Instant Analysis - Bolt Makes It Reign In Zürich

Usain Bolt meet the world’s sports fans. World sports fans meet Usain Bolt of Jamaica—the track's newly crowned megastar.

-Zurich, Switzerland-The Golden League meet in Zürich was the perfect setting for lightening quick times. A sold out crowd of 22,000 spectators provided an electric atmosphere that produced some extremely fast times. A bit of fatigue from the Olympic Games appeared evident on the part of distance runners, but the sprinters put down some fast times.

Before the gun went off, it was the usual routine. Usain Bolt was bobbing and weaving and playing it up before getting into the blocks. When his name was called out, the fans gave went wild for the man who less than two weeks ago was apart of three world record performances. The Olympic champion could have at least made it look somewhat difficult. Bolt gave the fans their money's worth. He got out to a slow start before blazing 9.83 seconds over 100-meters. The reigning Olympic champion was ahead of Walter Dix (9.93) and Richard Thompson (10.09).

Where was his kick when Wariner needed it the most two weeks ago? Reigning Olympic champ LaShawn Merrittt had the inside lane today, but it was not good enough to beat Jeremy Wariner. Coming down the final turn, Wariner had a one step lead that he opened up to about five meters winning in 43.82 over Merritt (44.43).

Lolo Jones picked up where she left off before hitting a hurdle in Beijing. The U.S. Olympic Trials champion won in 12.56, beating a field which included 110-meter hurdle Olympic champion Dawn Harper. Harper (12.73) finished in a distant seventh place.

It was certainly a win, but it was not the win that Sanya Richards has been dreaming about for quite some time. After winning bronze in Bejing, Richards won a commanding race today in a season’s best time of 49.75. There have been assertions that Richards choked in the 400-meter Olympic final. The real story is that Richards didn’t run fast enough to beat the world’s best. The looming question is why this season the American record holder has not been within a second of the 48.70 that she ran back in 2006.

The 110 hurdles was a close one. David Oliver, the only man to defeat Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba, almost accomplished that feat for a second time this season. Oliver raced Robles down to the end, but came up short.

It may not have been as clean as the 400 hurdle victory in Beijing. But Angelo Taylor (48.07) took it out extremely hard the first half of the race before finishing ahead of Kerron Clement (48.20) of the U.S. and Jamaica’s Danny McFarland (48.40). Bershawn Jackson (49.18) finished in seventh place.

By Jay Hicks.

Instant Analysis on IAAF Golden League Paris, France Meet!

Image details: IAAF Golden League - Gaz de France served by picapp.com

Wariner Reigns Supreme Over Merritt in Paris.

Paris, the city known the world over for love and romance, was anything but that today to LaShawn Merritt. Jeremy Wariner (43.86) showed no love for new rival LaShawn Merritt (44.35), in a race that Wariner dominated every aspect of the race except the start.

Today, Wariner ran a bold and daring race strategy that has become his trademark as he broke 44 seconds for the second time this outdoor season. With 100 meters to go, Wariner was too much for Merritt, laying on his kick and opening up a blow out win over Merritt down the homestretch.

You knew it wouldn't take very long before the times starting dropping. Over the last month, as the media has been writing about what is wrong with Wariner, I have been curious what the race would look like when the times dipped under 44 seconds. Today, we got a great show as to what that race looks like.

The three previous races between Wariner and Merritt have been in Merritt's comfort zone, ranging anywhere from 44 flat to 44.5, and today, the stakes were raised--literally. This latest development in the 400-meter rivalry is far from over. Merritt will go back and analyze his race today and come back firing in the next race and in Beijing. That is the beauty of this sport.

Did Dayron Robles even touch a hurdle today? He ran like a beast, crossing the line in 12.88 - just a hair off his current World Record of 12.87 which he set earlier in the season. The Cuban hurdler won because of his technical precision.

Can anyone catch Pamela Jelimo? She ran 1:54.97, nearly 4 seconds ahead of the next fastest 800-meter runner.

In the women's 200, Sanya Richards (22.56) pulled out an upset victory over Muna Lee (22.59), who won the 100-meters and placed second in the 200 (21.99) at the U.S Olympic Trials less than two weeks ago. The winning time was not impressive, but racing is about winning, so it was a good win for Richards in that respect, especially considering the 400 is her specialty event.

Is the U.S. setting up to run a 400-meter hurdle sweep in Beijing? Today, three American 400-meter hurdlers ran under 49-seconds. Kerron Clement (48.43) is on a tear winning his second straight race since losing to Bershawn "Batman" Jackson at the Olympic Trials earlier this month. Clement won, because he ran with reckless abandonment over Angelo Taylor (48.91), and "Batman" in fourth place with (48.92).

By Jay Hicks.

Gaz de France Paris, France Preview

Friday, July 18, 2008
TV: July 18, 2:30-4:30 p.m., ESPN Classic
TV: July 18, 4:00-6:00 p.m., ESPN2

Online: USA Track & Field
Online: Trackshark.com

The IAAF Golden League circuit, also known as the European circuit, picks up again on Friday from Paris. The $1 Million Golden League Jackpot will be shared between the athletes capable of winning all of the six events in their own discipline. If no one completes this feat, the athletes having won 5 events will then have to share a $500,000 jackpot.

In a league of her own, Kenyan teenager Pamela Jelimo is a candidate left to win the $1 Million Golden League Jackpot along with Russian high jumper Blanka Vlasic. She ranks 6th on the all-time list at 800-meters with a stunning time of 1:54.99.

Will the freshly paid Walter Dix win his professional debut? Nike broke Dix off nicely after the Olympic Trials, making him one of sports highest paid athletes. The scenario looks much different now that Asafa Powell has withdrawn from the meet due to a tweaked groin. The question for Dix this week is how well-rested is he just twelve days after winning the 200-meters and running second in the 100-meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

By Jay Hicks.

Instant Analysis—Oslo ÅF Golden League!

We told you not to count Jeremy Wariner out. He dropped a 43.98 in Oslo on Friday. That means that he probably wasn’t quite ready in Berlin last week, but the champ isn’t offering up any excuses just sub 44 times. The reason Wariner ran better this week is because he got back to running his trademark race on Friday. He went out extremely fast in the first half of the race in Berlin. On Friday though, Wariner got out hard and settled into his race before blasting home the last 150 meters.

Wariner running 43.98 in the first week of June could mean that the winning time in Beijing may be near Michael Johnson’s world record of 43.18. We’re not ready to proclaim that Michael Johnson’s world record will be broken, but the winning time in Beijing will be extremely close.

Kenyan Pamela Jelimo is proving more than a flash in the pan by running another hot 800. This time she only ran a stunning 1:55.41. The only thing more shocking than Jelimo’s emergence on the international scene is that of Sudanese Abubaker Kaki running 1:42.69 as an 18-year-old. The “do-nothing” media can blabber on all they want to about steroids, but drugs won’t do a thing to help you run under 1:43.

Is there yet another contender for the 100 throne in Beijing? Derrick Adkins of the Bahamas ran 9.98, and sure, it was winded (+2.3). That means he is in 10 flat shape and if he progresses, he could possibly run below 10 seconds in Beijing. Yikes!

Is it becoming ever more clear with each race that Bianca Knight is someone to be reckoned with in the 200? Her 22.56 shows that she is fearless about running against the sport’s biggest names. Let there be no doubt that she will contest for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

By Jay Hicks.

Instant Analysis, Berlin IAAF Golden League!

In a close race its how a star performs down the stretch. Jeremy Wariner (44.07) went out extremely fast in a rare loss to eventually winner LaShawn Merritt (44.03). The effects of a sore hamstring on Wariner's training over the last several weeks may have seen in the 400 Sunday in Berlin. Merritt won because he executed great race strategy by sitting back until the final 80 meters to take the lead, which he didn't relinquish.

The 100-meter hurdles was surprising because World Recorder holder Susanna Kallur of Sweden took second to Joseph Oniya after an extremely quick gun by the starter. Lolo Jones of the U.S. competed well with a 12.57 third place finish. Jones’s time equaled her best of the year.

Does the women’s 800 meters have a new contender? Pamela Jelimo of Kenya is on fire after running 1:54.99, the fastest time the event has seen in nearly a decade. This after Jelimo has moved up to the race just months ago. The rabbit brought the field through in 55.46, and Jelimo went out with the rabbit, and buried the field with the second place finisher 4 seconds behind her.

You gotta stay cool under pressure. David Oliver was behind in the race until the final hurdle in the 110 hurdles. He claimed a narrow victory (13.19), over Dayron Robles of Cuba (13.20) showing reserve you are looking for in a contender for the Olympic title.

Click here for full meet results.

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.