Sanya Richards Leads U.S. Women to 1,600-Meter Relay Victory

Relays performances often times tell you a great deal about an athlete. The biggest factor in running is not statistics or splits--it's heart.

Sanya Richards showed major heart when she got the stick seven meters behind Anastasia Kapachinskaya of Russia and quickly made up that ground in leading Team USA to victory.

The relay is the first gold medal for Richards and Allyson Felix at these games.

Mary Winberg (51.0), Allyson Felix (48.55), Monique Henderson (50.06), and Sanya Richards (48.93) brought home the gold in 3:18.55. It should also be noted that Natasha Hastings ran in the qualifying heat and will share in the gold medal victory.

By Jay Hicks.

The Big 400 Meter Show down!

Tonight's show down between challenger LaShawn Merritt and reigning champion Jeremy Wariner is arguably the Olympic Trials' hottest race. The favorite at this point is Wariner, considering how well he has looked in the rounds, coupled with the fact that he has won virtually everything there is to win in the sport. But Merritt has already proved in a win over Wariner to be a formidable opponent. Merritt will probably use his speed to get out quickly the first 200, and Wariner will get out well the first 60-meters and settle into a comfortable pace. Merritt will lead going into the third curve, and Wariner will hit the gas at 250-meters. The homestretch will be about which runner is in the best position and who has the biggest will power to win.

The woman to beat at 400-meters is definately American record holder Sanya Richards. Look for Wineberg, Trotter, and Hastings to all be in contention the final 60-meters. Don't be surprised to see Wineberg challenge the race from the start, while reigning national champion Trotter has the experience to win the race. Former 400-meter NCAA champion Hastings is also a threat as she's been putting together her race well throughout the rounds.

Women's 400 M Final - Lane Assignments:

1 467 Ebonie Floyd Nike 51.49

2 564 Monica Hargrove unattached 51.88

3 423 Debbie Dunn unattached 51.79

4 1387 Mary Wineberg Nike 50.57

5 1081 Sanya Richards Nike 50.75

6 592 Natasha Hastings Nike 51.04

7 1291 Dee Dee Trotter adidas 50.90

8 610 Monique Henderson Reebok 51.07

Men's 400 M Final - Lane Assignments

1 773 Lionel Larry USC 45.55

2 966 Greg Nixon Asics 45.20

3 1194 Calvin Smith Florida 45.43

4 1382 Darold Williamson Nike 45.16

5 1326 Jeremy Wariner adidas 44.66

6 891 LaShawn Merritt Nike 44.76

7 1390 Reggie Witherspoon Nike 44.99

8 959 David Neville Nike 45.03

By Jay Hicks.

Clermont, Florida the Place to Be!

At this point, can anyone break Veronica Campbell-Brown’s strangle hold on the women’s 100? At a meet on her home track in Clermont, Florida the reigning 100-meter World Champion ran an astounding 10.88. I’m sure that premiere performance is what she and her coach Lance Braumon are looking for going into the Jamaican Olympic Trials in a couple weeks.

At the same meet, high school runner Jeff Demps ran 10.21 (+2.2) in the 100, letting any doubters know that he is ready to compete at the highest level.

The very capable Natasha Hastings won (51.45) the 400 over reigning World Champion Dee Dee Trotter (51.95) in Clermont. It’s not clear what to make of the results except that Hastings is further establishing her presence in the event. But Dee Dee is not a runner to count out because she has tremendous 400 experience.

Dyron Robles’ recent World Record in the 100-hurdles did not go unnoticed by David Oliver. Oliver won (13.10) the hurdles in his third fastest time of the year. Which shows that the top ranked American hurdler is sharp just two weeks before the Olympic Trials.

I’m ready for Wallace Spearmon to have a break out race this season in the 200-meters. He ran comfortably (20.4) to victory in Clermont but it is looking as though he will have to run sub-20 seconds to make the U.S. Olympic team in the heavily stacked event.

By Jay Hicks.

2008 Reebok Grand Prix Preview

Saturday, May 31st – Sunday, June 1.

The 2008 Reebok Grand Prix is shaping up to be an extraordinary night and day. Meet organizers have landed some of the hottest races. The meet is run at the Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, a 480-acre park anchoring Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens in New York City.

The meet airs on May 31st from 8:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and June 1 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

Second year pro 400-meter runner Natasha Hasting plays hosts this week. Hastings ran high school at A. Philip Randolph Campus in New York City. With a field consisting of top ranked athletes, in its fourth year meet should provide great drama this week.

Tyson Gay is the defending 100-meter World Champion and has his work cut out for him. Gay is undefeated this season but Usain Bolt has already run an amazing 9.76! The favorite coming in is Tyson Gay, who is on a roll and is gearing up for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Is there anyone hotter than Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown? She is coming off a photo finish victory at the adidas Track Classic (ATC). If you factor in that Allyson Felix will be seeking revenge after a fourth place finish at the ATC—this race will be scorching. Add in a field of Mershevet Hooker, Lauryn Williams, Carmelita Jeter, Bianca Knight, Torri Edwards, and Muna Lee—this field is out of sight. So many talented runners, but it will be interesting to see if anyone has a break out meet to break Veronica’s winning streak.

If you don’t succeed, try, try again. Terrence Trammell has a stellar track record in the 110-hurdles, and his season opener at the ATC was fantastic. A victory against Chinese megastar Liu Xiang is the only thing missing.

After breaking her own American record at the ATC, it would be hard not to pick Jenn Stuczynski this week. She is getting better with each meet and when she is on, she is unbeatable. Jillian Schwartz, Stacy Dragila, and April Steiner will have something to say about that. You have to love competition.

Don’t call it a come back, she’s been here for years. Sanya Richards is back to focusing on her bread and butter race—the 400 meters after running the 100 at ATC. The fierce some force of Natasha Hastings, Dee Dee Trotter, and Jamaica’s Shareefa Lloyd will make this a race to watch.

The men’s 400 is up for grabs. Jeremy Wariner is not running. Derrick Brew and Xavier Carter are the odds on favor to win, but don’t count out Andrew Rock and and David Neville.

Kerron Clement is facing a field with Bayano Kamani in the 400 hurdles.

Khadevis Robinson debuts for the 2008 outdoor season. The eight time national champion at 800-meters will face up to Nick Willis of New Zealand.

Check PreraceJitters.com for instant analysis after the meet.

For more information, visit www.reebokgrandprix.com or www.visachampionshipsseries.com. Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC or on-line at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com.

By Jay Hicks.

LIVE Coverage at the 2008 adidas Track Classic: Bershawn Jackson Runs Strong!

The men’s 110 hurdles was beset with false starts. A second false start was charged to Eric Mitchum, who was disqualified from the race. Anwar Moore ran well over the hurdles to win in 13.39. Terrence Trammell hit the sixth hurdle and narrowly placed second in 13.40.

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson led from the first hurdle, and the 400m field never caught up to his victorious time of 48.94. Brandon Johnson was the nearest runner in 49.62, and Michael Tinsley was third in 49.68.

The adidas Track Classic also featured the top junior runners from the L.A. area which in the past has produced the likes of Allyson Felix. Lauren Williams won the 8-9 year old fastest kid in LA competition in 11.27 at 80 meters, over Cheyanne Brady who placed second in 11.59, and Amanda VanBuren was third in 11.60.

Allyson Felix did not run the 200 as planned coming into the meet. Coach Bob Kersee thought it best to forgo running a second race for the day. Felix had been dealing with the lost of her boyfriend’s father who passed this week. Muna Lee took the race in 22.30 over Carmelita Jeter in 22.47. Marshevet Hooker who ran 22.49 was a close third. Rookie Bianca Knight took sixth in 22.79.

The women’s 400-meter was up for grabs. Natasha Hastings took the early lead before Novlene Williams of Jamaica eventually won the race in 50.38. Mary Winberg ran strong in 50.41 to place second. Hastings took third in 51.09.

Click here for the full meet results.

By Jay Hicks

Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix 2008 Preview

Dohar, Qatar will host some of the track and field's biggest stars at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix 2008.

The meet in Qatar takes place Friday, May 9, featuring American Jeremy Wariner, Natasha Hastings, Lolo Jones, Allyson Felix, Jamaican sprinter Sheri-Ann Brooks, outdoor High Jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia.

Wariner will bypass his specialty event and focus on his speed in the 200-meters. Felix is scheduled to take on Brooks in the 100-meters. Look for a good match up in the 400 between Allyson Felix and upcoming star Natasha Hastings. who has been running quite well.

World record holder Asafa Powell had previously committed to the meet before announcing he would be sidelined for two months with a pectoral injury.

The meet can be seen on WCSN.com. For more information go to http://www.wcsn.com/.

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

Texas Relays Produce World’s Fastest Times!

The high school participation at the Texas Relays was down due to a scheduling error that placed the Texas high school sectional meets on the same weekend. It happens.

The pro runners competing at Texas Relays delivered on prerace expectations. The years line up of pros with the assistance of USA Track & Field High Performance Relay Project is arguable one of the best in years.

The Waco All-Stars, featuring Olympians Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner, handily won the invitational division of the 1,600 meter relay. Wariner led the Waco All-Stars to 3:00.65, the fastest time run in the world this year.

Coming into Texas Relays conventional wisdom said that USA Red Team made up of Kerron Clement, Wallace Spearmon, Derrick Brew, and Andrew Rock would compete with the Waco All-Stars. However, USA Red Team finished in a distance fourth in 3:04.68. Team USA Blue featuring Tyson Gay on the lead off leg did not finish the mile relay.

The women’s invitational 1,600 meters saw USA Red team win in 3:23.49. The Red team, featuring Natasha Hastings, and Sanya Richards, ran strong from start to finish. Sanya Richards & company beat a talented relay team made up of Torri Edwards, Carmelita Jeter that finished second.

Former Longhorn Sanya Richards ran the anchor leg for the USA Red team that won the women's invitational 400 relay with a time of 42.25, also the fastest in the world this year.

The 400 meter relay featuring Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers won in 38.63 to edge out the USA Red team led by Wallace Spearmon and JJ Johnson.

Keep on eye on LSU senior Richard Thompson who won the invitational 100 with a very fast time of 10.0 seconds. This is a world-leading time at 100-meters.

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

6 Track Runners You Oughta Know By Season’s End

Bahamian Donald Thomas on the way to winning World Championship gold in the high jump

Every season, thousands of enthusiastic fans watch track meets, guessing which elite runners will separate themselves from the pack.

The difficulty for fans is separating pretenders from contenders. New talent is always coming out of the college ranks, and some existing professional runners may have break-out seasons.

Prerace Jitters has the list of the hottest new and upcoming track runners that will pop their collars in this year’s season. Check out these unsung runners now, or run the risk of being left in the dust when they blow up.

1. Natasha Hastings - 400 M

Some runners are born great, others just have to work harder. Hastings, a University of South Carolina alum, proved by winning indoor and outdoor NCAA Champions and placing second at U.S. Nationals that she is an elite quarter-miler. The only question is whether Natasha is prepared to take on the challenge of facing 400-meter sensation Sanya Richards. We’ll find out this season if she’s a natural – or a talented hard worker.

2. Donald Thomas - High jumper

Donald “No Spikes” Thomas has accomplished more in under two years since picking up high jumping than other folks dream of doing in an entire career. This Bahamian native, who trains at Auburn by way of Lindenwood College, near St. Louis, has come a long way in a short period of time. This 2007 World Champion cleared 7 feet-8 ½ inches during a fairy tale season that left us imagining what he might do when he gets out of pole vault shoes and starts jumping in high jump shoes with spikes in the heel.

3. Carmelita Jeter - 100 M

Jeter’s debut on the international circuit made two things clear: First, she has played it cool and fought through a chronic problem with her right hamstring. Next, female sprinters have been put on notice. As good as she ran last season, it is now clear that a sub-11-second race is around the corner. Her 2007 bronze medal at Worlds may be the prelude to much greater things.

4. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure - 200 M

Who says Norway has no chance to medal in Beijing? Well, whoever it is, they obviously have never heard of Jaysuma Saidy Ndure. The Gambian-turned-Norwegian national may keep the 200-meters in Beijing from being a U.S. vs. Jamaica duel.

Jaysuma smashed the Norwegian 200-meter record running a blistering 19.89 seconds in Stuttgart to win the World Athletics Final. He did not get cleared to run for Norway until after the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. With that matter now settled, he may be the sprint medalist in Beijing whom you’ve never heard of . . . until now.

5. Asbel Kiprop - 1,500 M

Only 18, Kiprop is heir apparent to the Kenyan distance dynasty. The 1,500-meter specialist has been described as “brilliant” and “essential” by those in the know. He won the World Junior Cross Country title, the All-Africa Games 1,500 meter crown and took 4th at the 2007 World Championships, where he beat American Alan Webb. Now Kiprop has become a “senior” athlete and is ready to take over the 800 and 1,500 meters in Beijing.

6. Craig Mottram - 5,000 M

Craig Mottram is not a new face to die-hard track fans, but he is relatively unknown to the casual fan. Mottram is looking to change that. At the 2005 Helsinki World Championships, he became the first non-African to medal in the 5,000 meters since 1987. Last year, he posted some blistering times and while earning the respect of usually territorial Kenyan and Ethiopian runners, who are known to team run to cut an impudent challenger down. Earning this new found respect is a remarkable feat. But a hamstring injury slowed him to place 13th in the 5,000 meters at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.

The big stage of the Olympic Games has been known to swallow athletes whole. Mottram has shown flashes of brilliance since 2004, but questions remain about whether he can have a brilliant season when it matters most.

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