Flanagan Earns Bronze & American Record in 10,000-meters

-Beijing, China-Day 1 Analysis

Competition on the track opened up with a couple surprises.

It was a historical night in Beijing and a moment that signals progress tof American distance running on the international scene.

American Shalane Flanagan’s third place finish in the women’s 10,000-meters on Friday, marks only the second time in U.S. history that the country has medaled in this event. Her time of 30:22.22 established a new American record.

The winner, Ethopia’s Tirunesha Dibaba won gold, setting an Olympic record in 29:54.66, and Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey captured the silver.

The unpredictable nature of the Olympic Games was on display Friday in Beijing. Proving that nothing is guaranteed and anything is possible at the Olympic Games.

The Americans were heavily favored coming into Beijing and many thought that Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell, and Adam Nelson would pull off a 1-2-3 sweep of the event.

With that, Tomasz Majewski of Polland won an upset victory by throwing a career best 70 feet, 61/2 inches.

Christian Cantwell (61 feet, 2 ½ inches) was the lone U.S. athlete to medal in the event, walking away with a silver medal.

The favorite Reese Hoffa, the reigning World champion finished in a distant seventh place at 67 feet, 4 ¼ inches. Adam Nelson, did not register a mark in the final after three fouls.

By Jay Hicks.

2008 Drake Relays In Review

The Drake Relays has grown to one of the best track meets for college and pro runners. The 99th running was no different. Saturday’s session drew a crowd of 18,000, marking the 43rd straight year of selling out the final day.

At the Drake Relays, Lolo Jones started the outdoor season in the same manner she ended the indoor season: rolling! The reigning 60-meter hurdles champ won her second outing this season at the Drake Relays in 12.74, breaking her own meet record. For her effort, Lolo was named top female athlete of the Drake Relays. It comes as no surprise from observers that she won the prestigious meet in her hometown, running in front of her people despite swirling, gusting winds.

Drake fans were also provided a treat by witnessing two of the world’s top shot put throwers. World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell won his sixth Drake title with a toss of 68 feet, 6 inches. That effort was well ahead of Jamaican Dorain Scott and Reese Hoffa, the reigning world outdoor champion.

The first trip to Drake Relays did not go so hot for hurdle legend Allen Johnson. The 1996 Olympic champion clipped a hurdle midway through the race finishing in a distance fifth place. The winner Anwar Moore crossed the line in 13.14, winning his second Drake title in a row.

Another Olympic hopeful Shareese Woods won the 400 in 51.75. April Steiner was the only athlete to clear a height and won the pole vault in 14 feet, 2 inches despite gusty winds.

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

Fast & Furious: World Indoors Championships, Day 1 Blogging

Angela Williams triumphs over obstacles to win first 60-meters title.

The medal count for Team USA is off to a good start on the first day of the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain. The U.S. has two athletes competing in each event. Participating athletes won roster spots at the U.S. indoor nationals two weeks ago in Boston.

It was an exciting first day for Team USA in Valencia, beginning a weekend of what is expected to be high level performances. The first day was filled mostly with preliminary races and three final events.

Angela Williams won her first elusive 60-meter title and prepared to shake up the female sprint world come this summer. The 28-year-old American sprinter won gold and collected a $40,000 winner’s prize for a superb effort and a confidence booster for Beijing. Williams was timed in a very respectful 7.06.

After the race Williams said, “It feels awesome, I’m so excited. Just confirmed that working hard and believing in yourself pays off. I was confident, but I didn’t want to be cocky. I said ‘today is the day Angie’. It’s about staying calm and focused on my race. I’m so happy. Now it’s a new beginning with the outdoor season.”

Great Britain's Jeanette Kwakye battled to the end before finishing second in 7.08 to set her nation's new 60-meter record. Back just a hair was Taheisa Harrigan of the British Virgin Islands finishing in 7.09--which was another national record.

After the incredible indoor season by American shot putters, it would have been quite disappointing if they didn’t make some serious noise in Spain. But they brought their A game.

American shot putter Christian Cantwell is back to his winning ways by taking another world indoor title after besting American Reese Hoffa. Cantwell’s 71 feet, 5.25 inch heave solidified his come-from-behind victory. The world title ends Christian’s streak of track meets since 2004 in which he has failed to medal in major meets.

When asked how he felt Cantwell said, “I’m happy with the win. My training has been going ok so far. There is no one in the world that can compete with us (Americans) in the shot. We’re expected to win.”

Americans fail to win men's 60-meters.
The chances of an American winning the 60-meters at the world champs went down with Leonard Scott at the USA Indoor Nationals when he pulled a hamstring in Boston. Scott is the former 2007 U.S. indoor national champion with a tremendous amount of international race experience.

Africa has found the continent's next elite sprinter since Nambias' Frankie Fredricks in Nigeria's Olusoji Fasusba, who sprinted to a dramatic victory in the 60-meter finals in 6.51. It marks the first title for Africa and Nigeria.

UK's controversial runner, Dwight Chambers ran a close second with a late charge and was followed by Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis in third place. Both sprinters were credited with a joint silver medal in 6.54. Chamber is making his second come back after struggles to get reinstatement to British national team after serving a two-year drug suspension.

Michael Rogers of the United States ran a personal best of 6.57 and finished fourth after a sluggish start out of the blocks. The slow start probably cost him a medal. American Leroy Dixon took seventh in his heat in 6.75 and didn't advance.

Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at WCSN.com.

Go to IAAF for reviews of the day's preliminary races in the men's 400, 800, 1500, triple jump, and the women's 400, 800, pentathlon long jump and pentathlon 800-meters.

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

AT&T U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships Highlights

Lolo Jones Visa Championship winner

Khadevis Robinson, Lolo Jones, and Christian Cantwell win big!

Besides national indoor titles, roster spots were also at stake this past weekend. The top two finishers in each event go on to compete at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships for Team USA on March 7-9 in Valencia, Spain.

Many of U.S.A.’s biggest names did not participate in the indoor season because it is an Olympic year. Their absence means the typically much smaller appearance fees paid at indoor meets was not worth the time needed to prepare for the outdoor season.

The indoor national championship meet was marked by low attendance, a shame considering the fabulous facility in Boston. Even with the smaller crowds, there were some impressive performances. And here's why.

Money. Besides national titles and $2,500, $1,500, $500 payouts to the medalists, additional future money was at stake in Boston. Victors in Spain will collect $40,000, and bronze is worth $10,000. Not bad for a day’s work at the office.

The Visa Championship is a points-based system awarded on performances and finishes for men and women. Lolo Jones and Adam Nelson were the winners, and each went home with a $25,000 check.

Lolo Jones is making her case to be the next great American hurdler now that Gail Devers has somewhat retired. Jones, the defending women's 60-meter hurdles champ, won easily. Lolo bested Candice Davis by two-hundredths of a second in 7.88. Her win gave her the 1,194 points on the scoring table to take the women’s Visa Championship’s $25,000 prize.

The men's shot put came in with big expectations. Cantwell, Hoffa, and Nelson have been throwing out of the universe, and at the same time, breathing excitement into the often over-looked field event. A small, but select, field gathered as Christian Cantwell defended his indoor title by defeating Reese Hoffa and Adam Nelson, the winner of the men's Visa Championship points’ race.

The men’s sprints were an ensemble of new, upcoming names and faces. In his first professional season, two-time NAIA champion Michael Rodgers won over Leroy Dixon in the 60-meter dash in 6.54 seconds after Leonard Scott, the defending world champion, pulled his right hamstring during his semifinal heat.

David Neville won the men's 400 in 46.34, besting Greg Nixon's 46.72 in the two-heat final.

Jennifer Stuczynski continues to build the case that she is the sport’s new queen of pole vault. She easily won the women's pole vault with a vault of 15 feet, 5 inches over Jillian Schwartz in 14 feet, 9 inches.

The men’s 800-meters was the most exciting event of the two-day meet. KD and Symmonds have big show-downs every time they compete, and this time was no exception.

Four-time U.S. outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson held off a fierce kick down the home stretch by Nicholas Symmonds by a mere hundredth of a second to win the men's 800 meters in 1:46.95. Whew!

37-year-old Allen Johnson was narrowly edged for second place in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Winner, Anwar Moore, blazed to victory in 7.47 seconds, the fastest time by an American this year.

Rob Myers led most of the way and won the men's 1500 in 3:40.8.

Amy Acuff is so good that she is often over-looked. She won the women’s High Jump with a 6 feet, 3.5 inch leap for her fourth overall and second consecutive indoor national title.

For more information, including complete results and athlete quotes, visit www.usatf.org

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