Is It David Oliver’s Time to Shine?

-From Eugene, OR

Sure Allen Johnson isn’t in the finals of the 110 hurdles, but rising star David Oliver is running at an instinctual level that is unaffected by the loss of the 37-year-old American hurdling legend. Look for the heat to come from Anwar Moore, Antown Hicks, and veteran Terrence Trammell.

Oliver has been on the grind and is hoping that the hurdles are his best friend, and not his worst enemy, tomorrow in the finals.

“That's what's important. Whether you're first or 16th, we're all going to the semifinals, and we all have a chance to make the team still," said Oliver.

Women’s 200m Final Looks Very Familiar to 100m

The main difference going into the 200-meter final is that Allyson Felix has the fastest time (22.22) run by an American this year. The 100-meter U.S. Olympic trials champion Muna Lee has the second fastest qualifying time (22.33), Shalonda Solomon put down 22.48, and Bianca Knight won the first heat in 22.53.

Felix, Lee, Lauryn Williams, Torri Edwards, and Marshevet Hooker all appeared in the 100-meter final, and they are all now in the 200-meter final.

This race is simply too close to call. Felix is the favorite going into tomorrow. Hooker is motivated by not getting left home. Solomon is a beast, and Knight is the picture of consistency at the half lap distance. Not to mention that Torri Edwards has veteran experience that can not be underestimated.

Get your popcorn ready, because this is going to be entertaining.

All content and photos 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.

The Last Lap: A Week of Shock and Surprises!

Even Michael Johnson was "shocked" by 9.76. Usain Bolt should get a bonus for that feat alone. Read Telegraph

Pay me! Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards running for real gold after the Olympics. Read Austin American-Statesman

Jeremy Wariner tells it like it is. The Texas sensation is running his own race. Read Gulf Times

PreraceJitters.com told you months ago this little known sprinter may be a threat in Beijing? Michael Johnson even says so! Read IAAF

Did rookie Bianca Knight catch vet Veronica Campbell by surprise? Yes, she did. Read Jamaican Gleaner

Allyson Felix knows what’s important to her. Read Sports Illustrated

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

Usain Bolt Nears World Record in Jamaica!

The times coming of the Jamaican Invitational are jaw dropping. Incredible. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt redefined this seasons outlook for the 100-meters. He won in 9.76 with 1.8 wind, nearly breaking his countrymen Asafa Powell’s world record of 9.74. The time is stunning. The performance is sure to get Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, and the world’s attention.

Second in the race was America’s Wallace Spearmon in 10.08 and Antiguan Daniel Bailey placed third in 10.12.

Sanya Richards crossed the line first at the 400-meters in 50.60. The top three finishers ran personal best times in the women’s 100. Kerron Stewart wons the women's 100m in 10.96, Marshavett Hooker ran second in 11.01, 18-year-old Bianca Knight took third in 11.11. The wind measured +.9 during the women’s 100 making it a legal race.

Kerron Clement won the men’s 400 hurdles in 47.79. In another amazing race, newcomer
Bianca Knight won the women’s 200 in 22.62 in her first professional meet. Knight beat veteran Veronica Campbell on her home turf. Campbell placed second in 22.9.

American champ Tyson Gay continued his winning steak taking the men’s 200-meters in 20.00.

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

Bianca Knight Waiting For Shoe To Drop

The University of Texas sprint sensation Bianca Knight has recently signed with agent Mark Wetmore of Boston-based Global Athletics, Inc. Global Athletics also represents pro athletes such as Tyson Gay, Dee Dee Trotter, Jenn Stuczynski, and Liu Xiang.

Pro runners typically earn the bulk of their income on shoe contracts. The track world is waiting to hear the winner of the sneaker battle to woo the services of Bianca Knight. Word is that Nike and Adidas are duking it out to win over the women who blazed the second fastest American time ever in winning the NCAA crown in 200-meters.

If it’s any indication of the market, in 2003 Allyson Felix signed a signed a six-year, six-figure endorsement contract with Adidas just out of high school. Bianca’s legs will make her mad money.

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

Texas Sprinter Bianca Knight Goes Pro

Trackshark.com is reporting that Bianca Knight turned professional, joining a growing number of track athletes leaving the college ranks early. She will forgo her remaining eligibility in collegiate track and field.

The world of elite track and field was introduced to Bianca Knight last Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championship meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The freshman from the University of Texas broke the NCAA meet record at 200-meters in a stunning time of 22.40. The second fastest time ever by an American runner puts Bianca on the level of the world’s elite sprinter.

If Bianca can deliver similar times at the professional level, she’ll be competitive among the world’s best sprinters. To put her indoor time of 22.40 into proper context, just take a look at the results from the outdoor 200-meter finals at the 2007 World Championships: Allyson Felix won in 21.82, Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell took second in 22.34, followed by Susanthika Jayasinghe in 22.63. Runners typically put up much faster times outdoors.

Given the typically short career span of the average professional sprinter, I think Knight is wise to turn pro if she competes with the world’s best at this age.

Good luck Bianca!

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