U.S. Sets Olympic Record in 1,600-Meter Relay

-Beijing-The Team members were all smiles at the “Bird’s Nest” and why wouldn’t they be?

The winner of the 1,600-meter relay was never in doubt.

LaShawn Merritt (44.35) got the U.S. out to a comfortable lead before handing off to Angelo Taylor who blazed a 43.70 leg. On the third leg, David Neville added to the lead before Jeremy Wariner (43.16), nearly ran a 42 second anchor leg that added an exclamation point to the victory.

The team of LaShawn Merritt, the 400-meter champion, 400-meter hurdles gold medalist Angelo Taylor, David Neville bronze winner and Wariner the 2004 gold medalist and 400 silver medalist recorded a time of 2:55.39 in Saturday's final.

The time was good enough to establish a new Olympic record, in an event that the U.S have dominated. The previous record of 2:55.74 was set by Americans Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson and Steve Lewis in 1992 at the Seoul Games. The U.S. continues a tradition of owning this event, having now won the 1,600-meter relay at the last seven straight Olympic Games.

Olympian Kerron Clement and former Baylor standout Reggie Witherspoon ran in the qualifying heats and also share in the Olympic gold.

That is not a bad way at all to close out the track and field events at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

By Jay Hicks.

Wariner & Merritt Move Forward to Semi-Finals

Drum beats of athlete battle.

-Beijing-The 400-meters have not seen any surprises, yet. All three U.S. runners ran well qualifying but everyone is waiting to see the battle looming for the finals. Right now, it is the calm before the storm.

Reigning champion Jeremy Wariner advanced in 45.23 for the semi-finals along with rival LaShawn Merritt in 44.96. Both easily winning their respective heats.

Merritt is ready to battle:”It's time to go, time to showdown and throw down. I went home, got my confidence up and mentally got ready to perform. I train to win and when I do it gives me a good boost.”

The third place finisher at the U.S. Olympic Trials, David Neville who finished second in his heat in 45.22 to advance said “You know I thought I'd be able to run a little slower. I did what I had to do to make it through. For me, I'm just going out there and doing the best I can do. I'm representing the U.S. to the best of my ability."

Jeremy Wariner whose wants is the world record to fall in Beijing but goal is winning a second medal in the event said the following after the race: “We have a chance to get top three. It will take a lot of work but anything is possible.”

Anything less than a U.S. sweep of the event would amount to a colossal failure. The Prerace Jitters Predictions for the 400-meter finals are as follows:

1st: Jeremy Wariner – 43.35
2nd: LaShawn Merritt – 43.80
3rd: David Neville 44.63

By Jay Hicks.

DN Galan in Stockholm, Sweden--Preview

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How many world records will drop?

The DN Galan, a Super Grand Prix status meet on the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Tour, takes place on Tuesday.

Breaking the world record is a culmination of timing and destiny. The DN Galan takes places in venerable old Stockholm Stadium, which was built in connection with the 1912 Olympics. Through the years, no fewer than 83 world records have taken place at this venue, more than at any other stadium in the world.

There will not be a Jeremy Wariner match up against LaShawn Merritt, but Wariner will face David Neville, who finished third at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Will the 100-meters world record get lowered on Tuesday for the second time this season?

The world will be watching the 100-meter match up between Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. The race is almost guaranteed to produce some sparks. Powell is running in his first race since experiencing a groin injury earlier this month in Rome.

Earlier in the season, it was Bolt who brought the world's attention to the 100-meters as he set the new World Record at 9.72 seconds, breaking Powell's world record. The favorite going into the meet is Usain Bolt, and since he has a flair for the dramatic, don't be surprised to see a new world record at the end of the race.

Get Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva angry, and anything can happen. After watching Jennifer Stuczynski lower her own American record at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Isinbayeva was so angry that she broke her World Record in her first competition of the outdoor season. Look for sparks to fly tomorrow when the two meet head-to-head. Right now, Isinbayeva is riding the hot hand and is the favorite going into the meet, although this competition will be fierce.

Just call it the calm before the storm. There is a looming clash in the 110-meter hurdles between World Record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba and David Oliver, the U.S. Olympic Trials champion. Dayron's precision is nearly flawless, and Oliver is precise and physical at this point in the season. This race is simply too close to call, but we can expect the winning time to hover around 12.88 or so, which is .01 off the current world record.

By Jay Hicks.

Sights of the Day!

It's great to be queen for a day says Sanya Richards...

Mary Wineberg, runner up in the women's 400, tells NBC she is happy to be on the team.

It was good to be LaShawn Merritt tonight, as the clock reads 44.00.

Making it through the preliminary round was all that Jenn Stuczynski was concerned with tonight.Winner Sanya Richards chatting it up with the press after running 49.89.
Can anyone say "sweep", says LaShawn Merrit (l) and David Neville (r).

All photos and content by Jay Hicks.