Newly Launched Spikes Magazine is Good Luck

It’s all a matter of perspective, but gracing the cover of Spikes magazine has the opposite affect of the “Madden Cover Curse.” Whether you think it's a silly urban legend or an undeniable truth, the Madden Cover Curse has become an entrenched part of football lore.

Yelena Isinbayeva was featured on the first copy of the edgy new British track and field magazine, officially launched June 3, 2008.

On Friday, Yelena upped her own World Record in the pole vault to 16 feet, 6 inches and again comes into Beijing as the favorite. Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb could only be so lucky. Yelena got a bounce from appearing on the cover, and hopefully, the sport will also.

The IAAF, in partnership with UK Athletics, launched a major drive to promote athletics globally with a new cutting edge magazine and interactive global website - SPIKES.

Is Spikes magazine the new hero of the sport? Without a doubt, it is a witty and humorous new jaunt.

Spikes magazine and Spikesmag.com couldn’t come at a better time. They will help promote the sport at a time when there is a great deal of competition for young people’s attention. The organization’s mission is to bring the world of track and field to life and help put it back where it belongs: on top of the world.

Enough said.

By Jay Hicks.

Instant Analysis!

Check out PreraceJitters.com for instant analysis right after the Reebook Grand Prix and IAAF Golden league meets.

This weekend the Reebok Grand Prix is airing on May 31, 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET, on ESPN2 and June 1, 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

You can watch ÅF IAAF Golden League meet from (DKB-ISTAF)Berlin, Germany live on the webcast on Sunday, June 1st 9 a.m., EST at Trackshark.com or on ESPN taped delayed at 2 p.m., EST.

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.

Lolo Jones Runs Into Michael Jordan

Life continues to get better for Lolo Jones since winning the 60-meter hurdle world indoor title in Valencia, Spain that came with a $40,000 prize. The former LSU star is making a name for her self on and off the track.

Lolo revealed on her IAAF online diary that she recently met Michael Jordan at an Oakley event in Florida to promote the first sunglasses designed specifically for female athletes. Lolo had input into the development of the sunglasses. She explains that she had to get pass the body guards and PR guys surrounding Michael Jordan.

Jones said, “It took quite a while to set up the chance to chat with him but after I was introduced as a World champion he was super-polite and gave me such a strong handshake."

I wonder if MJ gave Lolo some pointers on taking her game to the next level. It’s nice to see Lolo get some well-deserved love since scraping her way past a part-time job to stay in the sport.

She will be in action next in her home town at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa April 24 to 26.

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

Records Are Meant to Be Broken: World Indoor Championships, Day 3 Blogging

Yelena Soboleva of Russia celebrates after setting the first world record of the Valencia event.

Team USA ended the third and final day with a strong finish in Valencia, Spain. All told, the United States led all countries in the final medal count with five gold, five silver, and three bronze medals.

The international meet, while absent some of the sport’s biggest names, was marked with quite a few memorable performances. There were break through moments for athletes who had been waiting for validation of their years of work and sacrifice.

Nine women towed the starting line in the 1500-meters and one ended by breaking her own world record: Yelena Soboleva of Russia. This race will be remembered in the halls of track for many years to come.

The first 1,200 meters passed at a brisk pace. Yelena took the lead at the final bell lap winning with nearly a 12-meter lead. When she crossed the line the clock read 3:57:71: a new world record.

Yelena ran away with $40,000 for first place and $50,000 for setting a world record. $90,000 is not bad for less than four minutes of work in her office on the track. Fellow Russian Yuliya Fomenko was second in 3:59.41, while Gelete Burka of Ethiopia grabbed the bronze.

American Bryan Clay dominated the men's heptathlon from beginning to end during the two-day competition. He registered a personal best total of 6,371 points, just 105 short of Dan O’Brien’s 1993 world record.

Clay said, “I was sick and then I was hurt. Two weeks ago I would have told you that I wouldn’t even be able to compete here. This just shows how well my training is going.”

In the women’s 800-meters, Maria Mutola came up short in her bid for an eighth indoor world title. In what was a disasterous race for her, Mutola gave up the lead to the inside and then got boxed in during the final lap. Tamsyn Lewis of Australia slipped by Mutola to won in 2:02.57. Mutola took home the bronze and closed the chapter on what has been one heck of a career.

Canada's Tyler Christopher took advantage of a world 400-meter final without Jeremy Wariner, Angelo Taylor, or LaShawn Merritt. Tyler drafted behind Johan Wissman of Sweden for most of the race and then swung out wide down the home stretch to win in 45.67.

The Russian women completely dominated the 400-meters without American superstars such as Sanya Richards and Allyson Felix. Olesya Zykina won by a lean over teammate Natalya Nazarova in 51.09. American Shareese Woods ran her fastest time ever to win bronze in 51.41.

The men’s 800-meters was a brutally fast race. Eighteen-year-old Abubaker Kaki Khamis of Sudan took the lead from the break and held the lead to win in a jaw dropping 1:44.81. Every runner in the final ran a personal best including a world best time and two national records. American Nick Symmonds took sixth but had to leave the meet knowing that he did not wilt under the intense heat on the race. Symmonds ran a personal best 1:46.48.

Afterward Symmonds said, "It was just too fast."

Tariku Bekele won the 3,000-meters in an inspiring fashion with a searing final 400-meters, to win gold in 7:48.23. The last name may ring a bell. He is the younger brother of Keneisa Bekele, the defending 3,000 meter champion, who skipped the world indoors to focus on the upcoming World Cross Country Championships.

Brad Walker of the U.S. set a personal best of 19 feet, 2.25 inches in the pole vault but it wasn’t good enough to beat Evgeniy Lukyanenko. Walker won silver and goes home with a $20,000 check.

U.S. Indoor champion Aarik Wilson was seventh in the men's triple jump with a leap of 55 feet, 4.75 inches, and Texan Amy Acuff cleared 6 feet, 4.75 inches for sixth place in the women's high jump.

Team USA ran away from all other men to win the 4 x 400 meter-relay. The American women took home bronze as the Russians won their eighth straight indoor relay title.

Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at WCSN.com, and on television on the Versus network. Check local listings.

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

WCSN.com to Provide Free Live Webcast of World Indoor Champs

There’s no excuse to miss the action!

PreraceJitters.com is excited to announce: WCSN.com, in partnership with USA Track & Field, will provide free LIVE coverage for the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships being held in Valencia, Spain on March 7-9.

The free live webcast starts at 10:00 a.m. ET on Friday, March 7th with continued coverage on Saturday, March 8 (10:50 a.m. ET) and Sunday, March 9 (10:50 a.m. ET).

Woo hoo!—who doesn’t love free stuff? Free-as in no money. No dinero. Leave your Visa in your wallet kind of free, because there are no hidden fees. If you find yourself doing the “I scored something free dance”, it’s quite alright because track fans never, ever get anything for free.

Track fans are normally treated like second-class citizens in the world of U.S. athletics. Thank you WCSN.com for showing some love to track fans.

The network normally charges $4.95 a month for membership plus free access to results, video highlights, breaking news, behind-the-scenes features, and more.

Free Webcast of 2008 IAAF World Indoors

March 7 morning session (on-demand)
March 7 evening session (LIVE 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET)

March 8 morning session (on-demand)
March 8 (LIVE 10:50 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET)

March 9 morning session (on-demand)
March 9 (LIVE 10:50 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET)

* all sessions will be available on-demand

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

Mozambique Great Maria Mutola on Farewell Tour

Maria Mutola celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the Olympic women's 800m gold medal in Sydney.

Living up to great expectations.

The upcoming World Indoor Track meet in Valencia, Spain will be Maria Mutola’s last indoor meet. She formally announced last month that she is retiring at the outdoor season’s end and will focus on her foundation. The retirement announcement early in the year allows fans an opportunity to enjoy this living legend’s last season.

Maria is a great person, and not because she’s the fastest or strongest. The fact she made it this far in life is a victory in itself. Her resolve was tested long before the fame began. In the 1970’s, she faced life in an impoverished suburb in the Mozambique capital Maputo during a 17-year stretch of war and poverty.

The international work by Mozambique’s first Olympic champion is just as impressive as her athletic feats. Through her charitable foundation in Mozambique, Maria has worked with the United Nations on HIV/AIDS awareness and the necessity of immunization in her home country.

Mutola is a pioneer having changed the women's 800-meters since her arrival on the international circuit 20 years ago, at the age of 14. Maria is known for a fast pace and a monstrous kick over the last 200 meters. She has been a contender in every championship race over the past twenty years, winning nine world titles and running in five Olympics.

It’s great to see her leave at the top of her game and on her own terms. But as anyone following her career would know, she wouldn’t have it any other way. Three times this year, Mutola has dipped below 2:00 minutes at 800-meters and won her three outings.

While Mutola isn’t the favorite going into Valencia, don’t count her out. The 2000 Olympic 800-meter champion has a huge heart and is a fierce indoors 800-meter runner having won a world indoor title seven times, the last in 2006.

It’s sad to lose one of track’s most dominant and recognizable stars. It’s been an honor to watch her career. Maria has assembled an incomparable body of work over her 20-year career, and we hope that she goes out in a blaze of glory, just like she when arrived.

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

2008 World Indoor Championships TV & Webcast Coverage

Track fans typically scour the TV guide to find track & field broadcasts and often miss portions of the meets, or an entire meet, because the information is not readily available.

Look no further. PreraceJitters.com has a complete broadcast list of when and where the 2008 World Indoor Championships from Valencia, Spain can be viewed March 7 - 9.

There is another avenue to see the worlds. WCSN (World Championship Sports Network) a cable tv network and website is broadcasting every hour of the 2008 World Indoor Championships. WCSN will provide live coverage and make the content available with a $4.95 monthly membership through their website WCSN.com. Fans can log onto WCSN.com or watch on WCSN TV.

WCSN also will make the content available to viewers on WCSN.com as a video-on-demand product shortly after the competition is completed each day, together with clips capturing the key moments from each day's competition.

Live coverage of the Worlds will be on cable channel VERSUS this weekend.

Versus Broadcast schedule:

• 3/8-3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• 3/8-6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• 3/8-7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• 3/8-11:00 pm - 12:00 am
• 3/9-6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• 3/9-10:00 pm - 12:00 am

Based on last year's broadcast of the Worlds, it may be safe to assume the broadcasts in bold will be original programming, and the others will be replays.

You can register here for e-mail and/or text-message reminders from Versus on the events.

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

World Indoor Champions in Valencia, Spain

It's all about the benjamins!

The World Indoor Championships are mad popular in Europe. This year a record 159 countries have entered athletes in the track meet held in Valencia, Spain from March 7 – 9. With the Olympics taking place in Beijing later this year, athletes have an extra incentive to perform well at the meet. The event is sure to be a spectacular affair.

This is the final indoor meet of the year before runners across the globe begin the outdoor season focusing on Beijing. The World Indoors is sold out which is a big boost to a meet that is already wildly popular.

Valencia, Spain certainly is a great host city with plenty to offer sports fans - it provided the home port for last year’s America’s Cup sailing competition and is set to do so again in 2009. The first Formula One Grand Prix on the city streets will take place later this year.

In total, the world’s greatest indoor meet will offer $2.5 million in prize money, equally shared with both male and female athletes. It’s important to point out that track & field was one of the first sports to pay women equally more than twenty years ago – a feat that Wimbledon just achieved last year in 2007.

Individual and relay events earn $40,000 for the winners, $20,000 for second place, $10,000 for third and goes down to $4,000 for 6th. Anyone who sets a world-record gets an additional $50,000 bonus, on top of their prize earnings from winning their race.

Keep in mind that some athletes run multiple events, such as an individual race and a relay or two individual races. Elite runners that win two events will return home with $80,000 for two days of running.

Not bad, but the international governing body which hosts the meet needs to increase the total prize money to $4 million. For example, the 2007 U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis had a record total pot of $75,000, and the United States Golf Association (USGA) U.S Open had a staggering purse of $7 million.

The sport has a responsibility to the athletes. Larger purses might persuade international stars such as Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, and Asafa Powell to run indoor track—which many stars are not doing now.

More star athletes translate into better television ratings for tour events. Better ratings would mean more money sponsorships that can be gained for future events.

Track is definitely work in progress, however with four world indoor records having already fallen this winter season, it’s evident that the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships will be one of the most hotly contested global competitions in recent years.

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

Not So Fast!

The world's fastest man, Jamaican Asafa Powell, in Melbourne yesterday.

The fastest man ever is 50/50 on getting to the starting line this Thursday at one of Australia’s premier meets, where he is a headlining act.

Asafa Powell arrived in Melbourne with four stitches in a deep cut in his knee courtesy of a fall, and the injury forced him to pull out of last Saturday’s grand prix meet in Sydney.

Stitches were removed on Saturday, and Powell still has soreness in the knee. And now, Asafa is seriously considering not running Thursday at Melbourne’s Grand Prix.

"There is still some inflammation inside, so we just have to get rid of that," he told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

We doubt that Powell will take any risk in an Olympic year, and we hope he recovers quickly. But the show must go on!

So, in the mean time, we’ll focus on whether J Dub breaks 45 seconds in his 400-meter season opener. The world’s fastest 400-meter star, Jeremy Wariner, and Texan training partner, Darold Williamson, are confirmed to run the 400.

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

Atleast He Tried

The IAAF has ruled that Oscar Pistorius can not compete in the Beijing Olympics or any another able-bodied sanctioned meet but that will not stop Nike from running this South African commercial.

He won't stand down. Oscar Pistorius is fighting not only for himself but also for other disabled athletes. As we originally thought, he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. Pistorius is a man fighting to live his dream.

Check it out!

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

Why Track & Field Must Upgrade

Track and field is currently an old Magnavox bubble television with rabbit ears. It’s time for a track revolution that involves throwing out that old model and upgrading to a high definition 50” plasma screen. Are you with me?

Runners sign a confidentiality agreement that precludes them from disclosing shoe contracts and appearance fees. This outdated policy needs to be dumped immediately. This old school mentality goes against the grain of American culture.

Why? It’s Un-American. Talking about celebrities and athletes income is a national past time. Americans escape by dreaming of A-Rod’s $27 million a year salary.

All major sports – even Major League Soccer – release athletes’ and coaches’ salaries. Bill Gates’ compensation is readily available, and he’s the wealthiest guy in the universe.

Do you think millions would tune into Survivor if the prize was $50,000 instead of $1,000,000? Like it or not – big money attracts attention.

The casual fan thinks that track runners are earning peanuts, and this perception diminishes understanding and interest in the sport.

There is money in the sport, but fans would never know because the information is not released to the public. In reality, elite sprinters and distance runners are well compensated and have base salaries between $200,000 and $600,000 with hefty incentives for high-place finishes and fast times. Top salaries are in excess of $1 to $2 million. Not bad for four left turns, huh?

Sure, there are plenty of athletes scraping by on low paying shoe contracts, but the top runners are certainly not struggling to pay their bills.

Performances are improving, but track lags behind in popularity in comparison to the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball. What has to be concerning to track officials is that traditionally smaller sports such as Extreme Sports, Pro Bass Fishing and Professional Bull Riding have sprinted past track and field in popularity.

The sport needs leadership to re-organize in the U.S. by creating a marketable product that engages and entertains the casual fan. Runners should get increased sponsor attention to replace appearance fees in order to provide guaranteed income. More people will tune-in if big prize money is on the line.

Out with the old and in with the new. Change is never easy. That’s why a track evolution is needed to give fans the product we rightfully deserve. Are you with me?

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

Courage Under Fire

Sprinter Oscar Pistorius (far left) & Martyn Rooney in Sheffield, England

Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius, nicknamed “Blade Runner”, is living his life without limitations. That is the motto of Ossur, the manufacturer of his prosthetic blades.

Rocking sleek, curved prosthetic legs that appear straight out of a sci-fi movie, sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been burning up tracks and leaving controversy in his wake. At issue is whether those carbon graphite appendages give the 20-year-old South African double amputee an advantage over able-bodied runners.

The questions persist: do the prosthetics simply level the field for Pistorius, compensating for his disability, or do they give him an inequitable edge via what some call techno-doping?

This is an issue that has yet to be determined as he makes a bid for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. No - say prosthetic manufacturers, other amputee athletes and researchers. Maybe - says the International Association of Athletic Federations, the governing body of world track and field, which continues to study the matter before making a ruling.

Test results are in and have been sent to Blade Runner’s representatives. IAAF is officially mum on the matter, choosing not to make any announcement over the matter until January 10.

Pistorius’ biggest obstacle may be qualifying standards. To reach the Olympics, he would have to run 45.95 seconds before the July 2008 qualifying deadline. His best time is 46.56. In comparison, world champion Jeremy Wariner posted a personal best of 43.45.

Earlier this year, Pistorius placed seventh at a race in England, running the 400 meters before being disqualified for going outside his lane. But he had already grabbed attention for holding world records in the Paralympics. Although he's not the first disabled athlete to compete against able-bodied athletes, he is the first double amputee who may make the crossover.

I hope the controversy doesn’t obscure the real story – Pistorius’ victory over his limitations. Pistorius was awarded the Helen Rolloson, which goes to an athlete showing courage in the face of adversity, at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show.

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

2008 Golden League Jackpot Announced

IAAF Golden League Istaf , Berlin, Germany

Run and tell all your friends. Elite professional track athletes make big bank. The IAAF has announced the 2008 Jackpot is $1 million. That doesn’t include appearance fees paid to big name stars. It may not be A-Rod or Lebron James level of tax returns, but it makes them rich.

The big payday races are on the European summer circuit. While there is not much market for professional track in the United States, Europe is a completely different story. The sport, like soccer, is considered as popular in Europe as football, basketball and baseball are here in the States.

The European circuit, named the Golden League, is made up of 10 total meets that include six for men and four for women.

The Golden League Jackpot is shared between any athletes that win their event in all six Golden League meets. The jackpot is shared between all competitors, men and women, equally.

The winner-takes-all setting creates a frenzied environment. Should no one win all six races in their event, then the winners of five events will split $500,000.

Cities and dates for 2008 – IAA Golden League

Berlin, Germany – June 1st

Oslo, Norway – June 6th

Rome, Italy - July 11th

Paris, France – July 18th

Zurich, Switzerland – August 29th

Brussels, Belgium – September 5th

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