When Athletes Blog – Lauryn Williams

Lauryn Williams took her blog to discuss the hot 100-meter race at the Adidas Track Classic. What’s funny is the pro sprinter takes pride in another Lauren Williams, the daughter to Trackmom.com winning L.A.'s Fastest Kid race.

Read what Lauren had to say.

"Wheww! I survived it!! The toughtest field ever…well as far as I am concerned.

Track should have far better following than it does! After all in other sports u spend all year building up for 1 big event then once it is over you have to wait a whole year for it 2 bulid up again and then your team might not be in the championship!! Not in track! You get GREAT races with all the hot names and constant excitement with surprises in the plot on a regular basis. This weekend was a perfect example. 8 of the hottest women in the sprints ALL capable of running sub11 times on the line at the same time!! I can guarantee it was a better line up than any final you can put on the line in Beijing because u can only have 3 people per country and America and Jamaica have far more qualified depth than that! There was a B race where the winning time would have been 4th place in the A heat! Then there are those who chose to either run another event or just weren’t present that you must also watch out for. ( ie. Muna Lee, Miki Barber, Sharone Simpson and Simone Facey just to name a few.) It wasn’t just our event either I could write a book about how much talent was at the adidas track classic. Hopefully you tuned in so you know just exactly what I am talking about.

Although my 9 race winning streak came to an end there was a Lauren Williams that was not only lighting fast but victorious! I believe she’s 8 but had the composure of an adult as she raced down the track to a first place finish from lane 1. She showed that lanes don’t decifer who wins races heart, training and talent does. I wish her the best in her budding career and hope she continues to represent the Williams name well!"

By Jay Hicks.

Photo courtesy Matthias Clamer.

LIVE Coverage at the 2008 adidas Track Classic: Bershawn Jackson Runs Strong!

The men’s 110 hurdles was beset with false starts. A second false start was charged to Eric Mitchum, who was disqualified from the race. Anwar Moore ran well over the hurdles to win in 13.39. Terrence Trammell hit the sixth hurdle and narrowly placed second in 13.40.

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson led from the first hurdle, and the 400m field never caught up to his victorious time of 48.94. Brandon Johnson was the nearest runner in 49.62, and Michael Tinsley was third in 49.68.

The adidas Track Classic also featured the top junior runners from the L.A. area which in the past has produced the likes of Allyson Felix. Lauren Williams won the 8-9 year old fastest kid in LA competition in 11.27 at 80 meters, over Cheyanne Brady who placed second in 11.59, and Amanda VanBuren was third in 11.60.

Allyson Felix did not run the 200 as planned coming into the meet. Coach Bob Kersee thought it best to forgo running a second race for the day. Felix had been dealing with the lost of her boyfriend’s father who passed this week. Muna Lee took the race in 22.30 over Carmelita Jeter in 22.47. Marshevet Hooker who ran 22.49 was a close third. Rookie Bianca Knight took sixth in 22.79.

The women’s 400-meter was up for grabs. Natasha Hastings took the early lead before Novlene Williams of Jamaica eventually won the race in 50.38. Mary Winberg ran strong in 50.41 to place second. Hastings took third in 51.09.

Click here for the full meet results.

By Jay Hicks

LIVE Coverage at the 2008 adidas Track Classic: Wariner is Fantastic!

Jeremy Wariner has a history of running exceptional times at the adidas Track Classic. This year was no different. Wariner ran an impressive 44.42, the second fastest time in the world, with a sore hamstring. Due to his hamstring issues, Wariner got easily out of the blocks and cruised easily down the backstretch. Coming off the final turn Wariner was easily in the lead, followed by Tyler Christopher in 44.71. Chris Brown of the Bahamas placed third, followed by Kerron Clement in 45.10.

Jenn Stuczynski soared to 16 feet, ¾ inches in the pole vault to break the American record for the second year in a row at this meet.

A successful day was had by Tyson Gay. In a come-from-behind 100-meters victory, the reigning world champion beat the field in 10.05. Davis Patton was a close second in 10.06, and Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas placed third in 10.16.

Gay followed up his 100 victory with a successful double in winning the 200-meters in 20.08. Xavier “X Man” Carter was just behind the lead in 20.30. Rodney Martin ran 20.55 to place third.

By Jay Hicks

LIVE Coverage at the 2008 adidas Track Classic: Rupp Wins!

The men's 100-meter dash B-Race was taken by Rodney Martin in 10.13, followed by Steve Mullings in 10.20. Decathlete Bryan Clay placed sixth in a solid time of 10.46.

It was a near photo finish win in 7:51.17 by Galen Rupp in the 3000 meters over Jonathan Riley in 7:51.40.

Last night the men's 800-meter was won in 1:47.51 by Brandon Shaw. Shaw was closely followed by Sam Burley in 1:47.91 and Ralphael Asafo-Agyei in 1:48.05

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

LIVE Coverage at the 2008 adidas Track Classic: Women's 100 Is Hot!

Fans in Carson, CA were treated to a prime time race. Although the women’s 100-meters did not dip below 11 seconds, there was intense drama on the track.

The race has major implications on the Olympic Trials and Beijing. The race survived two false starts, the first by Allyson Felix and the second by Marshevet Hooker, which resulted in her disqualification from the race. On top of those issues, the field faced a head wind of -.9.

Veronica Campbell of Jamaica won the star-studded race in 11.14, just narrowly edging out Lauryn Williams in 11.15. Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart was barely third in 11.16. Just behind Stewart was Allyson Felix in 11.21. Felix seemed to be unable to find the top gear that fans are accustomed to seeing in her races.

Carmelita Jeter took fifth in 11.26 – the same time as sixth place finisher Sanya Richards. Seventh place was taken by Torri Edwards in 11.31, and Lisa Barber rounded out the race in 11.30. Marshshevet Hooker was disqualified due to a false start.

By Jay Hicks.

When Athletes Blog – Sanya Richards

Sanya Richards has taken to her official blog to discuss the big upcoming race at the adidas Track Classic.

Says the 400 meter dynamo.

"MAAAANNNN!!!!

This is what track and field is all about! Its about the best in the world lining up and going at it. I can’t express how excited I am to be in such a star studded 100m field. I always hoped to be one of the world’s elite 100m sprinters but I never thought it would happen so soon. To be in a race with Veronica Campbell, Lauryn Williams, Carmelita Jeter, Me’Lisa Barber, Torri Edwards, Allyson Felix, Marshavet Hooker, and Kerron Stewart is like jumping head first into the fire…BUT I LOVE IT!!!

My teammates at Baylor were joking that someone could run 11.0 and finish ninth! I know lots of times races like these don’t live up to the hype but I really believe that this one will! All the ladies in the field are young and hungry and in an Olympic year everyone wants to be remembered as the best! Although I am extremely competitive, I am keeping things in persprective and only trying to accomplish my goals. At the end of the day I want to improve my speed and hopefully secure a spot on the hardest relay to make, the US Women’s 4×1!
Keep your fingers crossed! This is going to be one amazing race!!!
Until next time. Sanya”

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

Adidas Track Classic – Track and Field on TV

Sunday watch the adidas Track Classic on ESPN from ESPN from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. PDT (4 p.m.-6 p.m. EDT)..

The U.S. pro circuit gets kicked off with the first outdoor major meet of the season at the adidas Track Classic in Carson, CA. The marquee events are the men’s 400-meters, where Jeremy Wariner and Kerron Clement face off. The other hot event of the day will be the women’s 100 meters, where seven of the world’s top ten are slated to compete.

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

2008 adidas Track Classic Preview

The top American runners are heading to Carson, California to compete in the adidas Track Classic scheduled for May 18.

The women’s 100-meters, headlined by world champion Veronica Campbell of Jamaica is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested races on the road to Beijing. The event brings together the world’s top ten ranked competitors with a field that also features Carmelita Jeter, Sanya Richards, and Allyson Felix.

The men’s 100-meters features world champion Tyson Gay along with Derrick Atkins, Wallace Spearmon, and Mike Rodgers.

Rookie Bianca Knight will try out her stuff against the world champion Allyson Felix in the 200-meters.

The 400-meters is a compelling race. Jeremy Wariner is putting his winning streak on the line. The world and Olympic champion has not lost a race since September 2005. Wariner pulled out of the 200-meter in Doha, Qatar after he felt a cramp in his hamstring during warm-ups. Wariner will face stiff competition from Kerron Clement.

Terrence Trammell is making his outdoor debut in the 110-meter hurdles. The race includes Allen Johnson and Eric Mitchum.

Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix will compete in the 100 and 200-meters and are the only athletes to double in Carson. Allyson Felix plans to compete in both events at the U.S Olympic Trials and would like to run the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relay teams in Beijing.

The adidas track classic is the second outdoor meet of the USA Track and Field Visa Championships Series. The meet will be televised on ESPN from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. EST.

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

Campbell-Brown, Clement, Hayes join lineup of champions at adidas Track Classic

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Clement of the U.S., the 2007 World Champions in the women's 100-meter dash and the men's 400-meter hurdles, respectively, will compete at the adidas Track Classic on May 18 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of Cal State-Dominguez Hills. Five other 2007 World Champions - Tyson Gay, Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Bernard Lagat, and Jana Rawlinson are also in the Classic.

The other new additions to the lineup are Joanna Hayes, the 2004 Olympic 100-meter hurdles gold medalist, and Xavier Carter, who won four events at the 2006 NCAA Championships and is the third fastest 200-meter runner in history. The adidas track classic will be broadcast live on ESPN from 1 to 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Tickets (from $10 to $40) are available by calling Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. For group sales, call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS. Visit the event website at www.adidasTrackClassic.com for updates and more information.

The annual professional track meet held in Carson, California is back again in 2008. Meet organizers announced two weeks ago that Allyson Felix, Jeremy Wariner, and Tyson Gay, all Adidas runners, have committed to the Adidas Classic.

On Friday meet organizers announced that two more reigning world champions- Bernard Lagat and Jana Rawlinson- and World Indoor Championships silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski have been added to the line up.

The meet typically draws big names on and off the track. Hip hop artist Bow Wow closed the 2006 meet with a live music performance.

The adidas Track Classic will begin at 12:30 p.m. on May 18 at The Home Depot Center, on the campus of California State University- Dominguez Hills. The meet will be broadcast live on ESPN from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. PDT (4 p.m.-6 p.m. EDT).

Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the adidas Track Classic is the second stop of USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series. Tickets, from $40 (finish line) down to $10, are now available by calling Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. For group sales, call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS. Visit the event website at www.adidasTrackClassic.com for updates and more information.

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