en-us Copyright 2006-2009 Flocasts Inc Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:35:35 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/assets/portal/simple30/images/logos/flotrack-logo.gif http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1261-team-usa-roster-announced-for-2009-iaaf-world-youth-championships 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 Dedric Dukes.  2007 World Youth sprint medley relay gold medalist Ashton Purvis (Oakland, Calif.) won the girl's 100m in 11.61 and came back to win the girl's 200m in 23.38. Kori Carter (Claremont, Calif.), also a member of the 2008 World Junior team, won the girl's 100m hurdles 13.48. On the boy's side, Texas state champion Prezel Hardy (Killeen, Texas) won the 100m in 10.48. Earlier this season, Hardy won the 100m at the Texas State Championships in a wind-aided 10.08 (+2.2mps). Dedrik Dukes (Miami, Fla.), who was the runner-up in the 400m (46.99) at the Trials, came back just a few hours later to win the boy's 200m in 21.38.  Team USA Roster - 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships  (As of July 2 - Subject to change) Athlete - hometown Boys 100m Prezel Hardy - Killeen, TexasColin Hepburn  - Parkridge, Ill. 200m Keenan Brock - Birmingham, Ala.Dedric Dukes - Miami, Fla. 400m Dedric Dukes - Miami, Fla.Joshua Mance - Claremont, Calif. 800m Quincy Downing - Dayton, OhioBronson Duran - Albuquerque, N.M. 3,000m Erik Olson - Palm Springs, Calif.Zachary Wills - Memphis, Tenn. 10 km race walk Trevor Barron - Pittsburgh, Pa. 110m hurdles Kendall Hayes - Lancaster, TexasDale Morgan - Northridge, Calif. 400m hurdles Jaron Roberson - Atlanta, Ga. 2,000m steeplechase Connor Martin - Carmel, Ind. High Jump Dwayne Golbeck - Claremore, Okla.David Smith - Mt. Holly, N.J. Pole Vault Max Babits - Knoxville, Tenn. Long Jump Carlton Lavong - Philadelphia, Pa.Leon Samuels - Winston -Salem, N.C. Shot Put Ryan Crouser - Portland, Ore.Davis Fraker - Atlanta, Ga. Discus Throw Ryan Crouser - Portland, Ore.Alexander Thompson - Rockford, Ill. Hammer Throw Bradley Bolton - Orange, Calif.Alec Faldermeyer - Goshen, N.Y. Javelin Devin Bogert - Red Bank, N.J.Christopher Rodriguez - Tucson, Ariz. Octathlon Justin Gross - Baltimore, Md. Girls 100m Jordan Clark - Detroit, Mich.Ashton Purvis - Richmond, Calif. 200m Briana Nelson - Newport News, Va.Ashton Purvis - Richmond, Calif. 400m Michelle Brown - Winnfield, Ill.Ebony Eutsey - Miama, Fla. 800m Claudia Francis - New York, N.Y.Marielle Hall - Philadelphia, Pa. 1,500m Cory McGee - Fairfax, Va.Chelsey Sveinsson - Addison, Texas 100m hurdles Kori Carter - Pasadena, Calif.Bridgette Owens - Detroit, Mich. 400m hurdles Katie Nelms - San Jose, Calif.Angelica Weaver - Inglewood, Calif. 2,000m steeplechase Eleanor Fulton - Denver, Colo.McKinzie Schulz - Naperville, Ill. High Jump Shanay Briscoe - Houston, TexasTara Richmond - Chicago, Ill. Pole Vault  Morgan LeLeux - New Iberia, La.Kortney Ross - San Diego, Calif. Long Jump A'Lexus Brannon - Port Arthur, TexasJennifer Clayton, Nyack, N.Y. Triple Jump A'Lexus Brannon - Port Arthur, TexasCiarra Brewer - Oaskland, Calif. Shot Put  Sarah Howard - Dublin, Ga.Lacie Rasley - Bakersfield, Calif. Discus Throw Erica Brand - Kansas City, Ks.Alex Collatz - Bakersfield, Calif. Javelin Ashley Aldredge - Natchitoches, La.Deloma Miller - Pittsburgh, Pa. For more information on the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships and Team USA, visit www.usatf.org.   USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1261-team-usa-roster-announced-for-2009-iaaf-world-youth-championships Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:04:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1254-brenda-martinez-kwik-e <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> UC Riverside junior Brenda Martinez recently took ninth place in the 800-meter final of the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Or., where she competed last summer in the Olympic Trials. Martinez has a personal best time of 2 minutes, 2.34 seconds in the half-mile and is heading over to Europe to race this summer. What are your plans for this summer? I'm going to Europe for a couple weeks to race out there. I'm still not done, still training right now. Which races are you doing? I don't know how to pronounce them, but I'll be staying in Belgium and then going back forth between Belgium and Germany. I think I'm doing five races. My coach has my schedule and I haven't really looked at it. What are you looking to accomplish over there? Me and my coach have been talking about that because my fitness is still there. My mileage is there, as is my threshold, so I'm looking to drop a fast race and also get that experience. You're going to be doing half-miles and 15s, or are you going to go up to 5,000? Yeah, I'll be doing 800s and I think I got into one or two 1,500s. Done with the 5k this year? We will leave that for next year. I'm going to try the 5k in the beginning of the season and get one in. I've got to get myself into one that's actually kind of fast, where I have a group I can go with. I've always been in a meet where it's not all that fast and I'm kind of doing it all by myself. I haven't really pulled off a fast time. I'll discuss that with my coach later. It's sort of up in the air. Are you nervous to be going over there and racing? Not so much nervous. I'm excited. I've never been there and I'm going to go at it on my own. I was going to meet up with Sara Hall. I don't know when she's going over. It's sort of up in the air for her. I know she's going, but it might be a little sooner...or even later. I'll have to call her and see what's up. She's going to be my guide because she's had the experience over there and ran fast over there as well. Do you run with her a lot? We used to train together a lot. She was hired as our volunteer coach. We were doing workouts together and doing thresholds together. She was ahead of me, yeah, but having her there with me was good. Can you explain what went wrong for you in the final of the women's 800? I just blew it. It honestly could have been anything. I just don't know. I still question myself. I was putting too much pressure on myself...or I wasn't used to the rounds. I hadn't ran competitively in the 800 since last year in the Trials. I only ran the 800 once before, and that was at our conference meet, where I ran a 2:03 on my own. There was no competition and I had no one to run with. Either I wasn't used to the rounds or I wasn't getting the right recovery. I felt kind of sluggish. It could have been me putting too much pressure on myself. I'm not getting discouraged, I'm like, “it happens.” I've had races go good all year. You're already working past it? Yeah, I'm not going to bring myself down for one race. I know where my fitness is at. I've done workouts at school where I can break two minutes on my own in practice. I've done 700 meters, hitting 1:43-1:44. I can just take it in, but my coach wants me to save it. You know that you can break two minutes? Last year I hit 2:02.3 and I was ready to break two last year. That qualified me for the Olympic Trials and at the Trials, I made it to the second round...but I was really, really sick. My coach was like, “do you want to still run?” I said, “I can't. I need to go home. I'm really, really sick.” I got a really bad cold and kept running. We just went home a week early. What do you do to run with those top 800-meter runners in the country? You feel belong there? I believe so. I need to kind of work at it. I haven't gotten as much experience as I've needed. A lot of these girls have been running a lot rounds, getting used to it. I have the speed. The rounds, I just need to get used to that. With just one race, with no rounds...I know I can do it. It's one of the hardest races with rounds. There's room for error in all that. What did you hit for 400 meters in the US 800 final? I was right behind the pack. Either a 59 or a 60. That's what I saw, but I could be off. When did it all come apart for you? My coach said that I was fine at the 600. Normally I'll pick it up and start picking girls off, but I just could not do it. It could have been a mental lapse for me as well. I was wondering, “how come I'm not in the front?” That was the first time where I was like, “damn, this is really hard.” Maybe it was the pressure that got to my legs as well. I don't want it to happen again. I got over it really quickly. I just did my cool down and thought of it as another race. Yeah, it's a final, but...I don't know (laughs). What are you studying? I'm in the Soc Department, under law and society. How many more years of college running do you have left? Is next year it for you? Yeah. I just have one more outdoor season. After college you're going to pursue running? There's so much more in there for me to improve on. I feel like I haven't reached my fullest potential yet. Maybe next year I can actually prove that. What are your hobbies? I spend a lot of time with my mom. Riverside is only about 20 minutes away from my actual hometown. I drive home a lot and spend time with my mom and family. If I'm not at home, I'm with the girls on the team. We watch a lot of movies. I watch a lot of Adam Sandler. I could watch him all day. Most of the time, I just relax and hang out. If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone, what would you choose and who would make it? (Laughs) I'd probably have my grandmother make it, although she's not here anymore. She passed away my freshman year. She would cook with the best. She was from Mexico, so she knew how to cook from scratch and could make anything. Everything she made was amazing. I really miss her meals. Can you give me a crazy running-related story? I have scary stories where I see bears or step on a snake...but those aren't too crazy. I can tell you how I started running. I was really bad when I was younger. I was a bad child, always in trouble. Where I live, a lot of the kids in the neighborhood are really bad. Like now, it's not so bad because the cops kind of cleaned up the streets, but it was really ghetto back then. It was really gang-affiliated. My mom didn't want me hanging out with those kids. Most of them have moved out of town or—it's kind of sad to say—but they're in prison. I'd hang out with some of those kids behind my mom's back. We'd be doing...like anything. My mom caught me one time and she was going to hit me with the belt. She's not an abusive, bad mother, but of course she's going to discipline her kids. I was trying to act all cool and come back home like nothing happened. She's like, “I saw you!” And my face just dropped. I thought she was going to hit me and sure enough she had the belt in her hand and I saw it. I started sprinting and of course there were a lot of cars in the road. I was weaving through these cars and she was chasing me, like “I'm going to get you!” I was screaming my head off. My grandparent's lived next door and my grandfather had built a gate so we could cross each other's yards. I managed to get in the yard and shut the gate behind my mom. It was pure adrenaline. My mom cooled off. That was your first sprint workout? Yeah. She's a teacher and told her co-workers the gossip and all that, “oh, I can't catch my daughter. I want to catch her (she's in the background laughing at me right now).” Her co-workers said that she should make me run for a team. She got a contact and a they had a daughter who would run with me. The next thing was me joining the track club. It was funny, because all the people that were there—not trying to be racist, but they were all black girls—and I was the only Mexican. Coach was like, “OK, you're not on the team yet, but let's see if you can hang with these girls in the workout.” We were doing a 100 workout and I was beating the girls and even some of the boys. He was like, “OK, you're on the team.” And it started after that. I've been running since then.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1254-brenda-martinez-kwik-e Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1247-gary-reed (C) Copyright - 2009 - Christopher Kelsall Gary Reed is one of the fastest 800m runners in the world. Currently he possesses a personal best of 1:43.68, which happens to be the Canadian record and a time that is considered fast by anyone’s measure. He also owns a 4th place performance he achieved at the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, China and a silver medal from the 2007 IAAF World Track and Field Championships that took place in Osaka, Japan. The world record by his hero Danish (by way of Kenya) runner, Wilson Kipketer still stands at 1:41.11 from August 24th 1997. I remember watching Reed racing in the Worlds; I was emotionally moved to a standing position to the front of the television. I found myself yelling at the TV, cheering for Gary to hang on. It was an exciting moment in Canadian track and field lore. His efforts resulted in a silver medal at an event, which is on par with any other international track and field race, including the Olympics. He was just nipped at the line by Kenyan, Alfred Yego, in what must have been a most Herculean of efforts. Gary Reed’s performance revitalized hope in the waning Canadian track and field scene. Reed continues to carry that torch even though the greater Canadian running landscape has improved since. The next big performance for Mr. Reed is the 2009 IAAF World Track and Field Championships taking place Berlin, Germany; no pressure Gary! The few times I have had the opportunity to speak with Gary he has been nothing short of friendly, unassuming and honest. During my first ever video interview, which I hope never sees the light of day, Gary displayed a high level of diplomacy during my amateur shenanigans, to that: here is my written interview with Canada’s brightest track star, Mr. Gary Reed. CK: Recently when we talked at the Track Classic in Victoria, British Columbia the day before your under-distance 400m race, you said that you are going to “go hard, then crawl off the track”, which is a solid character statement in itself. In 2008 you ran the 800m in Victoria and then 800m at the Harry Jerome Track Classic, the results were both about a half a second faster than this year’s 800m race that you ran at Harry Jerome. How is your fitness compared to last year? GR: My fitness is the best it’s ever been. This year of training has been great. I think sometimes it’s important not to get caught up in any one time. I try and focus on racing and just let the time come… CK: Were you surprised by your 400m last week? Beforehand you said that “I am in over my head” but you finished in a tight cluster for 3rd? GR: Well I mean over my head is not always a bad thing, I mean I honestly thought that race would be a lot faster, but it wasn’t. I haven’t run one in a few years, so it was a nice change and stimulus. Results   1 Barrett, Dewayne           Jamaica                         47.17    2 Byron, Justin                 Virgin Island                   47.45    3 Reed, Gary                   Canada                          47.53    4 Ikwakor, AK                  Nigeria                           48.27    5 Findlay, Adrian              Jamaica                          48.77    6 Barton, Jason               United States                   50.28  CK: You said your winter training adds up to about 70 miles-per-week. Can you describe a typical off-season week? GR: My coach (Wynn Gmitroski) is a master of change, so nothing is really typical; it is always changing. However, long runs are Sundays and that is pretty stapled. We have at least one hard tempo session off track that most of the time in the fall comes on Thursdays. Editor’s note: Although Wynn is a master of change here is a sample week taken from an Athletics Canada interview from 2007: -Running sessions – 2 times a day (hard session in the morning, recovering session at night). -Strength training 2 – 3 times-per-week-Flexibility session (yoga) 1 – 2 times per week -Massage 2 – 3 times-per-week-Physiotherapy 1 – 2 times-per-week CK: You mentioned that you are looking at running in the 1:42 range. Is achieving this 'academic', in that you probably could have already done it if the circumstances presented themselves on the right day.       GR: I think running 1:42 is all about timing. Usually the period in the season, going into a Major is when you will usually see guys running 1:42s, then again that's a special time and it takes a special athlete to run that so all the stars have to be in line for that to happen. CK: Switching gears, what’s on your iPod right now? GR: I have over 70k of songs so literally everything. Now if I am really hurting on a run I look forward to a dance song to come on and pick me up something by Tiesto will usually do it. CK: Do you still have freezing cold showers before your races? And more importantly, why? GR: Yes I do and it’s mainly to wake my body up for what is coming. CK: You said in your epic, Star.com 2008 interview with Randy Starkman, that when you first arrived in Victoria, you had one chair and that was it. “No risks, no rewards, right”? Hopefully, you now have more than one chair, but as for no risks, no rewards go, does that risk-taking attitude come out in your racing? I assume you lean more to the side of tactical when racing. GR: Well I mean risk does not involve making bad decisions in my world. I still try and push out of my comfort zone because that’s where I have had the most success in my career. With racing it’s no different for me, I try and make the smartest possible decisions the difference is I usually only have .1 of a second to make those decisions.  CK: Again from the same interview: "It's like turning a valve on and lighting a fire for a minute and 44-something seconds and then turning the valve off. ... You can't let it all out until you hear the gun.” So are you in a constant state of carrying on about your business in forced control, keeping a handle on that emotion. Does the emotion come out in other ways, outside of running? GR: I don’t think so. Running seems to really bring this out in me like nothing else I think that’s why I love it so much. Away from the track I am not super competitive, but I am focused on goals in my life. CK: Wilson Kipketer said pretty much the same thing, during his post-retirement interview with Chris Turner of the IAAF – Is this what you are referring to: Chris Turner: What will you miss about not being on the circuit? Wilson Kipketer: What I will miss is the way I felt when running 800m, the way I felt when controlling the race, the feeling of leading a race, the atmosphere…this is what I am going to miss. CT: What would you like your legacy to the sport be? WK: I want this inner feeling to be known by the younger athletes, so they understand what that love of running is all about, I want to pass on my love and feeling for running. GR: I would want people to look back on my career and realize no matter where you are born where you live and no matter what your circumstances they can become a world class athlete or anything they want in life.  I want to be an example for all the underdogs in this world and people who are scared to take the road less travelled that if you make good decisions and stay focused good things will happen.   CK: Coe talked of the passion: Sebastion Coe: "You have to have the vision, too. Vision is a romantic thing. We have got into 'talent identification'. I am much more interested in passion - finding people who are really excited about doing something." CK: Training requires long-term vision. On a day to day basis, especially in the off-season, how does passion manifest itself? GR: "Vision..." Vision in a way is more important than anything in sport. You have to be able to lay in bed at night and see it and almost feel it.  You should be able to paint a clear picture in your head about where you are going and what you want to achieve or in my opinion it will be very hard to get there. CK: In your description of winning Silver at the World Track and Field championships, you said it was a feeling you never had before and that you didn’t know whether you should laugh or cry and that you didn’t know how to express whatever the feeling was you were experience in that moment. Is that what drives you now, being in touch with or chasing that feeling? GR: Yes after having a global medal as a goal for my whole life, it was very surreal to have achieved that feeling. That level of satisfaction was life changing for me and only made me want more. Photo: By CK - 2008 Victoria Track Classic - The Staredown. Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1247-gary-reed Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:25:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1244-steve-lisgo-kwik-e Butler junior, Steve Lisgo, a native of Mansfield, U.K., recently took third place in the ultra-competitive NCAA 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Bulldog crossed the line in 8 minutes, 35.49 seconds to set a school record and get the qualifying time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. Steve answered questions for Flotrack via email. Check them out! Sum up your NCAA Meet experience? Did you meet your goals? It was exactly what I was in the market for…the race of my life precisely when it mattered! I had goals going into the meet, however, I was reluctant to discuss them with anyone, in case they thought I was crazy! And those thoughts were only about finishing in the top eight. So, third more than met my goals. As regard the experience, it was a very good week: good hotel, numerous visits to Panera Bread, two strong movies (Hangover and Sunshine Cleaning), and the hilarity that was witnessing our assistant coach creeping up to John McDonnell in a similar to what you would expect in witnessing a guy in middle-school, approaching a girl he really likes for the very first time. Brilliant! 8:35, can you go quicker? Initially I would have said, “heaven’s no!” However, following a discussion which took place during a 50-minute delay at Chicago Medway, a slight improvement in time is possible. Coach Roe turned to me and said, “what could you have ran if the pace had not have slowed in the middle?” I couldn’t care less at this point as I was so exhausted but I shrugged my shoulder as to say, “I don’t know.” He then continued, “if it was even 67’s the whole way you would be fine.” I have no reason to doubt this logic, so possibly 8:30. I guess we will see in the future. I have yet to race the steeple out West at either Mt. SAC or Stanford, but for the moment I am extremely happy with 8:35! What are some things that really stand out to you about differences between running in the UK and the US? Firstly, in the UK, we have a huge love affair with the 1,500/mile, which may be a result of our rich history at this distance. However, at present, you are viewed as somewhat of an idiot if you want to be a steeplechaser or 5k guy and are going directly to hell if you like the idea of the 10k! This is just not the case in America as people lap up these events! Although that being said I kind of hope this continues in the UK and as a result I can become a beneficiary of limited opposition. Secondly, athletes in America appear to appreciate that they only have a finite amount of time to be great. Yes, if you’re extremely talented, work extraordinarily hard, and are lucky enough to stay healthy, you may be in the position to continue running professionally once you graduate from college. But, for the vast majority, this is not the case so you must seize the day. I am unsure about other teams but all the guys at Butler have bought into this. Back home we have a thriving running club network and a system which will keep throwing high quality races your way for as long as you want to compete in the sport. So there is always another race or another year, if you know what I mean. This definitely is not the case for everyone but it sure was for me before I came out here, I binned off whole seasons. What are some things about the US that you don't like/aren't used to? I hate trucks! Well I can appreciate that a farmer may need to use a huge truck, but what is the crack with rolling up to Wal-Mart or CVS in an F-150 for instance? Needless. However, that is the only thing I do not like. Other than that I cannot get enough of the place. The people are extremely nice, college basketball is amazing, Dairy Queen is right up my street and I even like my professors! Can you explain a week of training for you? I run 80 miles a week in singles. We go hard on Tuesday and Fridays which is either a tempo on the canal or something on the track. Throughout fall semester these track workouts were replaced by hard efforts on the grass. Monday and Saturdays runs are at a moderate pace. Wednesday we go a bit further than the other days peaking at 90 minutes for me. Sundays we go long which is an 105 minutes for me. During XC season we crush this run, hanging on to the likes of Andy Baker and Joe Macdonald is so painful! Guys like me and Kris Gauson are just suffering the entire time! Throw into the melting pot lots of strides and hurdle work and from there on out we just hope for the best. What's the hardest workout you've ever done? 8 x 1,000m with # 2, 4, 6 and 8 over barriers. Initially, when the workout was prescribed, I interpreted my day's work to be 4 x 1000m over barriers with a generous recovery–I was well-chuffed. However, when I was summoned over to the start line for the first rep, the penny dropped and I knew I was in for one hell of a morning! Running in the group on the flat reps was comfortable but not letting them gain too much on me whilst I was clearly the barriers in lane two was torture. What's your international running experience? Are you looking to represent the UK in the near future? I have never competed for Great Britain although this is something which I would love to do. Running in the 2012 Olympics for the host nation sounds kind of appealing doesn’t it? So, head down everyday in training and it may happen, but I have a hell of a long way to go before I can even begin to rationalize that becoming reality. Despite having not run for Great Britain I have represented Scotland on numerous occasions and this is something I am extremely proud to have done. I qualify to represent Scotland through my late mother, so there is far deeper meaning to donning those colors. My 8:35 eclipsed the qualification standard for the Commonwealth Games which are to be held in New Delhi, India in 2010, so fingers crossed I will be selected for that. If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone, what would you choose to eat and who would make it? I would have fish and chips from Bryan’s Fish and Chip Shop in Leeds, England. So, I guess it would be prepared by the obese, slightly balding and extremely greasy guy (or girl but this is rare) that is operating the fryer. What do you do for fun when you're not running? I watch a lot of soccer on the FOX soccer channel, watch all of the Butler basketball games, get together with people off of the team which usually involves games of pool or ping pong and the ongoing back and forth belittlement of each other. Your soccer team? Well, I am a supporter of Sunderland Football Club. All of my teammates are sick of hearing about this insignificant football club from the northeast of England, but football is so ingrained in me I can't help but talk about it. The motivation for you to compete and excel in athletics? I read lots of running books from British guys back in the day (Bedford, Foster, Cram etc.) and they seem to have had a blast in striving to achieve their athletic goals. Endless amounts of stories! I would love to have a few of these stories too when I am past it. Wouldn’t it be great to laugh and joke about something that happened this time in say Germany or Spain? I have never really thought about what motivates me it is just something I do just like I watch TV. I also race on a weekend. Can you give me some kind of crazy, running-related story? I have loads but here are two which I really enjoy! One from back at my old university in Leeds, England and one from the time I have spent out here. The first goes a little like this…so was that glorious time of the quarter in our house: utilities time. You might be wondering why it is that I looked forward to the time where we have to hand over our hard-earned cash to the gas and water companies. Well, sports fans, that’s because it means that house mates who can't afford their share of these bills either have to sell their possessions or do crazy stunts to get their bills money. And as the only thing that most of us had worth selling were our laptops, which are needed for schoolwork and Flotrack and Letsrun, then it’s usually the latter! So...Our non-running house mate, Rob, was a little bit hard up one particular quarter, so the baton fell upon him to carry out some sort of stupid stunt to pay his share. Let me just give you a little bit of background on Rob… 1.) Regularly drinks 20 vodka Red Bulls on a night out. 2.) Plays semi-pro soccer. No training, just a game on Saturdays. Also plays the high-fitness requiring position of right back. 3.) His staple diet is microwaveable meals—he loves them! 4.) Never ever eats any of that healthy s**t (fruit and vegetables). 5.) At his best, used to join the lads last year for the occasional 30 minute run (once did one in a pair of Mayflies and a full soccer kit). 6.) Has undertaken such challenges as "not leaving the front room for seven full days". 7.) You get the picture. Anyhow back to the challenge... For the sum of 100 English pounds put up by other house mates, Rob attempted and succeeded in running the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles at a days notice. And he even had a few beers the night before. A gang of us followed him in a car measuring the distance. It was hilarious how much pain he was in but with our encouragement and Rory Fraser (Rory Fraser KWIK-E), of New Mexico, pacing him over the last five miles (outside a 10-minute clip by this stage) he finished in 4 hours, 56 minutes—hero! And upon finishing he took a beer in his hand and downed it before passing out on the sofa, where he remained for the next few days! He couldn’t negotiate stairs because his quads were so ruined. He was 100 pounds richer so I guess it was worth it. The second story documents how we brought the self-proclaimed ‘most efficient All-American in the NCAA today’ (28th in 2007 and 40th in 2008) to his knees! Andrew Baker (Andrew Baker KWIK-E), great guy, who loves a joke. Traveling back from conference XC last October, we stopped by one of the girls on the team’s family home in Chicago. This girl has younger brothers who would soon become the facilitators in crushing Andy! We sat down to eat in two large groups and her two youngest brothers attached themselves to our group and wouldn’t stop asking questions about Andy who was sat at the other table. They both run in middle school and follow all of Andy’s results very closely on the internet. We told them we would introduce them to him later and they looked to be over the moon with this. Although, being the asshole that I am though, I couldn’t miss this opportunity, I pleaded with one of them to go up to ask Andy lots of questions and further get his autograph in front of the whole group he was amongst, knowing this would make him feel very uncomfortable. As predicted Andy was horribly uncomfortable in answering the questions and even questioned the kid to figure out, “if he was serious about wanting an autograph?” Anyhow, he reluctantly signed it and the kid had played a blinder, but we were not done there. The kid had then been instructed to take the piece of paper, which Andy had graced with his autograph, and rip it up in his face! And he again delivered like a professional! Everyone went wild for it, and Andy couldn’t believe he had been done by an 11-year old kid. In turn, I lined the kids pocket with $5 and everyone was a winner...except for Andy.     Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1244-steve-lisgo-kwik-e Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1240-usatf-and-flotrack-partner-to-provide-live-webcasts-of-2009-usa-outdoors 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 coverage and race calls of select open events during the USA Outdoor Championships. "As USA Track & Field continues to develop our web-based initiatives, Flotrack presents us with a popular platform to access our fanbase," said USA Track & Field CEO Doug Logan. "Partnering with Flotrack will enable us to provide thorough coverage of our Championships and to expand the reach of our sport." In addition to race coverage, Flotrack will provide fans with exclusive interviews with track & field superstars, as well as behind the scenes access to select areas such as at the practice track and trackside press conferences. Coverage begins Thursday with full-day webcasts of all events with a focus on the early rounds of the 400m, 800m, 1,500m and open men's and women's 10,000m finals. News and Video of the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be available at www.usatf.org and www.visachampionshipseries.com. About Flotrack.org Flotrack.org has been a leader in web video coverage for the sport of track & field and long distance running for the last three years.  Every year, Flotrack travels to hundreds of events in the U.S. and around the world to showcase some of the biggest and most prestigious events in the sport, with unique event coverage and behind the scenes interviews with athletes, coaches, event directors and legends of the sport, giving track fans the coverage our sport deserves.  Track is back. www.Flotrack.org.        About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1240-usatf-and-flotrack-partner-to-provide-live-webcasts-of-2009-usa-outdoors Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:06:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1237-barringerwillard-and-goucherflanagan-to-do-battle-at-championships 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 on NBC from 4-6:00 p.m. (All Times Eastern) The USA Championships will feature the nation's finest professional track and field athletes competing for national honors and spots on the Team USA roster for the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. The World Championships will be held at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer and American icon Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump. 1,500 and 3,000 steeplechase share leaders American-record holder in the steeplechase and sub-4:00 1,500m runner Jenny Barringer leads the entries in the Nike women's 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase where she will face heavy competition from former American-record holder Anna Willard. It was Willard who won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in American-record fashion, while Barringer placed third, but two weeks after the Trials, Barringer broke Willard's record while running in Heusden, Belgium, and then broke the record again when she finished ninth at the 2008 Olympic Games to Willard's tenth.  Barringer showed her dexterity by taking over eight seconds off her personal best in the 1,500m when she finished as the runner-up at the 2009 Nike Prefontaine Classic, stopping the clock in 3:59.90. She is only the fourth American ever to break the four-minute barrier in the 1,500m. Similarly, Willard showed her ability to move down in distance successfully with her 800m win at the Reebok Grand Prix in 1:59.29, a then-world-leader, and her fourth-place finish in the 1,500m at the 2009 Nike Prefontaine Classic, where she shaved almost five seconds off her personal best. Not to be overlooked, 2008 Olympic Team Trials champion Shannon Rowbury is entered in the women's 1,500m. She finished seventh at the Beijing Olympic Games, the highest placing for an American ever in the event. 2008 Olympians Christin Wurth-Thomas, Erin Donohue and three-time USA Outdoor champion Treniere Clement also will be in the mix. 5,000 and 10,000m double double 2008 Olympic Games 10,000m bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan is set to go head-to-head with 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher in the Nike women's 5,000 and 10,000m next week. Flanagan has made her mark on the record books over the past few years, setting American records outdoors in the 5,000 and 10,000m and indoors in the 3,000 and 5,000m. At the 2008 Olympic Team Trials, she won the 10,000m and placed third in the 5,000m and followed that up in Beijing with a bronze medal and an American record at 10,000m along with a 10th-place finish over 5,000m.  Goucher has gone about things a little differently since winning her bronze medal at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka. After winning the 5,000m and finishing as the runner-up over 10,000m, she went on to finish ninth and 10th in Beijing, respectively. Immediately following the Games, Goucher ramped up her mileage and began training for the marathon. Just months after the Games, she turned in a history-making American performance by finishing third in the 2008 NYC Marathon. Crossing the line in 2:25:53, it was the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman. Six months later, Goucher took third in the Boston Marathon and has since been named to the World Outdoor team in the women's marathon. A three-time Olympian, in three different distance events: 10,000m, marathon and 5,000m, Jen Rhines will stick with the shorter distance this year, as she enters the USA Outdoor Championships in the Nike women's 5,000m. 2008 Olympian Amy Yoder Begley will run the women's 10,000m.  For ticket information to the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com orwww.tracktown.net. USATF welcomes you to purchase tickets with your Visa Card. Visa, the only credit card accepted by USATF. For more information on the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit:www.visachampionshipseries.com.   USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1237-barringerwillard-and-goucherflanagan-to-do-battle-at-championships Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1236-gay-to-run-100m-at-usa-outdoor-championships 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 in a single, but high-intensity, first-round race to gauge his 100-meter fitness. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of running all three rounds of competition in preparation for Berlin. Regardless of how many races he runs, fans will be in for a show. At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials at Eugene's Hayward Field, Gay set an American record in the 100m quarterfinals (9.76) and won the final in a wind-aided time of 9.68, the fastest time ever run. "After his performance in New York, it is obvious that Tyson is in great shape," said USATF CEO Doug Logan. "We look forward to seeing him back in Eugene in the 100." The IAAF grants byes into the World Championships to defending champions, enabling a country to send up to four athletes per event - including the reigning champion - to Berlin in those events.  At the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis, Gay set meet records in both the 100 (9.84) and 200 (19.62) meters. He went on to win both world titles, as well as the 4x100m relay, at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. For more information on the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including lists of athletes currently entered, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/ . USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1236-gay-to-run-100m-at-usa-outdoor-championships Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:13:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1235-texas-ams-jim-vanhootegem-named-mens-national-assistant-coach-of-the-year NEW ORLEANS – Texas A&M’s men’s jump/multi event coach, Jim VanHootegem, has been named the NCAA Division I Men’s National Assistant Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, announced on Friday.   VanHootegem-coached athletes scored a total of 25 points at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as the Aggies took him their first-ever Division I Outdoor Track and Field title. Julian Reid paced the jumps crew with a second place finish in the triple jump and a fourth place finish in the long jump for a total of 13 points.   In the triple jump, the Aggies were represented by four athletes; Reid, Zuheir Sharif, Tyron Stewart, and Melvin Echard. The foursome totaled 18 points on the final day of competition with a 2-4-6-7 finish.   All in all, VanHootegem coached athletes earned a total of seven USTFCCCA All-American honors.   At the Midwest Regional Championship, VanHootegem’s jumpers totaled 37 points in the long and triple jumps. The Aggies took a two-three-four finish in the triple jump automatically qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and picking up 21 team points. In the long jump, Reid and Stewart combined for a one-three finish adding another 16 points to the team point total.   2009 USTFCCCA National Athletes and Coaches of the Year Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Jennifer Barringer, University of Colorado Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Kim Williams, Florida State University Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Vince Anderson, Texas A&M University Women’s Head Coach of the Year – Pat Henry, Texas A&M University Men’s Track Athlete of the Year – Galen Rupp, University of Oregon Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – Ashton Eaton, University of Oregon Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Jim VanHootegem, Texas A&M University Men’s Head Coach of the Year – Pat Henry, Texas A&M University USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1235-texas-ams-jim-vanhootegem-named-mens-national-assistant-coach-of-the-year Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:01:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1234-texas-ams-pat-henry-named-mens-national-head-coach-of-the-year NEW ORLEANS – Texas A&M’s men’s Head Coach Pat Henry has been named the NCAA Division I Men’s National Head Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, announced on Friday.   Henry led the Aggies to their first-ever NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championship winning the team title in the final event of the championship, the 4x400 meter relay. Down 46-40 with just the 4x400 meter relay left, the Aggies needed to finish no worse than third to secure a share of the national title. Henry’s relay squad did one better, finishing second in the race with a time of 3:00.91 scoring eight points to win the NCAA outdoor crown outright 48-46 over Florida, Florida State, and Oregon who tied for second in the team standings.   Heading into the final day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the Aggies were in tenth place with 13 points but scored 35 points in four events to earn the team title. A&M picked up 18 points in the men’s triple jump, eight points each in the men’s 200 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay, and one point in the men’s 400 meter dash.   In addition to the NCAA title, the Aggies also won the men’s Midwest Regional Championship, scoring 98 points. The regional title was the second straight for the Aggie men. A&M also performed well at the Big 12 Championships as the Aggies finished second with 126 points.   A&M’s storied run began with the No. 1 preseason ranking in the USTFCCCA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Rankings and ended with the NCAA Outdoor Championship trophy. For 11 weeks the Aggies never fell below fourth place in the USTFCCCA rankings.   2009 USTFCCCA National Athletes and Coaches of the Year Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Jennifer Barringer, University of Colorado Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Kim Williams, Florida State University Women’s Head Coach of the Year – Pat Henry, Texas A&M University Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Vince Anderson, Texas A&M University Men’s Track Athlete of the Year – Galen Rupp, University of Oregon Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – Ashton Eaton, University of Oregon Men’s Head Coach of the Year – Pat Henry, Texas A&M University Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – TBA USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1234-texas-ams-pat-henry-named-mens-national-head-coach-of-the-year Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:24:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1224-chris-hill-kwik-e Georgia Bulldog junior Chris Hill recently won his second-straight NCAA javelin title and is preparing for the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Or. Hill is one of the top-rated U.S. javelin throwers heading into the World Championship-qualifying event, while consistently being able to crest the 80-meter mark. Let's see how he does at USAs and hopefully at Worlds. What kind of workout did you do today? Today, I just went into the weight room and got a good squat session in. I went at some heavy twos and threes. Then I just went for a 15 to 20-minute jog, trying to flush the body out, getting ready to start to get a solid week of training in before USAs. Where are you planning your “peak” for this outdoor season? With throwing you can set your peak and hold your peak for a while. The way we're doing it is we want to set up peak for USAs and Worlds. Sometimes you'll have times when you have a small peak and a big peak. We taper down a little bit after some hard training for a small peak...then taper down a lot, with lots of rest and a bunch of short, explosive stuff, for a big peak. What we've been doing lately is getting a peak for USAs—I kind of trained through NCAAs a little bit—and then we're going to hit some training again and try to be back up top for the World Championships. At USAs are you going to be content with making the team...or are you expecting to win? I'm definitely looking to be the top thrower. Looking across the board, I'm consistent at 80 or 81 meters. No one else in the country has been consistently 80. The champion from last year...he's thrown 72 meters a couple of times and the other guys in college, I feel I've really got the upper hand on them right now. They haven't hit 80 in four or five weeks. Mike Hazel, he's topping out at 77 or 78 feet at a lot of European meets right now. I'm pretty far ahead of the field right now. You're all right with being the strong favorite? Yeah, I like the pressure. It makes me sure that I'm not going out and partying too much, getting to bed early, getting good meals in me...not drinking too much beer. Just doing what I've got to do. That's a weakness of yours? Drinking too much beer? I'm a big fan of it. What's your favorite kind of beer? I like Newcastle. But I mix it up. What's the latest you've heard on Breaux Greer? I know he's qualified for the U.S. Championships, because of his 74-meter throw from last year. As of right now, I haven't really heard anything from him. I talk to him every now and then but we try to not talk about javelin stuff. As far as I know...I don't think he's entered, but who knows, he's a pretty spontaneous fella. He might show up just to turn some heads. So, we haven't seen your best throws yet this year? I don't think so at all. With the javelin, you want a good tailwind in light air. You want it at a good time of the day. Not too late. Around mid day on a warm day...or something like that. All those things, I haven't thrown with a tailwind all year. At Regionals and Nationals, I didn't have anything near a tailwind. I've had headwinds more than tailwinds. I think I've really got some big throws in me. I wish I had it for the NCAA Championships because I'd love to get that meet record, but I've got more time and I'll hopefully do it at bigger meets...which would be pretty sweet. Plus, my closest competitor this year has been 20 feet behind me. I'm ready for someone to push me up there. You weren't really nervous going into NCAAs? Going in I had that attitude like if I perform that way I know I can—which is me throwing over 80 meters on any given day, or 81—then nobody is going to touch me. I knew if I kept it under 80, that 78-79 range, I knew other guys would be licking their chops trying to get after it. If I put it out there, then it would be hard to beat. Especially because we're throwing at 10:30 at night. Everyone was pretty dead and was kind of a dull time. I was able to muscle one out there. Did those delays mess you up? Yeah, that was a pain, man. We were supposed to throw at 7:30 p.m., which is a great time. It's just cooling off for the day and you still can get a mid-day nap and be pretty energized. But you push it back to 10 or 10:30 p.m. and you're like, “man, I'm ready to go to bed.” You were so close to going to the Beijing Olympics. How did that sit with you? I was eight centimeters away from the Olympic “A” standard. If I would have had that mark, then I would have been on the team. Going into USAs, I was hoping to have some crazy instance and get a good tailwind and have everything in my favor. And last year I wasn't as strong of a thrower as I am this year. I'm a lot more consistent this year. It was really hard to accept the fact that I was so close but missed it. Knowing that I was 20 years old and I've been throwing the javelin for only four years now, I've got plenty of time ahead of me. I'll hopefully be throwing at least into my 30s. I have at least two more chances in me. There's a lot of opportunity ahead and that makes it a lot easier to swallow. If I was 33 years old and this was my last chance...then I'd be sick. Maybe this was just supposed to make me hungrier. How do you continue to keep on improving? Do you see specifically what you need to work on? With the javelin every thrower is going to be different. You can't compare me to the world record holder and be like, “all right, this is what Jan (Zelenzy) does and this is what Chris does. Chris needs to do what Jan does.” No. You need Chris to do it the best that Chris can. I think there's always room for improvement in my strength and in my speed and overall in my flexibility. I'm a young athlete. This is only the third year I've really trained to be a javelin thrower in college. In high school, I'd pick it up throw it and mess around at some meets. I feel like I've got all the room in the world to improve to be in the league that all those guys in the Golden League meets are throwing in. It's really exciting knowing I'm capable of such bigger things. Why did you choose McNeese State in the first place? Out of high school I only threw 205 feet. It's decent. It's a Regional qualifier. A lot of schools are happy to have that, but not a lot of schools are willing to put out money for that. My brother went to McNeese and he was a shot putter. The coach there, Ty Sevin, he's a real good friend of mine. He was an 80-meter javelin thrower. He threw professionally for a good, long time. I want to say eight or nine years. He knew the javelin and after talking to a few other schools and comparing what Ty knew compared to the others...it was kind of a no-brainer. If I wanted to throw far, I needed to be with Ty. He gave me a full scholarship and everything. His first love was javelin, so he's going to put the money with the javelin throwers. It really worked out really well. I grew up about 10 minutes from McNeese. I was like, “I can live at home, bank my scholarship money and go to school for free.” It was a pretty good little setup. So, the 80-meter mark in the javelin throw is pretty much the mark for what it takes to go pro? That's pretty much it. 80 meters is pretty respectable anywhere in the world. If you're throwing that every meet, then you can definitely make a living. The more the better. I would guess it's a 65-meter discus guy or a 21-meter shot putter. I think 80 meters is around there. Who are some athletes that you look up to? Being in Athens, I'd have to say Reese Hoffa. Seeing how Reese has handled his career so far, he's such a professional guy. The way he handles himself and his business. He trains hard and he trains smart. Being around him with the mentality he has—that he has the best job anyone could ever have—I know when the time comes and it's time for me to make this a career, I have great people to follow in their footsteps. Coach Babbitt too, he's been around tons of elite athletes. The kind of mentality he has when it comes to track and field, knowing that this is a career I want to pursue after college, it'll be easy knowing that I have him on my side and he has so much experience. Do you and Reese get to share a couple of Newcastles? (Laughs) No. No. Reese is gone quite a bit. I share those with a bunch of college buddies. Do you miss playing football? Man, I do. I miss the comradery of it. I played in high school and all that jazz. I stopped playing football and realized that my body hurt. Having 250-pound guys running at you and you have to hit them in the nose, man, it loses its appeal after a while. My roommate is a safety here for Georgia. He comes home and he's beat up—he actually just broke his ankle—and I'm like, “man, I hope you get better and can get back to playing...but, I am glad I'm not playing.” I get beat up enough with the javelin. Have you ever had to deal with any injuries? I broke my hand about six weeks ago in training. I threw my first meet March 28th in Arizona State and came back to Athens and broke my hand doing (laughs) some box jumps...I'm a pretty clumsy fella. That put me out for about six weeks. My first meet back after the hand was SECs and that was the surprise of the season, how that panned out. Everything worked out with me winning NCAAs. I had Tommy John surgery on my elbow my first year throwing the javelin, going into my senior year of high school. With Tommy John, once it heals and it heals correctly, you're a lot stronger than you were when you started. I had a really good doctor, Dr. Andrews in Birmingham, he did my surgery and a local physical therapist did my rehab. I came back strong and since I started throwing again, man, without a doubt it's a lot stronger. I never have a question with it. I've been very fortunate injury-wise. That ended up where in the long run, it's going to help me. You had to take one for the team, now you're stronger than you were before. Definitely. When it happened, I didn't understand why it was happening. Now, looking back, it was a blessing. God really blessed me. He knew my plans better than I knew them and he knew I needed a stronger elbow for the future. If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone, what would you have and who would make it? I'd have to say I'd have a 16 oz. rib eye, prepared by my father, with some crawfish etouffee ontop of that rib eye also prepared by my father. I'm from South Louisiana, so we love that cajun cuisine. I'd be pretty full after that, but my mom would make some squash and vegetables and all that good stuff. Top it off with some homemade ice cream and maybe a beer or two would be good. They'll make this anytime you go home? Mom and dad will hook me up. They love to cook, so whenever they cook for me they get to eat well too. I cook a lot here in Athens. I have an apartment here and it's one of my favorite pass times. I like to have friends over and cook a good meal, grill up some steaks and stuff. It helps me make a lot of friends that way too. How do spend your free time down there? I love to fish. Unfortunately, I don't get to do it enough. Being from Louisiana, I don't live that far from the coast. There are a lot of lakes and everything. I love sitting by the pool and relaxing. I enjoy a good Sunday afternoon, sitting and watching some college baseball. There's not a whole lot better than that. What's the craziest thing you've ever seen involved with the javelin? The scariest javelin story I have was since I started throwing at college. This was at McNeese. I have a friend who went to Southeastern. When he was throwing in high school, he threw the javelin and it stuck in the ground. He was walking to pull it out and looked away. Well, he got closer than he realized and he ruptured his appendix. He walked into it and it stabbed him in the side. I never really thought twice about it and I was throwing and I walked right into it and it stabbed me right in my inner thigh, right below...the family. It scared the garbage out of me. That was going into my freshman year. Before the meets started my freshman year, I would have nightmares that I would throw the javelin and it wouldn't go far, but it would stick in the ground and I would run into it and it would stab me. I've had that dream about 15 times.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1224-chris-hill-kwik-e Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1233-oregon-men-win-inaugural-john-mcdonnell-program-of-the-year-award NEW ORLEANS – With a second place finish at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Oregon Ducks have won the inaugural NCAA Division I John McDonnell Program of the Year Award as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Thursday.   Oregon, which won the cross country and indoor track and field men’s national titles, finished with five points towards the final John McDonnell standings earning three points for a second-place tie at the outdoor championships with Florida and Florida State.   Stanford, which posted top ten finishes at the cross country national championships (third), and the outdoor track and field national championships (seventh), finished second in the final standings with 21 points. Following Stanford in third place was Florida State with 32.5 points. The Seminoles finished the track and field season with back-to-back top five finishes at the indoor track and field championships (third) and outdoor track and field championships (second).   Texas A&M, the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Champions, finished fourth in the team standings with 40 points, followed by Arkansas, fifth overall, with 45 points.   The NCAA Division I John McDonnell Program of the Year Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division I men’s cross country/track & field program.  The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division I Championships.   In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships.  Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division I Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient.   The John McDonnell Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and former Arkansas head coach John McDonnell.  McDonnell’s Arkansas teams won a combined 40 National Championships and finished in the top ten in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field in 24 of his 36 seasons in Fayetteville. Five of his teams won the NCAA Triple Crown.   The John McDonnell Program of the Year Award Final Standings:   Final Standings Institution Cross Country Finish Points Awarded Indoor Finish Points Awarded Outdoor Finish Points Awarded Total Points 1 Oregon 1 1 1 1 2 (tie) 3 5 2 Stanford 3 3 11 11 7 7 21 3 Florida State 26 (tie) 26.5 3 3 2 (tie) 3 32.5 4 Texas A&M 30 30 9 9 1 1 40 5 Arkansas 28 28 8 8 9 9 45 6 Auburn 5 5 41 (tie) 43.5 12 12 60.5 7 California 22 22 12 12 25 (tie) 27 61 8 BYU 9 9 41 (tie) 43.5 13 (tie) 13.5 66 9 Minnesota 15 15 14 (tie) 14.5 37 (tie) 38 67.5 10 Washington 18 18 33 (tie) 35 20 (tie) 21 74 11 Virginia 14 14 47 (tie) 49.5 48 (tie) 49.5 113 12 Alabama 10 (tie) 10.5 41 (tie) 43.5 62 (tie) 64 118 13 Michigan 24 24 32 32 62 (tie) 64 120 14 Penn State 25 25 39 (tie) 39.5 62 (tie) 64 128.5 15 Notre Dame 19 19 59 (tie) 62.5 48 (tie) 49.5 131 16 Georgetown 10 (tie) 10.5 59 (tie) 62.5 56 (tie) 58.5 131.5     USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1233-oregon-men-win-inaugural-john-mcdonnell-program-of-the-year-award Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:21:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1231-oregon-duo-named-ustfccca-mens-national-athletes-of-the-year NEW ORLEANS – Oregon’s Galen Rupp and Ashton Eaton have been named the NCAA Division I Men’s Track Athlete and Field Athlete of the Year, respectively, by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, announced on Thursday.   Rupp, a senior, and Eaton, a junior, have been instrumental in the success that the Oregon Ducks attained this outdoor season. All season long, the Ducks were ranked in the top three in the Division I Outdoor Track and Field Rankings after entering the preseason ranked third in the country.   Rupp, the men’s national Track Athlete of the Year, earned 20 points for the Ducks at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships winning both the 5k and 10k at the national meet. More impressive was the fact that the distance double happened in a span of 45 hours as Rupp ran the 5k preliminaries on Thursday night, won the 10k on Friday night, and won the 5k on Saturday night. Rupp’s time in the 10k was 28:21.45 seconds, and he ran 14:04.12 seconds in the 5k.   Rupp qualified in three events for the NCAA Championships but chose to focus on his two signature events. He also had qualified for the 1,500 meters at the West Regional Championship after finishing second overall. Rupp was the West Region Champion in the men’s 5k, running 13:46.41.   At the Pac-10 Championships, Rupp won the 10k title, and was the runner-up behind a teammate in the 1,500 meters.   Eaton, the men’s national Field Athlete of the Year, won the men’s decathlon for the second straight year at the NCAA Championships scoring a personal best 8,241 points. The decathlon took nearly nine hours to complete at the championships, but Eaton battled through to become only the second Oregon Duck to win back-to-back national titles in the event.   At the Pac-10 Championships, Eaton won the decathlon title scoring 8,091 points to make it four-straight decathlon competitions over 8,000 points for the Bend, Oregon native. In addition to his title in the decathlon, Eaton also finished second in the men’s long jump with a personal best of 25’6.75”, which was the tenth-best jump in school history.   Combined, the Oregon duo contributed 30 of the Ducks’ final 43 points at the NCAA Championships, and 36 of the 158 points at the Pac-10 Championships. Rupp and Eaton also were named the NCAA Division I Men’s West Regional Track Athlete and Field Athlete of the Year.   2009 USTFCCCA National Athletes and Coaches of the Year Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Jennifer Barringer, University of Colorado Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Kim Williams, Florida State University Women’s Head Coach of the Year – Pat Henry, Texas A&M University Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Vince Anderson, Texas A&M University Men’s Track Athlete of the Year – Galen Rupp, University of Oregon Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – Ashton Eaton, University of Oregon Men’s Head Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Friday, June 19th Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Friday, June 19th USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1231-oregon-duo-named-ustfccca-mens-national-athletes-of-the-year Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:20:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1229-olympic-silver-medalists-fountain-and-stuzcynski-highlight-jumpsmultis 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 field athletes competing for national honors and spots on the Team USA roster for the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. The World Championships will be held at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer and American icon Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump. Pole vault The dominant force in American women's pole vault, three-time USA Outdoor champion and 2008 Visa Outdoor champion Jenn Stuczynski is looking to win her fourth consecutive USA Outdoor title. Accustomed to setting American records at the Championships having set the American outdoor record at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the American indoor record at the 2009 USA Indoor Championships, Stuczynski need only vault 4.86 meters/15 feet 11.25 inches to overtake the lead in the race for the title of Visa champion. The current American record is 4.92m/16-1.75. Stuczynski could face a challenge from 2000 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Stacy Dragila who is enjoying her best, although last, season since 2004 when she was world-ranked #3 by Track & Field News. Also in the mix will be 2008 Olympians April Steiner Bennett and Erica Bartolina.  Heptathlon 2008 Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain leads the field in the women's heptathlon. She had an impressive season in 2008 that saw her set a personal best 6,667 points at the Olympic Trials, become the only American woman not named Jackie Joyner-Kersee ever to win an Olympic medal in the heptathlon, and ended her season ranked #2 in the world byT&FN.  Other entrants in the heptathlon include 2008 Olympian Diana Pickler and two-time World Outdoor team member Gi-Gi Miller-Johnson. A 2008 Olympian in the high jump and the 2009 USA Indoor pentathlon runner-up, Sharon Day also is entered.  Long Jump The women's long jump should be a highly competitive event between 2008 Olympic finalists Brittney Reese, Funmi Jimoh, Grace Upshaw and heptathlete Fountain. Reese and Jimoh have both set personal bests already this year with marks of 7.06 meters/23 feet 2 inches and 6.96m/22-10, respectively, and are currently leading the world list. Fountain's listed mark of 6.88m/22-7 comes from the personal best leap she had at last year's Olympic Trials. Triple Jump The top three finishers from the 2008 Olympic Trials will once again face off in the women's triple jump. Two-time Olympic Trials runner-up Shakeema Welsch leads the field with the farthest jump by an American so far this season at 13.92m/45-8. Three-time USA Outdoor champion and two-time USA Indoor champion Shani Marks and 2008 NCAA champion Erica McLain also will challenge for the title.  2006 NCAA Indoor and 2007 NCAA Outdoor champion Yvette Lewis is also entered and could be a contender with a best jump this season of 13.82m/45-4.25 at the adidas Track Classic.  High Jump Three-time NCAA Outdoor champion Destinee Hooker and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Chaunte Howard are the favorites in the women's high jump, each having cleared 1.98m/6-6 this year. 2008 Olympian Sharon Day will be out to make her first World Outdoor Championship team during Thursday's final before preparing herself for the heptathlon, which begins on Saturday.  Not to be overlooked is four-time Olympian and seven-time World Outdoor team member Amy Acuff, who is entering her final USA Outdoor Championships and is hoping to go out with a bang. Acuff's best season came in 2004, when she placed fourth at the Olympic Games and ended that season ranked #5 in the world by T&FN.  For ticket information to the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com orwww.tracktown.net. USATF welcomes you to purchase tickets with your Visa Card. Visa, the only credit card accepted by USATF. For more information on the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit:www.visachampionshipseries.com.   USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1229-olympic-silver-medalists-fountain-and-stuzcynski-highlight-jumpsmultis Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:18:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1220-provincial-5k-road-race-championships-twilight-shuffle (c) Copyright - Christopher Kelsall - 2009 June 16th 2009 – Chemainus, BC – 25th annual Twilight Shuffle - BC Road 5k Championships.  The 25th annual Twilight Shuffle 5k took place in Chemainus, British Columbia under ideal race conditions. Ryan McKenzie of Victoria, BC (Langford) won the race and set a new course record with his finishing time of 14:23. Second place went to Cam Levins of the Comox Valley, BC and third to Richard Mosley of Coquitlam, BC. In the women’s race 42-year-old Lucy Smith of Victoria won, breaking the Canadian Masters record of 17:02, finishing in 16:49. Following Lucy Smith was Cheryl Murphy (17:22) of Victoria, who has qualified to compete in the World Marathon Championships at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Berlin, Germany and third went to Kristina Rody (17:53) of Burnaby, BC. Lucy finished 12th overall.Top men’s master finisher went to Shawnigan Lake’s Kevin Searle who finished in 16:49, the same time as Lucy Smith, followed by former Irish Olympian, Paul O’Callaghan (17:07) and one-time Commonwealth Games competitor Gordon Christie (17:17) both from Victoria. The women’s masters race also included (after Lucy Smith over-all and master’s winner) Nancy Baxendale of Shawnigan Lake (19:11) and Juliette Christie in 19:37 for third place. Ryan McKenzie, Cam Levins and Richard Mosley ran through the first kilometer together, at this point Mosley fell off the pace and let Levins, who runs varsity for the University of Southern Utah challenge McKenzie, who owns a 5k track personal best of 13:39. At the 2 km mark Levins dropped off the pace and Ryan ran with a solo lead for the remainder of the race, building his lead to 30 seconds by the time the dust settled from the nearby Sawmill that the 555 race participants had to run through twice before and after making the turnaround at just past the 3k mark. The challenge for second place was a more heated battle between Levins and Mosley and it wasn’t until the final few meters where Levins managed to secure his second place finish with a kick, likely honed on the Southern Utah track. Asked about his summer training plans while at home in Black Creek, Cam said, “I will be running higher mileage to prepare myself for the fall cross country season, I will be running up around 105 miles per week (165 km)”.Lucy Smith, 19 time Canadian Champion and twice the World Duathlon Championships silver medalist led for the entire race.  “I find it easy to get-up for any kind of championship event, plus I like the course” said a smiling Smith shortly after crossing the line. Performances of the day may go to either Smith who ran an age-graded performance of 91.31%, 68 year-old Herb Phillips who finished as second male to McKenzie (in age-grading) with his 19:12 or 79 year old running legend Maurice Tarrant of Victoria, who ran a time of 24:36. “I am going to start track training soon and with this race, I can start training for the 80 plus age-group” Maurice intimated. The 25th annual Twilight Shuffle race is sponsored and organized by Island Runner Footwear, the Chemainus Legion and co-hosted by Island Runner and the Prairie Inn Harriers running club. The provincial 5k championships race was sanctioned by BC Athletics and certified accurate by official course measurer Gary Duncan.SENIOR1. Ryan McKenzie (PATH)        1.  Cheryl Murphy (PIHRT)2. Cam Levins (CVC)            2.  Kristina Rody (Burnaby)3. Richard Mosley (PIHRT)        3.  Melissa Ross (ORCA)MASTER1. Kevin Searle (PIHRT)        1.  Lucy Smith (PIHRT)2. Paul O’Callaghan (PIHRT)        2.  Nancy Baxendale (PIHRT)3. Gord Christie    (PIHRT)        3.  Juliette Christie (PIHRT)MASTER – AGE CLASS WINNERSWomenF40 – 1st – Lucy Smith (PIHRT)F40 – 2nd – Angela Plamondon (PIHRT)F45 – 1st – Nancy Baxendale (PIHRT)F45 – 2nd – Juliette Christe (PIHRT)F45 – 3rd – Joanne Rosen (PIHRT)MenM35 – 1st – Craig Odermatt (PATH)M45 – 1st – Kevin Searle (PIHRT)M45 – 2nd – Paul O’Callaghan (PIHRT)M45 – 3rd – Gord Christie (PIHRT)M50 – 1st – Gary Duncan (PIHRT)M60 – 1st – David Hoskins (PIHRT)M65 – 1st – Herb Phillips (PIHRT)M70 – 1st – Garfield Saunders (PIHRT)M75 – 1st – Maurice Tarrant (PIHRT) BC Athletics 5K Road Race Championship medals for winning their age division were presented to McKenzie, Smith, Murphy, Searle, Tarrant, Nancy Baxendale, Gary Duncan, David Hoskins, Herb Phillips and Garfield Saunders.  A total of $1,800 in prize money was distributed to the top three Senior and Master runners, both men and women. Full results are available at Race Headquarters.    Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1220-provincial-5k-road-race-championships-twilight-shuffle Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:43:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1230-ams-henry-anderson-named-ustfccca-womens-national-coaches-of-the-year NEW ORLEANS – Texas A&M’s Pat Henry, and Vince Anderson were named the NCAA Division I Women’s Track and Field Coaches of the Year announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Wednesday.   A&M Head Coach Pat Henry was named the Women’s National Head Coach of the Year after leading his Aggies to their first-ever NCAA Outdoor Track and Field title. The title marked the 13th outdoor title for the Aggie coach, as he earned 12 outdoor titles with the LSU women prior to his arrival in College Station.   In May, Henry’s Aggie squad took back-to-back wins at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship and the Midwest Regional championship marking the third straight year they have won both the conference and regional championships. Henry’s team proved all year long that they were the top team to beat, as they were never ranked below number two in the USTFCCCA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Rankings during the 2009 outdoor campaign.   Henry also led his men’s outdoor squad to the national team title marking the first time one team has swept the outdoor national titles since LSU in 1990, when Henry was the Tigers head coach.   Anderson, the Women’s National Assistant Coach of the Year, helped lead the Aggies to the women’s national team title as the Aggies scored 50 points. Oregon finished second with 43 points and Arizona State finished third with 41 points. Anderson is the sprints coach at A&M, and his sprinters made a big difference on the final day of competition, scoring 23 points. During the four-day event, Anderson’s sprinters scored 42 of the 50 team points.   His 4x100 meter relay team broke a 20-year old collegiate and NCAA meet record of 42.50 set in 1989 by LSU. The women’s relay crew of Khrystal Carter, Porscha Lucas, Dominique Duncan, and Gabby Mayo won A&M’s third consecutive NCAA title in this event with a World and American leading time of 42.36 seconds. With the NCAA title in the 4x100, the Aggies completed the season undefeated against collegiate competition in the event. They won a total of 18 races, with 14 of them finals.   In the Midwest Region meet, Aggie wins were attained in the 200 (Lucas), 400 (Jessica Beard) and 4x100 (Carter, Lucas, Duncan, Mayo) along with a runner-up effort in the 100 hurdles. The sprints, hurdles and relays combined for 59 points as Texas A&M won a third-consecutive region team title with a tally of 96 points.   Anderson’s sprint, hurdle and relay crews totaled 59 points of the 126.5 scored by Texas A&M in winning a third consecutive Big 12 Outdoor title. Conference titles were earned in the 200 (Lucas), 400 (Beard), 100 hurdles (Mayo) and 4 x 100 relay (Carter, Lucas, Duncan, Mayo).   Prior to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, Anderson was honored as the South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year.   2009 USTFCCCA National Athletes and Coaches of the Year Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Jennifer Barringer, University of Colorado Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Kim Williams, Florida State University Women’s Head Coach of the Year – Pat Henry, Texas A&M University Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Vince Anderson, Texas A&M University Men’s Track Athlete of the Year – To Be Announced on Thursday, June 18th Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – To Be Announced on Thursday, June 18th Men’s Head Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Friday, June 19th Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Friday, June 19th USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1230-ams-henry-anderson-named-ustfccca-womens-national-coaches-of-the-year Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:19:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1228-lagat-symmonds-rupp-look-to-shine-at-usa-outdoor-championships 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 athletes competing for national honors and spots on the Team USA roster for the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. The World Championships will be held at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer and American icon Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.800m At the 2008 Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating, Christian Smith and Khadevis Robinson staged a race for the ages during the 800m final that created a roar whose echoes can still be heard in Eugene. Recognized as one of the favorites to win the race, Symmonds, a Eugene-area resident, assumed command down the final straightaway of the last lap to win the race convincingly, with University of Oregon star Andrew Wheating finishing as the runner-up. Shortly thereafter they were joined on the Team USA roster for Beijing by fellow Eugene fan favorite and then Oregon Track Club member Christian Smith, who dove across the finish line just ahead of 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson for the third and final spot on the Team USA Olympic roster, which sent the sold-out partisan crowd into hysterics. Smith's time of 1:45.47 bettered the Olympic A qualifying standard, which officially punched his ticket to Beijing. Symmonds, Wheating, Smith and Robinson are all expected to meet again on the fabled Hayward Field track, with Robinson posting the fastest time by an American this outdoor season of 1 minute, 45.67 seconds in Kingston, Jamaica on May 2. Expected challengers include Duane Solomon, who finished sixth at the 2008 Olympic Trials, 2004 Olympian and NCAA champion Jonathan Johnson and Olympic Trials seventh-place finisher Jebreh Harris. 1500m Reigning world 1,500m & 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat must compete in at least one event in Eugene in order to compete in both events at the World Outdoor Championships in Berlin. He is currently entered in the 800m and 5,000m. If Lagat chooses to skip the 1,500m, his fellow 2008 Team USA Olympic teammate Leonel Manzano will assume the favorite's role. The 2008 NCAA 1,500m champion and a competitor at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, Manzano posted the fastest 1,500m time by an American this outdoor season with his personal best time of 3:34.14 at the May 30 Reebok Grand Prix in New York City. Other expected challengers include 2008 Olympic delegation flag bearer and 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Lopez Lomong and U.S. record holder, three-time USA Outdoor champion and 2004 Olympian Alan Webb, who will be attempting to qualify for his third U.S. World Outdoor Championships team. Additional contenders include 2008 Olympic Trials finalists Jon Rankin, Said Ahmed, Andy McClary, Chris Lukezic and Rob Myers. 3,000m Steeplechase In 2008, two-time World Outdoor Championships team member Anthony Famiglietti rode his aggressive style to a win at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, a place in the steeplechase finals in Beijing and his rightful place atop the annual U.S. rankings by Track & Field News. Famiglietti will be challenged in Eugene by his Beijing Olympic teammates, Billy Nelson, the 2003 U.S. Junior 5,000m champion and former University of Colorado standout, who placed second at the Olympic Trials and ended the 2008 campaign ranked #2 in the U.S. Also keep an eye on Olympic Trials third place finisher Josh McAdams, who was the 2007 USA Outdoor champion, who later that summer won the gold medal at the Pan American Games. Eugene fan favorite Ben Bruce of the Oregon Track Club, who posted the fastest time by an American this season of 8:26:08 in winning the Payton Jordan Classic on May 2 in Palo Alto, Calif., is considered a strong challenger, along with Jake Morse, who finished fourth at the 2008 Olympic Trials and is ranked #4 in the U.S. 2008 NCAA champion Kyle Alcorn, who began his collegiate career at Oregon and finished at Arizona State, could also challenge the favorites.  5,000m Reigning world champion Bernard Lagat is entered in the 5,000 meters, and will be a heavy favorite to win if he chooses to compete. Lagat, who posted the fastest time by an American this outdoor season of 13 minutes 3.06 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix last month in New York, is slated to go up against 2008 Olympic finalist Matt Tegenkamp, who placed fourth in the 5,000m final at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan. Others to watch include 2008 Olympian Ian Dobson, who finished third at the 2008 Olympic Trials, Bolota Asmeron, who placed fourth at the Trials and two-time NCAA Outdoor champion and Olympic Trials fifth-place finisher Chris Solinsky. Also look for 2008 Olympic Trials 3,000m steeplechase winner Anthony Famiglietti, who posted the second-fastest qualifying time in the field of 13:17.98 on April 17 in Walnut, Calif. 10,000m Look for the men's 10,000m to be a very competitive race with the favorites being the top three finishers from the 2008 Olympic Trials, Abdi Abdirahman, Galen Rupp and Jorge Torres. A three-time Olympian and three-time national 10,000m champion, Abdi Abdirahman will attempt to make a U.S. World Outdoor Championships roster for the fourth time in his career. Abdirahman, who's best finish at a Worlds was in 2007 when he placed seventh in Osaka, will do battle with Eugene fan favorite Galen Rupp, who recently ended his University of Oregon collegiate career by winning the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Others to watch include 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein, who finished eighth in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Additional contenders include 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Jorge Torres, who won this event at the 2006 Championships in Indianapolis. Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Ed Moran will be in the mix along with Josh Rohatinsky, who placed fifth in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials and ninth at the Olympic Trials Marathon. 2000 Olympian Adam Goucher will attempt to make his fourth World Outdoor Championships team roster. 20 km Race Walk Two-time Olympian Tim Seaman, who won his 36th career national race walk title earlier this year at the USA 10 km Championships in Albany, N.Y., will be in search of his sixth U.S. 20 km crown, and his first since 2005. Seaman, who will be looking to qualify for his fifth U.S. World Outdoor Championships team, will face, among others, 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Patrick Stroupe, 2004 Olympian John Nunn and Ben Shorey, who placed second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - 50 km Race Walk, and ended that year ranked #2 nationally in that event. For ticket information to the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com orwww.tracktown.net. USATF welcomes you to purchase tickets with your Visa Card. Visa, the only credit card accepted by USATF. For more information on the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit:www.visachampionshipseries.com. USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1228-lagat-symmonds-rupp-look-to-shine-at-usa-outdoor-championships Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:16:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1226-rupp-named-athlete-of-the-week 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 sights the entire way and with 600m to go he passed the duo and then won the race in 28:21.45, his last 800m ran in 1:58.96.  In the 5,000m, Rupp had to stop to fix his shoe on the second lap and ran from the back of the pack for much of the race. With three laps to go, he moved from 11th to fourth place and then surged again with 600m to go, running away with the win in 14:04.12, running his last 1,600m in 4:00.10. Rupp is the first athlete to complete the 5,000m/10,000m double since 2000.  Also in Fayetteville, the Texas A&M women's 4x100m team of Khrystal Carter, Porscha Lucas, Dominique Duncan and Gabby Mayo set a collegiate record in winning their third consecutive title in 42.36. The previous record of 42.50 was set back in 1989 by LSU. Lucas came back the next day to win the women's 200m title in 22.81. Oklahoma freshman Will Claye won the men's triple jump in American junior record fashion, with a hop, skip and leap of 17.24 meters/56 feet 6.75 inches. Claye broke his own record of 16.94m/55-7 set in May in Lubbock, Texas. 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 website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 27, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 17, Galen Rupp. BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING JUNE 14MEN100 - 10.00 Trindon Holliday (LSU) - Fayetteville, AR 6/10200 - 20.40 Chris Dykes (Texas A&M) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11400 - 44.83 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) = Toronto, CAN 6/11800 - 1:45.73 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Toronto, CAN 6/111500 - 3:39.00 German Fernandez (Oklahoma State) - Fayetteville, AR 6/13Mile - 3:56.75 David Torrence (unat) - Toronto, CAN 6/113000SC - 8:29.24 Kyle Perry (BYU) - Fayetteville, AR 6/125000 - 13:34.00 Dathan Ritzenhein (Nike) - Toronto, CAN 6/1110,000 - 28:21.45 Galen Rupp (Oregon) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11110H - 13.18 Dexter Faulk (Nike) - Berlin, GER 6/14400H - 48.47 Jeshua Anderson (Washington State) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12HJ - 2.31/7-7 Jesse Williams (Nike) - Vancouver, CAN 6/14PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Jason Colwick (Rice) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12 & Tim Mack (Nike) - San Diego, CA 6/12LJ - 8.11/26-7.25 Bashir Ramzy (unat) - Chula Vista, CA 6/13TJ - 17.19/56-4.75 Will Claye (Oklahoma) - Fayetteville, AR 6/13     AMERICAN JUNIOR RECORDSP - 20.91/68-7.25 Ryan Whiting (Arizona State) - Fayetteville, AR 6/10DT - 62.92/206-5 James Dennis (unat) - San Diego, CA 6/14HT - 72.82/238-11 Jesse Doty (Syracuse Chargers) - Marietta, GA 6/14JT - 81.80/268-4 Chris Hill (Georgia) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12Dec - 8241 Ashton Eaton (Oregon) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11WOMEN100 - 11.02 Alexandria Anderson (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 6/10200 - 22.38 Porscha Lucas (Texas A&M) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11400 - 49.57 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Berlin, GER 6/14     World leader800 - 2:00.80 Geena Gall (Michigan) - Fayetteville, AR 6/131500 - 4:09.77 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Vancouver, CAN 6/143000SC - 9:25.54 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12     U.S. leader5000 - 15:53.91 Molly Huddle (Saucony) - Waltham, MA 6/1310,000 - 33:39.97 Cecily Lemmon (BYU) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11100H - 12.76 Damu Cherry (Nike) - Berlin, GER 6/14400H - 54.71 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Prague, CZE 6/8HJ - 1.95/6-4.75 Destinee Hooker (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12PV - 4.40/14-5.25 Kylie Hutson (Indiana State) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12LJ - 6.61/21-8.25 Ola Sesay (unat) - Houston, TX 6/12TJ - 13.34/43-9.25 Tahari James (Boston U.) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12SP - 17.58/57-8.25 Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11DT - 55.83/183-2 Jere Summers (Louisville) - Fayetteville, AR 6/11HT - 68.08/223-4 Stevi Large (Akron) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12JT - 59.62/195-7 Rachel Yurkovich (Oregon) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12Hept - 5892 Liz Roehrig (Minnesota) - Fayetteville, AR 6/12 USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1226-rupp-named-athlete-of-the-week Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:15:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1212-barringer-williams-named-ustfccca-womens-national-athletes-of-the-year June 16, 2009   Barringer, Williams Named USTFCCCA Women’s National Athletes of the Year   NEW ORLEANS – Colorado’s Jenny Barringer and Florida State’s Kim Williams were named the NCAA Division I Women’s Track and Field Athletes of the Year announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Tuesday.   Barringer, from Oviedo, Florida, won the NCAA 3,000 meter steeplechase title last week giving the Colorado Buffalo three steeple titles in the past four years. Her time (9:25.54) reset the all-time collegiate-best and was a new NCAA meet record. During the 2009 outdoor campaign, the senior picked up two other NCAA all-time records in the 1,500 meter run (3:59.90) and the 5,000 meters (15:07.64), becoming only the fourth woman in U.S. history to ever run under four minutes in the 1,500 meters and the first to do so in seven years. She is also the youngest U.S.  female to accomplish the feat.   Barringer was the Mideast Regional champion in the steeple, breaking her own collegiate-best mark in the event, and was the Big 12 champion in the event breaking the Big 12 and Fuller Stadium records in the process.   Florida State’s Williams has been a one-woman wrecking ball during the outdoor season, winning post-season competitions in both the long and triple jumps at the ACC, East Regional, and NCAA Championships. Williams, a Kingston, Jamaica native, began her streak at the ACC Championships winning the long jump and triple jump to help lead the Seminole women to the ACC Outdoor Crown and the ACC Triple Crown.   At the East Regional Championships, Williams was back at it again, winning both horizontal jumps as the Seminoles went on to win the team title. She jumped 21’10.25” in the long jump and 45’10.5” in the triple jump.   At the NCAA meet the sophomore accounted for 20 of Florida State’s 40 team points, helping secure the Seminoles a fourth-place finish. Williams entered the national meet with the sixth-best long jump in the country and the nation’s best triple jump. On day two of the championships, Williams won the long jump title with a mark of 21’5.5”. She followed that up with a 47’2.25” leap to win the triple jump on the final day of competition.   Williams became the first Florida State athlete to win both the long and triple jump in the same NCAA championship and only the second woman in NCAA history to take home both jump titles. Sheila Hudson of California was the last to win both jumps in 1990.   2009 USTFCCCA National Athletes and Coaches of the Year Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Jennifer Barringer, University of Colorado Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Kim Williams, Florida State University Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Wednesday, June 17th Women’s Head Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Wednesday, June 17th Men’s Track Athlete of the Year – To Be Announced on Thursday, June 18th Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – To Be Announced on Thursday, June 18th Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Friday, June 19th Men’s Head Coach of the Year – To Be Announced on Friday, June 19th USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1212-barringer-williams-named-ustfccca-womens-national-athletes-of-the-year Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:59:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1208-2009-harry-jerome-classic-individual-event-previews Harry Jerome Individual Event Previews 800m Men2007 World Championship silver medalist Gary Reed (1:43.68) will headline the men’s 800. Kevin Hicks of the U.S. who has run 1:44.94 and fellow American Ryan Brown (1:46.29) will try to challenge Reed. B.C.’s own Graeme Wells (1:47.64) will look to place in the top 3.400m Men2007 World Indoor Champion and Canadian Record Holder Tyler Christopher (44.44) will run in a very strong field which includes former USC Trojan Lionel Larry. Larry ran 44.63 last year at the NCAA championships. American James Davis (45.21) and UBC freshman star Rohan Stewart (21.67) will also be fun to watch in this great field.Shot Put MenBritish Columbia’s Dylan Armstrong (21.04, 4th place at last summer’s Beijing Olympics) is having a great start to his season. He will lead the field followed by Americans Rhuben Williams (20.07) and Justin Rode (18.96.)1500m MenOntario’s Taylor Milne (3:36.00) will be back to defend his title in the metric mile. Juan Luis Barrios (3:37.87) of Mexico and Will Leer of the U.S. will look to challenge Milne.Long Jump WomenThis year’s women’s long jump will be a great event with a tremendous field led by Canadian Olympian Ruky Abdulai who recently won the Reebok Games long jump in New York with a jump of 6.74. She will face several outstanding competitors including fellow Canadian Olympian (10th in Beijing) Tabia Charles who finished 3rd at the Reebok Games with a jump of 6.66. Other elite jumpers include Alice Falaiye from Brampton Ontario (6.63) and Ola Sesay from Sierra Leone.High Jump MenU.S. high jump stars Jesse Williams (2.36) and James Nieto (2.34) will challenge former World Junior Champion and Canadian Olympian Mike Mason (2.30) in the high jump. Elite American Grant Lindsay 2.27 will also try to win.400m WomenNadjina Kaltouma from Chad who trains in Calgary (50.38) will run against Canadian and fellow Olympian Carline Muir of Edmonton (51.55) and Shareese Wood of the U.S. (51.60) in the women’s 400.100m MenCanadian Pierre Browne (10.12) will battle it out with American Tyree Gailes (10.11) and fellow Canadians Brian Barnett (10.24) and Sam Effah (10.31) for this year’s 100 meter crown.100m WomenAmerican Gloria Asumnu (11.03) and Jamaican Schillonie Calvert (11.19) will be challenged by Chad’s Nadjina Kalltouma (11.54) and Canadian stars Krysha Bailey (11.25) and Ruky Abdulai (11.81.)800m WomenBritish Columbia’s own Rebecca Johnston (2:01.80) will be this year’s favorite in the two-lapper. She will be chased by Melissa DeLeon of Trinidad (2:02.36) and Sheena Godding of Barbados (2:03.59.)1500m WomenKara Goucher of Portland,Oregon will defend her 1500m title at the Jerome Classic on Sunday. This bronze medalist in the 2007 World Championships has remarkable credentials ranging from the 1500m to the marathon. This Olympian who took third in the NY Marathon last fall in 2h25:53, has bests of 30:55.16 in the 10km, 14:55.02 at 5km and 4:05.14 at 1500m. She is coached by the famed Alberto Salazar who wants to peak her speed before the US Championships. Last year she won the Jerome to 4:06.17. This 30 year old Colorado graduate will face a tremendously strong field this year lead by our Canadian Olympian, Malindi Elmore. She has a personal best of 4:02.64 and after several season marred by injury,this Kelowna native opened the 2009 season with a sparkling 4:06.54 in New York last month. This Stanford graduate will be joined by Kenyan, Sally Kipyego who with both track and cross country NCAA crowns to her credit will be a threat with her personal best of 4:06.67.Pole Vault WomenSaskatoon’s Kelsie Hendry (4.55) will be this year’s favorite but she will face stiff competition from fellow Canadian Carly Dockendorf (4.55) and Seattle’s Kate Conwell (4.37).Hammer WomenCanadian Record Holder Sultanna Frizell (72.07) broke her previous record of (71.64) on Sunday June 7th at the Prefontaine Classic. She will lead this year’s throwers into the hammer cage. Fellow Canadian Jennifer Joyce (68.73) and American Loree Smith will look to challenge her for the title.Javelin WomenUBC star Liz Gleadle (55.85) will battle it out with fellow Canadian Krista Woodward and American Kim Kreiner (64.19) for this year’s win.400m Hurdles MenJamaica’s Adrian Findlay (48.93) and American Adrian Mann (49.68) will try to win this year’s event but they will face a tough competitor in Canadian Nigel Joseph (51.55.)High Jump WomenThis year’s high jump will be a very competitive event with Prince George’s Alyx Treasure (1.82) and fellow Canuck Holly Parent at 1.80. They will be challenged by American Melanie Vertees (1.78.)100m Hurdles WomenThis year’s race will feature American Kellie Wells (12.58) and she will be racing fellow American Ashley Lordee (12.99) and Nigeria’s Toyin Augustus (12.89.)   Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1208-2009-harry-jerome-classic-individual-event-previews Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:16:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1205-lennie-waite-kwik-e <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> Rice senior Lennie Waite ran a personal-best time of 9 minutes, 50.48 seconds for the 3000-meter steeplechase in Wednesday night's prelim. Her mark improved her Scottish National Record—the country where she was born—and qualifired her for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Waite will compete in the steeple final at 6:25 p.m. on Friday night. This interview was conducted a few days before the NCAA Outdoor Championships.    Are you intimidated at all by what Jenny Barringer and other steeplechasers have been running this outdoor season? Obviously Jenny Barringer is in a league of her own. With the other girls, I find it more inspiring. I'm really excited to be able to go out there and race them. I'm glad that people are running great and I'm glad that it's going to be competitive. What are you specific goals for the meet? I would obviously like to run faster than I've run all season—I've run 10-flat twice—so that that would be great to go under 10. I would love to be All-American again. I was sixth in the mile indoors, so that would be great to come in somewhere around there again. I guess I just want to mainly focus on competing in the race and finishing and knowing that I gave it everything I had. Can you go into your training a little bit? Are you tapering a little bit right now? We're tapering a little bit right now. I actually already have meets planned for after nationals. I'm going to head over to the UK and do some races there. I've taken it pretty easy this week. We did a mini-workout today and I won't run tomorrow and I'll run 30 minutes the day before the race. I haven't done all that much, but we've been keeping my training going a little bit more than we would have because I'm racing the week after nationals and then the week after that, then a week off, then the week after that. I'm going to keep running until July 12, as of right now. So, does that mean you're not necessarily planning to peak at the NCAA meet? I think I'm for sure fitter right now than I have been all season. We've just tried to be smart so I'm not burned out or fizzled out. After indoor nationals we took it pretty slow. I still feel like I'm ready to do really well at NCAAs. What will your situation be with running after college? Are you looking to sign with a company and keep going? I was born in Scotland, so I've got the Scottish national record in the steeplechase. I'm going to go over there and compete in the Scottish Championships. It will be so awesome to go over there and run. I love to travel. My grandma lives over there and we have family and relatives in the UK and I'm going to hang out with them and I thought, “why not do a couple races while I'm over there?” Do you know if your Scottish record is safe? I don't know that much. I've never competed over there and I've never actually met anyone who works in athletics from Scotland. I've just been in contact with them via email. I haven't seen many marks from the steeplechase. I don't know if it's something that not many Scottish girls are doing. I think it's pretty safe because I had it when I ran 10:12 and then again with my 10-flat. I think I have it pretty safely. You can represent Scotland in international competition? Yeah, I can. That's also another thing with the steeplechase. The Commonwealth Games are in 2010 and the standard for that is 9:55. That one meet, with that one standard, has made me think I can keep on running and I already have stuff lined up. It keeps me going. That time and that meet have been the ultimate goal for you? I've been thinking about it and I think it would be nice to be able to run it at the end of this season. That would be really good. Do you have any idea what to expect in the steeplechase at NCAAs, if it's going to be fast? It seems that there will be a pretty good battle for second and people tend to run honest. I think the pace will be there and the race will be there as long as I hang in there, I think I can get that mark. Rice has a strong distance program. What's the team chemistry like? It's really fun running at Rice. I absolutely love it. We're all really good friends. Coach Bevan makes it an awesome environment for us. We all laugh and hang out at practice. It's been the type of thing where one person steps it up and everyone else has responded. I remember our 5,000 record coming into this year was like 16:28. We had three girls go under that this year. We have six of the top 10 times of the 5,000 on our team right now that were done this year. It's like one person puts down a mark and someone else responds. We get on a roll and it's really good. What undergrad degree did you get? I got a degree in psychology, economics and managerial studies. You'd much rather pursue running than diving into those fields? I'm going to school next year. I'm going to keep running while I'm going to the University of Houston for a PhD program. It wouldn't scare me to put everything into running. That's part of the reason I love it. It's something I do because I love it...not because I have to do it. I want it keep it that way. I'm going to be getting my PhD at U of H and continue training with the Rice girls while I'm doing that. What are you hobbies when you get free time? I like to spend a lot of time outdoors. Yesterday I went and played disc golf. I like to spend a lot of time on the lake. I'm from Austin (Texas) and on my free weekends I go back to Austin and we go out on the lake and wakeboard and ski in the winter. Mainly anything that involves the outside and moving around...I'm up for. If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone, what would you choose? It would probably be the chicken curry that I used to get when I lived in Singapore. We used used eat chicken curry there and now my mom makes it and it's delicious. Where else have you been? Well, I was born in Scotland, lived in Switzerland, moved to Austin, then I moved to Singapore, then back to Austin. Now I'm in Houston. Can you give me a crazy running-related story? Our team won the Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational in 2007. We went there and it was the beginning of when our program really started taking off. We know we were fit and we know we had a pretty good team, we just didn't know how good. Our coach likes to schedule flights pretty close to after meet time. When we were warming up, he was reminding us that we had five minutes to cool down and then we have to get in the van and drive back to Chicago and get back on the plane so we can get back to Houston without missing our flight. We run the race and it was great. With 1,200 meters to go, I remember him screaming at me that I needed to pick it up and this was our ticket to nationals and I was doing awesome. At the finish line, I was surrounded by my teammates and I knew we did really well. Our coach was like, “I think we may have come in fifth or maybe higher!” We really didn't know. Everyone cooled down and jumped in the van and left. One of the parents of a girl on the team stayed behind to call the coach and tell him where we actually finished. We were 15 minutes on the road when we get the phone call that we had won the meet. We couldn't believe it and we were all screaming in the car. We never expected to win and beat so many ranked teams. Jim, our coach, pulled a U-turn right there and we drove back so we could get our award. It doesn't happen very often that you get to win a cross country meet at Notre Dame. Jim was still determined that we would make our flight. We ended up speeding all the way to the airport in Chicago and didn't have enough time to return our rental van. He ended up pulling it into short term parking and it's 7 o'clock and our flight took off at 7:15 and he left the keys and some dollars in the van and called the rental company to tell them what he'd done with it and we sprinted through the airport and got on the plane maybe two minutes before it took off.     Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1205-lennie-waite-kwik-e Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1207-victoria-track-classic (c) Copyright - Christopher Kelsall - 2009 Track Classic - Victoria, BC – June 10, 2009 – The 21st annual Track Classic took place in Victoria, BC at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium. The evening was capped by two main events, the women’s and men’s 1500m Invitational, respectively. University of Victoria Vike, Geoff Martinson won the men’s race in 3:41.97 with Mexico’s Jose-Juan Esparza close behind in 3:42.14 and Canadian, Daniel Mallie nearly 2 seconds behind Martinson with a 3:43.96 - personal best. Results from the men’s 1500m race are below, full event results are available at www.trackclassic.com. The sizeable crowd showed enthusiasm for both the men and women’s 1500m invitational races. Canadian, Kendra Schaff brought the crowd to life first with her strong finish achieving a 4:18.61 for the win ahead of fellow Canadians, Ashley Hinther and Jessica Smith who finished an exciting .01 of a second apart from each other in 4:22.67 and 4:22.68 respectively. A malfunction caused the trackside clock to read 4 seconds fast during the men’s 1500m first lap, which threw off the athletes. Although Martinson is satisfied with the win, he jokingly referenced the clock in a post race interview with Flotrack. Martinson’s personal best of 3:39 was achieved at the 2008 Harry Jerome Track Classic, which takes place again this Sunday, June 14 in Burnaby, BC (suburb of Vancouver) Canadian record holder, Dylan Armstrong won the shotput event handily, with his best throw of the evening of 20.92m. Armstrong’s lifetime personal best throw came during competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he managed a stunning 21.04; he finished 4th throwing within 1cm of bronze. Armstrong was an international junior hammer thrower who switched to the shotput. When asked why he switched to the shotput he replied, “I just got too big for the hammer.” Dylan weighs in excess of 310 pounds. Dylan said, “I train 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, everyday.”  Interestingly after winning the same event in 2007, Dylan finished his final throw, walked of the field and began practicing technique in an adjacent field, while the rest of the Track Classic continued on behind him.Gary Reed, who plans to race the 800m event at the Harry Jerome Track Classic took in an under-distance race Wednesday night to work on faster paced running, he finished a close third in the 400m with a 47:53 behind Dewayne Barrett of Jamaica 47.17 and Justin Byron of the Virgin Islands with his 47.45.Reed was a junior 400m specialist who switched to 800m. Gary Reed is the Canadian Record holder in the 800m with his personal best of 1:43.68, he is a two-time Olympian achieving a high of 4th during the Beijing Olympics and is a silver medalist from the Osaka IAAF World Track and Field Championships. Reed will take in the Harry Jerome Track Classic, The Canadian Track and Field Championships, which will take place July 3 to 6, 2009 in Windsor, Ontario. Then head over to Europe for some international competitions. Men 1500 Metre Run Invitational================================================================================    Name                    Year Team                    Seed     Finals  Points================================================================================  1 Martinson, Geoff             Canada                          3:41.97    2 Esparza, Jose-Juan           Mexico                          3:42.14    3 Mallie, Daniel               Canada                          3:43.96    4 Borrego, Diego               Mexico                          3:44.15    5 Konoval, Tim                 Canada                          3:44.43    6 Kellar, Adam                 Canada                          3:47.04    7 Suarez, Alejandro            Mexico                          3:48.53    8 Romero, Juan-Carlos          Mexico                          3:50.24    9 Corrigan, Peter              Canada                          3:50.37   10 Burke, Logan                 Canada                          3:50.78   11 Magness, Stephen             United States                   3:55.30   12 Flores Partida, Marco Ta     Mexico                          4:01.56   -- Keino, Josephat              Kenya                               DNF   -- McKenzie, Ryan               Canada                              DNF   -- Yedra, Misahel               Mexico                              SCR Photos courtesy of Power Sports Photography. See event photos here.    Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1207-victoria-track-classic Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:25:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1206-phillips-named-athlete-of-the-week-plus-top-mark-in-the-us 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 the eighth-best outdoor mark in history, and the trio are also tied as the #5 performers all time. It was the longest jump in the world since National Track & Field Hall of Famer Mike Powell set the world record in 1991. Also in Eugene, American steeplechase record holder Jenny Barringer became just the third American woman to break the four-minute barrier when she set the collegiate record in the women's 1,500m, running 3 minutes 59.90 seconds. 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 website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 27, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips. BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING JUNE 7 MEN 100 - 9.94 Mike Rodgers (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7     U.S. leader200 - 20.41 Thomas Hunter (unat) - Walnut, CA 6/6400 - 45.48 Tavaris Tate (Mississippi HS) - Albuquerque, NM 6/6800 - 1:45.86 Nick Symmonds (Oregon TC) - Eugene, OR 6/71500 - 3:37.19 Lopez Lomong (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7     U.S. leaderMile - 3:53.47 Lopez Lomong (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/73000 - 7:35.92 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7     U.S. leader3000SC - 8:26.55 Josh McAdams (New Balance) - Eugene, OR 6/710,000 - 28:16.81 Jorge Torres (Reebok) - Eugene, OR 6/6110H - 13.29 Dexter Faulk (Nike) - Turin, ITA 6/4400H - 48.38 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7HJ - 2.26/7-5 Jesse Williams (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7PV - 5.52/18-1.25 Mark Hollis (unat) - St. Polten, AUT 6/6LJ - 8.74/28-8.25 Dwight Phillips (NIke) - Eugene, OR 6/7     World leaderTJ - 16.06/52-8.25 James Jenkins (unat) - Walnut, CA 6/6SP - 21.89/71-10 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - Eugene, OR 6/7     World leaderDT - 64.69/212-3 Adam Kuehl (unat) - Chula Vista, CA 6/6HT - 75.28/247-0 Jake Freeman (Iron Ball AC) - West Point, NY 6/5JT - 75.96/249-2 Adam Montague (unat) - Walnut, CA 6/6Dec - 7466 Curtis Beach (New Mexico HS) - Albuquerque, NM 6/5     HIGH SCHOOL RECORD WOMEN 100 - 11.13 Stephanie Durst (unat) - Hengelo, HOL 6/1200 - 22.41 Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) - Walnut, CA 6/6400 - 49.86 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7     World leader800 - 2:00.18 Maggie Vessey (unat) - Eugene, OR 6/71500 - 3:59.90 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - Eugene, OR 6/7     U.S. leader/COLLEGIATE RECORD3000SC - 9:40.02 Lisa Galaviz (Nike) - Walnut, CA 6/6100H - 12.74 Michelle Perry (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7400H - 58.25 Jennifer Grossarth (unat) - Walnut, CA 6/6PV - 4.45/14-7.25 Chelsea Johnson (Nike) - Walnut, CA 6/6LJ - 6.74/22-1.5 Funmi Jimoh (Nike) - Hengelo, HOL 6/1TJ - 13.80/45-3.5 Crystal Manning (unat) - Walnut, CA 6/6SP - 18.35/60-2.5 Michelle Carter (unat) - Walnut, CA 6/6DT - 63.98/209-11 Stephanie Brown Trafton (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7HT - 70.68/231-11 Jessica Cosby (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/7JT - 60.30/197-10 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Walnut, CA 6/6     U.S. leaderHept - 5619 Kasey Hill (unat) - Dallas, TX 6/7 USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1206-phillips-named-athlete-of-the-week-plus-top-mark-in-the-us Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:20:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1193-ryan-sheridan-kwik-e <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> Ryan Sheridan, an Iona Gael, is a key component to his distance team's success. Sheridan took 41st over all at the NCAA cross country meet this past fall pacing his team to a second place finish. At the NCAA East Regional Championships, Sheridan defeated a strong field of 5,000-meter runners to get his automatic bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 11-13. Seed times did not have you as a favorite to win the 5,000 at the East Regional meet. Well, those are a little misleading. I had the first early non-Stanford seed time. I ran at the William and Mary Colonial Relays in the first week of April—April 3rd or April 4th—and had Ed Moran pace me for my first race in 14:06 there...two months ago. Then there were a lot of times coming in from early this month and Penn Relays and stuff. I don't think that time was indicative of my ability right now. I think can go a bit quicker. Any idea how much quicker you can go? I'm not going to say a minute, but less than a minute for sure. Maybe 10 seconds. A race that goes fast from the gun, does that play into your hands...or do you prefer a kicker's race like Regionals? I was hoping it was going to go out faster. I know I don't have as strong of a kick as some of those miler guys. My goals was to be in the 10 this year because of the way the system is going to be next year. I heard they are going to have a 10,000 in the Super Regional. I don't know what the deal is for next year, but I think they're going to with descending order. I figured that if I could go and get the 10,000 at Nationals this year and get the time, then I could run it twice as opposed to having to run it three times. My training has been going really well, but I don't think I have that great of a kick. I was afraid when I saw that Sam (Sam Chelanga KWIK-E) wasn't going to be in it and he would going to run the Reebok Grand Prix, that it would be really slow and it would come down to the last lap. I was hoping it would be faster. I do better in a quicker race. What was your split for the last mile? Four twenty-something. 4:20 flat maybe. It was still pretty wet out there, how did that last mile feel? I felt a lot worse in second place. It felt good though. A little tiring. We were really dogging the first 3,000. We were going at 72s, so it wasn't like a race before hand. Everyone was going 71s-72...except Big Al. Was that predetermined? Your teammate takes the lead from the gun? (Ryan's teammate, Alex Soderberg, took the early lead, about 20 meters ahead of the huge, tight pack.) Totally not. Someone asked our coaches if that was a tactic we were using, but that was Big Al on his own. He did the same thing at ICs. He's run 3:50, so he's got speed...but he just wanted to go for it. And he did obviously. Going into the NCAA meet, do you have a place goal in mind? I have to see the results from last year to see what guys finish where. I haven't seen all the Regional results yet either. As long as I run to the best of my ability and my fitness...then, I'll be pretty happy about it. My goal is really to make the final. I could go in there and have all 19, or however many guys ahead of me...24 guys...be better than I am. Do you still consider yourself more of a cross country runner than a track runner? I like cross country a whole lot better. I find cross country more fun, just because it's a longer distance race. And especially because I'm at a school like Iona and we have a huge emphasis on cross. It's a big deal here and that just makes me like it a lot more. Track, this will be the farthest my track season has ever gone. I've never made it to the state meet in high school. I ran more cross country than I did track in high school. Maybe if I run more track I'll change my mind. So, longer stuff like the 10,000? I like the 10,000. I would have loved to have gone quicker and made it to Nats, but I can't complain getting in the five. Your team seems pretty interesting at Iona. What's the team chemistry like? Considering that the whole team is distance guys, the team chemistry is really good. Everyone has the same attitude. Iona is a really small school and kids are coming here for one reason really: to be part of the team. I don't think anyone grew up with the idea that they want to go to Iona College. They happened to have a really good cross country team compared to other schools. We come here, especially the guys from overseas, with all similar goals in mind. Yeah, you have a lot of overseas runners. That must be awesome to be so diverse? Yeah, we've got a German, an Australian, English, Irish, Belgian...oh, if I forget someone then they'll be pissed. Oh, Mo (Mohamed Khadraoui KWIK-E) is from Morocco. And this year we have another German, another Irish...a Danish. Oh, and Big Al is Swedish. I think it's awesome to have people from all over the place. You get to experience a bit of each of their cultures. They might be a pain in the ass and smell funny from the food they're cooking. But you don't really get that anywhere else. Can you explain the illnesses/injuries that you went through in high school? It was a series of bumps in the road. I had kidney stones when I was younger, in eighth grade and ninth grade, so I had a history of those. They were causing problems for me, like a birth defect. I had a bunch of extra tissue in my kidneys. I didn't notice any of this until I got a hip injury my sophomore year. I had this injury and then I went to get an MRI, thinking I had a stress fracture or something in my hip. Well, they noticed that I had swelling in the kidney. They were two completely unrelated things...combined. The kidney took me out for six months and I had surgery. I recovered from that. I thought they might be related. I spent the next year and a half with the hip thing and it turned that my spine was crooked and I have wicked scoliosis bottom near my hip. I had to go to a chiropractor and I have to wear shoe lifts all the time now. It was a lot of little stuff that piled up together to make one giant pain the ass. It's over now though. For someone who's never had a kidney stone...can you explain how much fun those are? They're about as much fun as giving birth, I've been told. It was a lot more interesting to tell people about it. I don't want to say impressed, but maybe they were disgusted a little bit. It was a cool story to have when you're in eighth grade. And I also got an unlimited bathroom pass. It was pretty nifty. I could go to bathroom whenever I wanted. I had to have catheters for my surgery...which is probably the worst thing. I have a friend who is a cop and he has on his Kevlar vest, “if you have to put a catheter in me, let me die.” Those are much worse than any kind of kidney stones. Do you use that as a pick up line...the pain you'd had to go through? I try to avoid that. I don't use that one much. I don't think the catheter talk is going to go over very well...with anyone as a point of attraction. I don't think my girlfriend would appreciate me wielding around pick up lines. If I used my catheter lines she might catch me. The unlimited bathroom pass. Did you ever abuse your privilege? I abused it tremendously. I feel safe saying it now. Being so far away from high school—well, two years—I had a math teacher who refused to give out bathroom passes unless it was an emergency. I came back from surgery and asked her to go to the bathroom. She was being a hard ass and said, “no”. I had to go for the second time in the week, which is unprecedented in her class. She asked me for my doctor's note and low and behold, I had my doctor's note saying that I need to use the bathroom as frequently as possible. I went whenever I could...I never liked Math A. So, was your injury a gradual thing to make you stop running or was there an instance where it had to be taken care of immediately? The hip pain was immediate and I don't know exactly what did it, it was when I was running a track work out and I tweaked it. It was instant and I couldn't run a day after that without pain until two years later. It wasn't a matter of me slowly trying and trying and trying. I couldn't run at all. Then, when the kidney stuff came on, it completely went to the back and I couldn't think about running. Was there a point when you thought you'd never run again? I didn't know about the scoliosis stuff until December of my senior year. I wasn't even sure then. I went to doctors in New York City. I was commuting into New York City my junior year of high school. I went for four months to Ward Performance. Going three times a week after school. I went to a whole bunch of big specialists and had no idea what it was. I wasn't sure I was going to run again. It wasn't really a sad thing though, my parents never let me get too upset about it. I wasn't sure if I was going to run again, but I had friends and did other sports like playing around with basketball every once and a while. Do you ever wonder where you would be if you had that year and half of your running career back, where you might be? I look at it like, “maybe if I had that year and a half, maybe I wouldn't even want to be competing.” I was pretty successful when I was young, so I had been competing at a high level for my high school career and maybe I wouldn't want to. My little brother is younger than me and he jokes around that he's run more season of high school track than I have. I think he gets tired of that, but I had a nice break. I was lucky that I was good before I had got hurt and hadn't really accomplished what I wanted to accomplish. Maybe if I had kept running I would have got my ass kicked and regressed a shit ton. I couldn't have changed it, I can't change it...so, I don't look at it that way. Things work out for a reason sometimes. Things worked out very well. Surprisingly well. Some people get upset if they have shit races and some people get upset if their training isn't going well, but I have those moments where I'm really grateful to be able to run. Three years ago, if I knew that I would be at this school, running with all these guys...I wouldn't have believed it. Sometimes I don't worry about the competition aspect of it...just being able to do it. What's your training like? Mileage, over last summer, was probably about 85-90. I was around 95 all winter and spring. Now I'm down around 80-85. It's probably 75 right now. The guys here run some long mileage, with tempos and stuff. I've only been here two years and I was building up mileage from 50, from the injury in the spring. Then this past summer we had the whole thing with the coaches leaving and it was a weird limbo thing. Physically it was fine, but mentally it did make training a little rough. Are you running the streets a lot down there? Is it a lot of stop-and-go running? That's a big misconception. We have a pretty decent trail system near our school. I run trails every day unless it's snowing out. There's a 17-mile loop half a mile from our school. Then a half mile south of our school there's an apartment complex with a 10-mile loop down there. We do run at VCP. We'll do workouts on the back hills or whatever. They're really nice trails around here. I run the trail system around here every day. It's not a big park or anything. They meander through the neighborhood. It's a pretty good situation. Do you have to clear up that misconception a lot? Yeah, with recruits we like to show them our trails. We aren't really in New York City...about 5 miles north of the Bronx. Everyone thinks we run on the roads all the time. But, no, we don't...we don't do that at all. We run up at Rockafeller and do our long runs there. We can have these trails here and no one understands that we do. Can you give me a crazy running-related story? How about the time I was most scared on a run? And more so because of the way it happened. Well, we got to camp last year and I hadn't done a workout all summer. We go up to New Paltz and spend a week up there. There are a bunch of trails around there to run. I don't think anyone on the team had done this run...but the team had done it in the past. We're warming up and no one knew what we were doing. I was looking at Mo (Mohamed Khadraoui KWIK-E) and he looked worried. If he's worried...then the mere mortals on the team need to be really worried about what we're doing. We get in three miles into our run and line up on the base of a hill. They just said, “just get up”. It ended up being eight miles uphill...straight up a mountain. We had no idea how long it was or when the end was coming. That was my first impression of college cross country. The workout was... “just get up.” It was pretty intimidating. I was just hanging on for dear life on Jason Weller's back. It was just pain every step. It was frightening. An assistant, who's at Lamar now, I remember being on a corner and him being like, “there's one mile to go.” And we think that was at like four miles. I just kept pumping thinking we have a mile to go the whole time. I was just holding on for dear life the whole time.   <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->       Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1193-ryan-sheridan-kwik-e Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1201-2009-nike-prefontaine-classic-preview 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 became the first man ever to win both the 1,500m and 5,000m at the same World Championships two years ago in Osaka, Japan, will lead a strong field in the men's 3,000 meters. Lagat, who won the 2-mile at the Nike Prefontaine Classic last year, will be challenged by fellow American and 2008 Olympic 5,000m finalist Matt Tegenkamp, who finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. Favorites include 2008 Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Eluid Kipchoge and Moses Masai, who ended the 2008 season ranked #5 in the world at 5,000m. Both are from Kenya.  Symmonds, Smith & Robinson face world's best in Nike men's 800 meters  In one of the most unforgettable moments ever on the fabled Hayward Field track, local favorite Nick Symmonds won the 800m men's final at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials to qualify for the  U.S. Olympic team for the first time in his career. Symmonds was joined on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team by fellow Eugene-based Oregon Track Club member Christian Smith, who dove across the finish line just ahead of 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson for the third and final spot on the Team USA 800m roster for Beijing. Smith's time of 1:45.47 bettered the Olympic A qualifying standard, which officially punched his ticket to Beijing.   Symmonds, Smith and Robinson will compete at the Pre Classic against an impressive array of international stars led by defending Prefontaine champion, Hayward Field record holder and Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Alfred Yego of Kenya, who ended the 2008 campaign ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News. Also keep an eye on Ahmad Ismail of Sudan, who was the silver medalist in Beijing, and Canadian Gary Reed, who finished fourth at the Olympics and entered this year ranked #5 in the world. 2004 Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Outdoor Championships medal winner Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia, also is in the field.   In the women's 800m, Hazel Clark returns to Hayward Field after winning the Olympic Trials there last year in qualifying for her third Olympic Team. Favorites in the race will be Kenyan 2008 Olympic gold medalist Pamela Jelimo, who is ranked #1 in the world, and fellow Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei, who won the silver medal in Beijing and finished the season ranked #2 in the world. Also look for 2004 and 2008 Olympic finalist Tatyana Andrianova of Russia to challenge for top honors.   Shannon Rowbury will lead the U.S. contingent in the Nike women's 1,500m following a standout 2008 season where she won at the Olympic Trials, finished seventh at the Olympic Games and ended the season ranked #1 in the U.S. and #6 in the world. Other Americans to watch out for in this event include 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan, and standout 3,000m steeplechasers and 2008 Olympic Games finalists Anna Willard (2008 Olympic Trials champion, who owns the fastest 800m time in the world this year and second fastest time in the 1,500m by an American) and Jenny Barringer (American record holder). Also watch for 2008 Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas, who owns the U.S. leading time this season of 4:03.96. 2008 Pre Classic runner-up and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Nancy Lagat of Kenya will be one of the favorites, along with Ethiopia's Gelete Burka, who is the defending Pre Classic champion and the #2 ranked women's 1,500m runner in the world.   The men's Bowerman Mile is always a featured event of the Pre Classic and this year will be no different with many of the world's finest middle distance runners in the field. Leading the Americans will be 2008 Olympic teammates Leonel Manzano (who won the 1,500m May 30 at the Reebok Grand Prix in a career best 3:34.14), 2008 Olympic delegation flag bearer Lopez Lomong and U.S. record holder and 2004 Olympian Alan Webb. Leading the international challengers will be Haron Keitany of Kenya, who ended the 2008 campaign ranked #1 in the world, and his countryman Asbel Kiprop, who won the silver medal in Beijing and entered this year ranked #3 in the world. Also watch for Kenyan Shedrack Korir who won at Pre last year in 3:50.49, and 2008 Canadian Olympian Nate Brannen.  2008 Olympic Trials 5,000m champion and 10,000m runner-up Kara Goucher will lead the U.S. contingent in the women's 2,000m, where she'll face three-time Olympian Jen Rhines and 2008 10,000m Olympian Amy Yoder Begley. Look for Maryam Jamal of Bahrain, who ended 2008 ranked #1 in the world at 1,500 meters, to challenge the Americans.  Team USA Beijing Olympic 400m hurdles medalists meet again in Eugene  In leading a U.S. sweep of the men's 400m hurdles medals in Beijing, Angelo Taylor won his second Olympic 400m hurdles gold medal by leading from start to finish in a personal-best time of 47.25 seconds. Taylor, who won the 2000 Sydney gold medal running out of lane 1, joined National Track & Field Hall of Famer Edwin Moses as the second man ever to win Olympic 400m hurdles gold medals eight years apart.  Kerron Clement, who entered the Beijing final as the 2007 world champion, was slightly behind Taylor coming off the final curve and went on to the silver medal in 47.98 seconds. 2005 world champ Bershawn Jackson captured the bronze medal with his time of 48.06, which secured an American men's 400m hurdles sweep for the fifth time in Olympic history (1904, 1920, 1956, 1960, 2008).  The Americans will be challenged by Jamaican Isa Phillips, who ended the 2008 season ranked #6 in the world by T&FN, and his countryman Markino Buckley, who entered the 2009 campaign ranked #8 globally.   The women's 100m hurdles features an equally impressive cast headlined by 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper, who ran the race of her life in Beijing, crossing the finish line first with a personal-best time of 12.54 seconds.   A native of East St. Louis, Ill., Harper, who finished third at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, will be challenged by 2005 and 2007 world champion Michelle Perry, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and 2003 world champion Perdita Felicien, both of Canada. Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton, who placed sixth at the Beijing Olympics, will be in the mix, along with American Damu Cherry, who finished fourth in Beijing and ended the 2008 season ranked #8 in the world.    Dix, Merritt, Richards & Williams lead Pre Classic sprint events  Beijing Olympic 100m and 200m bronze medalist Walter Dix will be looking for a win in the men's 100m in Eugene. He'll face a strong challenge from young up-and-comer Travis Padgett, who finished fourth at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Dix and Padgett jointly sit atop the 2008 U.S. list, both having run10.00 seconds.  Former world record holder and Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalist Asafa Powell from Jamaica will challenge the Americans, along with his Olympic relay teammate Michael Frater. Trinidad's Richard Thompson, who won the 100m silver medal in Beijing, will also be a factor.   The men's Nutrilite 300m will feature 2008 Olympic 400m and 4x400m gold medalist LaShawn Merritt, who won the 400 meters here last year in 44.65 seconds. Merritt, who ended the 2008 season ranked #1 in the world for the first time in his career, will face 2008 Olympic 400m bronze medalist David Neville, and Wallace Spearmon, who entered this year ranked #4 in the world at 200 meters.  2008 Olympic 400m bronze medalist, 4x400m relay gold medalist and reigning Pre Classic champion Sanya Richards will lead the field in the Nutrilite women's 400m after ending the 2008 campaign ranked #1 in the world for the fourth year in a row. She'll face two talented Jamaicans in Olympic silver medalist Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams, who ended last year ranked #3 in the world. Also keep an eye on Team USA Beijing 4x400m relay gold medalist Natasha Hastings.  2008 Olympic Games fourth-place finisher and 2005 World Outdoor champion Lauryn Williams will face a strong challenge in the Visa women's 100m from 2008 Pre Classic winner and Beijing Olympian Torri Edwards. Jamaican 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser, who ended 2008 ranked #1 in the world, will be considered a favorite, along with her countrywoman Kerron Stewart, who captured the 100m silver medal and 200m bronze medal in Beijing.  In other running events, 2008 U.S. Olympians Billy Nelson and Josh McAdams will compete in the 3,000m steeplechase against Kenya's Paul Koech, who ended the 2008 season ranked #1 in the world.  Brown Trafton headlines field events at Pre Classic  After placing third at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Stephanie Brown Trafton shocked her fellow competitors in the Olympic Games final with her initial throw that sailed 64.74 meters/212 feet 5 inches.  Her competitors failed to match that effort and Brown Trafton became the first U.S. woman to win Olympic discus gold since Lillian Copeland in 1932. The 2008 Pre Classic champion, Brown Trafton will face American record-holder Suzy Powell and reigning Olympic Trials champion Aretha Thurmond on Sunday.  In other women's field events, reigning Olympic Trials and NCAA champion Brittney Reese and 2008 heptathlon silver medalist Hyleas Fountain will square off in the long jump, and Olympic teammates Jessica Cosby, Amber Campbell and Loree Smith will tangle in the hammer throw, where they'll face Olympic gold medalist Oksana Mankova of Belarus.  World's best meet in Visa Men's Shot Put  In men's field event action, Beijing Olympic shot put gold medalist Tomasz Majewski of Poland will have his hands full dealing with Olympic Games silver medalist and reigning World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell, two-time Olympic silver medalist, 2005 World Outdoor champion and 2008 Pre Classic winner Adam Nelson and 2007 World Outdoor champ Reese Hoffa.  2009 USA Indoor champion Dan Taylor, who entered this year ranked #10 in the world, also will challenge for top honors.   2004 Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack will join 2008 Olympic Trials champion and Olympic Games fourth-place finisher Derek Miles as favorites in the men's pole vault, where they'll face Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia, who is ranked #1 in the world.   2008 Olympic Trials champion Jesse Williams, 2004 Olympic fourth-place finisher Jamie Nieto and 2008 Olympians Andra Manson and Dusty Jonas will compete against each other in the men's high jump. The talented U.S. quartet will face a strong challenge from Russia's 2008 Olympic medalists Andrey Silnov (gold) and Yaroslav Rybakov (bronze), and Great Britain's Beijing silver medalist Germaine Mason.  2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Dwight Phillips leads a strong American contingent in the men's long jump, where he'll square off against 2008 Olympians Miguel Pate, Brian Johnson and Trevell Quinley. Entering as the favorite will be Panama's Irving Saladino, who won Olympic gold in Beijing and is ranked #1 in the world by T&FN.  Tickets for the 2009 Nike Prefontaine Classic may be purchased by calling 1-800-WEBFOOT or go online towww.goducks.com. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa.  For more information on the 2009 Nike Prefontaine Classic and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit:www.visachampionshipseries.com. USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1201-2009-nike-prefontaine-classic-preview Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:50:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1199-oregon-men-lead-the-john-mcdonnell-program-of-the-year-standings   NEW ORLEANS – The Oregon men have a lot to be happy about this year and plenty of hardware to show for it. The Ducks have won the cross country Pac-10 title, the cross country NCAA title, the indoor NCAA title, and the outdoor Pac-10 title. Winning both the cross country and indoor track and field National Championships has put the Ducks in a great position heading into the final event to determine the winner of the inaugural NCAA Division I John McDonnell Program of the Year Award given by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.   The NCAA Division I John McDonnell Program of the Year Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division I men’s cross country/track & field program.  The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division I Championships.   In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships.  Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division I Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient.   Oregon has earned two points towards the award standings (one point apiece for each championship title) giving the Ducks a sizeable margin over Stanford in the standings. The Cardinal earned 14 points by virtue of a third place and 11th place finish in the cross country and indoor track & field National Championships. That means Oregon will need a finish of 12th place or better at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in order to clinch the John McDonnell Program of the Year Award.   Florida State and Minnesota are tied for third place with 29.5 points each followed by California and Wisconsin who are tied for fifth place in the standings with 34 points each. Arkansas, Texas A&M, Providence, and Auburn round out the top ten in the NCAA Division I John McDonnell Program of the Year standings.   The John McDonnell Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and former Arkansas head coach John McDonnell.  McDonnell’s Arkansas teams won a combined 40 National Championships and finished in the top ten in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field in 24 of his 36 seasons in Fayetteville. Five of his teams won the NCAA Triple Crown.   The John McDonnell Program of the Year Award Standings:   Rankings Institution Cross Country Finish Points Awarded Indoor Finish Points Awarded Total Points 1 Oregon 1 1 1 1 2 2 Stanford 3 3 11 11 14 3 Florida State 26 (tie) 26.5 3 3 29.5 3 Minnesota 15 15 14 (tie) 14.5 29.5 5 California 22 22 12 12 34 5 Wisconsin 4 4 29 (tie) 30 34 7 Arkansas 28 28 8 8 36 8 Texas A&M 30 30 9 9 39 9 Providence 20 20 27 (tie) 27.5 47.5 10 Auburn 5 5 41 (tie) 43.5 48.5 11 BYU 9 9 41 (tie) 43.5 52.5 12 Washington 18 18 33 (tie) 35 53 13 Alabama 10 (tie) 10.5 41 (tie) 43.5 54 14 Michigan 24 24 32 32 56 15 Virginia 14 14 47 (tie) 49.5 63.5 16 Penn State 25 25 39 (tie) 39.5 64.5 17 Georgetown 10 (tie) 10.5 59 (tie) 62.5 73 18 Tulsa 13 13 59 (tie) 62.5 75.5 19 UCLA 26 (tie) 26.5 47 (tie) 49.5 76 20 Notre Dame 19 19 59 (tie) 62.5 81.5   USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1199-oregon-men-lead-the-john-mcdonnell-program-of-the-year-standings Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:39:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1198-florida-state-women-hold-narrow-lead-in-terry-crawford-program-of-the-year-stand   NEW ORLEANS – The Florida State women would like to finish the 2009 track and field season with a National Championship next week in Fayetteville, Ark. Should they complete their task, the Seminoles would add another trophy to their collection – the NCAA Division I Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award.   The award, which is given annually by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons)  based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division I Championships.   In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships.  Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division I Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient.   Florida State has had back-to-back top-ten championship finishes in cross country (3rd) and indoor track & field (8th), earning the Seminoles 11 points in the program of the year standings.   Close on the heels of FSU is Oregon with 11.5 points in the standings after finishing second overall in the team standings at the Cross Country National Championship and ninth overall at the Indoor Track & Field National Championship.   Texas Tech follows Oregon in third with 16.5 points after top-ten championships finishes in cross country (7th) and indoor track & field (9th). Fourth in the standings is Arizona State with 19 points, followed by Stanford with 22.5 points.   Minnesota sits in sixth place with 26 points, Michigan in seventh with 27 points, and Florida in eighth with 31.5 points. Arkansas is ninth with 35.5 points, followed by Illinois and Villanova (tied for tenth) with 37.5 points.   The Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and current Cal Poly head coach Terry Crawford.  Crawford has won five NCAA National Championships, and over 20 Conference Championships.  Her 1986 Texas squad remains as the only NCAA women’s program to ever win the Triple Crown (cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field titles).   The Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award Standings:   Rankings Institution Cross Country Finish Points Awarded Indoor Finish Points Awarded Total Points 1 Florida State 3 3 8 8 11 2 Oregon 2 2 9 (tie) 9.5 11.5 3 Texas Tech 7 7 9 (tie) 9.5 16.5 4 Arizona State 14 14 5 5 19 5 Stanford 8 8 12 (tie) 14.5 22.5 6 Minnesota 11 (tie) 11.5 12 (tie) 14.5 26 7 Michigan 16 16 11 11 27 8 Florida 17 17 12 (tie) 14.5 31.5 9 Arkansas 15 15 20 (tie) 20.5 35.5 10 Villanova 6 6 30 (tie) 31.5 37.5 10 Illinois 10 10 27 (tie) 27.5 37.5 12 Washington 1 1 35 (tie) 37.5 38.5 13 Iowa 24 24 27 (tie) 27.5 51.5 14 Nebraska 25 25 29 29 54 15 Georgetown 9 9 45 (tie) 47.5 56.5 16 Providence 13 13 45 (tie) 47.5 60.5 17 Baylor 19 19 51 (tie) 53 72 18 Rice 22 22 51 (tie) 53 75 19 Notre Dame 29 29 60 (tie) 62 91   USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1198-florida-state-women-hold-narrow-lead-in-terry-crawford-program-of-the-year-stand Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:38:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1197-on-eve-of-seasons-debut-borzakovskiys-clear-priority-is-berlin Yuriy Borzakovskiy strides to 800m gold ahead of Luis Alberto Marco and Mattias Claesson (Getty Images) relnews Moscow, Russia - Yuriy Borzakovskiy, the 2004 Olympic 800m champion and recent winner of the European indoor crown, successfully completed his core training for the summer season and is now ready to go at thePrefontaine Classic in Eugene this weekend (Sun 7).Eugene, the next stop on the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Tour, is going to bejust one more event on his schedule designed to give him excellent readiness before the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15-23 Aug). Borzakovskiy and his coach Viacheslav Evstratov have clearly focused on Berlin as their outdoor season commences.After his successful performance in Turin, Borzakovskiy took a 10-day holiday in Kislovodsk with his mother and one of his sons. He did not train there, opting instead to climb the nearby mountains and play football.“The main target for Yuriy this summer will be a successful performance in the World Championships,” said his coach Viacheslav Evstratov. In his three appearances at the World championships, Borzakovskiy has yet to mount the top podium step, winning two silvers and a bronze.His first training session after the winter was held for three weeks in April in Cholpon-Ata, a resort in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an elevation of 1600 -1700m above the sea level on the bank of the large beautiful slightly salty lake Issyk-Kul. It is a landmark of Central Asia, surrounded by the snow-capped Tien-Shan Mountains with peaks reaching above 7000m.“Yuriy started training there slowly after the winter season,” Evstratov said. “After the European Indoor Championships he played football for two weeks. At first he experienced some breathing problems at the high elevation, but did some regular jogging and soon acclimatized. This training session went very well – it was active leisure after the winter competitions. Borzakovskiy then completed all his preliminary work before the main training session in Kislovodsk.The second training programme for Borzakovskiy and several other of Evstratov’s athletes was held from 8-31 May in Kislovodsk, a resort in the Russian Caucasus with an average elevation 1600m above the sea level. The weather was cool, but excellent for running and training. “All went well in Kislovodsk,” Evstratov continued. “Yuriy did approximately 100 kilometres weekly, running crosses on the rolling hills at 150-160 beats per minute pulse. This was not speed training, but an accumulation of running volume. He also did special exercises, like running uphill, general muscle work outs, especially for the legs. Sometimes he ran short stretches accelerating, but not at the braking point and without too much exertion.”Now Borzakovskiy and his coach are heading to Eugene to see the results of his pre-season regimen.“I did not set any special targets for Yuriy in Eugene. It is just one more step before the world championships. The visit is going to be short, just five days, from fourth to the eighth of June.”“We do not have any sightseeing program in Eugene,” he added, “and will be glad to accept any proposals from the organizers.”“I have been training Yuriy for over 12 years already,” Evstratov continued. “He differs a lot from other athletes. God gave him a lot of good qualities. He has good coordination, excellent speed qualities for the 800m distance, good endurance and aerobic abilities, diligence, and a high capacity for hard work.”“With years of communication we have developed a good understanding of each other. During trainings Yuriy understands me immediately and often asks for advice himself.""Borzakovskiy sticks to a healthy life style in which sport is the leading theme. That is why he does not smoke and drink alcohol and never did. He is a modest guy. I often tell him: You became an Olympic champion, won several big competitions, but this is all in the past already. After each victory life starts afresh and requires a lot of work again.”Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada for the IAAF IAAF News http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1197-on-eve-of-seasons-debut-borzakovskiys-clear-priority-is-berlin Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:46:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1196-202-member-federations-and-7-million-in-prize-money-set-for-berlin Berlin 2009 logo (c) Monte-Carlo - The IAAF is delighted to announce that 202 of the 213 IAAF Member Federations have declared their intention to participate at the12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15 to 23 August 2009). The IAAF World Championships in Athletics are the third biggest global sporting event after the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup, and will be the largest sports gathering on the planet in 2009. Over $7 Million in Prize Money** As always there is a huge prize purse on offer, with the IAAF paying a grand total of US$7,336,000, distributed as follows: (Men’s and Women’s events; 1st to 8th places; all figures are in US$) Individual 1st 60,000; 2nd 30,000; 3rd 20,000; 4th 15,000; 5th 10,000; 6th 6000; 7th 5000; 8th 4000 Relays (per team)1st 80,000; 2nd 40,000; 3rd 20,000; 4th 16,000; 5th 12,000; 6th 8000; 7th 6000; 8th 4000 The IAAF World Marathon Cup which is incorporated into the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, offers an additional total prize purse of US$142,000 distributed as follows: (Men’s and Women’s events; 1st to 6th places; all figures are in US$) Teams1st 20,000; 2nd 15,000; 3rd 12,000; 4th 10,000; 5th 8000; 6th 6000 $100,000 World Record bonus In addition, any athlete who surpasses a World record at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics will be awarded US$100,000 donated by IAAF Partners Toyota (for Women) and TDK (for Men). IAAF **NOTE All prize winners must undergo and clear the usual anti-doping procedures. IAAF News http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1196-202-member-federations-and-7-million-in-prize-money-set-for-berlin Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:45:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1195-bolt-eager-for-showdown-with-gay Usain Bolt goes away from Tyson Gay in New York (Victah Sailer) Kingston, Jamaica – World 100 and 200m World record holder Usain Bolt said he was not surprised with Tyson Gay’s impressive 19.58sec clocking in his first 200m race of the year, and said he was eagerly looking forward to a showdown with the American.At last Saturday’s Reebok Grand Prix in New York City, Gay stunned the world with an electrifying 19.58 victory over the half lap, the third fastest performance ever. Only Bolt’s 19.30 and Michael Johnson’s 19.32, both World records, are faster.“I am not surprised because Tyson Gay is a very determined competitor," said Bolt, who blazed to 9.69 and 19.30 World record victories at last summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. "He showed that he is one of the best athletes in the world, so I am not shocked in any way."“Its going to be an interesting season and Tyson Gay kicked it off well.”“I am looking forward to go out there and do my best as always,” Bolt said, adding that a clash with Gay, the reigning 100m and 200m World champion, prior to the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin Germany (15 to 23 August) would be ideal for his preparation.“I definitely would want to meet Tyson before the World Champs to see where I am at (in my preparation). I am looking forward to that showdown,” said Bolt, who added a third World record when he helped Jamaica to victory in the men’s 4×100m Relay in 37.10.Bolt, however, admitted it’s going to be harder this year to duplicate his achievement and that what he accomplished in Beijing is now history.“It's always going to be harder because you start the season from square one again. I may not be in 19.3 shape, so I have to go out there and run again to try and do my best to get back into that shape,” explained Bolt.“I have a lot of work to do and I am still working hard,” he said, while predicting, “It’s going to be a battle with Tyson Gay, because he is not a person to give up.”Meanwhile, Bolt ruled out chasing three individual gold medals at the 2012 Olympics in London."I never actually said that I could run three events, because that's a lot of load," Bolt said, speaking with journalists at the Racers Track Club launch on Tuesday in Kingston. "I don't think that I could do that at one track meet, so somebody got it wrong along the line. I may be doing 100/200, or 200/400, but not all three."Racers members include Bolt, fellow Jamaicans Marvin Anderson and Yohan Blake, and Emmanuel Calendar of Trinidad & Tobago.Anthony Foster for the IAAF IAAF News http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1195-bolt-eager-for-showdown-with-gay Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:43:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1191-tyson-gay-named-athlete-of-the-week 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 outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 27, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay. BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING MAY 31 MEN 100 - 10.04 Jacoby Ford (Clemson) - Greensboro, NC 5/30200 - 19.58 Tyson Gay (adidas) - New York, NY 5/30     World leader400 - 44.75 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30800 - 1:46.00 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - New York, NY 5/301500 - 3:34.14 Leo Manzano (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30     U.S. leader3000SC - 8:36.98 Cory Thorne (Louisville) - Louisville, KY 5/305000 - 13:03.06 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30    U.S. leader110H - 13.12 Terrence Trammell (TSA) - New York, NY 5/30400H - 48.52 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30HJ - 2.25/7-4.5 Scott Sellers (Kansas State) - Norman, OK 5/29PV - 5.56/18-3 Jason Colwick (Rice) & Maston Wallace (Texas) - Norman, OK 5/30LJ - 7.89/25-10.75 Mychael Stewart (Arkansas) - Louisville, KY 5/29TJ - 16.81/55-2 Will Claye (Oklahoma) - Norman, OK 5/30SP - 20.99/68-10.5 Ryan Whiting (Arizona State) - Eugene, OR 5/29DT - 65.90/216-2 Rashaud Scott (Kentucky) - Louisville, KY 5/30HT - 70.56/231-6 Walter Henning (LSU) - Louisville, KY 5/30JT - 80.34/263-7 Chris Hill (Georgia) - Greensboro, NC 5/29Dec - 8516 Trey Hardee (Nike) - Gotzis, AUT 5/31     U.S. leader  WOMEN 100 - 11.04 Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) - New York, NY 5/30200 - 22.34 Lauryn Williams (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30     World leader400 - 50.50 Allyson Felix (adidas) - New York, NY 5/30     World leader800 - 1:59.29 Anna Willard (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30     World leader1500 - 4:03.96 Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30     U.S. leader3000SC - 9:26.20 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - Norman, OK 5/30     World leader5000 - 15:32.39 Jen Rhines (adidas) - New York, NY 5/30100H - 12.88 Seun Adigun (Houston) - Norman, OK 5/30400H - 55.44 Tiffany Williams (Reebok) - New York, NY 5/30HJ - 1.93/6-4 Sharon Day (Asics) - Havana, CUB 5/29PV - 4.81/15-9.25 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - New York, NY 5/30     World leaderLJ - 6.72/22-0.75 Funmi Jimoh (Nike) - Belgrade, SER 5/29 & Brianna Glenn (adidas) - New York, NY 5/30TJ - 13.53/44-4.75 Lauren Martin (Indiana State) - Louisville, KY 5/30SP - 18.43/60-5.75 Michelle Carter (unat) - New York, NY 5/30DT - 63.97/209-10 Stephanie Brown Trafton (Nike) - New York, NY 5/30HT - 69.76/228-10 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) - Havana, CUB 5/30JT - 58.56/192-1 Kara Patterson (Purdue) - Louisville, KY 5/30Hept - 6063 Sharon Day (Asics) - Havana, CUB 5/30     U.S. leader USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1191-tyson-gay-named-athlete-of-the-week Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:23:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1189-8-honored-as-diii-national-outdoor-track-field-athlete-and-coaches-of-the-year June 2, 2009   Eight Honored as Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Athletes and Coaches of the Year   NEW ORLEANS – The Wartburg women and the Wisconsin Oshkosh men both picked up NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championship titles in May and as a result, their head coaches, Marcus Newsom of Wartburg and John Zupanc of Oshkosh, each received the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s highest honor Tuesday, the National Men’s and Women’s Head Coach of the Year.   Newsom guided his women’s team to Wartburg’s second outdoor national title, and first since 2005. The Knights scored all of their 52 points on Saturday, May 23 to take home the team title. This was the second national championship this year for Wartburg which won the 2009 indoor team title. Wartburg picked up 14 USTFCCCA All-American honors during the three-day event.   Zupanc, the USTFCCCA Women’s Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Head Coach of the Year, helped lead his Titans to their first overall national title in outdoor track and field. Zupanc’s Titans scored 46 points at the meet to take down the defending champs from 2008. Oshkosh earned ten USTFCCCA All-American honors at the championships and were led by national champions William Kaul in the 10,000 meters and Tony Baker in the Discus.   Joining Newsome and Zupanc were Travis Erickson, USTFCCCA Women’s Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year; Tim Springfield, Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year; Sumer Rohrs, Women’s Track Athlete of the Year; Peter Kosgei, Men’s Track Athlete of the Year; Ashley Huston, Women’s Field Athlete of the Year; and Josh Lovell, Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.   The 2009 USTFCCCA Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Athletes and Coaches of the Year:   WOMEN   Track Athlete of the Year – Sumer Rohrs – Frostburg State University Rohrs, the USTFCCCA Mideast Region Athlete of the Year, won the 400 meter hurdles and 100 meter hurdles. She ran 60.05 in the 400 meter hurdles, and 13.77 in the 100 meter hurdles. Her 100 hurdle time was the fourth fastest time run in Division III history, and her 400 hurdle time was the tenth fastest time ever recorded in Division III.   Field Athlete of the Year – Ashley Huston – Hardin-Simmons University Huston, a senior from Buffalo Gap, Texas, won both the heptathlon and high jump at the national meet. Her score in the heptathlon was 5,244 points, the second highest total in Division III history. Huston was also seventh in the long jump at the national meet   Assistant Coach of the Year – Travis Erickson – University of Wisconsin La Crosse Erickson, who primarily coaches the jumps, had three athletes earn five USTFCCCA All-American honors, including a one-two-four finish in the long jump. Caitlin Schetter was the national champ in the long jump, and finished sixth in the triple. Katie Fondow finished second in both the long and triple jumps, while Ashton May finished fourth in the long jump.    Head Coach of the Year – Marcus Newsom – Wartburg College Newsom led his Knights to their second Division III Outdoor National Title winning the meet with 52 points. The title was the first outdoor title for Wartburg since its 2005 national title. Wartburg’s athletes collected 14 USTFCCCA All-American honors and came away with three first-place finishes at the national meet.   MEN   Track Athlete of the Year – Peter Kosgei – Hamilton College Kosgei qualified in four events for the championships but only ran in two events, winning both the 3,000 meter Steeplechase and the 5,000 meters. He had the fastest time in both events heading in to the championship meet.   Field Athlete of the Year – Josh Lovell – Linfield College Lovell won the men’s decathlon with 7,080 points. He became Linfield’s first national champion in track and field in eight years and broke his own school record in the decathlon which is second on the all-time Linfield list.   Assistant Coach of the Year – Tim Springfield – University of St. Thomas In his 12th year at St. Thomas, Springfield led the Tommies’ middle distance crew to new heights in 2009. Springfield-coached student-athletes earned two USTFCCCA All-American honors at the national meet. In 2009 his athletes broke four school records, achieved seven NCAA provisional or automatic qualifying marks, and scored 93 points at the MIAC championships during the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons.   Head Coach of the Year – John Zupanc – University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Zupanc led his Titans to their first overall Division III Outdoor National Track and Field title winning the championship with 46 team points. Oshkosh had two athletes win national championships in the discus and 10,000 meters. The Titans had also recorded a share of the team title during the indoor national championship back in March. USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1189-8-honored-as-diii-national-outdoor-track-field-athlete-and-coaches-of-the-year Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:07:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1188-us-to-celebrate-national-running-day 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 organizations USA Track & Field and Running USA, are encouraging Americans of all ages and fitness levels to get out and run by hosting a variety of National Running day activities, including professional athlete appearances, free running events, group runs and clinics.  From a 16-hour run/walk challenge in Creswell, Ore., that begins at 4:30 a.m., to a 1,000-kid Mighty Milers Fun Run/Walk at Icahn Stadium in New York City, to a post-work Family Night event (complete with Texas BBQ) in San Antonio, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle. Additionally, nearly 5,000 people have already committed to individually participating via the "Will You Run National Running Day?" Facebook page.  Interested parties may post their events and search for events at www.runningday.org (click on Participate to create an event and view listings). If there isn't an event scheduled in a specific area, all runners are invited to create their own. No event is too big or too small to be recognized as a National Running Day initiative.Highlights of National Running Day around the USA: Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue will issue Atlanta Track Club (ATC) executive director Tracey Russell a proclamation declaring June 3 National Running Day in Georgia. Additionally, the ATC will host at least seven group runs of various distances throughout the day in metro Atlanta. * The Chicago Area Runners Association will host a post-work event along Lake Michigan. * Houston Mayor Bill White will officially proclaim June 3 Houston Running Day at a City Council meeting on June 2. * In Indianapolis, a representative of Governor Mitch Daniels will present USA Track & Field CEO Doug Logan with a proclamation at an event at the Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis track with IUPUI's day campers and children from all over the city. Local Olympians Bob Kennedy and Joann Grissom will also participate in the event, which is free and open to the public. * The Little Rock Marathon is hosting a free early-morning National Running Day Fun Run/Walk, followed by continental breakfast. * Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Mayor RT Rybak of Minneapolis and Chris Coleman of St. Paul will sign state and city proclamations announcing June 3 as Minnesota Running Day in conjunction with National Running Day. A series of six evening group runs around the city will feature appearances from Team USA Minnesota runners. * In New York City, Olympians Deena Kastor and Lornah Kiplagat will host the Mighty Milers Fun Run/Walk, an event at Icahn Stadium with approximately 1,000 kids from Manhattan and the Bronx. Additionally, the New York Road Runners will host group runs in all five boroughs and runners stations in Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Kastor and Kiplagat will lead the Central Park group run on Wednesday evening. * In Eugene, Ore.-otherwise known as "Track Town USA"- The Oregon Track Club will hold an evening National Running Day community run. Local Olympians will join in the event, which is free and open to the public. * The Marine Corps Marathon will host a one-mile run on the National Mall, starting and finishing at the Lincoln Memorial. Runners will include local elected officials like Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, area running club presidents and running store representatives, Marines, local journalists, and other race directors.  * The Boston Athletic Association and USA Track & Field - New England have invited runners and non-runners alike to have the opportunity to run at 6-minute per mile pace with running icon and four-time Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's outdoor track facility in Cambridge, Mass. For more information on National Running Day, visit:  www.runningday.org.  USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1188-us-to-celebrate-national-running-day Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:02:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1186-start-lists-for-the-2009-prefontaine-classic   MEN 400 METER HURDLES, Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clement, Bershawn Jackson, Isa Phillips (Jamaica), Markino Buckley (Jamaica), James Carter, Kenneth Ferguson, Michael Tinsley 800 METERS, Nick Symmonds, Khadevis Robinson, Gary Reed (Canada), Alfred Yego (Kenya), Yuriy Borzakovskiy (Russia), Amine Laalou (Morocco), Ahmad Ismail (Sudan), Boaz Lalang (Kenya), Christian Smith, Matt Scherer--pace BOWERMAN MILE, Haron Keitany (Kenya), Shedrack Korir (Kenya), Asbel Kiprop (Kenya), Belal Mansoor (Bahrain), Alan Webb, Lopez Lomong, Juan van Deventer (South Africa), Leonel Manzano, Nicholas Kemboi (Kenya), Josephat Kithii (Kenya), Moise Joseph (Haiti)--pace, Nate Brannen (Canada), Jackson Kivuna (Kenya)--pace, Evan Jager, Peter van der Westhuisen (S Africa), Henok Legesse (Ethiopia), Steve Sherer--pace 3000 METERS, Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya), Bernard Lagat, Sileshi Sihine, Moses Masai (Kenya), Abreham Feleke (Ethiopia), Matt Tegenkamp, Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico), Chris Solinsky, Jonathan Riley, Leonard Komon (Kenya), Ian Dobson, Matthew Kisorio (Kenya), Saif Shaheen (Qatar), Brent Vaughn, Alistair Craig, Steve Scherer--pace STEEPLECHASE, Paul Koech (Kenya), Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya), Billy Nelson, Willy Komen (Kenya), Kyle Alcorn, Dan Huling, Josh McAdams, Roba Gary (Ethiopia), Ben Bruce, Tom Brooks, Steve Slattery, Brian Olinger, Luke Watson--pace SHOT PUT, Tomasz Majewski (Poland) , Christian Cantwell , Andrey Mikhnevich (Belarus) , Reese Hoffa , Adam Nelson , Dorian Scott (Jamaica) , Dylan Armstrong (Canada) , Dan Taylor WOMEN 100 HURDLES, Dawn Harper, Brigitte Foster-Hylton (Jamaica), Damu Cherry, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (Canada), Ginny Powell, Michelle Perry, Perdita Felicien (Canada) 800 METERS, Pamela Jelimo (Kenya), Hazel Clark, Janet Jepkosgei (Kenya), Kenia Sinclair (Jamaica), Alysia Johnson, Tatyana Andrianova (Russia), Jemma Simpson (Great Britain), Jesse Carlin--pace 1500 METERS, Nancy Lagat (Kenya), Gelete Burka (Ethiopia), Anna Alminova (Russia), Shannon Rowbury, Christin Wurth-Thomas, Nuria Fernandez (Spain), Erin Donohue, Meskerem Assefa (Ethiopia), Anna Willard, Jenny Barringer, Nikeya Green--pace, Shayne Culpepper, Shalane Flanagan, Treniere Clement 2000 METERS, Maryam Jamal (Bahrain), Linet Masai (Kenya), Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya), Pauline Korikwiang (Kenya), Jen Rhines, Sara Hall, Sally Kipyego (Kenya), Marina Muncan--pace, Amy Yoder-Begley, Arianne Lambie, Kara Goucher DISCUS THROW, Stephanie Brown Trafton , Aretha Thurmond , Suzy Powell , Becky Breisch , Summer Pierson , Gia Lewis-Smallwood , Lucy Cridland, Annie Hess, , HAMMER THROW, Oksana Menkova (Belarus) , Xiang Wenxiu (China) , Betty Heidler (Germany) , Britney Henry , Amber Campbell , Jessica Cosby , Darya Pchelnick (Belarus) , Sultana Frizell (Canada) , Loree Smith   Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1186-start-lists-for-the-2009-prefontaine-classic Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:21:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1190-wisconsin-oshkosh-captures-inaugural-al-carius-program-of-the-year-award June 1, 2009   NEW ORLEANS – The Wisconsin Oshkosh men added another trophy to their collection on Monday when the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the final standings of the inaugural NCAA Division III Al Carius Men’s Program of the Year Award.   Oshkosh earned the trophy after back-to-back national titles. The Titans won their first ever men’s indoor national title in March, tying Program of the Year runner-up Wisconsin-La Crosse in the indoor team standings, and then won its first ever men’s outdoor national title back in May. Oshkosh also finished ninth at the cross country national championships to finish with a final Program of the Year score of 11.5 points.   La Crosse was just behind Oshkosh in the standings with 12.5 points as the Eagles picked up top ten finishes in all three sports this year. Another Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member, Wisconsin Stevens Point finished third in the team standings with 38.5 points.   Whitworth University finished fourth with 40.5 points while North Central College finished fifth with 41 points.   The Al Carius Program of the Year Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division III men’s cross country/track & field program.  The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons)  based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division III Championships.   In order to be eligible for the award teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships.  Scoring will be based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division III Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient.   The Al Carius Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and current North Central College long-time head coach Al Carius.  Carius is in his 43rd year of service at North Central and has won 19 NCAA Division III National Championships.   The Al Carius Program of the Year Award Standings:   Final Standings Institution Cross Country Finish Points Awarded Indoor Finish Points Awarded Outdoor Finish Points Awarded Total Points 1 Wisconsin-Oshkosh 9 9 1 (tie) 1.5 1 1 11.5 2 Wisconsin-La Crosse 6 6 1 (tie) 1.5 5 5 12.5 3 Wisconsin-Stevens Point 4 4 8 8 25 (tie) 26.5 38.5 4 Whitworth 31 31 3 3 6 (tie) 6.5 40.5 5 North Central (Illinois) 2 2 7 7 29 (tie) 32 41 6 Williams 3 3 48 (tie) 51 14 (tie) 15 69 7 Nebraska Wesleyan 23 23 32 (tie) 35.5 11 (tie) 11.5 70 8 Ohio Northern 11 11 17 (tie) 20 44 (tie) 46 77 9 Calvin 5 5 32 (tie) 35.5 36 (tie) 37.5 78 10 Augustana (Illinois) 21 21 11 (tie) 12 44 (tie) top"> 46 79 11 St. John's (Minnesota) 22 22 25 (tie) 27 44 (tie) 46 95 12 Mount Union 25 25 48 (tie) 51 21 (tie) 22 98 13 Dickinson 14 14 25 (tie) 27 55 (tie) 57.5 98.5 14 Haverford 16 16 32 (tie) 35.5 55 (tie) 57.5 109 15 Allegheny 10 10 40 (tie) 43.5 55 (tie) 57.5 111 16 Case Western Reserve 29 29 40 (tie) 43.5 76 78 150.5     USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1190-wisconsin-oshkosh-captures-inaugural-al-carius-program-of-the-year-award Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:09:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1181-ladies-first-world-champions-williams-campbell-gear-up-for-another-bout 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 world champion and Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix in the women's 400m; former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Olympic silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad & Tobago in the Visa Men's 100; and 100m American record holder and reigning world champion Tyson Gay in the men's 200m. Campbell and Williams on Thursday spoke of the rivalries between their countries, and each other. Williams, who was flummoxed in Beijing by the performance of U.S. sprinters, including her own fourth-place finish in the 100, was clear about how Beijing has affected American sprinters' mentality. "It should definitely push U.S. sprinting to a new level," said the four-time World Outdoor medalist and 2004 Olympic 100m silver medalist. "You have to choose whether you are going to be broken by it or step up to the challenge and become the dominant force. Right now Jamaica has that title, and there are no ifs, ands or buts about it. Mentally, we have to focus and get ready. We have to step up to the challenge." She said she is ready to do that on Saturday, where she will take on two-time Olympic 200m gold medalist and reigning world 100m champion Veronica Campbell. The two have had countless close races in the past, including the 2004 Olympic Games where Williams was second and Campbell third in the 100, and the 2007 World Championships 100, where Campbell beat Williams by less than one-thousandth of a second. It was a photo finish that took several minutes to sort out. "Lauryn has always been a great competitor over the years," Campbell said, "and one of my favorites, I must say. Whenever you are in a race, there are certain people you have to be ready for. Rivalries are good for the sport because they help you push each other." Jamaicans pushed sprinting to new levels in Beijing, and already enthusiastic Jamaican track fans have become positively rabid about their national heroes. "It's a great feeling," Campbell said about the outpouring of support from her countrymen. "After our performances at the Beijing Olympic Games, a lot of people are looking forward to Jamaica US match-ups." But life is not all about the track for Williams, who graduated a semester early from the University of Miami in 2004, spoke at her commencement ceremony, and recently completed her MBA online.  "What put it in perspective was my father's passing away in October," she said. "I was sad about what had happened in Beijing. When my father passed away in October, it put into perspective for me. This is just a race. It's 11 seconds and it's over. Life goes on. I'm looking forward to Berlin." Berlin will host the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in August, where fans can expect to see yet another Williams-Campbell face-off. WELCOME BACK, TYSON: Tyson Gay on Saturday will run the 200m for the first time on U.S. soilsince the 2008 Olympic Trials, where he injured his hamstring in the rounds. The track at Icahn Stadium, located on Randall's Island, has been good to Gay over the years. He was runner-up in the 100 in 2006 and in 2007 he had his first major performance that announced him as the world's top sprinter of the year, winning the 100 in a wind-aided time of 9.76. In 2008, he finished second, in a speedy 9.85, to Usain Bolt's then-world record winning time of 9.72. "This meet has been real good to me," Gay said of the Reebok Grand Prix. "Of course everybody knows last year was a great race, with a world record for Usain Bolt. It's a great meet for the U.S. and can help make track and field even bigger." Icahn Stadium regularly draws a large Caribbean attendance, thanks to the large population of immigrants from the region as well as families of Caribbean descent. As Powell and Thompson compete in New York for the first time, Gay prepared them for the experience. "The track is fast, and the stadium is going to be packed," he said. "There are a lot of Caribbean fans in the stands. It may be almost like a smaller Penn Relays thing, kind of Jamaica vs. US. You guys are going to have a lot of support. A LOT of support." Thursday's press conference also featured American pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski, Swedish long jumper and the world's most dominant heptathlete, Carolina Kluft; and Powell and Thompson. Below are excerpts. LAURYN WILLIAMS On 2009 thus far: So far so good as far as my training has gone. I haven't run quite the stellar races I was planning on, based on where my training is. My three races weren't as fast as I thought they'd be but I did run 22.6 for a 200. My training is good and my fitness level is where it needs to be.  Advice to young athletes: My motto is hard work knows no limits. The idea is if you work hard, there is always a door that will open for you. Whether your sprinting, in school or playing an instrument, you will excel and reach your full potential. On the importance in competing in New York, on live TV: It's definitely very important. This is an historical city and a great place to compete. They make sure every year that there is an amazing field. It's important for me to be an ambassador for the sport and carry myself, and be the first one to the finish line. But at the same time, I don't want to put the whole sport on my back. I want to be at the forefront of getting the US back to sprint dominance. On a rivalry with Campbell: It's a friendly rivalry between Veronica and I. I really enjoy getting on the line. You always want the best eight people there. If she's not in the race, I'm wondering why Veronica is not there also. I want to get back to winning for myself. The rivalry is not the most important thing, but it is very good for the sport. On coming back from disappointment in Beijing: What put it in perspective was my father's passing away in October. I hadn't been in a depression, but I was sad about what had happened in Beijing. When my father passed away in October, it put into perspective for me. This is just a race. It's 11 seconds and it's over. Life goes on. I'm looking forward to Berlin. I just finished my masters degree (MBA online through the University of Phoenix). VERONICA CAMPBELL On 2009: I had a setback with a toe injury that came out of nowhere. But it has been healing well and I'm back in training. I had my first race back in Florida. It was OK. I am staying positive and focused on the race this weekend. I will do my best and do my job. On the status of sprinting within Jamaica and being a Jamaican sprinter: It is a great feeling. Jamaica has had a strong tradition in sprinting. After our performances at the Beijing Olympic Games, a lot of people are looking forward to Jamaica US match-ups. I'm training hard and trying to run as fast as I can. On the 4x100 in at the 2008 Olympic Games: In the 4x1, anything is possible because there are four people in the race and the baton exchange is crucial. There was an incomplete pass. It is part of life. I put the 4x1 behind me long ago. It's unfortunate, but this is part of life.  On advice to young athletes: As I said in my book, hard work, plus faith and determination equals success. As long as you work hard, you can achieve what you want in life, no matter how long it takes. On a rivalry with Lauryn Williams: Lauryn has always been a great competitor over the years, and one of my favorites I must say. Whenever you are in a race, there are certain people you have to be ready for. Rivalries are good for the sport because they help you push each other. On a possible rule change to disqualifying athletes after one false start: I think that there are many instances where an athlete false starts. Some athletes false start just to get an edge. But some people false start because the way the start is implemented. It is not 100 percent the fault of the athlete when an athlete false starts. I also understand the importance of television, and false starts are not good for people watching on television because it can become boring. It's two-sided and it's up to the federation to decide. JENN STUCZYNSKI On how her life has changed since the Olympics: It's definitely changed locally. I notice when I go to the  grocery store or get coffee, I get ready more because people notice me. I try to make sure my hair is done. With everything, it's helped with the pressure I've been dealing with after the Olympics, it teaches you to pace yourself. I just want to make sure I'm strong at season's end and not just at the beginning.  On jumping 5 meters: With the training that I've been doing and the way I've been jumping, if I can put it together on a long run (approach), I expect big things. It's all in time, and you can't rush it.  I tried to rush it. It will come if I keep working at it. On why Yelena Isinbayeva is so dominant: I think her coach said it best. It's harmony. She has it all. The speed, the strength, the height, the balance. Nothing is slow or rickety. She's been doing it for so long. It gets very frustrating, needless to say. On the most gratifying aspect of winning a silver medal: The most gratifying thing was coming out there with the USA outfit on. When people ask me what I miss about playing other sports, I always say it's the team aspect. At the Olympics, we're all USA. It didn't depend on who was competing - if they had the USA uniform on, we were all cheering for them. It reminded me of basketball. I couldn't' tell you what a good time for the 1500 meters is, but if they had the uniform on, I was cheering for it.  On the competitive Olympic experience: A lot of people talked about the stress and the nerves. You don't really understand it until you're in it. It starts at the US Trials and then it continues. It actually starts before the Trials, with all the media questions leading up to it. When you're in it, it's hard to enjoy it sometimes. You want to do good, you want to medal. You learn to focus and keep training. It can suffocate you and close in on you. I had to learn to work past it. I am training and I'm in Churchville, New York, nobody else is around and nothing else matters. I've learned a lot about just being able to focus and handle the pressure of it. CAROLINA KLUFT On 2009: I'm just recovering. I'm not injured anymore but I'm trying to build up the strength in my leg. I had a stress fracture (in her left leg). I will not jump 100 percent on Saturday. I will have a shorter run-up, because I feel like I'm not ready to go 100 percent quite yet. But I want to compete and give more power in competition. It is one step forward from training. I don't have high expectations for my performance, but I have high expectations for the experience. It's my second time in New York but my first time competing. Should women compete in the decathlon instead of heptathlon? No. Heptathlon is a great event as it is. I don't understand why we should make it any different than it is. I don't understand why it should change. Why should we change to be like the men's event? Why don't the men change to do the hepthathlon?  Will you break the world record in the heptathlon? No, I'm done with the heptathlon. I'm sure of that. I left it with joy and happiness. I left it at the right time, where I still have energy left in my career to do just one event. After that, I'm going to do a lot of other things in my life other than sport. I will always be a mutl-eventer. I will do many different things.   Will she compete in both long jump and triple jump? Not this season. I've been injured, and I think the stress from training for both of it would be too much right now. I think it's very fun to do both events (LJ and TJ). I'm hoping to pick it up but not this season.  TYSON GAY On his history at this meet: I've competed here before but normally in the 100m dash. Of course everybody knows last year was a great race, with a world record for Usain Bolt. ... Overall, it's a great meet for the U.S. and can help make track and field even bigger. I am looking forward to running technically sound (in the 200m) and just seeing whatever comes out of it. This is my first race and I'm just trying to get the kinks out and get into a racing environment. Mentally, I've just been trying to relax this year. There's enough pressure. I still think about racing a lot, but I've been trying to relax my mind. What would have happened at the Olympics if Gay had been healthy? It didn't happen. I would have gone out there and done my best. What Usain Bolt did at the Olympics was amazing. I wasn't thinking about 9.69 at the Olympics. I was thinking 9.7something was going to win. He shocked me. Everybody knows I'd have needed to go 9.6something. But, I wasn't race-sharp and I wasn't ready to put it down at that time. I think I had shown I was ready to run fast, just not at that time. On his occasionally competing in the 400m: I ran a few 400s, just to get some fitness and things like that. I know I'm capable of running fast 400s. If the opportunity opens up one day to run a 4x4 with the fast American sprinters, I would enjoy doing that. On his 9.66 wind-aided 100m time at the 2008 Olympic Trials, the fastest time ever run: It gave me a lot of confidence. I didn't slow down toward the end of the race, and it was fast regardless. I'm looking forward to doing it (wind) legal. On his goals for this weekend: I definitely want to win. There is no feeling in track and field like winning. Even if you don't run the time you wanted to run, it feels good to win. But moreso I want to work on my technique. I want to run a good first race and see where it takes me to. On advice to Caribbean sprinters competing at the meet on Saturday: This meet has been real good to me. The track is fast, and the stadium is going to be packed. There are a lot of Caribbean fans in the stands, more Caribbean fans than Americans. It may be almost like a smaller Penn Relays thing, kind of Jamaica vs. US. You guys are going to have a lot of support. A LOT of support. ASAFA POWELL On 2009: Everything is going smooth so far. I had an ankle injury which I'd had for a while. But I'm back and I'm ready to run. On the impact of Jamaicans' Olympic performance in their home country:  Before when you'd ask people about Jamaica, they'd say Bob Marley. Now, they say Usain (Bolt). It motivates the younger kids to come out. They have talent, they just have to use it. On how Bolt's performances have changed sprinting: It think everyone is training to run 9.6, because Usain shows it's possible. When I watch the replay of the Olympic Games, I don't look at myself. I look at Usain, and him crossing the finish line. It motivates me to train my heart out, to try to finish ahead of him or try to finish closer to him. But what he did, you have to give him credit. RICHARD THOMPSON  On 2009: I've been having a rough season. I got into a major wreck in Trinidad and Tobago and was unable to train for a month. So I'm being patient and confident that I'll be back to where I was last year in July and August. That's when it really matters. On how Bolt's performances have changed sprinting: I think it makes it easier for the rest of the sprinters, because Usain is the one with all the pressure on him. Everyone exepcts him to be first and everybody else second. At the same time, Usain is the benchmark for sprint. Having run 9.6, and the way he ran it, other people are working harder to get there. We aren't going to sit back and allow him to dominate the way he did last year. It's going to be interesting in years to come.  The fourth stop of USA Track & Field's 2009 Visa Championship Series, the Reebok Grand Prix will be televised live on NBC from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Reebok Grand Prix, in its fifth year, is one of the nation's premier outdoor track & field invitational meets. Increased and upgraded backstretch seating at track level is being added to accommodate the growing demand and interest from fans in the New York area. Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC or on-line at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa.  For more information on the 2009 Visa Championship Series and the Reebok Grand Prix, visitwww.VisaChampionshipSeries.com.    About USA Track & Field  USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States, with oversight of programs ranging from youth track and field to selecting and managing Team USA for international competition. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org About WICT  For thirty years, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) has partnered with cable and telecommunications leaders to provide leadership programs and services, and create professional advancement opportunities for women. With over 7,800 members, WICT is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. WICT develops women leaders who transform our industry through highly regarded professional events, educational programming and networking opportunities. Comcast, Rainbow, Time Warner Cable and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. are WICT's 2009 Strategic Partners providing the highest level of financial support for WICT programs, services and advocacy. Flotrack Reebok Grand Prix Coverage Here USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1181-ladies-first-world-champions-williams-campbell-gear-up-for-another-bout Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1180-gay-returns-to-200m-at-reebok-grand-prix 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 sure win for Gay, whose personal best is 19.62. He will be facing two-time World Outdoor medalist Wallace Spearmon (19.65 PB) and 2006 quadruple NCAA champion Xavier Carter (19.63 PB). And don't forget Rodney Martin (19.99 PB), who took fourth at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships. Two men who specialize in the 400m, two-time Olympic medalist and World Outdoor champion Jeremy Wariner and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Neville, also are entered. In the Visa men's 100m, former world record-holder Asafa Powell (JAM) is the favorite, but don't overlook two-time Olympian Darvis Patton, who has a silver medal from the 4x100 in Athens and was a 100m finalist in Beijing. Also in the race are Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, two of Powell's teammates from the gold-medal winning, world record-setting 4x100m in Beijing, and collegiate record-holder Travis Padgett.  Reigning Olympic gold medalist and current world leader LaShawn Merritt headlines the field in the Nutrilite men's 400m. The 2008 Olympic silver medalist and 2007 World Outdoor champion in the 400m hurdles, Kerron Clement will move to the flat race to challenge Merritt.  After winning this event last year in a meet-record 10.91, Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown enters the Visa women's 100m amidst a field that includes four of the top American sprinters. Four-time World Outdoor medalist Lauryn Williams, who ended her 2008 campaign ranked #5 in the world by Track & Field News, is joined by 2008 Olympian Marshavet Hooker and  two-time Olympians Muna Lee and Torri Edwards, ranked #s 6, 7, and 8, respectively, in the world. Williams will be doubling, as she is also entered in the women's 200m, where she will face stiff competition from 2008 NCAA Indoor champion Bianca Knight, who ended her 2008 season ranked #8 in the world to Williams' #10. 2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Shalonda Solomon, who took third here last year, also is entered.  Two-time Olympic silver medalist and World Outdoor 200m champion Allyson Felix will be stepping up to run the Nutrilite women's 400m. Felix, who was world-ranked #5 over 400m for 2008, will challenge Beijing silver medalist Shericka Williams (JAM) and Natasha Hastings, her U.S. teammate on the 4x400m gold medal-winning relay at the 2008 Olympic Games. The focus of the men's 5,000 race this weekend will be to break the 13-minute barrier, thus eclipsing the U.S. all-comers records. Highlighting the field are 2007 double World Outdoor champion Bernard Lagat, 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Micah Kogo (KEN) and 2009 World Cross Country champion Gebre Gebremariam (ETH). 2008 Olympic and World Indoor silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski leads a field in the Nutrilite women's pole vault that includes 2000 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Stacy Dragila. Also watch for Chelsea Johnson, who currently has the second highest clearance in the world so far this year behind only Stuczynski, and 2008 Olympic finalist April Steiner Bennett. 2008 Olympic gold medalist and current world leader Stephanie Brown Trafton leads the field in the women's discus. Challenging her will be American record-holder Suzy Powell-Roos and four-time USA Outdoor champion Aretha Hill.  The Reebok men's 400m hurdles will be a race of redemption for two-time Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor, who took second two weeks ago at the adidas Track Classic where hurdle eight was set in the wrong place. 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and 2005 World Outdoor champion Bershawn Jackson and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist James Carter are also in the mix. The Irie Jam women's 400m hurdles will see 2008 Olympic gold medalist Melaine Walker (JAM) in her first race of the outdoor season. She will be challenged by Beijing bronze medalist Tasha Danvers (GBR) and 2008 Olympic Games finalist Tiffany Ross-Williams.  Two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time Indoor Visa championTerrence Trammell, fresh off his victory at the adidas Track Classic, will look to continue his winning ways in the men's 110m hurdles. 2008 Olympic silver and 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist David Payne and 2005 World Outdoor champion Ladji Doucoure (FRA) will challenge Trammell for the win.  Other athletes to watch include 2008 Olympian Christin Wurth Thomas in the Reebok women's 1,500m, and 2008 NCAA Outdoor champion Leo Manzano and American mile record holder Alan Webb in the Reebok men's 1,500m.  Three-time Olympian Hazel Clark and 2007 USA Outdoor and NCAA champion Alysia Johnson are entered in the women's 800m, in a race that will see former American 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Anna Williard continue her quest for excellence in other events. Four-time USA Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson is entered in the NY Running Company men's 800m. The Reebok Grand Prix, in its fifth year, is one of the nation's premier outdoor track & field invitational meets. Increased and upgraded backstretch seating at track level is being added to accommodate the growing demand and interest from fans in the New York area. Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC or on-line at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa.  For more information on the 2009 Visa Championship Series and the Reebok Grand Prix, visitwww.VisaChampionshipSeries.com.  About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org Flotrack Reebok Grand Prix Coverage Here USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1180-gay-returns-to-200m-at-reebok-grand-prix Fri, 29 May 2009 08:57:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1179-jason-loutitt © Copyright – Christopher Kelsall – 2009 Jason Loutitt has lived just about everywhere in western Canada. He was born in Trail, British Columbia where his father played Jr. Hockey. He grew up in Uranium City, Saskatchewan until he was 8, Edmonton, Alberta for another 8 and yet another 8 years were spent in Winnipeg, Manitoba serving with the Canadian forces in the Army. Loutitt also attended University in Winnipeg and has called Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Chemainus, Victoria, Regina, Vancouver, Shawnigan Lake, Canmore, Banff and now Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island 'home'. He has moved 37 times in 35 years. Will he ever settle down and call one place home? Who knows, but perhaps his penchant for perpetually uprooting himself is a parallel manifestation of his inability to focus for long before he tends to disappear into two week-long alcoholic bouts of self-destruction. By all appearances his transient tendencies work well with his running lifestyle and he believes the self-destructiveness is now behind him and feels he can focus well to take the next step in his running career.  What is his next step? Canadian Mountain Running Championships, June 13th in Canmore, Alberta to qualify for the World Mountain Running Championships. Jason owns a 66 minute half marathon and 2:27 marathon personal best. Below we talk about a range of subject matter, none of it dull, yet all is honest, quirky, frank, odd, introspective, funny and to a man, telling. The Interview Q: Since moving to the island last year has your training changed? Are you running around Shawnigan Lake area a lot? A: It’s funny that as a trail runner I have spent most of all of my running time running around the lake on the 22k hilly road route. Something about having access to the rolling hills for the first time and the idea of it...running 'around' the lake, made it ideal. Like running to the 'top' of a mountain, training often takes on a different ideal for me. Sometimes I would feel that if my elders were watching from the sky, I would run enough for them to notice this crazy little guy leaving his path. I used to run from Canmore to Banff (25km each way), work 8 hours and run back. The Shawnigan Lake loop has been done over 100 times since October with no running for a couple of weeks in February and April… (laughing)... of those, over 95% have had my training partner Nanew - a 2 year old Jack Russell right beside me. The bugger has only slowed on a run twice and we are talking about being able to run 4, 20 milers-per-week during August temperatures. I started running him when he was four months old - he is the cutest little running machine. Nanew fartlek Q: Jack Russell Terrier!! That’s what they need is a lot of energy time. How is doing fartlek runs with Nanew? – I would assume scattered and random. A: The little metronome comes with his own speed dial. I think because I would do strides with him, he is ready and willing to gut ‘er out on a moment’s notice and actually eases off when I do. I loop the leash and put it around my waist but don't put up with any tension on it. He is that good to even keep it tension free during fartleks, strides and intervals. Q: Don’t tell me his name is from Mork and Mindy, where Mork would say, “nanew, nanew”? A: Yes, his name is hello in Ork from the Mork and Mindy show. I had a cat for 22yrs named Mindy from the show. Funny in that I was watching a movie a year after getting him and 'Nanu' is also Inuit for 'little white bear'. Both fit. Life as an Aboriginal person Q: You started marathon running in the late ’90s, is this correct? Can we talk about the progress since then? A: Yes, My development though always has taken a different approach. The old KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid, would only apply if you simply made life as tough as you could on yourself and then simply tried to survive. My second race ever was the 1999 Winnipeg Marathon and I ran a 2:59:09. My longest long run had been 90 min, so you could imagine the wall I faced. I ran an average of 3-4 marathons a year for 2004-2006, with 2 victories at the 2005, 2006 Calgary Marathon. A 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finish at the Royal Victoria Marathon and a Silver Medal at the 2006 Canadian Marathon Championships. All were chosen as target races within 3 weeks to the event - kind of mountain running in itself. Add to that a lifetime of dealing with the disease of alcoholism and addiction, and the yearly escape/ run to the dark side and we have a runner who ends up smoking a pack a day on top of everything else for 2-4 weeks a year. While I really have limited my ability, as an athlete in one respect, there has been this unusual development of strength in another, the constant pushing in life like training only lead to the annual self-punishment sessions. Now as I embrace Bikram Yoga and even look at getting certified as an instructor, I am hoping to use my certification in Stott Pilates and coaching experience to start a business in Duncan in the future. As of June 1st I will have been relocated and quite fitting, Mt. Prevost and Mt. Tzouhalem have been calling out to me. Q: Let’s talk about that tendency to stalk the dark halls of self-destruction. A: Just pulled myself out of another and that pull and part of my journey no longer defines me. I Simply can't afford it. I got better at the self-destruction than the running so I gotta reverse that and that is only the minor excuse. I now have a son in this world. Like building the pyramid, the strength phase is done and it is time to move on. It is tough as the disease of alcoholism and addiction rips through many more lives than we are aware of. If we aren't personally affected, we either have family or friends who know someone who has died from it. It is a spiritual disease that for many requires a spiritual answer. Surrender, faith, letting go... getting through and beyond it requires the only real measures of true strength one will ever find in this world. A: Care to describe your 2 week trips into darkness and what is the catalysis of this behavior? A: While generational conditions can affect all of us. Our Aboriginal people have been used to the struggle of having to be hardened to survive. This sometimes develops into coping mechanisms that aren't the healthiest. Although this can be an excuse for many and one I have fallen back on many times, the total responsibility for my choices and ability to have power for each and every decision I make are mine and mine alone. Deeper issues around self-sabotage and not letting myself truly achieve or feel I deserved success (shame) were being held onto for my way of being. Q: As for an aboriginal role model, who is the ultimate for you? A: In terms of running and a message, nobody comes close to Billy Mills. The finish of his Olympic 10k victory from 1964 in Tokyo gives the same feeling I am sure a bird feels when he first learns to fly. The fact that he is also a motivational speaker and has put his heart behind helping the Aboriginal youth, speaks much more volume than any footstep. The athlete Q: Any specific goals for you right now? A: Right now it’s getting into a fitness I haven't been in before. I am working out more hours per week now than I have ever had. Bikram Yoga - the hot one done for 90min is the #1 priority for the meditation time, breathing and lung development, flexibility and even cardiovascular efficiency. Did 30 classes in 17 days and even had 3 and 4 class days. Add running on top of that for just one class and anyone reading who has done it before will know what type of training I am doing. Needless to say off of less than 8 runs, I set the course record at the local Mt. Tzouhalem Gutbuster. Even ran the first 10k split of the Kool Oak Bay half marathon the next weekend going through in 32:10. The only quality run done within the past two months was that Gutbuster race. This summer I am actually looking at starting up a Pilates business in Duncan, BC and also I am going to get certified in Bikram Yoga to teach and start a new running fitness kick. After the Calgary marathon on May 31st, it’s back to Canmore for the June 13th Canadian Mountain Championships, then NACAC down in the US June 28th. After Calgary it'll be nothing but easy mountain runs and speed interval work (first time in 4 years) back in Duncan. I live close to the track there so it's perfect. Focus on some local mountain races for the summer and short 5k racing. Then it's World Mountain in September and a winter Marathon. I know I could move up to Ultra and do well as my marathon pb of 2:27:29 was from the 2004 Honolulu Marathon and I was the head coach of Team Diabetes and after finishing 9th, ran back on the course out there moving until my last runner crossed the line at 9 hours and 56 min. Gotta work on speed though for the next year. Q: Talking about speed, I know Taeko your wife is back running again after becoming a mom, how is that process going? Is she also aiming at a marathon? A: Taeko and I met running around the world during the 2007 Blue Planet Run and she is slowly getting back to the training. She is so tough and will be fully able to reach her goals. Truthfully we have separated as a couple to have some space as we simply moved so fast and 2 days after running around the world, she came to Canada with me. It is so tough as we now have an 8-month-old son named Shouken (Japanese for 'awareness'), but she will go to Japan for the summer and regroup for her priorities. Being in Japan and connecting to her old running community should inspire her. I hope she decides to follow through on her dream to qualify and run for Canada in 2012 in London. She can do it. Q: Taeko has run a marathon as fast as 2:28, has she not? A: Yes, Taeko finished with a 2:28:10 at the 1999 Osaka marathon. If she focuses on getting into condition to qualify for Canada, she will stand a great chance at doing it. Q: Do you have a favourite book? A: Something about reading a series of adventure books in my early 20's - R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms series about Drizzt Do Urden (a fantasy character aligned in Chaotic Goodness…(laughs) Q: Movie? A: A life Less Ordinary, which is about the power of love in a world of craziness where everything can be seen through a lens of fun. Q: Music? A: Leonard Cohen. Q: Art? A: I am a soap stone carver and actually have a minor in fine arts. The soap stone and also charcoal runs true. If I stay out in Cowichan, I really want to get into carving. Q: Sponsors? A: I have had amazing support from Salomon - I am a member of the Salomon Flight Crew, Vega - and am a Vega ambassador, Smartwool, Atlas and Helly Hansen as well. Q: Are you planning on running with the Canadian Mountain team in the inaugural IAAF recognized World Mountain Trophy? A: It is exciting to now have the Trophy event fully affiliated with the IAAF and now is a 'World' event. Funny, I became a mountain runner and finished as the top Canadian at NACAC and the Trophy race in 2004 after living in Winnipeg for 8 years. The only hill there is an old garbage dump they covered with grass. Playing hockey for 22 years and martial arts for 12 must have helped. I started running and ran my first race in 1999 with the 2nd Battalion of the 2 PPCLI regiment for the Canadian Forces. That was the Columbia Ice field leg of the Jasper-Banff Relay... a mountain run. You know that while I have dedicated myself to being the best runner I could be, I have also gotten certified as a level 2 NCCP coach and managed to coach over 800 runners from newbies to competitive. Something about the sport and giving back to the community is so important as over 13,000 youth and adults have put up with my ramblings about my life and my adventures. As a motivational speaker, it is incredible to return the energy that those trails, mountains and most recently what the 'lakes' have given me      Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1179-jason-loutitt Fri, 29 May 2009 02:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1175-eva-orban-kwik-e University of Southern California's senior, Eva Orban, a Hungary native, has been one of the top hammer throwers in the country in her four years in college. She's a two-time Olympian and is the reigning NCAA outdoor champion. Orban's got the best throw (226-11) in the country this year, leading the second-best mark (221-1) by over five feet. You're the defending NCAA Champion in the hammer throw and you've already got the biggest throw this year...by a lot. Are things going right on schedule for you? Everything is going really well. Practice has been going very well. I'm getting back in shape. I'm psyched for the rest of the season. What are your goals for this season? I want to break my personal best this year, before I graduate. I want to break it at Pac-10s or at regionals or maybe at NCAAs. If I can, I want to win Pac-10s, regionals and NCAAs. Those are my goals for this year and we'll see how it goes. Do you see any reason why you wouldn't be able to do that? It's sports. No one can know what will happen. You can get hurt or you can have a bad day. Someone can just beat you. You can't say for sure that you can win everything. But, those are my goals and I've been working really hard and I just hope it happens. On the most recent NCAA performance lists, you have the biggest hammer throw by over three meters. What can you attribute to having this big of a gap between you and the second-best thrower? Well, first of all, I'm from Europe. So, I started to throw when I was 12 years old. Here people start throwing the hammer later. It makes a huge difference because they've only had a few years with the hammer. You have to throw a lot. You have to get a lot of throws in during the year to get better. I think that makes a huge difference, and not just between me and the other athletes in the NCAA, but between Europeans and Americans. Have you had the same type of success in other throwing events? I have tried them when I was younger. And even at the dual-meet this weekend, I threw the discus. I'm really good in discus throw or shot put. I do enjoy throwing them sometimes when I get bored with the hammer. Sometimes I'll just throw. I really want to throw the javelin, but coach doesn't let me. He doesn't want me to get hurt. What are you studying at USC? I'm an economics major. I can't wait to be done. I'm just joking. After you're done with college, what are you planning on doing? I have a chance to stay here an extra year. I think I'm going to stay and try to find a job and work here and throw at the college meets. What does it feel like to be an Olympian? It feels really, really good. When I was little, I was just always dreaming about the games. I just always wanted to make it. It was amazing to have dreamed about it and then have it happen. When I made it finally...it was just amazing. It was a good way for me to thank my parents. You don't want to say, “thanks” all the time. When you do something like that, you make the national team for the Olympics, it's one way to say to them, “thank you!” I don't say it all the time, because if there are no actions behind your words, then it means nothing. Of course I say, “thank you” to them...but it's much better to show them by doing well in school and whatever else you're doing. What do you do for fun when you're not studying or training? If I have a chance, I'm real lazy. I stay home and watch a movie or read a book. I'll talk to my friends. I like to just stay in my house when I can. Sometimes I'll stay in and hang with my friends. If you could have any meal in the world, prepared by anybody, what would you choose? Fried chicken and french fries. I could eat that food all the time...any time. I could eat it every day. But, when my mom makes it, it's way better. In your opinion, what are some big differences between track and field in the United States and Hungary? We have a whole different system in Hungary. Here you have an opportunity to go and compete after high school for a university. We don't have anything like that in Hungary. I would say you have to be a professional before you're 19—which is really hard for someone that young—and I think for us, it's a really good chance to come here after high school to compete for a university. I think the U.S. has a better system than ours, but you can't compare the different countries. When did you decide that you were going to come to the United States and compete for USC? I didn't really want to come. Before me, USC has had like four Hungarian throwers. So, I'd heard about USC and I'd heard about Coach Lange. I heard a bunch of good things about him. How good of a person he is. How good of a coach he is. I talk to a friend of mine who went there and I said, “okay, let's try it.” I knew that Balazs Kiss was the Olympic champion in the hammer in 1996 and he also went to USC. That's why I came here. And you're very happy with how things have turned out? Oh, yeah. First off is the education. I get a great education, which is very important to me. I really like USC. We have a great team and I love my teammates. And I like my coach. I'm just really happy here. I'm think I'm really luck to be here. It's a great thing to be a Trojan! So, you go to school in sunny California, but you said that you like to stay inside when you get free time? Do you burn badly? When you have to go in school, you have to stay inside and you don't want to. But when you have nothing to do, you can stay home. My skin is really sensitive, so I don't like to be outside too much. I burn too quick. It's funny how when I'm in school I'd rather be outside. You put a lot of sunblock on when you're competing? I have to. I have to. It doesn't really help me...but I try. Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1175-eva-orban-kwik-e Fri, 29 May 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1178-national-running-day-to-unite-the-country 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 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, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Little Rock, Denver, Eugene, and San Diego-in addition to national running organizations USA Track & Field and Running USA, are encouraging Americans of all ages and fitness levels to get out and run by hosting a variety of National Running Day activities, including professional athlete appearances, free running events, group runs, and clinics.   This unified effort is aimed at encouraging people to lace up their shoes and invite a friend to join them in experiencing the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of running.  "Everyone can run. That's the message of this day," said New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "As an industry, we know first-hand how great running is. Millions of Americans have discovered that running is an easy way to feel better, look better, and live better." Runners can join in the National Running Day festivities by simply going for a run on June 3, then logging on to the national website and social media resources at runningday.org to download an "I'm a Runner/I Ran Today" Facebook button, interact with other runners, and find complete information. Resources available on the site will include information on local community events with running clubs and retailers, course-mapping tools, training tips, and other running-related information.  "This is a day to celebrate the most universal of all sports," said USA Track & Field CEO Doug Logan. "By taking National Running Day into the virtual realm of social networking, we're doing even more to expand that universe. You might be running toward a goal, running with a purpose, or even just running away from your problems. Any reason is a good reason to run, especially on National Running Day." About National Running Day National Running Day is an initiative whereby many of the major organizations within the United States running industry are joining forces in an unprecedented, unified effort to nationally and locally promote running as a healthy, easy, and accessible form of exercise. The inaugural National Running Day will be on Wednesday, June 3. From New York to San Diego, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today's most pressing health issues. For more information, visit http://www.runningday.org. USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1178-national-running-day-to-unite-the-country Thu, 28 May 2009 15:35:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1174-wartburg-women-claim-inaugural-deb-vercauteren-program-of-year-award May 27, 2009   Wartburg Women Claim Inaugural Deb Vercauteren Program of Year Award   NEW ORLEANS – After winning both the NCAA Division III Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, the Wartburg women added another piece of hardware to its collection on Wednesday when the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the final standings for the NCAA Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year award.   "To receive this award is very humbling and a big honor. I spent a lot of my early coaching days watching Deb's teams win national championships and have been working towards getting our program to that level," said Wartburg Head Coach Marcus Newsom.   Wartburg finished first overall in the standings having earned six points in the 2008-09 school year. Wartburg finished fourth overall in the cross country championships in the fall to earn four points, was the national champion indoors to earn one point, and wrapped up the season with the outdoor title and one additional point.   Wisconsin La Crosse was second overall in the team standings with 13 points followed by Wisconsin Eau Claire with 16 points and Wisconsin Oshkosh with 23 points. Calvin College was fifth with 26 points.   Wartburg’s track and field season was a special one as the team earned its first women’s indoor title and picked up its second women’s outdoor title. Wartburg was consistent over the course of the indoor and outdoor track seasons, as they scored 51 points at the indoor national meet and 52 points at the outdoor meet. Wartburg’s outdoor national title came on the meet’s last event, the 4x400 meter relay, when they won the race to win the team title by two points.   Wisconsin La Crosse and Wisconsin Eau Claire also enjoyed stellar cross country/track and field season as both programs finished in the top ten nationally at all three championships.   The NCAA Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division III women’s cross country/track & field program.  The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division III Championships.   In order to be eligible for the award teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships.  Scoring will be based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division III Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient.   The NCAA Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and current Wisconsin-Oshkosh women’s head coach Deb Vercauteren.  Her Titans have won a combined 18 NCAA national titles and her student-athletes have combined to earn 347 All-American performances.  Vercauteren has won an impressive 36 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles (15 cross country, 11 indoors, and 10 outdoors).   The NCAA Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award Standings:   Final Standings Institution Cross Country Finish Points Awarded Indoor Finish Points Awarded Outdoor Finish Points Awarded Total Points 1 Wartburg 4 4 1 1 1 1 6 2 Wisconsin-La Crosse 8 8 2 2 3 3 13 3 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 5 5 7 7 4 4 16 4 Wisconsin-Oshkosh 18 18 3 3 2 2 23 5 Calvin 2 2 10 (tie) 10.5 13 (tie) 13.5 26 6 MIT 10 10 16 (tie) 17.5 10 (tie) 11 38.5 7 Bethel (Minnesota) 19 19 15 15 18 (tie) 18.5 52.5 8 St. Thomas (Minnesota) 14 14 12 (tie) 13 28 (tie) 28.5 55.5 9 Messiah 31 (tie) 31.5 10 (tie) 10.5 21 (tie) 21.5 63.5 10 St. Lawrence 21 21 16 (tie) 17.5 24 (tie) 25.5 64 11 Washington (Missouri) 12 12 54 (tie) 50.5 5 5 67.5 12 Williams 3 3 54 (tie) 50.5 15 15 68.5 13 The College of New Jersey 27 27 36 36 10 (tie) 11 74 14 Carleton 23 23 33 (tie) 33.5 31 (tie) 31.5 88 15 Cortland State 9 9 28 (tie) 29.5 51 (tie) 51.5 90 16 Emory 24 24 39 (tie) 43 33 (tie) 35 102 17 Ithaca 29 29 54 (tie) 50.5 41 (tie) 45.5 125 17 Trinity (Texas) 6 6 39 (tie) 43 73 (tie) 76 125 19 Middlebury 1 1 60 (tie) 62.5 73 (tie) 76 139.5   USTFCCCA http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1174-wartburg-women-claim-inaugural-deb-vercauteren-program-of-year-award Wed, 27 May 2009 17:16:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1170-dii-outdoor-championship-review Lincoln’s women’s team barely captured the National team title over host school, Angelo State, with a score of 85 to 82.  UC San Diego was third with a score of 56. St. Augustine’s men took the title with 94 points. Abilene Christian was second with 86 points and Adams State was third with 75. The first day saw a new DII record in the 100 meters in the prelims, during which St. Augustine’s Barbara Pierre ran a time of 11.18.  Queens' Tanya Zeferjahn claimed her first National title winning the 10,000 in a time of 35:38.46. She was followed by Kimi Shank from Missouri Southern (35:42.93) and Adams State's Heather Wood was third (35:55.62). In the men's 10,000, Daniel Kirwa from Harding claimed the National title in a time of 29:46.84. Adams State's Brian Medigovich was second (29:49.31) and Abilene Christian's Amos Sang third (29:54.20). Minnesota-Mankato’s Kaitlin Rains finished her college career with a record smashing performance in the pole vault with a vault of 13'7, a height that broke the meet record of 13’1.75 by California State-Stanislaus' Chaunte Mitchell in 2005. The third day brought showers that delayed the field events by three hours.  Even with the cool rain, the men's discus was a heated competition, which came down to the final throw.  Aleksas Abromavicius of Grand Valley State took the lead with a throw of 178'10", only to be answered by a winning throw of 182'11" by Abilene Christian's Nick Jones.   Abromavicius ultimately placed second, followed by Central Missouri's Drew Frizzell (168'), who  was Thursday’s hammer Champion. The meet records were almost broken by both men and women in the 4x100 meters. In the women’s race, Lincoln's 4x100 team of Nandelle Cameron, Samoy Hackett, Sudian Davis and Janika Martell ran a  44:32, just 15 hundredths of second shy of the meet record. Similarly, Lincoln’s men’s team of Kawayne Fisher, Gavin Terrelong, Dwain Bryden and Kimour Bruce won the crown with a time of 39.29, just nine hundredths shy of the meet record. Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler won the 1500m in a time of 4:26.75 over Wisconsin Parkside’s Jessica Monsoon (4:27.38). In the men’s race, Queen’s Michael Crouch (3:49.83) upset Adam’s State’s Aaron Braun (3:49.93). The women’s 100 meter sprint that included three tremendous talents. (e.g. tremendous talents)?]  ended with Lincoln’s Samoy Hackett (11.18) winning over St. Augustine’s Barbara Pierre(11.22) and Lincoln’s Janika Martell (11.36).   In the men's 100, Lincoln's Kawayne Fisher won the title in a time of 10.15. Northwest Nazarene's Ashley Puga picked up the National title in a time of 2:07.24 followed by Liz Palkie of Minnesota-Duluth in a time of 2:08.02. Metro State's Antony Luna claimed his second 800 meter in a time of 1:49.26. Andrew Graham of Adams State was second in a time of 1:49.76 and Chico’s Michael Wickman was third in 1:49.82. Shippensburg’s freshman, Neely Spence won the 5k in a time of 16:35.36. Vivien Wadeck of California State-Los Angeles was second at 16:49.51 and Adams State's Lavenna Mullenback third at 16:52.62. In the men’s 5k, it was Harding’s Daniel Kirwa who came away with the win in a time of 14:17.45. Western State's Tyler Pennel was second in a time of 14:20.99 and Brian Medigovich of Adams State third at 14:22.43. The race for both team titles came down to the 4x400. In the women’s race, Lincoln finished ahead of Angelo State by less than 2 seconds for the 4x400 meter win and the team title. In the men’s team title race, Abilene Christian and St. Augustine’s men’s team were tied with 84 points. Lincoln’s 4x400 won the event while Abilene Christian finished ten seconds back in 7th place. It has been an exciting year in DII running. I will be back next fall with all the cross country news. Cara Hawkins http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1170-dii-outdoor-championship-review Tue, 26 May 2009 01:03:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1169-tfs-founder-adam-jacobs-dies-unexpectedly By David Monti(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reservedAdam Jacobs, the founder and editor of TheFinalSprint.com and an enthusiastic supporter of American distance running, died unexpectedly last night.  He was 24 and lived in Jersey City, N.J.The death was confirmed by his mother, Jodi Jacobs, who called the Race Results Weekly office this morning to report her son's death.Jacobs founded TheFinalSprint.com while a first year law student to provide both coverage of elite distance running and to build ties in the running community for athletes of all abilities.  A natural salesman, Jacobs quickly found sponsors for the site and built up the site's editorial content with a special focus on podcasts and elite athlete blogs.  Sara Hall, Ryan Hall, Nick Symmonds, and Jon Rankin were amongst the athletes who blogged on TheFinalSprint.com.Like other information websites, TheFinalSprint.com was hit by the recent downturn in advertising and sponsorship revenue, especially from the auto industry.  Over the last several months the site had fewer updates than normal.A funeral service for Adam will be held tomorrow in Manalapan, N.J., at the Bloomfield-Cooper Jewis Chapel, 44 Wilson Avenue; 732-446-4242.  The service will begin at 2:00 p.m., but mourners are encouraged to come at 1:00 p.m. to gather in advance.Condolences and remembrances can be sent to Jodi L. Jacobs, 22 Longbow Drive, Englishtown, NJ 07726.  Mrs. Jacobs encouraged mourners to make a donation in Adam's name to their favorite running organization.ENDSSponsored by RUNNER'S WORLD  /  BURNS COMPUTER SERVICES  /  SALMINI FILMS David Monti http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1169-tfs-founder-adam-jacobs-dies-unexpectedly Sat, 23 May 2009 15:16:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1168-passing-of-adam-jacobs I woke up to some very sad news this morning in my inbox. Adam Jacobs of TheFinalSprint.com passed away at the young age of 24. David Monti of Race Results Weekly let the community know of the news. Here is his story from David Monti.   By David Monti(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reservedAdam Jacobs, the founder and editor of TheFinalSprint.com and an enthusiastic supporter of American distance running, died unexpectedly last night.  He was 24 and lived in Jersey City, N.J.The death was confirmed by his mother, Jodi Jacobs, who called the Race Results Weekly office this morning to report her son's death.Jacobs founded TheFinalSprint.com while a first year law student to provide both coverage of elite distance running and to build ties in the running community for athletes of all abilities.  A natural salesman, Jacobs quickly found sponsors for the site and built up the site's editorial content with a special focus on podcasts and elite athlete blogs.  Sara Hall, Ryan Hall, Nick Symmonds, and Jon Rankin were amongst the athletes who blogged on TheFinalSprint.com.Like other information websites, TheFinalSprint.com was hit by the recent downturn in advertising and sponsorship revenue, especially from the auto industry.  Over the last several months the site had fewer updates than normal.A funeral service for Adam will be held tomorrow in Manalapan, N.J., at the Bloomfield-Cooper Jewis Chapel, 44 Wilson Avenue; 732-446-4242.  The service will begin at 2:00 p.m., but mourners are encouraged to come at 1:00 p.m. to gather in advance.Condolences and remembrances can be sent to Jodi L. Jacobs, 22 Longbow Drive, Englishtown, NJ 07726.  Mrs. Jacobs encouraged mourners to make a donation in Adam's name to their favorite running organization.ENDSSponsored by RUNNER'S WORLD  /  BURNS COMPUTER SERVICES  /  SALMINI FILMS         OUr deepest condolences to Adam's friends and famliy.     Mark Mark From Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1168-passing-of-adam-jacobs Sat, 23 May 2009 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1167-black-press-5000   (c) Christopher Kelsall - Copyright - 2009 The first Black Press 5000 (5 kilometre) race took place at the Jack Wallace Memorial Track (Oak Bay Track - Victoria, BC) May 15, under sunny skies and mild temperatures. The main event featured one of Canada’s top runners, Victoria's Ryan McKenzie who runs for Pacific Athletics. Ryan owns an impressive 5000m personal best time of 13:35. He won the Black Press 5000 in 14:02. Second place went to Scott Simpson. Both Scott and Ryan are preparing for the Canadian National 10,000m championships, which happen in Toronto, Ont., June 25 to 28 --- an event in the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Canadian Olympic team triathlete Kyle Jones placed 3rd with an impressive personal best by 7 seconds, finishing in 14:37.3. “Ryan (McKenzie) ran the second half of the race eight seconds quicker than the first half, which is a sign that he is probably even fitter than the result indicates,” says Bob Reid who was helping British Columbia Athletics officials with the race. The evening was marketed as a two race event, an All Comers and Elite men’s race, but 19-time Canadian champion Lucy Smith registered, hoping to break the Canadian masters (40+) record, which would require her to run a 16:40 and compete in a women’s only race. An elite women’s race was added at the last minute, which included Vancouver Island master athlete Nancy Baxendale, top-level Canadian triathlete Lisa Mensink (who happens to be coached by Lucy Smith – both are Lifesport athletes) and the opera performing diva, varsity running (Univeristy of Victoria Vikes) and top-level master’s runner Marilyn Arsenault. Lucy started off conservatively and built her lead in the middle stages of the race, while Marilyn started off a little quick for her own liking, backed off after the first lap, then made a strong push in the latter portion of the race closing in on Smith, finishing in second ahead of Mensink. “I think on another night I could have done it (masters record), but I am happy with my race,” said Smith after finishing in 16:57. The gun sounded at 7 p.m. to start off the first of three 5,000 meter races. The 7 p.m. race was open to the public and a fundraising event for the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay. The open race came down to an exciting sprint finish between master Darren Skuja from the Comox Valley and Mark Ritchie the former taking the race. The excitement continued as Rui Batista battled Pierre Ballester over the final straightaway to virtually tie, all finishing within 30 seconds of each other. The evening also featured, Vancouver Island soccer phenoms, sisters Sophie and 12 year old Chloe Hegland who owns two Guinness Book of World records for juggling a soccer ball with the most touches in 30 seconds and 60 seconds. Chloe juggled 339 times in 60 seconds in front of Guinness officials to enter their storied pages. Also in the main event were Canadian Forces 5 mile champion Walter Cantwell and Irish Olympian Paul O’Callaghan, who possesses a 13:29 personal best. Several other strong runners from Greater Victoria including middle distance runner Trevor O’Brien, who is best known for pacing Nanaimo’s Steve Osaduik through the first 20 miles (32kms) of the 2006 Royal Victoria Marathon where Osaduik broke the 30 year old event record in 2:16:47. The event was supported by the Sticky Wicket, Island Runner, Activa Sports Therapy and Prairie Inn Harriers. 5,000 Metres - High Performance Women Pos. Name Club Age Time Halfway Split 1 Lucy Smith Lifesport/PIH 42 16:57.2 2 Marilyn Arsenault UVic/IRR 41 17:29.8 3 Lisa Mensink Lifesport 32 17:54.8 4 Nancy Baxendale Prairie Inn Harriers 47 18:28.3 5 Chloe Hegland Peninsula Track 12 19:37.5 5,000 Metres - High Performance Men 1 Ryan McKenzie Pacific Athletics 30 14:02.8 7:10.2 2 Scott Simpson Prairie Inn Harriers 29 14:21.7 3 Kyle Jones Prairie Inn Harriers 24 14:37.3 4 Trevor O’Brien Pacific Athletics 30 15:22.8 5 Ian Hallam Prairie Inn Harriers 37 15:48.8 6 Paul O’Callaghan Prairie Inn Harriers 44 16:16.4 7 Walter Cantwell Prairie Inn Harriers 41 16:39.6 8 Simon Dejongh Pacific Athletics 30 16:52.9 9 Gord Christie Prairie Inn Harriers 47 16:58.0 10 Mike Lord Prairie Inn Harriers 37 17:27.7 5,000 Metres - All-Comers Women 1 Sophie Hegland Peninsula Track 14 25:29.1 12:33.3 2 Christine Thate Prairie Inn Harriers 50 30:13.6 5,000 Metres - All-Comers Men 1 Darren Skuja Comox Valley RR 47 17:58.2 8:59.7 2 Mark Ritchie Prairie Inn Harriers 41 18:04.8 3 Pierre Ballester Island Road Racers 45 18:41.9 4 Rui Batista Prairie Inn Harriers 48 18:41.9 5 Edward Hill Unattached 37 21:09.9    Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1167-black-press-5000 Sat, 23 May 2009 13:31:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1164-desean-turner-kwik-e Indiana Hoosier sophomore De'Sean Turner recently took second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Big Ten Championships, crossing the line in 8 minutes, 56.77 seconds. Heading towards regionals Turner's big goal is to qualify for the NCAA Championships and break 8:45. Is this season playing out the way you want it to play out? There are a couple of other events that I wish I had run better in. Not that I didn't have the opportunity, I just would have wanted to have prepared better. The steeple is one that's been working out pretty well for me. The Big Ten meet went pretty well as far as that's concerned. I had a couple of other races that were around similar times as the steeple at Big Tens, but were a couple of seconds slower. One was when it was 80 degrees outside and the other was 45 degrees and rainy. I think I could run a better time, but it was just depended on what race I was in and who else was in the race, the conditions and everything else. The race went out a little bit slower than I expected. Towards the end it picked up and it felt like a harder race than the other two because of the other people that were in it. As far as the season...everything is going pretty well right now. But you haven't seen anything close to optimum conditions yet for a steeple? Not necessarily. Coach Helmer told us that we're not going to go out West two or three times and try to run fast. He more worked on what we're doing on our own. I feel like a lot of the fast steeple times were run out west and I'm not too concerned with it...when people are running like 8:43 at the Stanford meet. I just know when the big race comes...I'll be able to put something big out there. What are your goals for regionals? To get to nationals. That's my main goal. If the race doesn't go well as far as time, that's not a big deal. If it does, then I'll try to go under 8:45 and make it to USAs. Anything under 8:50, I'd probably be pretty happy with. The team result at Big Ten's wasn't exactly what you were looking for, what do you think about the way your team performed there? Obviously we weren't too happy about that. We lost a few sprinters to injury. We had a false start. There were some points we could have had in sprints. Our All-American pole vaulter is redshirting and there were just a lot of places where we could have scored more points but didn't. We did have a lot of people redshirt that could have scored. We know that it's there. Some things just didn't click and I know we're better than that. I see it every day in practice. Not just the distance team, I see if from everybody. Are you a steepler from now on? I won't be a steepler, I'll be a guy that can steeple. That's how Coach Helmer and I like to put it. There are some guys on our team that we like to call “1,500 guys” and they can run a 5K. And there are 5K guys that can run down and run a 15. You don't want to categorize one person into one event. During indoors, I ran the provisional in the 800, then I ran a 5K at Big Tens. So, I have pretty decent range. The steeple is something that I've been focused on pretty well. No need to limit yourself. No, not at all. I have goals from everything from the 800 to the 5K. What about higher than that? Can you compete in the 10? I was a pretty good distance guy in high school. I've done my training and prepared for distance races and all that, so I think that I can. There are guys on our team that are more “10K guys”. So, I don't know if I'd really ever get a legitimate shot at the 10K. I would love to do it, but there are other guys where that's more their thing. How was the transition from high school to college for you? Yeah. It's worked out. The work load is more than I'm used to obviously. I wasn't a really high-mileage runner in high school and I think that was a good thing. Some guys don't like recruiting high-mileage guys because they aren't sure how much better they'll get. I still think I have a lot of room to improve. I love my mileage a lot. I had a lot of success in high school and I'm still trying to figure some things out. The transition hasn't been easy, but I've learned a lot. You said that you're tinkering with things, but where's your comfort zone with mileage and training right now? I love doing repeats on the track. I've done lots of repeats which has helped me work out a lot this year. 200s and 400s have been my forte' since high school. I was always to handle those pretty well and put a big one out there...maybe to simulate the end of the race. Mileage wise, the highest I ever got in high school was running 67 one week. Here, I was over 80 for a few months. That's where I am right now. The 80-85 range. That's where I expect to be pretty much through the summer, maybe until the beginning of cross next year. I'm not really sure yet. Does any one workout stand out to you as the hardest you've ever done? Well, we adopted a workout from Michigan that I think Webb used to do. I'm not exactly sure of what it consisted of, but it was probably the hardest workout I've ever done. I think it was a 3K on the road, you come back and run a mile, then a 3K on the road, then you come back and run a 12, then maybe another 3K and an eight. I'm not exactly sure, but it was pretty rough. When you get free time, how do you spend it? Lately I've been playing a lot of video games. I play a lot of sports games. A lot of the guys I live with play a lot of Halo, but I'm not too good at that, so I don't partake in that. They play a little bit too much. I like the sports games. We have a lot of bonfires and stuff like that too. You're originally from Indianapolis, where basketball is a huge deal. Can you give me an NBA Finals prediction? I'd love to see Kobe versus Lebron like everyone else. The Cavs are good, but I think the Magic could sneak in there and I also think the Nuggets could sneak in there. I'm not really sure, but I'd like to see Kobe versus Lebron and if that happens, I'd like to see Lebron get his first championship. Everyone thinks Kobe is so much better because he has three rings. I'd like to see Lebron get his first one. If you could have on meal prepared by anyone, what would you have and who would make it? I'd probably have my mom's beef and noodles. It's not like a four-course meal or anything like that. She cooks up a big thing of beef and mixes it with noodles and it's really good. She makes me some whenever I come home. It's a big deal. It's my favorite meal. I'd probably have that. Can you give me a crazy running-related story? There's this one guy on our team. I'll leave him unknown—to save his face—but he likes to disrobe, I guess for the fun of it. One time we were running on our cross course and it's open to the public and there's usually people running on it. He was doing it he saw some people on the course and he was just...completely naked. He just waved at them and that was pretty hilarious.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1164-desean-turner-kwik-e Fri, 22 May 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1162-golden-girls-eagles-win-2nd-straight-colorado-4a-title      This past weekend, the Thompson Valley High School girls repeated its Colorado 4A team State Title.  Coach Matt Norton had predicted his team to be in the 80-90 point range, and virtual meets had predicted the Eagles to score in the upper 90s; however, these golden girls lived up to the hype they had created all season and surpassed everyone’s expectations, scoring 101 points and furthermore winning by over 30.      On Thursday morning, Thompson Valley began its dominance in the meet’s “race to watch” – the 4x800m relay.  Not only did the Eagles beat 2nd place Alamosa by 30 seconds and capture the new All-Colorado State Record, but the quartet of Laura Tremblay, Liz Tremblay, Brooke Regan, and Karina Ernst now sit with the new US #1 time (9:00.07) for the 2009 outdoor season.      After accomplishing this one goal that had been lingering since the St. Vrain Invitational on April 24th, the Eagle girls have now focused their attention to breaking 9:00 at this year’s Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) meet in mid-June and hope to win a national championship.      Coach Norton had commented to me that the Eagles scored the majority of their points from the relay events.  “Ever since I’ve been here, the relays have been an important part of what we do because the kids realize that collectively, they can be a lot stronger than what they do individually.”  Certainly, the Eagles were anchored at the State Championship by their relay performances.  “That was really how we started generating momentum for our program,” Coach Norton said.  “The girls love running those relays because they get tied into the emotion of running for your teammates.  That always draws out their best.”  Thompson Valley earned 10 points from the 4x200m relay (1:43.79) and managed to distance the entire field even farther in the 4x400m relay, winning in a season-best 3:50.74 by 6 seconds.  Also, the Thompson Valley’s 4x100m relay (which set a school record) took 2nd place (49.18) and the 800 Sprint Medley relay (SMR) took 3rd (1:49.86).  The Eagles will be sending three more squads – the 4x400m, 4x200m, and SMR – to Nike Outdoor Nationals in an attempt for even more All-American honors.      But the Eagles had two more busy days ahead of them for individuals too.  Thanks to the CHSAA’s newly formatted 3-day schedule from May 14th to May 16th, Thompson Valley was able to put girls in three or four events to maximize its point scoring.  The Tremblay sisters especially each had monster meets, greatly contributing to the many relay teams and winning individual titles of their own.      Laura picked up a US top-20 time with her new 1600m PR of 4:54.59 – a new 4A Meet Record.  “Laura’s performance in the 1600 was awesome,” Coach Norton said.  “Using the altitude adjustment that the NCAA takes into consideration, Laura’s time would be equivalent to a 4:48 mile.  That would make her one of the top milers in the country.”  Laura will be entered in the mile at NON, hoping to place highly against this year’s studded field, which includes: Amanda Winslow (4:44.97), Chelsey Sveinsson (4:45.19), and Jordan Hasay (4:47.05).  Also, Laura took 2nd in the 800m with yet another PR 2:13.66.      But possibly more rewarding, in Coach Norton’s opinion, was Liz’s 400m Individual State Championship.  “Liz has been that hammer for us in all the relays.  It was great to see her get her first individual title as well,” Coach Norton said.  Liz was crowned State Champion in the 400m with a new PR and State leading time of 55.19 and placed 5th in the 200m (25.13).  “People like Liz are so committed to the program.  They are always willing to sacrifice some of their own glory to help the team out,” Coach Norton said.  “It’s a great thing for her to get that one moment where the spotlight is solely on her.”      In addition, after splitting 2:17 in Thompson Valley’s winning 4x800m relay, Karina Ernst had plenty of momentum for a stellar State meet.  Coach Norton claimed that “she took her experience in the 4x8 and applied her experience to her open events too.”  The freshman phenom scored in both the 1600m and 800m, placing 5th and 6th respectively.  “She is tremendously talented,” Coach Norton said.  “This spring, especially, she has done a great job of getting in the mix with our senior girls and not being afraid of going with them.”  Her new PRs in the 1600m (5:11.04) and 800m (2:18.26) distances earned her the top performance by a freshman in both of those events.      Other individual point contributors were: Brooke Regan (400m, 800m), Katie Lindenmuth (Long Jump), and Sarah Van Horn (pole vault).  The Eagles flew to a back-to-back 4A team title with a full team effort and never looked back after leading from the very beginning.  The Eagles’ culmination to the regular season could not have ended any better, in Coach Norton’s opinion.  “Most of these girls came in during my first year as head coach.  It’s very rewarding to see them all succeed as seniors.” Jordan Schilit http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1162-golden-girls-eagles-win-2nd-straight-colorado-4a-title Tue, 19 May 2009 13:34:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1159-dii-outdoor-national-preview-2009 The finale of the 2009 DII outdoor season will take place this weekend, May 21-23, at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.  This is the fifth time that Angelo State has hosted the Outdoor Championships, which will be attended by over 600 athletes plus fans, coaches, and the media.  I will highlight a few of the most highly competitive events.  Let me know what your predictions are and fill in the events (e.g. field events) that I have missed.  Please remember to be respectful towards the athletes since they have worked hard to get to Nationals. Men’s 200 meters- Last year’s outdoor champion, St. Augustine senior Dennis Boone, is back, but he is coming in with the slowest seed time (21.28). His teammate, Josh Scott, who beat him by .01 seconds for the indoor title is also in the race.  Scott holds the second fastest seed time of 20.55 and has a very good chance of upsetting Boone.  J.C. Smith’s Leford Green has the fastest seed time of 20.41. However, both he and Scott are doubling in the 400 meters, which could add some fatigue to their legs and hinder their chances for the title. Women’s 100 meters- This year’s 60 meter indoor champion and last year’s 100 meter outdoor champion, St. Augustine’s junior Barbara Pierre, is back and holds the third fastest seed time of 11.47. The duo of Lincoln runners, freshman Samoy Hackett (11.38) and senior Janika Martell (11.44), have the fastest two seed times entering into the race. All three are also running the 200 meters. Men’s 1500 meters- The current indoor mile champion and last year’s 1500 meter champion, Adams State’s Aaron Braun is coming into this race as the favorite with a time of 3:39.45. Braun will also be running the 5k. His teammates, Ryan McNiff (3:42.57) and Andrew Graham (3:45.72) are not far behind. Chico State’s Michael Wickman will be doubling along with the 800 meter and has the seed time of 3:44.45. Queen’s Michael Crouch has the fifth fastest seed time of 3:46.59. This appears to be a tight race and might come down to who has the best kick and whose legs are the least fatigued. Women’s 5k-With Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler focusing on the 1500 meters, the stage is set for a new 5k champion. Millersville’s Priscilla Jennings has the fastest seed time of 16:29.09 but Adams State’s Lavenna Mullenbach is a close second with a 16:30.57. Shippensburg’s freshman phenom, Neely Spence, is entered with the third fastest seed time of 16:38.81. Seeds times, however, are not reliable for predicting the race since Mullenbach is doubling in the 10k.  Other notable runners in the race include Abilene Christian’s Winrose Karunde, Edinboro’s Rachael Lanzel, and Adams State’s Heather Wood. Cara Hawkins http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1159-dii-outdoor-national-preview-2009 Tue, 19 May 2009 03:30:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1161-match-ups-of-olympic-medalists-and-world-champions-at-2009-reebok-grand-prix   MARQUEE MATCH-UPS OF WORLD CHAMPIONS AND OLYMPIC MEDALISTS IN PLACE FOR 2009 REEBOK GRAND PRIX   NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 18) – Marquee match-ups for the women’s and men’s 5,000 meter, women’s 100 meter, women’s 400 meter, women’s 200 meter and men’s 110 meter hurdles for the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix announced today by organizers of the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix.   The Reebok Grand Prix is the fourth stop of USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series and will be held at 3:00pm on May 30, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island.   Women’s 5,000 Meters Ethiopia’s double Olympic gold medalist at 5,000 and 10,000 meters and nine-time world champion Tirunesh Dibaba will make her 2009 debut in the women’s 5,000 meter. Dibaba, who has set three world records in her young but wildly successful career, will be challenged by, among others, Kim Smith from New Zealand.  Smith was a four-time NCAA Champion at Providence and is the New Zealand national record holder at 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Also added to the field is Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia, the 2003 World Cross Country Champion and 10,000 meter silver medalist at the 2003 World Championships; and Genzebe Dibaba, Tirunesh’s younger sister. The younger Dibaba won the 2009 World Junior Cross Country Championships and just two weeks ago won her first Ethiopian national title at 5,000 meters.   Women’s 100 Meters The women’s 100 meter dash features a world-class field including defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica and American Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams. Campbell-Brown and Williams have gone head-to-head multiple times in recent years and have a history of performing well in major competitions. The two-time Olympic gold medalist at 200 meters, Campbell-Brown defeated Williams in a photo finish at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka in the 100 meter. Two years earlier, at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Williams won the gold at 100 meters with Campbell-Brown finishing a close second. The results of the Women’s 100 meter at this year’s Reebok Grand Prix could serve as a preview for the results of the 2009 World Championships set for Berlin later this summer.   Men’s 5,000 Meters The superb field for the men’s 5,000 meter event is headlined by defending 1,500 meter and 5,000 meter World Champion Bernard Lagat of the United States. Reigning world cross country champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia, 2008 Olympic 5,000 meter bronze medal-winner Edwin Soi of Kenya and 2008 Olympic 10,000 meter bronze medalist Micah Kogo, also of Kenya, will take on Lagat in a race that will threaten to break the 13 minute barrier for the first time ever on U.S. soil. In 1996, Bob Kennedy was the first American athlete to run inside 13 minutes for 5,000 meters, and his American Record still stands at 12:58.21.   Women’s 400 Meters America’s best will face Jamaica’s best in the women’s 400 meters. The American duo of Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards will take on Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams. Felix, America’s reigning World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist at 200 meters, ran the world-leading time  at 400 meters several weeks ago in Doha.  Sanya Richards has been dominant at this distance with the fastest time in the world in three of the last four years.  Shericka Williams won the silver medal at 400 meters at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing just ahead of Richards.  Novlene Williams-Mills is a two-time Olympic 4x400 meter bronze medalist and was the 2007 World Championships 400 meter bronze medalist. Williams-Mills has the second fastest 400 meter time of 2009, right behind Felix.    Women’s 200 Meter One of Jamaica’s sprint divas from the 2008 Olympics, Shelly-Ann Fraser, will take center stage in the women’s 200 meters.  Fraser won gold at 100 meters at the 2008 Olympics with a personal best time of 10.78 seconds.  Among her challengers will be up and coming Americans Shalonda Solomon and Bianca Knight.  Solomon set an indoor American record at 300 meters in February and Knight won the NCAA Indoor Championships at 200 meters in 2008.     Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles Two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell, Jamaican Olympic finalist Maurice Wignall and 2005 World Championships gold medalist Ladji Doucouré of France will square off against 2008 Olympic silver medalist David Payne in the men’s 110 meter hurdles. Doucouré, who finished fourth behind Payne in Beijing, won the gold medal at the European Indoor Championships in the 60 meter hurdles last March. Trammell, the 2007 World Championships silver medalist, is coming off an indoor season that saw him run the fourth fastest time in history over the 60 meter hurdles. Wignall, the Jamaican record holder at 110 meter hurdles, is the reigning Commonwealth Champion in the high hurdles.   Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the Reebok Grand Prix is in its fifth year and is the fourth stop on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series.   It features Olympic stars, top high school athletes and a Fastest Kid in New York competition for 7- and 8-year-olds.  Events include men’s and women’s sprints, hurdles, middle-distance races, the pole vault and invitational high school races. Increased and upgraded backstretch seating at track level is being added to accommodate the growing demand and interest from fans in the New York area. Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC or on-line at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com. Additional updates, photos and information can be found by visiting the Reebok Grand Prix pages on Facebook and Twitter.   Icahn Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility on Randall's Island featuring a 400-meter Mondo track and covered seating for spectators, is the premier outdoor track-and-field venue in New York City. It was built by the Randall's Island Sports Foundation (RISF) in partnership with New York City Department of Parks. The facility is programmed, operated and maintained by RISF.   ----------------- Flotrack will be on hand doing interviews and recaps at 2009 Reebok Grand Prix Meet and all video will be posted here on the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix Coverage Page Mark From Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1161-match-ups-of-olympic-medalists-and-world-champions-at-2009-reebok-grand-prix Sun, 17 May 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1157-mens-marathon-team-announced-for-2009-world-championships 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 the Berlin team based on their respective first and second place finishes at the USA Marathon Championships in Minneapolis last October.   The men's team will compete in Berlin on Saturday, August 22   For more information on the IAAF World Championships, visit www.usatf.org.    About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org   USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1157-mens-marathon-team-announced-for-2009-world-championships Fri, 15 May 2009 11:15:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1149-mary-saxer-kwik-e Notre Dame senior Mary Saxer has a long history of success in the pole vault. The Lancaster, N.Y., native has trained with American Record holder Jenn Stuczynski and was the first high schooler ever over the 14-foot barrier. Saxer recently broke the Big East record and has the fifth-best vault in the country. Let's see how she does with her run at an NCAA individual title. What are your goals for this outdoor season?This outdoor season is well underway and my first goal was to vault over 14 feet again, which I did about a month ago. I vaulted 4.30 meters which is like 14’1. I, of course, wanted to win the Big East Championship again and break my own meet record, which I did last weekend. My next goal is to make it to NCAA nationals & place well…ideally to win it. I am qualified for U.S. Nationals which I plan on competing in and hopefully having a good day there and placing. After you graduate, what degree will you have what's next for you?I am a business major, so I will have a business degree in marketing. I have a job setup for after graduation in Chicago, however, vaulting is going very well so I need to finish out the season with that and go from there. If you could pick a non-athletic profession to do the rest of your life, what would it be?I would love to be a professional buyer for a big designer.How high can you go?I think I can go 15 feet with the right adjustments and poles.Buffalo, N.Y. has another pretty well known female pole vaulter (Jenn Stuczynski). What has been your relationship with her and have you got to learn anything from her?My senior year in high school was when Jenn really began vaulting. We had the same coach, Rick Suhr, so we were around each other a lot when training. Since graduation her career has really taken off and I have been busy away at school at Notre Dame so we have not had much contact, however, she is doing great and is an inspiration. She’s only been vaulting about 4 ½ years and has had so much success. I am so happy for her and it is cool to think that we trained together for a while and her hometown is close to mine.For people that don't understand the seriousness of how good a genuine Buffalo chicken wing can be, can you try to describe this situation to them?Well, I am in love with buffalo wings and especially Buffalo sauce. People think, “what’s the big deal?” But I can’t even describe it. It’s heaven in your mouth. You can’t say you’ve had good chicken wings until you’ve been to Buffalo and had wings from the Anchor Bar or Duffs! How did you get into pole vaulting in the first place?Well, in high school I was a sprinter and long jumper with long jump being my better event. I went to a long jump camp at Rick Suhr’s house with an assistant of Rick’s named Adam. They both saw me and talked and Rick basically put a pole in my hand and made me try the event. From the first day I think they saw a potential in me and so it took off from there. I began driving an hour three times each week to train. At first they said they could most likely help get me a scholarship to some colleges. Once my senior year hit, I broke the national record seven times, became the first high school girl to clear 14 feet and had my pick of which college to attend. It has opened so many doors for me and when I think about it, it has been an incredible ride that I never would have dreamed of. You burst onto the national pole vaulting scene in high school. Four years later, how did that change your development? For better or for worse?Well, I think there are several things to take into account. My rapid success in high school was amazing, however I don’t think I realized at the time all that I was really achieving. Now I look back and think “wow” but it all was happening so fast. My coach was a fantastic coach and he really knows the vault as good as anyone. And that was amazing for my development as a vaulter. The difficulty came with the change in coaching from high school to college. Any change in coaching is going to be an adjustment, and it sure was that for me. I have now adjusted and am doing well again, but my college career has been an adjustment as far as my vaulting goes. Being on the national scene at a young age in high school prepared me for the big-time meets in college. I had already competed against the nation’s best and former Olympians in high school, so adjusting to college meets was no big deal. My experience in high school gave me confidence and helped build my talent so that I could be successful on the college level and possibly thereafter. Favorite celebrities and why?Keith Urban is my favorite singer. He is a country singer from Australia and I just love his music. He puts on quite a concert too with his guitar solos and he seems to be passionate about what he does. I’ve seen him several times in concert and I feel that he makes each and every concert he puts on seem unique and special. Also, I am a Heidi Klum fan. She is beautiful and so poised and I think every girl looks up to her. If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone of your choice, what would you choose?My favorite meal is probably chicken cordon blue. I love chicken and cheese and this covers both areas!What does it feel like to break national and world records?It’s truly amazing when I sit back and think about the records I have broken. My pole vaulting career has been quite a ride, and there is still more to come!What is the craziest thing that's happened to you for being a pole vaulter? Knock on wood, I have never had a really crazy thing happen to me when pole vaulting. I think I have been fortunate. However, two years ago I was at a meet and my first two vaults of the competition I took of the ground, slipped off the pole and almost hit my head in the box. This happened twice in a row and it threw me for a loop and it was the first meet I had ever no-heighted in. That’s probably about my craziest vault story ...fortunately!   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1149-mary-saxer-kwik-e Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1153-redefining-the-pr-thompson-valley-highs-perfect-relay      Any girl’s track team in the country that has four girls under the 2:20 will try to put together a solid 4x800m relay team in the hope of winning a State Championship, or possibly a national championship.  Surely a team of this caliber has the potential of getting All-American status at a Nike Nationals meet, but the trick of this race is getting all four runners to run to their potential on the same day.      Ironically, the Thomson Valley High School track team does just the opposite – the girls run faster in relays then they do during their own individual races.  This season, the top-4 girls for the Eagles are as follows: Laura Tremblay (2:15.10), Liz Tremblay (2:18.32), Brooke Regan (2:19.38), and Karina Ernst (2:19.80).  Adding up their PRs, the relay time would total 9:12.60; however, the foursome’s 4x8 season-best is a US #3 9:04.94.      “They definitely get geared up for the relays,” Coach Matt Norton said. “When I got here six years ago, the relays really got the program this competitive edge.”  The importance of running for each other and for the team has translated from the Eagles’ success during the 2008 cross country season.  Thompson Valley placed 4th at the NXN Southwest Regional, carried by the 1st place finish of Senior Laura Tremblay.      Coach Matt Norton feels that over the past four years, the 4x8 relay squad has significantly grown because of the experience of national and regional-USA meets, and furthermore from the Senior leadership of the class of 2009.  “Those three seniors have been the cornerstones of our track and cross country programs.  They have carried the torch for us for awhile,” Norton said.  The three University of Colorado recruits, Laura and Liz Tremblay and Brooke Regan, will team up with freshman phenom Karina Ernst at 10:40am for the 4x800m Final at this year’s 4A State Championship.      But these girls have set higher standards as a team then just winning a 4x800m championship.  “Everyone on our 4x8 could get to sub-2:15 this season.  Liz and I could probably get to sub-2:10 as well,” Laura Tremblay said. “I believe that we have the potential to be somewhere in the 8:40s this year.”  The Eagles’ 9:04 season-best is certainly well on its way towards the All-Colorado record (9:01), and possibly the national high school record (8:43).      “I’m more excited for the relays.  I feel like I’m running for my team rather than for myself.  It’s much more motivating for me when it’s a team race,” Laura Tremblay explained.  The Eagles have found a sense of comfort in the relay events from years past, and has proven to be especially evident during the 2009 outdoor season.  These girls want to win titles for each other, rather than to simply win individual championships that cannot be celebrated with the team as a whole.  “There is some type of bond out there when you are running for three other girls” Brooke Regan said.  “There is a relay camaraderie that you can’t get from an open event.”      Although Thompson Valley is the clear favorite to win this year’s 4x8 title in 4A, it will still have to take down the 2008 winner – Alamosa High School.  The Eagles are ranked third in the USA as of mid-May, have a PR faster than all Colorado teams by 13 seconds, and have a PR faster than all Colorado 4A schools by 38 seconds.  Nonetheless, Coach Norton feels that Alamosa High School (ran 9:28.44 last season) could still make a scare because of Alamosa trying to hide the true strength of its relay squad throughout the season.  “They definitely have the potential to push.  I would be surprised if they don’t use their best girls, since this would be an event they need to score lots of points in.  Alamosa runs most of their meets at 7,500-8,000 feet too, so who knows how fast they could possibly go when they run at a lower altitude,” he said.  This year’s State Finals will be held at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, which peaks at about 5,400ft in elevation.      Certainly this event could be considered the “race to watch” on Thursday, since the Eagle girls will attempt to take-over as the new US #1 this season; however, they have a goal that transcends all relays and individual performances – repeating their 4A team State Championship.  Given that Thompson Valley lives up to its dominating performances throughout the season at the 2009 State Meet, the Eagles would have a very realistic shot at defending their 2008 crown.  “Winning another State Title is something all of us had in the back of our heads as we were training this season,” Brooke Regan said.  “Ultimately, it would be the culmination of all of our hard work in both the relays and individual events.  You need to run well in both to win a team State Title.”  This year, the Eagles have secured the #1 seed for all the relays, and have several scorers in sprinting, middle-distance, distance, and field events.  “We’re probably an 80-90 point team if all goes well for us,” Coach Norton said.  Thompson Valley will be running in its own league if it lives up all its hype, considering the next closest teams – Alamosa, Widefield, and Windsor – realistically have only 50 points each as their goals.      In addition, the CHSAA has changed the State Championship schedule from a 2-day format to a new 3-day schedule, starting on Thursday morning (May 14th) and ending on Saturday night (May 16th).  This will be an advantage to Thompson Valley High School’s chances of repeating this season, since many girls will be competing in multiple events.  Also, the new schedule now consists of all preliminary events being run on separate days than their finals.  The heat sheets and schedule of the 2009 4A State Championship can be found at http://chsaa.org/.      Thompson Valley will swarm the track this weekend with several individuals: Laura Tremblay, Liz Tremblay, Karina Ernst, Brooke Regan, Sarah Van Horn, Katie Lindenmuth, Shelby Soucek, Justine Boddy, Alicia Randall, and Jessica Cunningham.  Also, all of the Eagles’ relay quartets have the top seeds in their respective events: 4x100m (49.47), 4x200m (1:43.54), 4x400m (3:51.93), 4x800m (9:04.94), and the 800 SMR (1:47.47).  Clearly, soaring to new heights and breaking records along the way seems to be the Eagles’ plan for this weekend.  In Coach Norton’s words, “We’ve got more potential points out there than anybody else.” Jordan Schilit http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1153-redefining-the-pr-thompson-valley-highs-perfect-relay Wed, 13 May 2009 02:13:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1151-dii-interview-northwest-nazarenes-ashley-puga It has been a busy semester for Northwest Nazarene’s Ashley Puga; she won the DII Indoor title in the 800m, qualified for the DII Outdoor Championships, ran a 2:05.23 at the Mt. Sac Relays, which is the B standard for the USATF Outdoor Championships, and finished her senior project. “The senior project I was working on ended up taking over my life for the last three weeks until its completion this past Monday. The group I was a part of did quite well, so the hard work hopefully paid off,” she says. Puga is no stranger to hard work. Describing one of her hardest workouts, she explains, “I would have to say 800m repeats. They are uncomfortable because they are in between all out and a maintainable pace. It challenges me mentally because I have to stay engaged while hitting my times and also fight to stay on pace physically. Sometimes my coach will have one of the guys on the team run them with me. This helps me practice staying up with someone when I get tired and want to slow down in addition to maintaining the correct pace. It is also more fun getting to run with someone. If I have to run them alone, I learn to push myself and better understand my limits as a runner.” All this work has been worth it, “The highlight of my college career has been when dreams came true. At certain points in my college career, I set really high goals that had a high possibility of never materializing into a reality. For example, if someone ever told me I would make it to nationals in cross country, I probably would have laughed. My passion has always been track because of the head to head competition that occurs more frequently. I did not have near as much confidence in cross country either. During my junior year, the girls' cross country team grew really close through the goals we set up at the beginning of the season and the Bible study we held. Running was fun, and the team started improving a lot. I started to have confidence in myself with the help of my coaches and team. I went from placing in the 30th place or so at regionals to fourth. It was something I look back on and am very thankful. The same thing happened this year with indoor track. I had set winning a national championship as a goal before graduating. Having never accomplished that, at times it seemed impossible” she recounts. Puga continues to set high goals, as she explains, “I hope to continue to enjoy competing and work towards qualifying at a 4x400m team and hopefully get the chance to run a faster 800m to hit the A standard. I was looking forward to cheering on my teammates at the conference meet (The GNAC meet was canceled due to swine flu), but I'm still so proud to be on a team with quality people and athletes. Other than that, to continue to grow as a runner and person and help others on my team do the same. I have noticed that oftentimes, people don't realize the talent they have and how much of a difference a little encouragement can make. It is fun for me to see people believe in themselves.” Along with her encouraging others, she has received plenty of encouragement in return. “I have many close friends on the team that I will continue to stay in contact with after this year. There have been numerous people in the GNAC conference that I have enjoyed competing with but also been able to talk to outside of running. I have many memories of talking with fellow competitors after races at nationals, and we all ended up laughing and sharing stories from our lives. Last year, I had the privilege to meet some of the athletes from Div. II that went on to compete after college for the Olympic Trials. I have enjoyed the opportunity to build friendships and cheer on fellow athletes as they compete. Each of these people have helped change my life for the better; coaches, competitors, teammates, family, friends. The list goes on. I am deeply grateful for each of them because of the impact they have had on my life,” she says. One person that is on that list is her sister, who runs with her at Northwestern Nazarene. “Having Jaci on the team has been wonderful. This season, she has decided to redshirt due to some injuries, so it has been a hard adjustment not seeing her at practice each day. She is always smiling and outgoing. She is someone who knows me better than anyone else on the team, [who] lets me be who I am and interact with everyone, but is always there if I ever need her. I would describe it like having an anchor with me all the time. She doesn't hold me down rather she encourages me and stands by me when things in life get busy or difficult,” she explains. The busy semester is almost over for Puga. While she is still trying to figure out what her plans will be after graduation, but her future looks bright: “I hope to work in Idaho doing something in accounting and continue to pursue running. With regards to running, enjoying the journey and leaving the results in God's hands is my plan. I will also stay in touch with the friends I have made both on and off the track.” Cara Hawkins http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1151-dii-interview-northwest-nazarenes-ashley-puga Tue, 12 May 2009 00:25:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1152-from-sub-par-to-state-shocker-sickles-4x8-relay-blazes-to-best-in-florida      It was only the third week of racing for Florida outdoor track and field, but several runners from Tampa looked liked they were ready for the FHSAA Finals already.  The cool temperatures on that March 11th evening not only produced 7 runners eclipsing the 2-minute barrier for 800 meters, but also saw 3 school records go down and many PRs along the way.  Even though this was a small Tri-meet between Jesuit, Sickles, and Robinson, the 800m race was not tactical by any means; the lead runners all came into this race fresh and ready to run lifetime bests.      At the time, the crowd may have been shocked to see the winner of this photo-finish to be Sickles Senior Derek Wehunt.  The 1600m and 3200m phenom from seasons prior smothered his 800m PR by over 4 seconds to a 1:52.90 finish, which still ranks 11th in the USA as of early May.  The current school record holder was closely followed by his brother, Dan Wehunt, who also recorded a new PR – 1:53.80.  However, the next Gryphon finisher (Julian Gines) fell off the sub-2:00 crowd that night with his 2:04.80 effort.  Furthermore, Sickles lacked a fourth 800m runner in the fast heat that could contribute to a possible 4x800m team for the 2009 outdoor season.      A few days later, Sickles gave that relay a shot at the 8:00 barrier, but came up well short with an 8:16.73 performance.  So, Derek and Dan Wehunt decided to concentrate on their individual performance as the 4x8 relay opened up slots for some Sickles teammates: Tre Bradford, Jonathan Bermudez, Julian Gines, and Marc Dejute.  Unable to run solid times simultaneously, this group struggled in their two attempts as a team on March 17th and March 24th, running 8:27 and 8:35 respectively.      On March 31st, the art of the relay started clicking.  Sickles’ 4x8 race in March proved to be successful as the Gryphon’s new foursome recorded a new school record – 7:57.31.  From that point forward, it was clear that Derek Wehunt, Dan Wehunt, Julian Gines, and Marc Dejute would be the powerful quartet.  More impressive was that team this time was then ranked as #2 in Florida and the top time in 4A.      The foursome pushed its luck once again at the University of Florida relays, hoping to prove itself truly worthy among this star-studded field.  Despite a spill during Julian Gines’ 2nd lap, the Gryphons once again lowered their PR to 7:54.82, placing 3rd overall and trailing the new 4A leader (Flagler Palm Coast) by about 8 seconds.      Aside from Sickles’ obvious improvements as a whole in the 4x800m relay, Dejute and Gines started making some noise under the radar of there own, running 2:01 and 2:02 PRs going into the 4A District 5 Championship.  Thus, a new school record of 7:50.28 was set on April 30th at the 4A Region 2 Championship in front of a hometown crowd in Tampa.  Not only was Sickles zoning in only Flagler Palm Coast’s FL #1 PR, but the Gryphon squad ran the fastest relay time out of any 4A school in a Region Meet, securing the #1 seed going into the FHSAA State Finals.      On May 9th, despite scorching 95-degree weather in Winter Park, Florida, several 4x8 teams seemed to be in contention for 1st place.  Marc Dejute ran the opening leg for Sickles, holding on to 4th place with his PR 2:00 split.  Next up was Dan Wehunt, who brought his team into even closer contention for the relay title with his 1:55 split.  However, the difference maker for the Gryphons surely was Julian Gines.  The junior recorded a new PR clipping of 1:57, beating his open PR by 4 seconds; he managed to move his team into the lead after his excellent leg.  Then, Derek Wehunt received the baton with about a 1 second lead ahead of Flagler’s anchor – C.J. Lockhart.  Wehunt realized he had company shortly thereafter, so he decided to surge after finishing his first lap.  “I wanted to try and spread out the race at the 400m mark, but when I heard him coming during the last 200m I knew I would have to find another gear,” Derek Wehunt said.  By the 650m mark, Lockhart had erased Wehunt’s 20m lead and came down the straightaway dead even with the Sickles senior.  Derek Wehunt (1:54 split) found that next gear indeed, edging out the FPC brigade by less than half a second at the line.  Not even the “Cool Runnings” of Flagler’s Jamaican Bobsled uniforms could take the heat away from Sickles’ blistering 7:46.87 team record.      The trick to Sickles’ success on that brutally hot day was to keep their own cool and stay confident in the same plan that had brought them the most success during prior 4x800m races this season.  Once they eclipsed the 8:00 mark for the first time as a team, they stuck to that same order for the remainder of the season.  Furthermore, running with a more competitive field than most other 4x8 races and the atmosphere of a State Championship race had, in Sickles’ opinion, increased their chances of running to their full potential.  “We ran 7:50 at the Region meet by ourselves, so we knew if we had someone pushing us that we could go faster,” Dan Wehunt said.      But even with that excellent strategy, it still took something more to emerge victorious.“We truly were a team today,” Julian Gines said.  “We ran our best for each other, not for ourselves.”  For example, Derek Wehunt’s phenomenal finish down the homestretch was a completely selfless act.  “We knew Derek could do it.  He does it every race.  He always kicks it in as hard as he can as if it was his last race,” Senior Marc Dejute explained.  It was the only chance for the Sickles quartet to score gold and sure enough, they rose to the occasion.  “Everyone ran relay PRs today and for sure ran their hearts out.  I knew I had to win for them today, since I couldn’t let them down,” Derek Wehunt explained.       Exactly two months ago, Derek and Dan Wehunt stood tall with superb PRs and awaited their chance to team up with two other solid 800m runners in hope of winning their first State Championship.  It was sheer teamwork and determination to prove that yet another Hillsborough County relay squad could compete with any other team in the state.  And now there is no doubt – Sickles High School created the most impressive 4x800m squad at the FHSAA Finals, winning with Florida’s new #1 mark of the 2009 outdoor season.   Check out all the Flotrack coverage of the Florida High Championships this past weekend: 3A Coverage | 4A Coverage   Watch the Race from the Flotrack Coverage: Jordan Schilit http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1152-from-sub-par-to-state-shocker-sickles-4x8-relay-blazes-to-best-in-florida Mon, 11 May 2009 14:28:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1150-the-physical-ceiling-by-danny-mackey-ms The Physical Ceiling By Danny Mackey M.S.     May, finally.      Personally, I am jealous as well as excited.  Being injured entirely for 4 months killed any hopes of being personally involved with the fast track racing.  But, Portland is turning the corner weather wise and showing why it is the best place to live for a runner (one third of the year at least).  So, I am enjoying getting back to base training.  It was 65 degrees and sunny for my 12 mile run this morning in the huge temperate-rainforest-in-the-middle-of-the-city, known as Forest Park, and the flowers are still blooming.  Don’t hate.  I grew up in and trained in Illinois for 23 years, so I do not take this heaven for granted.    My plan here is to start a discussion amongst you all on a very interesting topic in my mind.  I was going to just write why I disagreed with this doctor and I might be wrong, which is totally fine.  But I would like others to interject opinions before I put mine.     So I will give you the brief summary of a presentation that sparked this idea.  Just last week my lab hosted a top physiology doctor.  One of his topics discussed the limitations of humans and the men’s world record in the marathon.  He stated Frank Shorter had a VO2 Max of about 69 ml/kg/min.  VO2 is measurement of a runner’s maximal ability to transport and utilize oxygen.  69 ml/kg/min is elite level but still slightly low considering how fast Shorter ran.  The amazing trait about Shorter was his lactate threshold was at about 85% of his VO2 max.  Lactate threshold (LT) is where we start to accumulate lactate acid in the blood stream (note: the word accumulate because at lower intensity we still produce lactate we just clear more efficiently).   So he could run at about 59 ml/kg/min for quite a long time.  That is impressive, and his outstanding running economy is one reason why he won a Gold Medal in the 1972 Munich Marathon, among other marathons, and ran so well on the track.      The doctor suggested that the physically we should be able to run a marathon in 1:45.  His rationale was an athlete with a  VO2 of 80 ml/kg/min (which is very common for these men) with a similar LT to Frank Shorter would be able to run at 68 ml/kg/min and click off 4:20 pace with relative ease.    1:45 is fast, really really fast.    Why is the world record only 2:03 then?  Why can we not even run a 5k at this pace?  What is limiting us? Danny Mackey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1150-the-physical-ceiling-by-danny-mackey-ms Mon, 11 May 2009 08:19:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1148-browne-meyerhoff-win-usa-25-km-championships 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 ran 1:27:28.  The overall titles were won by Kenya's Isaak Kimaiyo in 1:15:36 and Genoveva Kigen in 1:27:16.   Due to local flooding, race officials were forced to use an alternate course that had significantly more hills than the traditional course, which had most of the top athletes talking about a more conservative approach to the early miles. This combined with a steady rain at the start to lead to a relaxed opening mile of 5:03.    As a lead pack of nearly 20 men approached five miles, the pace dropped to 4:42, as Browne was tucked in a pack that included Kimaiyo, and his countrymen, Linus Maiyo and Emmanuel Korir along with U.S. several contenders including Ryan Sheehan (Rochester Hills, Mich.), Jason Hartmann (Boulder, Colo.), Fasil Bizuneh (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Josh Eberly (Gunnison, Colo.) and Antonio Vega (Saint Paul, Minn.).   Just after 11 miles, Kimaiyo along with Maiyo and Korir increased the tempo, running a 4:34 12th- mile to open a gap on the Browne and Sheehan.  By 13, he had a ten second lead over Maiyo and Korir as Browne had pulled away from Sheehan and was closing the gap on them.   As Kimaiyo steadily increased his lead, Browne caught Maiyo and Korir.  In the final 400 meters, Maiyo surged but Browne had one more gear as he kicked to the line to finish four seconds up.  In the final mile, Hartmann was able to overtake Korir for fourth overall and take second in the U.S. championships, running 1:16:14 to Korir's 1:16:16.  Bizuneh took the third U.S. spot, finishing sixth overall in 1:16:21.   The women's race saw Kigen jump to an early lead as Meyerhoff ran with 2008 U.S. Olympic marathoner and pre-race favorite Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.).   Just past 11 miles Meyerhoff made her move and pulled away from Boulet, who had been dealing with a side-stitch.  As Meyerhoff pressed the pace, she closed on Kigen slightly but was only able to close the gap to 12 seconds at the finish.  Boulet held on for third overall and second in the championships, running 1:28:14.  Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took fourth overall to round out the top-three U.S. finishers in 1:28:41.   Masters Championships   This year's event once again served as the USA Masters 25 km Championships with Paul Aufdemberge (Redford, Mich.) winning his second masters title of 2009 in 1:21:08. Susan Empey (Mercer Island, Wash.) won the women's title in 1:35:55.   The USA 25 km Championships featured more than $45,000 in prize money with the men's and women's champions earning $4,000 each, and the men's and women's masters champions earning $1,500 each.   About the USARC   The USA 25 km Championship was the fourth stop on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC).  The 2009 USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women.  Fasil Bizuneh leads the men's standings with 25 points while Magdalena Lewy Boulet leads the women with 27 points.   The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.   The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners.  Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.   For more information and video highlights from the 2009 USA 25 km Championships visit www.usatf.org.   About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1148-browne-meyerhoff-win-usa-25-km-championships Sat, 09 May 2009 14:20:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1147-alex-genest (C) Copyright - 2009 - Christoper Kelsall Alex Genest who happens to be the Canadian Junior record holder in the 3000 meter steeplechase will be moving to Guelph, Ontario this spring, to continue his studies in Human Nutrition at the University of Guelph for the 2009/2010 school year. Genest also the 2007 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Cross Country MVP, may suit up for the University of Guelph Gryphons in 2010 after sitting out a year due to transferring. Meanwhile Genest just may help the Speed River Track and Field Club’s steeplechase team, become the strongest steeplechase team in Canadian history. Alex will be training with Olympic trials steeplechase champion Rob Watson and CIS Cross Country Champion, Matt Brunsting. 2000 Metres Steeplechase 5:51.61   Sherbrooke 13/07/2003 3000 Metres Steeplechase 8:30.82   Århus 06/07/2006 From Head Coach, Dave Scott-Thomas “It should be pointed out that Coach, Joel Bourgeois is also a key piece of the mix. We’ve created a pretty strong pool of talent with our plans to get Canadian steeple-chase rolling.”  “When I visited the city last fall, I had a really good time. The places to run are awesome and the group of runners is amazing. The resources around the Speed River group are what I'm looking for to reach my goals,” commented Genest on his move from Sherbrooke, Quebec. The interview CK: Alex, congratulations on your decision to transfer to Guelph, you must be excited; is your excitement muted a little having to take a year off from Varsity? AG: When I took my decision to transfer to Guelph, I had in mind to become a better steeplechase runner. Varsity running was lots of fun, but since I was racing a lot indoor track, I couldn’t get as fast as I would like to go on the outdoor track. So the first goal by moving (to Guelph) was to get faster in the summer. I’ll miss CIS cross-country a lot, but I might come back next year. I will figure this out later on. CK: So are you looking at a summer of higher mileage and aerobic conditioning? AG: I’ve done a lot of mileage and aerobic trainings in the past few months and I will continue to train like this, but I’ll race quite a bit this summer. There will also be track trainings so I can try to improve my times on steeple and also in 1500m and 5km. Beginning a new type of trainings means adjustments and adaptation. This is why my first goal this year is to know what fits and what I might need to change soon. At this point, everything is going well. I feel good! More from Dave Scott-Thomas “He is serious and professional as an athlete, and ready to do the work it takes to be international class. We went out for coffee one day and ended up in a three hour talk about training with energy systems, meet schedules and work-out ideas were drawn all over the place. He has a wonderful curiosity to understand his training, which is really fun to see and motivating as a coach.” CK: Many Flotrack readers are indeed athletes however, not everyone has had the pleasure to race steeple. Can you take us through the process of placing the foot in the right position and getting over the steeple in good form? AG: This part is really technique –as you know for sure- and I’ve worked a lot on this part. The first thing you need to think is going forward and try to keep your gravity center low, because if you jump and move your gravity center high, you will move upward and this is not what you want! I think the best way to practice it is to sequence the movement. 1. Take a little run before the barrier and just put a step on it. Don’t jump!2. Get on the barrier. Place yourself low as you were in movement. Just push off with your feet and move forward. 3. Do not do this in the water pit first! Try it where it’s dry!!! There is no secret answer, just practicing and get the feeling of where your foot has to be when you jump! CK: You mentioned that in addition to working with Dave Scott-Thomas, you are working with Joel Bourgeois saying, “He has taught me a lot of how to get better”. Can you elaborate on specifically what you have worked on with Joel that has helped you? AG: First of all, Joel taught me the base of trainings; how to get stronger with trainings that are fun and not always rough. I used to get sick a lot and train really hard on the track 3 to 4 times-a-week. It worked for a bit and I did great things with that kind of trainings, but I had to change my approach if I want good results in the future. So this is where Joel helped me and I’m really happy with this right now. I feel in a better shape and I don’t feel like I’ve pushed out my body so bad. Awesome feelings! CK: Earlier in an email exchange you mentioned that you are into music, who is on your iPod right at this moment? AG: I’m listening to the new album of Pierre Lapointe- Sentiments Humains and also the new one of Mes Aïeux- La ligne Orange. There are always Bob Marley’s songs and some popular songs also. I like to listen to a wide range of music style! CK: Pierre Lapointe seems to write in irony and with plenty of wit and sarcasm as in, Au Bar Des Suicides. Did you listen much to his previous work on Mutantes? AG: Pierre Lapointe is known for his sarcasm and the songs are sometimes pretty dark. He owns his world and the musicality with the lyrics make such good songs. I didn’t listen a lot Mutantes, but I really enjoy “La Forêt des Mal-aimés”, which made me discover the “Pierre Lapointe Planet!” and I enjoy it because it was different then what I used to listen to. CK: You said you like an artist who creates good lyrics. Do you run to Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits? AG: I do listen to Leonard Cohen, but the thing is that my English is still not at a high level so sometimes it is tough for me to understand everything. I’ll get better and I will get more good English singer and lyric writers in my ipod! CK: You are you a hockey fan! Les Habitants (Montreal Canadiens) are out of the Stanley Cup play-offs, so who may you be cheering for at this point? (of course this is a big assumption that you cheer for Montreal). AG: Go Habs go! Like a lot of Canadians, I often watch hockey and I’ve always been cheering for Montreal, as a Quebec inhabitant. Now that they are out, I’m having a look at the games between Washington and Pittsburgh. I really like how Washington is playing and I hope they will go far in the series! Final question CK: I assume of course you’re ‘A’ goal is steeple qualification for London 2012 Olympics. Can you share with me any specific goals for the intervening few years to London? AG: Effectively, my goal is London 2012 Olympics and it won’t be a cup of tea! This summer I want to do FISU and the main goal for this year is to get used to the new training and my new environment. Then I want to run around 8:20 in 3k steeplechase and participate in 2011 World Champs in Korea. I also want to improve my 1500m and 5km, and maybe participate in IAAF World Cross-Country Championships.    Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1147-alex-genest Sat, 09 May 2009 01:15:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1143-boulet-browne-lead-usa-25-km-championships-fields 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 Lehmkhule (Minneapolis, Minn.).   Boulet is the overwhelming favorite in the women's race but could see challenges from Sally Meyerhoff (Tempe, Ariz.), Samia Akbar (Herndon, Va.), Michelle Lilienthal (Minneapolis, Minn.), and Tera Moody (Boulder, Colo.).   Masters Championships on tap   This year's event will once again host the USA Masters 25 km Championships featuring top masters (40 and over) athletes Liz Wilson (Bothell, Wash.) and Paul Aufdemberge (Redford, Mich.).   The USA 25 km Championships features more than $45,000 in prize money with the men's and women's champions earning $4,000 each, and the men's and women's masters champions earning $1,500 each.   About the USARC   The USA 25 km Championship is the fourth stop on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC).  The 2009 USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women.   The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.   The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners.  Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.   For more information and video highlights from the 2009 USA 25 km Championships visitwww.usatf.org. About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1143-boulet-browne-lead-usa-25-km-championships-fields Fri, 08 May 2009 01:07:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1142-usa-track-field-foundation-announces-nearly-60000-in-youth-grants 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 33 grants of $1,500 apiece, as well as other grants in denominations ranging from $600 to $4,000. To be eligible for grants, clubs complete a Grant Application online at http://www.usatffoundation.org/ , providing information on the proposed project requiring funding, club programs, management, financing and history. Clubs receiving grants in the current round of awards are listed below. $4000 grant: Road Runners Track Club, Gretna, LA$3000 grant: A.C. Rockstar Running, Atlantic City, NJ$1500 grants:Central Florida Gliders Track Club, Altamonte Springs, FLScotts Bluff Lizards T&F Club, Scottsbluff, NEMercury Track Club of Utah, Salt Lake City, UTWoodstock Youth Track Club, Woodstock, GAGoaled Kids, Superior, COMyrtle Beach T&F Club, Myrtle Beach, SCTroutdale Track Club, Troutdale, ORMcMinnville Track Club, McMinnville, ORCerritos Blaze, Cerritos, CADestined To Run Track Club, Allen, TXGreensburg YMCA Youth T&F Club, Hempfield, PATrack Houston Youth Track Club, Sugar Land, TXPalmdale Bullets Track Club, Palmdale, CAPeak Performance Track Club, Monroe, LATraining Ground Track Club, Nashville, TNCountry Mills Eagles Athletic Club, Ballston Lake, NYHallmark Track Club, Fort Worth, TXEastside Stepper's Track Club, Edmond, OKM.P. Striders Youth Track Club, Sacramento, CAThrow 1 Deep Club, Marietta, GARockwall Mustangs Track Club, Rockwall, TXZoom Track Club, Lone Tree, CONew World Track Club, Columbus, OHBreak Away Track Club, Clermont, FLC.L. Stars Track Club, Missouri, TXEast Palo Alto Greyhounds T&F, East Palo Alto, CAHilltop Speed T&F Club, Vallejo, CAAnn Arbor Youth Track Club, Ann Arbor, MICleats of Fire T&F Club, Poplar Bluff, MOCross Country For Youth, Charlotte, NCHeartland Athletic Services, Kansas City, MOSamuel Fels High School, Philadelphia, PADekalb County Express Track Club, Decatur, GA$800 grant:Stateline Family YMCA, Roscoe, IL$600 grants:Indianapolis Marathon Road Runners, Indianapolis, INArthur Edwards Elementary, Havelock, NCAbout the USA Track & Field Foundation Launched in 2002, the USA Track & Field Foundation assists people of all walks of life and ability levels to find enjoyment and accomplishment through our inclusive sport. The Foundation is committed to exposing more young people to the benefits of track and field and to funding travel to major youth events; expanding existing masters events and programs and access to them; promoting the development of Team USA; helping to attract and train the next generation of the world's best officials; expanding coaching education curricula and providing scholarships to deserving coaches; and assisting USA Track & Field in its fight against drugs in sport. In 2008, the Foundation made a total of $704,500 in grants to a variety of programs related to the sport, including nearly $225,000 to various youth travel, athletic and outreach programs, and distributed $70,000 in equipment donations. For more information or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org  About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1142-usa-track-field-foundation-announces-nearly-60000-in-youth-grants Fri, 08 May 2009 01:06:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1141-elite-high-schoolers-added-to-adidas-track-classic Thu, May 07, 2009 from adidastrackclassic.com Jordan Hasay and Reggie Wyatt to Compete at The Home Depot Center May 16 Carson, CA (May 7, 2009) – The adidas Track Classic, one of the premier track and field meets in the country, has added two of the United States’ top high school runners to its already elite field, meet officials announced today. Jordan Hasay, 17, a resident of San Luis Obispo, California, is already one of the most decorated American high school distance runners in history.  The 2008 High School Track & Field Athlete of the year, Hasay qualified for the 1500m final at the U.S. Olympic trials last summer and set a new high school national record of 4:14.50 in that race. One year earlier, Hasay captured the silver medal in the 1500m at the World Youth Championships. In addition, she is a two-time Footlocker National champion, four-time California State Champion in cross country, three-time California State Champion in the 3200m, two-time USA Track & Field Cross Country junior national champion and has also been selected to three USATF Junior National teams. She will be competing in the 1500m at the adidas Track Classic. Wyatt, 18, from Riverside, California has also enjoyed a stellar prep career.  Like Hasay, Wyatt won silver medal as a high school sophomore at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic and was the runner-up to national high school record holder Jeshua Anderson in the 300m hurdles at the California State Championships.Last year, Wyatt was the fastest high schooler in the country in the 300m hurdles with a blistering 35.71A and placed sixth in the 400m hurdles at the 2008 adidas Track Classic, a effort he is looking to improve on in 2009.Featuring some of the best athletes from across the globe, the adidas Track Classic has showcased track and field superstars from more than two dozen nations, including World Champions Tyson Gay, Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Meseret Defar and Veronica Campbell-Brown. Among the biggest changes to this year's event will be a move to an evening program that will allow for world class times in the middle and long distance races, while still taking advantage of Southern California's warmth and the Home Depot Center's fast track for the sprints. The meet will begin at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. PDT.Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the adidas Track Classic is the third stop on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series. Tickets, from $40 (finish line) down to $10, are now available by calling Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or visitingwww.Ticketmaster.com. For group sales, call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS. Visit the event website at www.adidasTrackClassic.com for updates and more information.   Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1141-elite-high-schoolers-added-to-adidas-track-classic Fri, 08 May 2009 01:01:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1138-juliane-masciana-kwik-e Cal State Fullerton's fifth-year senior Juliane Masciana has one of the top 3,000-meter steeplechase times in the country this outdoor season (10 minutes, 15.96 seconds) and is poised to make her first trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. When you went 10:15 in that steeplechase at the Asics/Steve Scott Invitational, you won by something like 25 seconds. How fast do you think you can run if you're pushed? I sort of think I went fast because I was by myself. I was able to focus on the hurdles and focus on my jumps, which is what I've been having the most trouble with...getting over the hurdles and not stuttering. Because I was by myself, it gave me a chance to focus and count my steps and really be in the zone. I'm not sure if having people there would have helped or not. I'd like to think it would have helped. I'll get a chance to see about that at the regional meet. Are you saying that you'd be the first person to admit that there's a lot you need to learn about the steeplechase? Oh, yeah. For sure. I feel like I just got comfortable with my jumps this past race. I've been doing it for...it's my fifth year in the steeplechase, but I feel like every year I have to relearn and I need to get comfortable again and get reacquainted with everything. It's tough and you really lose seconds on those hurdles if you're not doing it right.   How did you get into such a weird event (the steeplechase) in the first place? Back when I started as a freshman, my coach was like, “hey, there's this event and it's only 3,000 meters and there's not a lot of competition.” Back then there really wasn't a lot of competition. My sophomore year, I placed third at Big Wests with an 11:07. So, it wasn't very competitive. It wasn't like the 5k, where you go run a crazy fast time. I figured it was something I had a shot at and I could place at. This was the first year that I ran a 5k, because I was like, “I don't want to run more than 3,000 meters.” I didn't want to run any farther and I just stuck with this.   You're a pure steeplechaser? It's definitely my event now. It's a strategic race and I've gotten used to it. It's something that I really like doing. When I did run that 5k this year, it felt weird to just go around and it felt like there was something missing.   It was a little boring for you? It was a little boring. How many laps? 12 laps? I was thinking, “oh, my gosh, is this over yet?” I just kept going and going and forgot how boring it was to run.   What are your goals for this outdoor season? I'm just really looking forward to nationals. That's been my main goal since last year when my season ended prematurely. I got injured. Last year it was, “get to nationals, get to nationals, get to nationals!” And then this year started out kind of rough for me. I was coming back from injuries and kind of losing focus. I was wondering, “what's the point of this?” I'd been doing this for five years, about to graduate and move on with my life. It was hard to stay focused on what I came back to do. My fastest time before two weeks ago was 10:30. At Mt. SAC, I only ran like 10:37. Every race just got progressively slower and slower and I had to just stop myself and remind myself why I came back and why I've been waking up at 6:45 a.m. That's just to get to nationals. Cal State Fullerton's only had two athletes ever go to nationals. Only one girl. So, that's really been the goal since the beginning. I also want to win conference. That seems more doable. That's what I've been set on and anything else, I don't care as long as I do that.   What's a typical week of training like for you? We do two speed workouts a week. One interval and one tempo. Nothing too crazy. We'll do six by one-mile repeats. We'll have a ladder workout where we'll go 200, 400, 800. And do three sets or whatever. I probably only do about 50-55 miles a week. You know when you get into your season and you've got races every weekend and you can't get your long runs in. I've never been into high mileage. I always just stop my long runs at maybe an hour or and hour and ten...hour and twenty.   You've got a couple jobs and you dabble in photography, but what are some other hobbies of yours? I do lots of stuff. I like to dabble in everything. Last year, when I got injured, I went out and bought a guitar so I could have a hobby that doesn't involve anything active. I've been playing the guitar for a year and I really like that. I love to go camping and I love to travel. Snowboarding, surfing and all sorts of outdoor activities.   What are you going to do when school is done? That's the question of the year and I really don't know. Last year, I thought that was it. I wasn't planning on taking my fifth year at school. I really didn't know what I was going to do. Once that year ended, I came back because I didn't know what I was going to do and I could run, finish it out and then decide. Right now I just need to think about the next five weeks and nationals and what's going on there. If I don't, I'll just go crazy. There's that broad span of time after that...and I don't know what's going to go on then. We'll see.   Who are some athletes—some runners—that you look up to? Oh, my gosh. That's kind of funny, because people always say to me, “do you know who this runner is?” I don't even know these people. People say these names and I don't even know them. I ran a race against Sara Hall. My coach was like, “Sara Hall's in your race, Sara Hall's in your race.” I had no idea who she was. I was just like, “oh, that's cool, coach” and didn't even know. One of my teammates had to explain her to me. I don't know why I don't pay attention...or maybe I see their names and forget. It's weird because all my teammates are up to speed and know who's running what. I know the girls in my conference, the girls I've run against for years, but when it comes to the elite runners...I'm dumb about that kind of stuff.   If you could have any meal in the world, what would you choose to eat? I like sushi a lot. Seafood. Lobster. Anything like that. I'm a big “all-you-can-eat” sushi fan.   Can you give me some kind of wild running-related story? I don't if it's crazy, but it goes back to the whole Sara Hall thing at Stanford. I'm kind of embarrassed, so I don't know if I should say anything. OK, I was getting ready to run my race, and at Stanford everything is really regulated. You have to have a certain color wristband to get on the track to run your race. Apparently my coach had given me the wrong color wristband and I didn't know. It's about five minutes before and I'm getting ready to go on the track. This lady is like, “no, you can't go.” I'm freaking out because it's five minutes from the race. I'm running around, not knowing what to do, arguing with this lady. I was like, “I don't know where my coach is and I need to get on the track.” I didn't care if I had the right color wristband, I'm obviously in the race. I see this girl come from behind me and try to sneak by. She didn't have the right colored wristband either. I don't know why...but I yell out, “well, she doesn't have one either! You need to kick her off the track too!” The lady kicks her off the track too. The girl I totally tattled on...was Sara Hall. I was so embarrassed. I didn't know until after. During the race I kept hearing her name over the loud speaker and which place she's in. I'm looking up, way behind her and I see that it's that girl that I totally called out and got kicked off the track. I felt really bad. I don't know why I did that either...it was just an instinct.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1138-juliane-masciana-kwik-e Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1137-sickles-wehunt-vying-for-strong-finish     It didn’t take much time into this 2009 outdoor season to notice Derek Wehunt as a runner who could contribute some major point scoring at this year’s 4A State Championship.  In his first race of the season, the Sickles’ senior smothered his 800m PR by over 4 seconds to a 1:52.90 finish, which still ranks 11th in the USA as of early May.  Only two weeks later, Wehunt surprised one of the deepest and fastest 3200m fields in FL history with his then US-leading 9:06.78 PR through a swampy FSU Invitational.  Then, Wehunt continued his dominance over the Florida scene with a 4:11.14 for 1600m, impressing his future Alma Matter at the UF Invitational.     “Yes, I am surprised that I got to this level.  But now that I am running these times, I knew that all my hard work over the past four years was starting to pay off,” Wehunt said.  Certainly, there is no doubt that Derek Wehunt is among the finest in Florida for this 2009 outdoor track & field season.  He ranks top-11 in the country or better in two events this season and seems to always find a way to win, despite contrary predictions based off of head-to-head performances from the 2008 cross country season.  “I’m definitely most proud of my FSU Invite 3200m race.  That was the turning point this year, when I realized that I could hang with the guys I once thought were unbeatable.”     Most impressive of Wehunt’s accomplishments this season is his consistency throughout the year and the momentum he brings into this weekend’s State Championship.  The Sickles’ senior attributes most of his stellar performances to more systematic approaches for this year’s season.  “Before I started competing, I hand-picked each race that I wanted to run,” Wehunt said.  “It helped knowing that I could concentrate only on the important meets and thus perform at my best at big invitationals.”  Wehunt mentioned that his past three track seasons had been filled with over-racing and too many strictly anaerobic workouts, thus, preventing him and his team from strong State Championship racing.  “It really has been nice not having to triple every meet.  I have not felt the need to hold back during any meets this season, since a single race per week has been more common.  I have had more rest between races and I feel ready to go for records every time I step onto the track.”     Training harder, but not necessarily smarter, seemed not to faze Wehunt from hitting blistering times throughout each season of his high school career, but finishing with that same strength had been slowing him down.  Last spring, Wehunt had trouble eclipsing the 9:40 mark come late April and failed to advance to the FHSAA State Finals in the 3200m run.  He ended up advancing in the 1600m, but his 4:25 effort was short of his previous three races (all at 4:22); thus, he faded to 3rd place.  As the cross country season came to an end, Wehunt was unable to match his 15:25 and 15:36 efforts from a few weeks back, falling out of the top-100 with a sluggish 17:27.     But Wehunt’s training and mindset has improved tremendously over the past year and he claims that his failures from State Championship races in the past will only be more motivation for the 2009 finale.  “Since I was a freshman, I haven’t performed well at the State Championship.  With this season going so much better than any other in my life, I know I can finish it off strong.”  Last week, Wehunt started his 4A Region 2 Meet on a high note, helping the Sickles 4x800m squad to a 1st place finish by 15 seconds – 7:50.28.  The foursome’s time is not only a school record, but is also the #2 seed for 4A and currently ranks #12 in the USA.  Wehunt ran two excellent races as the night progressed as well, winning both the 1600m and 3200m in 4:18 and 9:20 respectively.  Most impressive was his come-from-behind victory in the 3200m, where Wehunt blasted a 60-second final 400m to inch-out defending State Champ Brian Atkinson by just over a second.     On Saturday, Wehunt will join his Gryphon counterparts for the 4x800m at 1:30pm.  Their biggest threat will be Flagler Palm Coast, which has recorded the fastest time in Florida with 7:46.57 (US #5).  Later in the evening, Wehunt will run alongside his brother, Dan Wehunt, in the 1600m and then as the lone Sickles’ representative in the 3200m.  The senior has held the state-leading times in both of these events for over a month and has yet to be overtaken in head-to-head competition by another Floridian.     It may surprise the masses that a runner as accomplished as Derek Wehunt has not won a State Championship of any kind in his high school career.  “I always felt that I could win,” said Wehunt. “I just never felt 100% at the end of the season, and was always fatigued during my culminating races.”  But Wehunt still has goals to accomplish this season, and it is unlikely for him to slow down any time soon.  Yes, he can kick.  But can he finish?  And can he win gold?  It seems like a fair wager.   Check out all the of this weekend's 3A & 4A Coverage from Flotrack (click here) Jordan Schilit http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1137-sickles-wehunt-vying-for-strong-finish Wed, 06 May 2009 23:14:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1136-kara-goucher-to-run-berlin-world-champs-marathon In an exclusive story posted on the website of Track & Field News, Kara Goucher said that she has decided to run the World Championships Marathon."We just decided it was what I needed for my professional career," Goucher told T&FN in a telephone interview, "so I submitted my name to USATF and I have been selected so I'm doing it. I'm going to run the marathon in Berlin."Goucher was third at both the 2009 Boston and 2008 ING New York City Marathons.You can read the full story here:http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/display_article.php?id=31339 Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1136-kara-goucher-to-run-berlin-world-champs-marathon Wed, 06 May 2009 18:55:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1135-news-and-notes-volume9-number-25 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 mark this year, for 5,000m indoors. Among her top rivals will be Ethiopian sisters Ejegayehu and Genzebe Dibaba. Ejegayehu is the 2004 Olympic silver medalist at 10,000m and 2005 World Championships bronze medalist at both 5000m and 10,000m, while younger sister Genzebe is a two-time World Junior Cross Country Champion and last weekend won the Ethiopian senior 5000m national title at only 18 years old. The men's 1,500m will feature the entire 2008 U.S. Olympic squad of Bernard Lagat, Lopez Lomong and Leonel Manzano. Lagat, the American record holder at 1,500m, is the reigning World Champion at 1500m and 5000m - the first man ever to win that double. Joining them will be three-time U.S. Indoor 1,500m champion Rob Myers; Canadian 1,500m record holders Kevin Sullivan (outdoors) and Nate Brannen (indoors); and Mexican national indoor record holder Pablo Solares. The adidas Track Classic will also highlight winners from the major Jamaica Invitational in Kingston last weekend. Among them are Americans Dawn Harper, the surprise 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter hurdles, and Darvis Patton, a 100m finalist in Beijing; Jamaica's Novlene Williams, a 4x400m World Championship bronze medalist; and Rennie Quow, the 2006 World Junior champion at 400m from Trinidad and Tobago. Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the adidas Track Classic is the third stop on USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series. Tickets, from $40 (finish line) down to $10, are now available by calling Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. For group sales, call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa. Visit the event website at www.adidasTrackClassic.com for updates and more information. Olympians head to Doha Two-time Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix, 2008 Olympic silver medalist Christian Cantwell and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver will headline the American contingent for the 2009 Qatar Super Grand Prix Friday, May 8, in Doha, Qatar. Felix returns to Doha having twice completed the 100-400 double over the past two years. This year she will run just the 400 meters, facing Olympic silver medalist Shericka Williams of Jamaica. In the men's shot put, Cantwell enters fresh off three victories where each winning throw topped 21 meters. This will mark the first time last year's silver medalist will face reigning Olympic gold medalist Tomasz Majewski of Poland since the Games ended. After setting a personal best in the men's 110m hurdles at this meet last year, David Oliver enters the competition as the current world leader. His main challengers will come in the form of compatriots Joel Brown, Antwon Hicks and Dexter Faulk. Fans can watch the meet live on www.universalsports.com beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday, May 8. For more information, visit www.iaaf.org. About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1135-news-and-notes-volume9-number-25 Wed, 06 May 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1134-rowbury-rankin-lead-fields-for-inaugural-usa-1-mile-road-championships 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 six other men with sub-four minute personal bests for the mile.  With respective bests of 3:57.04 and 3:57.20David Torrence (Oakland, Calif.), the 2009 USA Indoor 3,000 meter champion, and Bobby Curtis(Ardmore, Pa.), the 2008 NCAA Division I 5,000 meter champion, will be among the lead contenders for the title along with Darren Brown (Austin, Texas), the recent champion at the B.A.A. Invitational Mile.       Athletes will compete for a total prize purse of $22,500, with the men's and women's USA Champion earning $4,000 each. This year's race will also feature an additional $10,000 bonus for the men's and women's champions if they run faster than 4:00 and 4:28 respectively.   Video highlights   Video highlights of the USA 1 Mile Road Championships and pre- and post-race video interviews with top athletes will be made available in cooperation with Flotrack.com.    About the USARC   The USA 1 Mile Road Championship is the third stop on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC).  The 2009 USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women.   The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.   The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners.  Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.   For more information and video highlights from the 2009 USA 1 Mile Road Championships visitwww.usatf.org.      # # # About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1134-rowbury-rankin-lead-fields-for-inaugural-usa-1-mile-road-championships Wed, 06 May 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1133-derrick-named-athlete-of-the-week 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 Bergamo. Donaldson lead the U.S. women's squad to the team silver medal behind France. She ran 136.83 miles to finish 20th overall (top American man or woman) in the combined men's /women's world title field. 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 website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick.  BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING MAY 3 MEN 100 - 10.02 Darvis Patton (Nike) - Kingston, JAM 5/2200 - 20.49 Darvis Patton (Nike) - Kingston, JAM 5/2400 - 44.50 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Baie Mahault, FRA 5/1800 - 1:45.67 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Kingston, JAM 5/21500 - 3:36.92 Matthew Centrowitz (Oregon) - Stanford, CA 5/23000SC - 8:26.08 Ben Bruce (Oregon TC) - Stanford, CA 5/25000 - 13:22.60 Matt Tegenkamp (Nike) - Stanford, CA 5/210,000 - 27:36.99 Tim Nelson (Oregon TC) - Stanford, CA 5/2110H - 13.27 Antwon Hicks (adidas) - Kingston, JAM 5/2400H - 48.81 Michael Tinsley (adidas) - Kingston, JAM 5/2HJ - 2.28/7-5.75 Keith Moffatt (Nike) - Baie Mahault, FRA 5/1PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Jason Colwick (Rice) - Austin, TX 5/2LJ - 8.51/27-11 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Baie Mahault, FRA 5/1TJ - 16.22/53-2.75 Will Claye (Oklahoma) - Irvine, CA 5/3SP - 21.16/69-5.25 Christian Cantwell (NIke) - Kingston, JAM 5/2DT - 65.43/214-8 Jarred Rome (Nike) - Chula Vista, CA 4/28HT - 75.69/248-4 A.G. Kruger (Nike) - Columbus, OH 5/1JT - 80.00/262-5 Corey White (USC) - Los Angeles, CA 5/2Dec - 7645 Desi Burt (VS Athletics) - Claremont, CA 5/220k Walk - 1:31:00 Patrick Stroupe (KC Smoke) - San Salvador, ELS 5/2 WOMEN 100 - 11.14 Marshevet Hooker (adidas) - Kingston, JAM 5/2200 - 23.07 Rachelle Smith (Norfolk Real Deal) - Baie Mahault, FRA 5/1400 - 51.12 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Kingston, JAM 5/2800 - 2:01.78 Katie Waits (Reebok) - Stanford, CA 5/21500 - 4:06.90 Anna Willard (Nike) - Stanford, CA 5/23000SC - 9:35.30 Lindsey Anderson (Nike) - Stanford, CA 5/25000 - 15:07.64 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - Stanford, CA 5/210,000 - 33:08.97 Rebecca Donoghue (New Balance) - Stanford, CA 5/2100H - 12.78 Dawn Harper (unat) - Kingston, JAM 5/2400H - 54.17 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Baie Mahault, FRA 5/1HJ - 1.90/6-2.75 Deirdre Mullen (Nike) - Columbus, OH 5/2PV - 4.50/14-9 Stacy Dragila (Nike) - Chula Vista, CA 5/2LJ - 6.61/21-8.25 Brittney Reese (Nike) - Kingston, JAM 5/2TJ - 13.61/44-8 Erica McLain (NIke) - Stanford, CA 5/2SP - 18.04/59-2.25 Liz Wanless (NYAC) - Columbus, OH 5/2DT - 59.28/194-6 Gia Lewis-Smallwood (unat) - Champaign, IL 5/2HT - 63.88/209-7 Sharon Ayala (Fresno State) - Fresno, CA 5/2JT - 55.38/181-8 Marissa Tschida (Washington State) - Seattle, WA 5/2Hept - 5236 Uhunoma Osazuwa (Syracuse) - Philadelphia, PA 5/220k Walk - 1:47:16 Solomiya Login (SE Pa. AC) - San Salvador, ELS 5/2  About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1133-derrick-named-athlete-of-the-week Wed, 06 May 2009 16:01:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1130-usatf-road-mile-champs-on-flotrack Flotrack will be in Minneapolis working with the USATF and the Twin Cities Marathon on the 2009 USA Running Circuit. The Road Mile is in it's first year of being a national championship and Flotrack will work with the USATF on race videos and interviews. Here are a couple links for ya: USATF Championship Coverage Twin Cities Marathon Flotrack Coverage   Talk amongst yourselves. Men's 1 Mile Kyle Alcorn unattached / Nike Darren Brown unattached Robert Curtis unattached / Reebok Jordan Fife Team Indiana Elite / Brooks Ryan Kleimenhagen Wisconsin Runner Racing Team Adrian Myers Indiana Invaders Jon Rankin unattached John Richardson Kentucky Milers Club Tommy Schmitz Wisconsin Runner Racing Team David Torrence unattached Women's 1 Mile Meghan Armstrong Team USA Minnesota / Strands Emily Brown Team USA Minnesota / New Balance Mason Cathey Indiana Invaders Jenelle Deatherage unattached / Reebok Ann Detmer Wisconsin Runner Racing Team Sara Hall unattached / Asics Angee Henry Team Nebraska Brooks Racheal Marchand unattached Colleen Newhart Fleet Feet/Nike Racing Team Shannon Rowbury unattached / Nike Carrie Tollefson Team USA Minnesota Sara Vaughn Boulder Running Company/adidas Mark From Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1130-usatf-road-mile-champs-on-flotrack Tue, 05 May 2009 18:37:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1126-dii-interview-chicos-michael-wickman It is a known fact that if you are runner eventually, you will encounter some form of wildlife on a runs. It is no different for Chico State junior, Michael Wickman. “For the past two summers I have lived in Truckee, CA to train at altitude. While there I have had several crazy experiences with the local wild life. One of those moments happened when I witnessed a middle age woman running screaming down the street as two coyotes were chasing her. Needless to say I came to her rescue and scared off the coyotes,” he recounts. “That however, doesn’t take the cake,” he continues, “The story goes something like this: My teammate Clinton and I see a bear poke its head out from behind a house. Now, I had seen about five or six bears already this summer, so I wasn’t that interested in any further investigation. Clinton on the other hand had his camera phone on him, so he wanted to take a picture of the bear. Despite my pleas to just leave the bear alone, Clinton had to have a picture of the bear. So, we snuck behind the house and found the bear about 50m away facing the other direction. That is about where I stopped. Clinton started walking closer to the bear to try and get a good shot. As Clinton was creeping closer to the bear he stepped on a branch that snapped under his weight. The bear immediately turned towards Clinton and they made eye contact. Nobody moved for several seconds then…run! The bear darted in our direction and I have never run so fast in my life. I didn’t stop until I had made it pretty far down the street. Clinton was right on my heels. Lucky for us the bear must have been scared by the traffic on the street, because he stopped at the house. If Clinton and I had been on a track, we probably would have run 1:45 for 800m. If only I could have a bear chase me around a track.” Even without the bear, Wickman has run good times on the track this season with a 1:49.90 in the 800m and 3:46.52 in the 1500m. His 1500m time was run at the Chico Distance Carnival where he was able to toe the line with pro runners. About this experience he explains, “I have to say, there is nothing better than stepping onto your home track with ‘Thunderstruck’ by ACDC playing as your name is being announced before your race. Even though the race didn’t go exactly how I wanted, it was still an amazing experience. To be able to toe the line with professional runners is pretty exciting. The Chico Distance Carnival is by far the best and fastest meet between Sacramento and Eugene. Word is starting to get out that we are able to put on a good meet in front of a decent crowd. You can be sure to see faster times coming from that meet in the future. Chico fans are the best!” Wickman began running in 6th grade with a local track club in Walnut Creek, CA and continued into high school. “ I remember my first high school track meet like it was yesterday. I stepped onto the track so nervous and scared; the other runners just towered over me. When the gun went off I just ran for my life. I ended up winning the 1600m in 4:39 and an hour later I ran 2:05 in the 800m. After my races my coach just smile and said, ‘You’ve got speed.’ I went on to run 4:30 in the 1600m my freshmen year,” he recalls. By his senior year he qualified for the California state championships finishing 5th overall in the time of 1:54. By his senior year is high school, he was visiting several different colleges. “When I arrived in Chico the head cross-country coach, Gary Towne, took me on a tour of the campus. Afterwards I went for a run in Bidwell Park. As soon as I stepped into Bidwell Park I knew that I wanted to come to Chico. Chico had everything that I was looking for: a great coach, a great team, and a great place to train. I am so glad that I made the decision to come here,” he says. Once at Chico, there have been a few changes, as he explains, “Without a doubt the biggest thing that has changed in my training is mileage. Gary has seamless transitioned me into college running by steadily increasing my mileage with every passing season. Our training is based on having a strong foundation of mileage to build off of as the season progresses. Gary told me to ‘buy into the training’, and I have. I think believing in your training is key to success." Also at Chico, he has found teammates willing to push him: "The mid-distance squad consists of six guys, which is a decent number of training partners. We are a pretty tight group; five of us red-shirted last year, so that we could try and make nationals together in the 800m. As it stands, I am seated 2nd, Clinton Hayes is 7th, and Dave Wellman is 11th. Dave and Clinton are both capable of running sub- 1:50. This lends to very conducive and effective training. It makes a big difference in my training if I have people who can help push me.” With this good base, he is ready to focus on this season’s goals. “Last season I had to sit idle on the sidelines and watch as my teammate, Angel Marquez placed second in the 1500m at nationals. This year I have the opportunity to chase down a national title in the 1500m and the 800m and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I know that I have the tools to make it happen. I feel much stronger than I did last year, and with the training I have been doing I am confident that I will be able to hang with anybody out there. If I don’t get the national title in the 1500m or the 800m, I sure as hell am going to make whoever gets it work for it. As cool as it would be to get a national title, I honestly just want to walk away from nationals knowing that I gave all that I had,” he explains. Wickman is also looking to the future, stating “I have several different goals that I would like to accomplish by the time I graduate. I really want to break the Chico State record in the 800m, which is currently 1:48.89. I also want to try and break four in the mile, which will also hopefully convert to a school record in the 1500m. On the national level, I would love to get a national title in the 1500m or the 800m; I don’t think Chico has had a national champ in either event. In cross-country I would love to place in the top 15 individually, and as a team I want to better our performance from last year. All of these goals might sound hard to accomplish, but I know that I am perfectly capable of achieving them. If I don’t succeed, at least I know that I tried my best and that is really what matters.” Cara Hawkins http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1126-dii-interview-chicos-michael-wickman Tue, 05 May 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1118-rory-fraser-kwik-e New Mexico's Rory Fraser, a British fellow, cranked out a fast 5,000 at the Mt. SAC Relays. His time of 13 minutes, 39.85 seconds was a big personal-best and also a mark that ranks him seventh in the country for Division I athletes. 13:39. What are you feelings on running that time? Pretty happy. Pretty happy. It went pretty well. With a 10-second PR, you obviously can't complain about that. I still think I can go a bit faster by not committing as much in the start. The first lap was in 62, so I kind of committed enough to a fast start. It was a good start and hopefully I can carry that through to nationals and be All-American. Can you go into specifics on a typical training week for you? It's basically where you work out on Tuesdays and Fridays. In the UK last year, I was training three times a week. As soon as I came out here, I tried to do that and got sick. The altitude takes its toll on you when you're training three times a week. And that's training hard three times a week. Basically we do a track session on a Tuesday, which can consist of normally quite a lot of pyramid stuff. Like a 400, 600, 800 and K then back down. Most of that stuff is at race pace. Or we'll do K sessions or miles or 400s. Then on Friday, we do a tempo. We've gotten used to doing an 8-10 mile tempo at nothing ridiculously fast, but again the altitude takes its toll. If you think you're going to go out and run really, really fast...we'll you just can't do it. We do a tempo at about 5:15 for ten miles or so. It's solid and that's what we do. Why did you choose to go to New Mexico in the first place? I knew a few people out in America. They always said how good it was when British people went to America. They said I should give it a go. Back home, I didn't really know what I was going to do with my life. It was kind of, “go to America or live on the streets.” I decided to email a few people to see what they would say and see who got back to me. Of the ones that got back to me, New Mexico sounded the best for me personally. The history Joe Franklin's got with Brits and how's he's worked with them in the past, the people he's got there at the moment are doing pretty well off of what he has them doing. That's what sold it to me. And the attitude and the work was always a plus as well. Would you vouch for the system there when talking to other British athletes? Absolutely. When I first got here, I couldn't believe what you got offered. It was just absolutely insane. Even the free kit or the free gear you get. The free trainers. You don't get that at all in the UK. University back home is not big. You don't go to university back home to make it pro like you do here. The biggest sport back home is soccer really, and if you don't play soccer then you don't get anything. UK athletics can only support a certain amount of people and I wasn't one of them. I wanted to see how far I could get running-wise and see how far I could get a “free ride” really. I'm living like a professional athlete and that's the way I look at it. You're looking at it like you're a professional athlete because of the improvement of situation? Kind of. I'm just not running as fast as a professional athlete right now. Just to be able to focus on my running and get good sleep and not have a job it helps. Every bit helps, as they say. To have access to facilities and ice baths whenever you need it. All these things help. If I would have stayed back home then I would have had to get a job to support myself. And working 9-5 and trying to run 90 miles a week or whatever just isn't that feasible. That's an interesting point. It makes me think that we might take college for granted over here. A lot of people back home do work full-time and still compete really well. That's just brilliant. I'm not saying that I couldn't do that, but it's a lot easier when you don't have to do those things. Rest is an important part. You can't get your rest if you're waking up at 6 a.m. every day. It takes a toll on your body after a while. But it's not like you don't have to go to school as well. When I finished university back home I got my degree and that was great and stuff. I've already got a degree and I'm on a graduate program out here. For me, at the moment, education is just a means to run. But it is important that I keep up my GPA and all the rest of that. But, I'm only doing that so I can continue running. The running is the only reason I came out here, the education is just another thing that I get with it. What's the next step then? Well, I came to America to see where I could get. With the Olympics being in London in 2012, it just gives me more incentive to make it. That's the plan for me. I've got three years to try to sort that out, to keep improving the way I have been. To get to the Olympics would be a fantastic achievement and a fantastic opportunity to run in front of my home crowd. It's not something that many people get to do. What were you doing this past summer? Did you have an opportunity to try to qualify? No. I didn't run fast enough. The UK has one of the hardest qualification standards. I don't know what it is in the US, but to qualify for the 5K, you have to run the “A” standard pretty much. And that's 13:20. Last year I was an awful long way off of that. I didn't have any chance to go last year, but I knew what was four years away. A lot can happen in four years with training and stuff like that. That's the goal: to come out here and train for two or three years and see how far I can go. What other international races have you done? I went to the Junior European Cross Country Championships, which was a pretty big deal for me at the time. It was a great experience and stuff. I didn't perform that well, but it was just another one of those stepping stones to try to get somewhere else in the sport. That was all good. Then I competed at the World University Cross Country Championships, which was kind of a strange meet. I don't know how many teams were there, but there was an awful lot of teams competing there. Teams from Australia to Morocco to Algeria. That was another good experience. All just stepping stones to try to get somewhere farther. I haven't done a great lot competing for Great Britain, but hopefully that can change. You sound like someone who looks at the “big picture”. Do you think you belong on the world stage, maybe three years down the road? If you don't think like that than you might as well give up. There's no point in running if you don't think you can do those things. Although they might seem a bit unrealistic at the moment, if I can continue to take 10-11 seconds off my time each year...then, who knows what can happen? I'm still young and I've still got a lot of things to learn. I've got a lot of miles to run. With all that said, I think in the next few years, then hopefully I can get on that world stage and compete the people there. Maybe beat a few Africans. What are some things that you're getting used to in transitioning to living in the States? There aren't many things that are that different. The amount of McDonald's might be the only difference. The amount of fast food joints—which is growing more and more in the UK—but you can't drive a mile down the street without seeing three McDonald's. Most of the rest of it is pretty similar. It's a bit bigger out here. That's interesting that that stands out to you. The chocolate milkshake is the future. And that's all good. If you have a bit of a hard week...you can treat yourself to a bit of McDonald's. Can you give me a crazy running related story? Well, I suppose the most interesting thing that I've done is when I went to Ethiopia a couple years ago, I got to run with Haile Gebrselassie. It was the most phenomenal experience of my life. I got to know a guy at my university who was Ethiopian and he said, “if you ever get a chance, come out and visit me.” So, I did. I got there and realized that he's famous in that country. During the trip, he kind just mentions, “do you want to run with Haile tomorrow?” I was like, “are you serious? Of course I want to run with Haile tomorrow!” This is about two weeks before he ran the London Marathon and I didn't really want to if he was going to be preparing for all that stuff. I was told to go to his house at about 5 a.m. His house was massive, it was a mansion. We just set off running and he says, “follow me.” I followed him up this trail and we went past these people who own a pair of flip flops and a pair of shorts. They've never seen a TV before and were all saying, “Haile! Haile!” and everyone knows who he is. He just waves to everyone as he runs. For me it's sprinting up. We run by Tirunesh and Bekele and he is asking me if I know who they are. Of course I know who they are. He's just an absolute hero. We get back to his house and he invites me in and shows me around. I was on my own. He showed me to the bathroom and told me to take a shower and to get myself ready and come out for breakfast. I got to eat breakfast with him, his wife and his kids. We sat there eating pancakes and stuff at the table. He gave me a lift to his work in his Mercedes. It was just so surreal and just unbelieveable. So what kind of run did you do together? He was kind of tapering. He was going 90 minutes. Basically we ran up this mountain. Ethiopia is at a pretty high altitude as it is. We got to about 3000-meters altitude and by that time, my lungs were hurting. My eyeballs were bleeding and all that fun stuff. He noticed that and told me to wait around for a half an hour and he ran up this mountain, came back down and picked me up and we just ran back together. It was unbelievable to say he was tapering because he was running very, very fast. He's one of the nicest people ever. I don't know many people who would just run with some random person two weeks before you're going to try to break the world record.     Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1118-rory-fraser-kwik-e Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1113-times-colonist-10k-and-vancouver-sun-run-10k The 20th annual Times Colonist 10k (TC10k) took place Sunday, April 26 under sunny skies, mild temperatures with nearly no wind. The race conditions were perfect. The 25th annual Vancouver Sun Run (also 10k) happened the Sunday before on April 19th. The TC 10k race Kenyan Willy Kimosop training in Lethbridge, Alberta won both the Vancouver Sun Run and the Victoria Times Colonist 10k in back-to-back efforts. The latter in 29:29 taking down countryman and fellow Lethbridge Kodiak, Kip Kangogo by 44 seconds and local, Vancouver Island (Victoria, BC) athlete Ryan McKenzie by a further 8 seconds with his finishing time of 30:21. Local Victoria athletes, Scott Simpson and Kris Swanson - Kris a University of Victoria alumni, followed finishing in 30:38 and 31:09 respectively. Willy won The Vancouver Sun Run in 29:04, which took place Sunday, April 19. From TC10k press release, April 26, 2009 Kimosop said the race conditions were perfect. “It is a great course and I was very confident after Vancouver.” He hopes to make it three in a row as he goes into the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon Sunday, May 3. Victoria athlete Lucy Smith, six time winner finished third with a 34:35 time behind Olympian, Kathy Butler, 34:01 and Lisa Harvey in 34:28. More on the masters (from the TC 10k press release) Smith also won the female masters division with Nancy Baxendale (nearby Shawnigan Lake) coming in second in 37:17 and Meghan Stothers from Victoria third in 39:52. In the men’s masters, the favourite Steve Boyd (Kingston) was first in 32:04, Vancouver’s Norm Tinkham was second in 32.52, and third was Paddy McCluskey from Victoria in 33:14. Boyd also set a record time for the M45-49 age group. Here are the the official results On the course - A blogesque review As I took in both races, I can tell readers that if you are looking to run a 10k road personal best and happen to find yourself fit during mid-to-late April 2010, you should definitely consider a trip to British Columbia to take in both events, the Vancouver Sun Run and the Victoria Times Colonist 10k. Mark both of these races on your calendar for next year. The TC10k is a relatively fast course however, it is honest in respect to the start being located near the finish (a criteria for certification) and the over-all net loss of elevation is not drastic and certainly not accomplished all in one precarious drop, like you experience at the Vancouver Sun Run. Saying that, I highly recommend you race the Sun Run in 2010. The event operation is seamless, the route is very picturesque and you can guarantee yourself the best possible 10k on the day. The Sun Run course is very fast! The TC 10k provides a small net loss in elevation from start to finish and from 6.5k to about the 8k marker there is a straight stretch and gradual downhill that sets the tone for fit runners to consider dropping any use of tactics and finish fast on the downhill and flat 2k finish. It is suggested you be ‘on pace’ at the Mile 0 marker (not mile 0 of the race, but mile 0 of Canada – near 6.5k into the race) and you should finish with a favourable result. The TC 10k’s first 2 kilometres are gently uphill, but if you notice the grade, perhaps you went out too fast, as it is nearly flat. At approximately the 2km marker you do reach the highest point on the course, where the following 2kms are downhill to the 180 degree turn around, where, if you are not right up front, you get an excellent view of the top athletes coming back along the course. As you make your way along Dallas Road towards the finish, the streaming crowd of runners and walkers spill out over the centre line, making for a very motivating 3km section of the race, as they cheer the faster runners on. The scenery here is as good as in Vancouver and if you prefer ocean and mountain vistas right beside you, almost all the way, Victoria provides it. The aptly names Olympic Mountains (range) are snow-capped and loom large over the water - a straight, which seperates Washington State from Vancouver Island. At the mile 0 commemorative marker, there is a Terry Fox statue to inspire all athletes on, while to your left is Fonyo Beach named after Steve Fonyo, who finished the Marathon of Hope for Terry Fox after Terry succumed to cancer. Fonyo also has one prosthetic leg and continued the Marathon of Hope from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Victoria, British Columbia, some 3200kms (2100 miles) to this particular beach. This is where the gentle downhill begins and carries runners to possibly the two fastest km splits of the entire course. The final 400 metres are lined with cheering spectators, while legendary race announcer, Steve King brings you across the line. Chances are he may know something about you and will announce it to the crowd from his vast memory. On the course – Vancouver Sun Run The Vancouver Sun Run provides a net elevation loss, which is achieved primarily within the first kilometre. Your first kilometre and first mile splits will be well ahead of your average split times. From approximately this point, the course gently rolls with the biggest hills being a ramp (of a road) onto the Burrard Street Bridge at 5k and again when on the first half of the Cambie Street Bridge at 9k. Running a negative split is difficult in this race, look for a very fast first few kilometres. The Vancouver Sun Run's competitive field should be deep enough to provide all runners looking for a time down to as low as sub 30:00 plenty of company to satisfy pacing and race competition needs. A circuitous route is provided with cheering spectators and enough scenery to make visitors jaded, upon their return home. The finish of the Vancouver Sun Run happens between the Vancouver Canuck's GM place and BC Lion's (CFL team) BC Place stadium. Post race awards are handed out in BC Place Stadium because there are as many runners and walkers as there are seats in the building, well over 40, 000 finishers for 2009 and nearly 50, 000 from 2008. Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1113-times-colonist-10k-and-vancouver-sun-run-10k Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:11:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1106-american-record-attempt-and-world-outdoor-championship-qualifying-attempts If you are in the Bay area head over to Cal tonight. The races start tonight at 6:30 PM and Fam goes for the record at 9:10PM   The Men's 10,000 will be an American Record attempt for 2 time Olympican Anthony Famiglietti tonite(April 24) at the inaugural NYRR Distance Carnival at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkley, California. Famiglietti who won the 2009 USA 15,000 road championships in March and  barely missed the American Road 5000 by a scant 3 seconds at the fast Carlsbad 5000 only 3 weeks ago. He will be paced by Olympian Bolota Asmersom for a solid 13:40 for the first 5000m. In a very solid field, that has been gathered to get World "A" 27.47 and World "B" standards for this summers World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. The current AR holder at 10km, Olympic Silver Medalist, Meb Keflezighi will be bidding for a PR in Sunday's Flora London Marathon. Keflezighi set the AR in Stanford prior to his Silver Medal performance in Athens 2004 Mexican Olympican, Juan Luis Barrios, a 13:11 5k performer will attempt his first 10,000 and be joined by Olympians, Teodoro Vega(MEX), Alejandro Suarez(MEX), Michael Aish(NZE), Martin Fagan(IRE) and Collis Birmingham(ENG) who has had a fantastic season in achieving Berlin Standards. Ed Moran(USA), James Carnery(USA), Boaz Chemboiyo(KEN), and Juan Carlos Romero(MEX) all sub 28 minute 10km'ers will try to gather bid selections for 1936 StadiumPhiles Ongori, a kenyan based in Japan will lead the pack in the woman's portion of the NYRR Carnival at 10,000 meters. 3-time Mexican Olympian, Dulce Rodriguez, Americans Katie McGregor and Amy Hastings will be joined by Mountain Runner Lara Tamsett of Austraila who recently finished a surprising 3rd in the very fast and competitive Carlsbad 5000.The NYRR Distance Carnival will consist of the 10, 000, 5,000 and the Men's Steeplechase. In the steeple, Americans Brian Olinger, Kyle Alcorn and Olympian Steve Slattery who have already run faster the World's "A" Standard will try to again achieve those results in 2009. The 5000's should be barn burners as the fields are ready to go.Canadian Kevin Sullivan, a 3-time Olympian training in Florida will go against Olympican's Yuichiro Ueno(JPN), Jorge Torres(USA) stepping down in distance to battle against Americans, World Cross Country member Bobby Curtis, Thomas Morgan and NCAA champion, Scott Bauhs. Injured Olympian Carrie Tollefson(USA) will toe the line against Serbian Olympian, Marina Muncan, World Indoor Bronze Medalist of Ireland Mary Cullen and Americans, Sara Slattery, Emily Brown, Sara Hall and Julia Lucas.   Watch Flotrack's Coverage of the Brutus Hamilton meet at Cal and Fam's record attempt here. Victah Sailer http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1106-american-record-attempt-and-world-outdoor-championship-qualifying-attempts Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:40:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1097-michael-maag-kwik-e <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> Princeton Tiger senior Michael Maag recently set a school record in the 5,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays with a 13 minute, 41.17 second mark. Maag is finishing up his four academic years at Princeton with a degree in economics before heading back to his home state of Oregon to compete for the Ducks next outdoor season. How do you feel about your 13:41? I feel really good about it. It was a pretty special race because the whole year I've been training well and things have been going well in workouts and I've been putting in all the work, but I haven't really seen it in the races yet. I haven't raced as well as I knew I could. This is the first race really where I felt like I got close to what I can do.   Did you know you had low 13:40s in you or what did you think you were capable of running? Based on how my workouts have been going, I didn't think I could run that fast. My workouts haven't been going that well lately. Based on the progression that I expected from year to year, I knew I'd be close to that if things clicked this season. I wasn't completely surprised, but based on the last month's workouts, I was a little surprised. Our school record is 13:49 and I kind of had that in my head as something of a good goal to go for. Anything down near 13:45 would have been a great race. I was definitely happy to run as fast as I did.   Did everything “click” or are there other small things you could do to make you run even faster? I think I still have some in me for sure. Sometimes you finish a race with a big PR and you're like, “wow, I don't know how I'm going to run any faster than this.” But, it wasn't necessarily one of those races, although, this past Friday night...it was about as fast as I could have gone. I'm looking forward to going faster in the future.   With this one race, are you reseting your goals for this outdoor season? No. This is more a vindication of the goals I set in the beginning of the year for myself. Those are still attainable and realistic.   What are they? I'd like to go All-American in the 5K and also win a league title. Those are the last two things that are left.   You've got a 7:56 3K PR and your best mile time sits right above four minutes even (4:00.23). Are you one of those runners who thinks about breaking that four-minute barrier a lot? No. It doesn't eat away at me. I think about it. It's kind of a crappy place to have your mile PR. I've had opportunities to chase it since then and I just haven't done it because it didn't make sense in the long-term plan. I guess that's an indication of how I look at it. It's important to me, but it's not that important that I'm going to sacrifice my success down the road just to get it out of the way now. I'm sure I'll get in the mile at some point with a good shot at breaking it. I can wait. I can wait until then.   What are the long-term goals? Well, making Nationals and becoming All-American and doing well at our league meet. At the end of indoors, things weren't going that well for me, so I shut it down before doing any “last chance for Nationals meets”. I'm not even sure that I was fit enough to make the indoor meet, because I had some nagging achilles stuff going on. It kept me from getting really sharp. Instead of chasing times, I just shut it down and started training for outdoors. So far it's worked out well for me. That's one place where I passed up running a fast mile to focus on outdoor Nationals.   You're a senior. Are you looking past this outdoor season and graduation? I actually have a season of eligibility left because I had a stress fracture last outdoor season. The plan is for me to go to Oregon and run there for a year. I only have outdoors left, so I'll be training and running unattached races and stuff in the fall and winter. That's the plan for next year and after that...I'd like to keep running, I think, at this point. I'll kind of cross that bridge when I get there. I'm still excited about next year at this point.   You'll be competing for the University of Oregon next outdoor season? Yeah. I'm very excited.   You're an Oregon native. Why didn't you go there in the first place? You've got to realize that four years ago, Oregon was a pretty different place. I also wasn't a great prep runner either. I wasn't a top recruit. I don't think the vibe at Oregon was quite as positive as it is now. I'm not sure that I was necessarily fast enough for them to generate enough interest from them. A lot of it was that I wanted to see a new place that wasn't as close to home. I would say that all those things factored into why I came to the East. I'm certainly happy with the way things worked out. This is kind of the best of both world's. I get a Princeton degree and it looks like I'm going to get the opportunity to run at a big-time division one program as well.   What's your degree going to be? Economics.   Do you think with Princeton's emphasis on academics that you might have a harder situation than a 5K runner at another division one school where the emphasis isn't as strong on academics? The emphasis on academics...yes. I would have to answer “yes” to that question. I feel like the academic situation here is a little different than most places. As far as athletically, I feel like I have to emphasize that I feel like I've had every opportunity that you could ever want to go to races and to train. We have great places to train around here. The facilities are fine. The trainers are good. In that way, I feel very blessed to be a part of the Princeton program. Academically...every once and while, during midterms and finals, when seniors have to write a thesis...then all those things together make the running a bit of a challenge. If you're on top of your game and don't let things pile up, then you can make it work. I've never felt like it really hurt my running, but there were times when I wish I could have got a little more sleep.   You're caught up with everything now? I just turned in my thesis the day I left for Mt. SAC. That's a big weight off my shoulders. Now, I'm on cruise control until a couple of finals. I'm only taking three classes and one of them doesn't have a final...so, it's a lighter load for this semester and I'm looking forward to getting some solid training in. I'm going to enjoy myself for the next month or so.   What's your thesis on? My thesis was on rating agencies. Like movies standard reports and looking at whether they're consistent over different market cycles. Would they rate the same in a really hot market as opposed to a depressive-type market, like the one we're in right now? It was about 60 pages when I got done and it was actually on the shorter side for an econ thesis. It was fun to write and I enjoyed it, but I'm glad it's done now.   And your finals schedule is pretty difficult as well? Yeah. You try to plan your schedule so it gets a little easier when you get your thesis done—that's how most people do it anyway—and my finals won't be too bad this semester.   Can you give me a typical “day-in-the-life” of Michael Maag? Absolutely. On a good day, I get up and go for a quick run...like a five-miler around a golf course that we have. I go and jog around the course and the woods for a little bit. Then I come back and stretch and shower. I usually get some breakfast...a bagel or something light. This semester, my earliest class is an 11 a.m. class and I'll go to that. At lunch, I'll study or read, especially when I was working on my thesis. Then some classes or studying, depending on the day. Then I go to practice at 3:45 p.m., unless we have a workout, then it's at 4:30 p.m., when everybody can make it. Practice until about 6:30 p.m. or so. I'll come back up for some dinner. We play pool for 45 minutes or an hour after dinner, depending on how much work I have, then hit the books for another hour or two before bed. I usually aim for 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. studying...but, I don't usually get around to being productive until 9 p.m. or so. Then I'll go online or play guitar for a bit and try to get in bed at around midnight or 12:30 a.m.   That's a hell of a day. It's a full day, but I wouldn't trade it. I love it.   So, what kind of mileage do you typically hit for a week? Lately, it's been in the low to mid 80s. Ideally, I feel my best when I'm running 95 or closer to 100 miles a week, but with my achilles stuff and the winter, I didn't feel like that was a good risk/reward. That's really only in the summer when I'm running closer to 100, but I'd say that on the average in the season, I'm in the high 80s to low 90s since my sophomore or junior year.   Is running a 10K this outdoor season out of the question? It's not on the schedule, so I highly doubt it. Something would have to drastically change for me to have to do that. I'll stick to 5Ks and 15s right now.   It seems that someone like you with such good foot speed, and solid mileage could run a pretty solid 10K. Perhaps someday in the future. I really like the races that I do now. 10K is long and hard, man. I don't know if I want to have to do that. I probably will eventually run some 10Ks, but they take a while to recover from and with the collegiate system, I think I feel more comfortable with the shorter stuff.   What's a crazy running-related story that's happened to you? There was a senior last year. He was a member of this senior class, which I was really great friends with. Johnny Gawpman was his name. He's not longer running, works in Asia now. He qualified for NCAA Regionals and ran 3:45, I think. It was his birthday and there's a run we do called “Bean Fields” around Princeton. It's like eight or nine miles and we do it once or twice a week. We decided that that day, in honor of Johnny's birthday, we were going to do a “Birthday Bean Fields”, which means you run it naked. It was the first time and as far as we know it's the inaugural “Birthday Bean Fields”. We got down to the path and there were only...three guys who actually took all their clothes off, except for their shoes. Johnny was one of them. They ditched their shorts in the weeds and we were all running along—maybe 15 of us—and we were running along with three guys scattered throughout the group with no clothes on. This run goes along a road for a lot of ways, with cars passing us and we were passing people on the path. It was a nice day out, so people were walking. Some people noticed, some people didn't. We just thought it was hilarious and the whole run was fun. We get closer back to campus and it starts and ends near the track where we start and finish all of our runs. We were close to getting back and having pulled this off without getting any trouble. Well, we see a police car parked right near where the path hits the road. The three (naked) guys turn around and start sprinting the other way to some railroad tracks that would bring them back to campus. We just kept running like it was no big thing. The policeman got us to stop and interrogated all of us and threatened to throw us in the paddywagon and take us to the station if we didn't give up the names of the people who were naked. Apparently we ran by a school that we didn't know existed...which is really bad because they're kids there. The whole fiasco ended with us giving them their names. They sent out an email that night about how they were going to have to go to court and were going to be away from school for a while. That was a complete joke and they punked us on that. We though we sold them out and their lives were over. The whole thing ended with them having to do some community service or something. It was totally worth it.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1097-michael-maag-kwik-e Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1100-nyrr-brutus-hamilton-distance-carnival Flotrack's West Coast team will be on site at the 2009 NYRR Brutus Hamilton Distance Carnival. They will have 3 cameras for some of the races to try and give you the best coverage possible. Some of the top athletes that will be competing on Friday night are below.   Men's 5000 metersJuan Luis Barrios, MEX - 2008 Olympian, 5000mBobby Curtis, USA - 2008 NCAA Champion, 5000mTom Lancashire, GBR - 2008 Olympian, 1500mKevin Sullivan, CAN - Three-time Olympian and Canadian record-holder, 1500mJorge Torres, USA - 2008 Olympian, 10,000m The race will be paced by Jon Rankin and Haron Lagat.   Women's 5000 metersMary Cullen, IRL - 2009 European Indoor Championships bronze medalist, 3000mEmily Brown, USA - 2009 USA Cross Country championSara Hall, USA - 2009 USA Indoor Championships runner-up, 3000m Shannon Rowbury, USA - 2008 Olympian, 1500mSara Slattery, USA - 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist, 10,000m   Men's 10,000 metersMichael Aish, NZL - Two-time OlympianCollis Birmingham, AUS - 2008 Olympian, 5000mMartin Fagan, IRL - 2008 Olympian, marathon, and Irish record-holder, half-marathonAnthony Famiglietti, USA - Two-time OlympianAndrew Lemoncello, GBR - 2008 Olympian, 3000m steeplechaseEd Moran, USA - 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist, 5000mJuan Carlos Romero, MEX - 2008 Olympian, 10,000m The race will be paced by Bolota Asmerom and Haron Lagat.   Women's 10,000 metersKatie McGregor, USA - Four-time USA championPhiles Ongori, KEN - 2008 world's fifth-ranked 10,000-meter runnerDulce Maria Rodriguez , MEX - Three-time Olympian     5:45 PM Steeplechase Women University/Open  6:00 PM Steeplechase Women NYRR Invitational  6:12 PM Steeplechase Men University/Open  6:26 PM Steeplechase Men NYRR Invitational  6:37 PM 5000 meters Women University/Open  6:57 PM Maxwell Family - 5000 meters Men University/Open  7:14 PM 10000 meters Women University/Open  7:53 PM 10000 meters Men University/Open  8:28 PM 5000 meters Women NYRR Invitational 8:46 PM 5000 meters Men NYRR Invitational  9:02 PM 10000 meters Women NYRR Invitational 9:39 PM 10000 meters Men NYRR Invitational     Mark From Flotrack http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1100-nyrr-brutus-hamilton-distance-carnival Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:38:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1099-goucher-named-athlete-of-the-week 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 website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher. BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING APRIL 19 MEN 100 - 10.19 Darvis Patton (Nike) - Waco, TX 4/18 200 - 20.17 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Greensboro, NC 4/18 400 - 45.27 Gil Roberts (Texas Tech) - Waco, TX 4/18 800 - 1:46.85 Duane Solomon (unat) - Walnut, CA 4/18 1500 - 3:41.46 Tommy Schmitz (WRRT) - Walnut, CA 4/17 Mile - 3:58.90 Alan Webb (Nike) - Lawrence, KS 4/18 3000SC - 8:39.19 Cory Thorne (Louisville) - Walnut, CA 4/16 5000 - 13:17.98 Anthony Famiglietti (Saucony) - Walnut, CA 4/17 10,000 - 28:52.26 Carls Trujillo (Eugene RC) - Walnut, CA 4/16 110H - 13.37 Antwon Hicks (adidas) & Dexter Faulk (Nike) - Lawrence, KS 4/18 400H - 49.78 Reuben McCoy (unat) - Lawrence, KS 4/18 HJ - 2.25/7-4.5 Jamie Nieto (Nike) & Trent Arrivey (Washington State) - Walnut, CA 4/18 PV - 5.50/18-0.5 Jason Colwick (Rice) - Austin, TX 4/18 & Jordan Scott (unat) - Lawrence, KS 4/17 LJ - 8.01/26-3.5 Jarod Tobler (unat) - Walnut, CA 4/18 TJ - 16.97/55-8.25 Brandon Roulhac (Shore AC) - Walnut, CA 4/18 SP - 21.53/70-7.75 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Goree, SEN 4/17 DT - 59.87/196-5 Casey Malone (Nike) - Walnut, CA 4/18 HT - 76.85/252-1 Jake Freeman (Iron Ball AC) - Princeton, NJ 4/17 JT - 78.38/257-2 Cyrus Hostetler (Oregon) - Eugene, OR 4/18 Dec - 7636W Chris Randolph (unat) - Azusa, CA 4/16 WOMEN 100 - 10.96 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) - Walnut, CA 4/18 200 - 22.74 Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) - Greensboro, NC 4/18 400 - 52.26 Jessica Beard (Texas A&M) - Baton Rouge, LA 4/18 800 - 2:02.69 Geena Gall (Michigan) - Walnut, CA 4/18 1500 - 4:14.66 Brenda Martinez (UC-Riverside) - Walnut, CA 4/17 3000SC - 9:46.56 Lindsey Anderson (Nike) - Walnut, CA 4/16 5000 - 15:34.17 Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) - Walnut, CA 4/17 10,000 - 33:37.83 Catherine White (Arkansas) - Walnut, CA 4/16 100H - 12.83 Damu Cherry (Nike) - Lawrence, KS 4/18 400H - 56.03 Queen Harrison (Virginia Tech) - Coral Gables, FL 4/18 HJ - 1.90/6-2.75 Amy Acuff (Asics) - Walnut, CA 4/18 PV - 4.55/14-11 Chelsea Johnson (Nike) - Walnut, CA 4/18 LJ - 6.75/22-1.75 Akiba McKinney (HPC Elite) - Walnut, CA 4/18 TJ - 13.92/45-8 Shakeema Welsch (unat) - Walnut, CA 4/18 SP - 17.96/58-11.25 Jill Camarena (NYAC) - Walnut, CA 4/18 DT - 59.67/195-9 Suzy Powell (Asics) - Walnut, CA 4/18 HT - 70.61/231-8 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) - Walnut, CA 4/18 JT - 55.62/182-6 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Walnut, CA 4/17 Hept - 5823 Sharon Day (Asics) - Azusa, CA 4/16 About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.  For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org USATF Press http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1099-goucher-named-athlete-of-the-week Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1094-2009-ncaa-division-i-outdoor-track-and-field-championships-schedule 2009 NCAA DIVISION I OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS All times are subject to change Day One - Wednesday, June 10, 2009 COMBINED EVENTS TIME EVENT 11:30a.m. 100 Meters Decathlon Long Jump Decathlon Shot Put Decathlon High Jump Decathlon 400 Meters Decathlon FIELD EVENTS TIME EVENT ROUND 10:30a.m. Hammer Men Qualifying 1:00 p.m. Hammer Women Qualifying 3:00 Shot Put Men Qualifying  4:00 Long Jump Men Qualifying  4:15 Shot Put Women Qualifying 4:30 Pole Vault Men Qualifying 5:30 High Jump Women Qualifying 5:30 Javelin Women Qualifying  7:15 Pole Vault Women Qualifying 7:30 Long Jump Women Qualifying 8:00 High Jump Men Qualifying 8:00 Javelin Men Qualifying TRACK EVENTS TIME EVENT ROUND 5:00 p.m. 4 x 100 Relay Women Semifinal 5:15 4 x 100 Relay Men Semifinal 5:30 800 Meters Women First Round 5:45 800 Meters Men First Round 6:00 100 Meters Women First Round 6:15 100 Meters Men First Round 6:30 400 Hurdles Women First Round 6:45 400 Hurdles Men First Round 7:00 400 Meters Women First Round 7:15 400 Meters Men First Round 7:30 100 Meters Women Semifinal 7:40 100 Meters Men Semifinal 7:50 3000 SC Women Semifinal 8:15 3000 SC Men Semifinal 8:40 5000 Meters Women Semifinal 9:25 5000 Meters Men Semifinal 2009 NCAA DIVISION I OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Day Two - Thursday, June 11, 2009 COMBINED EVENTS TIME EVENT TIME EVENT 11:15a.m. 100 Hurdles Heptathlon 2:30 p.m. 110 Hurdles Decathlon High Jump Heptathlon Discus Decathlon Shot Put Heptathlon Pole Vault Decathlon 200 Meters Heptathlon Javelin Decathlon 1500 Meters Decathlon FIELD EVENTS TIME EVENT ROUND 10:30 a.m. Discus Women Qualifying 1:00 p.m. Discus Men Qualifying 4:45 LJ Men Final 4:45 LJ Women Final 4:45 Shot Put Women Final 6:15 Shot Put Men Final TRACK EVENTS TIME EVENT ROUND 5:30 p.m. 100 Hurdles Women First Round 5:50 110 Hurdles Men First Round 6:10 200 Meters Women First Round 6:25  200 Meters Men First Round 6:45 400 Hurdles Women Semifinal 7:00 400 Hurdles Men Semifinal 7:15 800 Meters Women Semifinal 7:25 800 Meters Men Semifinal 7:35 200 Meters Women Semifinal 7:45  200 Meters Men Semifinal 7:55 1500 Meters Women Semifinal 8:10 1500 Meters Men Semifinal 8:25 4 x 400 Relay Women Semifinal 8:40 4 x 400 Relay Men Semifinal 8:55 10,000 Meters Women Final 9:45 10,000 Meters Men Final 2009 NCAA DIVISION I OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Day Three - Friday, June 12, 2009 COMBINED EVENTS TIME EVENT 1:45 p.m. Long Jump Heptathlon Javelin Heptathlon 800 Meters Heptathlon FIELD EVENTS TIME EVENT ROUND 11:00a.m. Hammer Women Final 1:00 p.m. Hammer Men Final 3:00 TJ Women Qualifying 3:45 PV Men Final 4:00 HJ Women Final 4:30 TJ Men Qualifying 5:30 Javelin Women Final 7:00 PV Women Final 7:00 HJ Men Final 7:30 Javelin Men Final TRACK EVENTS (Television 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.) TIME EVENT ROUND 6:05 4 x 100 Relay Women Final 6:15 4 x 100 Relay Men Final 6:25 3000 SC Women Final 6:40 3000 SC Men Final 6:55 100 Hurdles Women Semifinal 7:05 110 Hurdles Men Semifinal 7:15 400 Meters Women Semifinal 7:25 400 Meters Men Semifinal 7:35 100 Meters Women Final 7:45 100 Meters Men Final 7:55 400 Hurdles Women Final 8:05 400 Hurdles Men Final 8:15 5000 Meters Women Final 8:40 5000 Meters Men Final 2009 NCAA DIVISION I OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Day Four – Saturday, June 13, 2009 FIELD EVENTS TIME EVENT ROUND 10:00 a.m. Discus Men Final 12:00 p.m. Triple Jump Women Final 12:00  Triple Jump Men Final 12:00 Discus Women Final TRACK EVENTS (Television 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.) TIME EVENT ROUND 12:05 p.m. 400 Meters Women Final 12:12 400 Meters Men Final 12:19 800 Meters Women Final 12:28 800 Meters Men Final 12:35 200 Meters Women Final 12:42 200 Meters Men Final 12:52 100 Hurdles Women Final 12:59 110 Hurdles Men Final 1:09 1500 Meters Women Final 1:21 1500 Meters Men Final 1:35 4 x 400 Relay Women Final 1:45 4 x 400 Relay Men Final NCAA News http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1094-2009-ncaa-division-i-outdoor-track-and-field-championships-schedule Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:14:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1092-dii-interview-clarions-erin-richards Clarion’s Erin Richards currently has one of the DII season’s leading times in the women’s 10k, running a 34:38.69 at the Stanford Invitational on March 27. Her time was 40 seconds faster than last year's  10k winner at the NCAA Division II National Championship. Richard’s time is just 21 seconds shy of being among the Top 20 10k marks of all-time in NCAA Division II.  She has a chance to make this list at the Penn Relays, where she is running later this week. Richards did not start running until her sophomore year at McDowell high school in Erie, Michigan.  “I went with the distance group because I didn't think I was fast or strong enough to do anything else.  After my first week of practice the coach told me I should run cross country. He had to keep telling me every day for about a year before I gave in and ran cross county as a senior” she recounts.  She continues, explaining that she did not always run the longer events, “My favorite event was always the 4 x 8 and our relay won districts and went to states all 3 years I ran.” Even with this success in high school, Richards was still not sure but running college, but her Clarion visit eased her mind. “I choose Clarion because it is known as a good teaching school.  I came for a visit and liked the coach and the athletes I met.  The program was a little more laid back then and a little less intimidating than other schools I visited.  I liked this because I wasn't really sure how into running I was” she says. Clarion seems to fit.  She has become the most decorated women’s track athlete in the school’s history with five All-American honors. “The highlight of my college career so far was running the DMR at indoor nationals this year.  It was so much to fun to go there as a part of a relay and to run as a team.  Our relay worked really hard and I was so proud to stand on the podium with Molly, Lisa, and Diane after we finished fourth,” she explains. This career highlight is also one of her craziest experiences. She recalls, “The craziest thing that I can think of was running an extra lap at end of the DMR at indoor nationals.  It was out of control, girls were running, and then stepping off the track and coming back on, weaving in and out, looking like they were going to fall over.  I don't think anyone running had a clue what was going on and people were screaming all around and you had no idea what they wanted you to do.  It was a funny experience.” Even though this is her senior season,  her goals are modest: “My goals going into the season were to pr in the 5k and 10k,” she continues, “Right now the plan is to run a 5k at Penn Relays next week.  Then get in a 3k the next week.  After that we will decide what I want to run at conference and at nationals.” Her plans for after graduation are still up in the air. “For me, this is the hardest question! I have been avoiding this one for a long time; I pretty much want to stay in college forever. But, I am working on figuring stuff out right now, I'm not sure what that means yet though” she concludes. Cara Hawkins http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1092-dii-interview-clarions-erin-richards Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:09:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1084-zack-lloyd-kwik-e <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> University of Arizona's top shot putter, senior Zack Lloyd, has a huge personal-best throw of 69 feet even under his belt. The only thing that eludes this college journeyman is an NCAA national championship. Lloyd is looking to accomplish joining the 70-foot club and also getting that elusive title this outdoor season.   What are your goals for this outdoor season? I'm looking to get an NCAA title under my belt, which is my number one goal. Then my next goal is 70 feet. My best is 69 feet even, so I'm just a foot off.   Do you feel like you can easily hit that mark and things just haven't fallen into place yet or is it something you'll really have to work toward? Pretty much, I know it's in me. I just don't think that my technique has come together enough to accomplish that throw. I know it will and...it might be farther than 70 feet. We will have to wait and see.   What kind of adjustments will you have to make? Just minor technical things like staying more over my right leg through the middle and stuff like that. It shouldn't be too hard to accomplish with all the heavy lifting we do. And as I back off through the season even more, things should really start coming together. I didn't really back off too much for indoors.   So, what makes the perfect throw? That's a good question. It's basically just feeling good at the right moment. Really when you're in the ring...it's when you move the smoothest through the circle out of the back. When you move and you're fast and it feels effortless. That's when you know it's going to be a good throw. To finish that off, you get this little pop off your hand when the shot leaves...and it feels just amazing. You've got to let out a big yell to show it was a good one.   You know once it leaves your hand if it's a good throw or not? Oh yeah! You can tell a big difference.   Can you explain a week of shot put training for you? Our lifting starts on Sunday and we lift pretty much Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday—and we have a couple of days to recover for our meet on Saturday, or Friday. Sunday we do our upper body. Monday we go out and we throw a greater amount of throws, but we're more technical with them. Then I usually take Tuesday completely off, no throwing, no lifting. On Wednesday we do lifting—upper body again—then we do throws again, but they're harder throws. Less throws, but harder. We're trying to get more geared for the meet. Then the same thing on Friday, with lots of practice. We take a couple throws and treat it just like a meet so we're completely geared for the meet on Saturday.   What does the diet of a thrower like you consist of ? My diet? I actually try to eat about five meals a day. Five to six meals a day. I eat in the morning around 7 a.m. Then I have a have a meal-replacement shake around about 10 a.m. Then my lunch at 1 p.m., which is perfect because I lift around 2 p.m., and that gives me enough fuel for my workout. Then, I eat again at 4 p.m. and try to get in a couple of meals...if not just one more meal around 7 p.m. If I feel like I need extra calories...I'll eat again around 10 p.m.   Who are some shot putters that you look up to? The number one thrower that I look at is—the guy I think is the best thrower of all-time—the world record holder Randy Barnes. I know he got in trouble a couple of times, but that doesn't change the fact that he's got one of the best techniques. I heard of the strength level that he was at and what kind of athlete he was, so that's the one that I look up to.   Do you watch his videos on YouTube to get yourself pumped up to compete? I watch his world record throws, actually his world record series, which was at UCLA. I usually watch it every night or every other night. Not to sound like a creep, but I like to watch it and get that image in my head. When I go out to practice...I know what I want it to look like.   What was your 2008 Olympic Trials experience like? It was a great experience. It was my first major competition outside of NCAAs. I've never been to the USA Championships. But I didn't get past the qualifying round. I've never competed in that kind of atmosphere before against Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa competing right next to me...Cantwell. I was real nervous, so getting those nerves out will help me out during my career. The more I compete at those high-level meets, the better off I'm going to be.   Why did you bounce around so much from college to college? That's an interesting story. The coach I'm coached by now, Craig Carter, is actually my high school coach's coach. When I was in high school, Carter was at Utah State. When I signed, about a week or two after I signed, he had gotten another job somewhere else. I was kind of stuck at Utah State for a year. I had nothing I could do...so, I just went there my first year and had a great experience there, liked the coach and everything, but thought if I wanted to get better then I had to move on to find a coach that better suited me. It actually worked out with perfect timing, because at the end of my freshman year, I met Nicole (his wife) through track, who went to the University of Utah, and we met at a track meet. So, it was time to move on. I couldn't get into anywhere else at the time. Then I took that first semester off that second year and ended up going to Salt Lake Community College. That spring semester I took 10 credits or something, just to get some classes out of the way, and was still in contact with Carter, and went down to Provo a couple of times to train with him. He told me to go to Mesa Community College because one of the best coaches, for a community college, was there and if I wanted to go to a division one college then I'd have to go through a community college to get my associates degree then I could move back up. So, I went to Mesa with my wife Nicole. As I was there, Carter got the throws coaching job at the University of Arizona. So, I thought, “perfect, we'll just head over to the University of Arizona.”   Four colleges? Yeah.   As a married man, how does the go with being an always-traveling, top division one student athlete? It's perfect because she's a thrower on the team as well. They don't let us stay in the same room, and I can understand why. She goes everywhere I go. We've got every single class together. Our practice, our lifting schedules, we live together. She literally is...my partner.   After college, what are you looking to do? Nicole and I are talking about it and we really haven't come to something yet. Depending on how this year goes, I could continue with throwing or not. If I continue, I'm going to stay in Tuscon. If not, I'll just have to get a job somewhere.   What's your degree going to be in? Regional development. It ranges and could open up a lot of doors for me, depending what I want to do. It can range from commercial real estate to city planning and everything in between.   Dating back into high school when you first started, you've been a top thrower. Could you really just put the shot put away and go to a job every day? Absolutely. My one, and only, true love is lifting. That's something that I'll never have to get away from. So, I think I could.   The shot putting is just an addition to the lifting? Pretty much. Don't tell my coach though. Just kidding. That's mainly how I got into throwing. I started lifting in high school and the guy that opened up the weight room happened to be the throws coach and he wanted me to come out and throw. When track season started he couldn't open it up anymore until after practice. He said, “well, if you're going to be up here waiting, why don't you just come to practice and throw some?”   All right, can you give me your max bench, your max squat, that kind of stuff? Power cleans, I don't really catch anymore. The most I've ever caught was about 180 kilos, which I'm not really sure how much that converts to in pounds. My bench, which is actually the main thing I've been working on this year, the last time I maxed out for one rep was 475 once. I could have done more, but I wanted to save more for later. Squats—my number one love—I squatted over 600 pounds in high school. I haven't maxed out for one in a long, long time, but I've done 725 for two. My coach doesn't let me push those either, so there's more in the tank.   Can you give me a crazy throwing-related story? I've been hit in the neck with a shot put before...from a teammate. He was doing drills in the ring and didn't have a shot put at the time, so I walked out to get my own shot put. Next thing I know, everyone at practice was yelling “heads, heads” and I turned around and looked up. I saw the ball coming and tried to move and put my hands up, but it was so fast that it slammed me in the side of the neck...at an angle. It was a 12-pound shot put...so, it bounced right off and didn't hurt or anything. I kind of choked a little bit.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/1084-zack-lloyd-kwik-e Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/960-upcoming-canadian-events-spring-2009 (c) Copyright - 2009 - Christopher Kelsall  Vancouver Sun Run (10k) – Vancouver, BC - April 12, 2009 – The 25th annual Vancouver Sun Run takes place Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Vancouver. Approximately 60, 000 participants are expected to register for the event, which boasts one of, if not the fastest 10k road race courses in Canada and possibly North America. Athletes looking for a fast road race can count on a flat route with few turns and a very quick, downhill first mile. The Vancouver Sun Run is the 2nd largest timed 10K in the world and the 3rd largest timed run of any distance in the world. Vancouver Sun Run Records New Course record - Men: James Kosgei, Kenya, 27:58 (2002)New Course record - Women: Isabella Ochichi, Kenya, 30:55 (2006) Old Course record - Women: Angela Chalmers, Vancouver, 31:05 (1996)Old Course record - Men: Joseph Kimani, Kenya, 27:31 (1996) Total prize purse of $20,000 is available to athletes. The first three male and female finishers overall receive: International   1st -  $3,000 2nd - $1,0003rd -  $  5004th - $   5005th - $   250 Canadian 1st -  $20002nd - $10003rd -  $ 750 Masters (40 plus) 1st  - $7502nd - $5003rd - $250 Contact information Banque Scotia 21K de Montréal - 2009 Canadian Half-Marathon Championships – April 13, 2009 -The 20th annual Banque Scotia half marathon takes place this Sunday, April 19, 2009, which acts as the Canadian Half–Marathon Championships. A very strong field of Canadians are registered to contest this event on the streets of Montreal. The women’s race is open however, Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Thornhill, Ontario was off from racing most of last year with injury, her return will be of interest to fans of marathon running in Canada. Lioudmila otherwise would be one of the favourites to achieve an IAAF World Track and Field Championships time later this spring during the hotly anticipated Ottawa Marathon. Ottawa represents a last chance for Canadian marathon runners to achieve standard to contest the Worlds in Berlin. Tara Quinn-Smith already has reserved herself a spot on the Canadian team heading to Berlin with her Ottawa 2008 marathon time of 2:33:58, her marathon debut. Top 9 seeded women and men are listed below. For the men all eyes will be on Jon Brown, 2 time 4th place Olympian in the marathon at Athens and Sydney, he twice has run 2:09. Brown currently holds the UK National 10, 000m record  of 27:18’14. Steve Osaduik is in the midst of a comeback from more than a year under the influence of injury and the recovery from it. Osaduik 2:16:47 will be in good company with the likes of Mathew McInnes 2:16:58, Andrew Smith 2:16:16 (Tara’s husband) and Giitah Macharia 2:16:54. Prizing Men & Women     * 1st — $2,000    * 2nd — $1,200    * 3rd — $1,000    * 4th — $800    * 5th — $500 Top seeds Women Rita          Ivanauskas      Vancouver      BCLioudmila     Kortchaguina    Thornhill      ONIsabelle      Ledroit         Montreal       QCLiz           Maguire         Ottawa         ONAngelica      Martinez        Montreal       QCKatherine     Moore           Vancouver      BCTara          Quinn Smith     Toronto        ONPaula         Wiltse          Brockville     ONNatasha       Yaremczuk       Paris          ON Men Charles       Bedley          Toronto        ONJon           Brown           Victoria       BCOukid         Fethi           Montreal       QCGiitah        Macharia        Oakville       ONScott         McDonell        Mississauga    ONMatthew       McInnes         Ottawa         ONChristian     Mercier         Quebec         QCSteve         Osaduik         Langley        BCTewfik        Recioui         Verdun         QCAndrew        Smith           Toronto        ONDarl          Sutherland      Peterborough   ON Contact information Times Colonist 10k - Victoria, BC April 12, 2009 – The 20th annual Times Colonist 10k takes place April 26, 2009 near downtown Victoria. To ensure the continued success and delivery of a quality race experience, the 2009 edition of the event will be capped for the first time in the event’s history. A maximum of 13, 000 participants will be allowed to register with online registration closing April, 20th. In-person registration can happen at participating sponsor stores and at official race hotel, Harbour Towers until Saturday, April 25th or until the cap is achieved.  Prizing $12,000 will be distributed to the top 5 runners overall in the TC10K in the male and female category and the top 3 male and female runners in the masters division. · Prize money distribution is based upon gun time results for overall and masters division. · Decisions of the race referee and jury of appeal are final and cannot be contested. · Masters division competitors are defined as 40 years old and older. Masters division runners are NOT eligible for both overall prize money awards and masters division prize money awards. If a master division runner qualifies for both, he or she will receive the greater of the two amounts. International 1st - $1200   2nd - $ 800   3rd - $ 600   4th - $ 300   5th - $ 100   Canadian 1st -  $6002nd - $4003rd -  $2004th - $1505th - $100 Masters 1st - $5002nd - $3003rd - $200 TC 10k records Men James Bungei, Kenya  28:51 1996 WomenAngela Chalmers, Canada 33:03 1994 Contact information Canadian Mountain Running Selection The Canadian Mountain Running team selection will take place Saturday, June 13th at the Canadian Mountain Running Championships, which will take place in Canmore, Alberta at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Prize money is up for grabs to the top athletes who commit to the national team. Athletes in contention for the prizing should be a member of Athletics Canada or the provincial equivalent. Athletes must also be members of Canadian Trail & Mountain Running Association (CTMRA) to participate. Prizing Men & Women 1st   - $5002nd  - $3003rd   - $2004th   - $100 Winners regardless of affiliation or citizenship will win a print from a local artist valued at $500. Selection criteria The top three men and women at the Canadian Mountain Championships in Canmore, Alberta will be selected to represent Canada at the 2009 North American, Central American and South American (NACAC) Mountain Running Championships, in New Hampshire, on Sunday June 28th. These six team members are also selected for the World Mountain Running Championships, which will for the first time be patronized by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) as a World Mountain Running Championship, to be held in Campodolcino Italy, September 6th 2009. Two additional men will be selected from the Canadian championships at the Canmore Nordic Centre to be part of this team. A sixth man and a fourth woman will be selected based on trail and road race results following the NACAC championships. Priority will be given to those who race the Canadian championships and or the NACAC championships. If potential competitors have questions, contact CTMRA President, John Lofranco by send an email to: john.lofranco@mountainrunning.ca  Other races from around the country during the next few weeks: Sporting Life 10k Vancouver International Marathon ACU 50 mile National Championships   Christopher Kelsall is sponsored by Island Runner Footwear, located in Victoria, BC - Check out the store's site: Island Runner.   - Site temporarily down due to maintanence.  Chris is a member of the Lydiard FoundationContact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org    Christopher Kelsall http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/960-upcoming-canadian-events-spring-2009 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:05:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/947-andrea-walkonen-kwik-e At the Stanford Invitational, Boston University senior Andrea Walkonen got her NCAA-automatic qualifying time in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 33 minutes, <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in 13.66 seconds. Walkonen's not going to be racing much as she's going to focus on the 10,000 at Nationals.   You're still a bit of an “unknown” although you were All-American in cross country and indoors. Do you prefer it that way or would you rather be a high-profile athlete? It's kind of fun to be one of the unknowns because people are shocked when you show up and do something. They're like, “wow, where'd she come from?” It's kind of fun being an unknown. I like it.   What was “plan b” if you didn't get the auto at Stanford? Actually, you know what? My coach, Bruce (Lehane), usually if he's pretty confident that I can do something than I'm confident that I can do something. He was pretty sure that I would get it. There really wasn't a plan b, to be honest.   It was going to happen no matter what? Yup. I was going to go for it no matter what. There was no reason not to.   And did you feel pretty comfortable running it? Oh yeah! That felt great. It actually felt easy...so that's definitely a good sign with Nationals to come.   Are you going to take time off now and train for that 10k specifically or are you going to throw some 5ks in there? I think I'm going to pretty much just focus on training for the 10k right now. Conference is the first week of May and I think I'll do the 10k there. Then pretty much just training for that 10k at Nationals this year.   Your personal best is low 16s for 5k, right? Yup. 16:03.   Do you know that you have 15s in your legs? I do. I do to be perfectly honest. That race wasn't run very smart and I still ran 16:03. If I'd run it the way I was supposed to, then I'd definitely been sub-16.   Isn't it tempting to come off of a new personal best, like at Stanford, and try to set another one in the 5k? It is. It's very tempting. I thought about it this morning, I thought, “I kind of want to race the five to see if I could go for the school record and a personal best.” It's very tempting...but I do what my coach tells me to do because he knows what he's doing. If he says, “no fives” then no fives. I'll have to just brush it off and keep training for the 10.   Have you had any setbacks along your development as a runner? Injuries? Yes, I have. My junior year, I had surgery on my right foot, because in 2005 I broke a bone in my foot. I didn't realize it and ran on it for two years and the two pieces of bone separated and pulled apart in my foot. One of them ended up in between my nerve and second metatarsal. Basically when you hit your funny bone and it tingles and it hurts...well, that's what my foot felt like for about six months until I had the surgery. Two weeks after the surgery, I was back to running almost full mileage. It was a quick recovery.   How did it come to your attention? Was it a gradual thing or was it like one day you took a step and could tell that something was drastically wrong in your foot? It was pretty much that I took a step and something was drastically wrong. It had been bluing for the two years and I had been running on it and that's what made it worse and worse, but it actually popped up at outdoor Nationals my sophomore year, in the 10k. That was the year I had to pull out of the 10k, unfortunately, and it was because of this foot injury. I got tripped and I didn't fall, but that foot kind of jammed into the ground a little bit harder. As soon as it hit there was immediate pain and I got another five laps before I just couldn't handle it any more. It was excruciating.   Can you explain your mileage and training a little bit? I do pretty high mileage because my focus is on the 10k. The longer I go, the better I tend to get. Cross country season I put in a couple of 100 mile weeks, so it was up there, but I average between 70 and 90 a week. Then, in indoor track, it gets cold and stuff and I don't run outside as much. I cut back on mileage and that was really good for me. It was good mentally and physically to get a little bit of a break. I cut back to maybe 60 and 75 a week. I'd say more in the 67-70 range as an average. My mileage is going to start going back up because of the 10k. I focused mainly on the 5k for indoors and didn't really need high mileage. Now that I'm back in the 10k, I'm getting back into 70 to 80 mile weeks again. It will be gradual and I'm not there yet. I'd say that I'm at maybe 73 miles a week. For training, you've got your standard interval workout, where they get tougher as we get toward the 10k. I had my first 10k workout the other day, which from the sounds of it, I thought I was going to die...but once I started doing it, it felt great. I definitely know that I'm built for the longer distances.   Does that mean you want to move up on the roads after you graduate or what are your plans? After school is done, I'd really like to go pro. Bruce and I have been discussing different clubs and groups that I might be able to run for. I haven't really looked too much into it because I'm trying to get through this season and do some good work here for BU as running goes and hopefully make a good name for myself. I feel like that will really help...and so does Bruce. I haven't thought too much beyond this year as far as what I'm going to do. Ideally I'd like to go pro, but it's a matter of someone recognizing you. I'd love to run for Nike or something huge like that, but that's definitely a hard fish to catch. We'll keep trying though and see what happens.   As far as distance is concerned, would your distance be above the 10k? Probably yes. Some people think I would be a good marathoner. I may go as far as marathons. I'd one day like to do an Ironman, just to say I did it, but I don't want to do Ironmans as my main event. I'll most likely do marathons, 10ks and half-marathons. That will be my limit.   You come out of high school as a multiple state champion and were probably looking at multiple colleges, why did you decide to stay in New England, when you probably could have went somewhere warmer? What kept you there? I think what kept me here was the recruiting. Bruce was the best recruiter I had. He's very positive and very interested in what I was doing. By him being interested in what I was doing, I was interested in what his team was doing. That really caught my attention, the way he treats his athletes. I loved working with Bruce from day one, so I think he was probably the main reason that I decided to stay in New England. That and that I'm a big home body in school. I was originally going to go to UNH before I even thought about running. I was going to stay in New Hampshire to be very close to my family. I love my family to death and we do a lot together.   What are you hobbies aside from running? I'm like any other college kid. I like going to the movies. I'm not a big partier. I'm a big fan of the beach, which is one thing...there are no beaches around here. I like to hang out with my friends. I have a good friend on the crew team and when she's racing I try to get over there and watch her on the river.   In your Flotrack video interview I saw the big tiger tattoo on your shoulder, how painful was that? How painful? Give me a scale?   1-100. It was up in the 70s. It was pretty painful.   Are you done for a little while? You've obviously got a good threshold for pain. Are you looking to your next tattoo? I'm definitely thinking about my next tattoo. The tiger's my seventh tattoo, so I'm thinking about eight and nine at least. I don't know what I want or where I want to get it. It will take some planning before I actually get it. As far as pain thresholds go...I'd say I've got one of the highest.   That's what enables you to run with broken bones in your foot for two years and not know it. (Laughs) Exactly. My coach, the other day, asks me, “do you have any nerves left in your body?”   What is the driving force inside of you that makes you want to compete? Just the fact that I can. It's as simple as that. It makes me want to do it and I want to do it. I think it's also the support that I get from family and friends. They think it's great what I do and race for them, you know? I go out there and do it for them as much as I do it for myself.   You're in the 10k for Nationals, which is half the battle. What are your goals for that race? I would like to run sub-33 if I can. Ideally, I'd like to win it. Everyone would like to win it. Why not? Why not go for it? If I have a shot at it, I'm going to go for it. Hopefully I'll be able to run under 33 minutes. My school record is 32:41, so I'd like to get that, but I won't beat myself up if I don't get it. I'd definitely like that though.   Can you give me a crazy running story? Hmmm, I'm trying to think. Once when we were running out in San Francisco, there are a bunch of crazy people there. I think this is just a weird run-in. There was a guy running around with a shopping cart. In the shopping cart was a big sign that said something about Jesus loving us all or something. He was running around with no shirt on, he had a speedo on, but he had a big plastic butt, so it looked like he was naked from behind. That was definitely one of the weirdest experiences I've ever had running. I was like, “oh, dear”.     Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/947-andrea-walkonen-kwik-e Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/948-hormones-working-overtime-by-danny-mackey-ms Hormones Working OvertimeBy Danny Mackey M.S. This article will fortuitously be a continuation from the article “Breaking Apart the Year.”  The only reason this is a “Part Duex” is because my mind wanders so aimlessly, sometimes things come together in order.  Also, I wanted to thank you for the emails and postings wishing me luck on the Achilles injury.  The MRI results came back and neither the tendon nor sheath is torn.  On the other hand, I do have edema in my talus (I only have a hypotheses on why, so I would be curious if someone out there has an opinion) and in the sheath near my fibula (where the pain is).  Thus, with some treatment and a “smart” comeback things are looking brighter.  If you would have been in the doctor’s office prior to the MRI you would understand why I did not sleep for a few days.  I am now convinced that Flotrack has special medicinal powers, though I am not sure science can prove the “why” with the Flotrack healing.  Some things are better left unknown anyway.In the last article we looked at two specific hormones, cortisol and growth hormone.  So we observed how much these two hormones can change in a given microcycle depending on the workload.  Today, I want to take a step back and break apart the 2 types of overtraining and look at some ways physiologists and coaches can quantify overtraining hormonally.  I am not intending this on being the one-stop shop for all the hormone information.  One reason is I simply do not know everything, or even a small percentage of everything.  While studying up on hormones I experienced the cliche’ “the more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.”  My intention is to keep the wheels rolling in your minds with the advancement of the science and track and field relationship.  So we are on the same page, we need to have a working definition of overtraining.  What I think of is; athletes that have too much stress combined with too little time for regeneration.  As an athlete, I had coaches tell me running poorly is mental.  Just “get tough” and you will be fine.  Well, mental aspects are a part of the overall equation, as alterations in mood are an affect of overtraining.  But, research has found significant decreases of maximal power output, VO2 Max and maximal heart rate resulting from overtraining.  Also found was increases in blood lactate concentration at a given workload.  In other words, toughen up as much as you want, the body does have a limit.There are two types of overtraining according to research done in the 1950’s by Dr. S. Israel.  Athletes typically experience either an Addisonoid or a Basedovoid syndrome.  Both are the result of an unbalanced autonomic nervous system.  Addisonoid type of overtraining is when the parasympathetic system and vagal tone or dominant.  Basedovoid overtraining is when the sympathetic system dominates and the athlete is in a hyperadrenergic state.  Basedovoid overtraining encompasses the more classic symptoms you have probably all experienced: sleep disturbance, lack of appetite, high resting heart rate, depression, and irritability.   As a distance runner you would experience this during the intense workout part of the season, and it is generally encountered in power sports.  Addisonoid overtraining is harder to diagnosis because you do not show the classic symptoms, but the end result, a.k.a. your performance will be hindered.  Addisonian overtraining is typically a result of high volume monotonous training, as seen in base training.  Bringing it back to hormones; these types are both related to adrenocortical subactivity or thyroid hyperfunction.  I have experienced both of these over the years and I can say the Addisonoid overtraining is far more frustrating.  Everything felt fine, even the easy running days were ok, but once I had to “hammer” it felt like I had a restrictor plate on my engine.  Frustrated, I would run my workouts ever more intense.  As a result, I was so fried I had to shut down an entire track season and rest completely for 8 weeks.  Overtraining “rest” is different then a injury because even cross training can have a negative impact.As science evolves, coaches and athletes will monitor hormones to gain more information.   It should be noted that science does not know everything.   Yet, what we are trying to do is get closer to identifying if the athlete should rest or needs to “get tough” in the midst of underperforming.  Look at the Olympic Development teams in the US.  Most of them have their athletes getting regular blood checkups during training.  What the blood profile will focus on is any drop cortisol (this may be counterintuitive to you, any guess on why?), growth hormone, catecholamines (think adrenaline) and testosterone.  It is important to keep in mind that this is not as straight forward as we would like.  If the athlete is experience a hyperadrenegic type of overtraining the catecholamines will be elevated, though the sensitivity drops.  Thyroid hormones are also considered but for this to be monitored correctly it should be done long term because of the life span of the hormone….(as goes with everything mentioned above, base line levels are very important to the individual, science tries to qualify everything  but keep in mind we are different beings).Similar to most of you, I like to be old school and monitor body adaptivity simply by performance.  Plus, doing regular blood work takes time and a lot of money.  So this is not a marketing stunt to get you running in to see your endocrinologists or doctors!   The paradox of our sport is track and field is one of the most basic activities out there.  Yet very complex because of how hard we push our mind and body daily and the outcome is decided by 100ths of seconds and millimeters.  During training it is important to keep in mind all the “in and outs and what-have-yous” (had to use a Big Lebowski quote) and when applicable use the scientific tools available to avoid digging yourself a deeper hole. Danny Mackey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/948-hormones-working-overtime-by-danny-mackey-ms Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:02:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/946-jordan-hasay-a-mission-transcending-high-school-running For past four years, Jordan Hasay, a senior at Mission Preparatory High School in San Louis Obispo, CA, has been the face of American high school distance running.  After all, her credentials are endless: 2-time Footlocker National Champion, 4-time Footlocker West Regional Champion, 4-time California State Cross Country Champion, American High School Record holder in the 1500m, US #2 All-Time in the 3200m, and USATF Junior Olympics youth record holder in both the 1500m and 3000m.  Yet with all her accolades, Jordan Hasay still feels she has not yet reached her full potential.  With more records to break and races to win, the 17-year-old high school senior still has improvement within reach during her last semester of high school. Furthermore, she recognizes that high school running provides us only a glimpse of the Jordan Hasay of four years from now.    “I’m really excited for college.  I think that I will be running so much better because of how excited I have been and that I will be running with more people,” Hasay said.  “It will help to train alongside others, since most of my training is currently on my own.”  Hasay feels that the opportunity of training with national-caliber athletes will contribute to her learning process.  “I’m not even overly concerned about my freshman year right now.  I know I will be running with an excellent group and as long as everything falls into place for 2012, then I will be happy.  I’m just continuing along the progression that will prepare me for the next Olympics.” It’s not simply intense training that has gotten Hasay to this level, but rather training very smartly and knowing when to hold back when necessary.  “My goal is to be one of the better U.S. distance runners of the future,” Hasay said.  “My coach has done a great job of slowly building my training, keeping in mind my aspirations for the future.”  Furthermore, Hasay feels that a critical part of her improvement is attributable to allowing her speed and strength to develop naturally, and not hammering every day of training.  “I haven’t gotten any major injuries, which I feel is a major part of my progression.” Since Hasay continually impresses us nearly every race, an immense amount of pressure is put on Hasay’s back every time she approaches the starting line.  “Sometimes it’s pretty difficult because every time I go out and run, people expect me to break a record.  And obviously, I won’t be fortunate enough to do that every single race,” Hasay said.  But it’s Hasay’s extreme optimism that keeps her running in the right direction.  “I try to block out distractions, remember what my coach says, and concentrate on my own goals for each race.” In doing so, Hasay realizes that even she is not perfect when it comes to distance running.  “It’s a really tough sport and I always have to work hard,” Hasay said.  “I have just been blessed with this gift.  I see it as my beauty to use it and train with it to the best of my ability each day.”  Hasay in fact claims to not be a competitive person herself, but it is an obligation to maximize her talents that anchors her motivations for success. Hasay feels that running has not just introduced her to a sport, but rather to a way of life.  When I asked Hasay about how her running experience has developed her as an individual, she responded: “Running has helped me in all areas of my life.  It taught me sportsmanship and being honest and the need to work my hardest in everything I do.  I apply my setbacks in running to any problem I come across in life.  Running has taught me to keep moving forward and to keep reaching for my goals.”  Currently, Hasay is not necessarily interested in huge PRs, claiming that she is thankful for improving throughout her entire high school career.  The consistency of every year and the gradual dropping of times are more important to Hasay, since this is a more promising approach when considering her long-term goals.  “Don’t get too greedy with your goals,” Hasay said. “Stick to your plan each year and hopefully that patience will bring about more PRs.” This weekend, Hasay will join the nation’s finest high school runners for the 2009 Arcadia Invitational.  Despite an off-week of training, Hasay still has lofty goals for her 3200m race.  “I am hoping to go under 10 [minutes], but I just want to race the competition and do my best to win,” Hasay said.  Last year, Chris Derrick was under the weather himself, but nonetheless blazed to a 13:55 5k on the track: Hasay, therefore, feels that an exceptional performance under suitable weather is a possibility.  Hasay won the Arcadia Invitational 3200m last spring in 10:03, but hopes to break the 10-minte barrier this time and possibly make a run for the national record of 9:48.  “The crowd is always good at Arcadia, so that should help me a lot,” Hasay said.  Certainly the crowd has helped Hasay in the past, such as at the 2008 US Olympic Trials at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, where, in the midst of the crowd chanting “Come to Oregon,” she ran an amazing 4:14 for 1500m.  That was not only a High School Record, but was good enough to put her in 10th place overall among all Olympic trialists, just a few seconds from qualifying for the Olympics – something that is rarely achieved by a high school runner. The warm reception that Hasay received at the University of Oregon during the Olympic Trials apparently had quite an impact on this tremendously gifted athlete.  In a few months, Hasay will be joining the University of Oregon’s storied Track & Field team and will have a chance to build on her earlier success at Hayward Field.   Jordan Hasay’s PRs: 1500m – 4:14.50 (US #1 All-time) 1600m – 4:39.13 (US #3 All-time) 3000m – 9:19.60 (US #8 All-time) 3200m – 9:52.13 (US #2 All-time)     Jordan Schilit http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/946-jordan-hasay-a-mission-transcending-high-school-running Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:33:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/944-olympians-flock-to-nyrr-distance-carnival By David Monti(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reservedNEW YORK (07-Apr) -- The inaugural NYRR Distance Carnival, hosted by the University of California at Berkeley on Friday, April 24, has attracted 16 Olympians, the New York Road Runners announced today.  Part of the two-day Brutus Hamilton Invitational, the meet represents the first ever formal partnership between the New York Road Runners, America's largest road race organizer, and a university track and field program.  The meet will feature professionally-paced distance races designed to help athletes achieve IAAF World Championships qualifying times at 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the 3000-meter steeplechase.Shannon Rowbury, the 2008 USA Olympic Trials 1500m champion, will run the 5000m against compatriots Emily Brown, Sara Hall, and Sara Slattery, plus Irishwoman Mary Cullen.  Olympians Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico, Tom Lancashire of Great Britain, Kevin Sullivan of Canada and Jorge Torres of the United States are entered in the men's 5-K, along with former NCAA 5000m champion Bobby Curtis.In the men's 10,000m race, America's top steeplechaser and two-time Olympian Anthony Famiglietti will race against Australia's Collis Birmingham, Ireland's Martin Fagan, and Britain's Andrew Lemoncello, all of whom competed in the Beijing Olympics.  Katie McGregor, Kenyan Philes Ongori and Mexican Olympian Dulce Maria Rodriguez will run the women's 25-lap contest.The NYRR has recruited quality athletes to handle the pacemaking, including Serbia's Marina Muncan for the women's 5000m, Jon Rankin for the men's 5000m, Bolota Asmerom and Kenyan Haron Lagat for the men's 10,000m, and Bahraini Teyba Naser for the women's 10,000m.  Lagat will also assist with the early pacing in the men's 5000m.The event will take place Cal's famed Edwards Stadium, which will have special lights in place for the NYRR Distance Carnival.  The meet will be administrated by Cal's director of track and field, Tony Sandoval, and his director of operations, John Rembao.  The NYRR's professional athletes manager, Sam Grotewold, will be coordinating the invitational races of the Distance Carnival.More information is available at the Cal track and field website at http://www.calbears.com/sports/c-otrack/cal-c-otrack-body.html.ENDS David Monti http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/944-olympians-flock-to-nyrr-distance-carnival Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:42:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/933-dii-interview-michael-crouch At the Stanford Invitational last week, Queen’s Michael Crouch finished 9th in the 5k in a time of 13:46.97. This time puts him as the top seed time for the DII Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. Crouch’s success has not been limited to only this outdoor season. He won the 5k at the Indoor National Championships and came in third this past season at the DII Cross Country National Championships. Crouch is a sophomore transfer from Yucca Valley, California. “There are too many reasons to count that brought me to Queens. Some I would rather not say because I don’t want to offend certain people. I basically transferred because I got injured two times in one year at Cal State (San Marcos) and was sick of it. I needed a program that I didn’t want to punch myself in the face at because I was once again training on the elliptical,” he explains, “I also felt like I needed more people to train with. That is what I got at Queens especially for XC.” Along with the change from West to East, there have been changes in his training.  Discussing the intensity of his new training regime, he says, “Some of the biggest changes in my workouts is the volume and paces that I am doing them at. Before this year the highest volume I had done on the track was 4 miles worth of work. I did start out with that at the beginning of track year but I have worked my way up to 10k volume doing 25x400, 12x800 and 6xmile at a very hard pace with hammers in the middle pushing myself as hard as I could. I mean Fasil Bizuneh, Oscar Ogwaro, Daniel Kanyaruhuru, and I all averaged 62's on the track for 25x400 hammering 56's and 57's.” Track work is not the only change in Crouch’s training. “The other large change in my workouts is doing predator runs, which is starting at a tempo run pace and finishing with a pace that I basically want to pass out at. The key of all the workouts is to learn the skill of pushing yourself to your limits,” he adds. These predator runs can get very competitive. “We (Daniel Kanyaruhuru and I) would always make bets on who was going to win in the next predator run, him or me. I always won until one time he wanted to win so bad he lay awake in bed all night and devised a tactical plan to beat me. Sadly it worked,” he recalls. This hard working attitude will only help Crouch with his goals. He explains, “My biggest goal is to be able to glorify God in every race I run and thank him for any time I race whether it is good or bad because he is the one who gave me this gift. Next is to be happy with how I performed in my race now matter what time I run as long as I gave it everything I have. I think that should be everyone's goal above all.” As for time goals, Crouch would rather stay quiet, “Time wise I would rather keep that between my coach, teammates and myself. I will just say that I believe there is definitely more in the tank” he states, but adds, “I will give one of my time goals before I graduate. It is something that I would literally do anything after if I accomplished it and that is to take down Michael Aish's 13:22 5k DII record. I think I can take a stab at it by the time I graduate. I have two full years after this track season and I think it is possible.” Crouch not only wants to compete in the 5k at Nationals, but hopes to conquer the 1500 as well. He explains, “I will also possibly be running the 1500 at DII nationals. Aaron Braun has been loving life with all his mile and 1500 track titles and I want to see if I can give him a challenge. He’s a great guy and I am sure he would love the challenge.”  He continues, “I will be running another 5k or two in order to try and secure a spot at U.S. Outdoor Nationals come here in June. I would be so excited if I get to race at [the USATF Outdoor National Championships in] Oregon. I am already staying there for the summer with my good friend Sean Brosnan so hopefully I get to run the race as well.” It is not necessarily all work and no play for Crouch, “I also love pulling pranks on people especially my teammate Stefan Liotchev. Just the other night I placed this fake dog crap in the hallway. My teammates and me just sat back and laughed at people’s reactions. They actually thought it was real. Someone even poked it with a rolled up piece of toilet paper,” he continues, “You don’t even want to be around me during Halloween. I go all out. I was an insane clown in a full suit this last year terrorizing Queens students. (It is the) Best Holiday ever!” Cara Hawkins http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/933-dii-interview-michael-crouch Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:01:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/928-fagan-takes-on-tergat-at-great-ireland-run-on-sunday By David Monti(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reservedIn what could be called a battle of the generations, Irishman Martin Fagan will take on Kenyan legend Paul Tergat at Sunday's Great Ireland Run 10-K in Dublin.Fagan, 25, who starred for Providence College in the NCAA system, has developed rapidly under American coach Greg McMillan.  Based in Flagstaff, Ariz. at 2121m (6955 ft.), Fagan has taken to longer distances on the roads with excellent success.  On March 14, in The Hague, Fagan clocked 1:00:57 at the Fortis City-Pier-City Half-Marathon to become the Irish record holder for the distance.  An Olympian, Fagan competed in the Beijing Games in the marathon last August, but failed to finish.The willowy Tergat is some 15 years Fagan's senior (he turns 40 in June), and remains one of the most decorated athletes in all of distance running with two Olympic silver medals, five individual world cross country titles, and three world half-marathon gold medals.  He remains the second-fastest marathoner of all-time (2:04:55), and won his last marathon just one month ago in Lake Biwa, Japan.Fagan and Tergat have never raced each other, and Fagan will have the added advantage of having his training partner, American Andrew Carlson, running with him in the race.  Irish veteran Mark Carroll is also entered.The women's race is shaping up to be a three-woman battle between 2009 European Indoor Championships 3000m silver medalist Mary Cullen of Ireland (another former NCAA star), two-time ING New York City Marathon champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, and former world 10,000m champion Sally Barsosio of Kenya.  Portuguese legend Fernanda Ribeiro, 39, former world 10,000m champion and Olympic bronze medalist, is also in the field.Nova International, the British company which organizes the event, reports about 10,000 runners have entered the race which takes place in Phoenix Park on a two-loop course.  The course records are 28:35 for men by Australian Craig Mottram (2005) and 31:41 by Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu (2006).  Conditions should be good for fast times; the Weather.com forecast calls for cool temperatures, cloudy skies and only a 10% chance of rain.ENDS David Monti http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/928-fagan-takes-on-tergat-at-great-ireland-run-on-sunday Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:05:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/927-webb-to-open-outdoor-season-at-kansas-relays By David Monti(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reservedThe fastest-ever American miler, Alan Webb, will open his outdoor season at the Kansas Relays on April 18, in Lawrence, Ks., the University of Kansas reported today.Running in the Glenn Cunningham Invitational Mile, Webb's goal is to to run the first sub-four minute mile at the Kansas Relays since Paul McMullen accomplished the feat in 1997 (3:59.88), organizers said.   Webb, 26, who set the American record of 3:46.91 in Belgium in 2007, has broken four minutes for the mile 18 times during his career in track competition (plus two times on the road).Webb, who is still coached by his high school coach, Scott Raczko, competed indoors this year, capping his season with a second place finish at the USA Indoor Championships in Boston in the 1500m.  The former prep star at South Lakes Regional High School in Virginia was hampered by hamstring and Achilles injuries last fall, and used the indoor season to get his racing insticts back.  He did not compete in last summer's Beijing Olympics, after finishing fifth in the USA Olympic Trials in the 1500m.The Kansas Relays record in the mile is held by Kansas legend, Jim Ryun, who clocked in at 3:54.70 in 1967.ENDS David Monti http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/927-webb-to-open-outdoor-season-at-kansas-relays Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:46:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/922-justin-switzer-kwik-e <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->   Michigan Wolverine senior Justin Switzer is a two-time All-American. He's got personal bests of 1:48.48 in the 800-meters and 3:58 in the mile. He used to be a competitive mini-car racer when he was younger and still has that need for speed.   Are you happy with being a two-time All-American right now? Yeah, I can't be disappointed with it, I guess. I would have liked to get something last year.   Well, you have this outdoor season to get another. Is that the goal? It's definitely the goal. My goal coming into this year was to make Nationals indoors and outdoors as well. Those are the things I'm going to focus on.   Do you have any other goals? Time goals? The way the season shapes up...I don't know. There aren't many big meets that we're going to get into. I definitely would like to run a sick time and run one in one of the relays at Penn. That's probably one of the biggest things. The DMR, the four by mile...just bust out something sick there. Other than that, I don't know how many opportunities I'll have to run really fast in a setup race. I guess I'll just to get my regional qualifier. Then hopefully pull something out at Nationals.   What would be considered a “sick time”? I ran 3:58 indoors, so I'd like to go something faster than that. A "57" split. That would definitely be something I would be happy with.   You consider yourself a miler? Yeah. I'd say a miler. I haven't really gone above that. I tried the 3K indoors this year at Washington and that kind of just fell apart. I had a really good 800 last year outdoors. I ran 1:48 something. It would be nice to improve on that and run 1:48 or 1:47 this year.   That's what I was going to say. With your 1:48.48, is it tempting to cut the distance in half and start doing more 800s? We did that at an outdoor meet last year. I want to run a similar race this year, but that will probably be the only competitive 800 I'll do all year. It's a different race to try to go after. My focus will definitely be on the 15.   What about after you graduate? What are your plans? I wish I could tell you that, man. I have no idea. I guess there are the US Championships or whatever. Hopefully I get the qualifying time for that and go out there. Besides that, I have no idea. I really haven't thought that far yet.   Just taking the days as they come? (Laughs) Just one day at a time. I haven't applied for jobs or anything...just kind of taking it one day at a time and not looking too far ahead. I probably should be, but oh well.   What's your degree going to be in? A degree in economics.   Economics? Yeah, no f*cking clue.   You don't want to be doing anything with economics right now, do you? Especially when you could still be running. Yeah. I have no idea. I'll just go home and be a bum in the parent's basement.   Don't let anyone tell you there's shame in that. (Laughs) I'll just go home and hang around in Ann Arbor. Move up there for the next couple of years and not go to school or anything.   Growing up in Michigan, who were some of your favorite runners? You know I've really been into being fans of other runners or really all that involved in the sport. I run and stuff, but I was more into basketball and auto racing as well.   Would you say that you're one of the more not-involved runners in the country that has seen a good amount of success? It's not to say that I dislike running, it's just that I'm not a huge running junkie or anything like that. That's the easiest way to put it.   What is your relationship with the sport of basketball these days? You used to play a lot. I try to play when I can. It's difficult to find time—well, it's not time...it's just that you're so sore the next day. That's the biggest bummer. I'll go on the court and play hard pick-up games and have trouble. During the season I try to cut it out. Actually last year, about one day a week I'd go to the gym and play pick up games...that was a pretty sweet option to have. I watch a lot of college basketball these days. I just sit back on the couch and watch college basketball...you can't beat it.   You're not opening up for a little while. What's it like to have a couple weeks in between seasons to be a regular college student? It's just being home on the weekends. Traveling every weekend can take away from some of the fun nights around town. When I'm back in town, it's nice to hang out with everybody and go out and have some fun! It's just kind of sucked because we've been having morning runs and I've had to get up early. But besides that, just being able to hang is pretty fun.   Typically what kind of mileage do you run? Right now it's between 70-80...with 80 definitely being on the high end. That's including three or four morning runs a week. It's really not anything crazy but I feel that it's a good mix. Anything over 80...well, I don't respond very well to that.   What are some other hobbies of yours? Sundays are always filled with Nascar. I'm a huge Nascar fan. Nothing beats coming home from a run in the morning, sitting on the couch and watching some Nascar on a Sunday....falling asleep during it and waking back up the catch the end of the race. I grew up racing cars, so that's something that's definitely stayed with me.   Do you have a fast ride right now? Well, when I was like age six, I raced "quarters", but they're mostly like go-karts. I traveled all over the country. Especially in the Midwest and East Coast...doing that when I was little. Then when I was in seventh grade, I moved up to Nascar-style body cars...they're ¾ the size. I started racing until I was about a sophomore in high school until I finally gave it up.   So you have no hand in that anymore? One day it was just done? It came to the point where I had to decide to continue doing high school sports or do racing. I was able to handle it for a little while doing both, but you're really traveling every weekend of the summer and in the winters you go down south to race. It came to the point where I had to make the decision. I made the decision to do high school sports instead. It's definitely something that I might get back into. It's something that still interests me.   That's what I'm thinking. You go after running sponsors for a month or so after college and if you don't get one, you go after racing sponsor and you can put a big Tide logo on the front of your car or something. Oh yeah. That would be sick. A lot of kids my age are in the Nationwide Series of Nascar. It's cool to see those guys because I grew up racing them and they made it up that level. If an opportunity presented itself to get me back in a car...it definitely would be a sweet thing to do.   What's the fastest you've ever been in a vehicle? I've probably been up to...130. When you're on a track, it doesn't feel that quick.   What's more exhilarating, crossing the line, going 3:58 for a mile, or going 130 miles per hour in a car? Racing cars...by far. There's nothing like it. To feel that speed inside a car is a lot of fun. Like I said if the opportunity exists...I would definitely do it again.   It sounds like you've got a calling and you should probably give it another shot. If the opportunity is there...I might go for it. I've got to get those sponsors though.   That's big and they might be hard to come by these days. Maybe Flotrack could be your first sponsor and you could put a big Flotrack sticker on the front of your car. That would be perfect.   I'll reel this back into the sport of running, what's the hardest running workout you've ever done? Every workout is hard. This year, I rarely made it through a workout. I don't know if I can give you an example because they all kicked my ass. I didn't make it all the way through this one, but last year indoors we did a four-mile tempo on the indoor track and then after that we had to do 16 quarters. Think about how many laps that is on the indoor track. They counted them all up and I forget what it was, but it was something stupid. We just did 20 quarters on Monday and we were wondering, “how the hell did we do 16 after a four-mile tempo?” I probably only made it through eight or so that day. (Laughs) That's about my limit.   Tony Casey http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/922-justin-switzer-kwik-e Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/917-steve-osaduik-post-stanford-invitational-10-000m-interview (C) Copyright - Christopher Kelsall - 2009 Steve Osaduik had a rough 2008. After years of dominating the local race scene (British Columbia)and at the same time developing a seemingly ever-improving running resume, he finally experienced his first running injury of note. Although Steve has raced on occasion through the recovery process and often with decent results, he was ‘off’ and there was no denying it.  After reaching a peak of sorts during the 2006 Royal Victoria Marathon, breaking the 27-year-old course record and running, at that time, the fastest Canadian marathon for the year of 2006 with a 2:16:47 result, just about every other race performance that followed, paled in comparison. Change will do you good Steve moved to the lower mainland just outside of Vancouver, became a father for the first time and integrated himself into a much-improved training group, which includes Mark Bomba, Richard Mosely, Jerry Ziak and a few others. He has been meeting this group for workouts consistently and the fitness has returned. Recently, Oz decided to test himself seriously in a 10,000m race at the Stanford Invitational in California, March 27, 2009. Although it has been a long time since he has raced seriously on the track, he needed to find out where his fitness was at. With a self-proclaimed-modest 10,000m personal best of 29:57 and a road 10k record of 30:00, Steve felt ready to grab his first pb of any sort in three years. He ran a 45 second pb at Stanford, finishing comfortably (for racing) in 29:15, leaving him to wonder what he could have done if he had sharply peaked and focused solely on this event. As the saying goes, only time will tell. Steve wants to race at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships, also dubbed the Marathon Cup, which will be held in Berlin, Germany in August, 2009. A few questions CK: Steve, you were making comments on your blog about looking for a pb at the Stanford Invitational 10, 000m. Were you thinking as much as 45 seconds when you posted those comments? SO: Yes I was thinking that at least, I had tried to talk myself into running under 29 and all the way up ‘til 20 minutes before the race I was still thinking about that when I finally sat down and told myself that I have travelled a long way and spent a significant amount of money to come to this high quality race to improve on my modest 29:57. I decided if I was to run myself into the ground early and possibly not finish then this would be a big waste of time and I would be in a bad frame-of-mind for the training that lay ahead during the next 8 weeks. I basically sat in a porta-john before the race and said (to myself) just stay relaxed and run this thing like a marathon, be patient. You are going to pr and run at least 29:20, do that and maybe you can get into another 10 km down the road and take some chances there. CK: Since this one felt good, did you have any post-race thoughts about maybe going faster? OS: In hindsight I should have dropped the hammer with 2 km to go like I had nothing to lose. I guess I am a little rusty on the track and I could have raced it a bit more. CK: Is there a key workout or longer run where you could tell that you are ready to demonstrate an improvement in fitness? SO: Yes, I think the key workout was the 2 x 2 mile Richard [Mosley] and I did at the track in Richmond. We ran the first two miles controlled in 9:17, switching off every 800 meters, with a 5-minute jog, then another 2 miles, which I ran in 9:04, Richard also hit 9:04. I knew after this session, that I could run something much better than I had before, the workout just felt solid and controlled. The more I thought about the workout after it was done, the more I wondered how much faster I could also probably drop my 5km time as well. CK: What was pre-race like, were you in a good spot, to stay relaxed and repeat good thoughts to yourself? SO: The race was so late, 10:45pm, and we got to the track early 7:30pm to pick up our packets before the 8:00pm deadline. I pretty much sat in the