State of indoor track, plus the Stars of Indoor Track, Analysis of Meet and some Final thoughts

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Welcome to our coverage of the 2005 Reebok Boston Indoor Games! In two and one half hours of jam-packed action, you will read about great middle distance racing, some good sprint races and an innovative approach to the shot put.

The meet is presented by Reebok, the title sponsor of this event. The good news for the sport is that, for the first time since 1997, Reebok has re-involved itself in the sport of athletics. A former IAAF sponsor, this is the first event that Reebok has titled in nearly a decade (remember the Reebok New York Games?).

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State of sport, in general, state of indoor track
Athletics, worldwide is at a crossroads. Great performances marred by suggestion of drug use, great participation worldwide, but much of media stays away from providing up to date information due to focus on records, instead of what we do best--track and field is about one thing, and one thing only--it's the competition. Fans want to see athletes going at it--a competitive high school mile race gets more attention than a false start marred sprint race!

Internationally, the IAAF has done some wise things--deals with European Television and Nippon TV gave worldwide audiences, but now the meets have to change their schedules and focus to keep the attention of a sophisticated sports audience, and the IAAF has to see that while they have some strong sponsors, athletics cannot and will not go to the next level in the sports world without a U.S. based global sponsor. That means working with the US Federation, the IAAF and USATF, while working for the same goals--making the sport more visible, seem to misunderstand the needs of each other.

The good thing about our sport is the number of people who give time and effort year in and year out. Good, focused events are shining through the flotsam of overcrowded schedules.

We live in a global village. And in this free market society, sports that evolve, that communicate their excitement, their purpose,and the primalness of sports, are the ones that will succeed.

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What happened at Millrose?
The venerable Millrose Games has been in trouble for years. From the guy who owns the right to the name (and charges a reported $100k for each yearly event) to the owners of Madison Square Gardens (who command top dollar for their facility and for refreshments) to the less than stellar new ownership of the meet, Millrose had been left to rot. Rot may be the vernacular--truth be told that like many track venues, Millrose was expected to live or die on its own.

The true story is that without the efforts of USATF, notably Executive Director Craig Masback, and new patron saint, David Raith, Millrose would have been a memory this year. Without a lot of hard work at the last minute by USATF and the New York sports community, the venerable event would have gone away. We at American Track & Field Magazine (ATF) applaud the last minute antics needed to keep Millrose alive, and would humbly propose that a long term approach to keep the meet alive needs to be looked at. It is a wonderful sports property, if it is run and promoted properly and in a timely manner.

We have no idea what the new owners (Pro Sports) have done, because we know nothing about them. We do know, however, that late in the game, none of the normal needs for a meet had been met, and USATF became concerned thus got involved. Perhaps the meet has to move or perhaps the meet needs to crash before it can rise and evolve. Either way, Millrose is alive this year, and alot of hard work went into making the 98-year-old meet part of the VISA championship series.

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It is 4.30 pm and the stands are beginning to fill with fans. This should be an SRO crowd, with about 4,500 for the firemarshal--really about 4,700 or so. It has been a good weekend of indoor track so far. Alan Webb, the U.S. miler who ran 3.50 last year, had a nice double this weekend. He ran 7.46 for the 3000m last night at Boston University which was a 12 second personal best. He led until the end when Mark Carroll caught him.

On Saturday, Webb won the mile in 3.59 at the same meet. That's not a bad first weekend of racing. He will now focus on cross-country, according to his agent, Ray Flynn. Although rumors fly that CEO Craig Masback would love to see Webb run the mile at Millrose, it is our belief that Ray Flynn will not let his charge run there unless he has a strong chance to win one of the most important and historic of all the indoor miles--the Wanamaker Mile.

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Men's Masters Mile
The men's masters mile is one of the stalwarts at this meet and the crowd loves it. They love the pure competition of guys over 40 trying to run a fast mile--something that most of them identified with high school p.e. classes. Brian Pope came here to run and the So Cal Track club runner did, winning decisively in 4.23.19. In second was Scott Lundquist of CSU in 4.28.41, and Peter Hagelbach of Fleet Feet, who ran 4.30.41 finished in third place. Mike Cooney of Whirlaway was fourth in 4.35.68 and Paul Hammond, also of Whirlaway, was fifth in 4.37.38.

Reebok Youth Relay
If you run one, the crowds will scream. The youth relay had boys and girls different ages, running one lap each. In the end, it was the Providence Cobra's, in 1.52.80, with Attleboro YMCA in second in 1.56.85 and Lynx Elite in 2.07.17.

1510 The Zone Men's 400 Meter Run
The 400 meters is a perfect race for indoor racing. Two laps around the 200 meter Mondo surface. The variation for running tactics in the 400 meters comes down to two, take the lead early and never let up, hoping to take the kick out of your fellow competitors early--or stay close and make a huge move over the last fifty, trying to take the race at the finish. Jerry Harris took the later tactic and went by Bershawn Jackson at the very end, winning in 46.82, with Jackson in 47.32, and Jimmy Hackle of Shore AC in third in 47.52.

The Running Network Men's Shot Put
John Godina said it best at the Friday press conference, "Next to the sprints, the best fields at track meets, day in and day out, is the men's shot put." Right you are, big guy.

So the field consists of Reese Hoffa, Adam Nelson, John Godina and Christian Cantwell. Nelson, Hoffa and Godina were the U.S. team at Athens, where the men's shot was held at the historic Olympia site. Nelson was lead until his last throw, and lost the gold in the last round. Godina, always a good sport, was ninth and Hoffa did not make the final.

Nelson puts a lot of emotion into his throwing. A former acting student, Nelson gives the crowd the benefits of his emotional stirrings, with a loud yell as he releases the shot. Godina, the tactician, is a student of the shot. Godina has been at every major shot and discus competition on the world stage for more than a decade, with most of the focus on the shot now. Godina puts all effort into getting the shot out far. He seems to know upon release if the throw will go far or not.

Christian Cantwell, the longest thrower in the world in 2004, did not make the Olympic team. 2005 for Cantwell will be a year of proving to himself that he is strong enough to compete week in, week out on the world stage, in an event that leaves no where to hide. Next to the sprints and hurdles, the Men's shot is the toughest team to make on Team USA.

Reese Hoffa was asked, after his masked thrower performance last year, how to top that? He did. "I have this dream about coming out in a bear suit, in a cage, and carried out just before the competition. Adam Nelson and John Godina's reactions to this commentary, which went on for five minutes, was first smiles and then, one of those 'Oh my gosh' kind of looks. Insanity does seem a requirement for world class shot putters.

Tonight was Adam Nelson's show, as he started in third in round 1, with a throw of 20.34m, then he took the lead in 20.97m during round 2. In round 3, he blew out the competition in 21.66 and then finished with 20.84m, 20.41m and 20.63m. In second was Christian Cantwell, who threw 20.44m, then 20.94m, then 20.92m and then three straight fouls. John Godina had one fair throw, his first, in 20.68m, which put him in third. Reese Hoffa had a round day, with a 20.12m in his third round, and Vince Mosca threw 18.88m in his third round.

Women's 5,000 Meters--Tirunesh Dibaba breaks WR for 5K--14.32.93!
This meet is all about distance running, and the Dibaba sisters did not fail to get the partisan crowd on their feet. Ejegayehu Dibaba and Tirunesh Dibaba ran 2.55.3 for the first kilometer, following a rabbit. At 2k, still behind the rabbit, the Dibaba sisters hit 5.55.4 as their rabbit left the track. Tirunesh took over after that and hit the 3k in 8.51.3, now ahead of the world record, and the race was on. The fourth kilometer was covered in 11.46.2 and it was noted that a 2.53 would be required for Tirunesh to put her name on the world record charts.

Running a stunning 2.46.2 last kilometer, where her last two laps were 32.6 and 30 flat, the crowd went crazy, encouraging Tirunesh to sprint like mad over the last lap to set a new world record of 14.32.93, breaking the old record of 14.39.29 of Berhane Adere, of Ethiopia, set last year.

Finishing second was sister Ejaegayehu Dibaba of Ethiiopia in 14.58.25 and in third was Lauren Fleshman of Nike in 15.35.25. Lauren Dickie of the Knoxville Striders, finished fourth in 16.30.16.

Boston Metro Girl's Junior Invitational Mile
Running from behind, the 2004 Foot Locker XC champ, Aislinn Ryan of Warwick Valley High School finally took the lead with one lap to go, and held the lead until the end, winning in 4.49.22. At the ripe old age of 16, this young women looks like a real thing--and she runs with more self control than many of the older milers! Nicole Blood took second in 4.50.87, with Mary Liz McCurdy next in 4.53.07, and Lindsay Feguson finishing fourth in 4.55.36

Yesterday, both Ryan and the Boys Foot Locker Champ were able to meet Kenenisa Bekele, the world record holder at 5k and 10k.

AT&F Junior Boy's Invitational Mile
So, how far does a kid have to come to run a good mile? Well, as I am walking around the track I notice Ryan Gasper and his father, all the way from Fort Atkinson, WI! The pack goes through in 63.7, 2.08.41 and at 1200, nine guys are still in contention--at 3.13.2. In the end, it is Leaf Barnes who runs a 60.3 last 400 meters to win in 4.13.61. Second was Ross Toole in 4.14.56, third was Kevin Tschirhart in 4.15.29, fourth was Cody Harper in 4.15.29, and fifth was Foot Locker Champ Kenneth Cormier, who ran 4.16.30.

Our friend from Wisconsin did himself proud, running 4.19.60 to take ninth place.

Women's 200m Dash
One lap around the track, and it's quick and competitive. Muna Lee ran 22.99 to take this race. DeeDee Trotter was second in 23.41 and Stephanie Durst was third in 23.79.

Men's 60m Dash
The 60 meters had the focus of the crowd, and Jason Smoots ran a fast one, 6.53, with Leonard Scott in second in 6.59, Aaron Armstrong in 6.68 and Mardy Scales in 6.74.

Men's Joe Concannon Mile
The word this week was that Bernard Lagat, the 2004 Athens Silver medalist, wanted to run fast. The other word was that Nate Brannen from the University of Michigan wanted to get Tony Waldrop's thirty year old collegiate record for the indoor mile of 3.55.1.

Sebastian Lounis took the crowd through 55.9 and 1.55.8. Bernard Lagat was in third, with Elkanah Angwenyi in tow, leading through 1000 in 2.26.8 and then Bernard made his move. Lagat hit the 1200 in 2.56.3 and ran a very strong penultimate lap. He had company though. The always dangerous Laban Rotich, Mark Fountain and Nate Brannen were all there. As they came around the last turn, Rotich woke up and made a strong move down the last straightaway, as the crowd oohed and ahhed, Rotich took the race, running 3.53.18 to best Lagat in 3.53.61. Elkanah Angwenyi ran 3.54.23, and Mark Fountain ran 3.54.77.

Nate Brannen ran a great race, and just missed the 30-year-old collegiate indoor record with a 3.55.11, missing by .01!

Rob Meyers ran 3.58.83 and Scott McGowan ran 3.58.91--seven runners under the revered four minute mile.

VISA Women's 60m hurdles
The indoor hurdles are quick events, and do not have room for errors. Either you are on or you are off. Danielle Carruthers made the fewest mistakes, with a time o f8.08. Melissa Morrison-Howard was second, in 8.11 and Andrea Bliss was third in 8.18. Finishing fourth was Nichole Denby in 8.26m.

Reebok Women's Long Jump
The world's best women's athlete, Carolina Kluft, is the poster child for positive sports images. Kluft has won the 2003 World Champs heptathlon and the 2004 Olympic heptathlon. Tonight, she competed in the long jump and won, leading from early on. Her final jump, a 21-9 long jump, was the way for Kluft to end her first competition in the United States and the beginning of her 2005 journey to Helsinki for the 2005 World Championships.

Reebok Women's 3000 meter run
After a world record in the women's 5,000 meters, how do you top that? Well, Meseret Defar sure tried. Running a brilliant race from the beginning, Defar did everything right, pushing the pace and putting nearly 17 seconds between her and second place, Sentayehu Ejigu.

Defar made a move with two laps to go, running close to sixty flat for the final 400 meters. With 300 to go, she tried to go around two lapped runners, who held her up just slightly. But that was all she needed to be off. World records are tough, and the chasing of world records is a dangerous activity. Dangerous in that challenging a world best means all the neurons are firing just right, and that does not happen every race,

Meseret Defar was off just by an eyelash or so, and ran a fine 8.30.05, missing her own world record of 8.29.15, by less than a second.

Ejigu was second in 8.46.67 and Kim Smith, a Kiwi formerly from Providence College, took third in 8.49.61. Sarah Schwald, who has had some injury problems, ran 8.54.42 for fourth place and Amy Rudolph was fifth in 8.56.96.

Women's 800 Meter Run
Jolanda Ceplak startled the track world two seasons ago, when she ran 1.57.79 here, and went on to break the world record in 1.55.82. She has battled injuries, taking the bronze in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. It was her race, and she took it relaxed, as the 400 was hit in 59.7, then she took over, hit the 600 in 1.29.9 and ran a 2.01.33 to take the race.

Men's 1000 Meter run
If ever a man was made for an event, David Krummenacker was made for the 1000 meters. When Krummenacker is on, he is on, when he is not, he knows it. Tonight, David Krummenacker, 2003 World Indoor champion at 800 meters, was truly on.

Staying in perfect position, which is about fourth for him early on, David K moved up and sat on the shoulder of Berhanu Alemu at the beginning of the last straightaway, and it was over. Krummenacker took the race in 2.20.91 with Alemu in second in 2.21.19. Jesse O'Connell had a nice race, taking third in 2.21.26.

Reebok Men's 3000 m
The 3,000m is a traditional event to end the evening with in Boston. Each year, it has been a revelation.

Kenenisa Bekele is the world record holder at 5k, 10k and he is the Olympic Gold medalist at 10,000 m. He has battled El Guerrouj to the end of two 5,000 m races, and he is the only man to win both World XC titles not once, not twice, but three times.

Well, Mr. Bekele is a human being as well. Just because the man is the greatest distance runner in the world today, losing his fiance, at the tender age of 18, has to be devastating.

The Ethiopian fans in the crowd, with their wonderful flags and cheering are part of the fun here. Tom Derderian, a columnist for New England Runner, called it the Ethiopian Boston Indoor Games.

The race was a good race, not a world record race. Bekele sat on Alekander Skvortsov for 2k, and then Bekele, Alistair Cragg and Beneti took off. Tim Broe and Kevin Sullivan were next, in no man's land.

In the end, Cragg, who has bagged some big stars here, got another one. He ran a courageous last 1k, and Kenenisa Bekele misjudged laps and blasted the penultimate lap, but he ran our of gas with about 150 to go. Cragg kept his cool, and beat the worlds greatest distance runner in a real race, 7.39.89 to 7.41.42.

Markos Geneti took third in 7.42.97 and Tim Broe, healthy again, took fourth in 7.44.87. Kevin Sullivan ran 7.50.75 for fifth place.

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Final Thoughts
This may have been the best single indoor meet that I have ever seen. The work of Global Athletics, Reebok and USATF came to a good boil, and the Reebok Boston Indoor Games was made.

The meet had all of the competition that one could want, and the surprises, in terms of a major sporting event. Athletics has drama, politics, acting--and lots more. For meets to be successful in this day and time, they need a smaller facility, more focused meet, events that compliment the needs of the local sports fan, and give the sponsor enough of a positive return, and an event that fans come away wanting more.

The 2005 Reebok Indoor Games are now the standard for the 2005 season, and we wish other meets good luck in matching them.

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Special thanks to Mark Wetmore, Rich Kenah and staff for their support.