U.S. Women Progress to 400 Semis

-Beijing—Analysis.

U.S. runners Sanya Richards, Dee Dee Trotter, and Mary Wineberg made it into the next round of the 400-meters with runs on Saturday.

Olympic favorite Sanya Richards won her heat in 50.54, to keep her gold medal hopes alive. Mary Wineberg placed second in her heat with 51.46. And Dee Dee Trotter survived by placing fourth in her heat 51.41.

Richards look very relaxed in her efforts. However Wineberg and Trotter need to pick up the pace in otherwise they will get less than desirable lanes as they move forward.

Muna Lee (11.33), Lauryn Williams (11.38), and Torri Edwards (11.26) breezed into the next round of 100-meter races. The main competition are Jamaicans envoy of Sherone Simpson and Kerrone Stewart, who all pretty effortlessly made it to the next round.

By Jay Hicks.

Sights of the Day!

It's great to be queen for a day says Sanya Richards...

Mary Wineberg, runner up in the women's 400, tells NBC she is happy to be on the team.

It was good to be LaShawn Merritt tonight, as the clock reads 44.00.

Making it through the preliminary round was all that Jenn Stuczynski was concerned with tonight.Winner Sanya Richards chatting it up with the press after running 49.89.
Can anyone say "sweep", says LaShawn Merrit (l) and David Neville (r).

All photos and content 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.