Oprah Welcomes Track Olympians Home

Oprah finally shows track some love.

Chicago is using its supreme star power to improve the cities bid to host the 2016 Games in a way that only Oprah Winfrey can do.

The following track and field Olympians are participating in the season premier episode of "Oprah Winfrey Show" includes: Bershawn Jackson, Allyson Felix, Shalane Flanagan, Hyleas Fountain, Monique Henderson, Sanya Richards, Stephanie Brown Trafton, and Sheena Tosta.

The show was taped on Wednesday and airs on Monday.

By Jay Hicks.

Yeah, Yeah: Angelo Taylor Leads U.S. Sweep of 400-Hurdles!

A big-time U.S. performance highlights the day.

-Beijing-Don’t call it come back—he’s been here for years. Going into Beijing a bulk of the attention was focused primarily on Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson. Today, Angelo Taylor won Olympic gold over the two aforementioned U.S. runners.

Angelo the champion from the 2000 Sydney Games is no stranger to thrilling races, having won his first gold medal out of lane 1. In 2004, an illness hindered the Albany, Georgia native from getting out the semi-final heats in Athens.

This time around the supremely talented Taylor ran the fastest time (47.25) of his life.

Just when people were beginning to get down on the Team USA, the U.S hurdles ran extremely well as Kerron Clement (47.98) and Bershawn Jackson (48.06) dominated a very talented field.

Stephanie Brown Trafton might have saved the day for the U.S. in winning a gold in the women's discus.

By Jay Hicks.

Wariner Beats Merritt and Powells Pulls Up in Rome!

-Rome, Italy.

The ÅF Golden League 2008 resumed today with fireworks in Rome.

It has been a rough week for world-class sprinters in the crazy world of track and field. First Tyson Gay went down in the 200-meters after running four of the fastest 100-meter races ever recorded.

Now, Asafa Powell pulled up in his 100-meter heat after feeling something in his groin, which will certainly put a dent in his preparation to take on countrymen Usain Bolt in Beijing. Powell’s manager Paul Doyle talked to reporters afterward to explain the latest turn of events.
“It's nothing," Paul Doyle told reporters. "He just felt his groin cramp up. He'll be fine, but he's not going to take any chances in an Olympic year.” "He's had problems with his groin in the past and got over them every time."

Who said track lacks excitement? It was a quick role reversal in Rome today. Last week challenger LaShawn Merritt upset Jeremy Wariner at 400-meters to win the U.S. Olympic Trials.

This week Wariner beat Merritt by .01 seconds. Wariner (44.36) had a big lead before LaShawn Merritt (44.37) poured on his kick down the stretch, making it a close race. Merritt is a formidable opponent. Are we witnessing the beginning of a new rivalry since both of the runners will be around for a while?

Afterward, Merritt said, “He was ahead at 300; I knew how the race was going to play out. I feel good about the race and as you can see, the part of the race that I’ve been working on is coming, the finish. So when I put it together, there’s going to be problems.”

Allyson Felix (50.25) is making a strong case to be included on the U.S. 4x400-meter relay in Beijing. But the U.S. women had better pick up the pace or Sanya Richards will be the lone American contender to win an individual medal in Beijing. Mary Wineberg ran 51.27 and hopefully there is an reasonable explanation such as she was fatigued from the Oly Trials or there something ailing her. Otherwise 51 seconds at this point in the season is not close to being among the top runners in the world.

Running at the U.S. Olympic Trials combined with a flight across the pond did not deter 100 hurdler Candice Davis from placing third (12.72) against top end competition of Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London. Even though Davis did not make the U.S. Olympic team, she is a young, talented runner with a lot of upside especially if she improves on the first three hurdles of her race.

In a change of events, Sanya Richards ran the 200-meters to continue working on her speed in the races leading up to the 400-meters at the Olympic Games. Richards ran a very respectable 22.49 against winner Kerron Stewart (22.34) of Jamaica.

The gloves have come off in the 400-meter hurdles, and the fight will continue all the way to Beijing. Last week Bershawn Jackson beat favorite Kerron Clement to win the U.S. Olympic Trials. After the race Clement was visibly shake and disappointed by the loss. This week Kerron Clement (48.23) narrowly beat Bershawn “Batman” Jackson (48.34) in the 400-meter hurdles.

Jennifer Stucyznski was named USA Track and Field Athlete of the Week for improving her own American record to 16 feet, 1.75 inches on Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Today, Russian, World, Olympic, and European pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva sent an international message to her rivals in just her first competition of the outdoor season. She improved her world record in the women’s pole vault at the IAAF Golden Gala meeting in Rome. Isinbayeva vaulted 16 feet, 5 inches. Stucynzski will certainly have her hands full in Beijing.

By Jay Hicks.

400-meter Hurdle “Run Down”

Is this the year that Kerron Clement breaks the world record of 46.78? The 400 hurdles is the next in what seems to be an endless number of events in which the U.S. is extremely deep. So far this year, Kerron has a season’s best of 47.79. He ran this time back on May 3 in Kingston, Jamaica.

Kerron has blinding speed and is arguably one of the most physically gifted athletes on the pro circuit. However, his one weakness is a hurdling technique that he and his new coach, Bob Kersee, are working to improve. Up until now, he hasn’t had to be concerned with his technique, because Clement has been winning by wide margins. But if he gets on the ropes in a tight race, his sub-par technique could be the margin of difference between winning and losing.

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson (48.15) is close to breaking the 47 second barrier this season-- his personal best is 47.30. Runners with something to prove are dangerous. The 5 foot, 8 inch runner is on a mission to prove that he is worthy to be amongst today’s great 400 hurdles after his meltdown at the ’07 World Championships when he failed to make the finals.

The 400 hurdles is one of the most intriguing events this Olympic year, because so many questions remain about the younger runners. After Clement and “Batman”, the remainder of the U.S. field is extremely talented, but lacks experience at the international level. In fact, many of the hurdlers are talented collegiate athletes new to the international scene.

The three factors affecting the success of collegiate runners in the post-NCAA season is how well they react to the big stage, how they handle the enormous pressure, and how many races they have run during the year. Keep in mind that in ’04, Jeremy Wariner won the indoor NCAAs, outdoor NCAAs, USA Outdoor Nationals, and the Olympic Games. So, it is entirely possible to see some blazing competition out of these hurdlers.

This is the second year for Michael Tinsley (48.84) on the pro circuit. The former ’06 NCAA Champion from Jackson State University has ran well this season.

Justin Gaymon(48.53) is new to the elite scene. A junior from the University of Georgia, Gaymon is a hurdler seeking to leap past the competition and make a name for himself.

Is it time for freshmen Johnny Dutch (48.68) to be the next in a long line of superstars from the University of South Carolina hurdlers? Coach Frye has produced Allen Johnson and Terrence Tremmell. Dutch will attempt to launch his career on the international scene with a top three finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

This kid is a big time athlete. Robert Griffin (49.23) of Baylor University is a two-sport star who is planning on playing football for the Bears this fall. He has a major asset in Coach Clyde Hart who knows a little something about preparing collegiate athletes for the Olympic Trials.

By Jay Hicks.

2008 ÅF IAAF Golden League Brings New Age of Sport

Many of the sport’s biggest names are heading to the IAAF Golden League meets in Europe. Jeremy Wariner, LaShawn Merritt, Lolo Jones, and Bershawn “Batman” Jackson are running at the first stop on Sunday, June 1st at the DKB-ISA meet in Berlin, Germany.

What is surprising is that many big name stars have opted for the meets in the United States. This is a major coup for fans in this country but the decision to not run in Europe by some top athletes has left me scratching my head.

The IAAF meets in Europe have a $1 Million AF Golden League Jackpot. Both women and men athletes are competing for all or a portion of the winnings. On top of that, the bigger name stars get appearances fees and travel costs to run in Europe. Meets held in the U.S. offer performance money and travel costs--which is significantly less money.

The Adidas Track classic was fabulous and matchups at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic are ridiculous. Fans have complained about track & field in North America but the adidas Track Classic and Prefontaine Classic are now putting together meets that are normally reserved for the European circuit. But running in these U.S. meets means runners are walking away from potentially $40,000 to $1 million.

The improvements have come about because Adidas and Nike have put a great amount of resources into getting a superior product on the track at their U.S. track meets. The rival shoe giants have gone so far as to include the participation in U.S meets as a stipulation in athlete’s contracts.

More high profile meets in the U.S. means that low to mid-range athletes are getting pushed out of U.S. meets. Meet officials say athletes must be top 50 in the world at their respective events but there are eight lanes on the track. Real talk--it’s tougher than that. Athletes have to be top 10 to get in the Pre Classic depending on the event. Some of the low to mid-range athletes are getting pushed out of the U.S. races and struggle to get in good races in the weeks approaching the Olympic Trials.

Which means that some pros are sitting home this weekend during the Reebok Grand Prix, or running in a last chance meet. Moreover they certainly are not running in the IAAF Golden League meets because the European meets require even faster times.

By Jay Hicks.

Men’s 4 x 400 Relay: USA vs. The World

The United States has arguably the top eight one lap runners in the world, and it showed at the Penn Relays at the US fielded two all-star teams. The USA Blue team had LaShawn Merritt, Wallace Spearmon, Darold Williamson, and Jeremy Wariner. However, the USA Red team extremely good as well, with Xavier Carter, Bershawn Jackson, Kerron Clement, and Angelo Taylor.

Merritt blasted out the hole with a 44.9 leg to give the Blue team the lead. A strong second leg by Bershawn Jackson put the Red team close again with Jamaica just back in third.

The most exciting part of the race was on the third leg as Kerron Clement tried to pass veteran relay runner Darold “D Will” Williamson. Clement couldn’t seal the deal. Williamson made him swing wide and then rolled pass Clement to hand off to Jeremy Wariner in the lead. Wariner ran an unconscious 43.88 anchor leg with a comfortable lead to secure victory for the Blue team at 2:59.71. A stupid time ran in the cold April air!

Click here for the final results.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.

The Final Lap: Fast Times Galore!

• Fast times at the Michael Johnson Classic. Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards put up world leading times on their “home” track in Waco. Wariner ran 44.56 and Richards ran 50.47. Read Star-Telegram
  

• 400-meter runner LaShawn Merritt drops down to the 200 with eye-popping results. Merritt just proved again that he has crazy speed in running 19.80 with 3.20 wind at North Carolina A&T. That’s quite impressive in April even considering the wind.

• Also running at the North Carolina A&T meet, David Oliver came up big in the 110-meter hurdles, running 13.08.

• Lolo Jones is peaking at the right time heading into Drake Relays. The Des Moines native had her best season opener ever at LSU alumni gold meet in 12.72.

• Bershawn Jackson came into the season to prove he’s a legit contender at 400-meter hurdles after failing to make the finals in Osaka last year. He is making believers after running 48.32 at the Kansas Relays on Saturday. Is this the year Jackson dips under 48 seconds again? Read Star-Telegram

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.

Photo courtesy runlolorun.com.

When athletes blog: Sanya Richards at WCSN.com

The 400-meter specialist, Sanya Richards, took to her WCSN.com blog to give an insight into what is on her mind with the Olympics just six months away.

Sanya’s Top Ten Sports Wishlist

10. Yao Ming regaining full health and prepared to compete for his country in Beijing

9. Dwayne Wade back 100%

8. The Texas Longhorns Men’s BBall team going all the way

7. Carolina Kluft going for her second heptathalon Olympic

6. Ronaldino being named footballer of the year again



5. A great replacement for Craig Masback as CEO of USA Track & Field

4. Nichole Denby, Lauryn Williams, Walter Davis, & Wallace Spearmon all making the Olympic Team

3. Bershawn Jackson winning a portion of the million dollar golden league Jackpot

2. Aaron Ross making it to the Pro Bowl in 200

1. Me winning the 400m Gold in Beijing!

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.