As much as I would love to update you on the entire Olympic trials, that's just too much. But what I will do is update you on some of my favorite events, athletes, and some eye catchers you just have to know about.
Now just in case you where wondering how does one make an Olympic team. They take the top three athletes who has made the Olympic Automatic Standard. Each event has an Olympic Automatic Standard that much be reach.
Okay let's begin....
Now just in case you where wondering how does one make an Olympic team. They take the top three athletes who has made the Olympic Automatic Standard. Each event has an Olympic Automatic Standard that much be reach.
Okay let's begin....
I met this young man a couple of years ago when I attended the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associations (USTFCCCA) annual convention in San Antonio, Texas. He and I happened to catch the same elevator together in the Marriott JW hotel. But I honestly didn't know how great of an athlete he was. At that time, he was one of three male finalist nominated for the prestigious Bowerman award. He was going up against one of his teammates Andrew Wheating from Oregon and Ryan Whiting from Arizona State. But Eaton came out the 2010 winner of the Bowerman award. It was really cool to see.
Now look at him, he broke the Decathlon World Record with 9039 points and placed 1st at the Olympic Trials which guarantees him a seat at the big dance in London. The decathlon is 1o different events that take place over 2 days. The first day the men complete is the 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, and the 400 meter dash. The second day events are 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and the 1500 meter run.
Congratulations to Mr. Ashton Eaton and I know he will compete himself into one of the top three medals for the USA!
Now look at him, he broke the Decathlon World Record with 9039 points and placed 1st at the Olympic Trials which guarantees him a seat at the big dance in London. The decathlon is 1o different events that take place over 2 days. The first day the men complete is the 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, and the 400 meter dash. The second day events are 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and the 1500 meter run.
Congratulations to Mr. Ashton Eaton and I know he will compete himself into one of the top three medals for the USA!
Now my girl, Sanya Catch-her-if-you-can Richards-Ross.
Sprinted to the front with 120 meters to go, Sanya Richards-Ross raced her way into the record books with a world-leading 49.28 in the 400 that tied the Olympic Trials meet record set by Chandra Cheeseborough in 1984.
Sprinted to the front with 120 meters to go, Sanya Richards-Ross raced her way into the record books with a world-leading 49.28 in the 400 that tied the Olympic Trials meet record set by Chandra Cheeseborough in 1984.
Debbie Dunn (far right), who I used to compete against in high school, just missed the Olympic 400 meter team. She was the first women out not making it to the big dance in the quarter. She placed fourth with a time of 50.78.
But don't worry, Dunn will go to London as a member of the US Olympic 4x400 meter relay pool by virtue of her top-four 400m showing.
But don't worry, Dunn will go to London as a member of the US Olympic 4x400 meter relay pool by virtue of her top-four 400m showing.
I love watching Nick Symmonds compete in the 800 meter run!
Soggy conditions didn’t favorite Nick Symmonds as he defended his Olympic Trials title.
Courtesy of the USATF website, Here's the interview of Mr. Symmonds after his victory.
Nick Symmonds, first place
On the win…
“I’m really proud of myself.”
On performing in front of a supportive crowd…
“The community has really embraced me. It’s a testament to the community. I have really made this my home. They give me a huge shot of adrenaline, which gives me a great advantage.”
On his preparation…
“I come from a distance background…I’m a guy that says, ‘Speed comes from strength.’ I train one-milers for most of the year…Coming down the home stretch of 2007, 2008 my form broke.”
On crossing the finish line…
“It’s relief for years of training.”
On his improvement…
“I’m not just coming into my own…I just want to go out and run hard…I’ll try and get through the rounds as best I can.”
On his chances at a medal for USA…
“I want to bring a medal back so badly. The semis are so unforgiveable. There are 24 guys towing the line. It’s going to come down to a lot of luck and a lot of timing. But once you make the finals it’s anyone’s race.”
Soggy conditions didn’t favorite Nick Symmonds as he defended his Olympic Trials title.
Courtesy of the USATF website, Here's the interview of Mr. Symmonds after his victory.
Nick Symmonds, first place
On the win…
“I’m really proud of myself.”
On performing in front of a supportive crowd…
“The community has really embraced me. It’s a testament to the community. I have really made this my home. They give me a huge shot of adrenaline, which gives me a great advantage.”
On his preparation…
“I come from a distance background…I’m a guy that says, ‘Speed comes from strength.’ I train one-milers for most of the year…Coming down the home stretch of 2007, 2008 my form broke.”
On crossing the finish line…
“It’s relief for years of training.”
On his improvement…
“I’m not just coming into my own…I just want to go out and run hard…I’ll try and get through the rounds as best I can.”
On his chances at a medal for USA…
“I want to bring a medal back so badly. The semis are so unforgiveable. There are 24 guys towing the line. It’s going to come down to a lot of luck and a lot of timing. But once you make the finals it’s anyone’s race.”
Felix has hip number 2; Tarmoh has hip number 1
Controversy began a week ago when Allyson Felix and her training partner Jeneba Tarmoh finished in a dead heat for third place and the final Olympic berth in the women’s 100m, both being given identical 11.068 times after a photo finish review proved inconclusive.
Tarmoh was originally declared the third-place finisher in the race and the official scoring said she had edged Felix by 0.0001 seconds. But the results were reviewed, and after a lengthy delay, the dead heat was announced.
The dead heat caught the US track officials off-guard because there was no policy in place to resolve it. USA track and field announced a tiebreaking procedure the next day, but Bobby Kersee (who I met at the Olympic Training Center last November), coach of both women, said he wanted to wait until after Saturday's 200 to decide how to break the tie, either by a runoff, coin flip, or if one athlete concedes.
Unless Felix or Tarmoh decline their Olympic invitation, they would have to agree on a coin flip or a run-off would be used, an option Felix made clear after her 200m victory that she did not favor.
So we will just have to wait and see what decisions are made and who gets in.
Tarmoh was originally declared the third-place finisher in the race and the official scoring said she had edged Felix by 0.0001 seconds. But the results were reviewed, and after a lengthy delay, the dead heat was announced.
The dead heat caught the US track officials off-guard because there was no policy in place to resolve it. USA track and field announced a tiebreaking procedure the next day, but Bobby Kersee (who I met at the Olympic Training Center last November), coach of both women, said he wanted to wait until after Saturday's 200 to decide how to break the tie, either by a runoff, coin flip, or if one athlete concedes.
Unless Felix or Tarmoh decline their Olympic invitation, they would have to agree on a coin flip or a run-off would be used, an option Felix made clear after her 200m victory that she did not favor.
So we will just have to wait and see what decisions are made and who gets in.
With her mind focused, Allyson Felix shattered the 200m Olympic Trials record in front of a crowd of 20,791 on a drizzly day at Hayward Field.
According to USATF.org, running away from one of the best fields of American 200-meter women ever assembled, Felix stunned the Hayward Field crowd with a 21.69 victory that took down the 24-year-old meet record of 21.77 set by Florence Griffith-Joyner and became the fourth-fastest woman in history. In her wake, 2011 World silver medalist Carmelita Jeter finished second with a lifetime-best 22.11, and 400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross claimed her second spot on the London squad with a 22.22. NCAA winner Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU placed fourth at 22.34. Felix had a margin of victory of .42 seconds, the largest in the electronic-timing era at the Trials.
According to USATF.org, running away from one of the best fields of American 200-meter women ever assembled, Felix stunned the Hayward Field crowd with a 21.69 victory that took down the 24-year-old meet record of 21.77 set by Florence Griffith-Joyner and became the fourth-fastest woman in history. In her wake, 2011 World silver medalist Carmelita Jeter finished second with a lifetime-best 22.11, and 400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross claimed her second spot on the London squad with a 22.22. NCAA winner Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU placed fourth at 22.34. Felix had a margin of victory of .42 seconds, the largest in the electronic-timing era at the Trials.