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

The Reebok Boston Indoor Preview

Tirunesh Dibaba sits next to her World record figures in Boston last year

The Reebook Boston Indoor meet is the second meet on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championships Series and arguably one of the best indoor meets.

The Reebook Boston Indoor meet is legendary for stellar distance races, in part because of the array of talent the meet attracts, and also because of the 200 meter Mondo indoor track at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Bitter Ethopian rivals Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar, two of the world’s best will take the track in Boston – unfortunately, not in the same race. Defar is slated to run the Two Mile, in which she is currently the world record holder. Dibaba, the 5,000 meter indoor record holder, is stepping down to run 3,000 meters.

Up and coming sprint star, Shalonda Solomon, the 2006 NCAA Champion at 200 meters is debuting her first professional indoor meet.

In the field events, Reese Hoffa and Adam Nelson are competing in the men’s shot put. Jenn Stuczynski, the new pole vault queen, is competing in the Nutrilite Women’s Pole Vault.

The men’s 800 meters is certain to be a fireworks show. The U.S. national champion Khadevis Robinson and #2 nationally ranked 800 meter runner, Nick Symmonds, will go head to head on Saturday.

The men’s 3,000 meters looks to be hotter than fish grease. The line up includes defending champion Craig Mott of Australia, New Zealand’s Nick Willis, Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele and American phenom Galen Rupp, who has not run against these elite athletes. This race is certain to have implications for later in this Olympic year track season.

The Reebok Boston Indoor meet, the second stop on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series, can be seen Sunday on ESPN 2 at 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST. Check your local listings.

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

Meseret Defar to Compete at Reebok Boston Indoor Games

Meseret Defar (l) & Shalene Flanagan (r)

Red Sox fans are legendary for their fervor. What most people don’t know is that Boston track fans can be every bit as rabid about their passion, braving brutal weather to cheer on their favorite runners throughout two major, prestigious running events: the Boston Marathon and the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.

On January 26, the Reebok Boston Indoor Games will be a track meet to behold. Last year’s event produced a women’s world record in the 5k, Alan Webb’s fastest indoor mile race and a complete show by distance runner Craig Mottram.

Casual fans may not know that since the Reebok Boston Indoor Games began in 1996 the indoor track meet has attracted elite runners from around the globe to compete.

This year is no different, and a star-studded line up is set to compete. The Reebok Boston Indoor Games is the second stop on the Visa Championship Series, which is the indoor professional track circuit hosted by USA Track & Field.

Among the stars competing are Meseret Defar, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world champion at 5,000 meters, who was named World Athlete of the Year in the sport.

Defending champion Craig Mottram of Australia, New Zealand's Nick Willis, Ethiopia's Tariku Bekele and American phenom Galen Rupp lead a top international field for the men's 3,000-meter run at the 2008 Reebok Boston Indoor Games on January 26, organizers announced Thursday.

Tickets for the 13th annual Reebok Boston Indoor Games are on sale now at the event website, www.BostonIndoorGames.com, or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.

Of course, USA Track & Field would love for you to pay with your Visa.

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

Gay & Defar Named IAAF World Athlete of Year

Tyson Gay and Meseret Defar’s pockets are fatter. $100,000 fatter to be exact. The money is part of the prize for being named male and female World Athlete of the Year.

Gay added hardware to his trophy case on Sunday. He has left space in his case for a little bling: Olympic gold. In the mean time, this will do until next summer.

The setting was stunning. Gay stood in front of his peers, Jeremy Wariner, Xiang Liu, Tommy Smith, Lee Evans and Carl Lewis in Monaco at the prestigious World Athletics Gala to be recognized as the male World Athlete of the Year .

The star-studded audience also included International Assocation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Foundation Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Gay acknowledged that holding the World Record is important to his legacy to be considered among the greats at the end of his career.

The World champion sprinter and middle-distance runner Meseret Defar took home female World Athlete of the Year. The special night was only fitting for her history making season.

Defar is the first Ethiopian woman to win the award, and she was proud to accept the accolades. In 2007, she set the two mile World Record while going undefeated for both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Last years recipients were Asafa Powell and Sanya Richards.

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