Track and Field Articles By USATF Press

INDIANAPOLIS - Tyson Gay and Sanya Richards on Thursday were named winners of the 2009 Jesse Owens Awards by USA Track & Field. This marks the second time in their careers that Gay and Richards have earned this prestigious distinction. Gay initially won the award in 2007, and Richards was the recipient in 2006. Established in 1981, the Jesse Owens Award is USA Track & Field's highest accolade, presented annually to the outstanding U.S. male and female track and field performers. This year's awards will be presented on Saturday, December 5 at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Stanford's Chris Derrick has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championship on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.The American junior record holder over 5,000m, Derrick won the men's title in 30 minutes 38.84 seconds to remain undefeated on the season. Derrick's win led the Stanford men's sweep of the top three places and helped his team to win the West Regional team title.Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Some of the greatest athletes of their generations, including track & field legends Joetta Clark Diggs, Andre Phillips, Randy Williams and Willie Steele, are joined by coach Dr. Ken Foreman as the 2009 inductees into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. The Class of 2009 was announced Tuesday by USA Track & Field.  The Class of 2009 will be inducted Saturday evening, December 5, at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held in conjunction with USATF's 2009 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Ind. "All of us at USA Track & Field congratulate these… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - It's difficult to pick a favorite for this weekend's USA Men's Marathon Championship. As one of the most competitive U.S. men's fields outside of an Olympic Trials lines-up Sunday at the ING New York City Marathon, the field is loaded with a wide range of experience and emerging talent.    Ryan Hall (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), sports the fastest marathon in the field (2:06:17) but Meb Keflezighi (San Diego, Calif.) has seen a return to the form that earned him an Olympic Silver medal in the marathon in 2004.    Keflezighi's year started off with a USA Half Marathon title in Houston… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - There are only four days left for track and field fans to help select the 2009 Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year, presented by Nike. The honors going to the sport's top athletes of the year is selected by a vote of the media; this year, an online fan ballot will account for 10 percent of the vote.  Cast your vote by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13. BE SURE TO CHOOSE ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE WINNER. Thousands have cast their vote thus far. The nominees for the 2009 Jesse Owens Awards are: Men - Christian Cantwell, Kerron… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - 2008 Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.) and Amy Yoder Begley (Portland, Ore.) will lead a strong U.S. contingent at the 18th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships Sunday, in Birmingham, UK.    The men's team will also include recent USA 20 km champion Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.).  Ritzenhein and Gotcher will team with Andrew Carlson (Flagstaff, Ariz.); Scott Bauhs (Chico, Calif.), and James Carney (Boulder, Colo.).   Joining on the women's team withBegley will be Serena Burla (Baldwin, Mo.), Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.),Elva Dryer (Gunnison, Colo.), and Heidi Westerling (Acworth, N.H.), who replaces Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.).   The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships will air on Universalsports.com on Sunday at 4:00 a.m. ET. A total of 47 IAAF… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - 2008 Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.) and Amy Yoder Begley(Portland, Ore.) will lead a strong U.S. contingent at the 18th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships on October 11, in Birmingham, UK.   Ritzenhein and Begley are both coming off of an impressive track season which saw Ritzenhein finish sixth at the World Championships 10,000 meters, eleven days before going on to set a new American record of 12:56.27 for 5,000 meters.  Begley, the 2009 USA champion at 10,000 meters went on to finish sixth in the women's 10,000 at the Berlin World Championships and won last weekend's USA 5 km Championships in… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - U.S. Olympians Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.), Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore.) and Amy Yoder Begley (Beaverton, Ore.) will headline the entries for the 2009 USA 5 km Championships Sunday in Providence, R.I. Defending men's champion Famiglietti will be going for his second U.S. road title of 2009, but will face fierce competition from Tegenkamp who just became the fourth American ever to break 13 minutes for 5,000 meters. Also in the mix for the title will be 2004 Olympian Jonathan Riley (Portland, Ore.) and Bolota Asmerom (Oakland, Calif.), the fourth-place finisher at this year's USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships 5,000 meters. Begley, the 2009 USA Outdoor 10,000 meter… more »

Dathan Ritzenhein teleconference excerpts INDIANAPOlIS - USA Track & Field on Tuesday hosted a media teleconference featuring Dathan Ritzenhein, who set a new American record in the men's 5,000 meters when he crossed the finish line in 12 minutes, 56.27 seconds at last week's Weltklasse meet in Zurich. Ritzenhein's performance bettered the 13-year old standard of 12:58.21 set by Bob Kennedy, and made him the third American ever to break the 13-minute barrier at 5,000 meters. Ritzenhein is coming off of the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany, where he finished the 10,000 meters in a personal best time of… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Dathan Ritzenhein set an American record in the men's 5,000 meters and Sanya Richards continued her quest to win her third Golden League crown Friday at the Weltklasse Zurich, the fifth leg of the AF Golden League 2009. Thirteen years after Bob Kennedy set the American record of 12:58.21 in the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting , 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein smashed that record by almost 2 seconds finishing third in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds. It was an almost 20 second personal best for Ritzenhein, which makes him the second-fastest non-African in history and only the… more »

Television & Webcast Schedule (from USATF and Universal Sports) Date Time Network Broadcast Type Aug. 15 4:05 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 15 11:35 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 15 1:00 p.m. ET NBC TV Aug. 16 4:05 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 16 12:05 p.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 16 2:00 p.m. ET NBC TV Aug. 17 11:45 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 17 1:00 p.m. ET Versus TV Aug. 18 4:05 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 18 11:45 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 18 1:00 p.m. ET Versus TV Aug. 19 4:05 a.m. ET universalsports.com webcast Aug. 19 12:05… more »

 BERLIN - The IAAF Congress on Wednesday approved a new rule that will disqualify athletes the first time they false start in any given race. The rule will take effect January 1, 2010. The rule will replace the current false-start policy of the first false-start being charged to the entire field, with only subsequent false-starts resulting in disqualification. Implementation is set for 2010 in order to enable athletes to become accustomed to the rule well ahead of the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Speaking in support of the rule change, IAAF President Lamine Diack pointed to the NCAA's… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field announced Friday the Team USA roster for the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships,  July 8-12, in Bressanone, Italy. A total of 55 athletes, 27 girls and 28 boys, will be part of the U.S. delegation for the World Youth Championships. At the 2007 IAAF World Youth Championships, the U.S. finished atop the medal table with 14, including an all-time high of seven golds. Team USA looks to continue its excellent record in Bressanone. Leading Team USA at the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships will be World Youth Trials champions Ashton Purvis, Kori Carter, Prezel Hardy and… more »

INDIANAPOLIS USA Track & Field announced Tuesday that it will partner with Flotrack.org to provide live webcasts of both open and junior events at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.  The Championships will be held Thursday through Sunday at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.  This event is the selection event for the 2009 IAAF World Championships which will be contested in August in Berlin, Germany. Flotrack will supplement USATF's official television coverage with live, real-time coverage with race calls of every event at the USA Junior Outdoor Championships while also providing bonus, live, real-time… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Rivalries lead the way in the women's distance events as Jenny Barringer will face Anna Willard in the 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase, and Shalane Flanagan will go toe-to-toe with Kara Goucher in the women's 5,000 and 10,000m at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 25-28 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene. The final event of the 2009 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Championships will be televised on the following dates: June 26: Live on ESPN from 8-10 p.m. June 27: Live/tape on ESPN from 7:30-9:30 p.m. June 28: Live… more »

Double world champion Tyson Gay will run the 100 meters at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, he announced Friday. The 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, to be held June 25-28 in Eugene, Oregon, is the selection event for the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, August 15-23 in Berlin, Germany. The meet will mark Gay's 2009 debut at 100 meters. In his only race this year, the two-time defending Visa Champion won the Reebok Grand Prix 200m on May 30 in New York City in 19.58 seconds, the third-fastest time in history. In Eugene, Gay plans to compete… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - 2008 Olympic silver medalists Hyleas Fountain and Jenn Stuczynski highlight stellar fields in the women's jumps and multi events at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 25-28 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene. The final event of the 2009 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Championships will be televised on the following dates: June 26: Live on ESPN from 8-10 p.m. June 27: Live/tape on ESPN from 7:30-9:30 p.m. June 28: Live on NBC from 4-6:00 p.m. (All Times Eastern) The USA Championships will feature the nation's finest professional track and… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Bernard Lagat, Nick Symmonds and Galen Rupp will headline the men's middle and long distance running events at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 25-28 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene. The final event of the 2009 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Championships will be televised on the following dates: June 26: Live on ESPN from 8-10 p.m.June 27:  Live/tape on ESPN from 7:30-9:30 p.m.June 28: Live on NBC from 4-6:00 p.m.(All Times Eastern) The USA Championships will feature the nation's finest professional track and field… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Galen Rupp has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning both the men's 5,000 and 10,000 meters last week at the 2009 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Having already won three NCAA individual titles this school year, Rupp ran the 5,000m prelims on Wednesday, won the 10,000m on Thursday and came back on Friday to win the 5,000m, all in the span of about 45 hours. In the 10,000m final, Arkansas' Shawn Forrest and Liberty's Samuel Chelanga set out on a fast pace but Rupp kept them in his… more »

Phillips named Athlete of the Week INDIANAPOLIS - Dwight Phillips has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after tying the eighth-best outdoor mark in history in the men's long jump Sunday at the Nike Prefonataine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist and a two-time World Outdoor champion, Phillips proved to the world that he is back after failing to make the 2008 Olympic Team. At 31 years old, Phillips easily won the event when he sailed to 8.74 meters/28 feet 8.25 inches, which ties him with Larry Myricks and Erick Walder for… more »

Lagat, Richards, Brown Trafton, Merritt & Symmonds lead stellar fields at Nike Prefontaine Classic INDIANAPOLIS - Bernard Lagat, Sanya Richards, Stephanie Brown Trafton, LaShawn Merritt and Nick Symmonds will lead many of the world's top athletes Sunday at the 2009 Nike Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene.  The fifth event of the 2009 USA Track & Field Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic will be televised live Sunday on NBC from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Double 2007 World Champion Lagat leads 3,000m fieldAmerican 1,500m record holder Bernard Lagat, who… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after running the third-fastest time in history in the men's 200 meters Saturday at the Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium in New York City. A 2007 World Outdoor triple gold medalist, Gay dominated the men's 200m, crossing the finish line in a blistering 19.58 seconds. It is the third-fastest performance ever, behind only USA Track & Field Hall of Famer Michael Johnson (19.32) and triple 2008 Olympic champion Usain Bolt (19.30). Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Everyone across the U.S. is invited to participate in the first-ever National Running Day on Wednesday, June 3, where running will be celebrated as a healthy, easy and accessible form of exercise. National Running Day is an initiative that promotes the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today's most pressing health issues.  Through a grassroots effort, the foremost road racing and track and field organizations from major U.S. cities--including New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Eugene and San Diego-in addition to national running… more »

NEW YORK - The world watched in awe at the 2008 Olympic Games as Jamaican sprinters wrestled the title of the world's dominant sprint country from the United States, sweeping the gold medals in the men's and women's 100 and 200 meters. At Saturday's Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium, two of the most decorated leaders in that rivalry will face off once again as Veronica Campbell and Lauryn Williams - the last two world champions in the women's 100 meters - face off in the Visa Women's 100. Their race will be part of a sprinting spectacular that also will include… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - In his first 200m race on American soil since the disastrous 200m quarter-final at the Olympic Trials, Tyson Gay will look to reclaim the form that won him the 2007 100 and 200 World Championship titles when he competes Saturday at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in New York City. The fourth stop of USA Track & Field's 2009 Visa Championship Series, the Reebok Grand Prix will be televised live on NBC from 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The most medaled entrant in the Western Union men's 200m, the race is far from a… more »

National Running Day to Unite the Country Through Events and Activities from New York to San Diego on Wednesday, June 3 Major U.S. running organizations to host local events as part of national effort to get Americans moving  NEW YORK - The United States running industry on Wednesday announced an unprecedented unified effort to launch the inaugural National Running Day on Wednesday, June 3, to nationally and locally promote running as a healthy, easy, and accessible form of exercise. Across the country, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field announced Thursday the Team USA men's marathon squad for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, to be held in Berlin, Germany, August 15 - 23.   2004 Olympian Dan Browne (San Diego, Calif.) and Nate Jenkins (Lowell, Mass.) qualified for the men's team based on their respective performances at the Olympic Trials Marathon in New York in November 2007.  Browne finished sixth in 2:13:23 while Jenkins finished seventh in 2:14:56. Justin Young (Superior, Colo.), was also selected for the team based on his 2:13:54 performance at the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon last April.   Fernando Cabada (Boulder, Colo.) and Matt Gabrielson (Minneapolis, Minn.) round out… more »

For Immediate ReleaseMay 9, 2009 Contact: Jim Estes Associate Director of LDR Programs/Marketing  USA Track & Field  Jim.Estes@usatf.org Browne, Meyerhoff win USA 25 km Championships  GRAND RAPIDS -2004 Olympian Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.) won his third U.S. 25 km title as Sally Meyerhoff (Tempe, Ariz.) won her first at the USA 25 km Championships Saturday in Grand Rapids, Mich.  This marks the 16th year that the championships have been hosted by the Fifth Third River Bank Run.   In a field that also included open international athletes, Browne and Meyerhoff each finished second overall in the respective men's and women's divisions.  Browne was timed in 1:15:56 and Meyerhoff… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - 2008 Olympian Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.) will be looking for her first USA 25 km title, while 2004 Olympian Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.) will be looking for his third as they lead the fields for the USA 25 km Championships Saturday in Grand Rapids, Mich.  This marks the 16th time that the championships have been hosted by the Fifth Third River Bank Run.   Browne will face a competitive men's field that also features 2006 25 km champion and American Record holder Fernando Cabada (Boulder, Colo.).  Browne and Cabada can expect to be challenged for the title by Jason Hartmann (Boulder, Colo.), Fasil Bizuneh (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and  Jason… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation has awarded a record 38 youth grants, totaling $58,500, to track and field clubs throughout the country, Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic announced on Thursday.  The grants assist clubs and their young athletes with expenses such as travel to meets, equipment, uniforms, awards and facility rental. "These programs have a positive impact in their local communities and enhance the track and field experience for the kids who participate," said Ashley Wright, USATF Foundation Director. "It's an honor to be able to provide this vital support for the clubs' growth and outreach." The Foundation made… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - 2008 Olympian Shannon Rowbury (San Francisco, Calif.) and Jon Rankin (San Diego, Calif.) lead the fields for the inaugural USA 1 Mile Road Championships Thursday night in Minneapolis, Minn. The event will be hosted through 2012 by the Medtronic TC 1 Mile.   Rowbury, the 2008 Olympic Trials 1,500 meter champion, leads a women's field that includes local favorite Carrie Tollefson (St. Paul, Minn.), a 2004 Olympian at 1,500 meters.  Also in contention for the women's title will be Sara Hall (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) and Jenelle Deatherage (Saint Louis Park, Minn.).   While Rankin owns the fastest time in the men's field (3:54.24), he'll have to contend with… more »

adidas Track Classic To Feature Top Early Season Distance Matchups The 2009 adidas Track Classic at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on May 16 will feature international matchups of Olympic medalists and World Champions at the middle and long distances, meet organizers announced Tuesday. The third stop of USA Track & Field's 2009 Visa Championship Series, the adidas Track Classic will be televised live on ESPN2 from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Headlining the women's 5,000 meters will be 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan. Flanagan owns four American records including the 5,000m. She has already broken one American… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Chris Derrick has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting the U.S. Junior men's 5,000m record Saturday at the 2009 Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University's Cobb Track & Angell Field in Palo Alto, Calif. A freshman at Stanford, Derrick set the American Junior men's 5,000m record with his time of 13 minutes 29.98 seconds, which bettered 2008 Olympian Galen Rupp's standard of 13:37.91 from 2004. Elsewhere, Jamie Donaldson finished fourth at the 7th International Association of Ultrarunners' event held this weekend on a 1K road loop through the center of the Italian city of… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - Kara Goucher has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after finishing third in the Boston Marathon Monday in Boston, Mass. The 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist, Goucher took third in the women's marathon in 2 hours 32 minutes 25 seconds. It was the top finish for an American woman since Kim Jones took second in 1993.  Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF… more »

03-11-2009 INDIANAPOLIS - Defending men's Champion Andrew Carlson (Flagstaff, Ariz.) takes on a field that includes eight Olympians at the USA 15 km Championships this Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. This marks the 16th year that the championships have been hosted by the Gate River Run. Set to challenge Carlson for the title will be 2008 Olympians Jorge Torres (Boulder, Colo.), Ian Dobson(Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), and Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.) as well as 2004 Olympian and 2000 15 km champion Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.). In a field that includes eight of the top ten U.S.-ranked road racers from 2008, contenders for the men's title will also include 2008 USA Cross… more »

The IAAF announced on Monday that the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., and Reebok Grand Prix in New York City will be part of a prestigious new circuit of elite track meets known as the "IAAF Diamond League", starting in 2010. Replacing the current ÅF Golden League of six meets, the Diamond League will feature at least 12 globally televised meets on four continents, giving the IAAF a series that extends beyond the European confines of the current Golden League, into the United States, Asia and the Middle East. The Diamond League also will expand the number of events contested in the IAAF's showcase series, featuring 32… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field on Wednesday announced its newly constituted Board of Directors. Among what will be 15 members of the board are respected business executives, National Track & Field Hall of Famers, attorneys, officials, coaches and Olympic athletes. The new board includes National Track & Field Hall of Famer and sports consultant Willie Banks; National Track & Field Hall of Famer and the first acting President of USATF's predecessor organization, The Athletics Congress (TAC), Dr. Evie Dennis; former world-class athlete and business executive Steve Holman; USATF official and youth track and field activistKim Haines; businesswoman and former USATF women's long-distance running… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - The Project 30 Task Force on Monday, February 9, issued its final report, analyzing Team USAPerformance in Beijing and charting a course for programmatic change to maximize Team USA performance in Olympic and World Championship competition. Central to its recommendations is the hiring of a General Manager to oversee all matters pertaining to athlete development and performance, including High Performance, Elite Athlete Services, Team USA Management, Team USA Staff management, National Championships, Sport Science application and Sports Medicine, Youth Development and Anti-Doping programs. Additional recommendations include targeting development of technical events to achieve 30 clean medals in London 2012, shortening the Olympic Trials, terminating the… more »

Goucher 3rd as fastest American woman ever at NYC Marathon; 4 Americans in men's top 10 NEW YORK - World record holder Paula Radcliffe won her third ING New York City Marathon as 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher turned in a history-making American performance in third Sunday morning. 2006 champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won his second men's title as four American men placed in the top 10 on a sunny, cool and windy day. Great Britain's Radcliffe moved to 3-0 in the five-borough race, pulling away from Irina Petrova of Russia in the 20th mile… more »

From USATF.ORG MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Fernando Cabada (Boulder, Colo.) topped a competitive men's field to win the USA Men's Marathon Championship in 2:16:32 at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday in Minneapolis, Minn. The weekend's events also included the USA Women's 10 Mile Championship where 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) cruised to her first USA road title in 53:16. The weather turned out to be a major factor in the race for Cabada and the field as light showers turned to a driving rain at eight miles to combine with light winds and 48 degree temperatures… more »

TYSON GAY QUOTES: Quotes from Tyson Gay after he finished fifth in his semifinal and failed to advance to the final of the men's 100m. Tyson Gay (Lexington, Ky.): "Toward the finish line I couldn't tell if I made it to the finals or not. I looked up there and realized I didn't. It was kind of devastating. I may have needed more races, but I don't really have any excuses. I just didn't make it. My hamstring feels good, it's not bothering me. I wasn't too overwhelmed with it being the Olympics. It just was one of those things… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Board of Directors on Thursday approved top sports executive Doug Logan, the former Commissioner, President and CEO of Major League Soccer, as its next CEO. A bilingual sports and entertainment leader with a proven track record of generating long-term sponsor partnerships, television outreach and high fan attendance, Logan and MLS in 1996 were named Sports Industrialist of the Year by Sports Business Daily. Logan led MLS during its enormously successful 1995 start-up through 1999. He orchestrated the launch of the league's inaugural season, averaging attendances of over 17,000 per game, highlighted by two single-game… more »

INDIANAPOLIS - An experienced American team featuring 15 Olympic medalists, 31 World Outdoor Championships medalists and 10 individual outdoor American record holders will represent the United States in track & field competition at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee on Monday announced a 126-athlete track & field squad that will be led by multi-time medalists Allyson Felix, Lauryn Williams, Sanya Richards, Bernard Lagat, Tyson Gay, Adam Nelson, Bryan Clay and Jeremy Wariner. Defending individual Olympic medalists include 2004 gold medalists Shawn Crawford (M200) and Jeremy Wariner (M400) and silver medalists… more »

Reining Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jeremy Wariner bounced back from his runner-up finish at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials to win a hard fought men's 400 meters Friday at the Golden Gala in Rome. Wariner out-leaned 2007 World Outdoor silver medalist and 2008 Olympic Trials champion LaShawn Merritt at the line to win in 44.36 to Merritt's 44.37.

Other top finishers on the day included two-time World 200m champion Allyson Felix in the 400m, who easily outdistanced the field to win in 50.25. World-ranked #1 in the 400m, Sanya Richards was the runner-up… more »

2008 USA TOP 5 LIST - as of June 19 Top five performers in each event in 2008 (i=indoor performance) MEN 100m 9.85 Tyson Gay 9.96 Travis Padgett 10.04 Preston Perry 10.04 Mark Jelks 10.05 Trindon Holliday 200m 20.00 Tyson Gay 20.07 Wallace Spearmon 20.08 LaShawn Merritt 20.10 Walter Dix 20.22 Charles Clark 400m 43.98 Jeremy Wariner 44.03 LaShawn Merritt 44.63 Lionel Larry 44.70 Xavier Carter 44.82 Jordan Boase 800m 1:44.55 Khadevis Robinson 1:45.01 Nick Symmonds 1:45.31 Jacob Hernandez 1:45.32 Andrew Wheating 1:45.56 Jebreh Harris 1500m 3:35.14 Bernard Lagat 3:36.36 Lopez Lomong 3:36.61 Jon Rankin 3:36.81 Steve Sherer 3:36.91 Andy… more »

Robles sets World record in OstravaCuban sensation Dayron Robles highlighted competition Thursday with his World record in the men's 110-meter hurdles at the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic.Just 21 years old, Robles is now the man to beat in the men's 110m hurdles heading into the 2008 Olympic Games after setting a world record in that event, running 12.87 seconds. This will put added pressure on reigning Olympic and World champion Liu Xiang, whose previous World record of 12.88 was set in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2006. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammel finished second in 13.21.2008 World… more »

Olympic and World medalists highlight fields in Ostrava The IAAF World Athletics Tour will resume on Thursday in Ostrava, Czech Republic with the Golden Spike Grand Prix. Athletes to watch include Jeremy Wariner, Lolo Jones, Candice Davis, Terrence Trammell, David Payne, Michael Rodgers and John Capel. Jamaican Usain Bolt, who set the world record in the 100m at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 31,will also be in attendance. Two-time World Outdoor champion Jeremy Wariner, who holds an Olympic gold medal in the 400m, will be competing for the first time in the 300m. In his last race before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and… more »

Top five performers in each event in 2008(i=indoor performance)MEN100m9.85    Tyson Gay9.96    Travis Padgett10.04    Preston Perry10.05    Trindon Holliday10.06    Mike Rodgers10.06    Darvis Patton200m20.00    Tyson Gay20.07    Wallace Spearmon20.08    LaShawn Merritt20.10    Walter Dix20.22    Charles Clark400m43.98    Jeremy Wariner44.03    LaShawn Merritt44.70    Xavier Carter44.77    Lionel Larry44.82    Jordan Boase800m1:44.55        Khadevis Robinson1:45.01        Nick Symmonds1:45.68        Jacob Hernandez1:46.11        Matt Scherer1:46.27        James Hatch1500m3:35.14        Bernard Lagat3:36.36        Lopez Lomong3:36.61        Jon Rankin3:37.53        Chris Lukezic3:37.84        Said Ahmed3000m Steeplechase8:24.34        Anthony Famiglietti8:28.21        Steve Slattery8:29.95        Josh McAdams8:30.19        Jake Morse8:32.12        Andy Smith5000m13:16.29    Bernard Lagat13:18.46    Brent Vaughn13:23.79    Abdi Abdirahman13:28.52    Matt Tegenkamp13:30.09    Jorge Torres10,000m27:16.99    Abdi Abdirahman27:48.06    Scotty… more »

EUGENE, Ore. - Meet records fell across all event groups, none bigger than Brad Walker's American record in the pole vault, and Maria Mutola had a historic exit Sunday at the Nike Prefontaine Classic. The fourth event of USATF's Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic drew a meet-record 14,221 fans to Hayward Field, site of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field June 27-July 6. They were treated to a formidable show, including no fewer than eight meet records and Walker's AR. The 2007 world champion, Walker looked magnificent throughout the competition. He had just one… more »

Athlete Quotes - Nike Prefontaine Classic Brad Walker, 1st, men's pole vault: "To get the inaugural Maria Mutola award is great. It's a great honor. Someday I hope to have 16 Pre wins under my belt. ... Just because I did 6.04 today doesn't mean that the Trials will be easy. I'm trying to stay focused. My 5.90 jump was a little cleaner but I was on a bigger pole at 6.04. Sometimes you can do bigger tricks on bigger sticks. "I've never heard cheering like I heard at my second attempt at the WR. It startled me. It's overwhelming.… more »

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba highlighted the second edition of IAAF Golden League2008, the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, breaking the World record in the women's 5,000 meters Friday night in Oslo, Norway.A two-time World 10,000m champion, Dibaba demolished the World record by over five seconds, winning the women's 5,000m in 14 minutes 11.15 seconds. The previous World record of 14:16.63 was set by compatriot Meserat Defar at this meeting in 2007. 2004 Olympian Jen Rhines finished the race in fifth in a personal best 14:54.29. It is the sixth fastest performance of all time by an American.2005 World Outdoor champion Bershawn Jackson continued… more »

Thursday, June 5, 2008 INDIANAPOLIS - Allyson Felix, Alan Webb, Sanya Richards, Wallace Spearmon, LaShawn Merritt, Lauryn Williams, Torri Edwards, Brad Walker, Reese Hoffa and Suzy Powell are just a few of the big names slated to compete Sunday at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene. The fourth event of USA Track & Field's 2008 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the 34th Prefontaine Classic will be televised on Sunday, June 8, on NBC from 4-6 p.m. Eastern Time. The Pre Classic will serve as a preview of the 2008… more »