraw from the competition earlier in the week due to illness. Bobby Nicolls (Regis H.S., CO) was the top high school athlete in the field, finishing tenth overall in 25:02. Chris Derrick fell in the first 1k, but recovered nicely, quickly working his way back up in the group.
Results - Top Ten
1. German Fernandez (Ok. State) - 23:20
2. Chris Derrick (Stanford) - 23:39
3. Luke Puskedra (Oregon) - 23:53
4. Ryan Hill (North Carolina State) - 24:35
5. Patrick DuPont (Syracuse) - 24:39
6. Tito Medrano (Syracuse) - 24:42
7. Joey Bywater (Washington) - 24:50
8. Ryan Prentice (Ok. State) - 24:55
9. Eric Fernandez (Arkansas) - 24:55
10. Griff Graves (Syracuse) - 24:55
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USATF XC Champs: Meb, Torres and Fam Headline Men's Field
Jorge Torres comes off an outstanding '08 season which saw him qualify in the 10k at the Beijing Olympics (Kirby Lee)
The USATF Cross Country Championships are this weekend and the Open Men's field is loaded with talent. While early entries lacked the star power this event seems to generally draw, the past two weeks have seen many professional runners sign up and show that they are ready to race. The pre-race favorite heading into Saturday's event is Meb Keflezighi. Meb is coming off a big win at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships, where he ran away from Dathan Ritzenhein in the later stages of the race and won by ten seconds. The victory signaled the return of the Olympic medalist, who dealt with injury much of 2008.
As usual, a strong contingent of ex-University of Colorado standouts are entered in the race. Jorge Torres, Ed Torres, Brent Vaughn, Bret Schoolmeester, Tim Nelson and Stephen Pifer all have realistic shots to finish in the top ten. Jorge Torres is coming off a strong '08 track season, which saw him qualify for the Olympics in the 10k, while Vaughn showed that he will be a major contender to make World Championship squads over the next few years with a breakout season in the 5k. Pifer also had a impressive '08 track season, showing versatility in the 1,500m and 5,000m event, then graduating from CU and signing with Nike.
Perhaps the most overlooked of the bunch is Tim Nelson. Nelson surprised the track community last summer when he qualified for the Olympic team in the steeplechase. His marked improvement was impressive. If he can carry that momentum into the 2009 calendar year, he could finish very high up in Saturday's race. Ed Torres is always a consistent force in national championship events and looks to make the national squad, while Schoolmeester is perhaps the biggest long shot in the field to finish in the top ten, as he's working an intense full-time job with Nike and balance professional level training at the same time.
The most notable ex-Colorado standout not in the field is Dathan Ritzenhein, who withdrew from the competition only a few days ago, with his agent stating the star had come down with an illness. However, favorites Meb and Jorge Torres will still receive a strong challenge, perhaps the strongest coming from Anthony Famiglietti. In a teleconference earlier in the week, Fam stated that he is training hard and will be ready to race Saturday. With a new shoe contract and renewed energy you can count on Fam challenging up front very early on.
Matt Gabrielson, Ed Moran and Nate Jenkins are all proven veterans. Gabrielson has shown some impressive range over the past few years, while Moran is known for his track accomplishments more so and Jenkins for his road racing results. All three will be hard to beat in Saturday's race, all three being some of the gutsiest runners in the professional ranks.
Two young runners to watch are Brett Gotcher and Sean Quigley. Both runners have come up big in their respective competitions this season, giving them a load of confidence heading into this weekend. Gotcher, who trains with McMillan Elite in Flagstaff, Arizona, placed third at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships, setting a big PR of 1:02:09. Meanwhile, Quigley kicked off his racing season on New Year's Eve at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in New York, winning the four mile race in 18:45 and beating some strong competition. Quigley then traveled to the Caribbean and competed in the Bermuda 10k, besting another strong field in 29:35.
Along with Gotcher and Quigley, Bobby Curtis and Rod Koborsi should show their professional running prowess as well. The ex-Villanova standout and the ex-Georgetown standout impressed last summer and should be looking to open their 2009 seasons up in a big way.
Other runners in the mix that competed at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in mid-January are Fernando Cabada, Max King, Luke Watson, Thomas Morgan and Antonio Vega. Vega had a breakthrough performance in the race, finishing a strong seventh in 1:02:55. Cabada, King and Watson finished 10th, 11th and 12th respectively. Thomas, who had a good 2008 track season, had a rough race and finished 25th overall. He'll look to rebound and make a run at a top ten finish Saturday.
It remains to be seen who out of the top finishers will actually travel to Jordan for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, but regardless, this year's field is as strong as ever. Some young runners will get a chance to prove themselves against notable veteran competition. The battle to prove who America's top cross country runner is on and Saturday in Deerwood, Maryland promises to be one heck of a show.
Athletes to Watch: Jorge Torres, Meb Keflezighi, Ed Torres, Fernando Cabada, Anthony Famiglietti, Matt Gabrielson, Brett Gotcher, Nate Jenkins, Max King, Rod Koborsi, Bobby Curtis, Thomas Morgan, Ed Moran, Tim Nelson, Sean Quigley, Stephen Pifer, Brent Vaughn, Luke Watson, Antonio Vega.
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USATF XC Champs: McGregor, Brown and Yoder-Begley Lead Women's Field
Katie McGregor looks make her seventh U.S. Cross Country team for the World Championships (Kirby Lee)
The 2009 USATF Cross Country Championships get underway Saturday at Agricultural Farm Park, just outside of Washington D.C. in Maryland. In years past many of the top talents in the sport took part in the women's championship race, however, many of the top stars are skipping the event this year. However, many talented individuals still remain on the start list, most notably Amy Yoder-Begley.
Yoder-Begley had an amazing 2008 track season. She entered the Olympic Trials 10k needing to run the Olympic 10k standard in order to make the team (while also finishing in the top three) and she did just that, placing third overall and getting the standard needed. Yoder-Begley took her talents to Beijing and had a solid effort at the Olympic Games and is considered to be the pre-race favorite heading into Saturday's race. However, earlier this week Yoder-Begley came down with an illness, thus leaving her status uncertain at this time. If she races it remains to be seen just how the illness will affect her.
The strongest contingent of runners is traveling to Deerwood, Maryland from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The trio of Katie McGregor, Emily Brown and Meghan Armstrong, all training with the Team USA Minnesota group, should each nab a top ten finish. McGregor and Brown will challenge Yoder-Begley for the victory, especially considering how much success both have had over hill-n-dale.
McGregor is a six-time U.S. Cross Country Team member and seems poised to push the pace early on Saturday. Brown, who was the top Team USA finisher at last year's IAAF World Cross Country Championships, has raced three times already this season (twice in cross country) and seems ready for yet another strong performance.
One of the most exceptional cross country runners in the country that tends to get overlooked is Kathy Newberry. Newberry is a four time qualifier to Team USA in cross country and should once again be in the mix for a top ten finish. Team USA member Julia Lucas also finished in the top ten last year, placing ninth overall and should look to once again repeat with a top ten finish. New Balance athlete Maureen McCandless finished just outside of the top ten last year (11th place) and is a favorite to move inside the top ten this year.
A few other athletes to keep a close eye on are Samia Akbar, who's always in the mix of things at national championship events, Rebecca Donaghue, Zoila Gomez, Julie Culley, Tera Moody and Jill Steffens. All of these athletes have the talent and past results to make a solid run at a Team USA qualifying spot, especially considering they are all heading to Maryland healthy.
Competition will be intense this year for a World Championship qualifying spot. The field is set, the athletes have arrived and now all what's left to do is race. A new women's champion will be crowned this year and a new team set in place to compete in Jordan, but who will win and who will qualify? The excitement continues to build.
NCAA DII national runner-up Neely Spence of Shippensburg looks for the title on Saturday (David Bracetty)
Every year at the U.S. National Cross Country Championships, the top prep athletes get a chance to take on the top college freshmen, as the Junior races set up a nice clash of young talent. While last year's junior women's champion Jordan Hasay is taking a pass on the event, a trio of talented individuals are making this year's race one to watch. Foot Locker Nationals standouts Ashley Brasovan (Florida) and Allie McLaughlin (Colorado) are both entered in Saturday race, while DII national runner-up Neely Spence (Shippensburg) is also entered.
Brasovan and McLaughlin placed second and fifth respectively this past fall at Foot Locker. McLaughlin caught the nation's attention, leading much of the race and earning a new found respect among running fans from coast to coast. Brasovan, who won the event in '07, ran a very sound tactical race, but didn't have enough in the closing stretch to fend off the speedy Hasay. These two proved all fall that cross country is where they shine brightest.
Meanwhile, Spence had a very successful freshman season at Shippensburg. The Pennsylvania standout placed fourth at Foot Locker Nationals as a senior last year, then followed that up with a runner-up finish at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships. Spence took a strong step forward in her training this year, so it will be very interesting to see how she matches up with Brasovan and McLaughlin. The battle for the top spot should be one to remember.
A strong group of collegiate athletes follow closely behind the trio up top. Syracuse freshmen Heather Stephens, Suejin Ahn and Natalie Busby are looking strong heading into the weekend, as are Lacey Oeding (New Mexico), Kayle Evans (Washington) and Emily Pritt (North Carolina State). Perhaps the biggest name to watch in this chase pack is Kauren Tarver. Tarver, who qualified for Foot Locker Nationals each of her four years in high school, now competes at Arizona State University. She's always been a big performer in national-level meets and this time around should be no exception.
One of the most intriguing developments over the past few weeks is the strong traveling contingent of Californian high school athletes entered in the race. Three Foot Locker-level prep athletes, Alex Dunne, Megan Morgan, Molly Grabill, are all entered under the club name South Coast XC Elite. Dunne, who signed with Stanford this past Wednesday, placed 19th at Foot Locker Nationals, while Morgan placed 24th. Jacque Taylor, who finished 30th at Foot Locker Nationals, is another California prep entered in the field. All four should make strong challenges to get on the Junior National Team.
While the Junior Women's race might get overshadowed by the other races taking place, the talent and competition up front will be the story of this race. Brasovan v. Spence v. McLaughlin is a great story line. All three are proven stars, all three of national name recognition and all three can win the race. Every year a junior women or two shine up top in this race, this year there could be three stars.
Athletes to Watch: Ashley Brasovan, Neely Spence, Allie McLaughlin, Suejin Ahn, Alex Dunne, Kayla Evans, Molly Grabill, Kauren Tarver, Jacque Taylor, Heather Stephens, Lacey Oeding, Emily Pritt, Megan Morgan, Lauren Penney, Alyssa Nielson, Natalie Busby.
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Fernandez, Puskedra, Derrick Headline Junior Men's Field
Oregon freshman Luke Puskedra is part of one of the deepest junior fields that the USA Championships has ever seen (Kirby Lee)
The stage is set and the race entries finalized. The showdown everyone's been waiting for is about to take place. With Dathan Ritzenhein withdrawing from the Open Men's race, the Junior Men's race now has the feel of being the showcase race. Super star college freshmen German Fernandez (Oklahoma State), Chris Derrick (Stanford), Luke Puskedra (Oregon) and Colby Lowe (Oklahoma State) are all signed up ready to race Saturday.
This past fall Fernandez, Puskedra and Derrick all looked poised to place in the top ten at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Puskedra finished fifth overall and Derrick placed seventh, but Fernandez, while moving up into the lead chase pack, crumpled to the ground with an achilles injury. Had Fernandez not gotten injured, he seemed more than capable of finishing in the top ten as well, if not in the top five. Since then Fernandez has run the fastest mile at the collegiate level in 3:56.50, while Derrick automatically qualified for NCAA Indoor T&F Nationals with a 13:44.01 5k performance last weekend in Washington.
Meanwhile, both Puskedra and Lowe have remained a bit under the radar. Lowe placed sixth in a very close 3,000m race at the University of Arkansas in mid-January, while Puskedra has yet to show up in a collegiate track race this season. Puskedra showed his obvious talent all throughout the cross country season, so he will most certainly be in the mix with Fernandez and Derrick for the victory. Lowe, who had a sub-par race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, will have a chance to get back on track, knowing that he's had close races before with all three of the favorites in high school.
Aside from the talented quartet, three other college freshmen should mix it up as well. Kevin Williams (Oklahoma), Ryan Prentice (Oklahoma State) and Kevin Havel (Stanford) all redshirted this past cross country season, so they may be a bit rusty heading into Saturday's race, but all three have shown impecable talent when healthy. Williams qualified for the U.S. Junior National Team last year and ran 8:48 for 3200m. Havel and Prentice both broke the nine minute barrier for 3200m, while Havel finished seventh at Foot Locker Nationals. In mid-January both Williams and Prentice beat Colby Lowe in a 3,000m race at the University of Arkansas. Williams won in 8:16, while Prentice finished second in 8:18. Lowe was sixth in 8:20. Williams, Prentice and Havel should be looking to qualify for the Junior National Team.
There are many other past Foot Locker National qualifiers in the field competing under the uniform of their collegiate squads. North Carolina State will be well represented, as Ryan Hill, Patrick Campbell, and Brian Himelright are all entered. Syracuse has four athletes in the race, with Tito Medrano and Zach Rivers leading the charge. Wisconsin is represented by Elliot Krause, while Joey Bywater (Washington), Jim Walmsley (Air Force) and Griff Graves (Syracuse, although not listed under the school) should also mix it up for top ten finishes.
With so much competitive collegiate talent in the mix, it will be hard for any high school athletes to make the world squad. However, there are a few top high school athletes in the fold who could challenge for a Team USA roster spot. Two of the most notable athletes are Thomas Porter (Virginia) and Bobby Nicolls (Colorado). Porter had an excellent fall, finishing third overall at the Foot Locker National Championships. Nicolls, who had a rough cross country season battling illness, is healthy and ready to test his fitness against the nation's best. Porter is the highest FLN finisher in the fold, so he will be closely watched throughout the race, while Nicolls could surprise some and sneak in to the top ten. Other top prep runners vying for a top 20 finish are Kyle Satterwhite (Virginia), George Galasso (New Jersey), Phil Galebach (Massachusetts) and Bryan Tibaduiza (Nevada).
It remains to be seen which athletes that qualify will actually travel to Jordan to compete in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, but if Fernandez, Derrick and Puskedra all decide to go, this could quite easily be the best Junior squad the U.S. has ever sent to the World Championships. The talent up top is simply outstanding, with the depth behind them being incredibly good as well. While the open races will receive much of the media attention, the best race of the entire day from top to bottom is the Junior Men's race.
Athletes to Watch: German Fernandez, Luke Puskedra, Chris Derrick, Colby Lowe, Kevin Williams, Kevin Havel, Bobby Nicolls, Thomas Porter, Ryan Hill, Joey Bywater, Griff Graves, Eric Fernandez, Ryan Prentice, Zach Rivers, Francisco "Tito" Medrano, Patrick Campbell, Martin Medina, Jim Walmsley, Rob Webster.
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U.S. XC Championships: An Interview with Event Director Joel Carrier
This coming Saturday, in Deerwood, Maryland, the USATF Cross Country Championships will take place. Six separate races will take place, with a total of $37,000 in prize money, as athletes look to earn a trip to Jordan to compete in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships next month. Earlier this week Trackshark caught up with event director Joel Carrier. Staging a U.S. national championship is no easy task, so we asked Joel about a variety of topics, including his outlook on the weekend. See what he has to say.
An Interview with Joel Carrier
Trackshark (TS): Were getting close to race day now, and the snow continues to hit the east coast. How's the course looking currently and what type of system do you have in place to create the best course conditions possible?
Joel Carrier (JC): Actually we got hit with more ice than snow so we (Montgomery County Road Runners Club) are working with a great partner Montgomery Parks to prepare for the worst of the weather. Course conditions have improved during the week and with warmer conditions the lower section will be more manageable during the weekend. Montgomery Parks has plenty of snow removal equipment so we are good shape. Hopefully, last week will be our one and only ice storm for the winter.
TS: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
JC: I live a fairly normal life with a wonderful wife and son in suburban Maryland. I am an information technology manager as part of Mayor Fenty’s (Washington, DC) education initiative to reform the school system. I still try to run 3-4 times a week if my schedule isn’t too busy.
TS: The last two years have seen strong crowd support. What type of crowds are you expecting this year?
JC: We have a vibrant running community in the DC metro area. Montgomery County Road Runners Club alone has close to 4,000 members. Cross Country is very popular in the area high school and college ranks so we are anticipating a nice turnout. As for marketing, I deployed an event website last spring to help get the word out. The web has been a great tool for marketing this event on the various running websites. We have also been marketing heavily at area race events.
TS: It takes a lot of energy, time and organization to host this event. How did you first become interested in staging the event?
JC: I couldn’t do it without the excellent support of the race staff within Montgomery County Road Runner’s Club. They have been very supportive of this US Cross event throughout the whole process. I attended the event in New York City in 2006 and Boulder in 2007 and then decided to submit a bid with Montgomery County Road Runners. As a kid, I used to train on muddy trails for fun so cross country has always been my favorite sport.
TS: I know in Boulder two years ago the prize purse was structured in such a way to benefit the athletes that qualify that actually take part in the World Championships and I believe the same was true in San Diego last year. Will something like that be structured for this year's event?
JC: Yes, USA Track & Field is structuring the prize purse to draw participation in World Cross. This can be challenging since the timing of World Cross has to compete with the spring track season and more recently the marathon which many of our younger athletes are moving up to at an earlier stage of their careers. I hope we can stage World Cross in this country again in the near future.
TS: Few people know anything about the course in Derwood, Maryland at Agriculture History Farm Park. Could you tell us a little bit about why you chose to have the event at the location and a bit about how the course is set?
JC: The course is actually on a beautiful farm setting. It is a bit more technical than in years past but I wouldn’t categorize it as difficult. There are some rolling hills but also plenty of decent recovery points on the course. The runners will run through an orchard and the perimeter of a farm field with a natural tree boundary on the lower half of the course. The standard loop is a little short of 2K due to an adjustment with a turn.
TS: What companies are backing the event? We noticed there is a nice $37k prize purse.
JC: Montgomery Country Road Runners Club, Montgomery Parks, Saucony, Georgetown Running Company, Clark Concepts and Document Systems Inc have been great partners and sponsors despite the challenging economic times where many race events are having tough times with sponsorship. We are very fortunate for the support.
TS: Who are some of the stronger runners taking part in this year's men's and women's field?
JC: A strong field is developing in the men’s open with Jorge Torres, and Anthony Famiglietti as established veterans. We could also have some surprises with many up and coming runners such as Bobby Curtis, Brent Vaughn and Sean Quigley. The women’s field will have Amy Yoder-Begley, Katie McGregor and local standout Samia Akbar. I am also expecting surprises with many up and comers in the women’s field. The junior field will feature standout German Fernandez who has a lot of possible potential on the international scene. The master men’s event will feature some great running with Pete McGill and local standout Steve Kartalia.
TS: Any last thoughts on the U.S. Cross Country Championships?
JC: I want to thank USA Track & Field, Montgomery County Road Runners Club, our partners and sponsors for this opportunity. US Cross has become a great premier event and I hope that our runners will be able to build a presence in the sport on the international scene. I would like to see us build on the enthusiasm of US Cross and stage a few more events similar to the cross circuits in Europe. I am looking forward to the competition and wish all the athletes, coaches, spectators and officials a great event.
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He's only a junior in college, but the road for pole vaulter Jake Winder during his collegiate career has been filled with plenty of ups and downs. The North Central College (IL) junior started his college career at Alabama after a very successful high school campaign. However, Winder never felt comfortable at the SEC school, transferring back to Illinois and joining the NCC squad, where his dad coaches the pole vault.
This past weekend at the Private College Invitational at Carthage College in Wisconsin, Winder not only vaulted the top mark in DIII and automatically qualified for the indoor national championships, but his mark of 18-00.50 (5.50m) ranks him as the top collegiate pole vaulter regardless of division. Catching up with Winder, he talks about his great start to the '09 season, his transfer to North Central, and how he first got started in the sport.
An Interview with NCC's Jake Winder
Winder leads all collegiate athletes with his 18-00.50 clearance in the pole vault (North Central sports photo)
Trackshark (TS): Congrats on the 18+ foot mark at Carthage College last weekend. How did the meet go for you?
Jake Winder (JW): The meet was really fun! My whole team has been working really hard and we were all excited to get an opportunity to compete. I felt good on the runway during my warm up jump, and just kind of gave it all up to God and my coach (my dad) just like I do every competition. When ever I give up my competition to the will of God it really helps to relax me. I also have my dad, who is the adjustment king! I aspire everyday to be able to understand as much as he does about God's grace, pole vaulting, and the art of being an efficient competitor. With the combination of my God, my coach, and the hard training I have put in, I really was relaxed and confident going into the competition.
And let me tell you, these Division III meets get rockin'! The crowd was really into it, and it is a great feeling to jump well and immediately be met by your girlfriend, close friends, and coaches. That is something that is great about a Division III atmosphere. Besides that I really felt good over my first two bars (5.05, 5.23), but then we decided to go up a pole and I was getting great height but fell on top of the bar on my first two jumps at 5.41. Then the KING OF ADJUSTMENTS told me to drop back down to the smaller pole and I ended up clearing 5.41 and then 5.50 on my first jump.
TS: Your mark was a great early season performance and automatically qualified you for nationals. What will you work on between now and then to continue your improvement?
JW: It is always really good and comforting to get an auto mark out of the way. Me, my dad, and my team have a game plan and I will continue to follow that plan. In years past I always would get antsy when I cleared a new PR, and then I would try and look for the first thing that would make me go higher, but not this year. I have a very well structured plan that my dad has made for me and the rest of the North Central College vaulters. I really believe that I need to just continue what I am doing. The number one thing that has helped me this season is my trust in God, my coach, and myself. I am right on track with the plan we have established and I have faith in my God, my coach, and myself, that it will serve me well. It's all about jumping well in May!
TS: What are your goals for the '09 track season?
JW: Well...I really don't have any goals as far as heights go. In the program I am in we really don't like to put a cap on our performances. Sometimes when I was younger I would set definite height goals. Some I would reach and some I wouldn't but the ones that I did reach I would kind of become complacent after they were met. It was like I didn't really have to try after I completed a goal because that was all I had in mind for that season. I definitely have spiritual, mental, and technical goals though. I am on a constant search everyday to improve my relationship with God. I also believe that it is important this year to remain mentally focused on the things that will help me to compete most efficiently. And every vaulter is on the never ending quest to perfect the art of the pole vault.
TS: You transferred from Alabama to North Central. Why did you decide to transfer back to Illinois?
JW: My heart and soul belongs, and will always belong, in the Midwest. There is just something about walking to class in -20 degree weather that puts a smile on my face. I was just unhappy in Alabama. It wasn't the people. It wasn't the coaches. It wasn't the school. I just wasn't happy. My soul was lost. I fell far, far, far away from God, and disappointed people that I loved more than anything down there. I was not myself. I was very dedicated in high school, and believed that I owed it to myself to do what the "great" athletes do; move away to a big Division I university, where it is warm all the time, and you get to go to the best track meets every weekend.
I just always felt the pressure to do that in high school. I was blind to the fact that everything I could ever want was right next door to me. I missed my mom, my brothers, my girlfriend, my four original best friends, and I just came to the realization that I was not going be able to cut it as a big time athlete. I couldn't stand the fact that I wasn't going to be able to see my brother Luke run in his first middle school track meet. I couldn't stand the fact that I was going to miss my brother Josh win a state title.
Once I got back to Illinois I felt like a failure. I was really just a fat, out of shape vaulter, who couldn't cut it in the "big time". But with this big let down I realized, "Hey, my family, friends, and coaches still love me, and believe that I could still be a good pole vaulter!!" I was able to hang out with my girlfriend and hear encouraging things from her, and I started to believe that I could do it again. I also found my way back to God, the most important part of my life. That is why I came back. Even though I was a pile of garbage in Alabama, God lead me back to the great Midwest, where I am encouraged everyday to just be me.
TS: How long has your dad been a coach at NCC?
JW: I believe he has coached at North Central for somewhere around 20 years. He is unbelievable.
TS: When did you first get started in vaulting?
JW: I started vaulting the summer going into my freshman year. I was always really into sports, especially basketball. I practiced all day and all night for basketball, but when I was in eighth grade my brother Josh was vaulting in the back yard over some bushes with a bungee cord. This was at a family party and by all means we had no sort of pit or anything. It was just planting in the grass, and landing in the grass. In front of all these people Josh was jumping over the bungee and all the people were watching him in amazement. So I just decided to go and get some of the attention too! I later went on to set the backyard record of seven feet which still stands to this day, haha! My dad never forced us into vaulting. He actually said that if we wanted to pole vault we had to come and ask him. So I asked him to teach me and that was really the beginning of my vault career.
TS: Your brother Josh is a very accomplished vaulter as well. What's it like to have your brother doing so well in the same area you are succeeding in?
JW: Josh is awesome. He is my best friend. I love both my brothers so much. He works really hard and dealt with a lot of pressure, because of my dad and me winning a state championship. That just shows his character as a person. He is strong in his faith and that is what motivates me and him alike. He is coming to North Central next year and we are both SO excited. He is a great vaulter but an even better person. He will be a great asset to the North Central family.
We pushed each other hard this past summer, and I accredit him for a lot of my success. He is as strong as an ox!!! He pushed me really hard in the weight room this past summer, along with my girlfriend, Michelle, who is a workaholic. My youngest brother Luke (he's in 7th grade and you can't vault competitively at our middle school) is actually starting to vault to. He is a lot of fun to watch as well. When ever I watch him vault, it is a constant reminder that pole vaulting is fun, and what ever happens, win or lose, he still has a smile on his face. They both inspire me every day.
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Keflezighi & Lewy Boulet Earn U.S. Half Marathon Crowns
The U.S. Half Marathon Championships took place Sunday in Houston, Texas, as part of the Aramco Half Marathon. Both the men's and women's fields hosted some of United States' best, all shooting for a piece of the nearly $60,000 prize purse and a personal best. From top to bottom, both races produced some surprising top ten finishes, as well as a few big PR's. As the first U.S. running championship of the year, the U.S. Half Marathon Championships were a great way to kick off the new year for American distance running.
Men's Race
A torrid pace set by 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi set the tone Sunday at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships. Meb took out the pace incredibly fast, passing through the first 5k in 14:07, leaving him running by himself, as pre-race favorite Dathan Ritzenhein trailed nearly ten seconds behind.
Meb continued to push the pace, building his lead throughout the race, until the final few kilometers, when Ritzenhein started to move up and close the gap. Meb's early pace was simply too much for Ritzenhein, as Meb won his first U.S. Half Marathon Championship in an impressive 1:01:25, while Ritzenhein finished a strong second in 1:01:35.
Meb's victory was a sweet one, coming back from nearly a year of injury, including a stress reaction which kept him out for half the year. Ritzenhein's performance is also a good indicator of his fitness as he begins his build up to the London Marathon on late-April.
Behind the Olympic duo up top came Brett Gotcher in third place. Gotcher and McMillan Elite teammate Andrew Carlson both ran well, finishing 3-4 in 1:02:09 and 1:02:21 respectively. Gotcher's performance earned him a personal best of nearly two minutes. Coming in fifth place was Hansons-Brooks Brian Sell, who also earned a personal best with his 1:02:36 finish.
Top Ten Finishes
1 3M Meb Keflezighi San Diego CA 1:01:25 4:42 2 1M Dathan Ritzenhein Eugene OR 1:01:35 4:42 3 12M Brett Gotcher Flagstaff AZ 1:02:09 4:45 4 6M Andrew Carlson Flagstaff AZ 1:02:21 4:46 5 2M Brian Sell Rochester Hills MI 1:02:36 4:47 6 7M Fasil Bizuneh Flagstaff AZ 1:02:40 4:47 7 22M Antonio Vega St.Paul MN 1:02:55 4:49 8 4M Ian Dobson Mammoth Lakes CA 1:03:12 4:50 9 38M Justin Young Superior CO 1:03:25 4:51 10 8M Fernando Cabada Boulder CO 1:03:31 4:51
Men's Race Video - courtesy of Flotrack.org
Women's Race
A strong field, a brisk early pace, and a handful of athletes willing to take the lead throughout the race, provided for quite the show in the women's portion of the U.S. Half Marathon Championships. From the gun a pack of runners pushed the pace, helping each other out throughout the first eight miles, until the race started to open up a bit.
At the ten mile point Olympian Magdalena Lewy Boulet took the lead, pushed the pace, and never looked back. Lewy Boulet crossed the finish line in first, running a personal best of 1:11:47 and winning her first national title. Her win also gave her a nice $12,000 check to take home.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came from Portland, Oregon-based runner Kelly Jaske. Jaske is one of the quick up and comers in the United States, especially considering she never ran in high school or college. The 32-year old is now training under Dathan Ritzenhein's coach Brad Hudson. With a strong start to the race, Jaske pulled away from her competition over the final portion of the race to finish second in 1:12:06.
Coming in third was 44-year old Colleen De Reuck, finishing in 1:12:14, while Desiree Davila, Amy Rudolph, Melissa White and Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle finished 4-5-6-7 respectively, all finishing under 1:13. This was one of the fastest U.S. Half Marathon Championship races held in a few years.
Top Ten Finishes
1 3F Magdalena Boulet Oakland CA 1:11:47 5:29 2 13F Kelly Jaske Portland OR 1:12:06 5:31 3 4F Colleen De Reuck Boulder CO 1:12:14 5:31 4 2F Desiree Davila Rochester Hills MI 1:12:23 5:32 5 10F Amy Rudolph Providence RI 1:12:34 5:33 6 11F Melissa White Rochester Hills MI 1:12:38 5:33 7 5F Kristen Nicolini Minneapolis MN 1:12:41 5:33 8 18F Lindsey Anderson South Ogden UT 1:13:10 5:36 9 6F Sara Slattery Mammoth Lakes CA 1:13:23 5:37 10 7F Tara Storage Beavercreek OH 1:13:50 5:39
On Sunday, many of the top distance runners in the United States will line up on the starting line of the Aramco Half Marathon in Houston, Texas, hoping not only for the glory of being crowned the U.S. Half Marathon champion, but also taking home a large piece of the nearly $60,000 prize purse the championship offers. Notable Olympic athletes Dathan Ritzenhein, Brian Sell, Meb Keflezighi, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet and Ian Dobson lead the way as this half marathon hosts one of the strongest fields of U.S. runners seen in quite a while.
Men's Preview
Dathan Ritzenhein will be a strong contender for the title in Houston (Kirby Lee)
Two years ago Ryan Hall made his way to the Aramco Half Marathon and crushed the American record by running 59:43. Hall's accomplishment threw him back into the bright lights of American distance running and ever since then he's been on fire. While Hall's accomplishment was certainly notable, perhaps the distance running story of the year in '07, this year's field is even stronger, and with four Olympians in the mix the race should be incredibly fast as well.
Olympic marathoners Dathan Ritzenhein, Brian Sell and Meb Keflezighi lead the way, while 5k Olympian Ian Dobson should also be in the mix up front. Ritzenhein has shown over the past year that his transition to road racing, if injury free, could result in him being one of the best in the world. His ninth place finish at the Beijing Games and second place performance at the Olympic Marathon Trials show that his potential for international success is as strong as ever. While Ritzenhein's focus is on the London Marathon in April, this weekend's half marathon is a good indicator to see what kind of shape he's in. A sub-61 is certainly reasonable.
While Ritzenhein is considered the front runner, if Sell and Keflezighi are both healthy they should be up top pushing the pace as well. Sell has shown that he likes to sit back and run even, then pushing hard at the end. If he challenges early on, which he should, that will take the race to another level of excitement. Meanwhile, Meb is perhaps the darkhorse in the race. He's been the forgotten man over the past year, as Hall, Abdi, Rupp, Ritz, Sell, etc. have all captured major headlines. When Meb is in shape he is one of the top, if not the top, American distance runner, meaning a sub-62 effort is perhaps in the cards.
Jason Lehmkuhle, who was originally scheduled to compete, was scratched from the entry list, but his ex-teammate Andrew Carlson should be in the mix. Carlson, who now trains with McMillan Elite in Flagstaff, Arizona, finished fourth at the half-marathon championship in '07, while performing quite well at USATF Club Cross Country Nationals last month, where he finished second behind newly minted pro Scott Bauhs. Along with Carlson, Ian Dobson should be in position for a top five finish. Dobson focused on the track much of last season, finishing third at the Olympic Trials in the 5k and earning a trip to Beijing. With a strong late-fall and winter of base work, Dobson seems poised to follow in the steps of Team USA teammate Hall and Meb and perform well in the half marathon distance.
The list continues to expand as eyes glance down the starting list. Hansons-Brooks runners will be in full force, as Mike Morgan, Luke Humphrey, Kyle O'Brien, Mike Kilburg, Pat Rizzo, Nick Arciniaga, Chad Johnson and Ryan Sheehan all join Sell. The crazy-looking yellow, red and black uniforms will be easy to spot throughout the race, especially since so many of these athletes will be in contention for top ten finishes.
Perhaps the two biggest X-factors in the field is Fernando Cabada and Peter Gilmore. Cabada won the U.S. Marathon Championship back in early October, when he ran away from the field at the Twin Cities Marathon. Cabada showed signs of his old self, running with confidence and poise, which means if he's healthy this weekend he'll be in the mix for a top three finish.
Gilmore is another story. While he certainly isn't the fastest contestant in the field, he certainly has the capability to run in the 62:30-63:00 range. He's been training very well over the past few months and seems to be hitting his stride just in time. Gilmore's smooth and steady race strategy could very well pay off with a top 5-8 finish.
Other notable athletes to watch are Thomas Morgan of ZAP Fitness, Antonio Vega of Team USA Minnesota, Brett Gotcher and Trenty Briney of McMillan Elite, Seth Pilkington, Fasil Bizuneh, Cele Rodriguez and Max King. Each of these athletes has had success in one form or another over the past year, which means any of them could be in 63 minute shape on Sunday morning and run with the lead pack much of the way.
With the fields set and the stars of the sport ready to line up, the Aramco Half Marathon promises to be fast and full of a few surprises. Keep an eye on the pack Sunday, see who's looking good at seven miles, then expect a few athletes to really make a surge towards something remarkable.
Notable Entries: Dathan Ritzenhein, Brian Sell, Meb Keflezighi, Ian Dobson, Andrew Carlson, Fernando Cabada, Fasil Bizuneh, Peter Gilmore, Thomas Morgan, Mike Morgan, Luke Humphrey, Trent Briney, Seth Pilkington, Antonio Vega, Max King, Mike Kilburg, Cele Rodriguez, Brett Gotcher.
Women's Preview
Magdalena Lewy Boulet enters the race as the notable favorite (Kirby Lee)
While the men's race has signficantly more depth and a few more super stars up front, the women's race at the Aramco Half Marathon this weekend certainly remains a story to watch. Beijing Olympian Magdalena Lewy Boulet enters the race as the notable favorite. While she has never shown the type of half marathon speed many of the other top American distance runners have shown in years past, she can not be discounted.
Lewy Boulet's chief competition should come from '07 runner-up and '08 race champion Kate O'Neill. For the past two years O'Neill has shown she has the talent to become truly great at the half marathon and marathon distances, and with an injury plaguing her at the Olympic Marathon Trials last spring, now is her time for a little redemption.
Along with Lewy Boulet and O'Neill, veteran Colleen De Reuck, debut half marathon runner Sara Slattery and Hanson-Brooks runners Desiree Davila and Melissa White should all be in the mix for the victory. Slattery and Davila are perhaps the two most notable athletes in this group, as Slattery has yet to prove herself at the distance and Davila finished second last year in the race.
A late addition to the field is Amy Rudolph. The Providence-area standout enters the race Sunday with high expectations, and should vie for a top three finish. While Rudolph has been relatively quiet as of late, she always shows up ready to compete and is consistently one of the athletes up top regardless of the distance of the race.
A handful of young runners are trying to put their stamp on the event as well. Lindsey Anderson and Meghan Armstrong are two very credible athletes trying to establish themselves in the women's running ranks. Armstrong is debuting in the event after joining Team USA Minnesota in 2008. Former Arizona State standout Amy Hastings is healthy and ready to show that she's back in the mix. Hastings has struggled a bit since graduating, but her training is the best its been in a long while, which bodes well for her.
Team USA Minnesota's Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle finished fifth in last year's race and should vie for a top five finish yet again, while '07 top five finishers Michelle Lilienthal and Tara Storage all search to break 72 minutes on Sunday.
The talent in this year's field is evenly matched, which should make for some great racing Sunday. Nearly a dozen athletes should be eyeing a sub 72 minute time, while the top few should chase a sub-70 minute clocking. The race will be close, the depth will create excitement, and the Aramco Half Marathon will once again establish itself as one of the top road races of the year.
Notable Entries: Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Amy Rudolph, Sara Slattery, Kate O'Neill, Colleen De Reuck, Melissa White, Desiree Davila, Lindsey Anderson, Meghan Armstrong, Amy Hastings, Kathy Newberry, Stephanie Rothstein, Melissa Cook, Tara Storage, Kara Storage, Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle, Michelle Lilienthal.
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Last spring it seemed almost certain that Lauren Fleshman would make the U.S. Olympic Team. A good string of training, a 14:58 5k victory at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City, and a great group of training partners and coaches, all pointed her in the right direction. However, a turned ankle a month out from the Olympic Trials led to a stress reaction in her foot, which led to a hearbreaking fifth place finish in the 5k at the Olympic Trials.
Since then, Fleshman has been very quiet. She has spent a lot of time healing her foot, reflecting on her running and life, and gaining a new perspective on it all. We caught up with Lauren recently, where she discusses what went wrong, what exactly she's been up to, and a few other points of interest. Lauren is one of the great ambassadors of our sport and we wish her the best of luck in 2009.
An Interview with Lauren Fleshman
Fleshman competed in the 5,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials (Errol Anderson)
Trackshark (TS): You've been relatively quiet since the Olympic Trials, where you placed fifth in the 5,000m. What have you been up to the past few months?
Lauren Fleshman (LF): Wow, its crazy how such a simple question can be so hard to answer...
When I think about the past few months, about a thousand feelings and emotions come up and I feel on the verge of bursting, to be honest, so it's probably best to keep it simple. Mostly I've been recovering from heartbreak from the way things turned out after the Trials, and healing an injury to my foot. I had surgery on my navicular bone in October after a failed attempt to heal my stress reaction naturally, which has kept me out of the sport for a while.
But after the huge letdown of the Trials, this injury has given me a chance to be normal for a while. I've had the opportunity to travel and visit friends, camp, drive aimlessly through Oregon and the California coast, follow my bliss, and experience total freedom. I've had enough time away from the sport to gain perspective, connect with people, and most importantly be alone with myself. My heart is still sore, but that's what happens when you care deeply about something.
TS: How did the injury come about?
LF: It started out as a turned ankle about four weeks before the Trials. The pain was diffuse through the foot, and we had a hard time figuring out what was wrong. I took the next two weeks in the pool to "knock it out," thinking that I'd be rusty for the Trials, but if I could just squeak through, I'd have a healed foot and plenty of time to sharpen up for the Olympics six weeks later. Given the fact that I was one of only four athletes who had the "A Standard" and that Flanagan and/or Goucher were specializing in the 10k, the decision to rest before the Trials seemed to be the smartest move. My eyes were on Beijing, and the last thing I wanted to do was turn a tweaked ankle into something more serious if I didn't have to.
Well, I kept training as an alternate after the Trials, and my foot pain was totally manageable. My training was incredible and I was in the shape of my life! But when I didn't get to race in Beijing, my heart wasn't in it to race anywhere else. I decided to focus on healing my foot for 2009. You can imagine my surprise when a CT scan showed a stress reaction in my navicular. I'd always assumed one of those would be excruciatingly painful! Other runners beware! Naviculars are sneaky little suckers. Four and a half months later, I'm recovering from surgery and working my way back into running.
TS: You had a great start to your 2008 season with a 14:58 5k victory in New York. Knowing that you were in such great shape last year, what are you hoping to do differently this year to take another step forward and staying healthy at the same time?
LF: This year, "taking a step forward" may be limited to simply taking consecutive steps forward until it resembles running. I have a long way to go to recover from the type of injury I had. I have way more to lose by rushing back than I have to gain. My sights are on 2012 and 2016 and a few of the World Championships between now and the end of my career...there's a lot of fast left in there and my goals are high. Fortunately, my coaches and NIKE see the big picture and believe in me. They know that the only way for me to reach my full potential is to manage this injury wisely and take my time coming back.
TS: What is your training set up like currently?
LF: I run for a NIKE club: Oregon Track Club Elite. Vin Lananna is my coach, along with Mark Rowland, the head coach of OTC. Because of my injury, I've been kind of on my own schedule: cross-training and doing an insane amount of PT work for my foot to prepare for running. Most of the time I cycle, but I mix in pool and elliptical too. To say I look forward to running with my team again is a massive understatement. I desperately miss running...it's my best friend!
TS: The last few years have been a good time for U.S. distance running. There seems to be an established group of U.S. women like yourself, Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, Deena Kastor, Shannon Rowbury and the list continues to grow. How does it feel to be apart of such a special group? What do you think led to this improvement by American distance runners?
LF: I think we are finally seeing the full rewards of Title IX. Many women paved the way before us, the quality of women's coaching has improved, current legislation supports our opportunities, and we have a handful of seriously tough chicks who believe they can take on the world. It's all these things put together. The other thing is, we are all very confident women who are not threatened by the success of the others, but are instead inspired to do the same. We think..."if she can do it, I can do it." We all came up through the same system and are products of the USA. American women are capable of anything.-----
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The Watch List: Top 12 U.S. Sprinters/Hurdlers to Watch in 2009
With the new year now come and gone, the track and field indoor season should quickly heat up. Competition should be fierce this year and honestly there are a lot of athletes that could make a big statement in 2009. Listed below are a dozen athletes worth keeping an eye on this year.
The Watch List: Sprints/Hurdles (In Alphabetical Order)
Jeshua Anderson
It's rare for a freshman to win a NCAA Outdoor title. It's even more rare for it to happen on the men's side. Last spring Washington State's Anderson took home the men's 400m hurdle title, winning the event in 48.69, showing that he'll be a force in the NCAA for the next three years. Only two seasons ago, as a high school senior, Anderson broke the high school national record in the 300m hurdles with a 35.28 clocking, showing that he has the potential to be a future star in the event. With another year of training and maturing under his belt, Anderson seems primed and ready to take another leap in performance.
Xavier Carter
In 2006 Xavier Carter was on top of the track and field world. He was the top ranked 200m runner and one of the top ranked 400m sprinters. The future looked bright. Then 2007 came, which saw the X-Man struggle, which carried over to 2008. Despite injuries and hardship, the former LSU standout possesses a world of talent, ranking him as one of the world's best from 100m-400m.
If Carter can regain his form of 2006, the U.S. will add yet another powerhouse sprinter to the team for the World Championships. A stable support system and how he performs early in the year will tell a lot of just how well Carter's 2009 will look. The past two years he's started slow, so a quick start to the season could mean big things to come.
Jeffrey Demps
Last year at the Olympic Trials Jeffrey Demps earned a lot of media exposure for his 10.01 100m dash time, earning a spot in the OT semi-finals. While he didn't advance to the final, he earned a spot among the nation's elite, proving that he will be one to watch over the next four years leading to the London Games.
While Demps left immediately after the Olympic Trials to jump into football summer drills at the University of Florida, he still maintained national exposure, becoming a prominent figure in Florida's rushing game, as the Gators recently went on to win the national title. This spring Coach Halloway at Florida believes Demps can dip below ten seconds, with visions of his star freshman running 9.90. While only time will tell how well Demps bounces from football back to track, he's certainly shown he has the talent and determination to be a super star.
Walter Dix
No American sprinter shined brighter at the Olympic Games then Dix. The former Florida State Seminole graduated from college in May after an injury plagued indoor and outdoor collegiate track season. However, the injury may have been a blessing, taking a long-term approach to the season, with the peak being the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games. Dix placed second in the 100m dash and first in the 200m dash at the Trials, then backed that up with bronze medal performances in both events in Beijing.
This year will be an intriguing one for Dix. It's his first professional season and the expectations have gone way up after his Olympic performance. If he can stay healthy and take another leap forward, there's no reason why he couldn't challenge Tyson Gay for the top spot in the U.S. 100m ranks, as well as keeping his top spot in the 200m event.
Allyson Felix
Few athletes offered up the potential to bring home a strong gold medal count like Allyson Felix. While expectations had her bringing home two or three golds, Felix ended up bringing home one gold (4x4) and one silver (200m). While that is certainly not disappointing by any means, it was obvious that she expected more out of herself. Rebounding back this year and taking claim of the top 200m spot in the world rankings will be a big goal, as will winning more hardware at the World Championships in Berlin.
Tyson Gay
He was supposed to be one of the stars of the Olympic Games. He was supposed to challenge Usain Bolt for the gold medal in the 100m and 200m events. He was supposed to cash in on extremely large endorsement contracts after bringing home gold. What could've been for Gay turned out to be an 0-3, as an injury kept Gay from reaching his talented potential in 2008.
With that disappointment, 2009 could be a big year for Gay. He'll be looking to bounce back in a big way, taking back his thrown as the top sprinter in the world. That will be quite the challenge with Bolt, but the pressure is off Gay and fully on Bolt this time around, which could make for some very interesting races in Europe this summer.
Dawn Harper
2008 was quite the year for Harper. After bouncing back from injury, she earned the last spot on the U.S. 100m hurdle squad, then shocked the world with a gold medal performance in Beijing. While Lolo Jones is considered by many to be the queen of the hurdles, Harper quickly made up ground and now looks to build upon that in 2009.
With her coach Bob Kersee, and training partners in Michelle Perry, Joanna Hayes and Ginnie Powell, Harper will have plenty of individuals around her to push towards establishing consistency as the world's best hurdler. Mid-to-late season clashes with Jones will be intriguing races to watch, as both vie for the top spot in the world.
LaShawn Merritt
The LaShawn Merritt v. Jeremy Wariner battles in 2008 were epic. If you look at the IAAF 400m rankings, Merritt earned eight of the top 16 times of the year and Wariner earned the other eight. The two battled, stride for stride in many races, with Merritt finding the edge over Wariner when it seemed to matter most (Olympic Trials, Olympic Games).
If you would have asked a sprint fan a year early if anyone could challenge Wariner few would have said it was possible. However, Merritt took a big step forward and now ranks as the top 400m runner in the world. With rock hard confidence and a great support staff, the sky is the limit for Merritt, who could give the world record a push in 2009.
Tiffany Ofili
After winning the 100m hurdles in the NCAA Outdoor Championships the past two years, Ofili seems poised to have another big season in '09, competing in her senior season as the University of Michigan. While the collegiate record of 12.48, set by Virginia Powell in 2006, might be a bit out of reach, it most certainly will be her goal. It will be intriguing to see how Ofili steps up this year considering the large amount of experience she gained last summer while taking part in the Olympic Trials, going head-to-head against some of the best hurdlers in the world.
David Oliver
Of the 14 top times in the men's 110m hurdles in 2008, Oliver had his name on six of them. However, his best time of the season only placed fifth on that list (12.95), as Dayron Robles earned the top four spots. Oliver seemed poised to give Robles a run for his money at the Olympics, but ended up placing third behind the Cuban and fellow American David Payne.
If Oliver can take his consistency and performance one step higher in 2009 a gold medal in Berlin at the World Championships certainly won't be out of the question. The question remains though, what does he need to do in order to take that next step? Oliver has come on strong the past few years and only seems to be getting stronger. He's so close to being the best in the world. 2009 could very see some amazing match-ups between he and Robles.
Sanya Richards
In September of 2006 Richards seemed poised to break the American record in the 400m dash, perhaps even giving the world record of 47.60 a shot. On September 16 Richards ran 48.70 to break the American record and firmly establish herself as the top 400m runner in the world. 2008 was the focus after that, which saw Richards falter in the 400m final in Beijing, finishing in third place.
A lack of individual gold should inspire Richards to push herself even further this year. With Clyde Hart guiding her, Richards should be back on top pushing the American record even further down this year. As long as she can stay injury free and can race with poise, a gold medal in Berlin is certainly a resonable goal as well.
Men's 4x100m Relay
For decades the U.S. Men's 4x100m relay has proven time and again that they are the best in the world. Even when they drop the baton in prelims or the finals they care still considered the strongest team in the world. That all changed at the Beijing Games, as Usain Bolt and the rest of the Jamaican 4x100 squad crushed the field and the world record, taking home gold in 37.10. If the American sprinters want their title back as the world's best sprint group they'll need to pull together, hang on to the baton and pull past the Jamaicans in Berlin. The United State versus Jamaica match-up this summer could be one of the all-time greats.
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Oregon's Galen Rupp set a new American and Collegiate Record in the 5,000m (Kirby Lee) 
Nick Willis claimed the mile run with his time of 4:02.70 (Kirby Lee) 
Anna Willard was strong in the women's mile, clocking 4:30.69 for the title (Kirby Lee) 
Reese Hoffa came away with the shot put with his heave of 69-01.25 (Kirby Lee) 
Xavier Carter made his season debut a good one with a win in the 400m (Kirby Lee) 
Nick Symmonds held off a strong field with his winning time of 1:47.72 (Kirby Lee) 
Terrance Trammell edged the field at the tape clocking 6.56 seconds (Kirby Lee) 
Bianca Knight clocked the fastest time in the world this year (Kirby Lee) 
Georgia freshman Torrin Lawrence anchored the Bulldogs to the 4x400m title (Kirby Lee) 
Jorge Torres comes off an outstanding '08 season which saw him qualify in the 10k at the Beijing Olympics (Kirby Lee) 
Katie McGregor looks make her seventh U.S. Cross Country team for the World Championships (Kirby Lee) 
NCAA DII national runner-up Neely Spence of Shippensburg looks for the title on Saturday (David Bracetty) 
Oregon freshman Luke Puskedra is part of one of the deepest junior fields that the USA Championships has ever seen (Kirby Lee) 
Winder leads all collegiate athletes with his 18-00.50 clearance in the pole vault (North Central sports photo) 
Dathan Ritzenhein will be a strong contender for the title in Houston (Kirby Lee) 
Magdalena Lewy Boulet enters the race as the notable favorite (Kirby Lee) 
Fleshman competed in the 5,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials (Errol Anderson) 
