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The Week Ahead

February 19, 2008

The 2008 Indoor Track and Field season has just crested the hill and starting to come to an end. This weekend and the next will be huge in determining who is the fastest in the country. In the professional circuit this weekend will be the last stop of the Visa Championship Series. â€œThe Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College will host the 2008 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Feb. 23-24. The concluding event of USATF's Indoor Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships is the world's oldest indoor track championship, with the first meet being held in 1888 in New Yorkâ€(usatf.org). Look forward to the names like Adam Nelson, Leonard Scott, Allen Johnson, Christin Wurth-Thomas, Miki Barber, and Jenn Stuczynski making an appearance and proving that they are the best in the country.

In college scene those that havenâ€™t posted a provisional/automatic time have only a few more chances to get that time before the Indoor Championships on March 15! If you donâ€™t believe that some are feeling the pressure here are Arkansasâ€™s Head Track Coach John McDonnell comments about his DMR teams 9: 38. 37 shaky provisional qualifying time.

"We've run it enough," McDonnell said. "We're not a national-type team [both the DMR and team as a whole he said]. The first two meets I thought good things were going to happen, but we've got too many guys looking for an excuse. Too many not laying it on the line. "(NWAnews.com)

There are so many young athletes out there that are so close but just cannot get the time that is needed. However, although this weekend only has a few meets, the meets that are there will allow for promising shots at getting those times needed. The LSU Twilight, Michigan Silverton Invitational, Nebraska Prairie Wolf Invitational, North Carolina Dick Taylor Relays, Oklahoma Sooner Indoor, Virginia Tech Challenge, and the Wisconsin Open are all meets on tap this weekend. Another one of the big meets this weekend will actually be the Big East Championships. The Big East will be the first of the big conferences to have their championships, while most others will hold theirs next weekend.

With the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships coming up (7-9 March) international athletes all over the world are also trying to post qualifying times to get into the championships. This weekend Australia will host the Melbourne Track Classic with the likes of Craig Mottram, Asafa Powell, and Jeremy Wariner to make an appearance. Craig was looking forward to racing Tariku Bekele in the 5000m race, however word has it that Bekele will be a no show (iaaf.org). Obviously, Craig will be disappointed but believe me he loves his home coward and he wont disappoint. After falling and injuring his knee before his trip to Australia, Asafa Powell does seem likely to return to action this Thursday night and finally Jeremy Wariner will be making his debut in the 400m on his way to his Olympic Gold hopes!

Good luck to all the teams competing this weekend be safe and run fast! Always make sure to check out the News and Results on the Flotrack Website for any extra information!

Nathan Haskins
â€œNews and Results Guyâ€

(picture from www.theacc.com)