Running Icon Joan Benoit Samuelson Still Inspires

It’s been 24 years since the first women’s Olympic marathon champion broke on the world scene in Los Angeles. Joan Benoit Samuelson was a bundle of energy who managed to steal the hearts of Americans and forever change the sport of running for women in this country.

A recent New York Times article accurately calls her “The Matriarch of Marathoning,” because at the ripe age of 50, Joan is running along with one hundred and sixty-two of the top female marathon runners at the women's United States Olympic Marathon Trials this weekend in Boston.

The running legend has no illusions of making the Olympic team, however she managed to qualify, so she’s running. When asked about qualifying she said, “Oh, God, no,” she said. “It’s just me against me. I want to run 2:50 at age 50.” This is the same runner that helped pace former cycling champion Lance Armstrong at the New York Marathon in 2006.

Prior to Joan winning the gold in 1984, women had been deemed to be too weak to run such a distance. I can still remember when she came into the Los Angeles Coliseum alone that day to the roar of the crowd.

The sight of Joan wearing that white hat, turning into the stadium is an iconic Olympic moment.

Joan Benoit Samuelson transcended running at that moment because she inspired and connected with the best in each of us. What is cool is that 24 years later, she is doing the same thing.

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

Richards, Wariner, and Greene Spotted in Valencia!

Jonathan Edwards, Maurice Greene, Janeth Jeposgei, IAAF President Lamine Diack, Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, Jonas Wistrom CEO of AF and Susanna Kallur.

Americans Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, and Maurice Greene were in Valencia, Spain to promote the upcoming ÅF Golden League Tour. Europe’s lucrative outdoor track circuit kicks off in three months.

Athletes will compete for a part of the $1 million jackpot. A share of which is on offer to any athlete who can win at all six ÅF Golden League events. The six events in this year’s ÅF Golden League take place in Berlin (June 1), Oslo (6 June), Paris (July 11), Rome (July 18), Zürich (August 29) and Brussels (September 5). Appearance fees up to $100,000 per race are also paid by meet directors to entice top athletes to run in their meets.

I wonder if Maurice Greene, a well-known trash talker, was reminding the younger athletes that Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba’s victory in 6.51 didn’t touch the 60-meter world record of 6.39, that Greene set 10 years ago?

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

Stars Shine Bright in Valencia:World Indoor Championships, Day 2 Blogging

United States' LoLo Jones celebrates as she wins the gold medal in 60m hurdles.

Team USA wins 5 medals.

Excellent athletes stood up tall delivering sizzling performances on Day 2 of the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain.

Track and field is in a phase of worldwide growth that includes Saudi Arabia and British Virginia Islands winning their first ever world indoor championships medals.

American Lolo Jones gets PreraceJitters.com "most ecstatic" award for celeberatory mood after winning the 60-meter hurdles in 7.80, ahead of American Candice Davis. This is her first world title. The hurdler had sound technique and explosive speed to run away from the field as the Americans went 1-2.

Red hot favorite, Ethiopia's Meseret Defar, sat behind leaders during the early laps, then hit the gas. She produced a devastating last-lap burst leaving bitter rival Meselech Melkamu in the dust. This is Defar’s third straight world 3,000-meter indoor title.

Defar, who set a world best time for two miles earlier this season, clocked a time of 8:38.79 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of Melkamu. Morocco's Mariem Alaoui Selsouli crossed the line in third and Kenya's Sylvia Kibet was fourth.

American Allen Johnson became the oldest ever world indoor medalist as he took silver at the age of 37. He was just ahead of joint bronze medalists Russian Evgeniy Borisov and Latvia's Stanislavs Olijars. Before coming to Valencia, Chinese world record holder Liu Xiang had not run indoor races, but he showed off his training running to gold in 7.46.

American pole vault queen Jenn Stuczynski earned a silver and valuable experience in her first international competition that may very well pay off for her this summer. Both Jenn and Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia cleared 15 feet, 7 inches. Isinbayeva won because she had fewer misses and took her third world indoor pole vault title in a row.

The men’s 1500-meters was a thoroughly enjoyable epic battle and arguable the day’s most entertaining race. Ethiopian Deresse Mekkonen took the title in a fierce foot race over the last 300-meters of the races. The lead changed hands no less than half a dozen times during the race. At the final bell lap, at least six men were in solid contention.

But soon after the thoroughly entertaining contest was concluded, Mekkonen was disqualified for a lane violation, giving Komen gold and a 2-3 finish for Spain with Casado gaining the bronze.

But the switch was short-lived. An appeal lodged by the Ethiopian Federation was upheld, reversing the initial disqualification and giving Mekkonen the victory, with Komen Kipchirchir second followed by Higuero and Casado.

The surprise medal of the night came from Texan Andra Manson who tied for bronze in the men's high jump with a season best of 7 feet, 6.5 inches. This was the first international competition on the elite level for Manson.

Go to IAAF for reviews of the semifinal men’s heptathlon, 400, 800, and women’s 400, 800, high jump, and pentathlon.

In addition to the free, live webcast on WCSN.com, fans can watch the World Indoor Championships on television. The Versus cable network will air the meet twice on Saturday and once on Sunday. Broadcast times are 3-4 p.m. ET and 7-8 p.m. ET on Saturday; 6-8 p.m. ET on Sunday. 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

The Final Lap: Around the Globe in 60 seconds

With all of the excitement and preparation for this week’s upcoming U.S. indoor national championship meet. Let’s not forget about the great week that was had in track & field.

Athletes will compete at the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Sunday to win a national title and a roster spots for Team USA roster spots for the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 7-9 in Valencia, Spain.

You can tell it’s an Olympic year because no one wants to get left at home. This last week in track & field has produced a lot of impressive performances.

• Steven Spielberg rolled out! The Chinese are looking to save face after the maker of Schindler’s List resigned his Olympic duties in protest of the China's support of the human rights abuses in Darfur.

• Watch out Stuczynksi! American outdoor record holder Jenn Stuczynski has been served notice. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva improved her own world indoor record in the pole vault to 4.95m (16-2 3/4) in Donetsk, Ukraine.

• I won’t say I Told You So but..Carmelita Jeter, one of PRJ’s preseason picks to watch closed another big race in 60-meters at Tyson Invitational. That’s three major wins indoors, but who is counting, right?

• Big Poppy gets crazy! Adam Nelson is adding mad sportsmanship and attention to the men’s shot put. Oh, by the way, he’s number three all-time indoors after belting a throw of 73 feet, 6 inches.

• Who said distance runners can’t sprint? Kenenisa Bekele ran a smoking last 200-meters in 27.9 seconds to break the world 2mile record in Birmingham. Bet that bonus check spends nicely!

  
  

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