"Okay, whose the man?"

Those are the attributed words of one Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 US Trials champion at 10,000 meters last night. Meb set a meet record in his 27.36.91, breaking the 27.45.1 of one Craig Virgin, from his duel with Herb Lindsay, from 1980.

Meb's race was masterful. He has obviously recovered from the Marathon Trials, and this 10,000 coupled with his fine 27.23 from Stanford shows that Meb has both the speed and the endurance to do some damage in Athens.

Just how bad will the marathon be in Athens? Well, sports fans, just take a look at past European championships that were held in Athens or perhaps the '97 Worlds. The race will be hot, humid, and slow at first, and then, the last 8k will be a fast road race. Meb and Alan are capable of playing a part in races like that. Remember, in the Olympics, and Worlds, all that matters is your medal.

In '96, in the marathon, it was Abel Anton, Martin Fiz and Steve Moneghetti in the marathon, on a brutal course. In 99, in Sevilla, Spain, Anton and Fiz, and they hit the first 5k in 17 minutes and change---these are chess games, not how fast you can run games. End of epistle.

*******

Men's Hammer Throw, Qualifying
The Men's hammer qualifying was viewed by about 3,000 loyal fans this morning. The hammer is one of my favorite events. Consider this friends, what else do you want to do on a Saturday morning but watch the throwing of a 16 lb. ball on a 47 and 1/2 inch chain? Oh bliss!

In the qualifying round, only two throwers got automatics, which were 72 meters or 236-5--that was AG Kruger with a second round of 73.75 or 241-11. In second was James Parker, who threw 73.24 in his first throw, for a 240-3 throw. In third was Kevin McMahon, a four time World Championship team member, two time Olympic team member, who threw 229-7. Blast from the past, Jud Logan threw 67.46m or 221-04, for the twelfth and final position in the final.

*******

Men's 100m Dash, qualifying
This is why the crowd is around this afternoon, for some serious sprinting. Who is the best one hundred meter running in world? Is it Maurice Greene, or is is Shawn. Crawford? Will Jon Drummond make the final and the relay pool, or not?

Heat 1
Brian Lewis had a strong start and used his strength to take this round in 10.23. Marcus Brunson, Tyson Gay, and John Capel.

Heat 2
Justin Gatlin had a good start, and built on that, winning in 10.10, with Leonard Scott, with Mickey Grimes and Kaaron Conwright.

Heat 3
Maurice Greene showed that he is the man of this event, with his 10.07, followed by Korey Cook and Tim Harden.

Heat 4
Shawn Crawford, fresh from his win at the NIke Pre Classic, ran 10.08 to win heat four. Bernard Williams. Tim Montgomery was third and Monzavous Edwards was fourth.

The final qualifiers, two came from heat 1, Coby Miller and Tyree Gailes, one came from heat 1, Jason Smoots from heat 2, Jerome Avery and Joshua Norman from heat three and Dwight Phillips, Aaron Armstrong, and Obadiah Cooper in heat 4.

*****

Men's 400 meter Semi finals--Woody is eliminated

Heat 1
James Carter and Bennie Brazell went out strong, and Joey Woody was surprisingly tepid in his first 200 meters, but was in the fight as they came across the 300 meter mark. Carter went on to win in 48.46 with Brazell in 48.52. La Bronze Garrett caught Woody with 50 to go, taking third in 48.93. Woody had to hold onto fourth to make the final, but Sherman Armstrong, a 2000 Trials finalist, caught Woody at the line, taking fourth in 49.17 to Woody's 49.19.

Heat 2
Bershawn Jackson did some catching up, as Regan Nichols took the lead and went from first to fifth. Jackson won the heat in 48.28. The battle for second, third and fourth was not over until the final meters. Defending Olympic champion Angelo Taylor took second, in 49.19, with Ricky Harris, 49.32 and La Ron Bennett in 49.35.

******

Women's 100 meter semi finals--Marion wakes up!

Heat 1
Torri Edwards is running hot, and she showed it in this heat of the semi finals. Torri ran 11.00, with Lauryn Williams in second in 11.14, Angela Williams and in third in 11.16 and Gail Devers in 11.18. Devers had a great start, but Torri caught her at 60 and that was all she wrote. Notable missing from the final would be Chryste Gaines, who took fifth in 11.30.

Heat 2
La Tasha Colander had a good start, but Marion Jones woke up from her last night's race and ran a nice 11.14 to take this heat, with a good race. La Tasha Colander stayed in second in 11.14 with Muna Lee in third and Angela Daigle in fourth. Notable in sixth place was Inger Miller, who had been so hot this season.

Well, Marion is back, and she should be a factor in the final. But it will be a tough race, with a tough field.

*****

Men's Shot Put Final--Nelson and Godina again, and the third one will surprise you!
Well, this shot put competition, if compared to the 2000 version, was sure a snorer! There was just too many fouls. Christan Cantwell fouled in his first two throws! Reese Hoffa got off the leading throw, until John Godina, in round 2, hit 21.00 to take the lead. Adam Nelson had some trouble, but by round three, had hit 20.98m and was in second. Christian Cantwell got off a fair throw in round three, and moved into fourth.

Hoffa was not to be played with and put himself into second place, as Cantwell continued to foul-five fouls in six throws! He had a huge 73 foot plus throw in round six, only to foul.

Adam Nelson got his winning throw off in round five, with a fine 21.64m or 71 feet, even. Hoffa's fifth round throw of 21.14m, put Godina into third. Godina was the only guy to improve in round three and moved to third in 21.08m or 69-2. But Christina Cantwell, the longest thrower in nine years, finished in fourth with a throw of 67-3 or 20.56 in round three.

Adam Nelson said it best in the Thursday press conference, "We have four of the best throwers in the world, and one of them will not go to Athens. " No one would have bet that it would be Christian Cantwell. But that is the way our Trials system works---you are either hot that day or you are left home.

******

Women's Heptathlon-Final
In a two day competition that was very, very close, Tiffany Lott-Hogan held the lead after day one in 3686, with a hurdle run of 13.10, a high jump of 1.69m, a shot put of 14.17m, and a 200 meter run o 24.53. Close after her was Hylea Fountain in 3659, Michelle Perry in 3634, and way back in sixth was Sheila Burrell in 3534.

Burrell had hurdled 13.47, high jumped 5-6 1/2, threw 42-2 in the shot and ran 24.64 in the 200 meters.

Then she got started.

On day two, Sheila Burrell long jumped 20-5.75 and picked up 84 points on her 130 point deficit. Tiffany Lott Hogan threw 165-01, a real bomb, to Sheila Burrell's 158-10.

Burrell ran 2.14.13 for 905 points in the 800 meters, picking up the 139 points she needed to take the lead from Tiffany Lott Hogan, who ran 2.24.27. Michelle Perry ran 2.12.81 to Hyleas Fountain 2.18.85 to keep third place.

So that is how the heptathlon ended, Sheila Burrell ins 6194, with Tiffany Lott-Hogan in 6159, and Michele Perry in 6126. DeDee Nathan was fifth in 6035.

*******

Women's high jump qualifying
Amy Acuff, Erin Aldrich, Kaylene Wagner were the usual suspects who made the final, at 1.82m, or 5-11.5. Gwen Wentland, who just came back from having a baby, just missed in 510.5 or 1.79m.

******

Men's 100 meter Quarter Finals

Heat 1
Maurice Greene ran 10.06, with Bernard Williams, Tyson Gay and Mardy Scales also moving on. Greene ran 10.06.

Heat 2
John Capel won heat two, with a flyer, in 10.0. Justin Gatlin, Brian Lewis and Tim Montgomery also moved on.

Heat 3
Shawn Crawford won in 10.00, Coby Miller, Leonard Scott, and Mickey Grimes moved on here.

The final qualifiers are Dwight Phillips, Joshua Norman, Jason Smoots, and Marcus Brunson.

In this round, Shawn Crawford looks menacing, Maurice Greene is running relaxed, and no limping and John Capel is running fast, and he is dangerous.

*****

Women's 100 Meters-Huge Upset, or was it?
Let's face it, if you had a baby a year ago, and your boyfriend was under suspision for drug use, and you were being accused of many sordid things, and you had recieved a few death threats---how could you concentrate?

Marion Jones has relied on natural ability for years, and she could. But, the world is changing. Marion Jones is one of the most talented people in the world of athletics, but she is alas, human.

In the 100 meter final, La Tasha Colander had one of those life changing moments. She got out after Torri Edwards, who was leading at 40 meters, but that was it. La Tasha Colander did not give up, and took the lead at 70 meters and then she began to really run, running to a fine 10.97!

Torri Edwards stayed in second in 11.02 and this is where is gets interesting. Lauryn Williams took third in 11.10, Gail Devers in fourth in 11.11, and Marion Jones in fifth in 11.14.

La Tasha was more surprised than anyone. Marion Jones was escorted from the track, with no comment to anyone.

******

Men's 800 meter semi finals

Heat 1
Khadevis Robinson looked good, running a 53 first lap and taking this one in 1.47.49, with Derrick Peterson holding on for second. Notable move of the race was Jesse OConnell, who took third, coming from fifth place, in 1.48.15.

Heat 2
Samuel Burley won this one in 1.46.79, but the scary part was how David Krummenacker, the 2003 world champion put his moving on in jeapardy, when he got boxed. David used his veteran's skill and got third in 1.47.30, but Jonathan Johnson, who had lead for a bit, in 1.47.19, and Jebreh Harris took fourth in 1.47.36.

******

Women's Intermediate Hurdles

Heat 1
Lashinda Demus of South Carolina is back, and with her 53.70 and stellar hurdling, she is looking like the queen of this one. Brenda Taylor, Raasin McIntosh, and Megan Addy moved on tot he final.

Heat 2
Sandra Glover ran 53.78 for this one, and looked flat, and that is kind of scary, considering it is the fifth fastest time in the world this year. Sheena Jackson, Shauna Smith and Patrina Allen moved on to the final as well.

Kim Batten, the 1995 world champion, took seventh in heat two and did not move on.

******

Womens 800m semi finals

Heat 1
Nicole Teter wanted to send a message---I own this event, and you will have to run over me to beat me. Teter won, and the others are running in her wake. She is on, and she is ready to roll. Teter looks to me to be the strongest that she has been in years.

Heat 2
In a truly physical race, Jearl Miles Clark and Hazel Clark moved on. Jen Toomey, who ran from behind, looked flat and ran so poorly that she was exhausted and finished fifth. She did get a good hit at the 200 mark, and we will have to wait for the protest call.