U.S. Olympic Trials
Day 3, Session 1

*****

Marion's Media Oddysey

Marion Jones was not exactly quiet with the media last night. Micheal Patrick O'Connor, who is covering the event for AP, was one of the few who got Marion's quick thoughts on tape. It went something like this:

"When I speak to the media, you write negative things. So, now I am not going to speak to the media, and you will still write negative things."

*****

Comments on the drug issue--Are we using the right approach?

Marion Jones is in an interesting place. For someone who was so well loved by the media, and is still loved by the fans, she has had to take, in her defense, a more cautious approach. The truth, as I so much love to say, is that the easiest story here is to speak of the drug scandal. It is much harder to think about what our society so values first--an immediate success and a cult of personality that anything goes--in many people's minds. That, my friends is a much tougher story to discuss.

In ATF, we have done a year long series on sports and ethics. That wonderful word, ethics--my son was told one time that ethics was a religious term and that it should not be discussed at a public school-- suggests that there is a proper way to live one's life, whether they are Buddhist, Christina, Jewish, or even a Humanist. I think that we, as coaches, have made a terrible error in not taking the drug issue from a sense of ethics. Athletes who understand their choices, understand the issues, and also have the self confidence to understand that at the end of the day it is them in the mirror with the higher being, creator, cosmic muffin, whatever you call that energy. And that is a scary moment--have you lived your life with purpose?

Sam Adams, the former coach at UCSB used to scare the hell out of me. Such an imposing figure, and he would look at me over the end of his nose and say, "Coaches are educators first."

So true, and besides teaching kids how to run the 400 meters, or throw the hammer well, we must concern ourselves with our athletes living their lives well, because, for many, it is sad to say, we are their only real adult role models.

*****

Men's 400m, first round

Heat 1

Mitch Potter and Calvin Harrison looked great here, with Harrison and Potter together at 370 meters, and Harrison got the nod in 45.02. Both looked pretty good.

Heat 2

Jerome Young and Alvin Harrison finished in third and fourth, respectively. Kelly Willie of LSU and Jerry Harris went 1-2, in 44.63 and 44.79.

Heat 3

What happened here? Tyre Washington and Leonard Byrd were running together, and with 20 meters togo, Tyre was passed, so even the 2003 Silver medalist can have a bad day. He did barely hang on by times! Jeremy Wariner, the man with the fastest time in the US this year (44.50) won here and looked strong. Derrick Brew finished second here, running 45.39-45.49.

Heat 4

Darold Williamson and Otis Harris duked it out this round and went 1-2, in 45.23 each. Notable athlete who was just hanging on is Milton Campbell.

Heat 5

Craig Everhart and Andrew Rock, the little kid from Wisconsin that could, battled from 250 on and they were together at the finish, in 45.46 and went on. How good is Andrew Rock? The Rock, as he is already called, is making a few denaros with adidas. He has a super coach and is from one of those wonderful U of Wisconsin schools, so look, I have to show some bias--cheesehead uber alles.

*****

Women's Triple Jump, final--American RECORD....FINALLY!

So, after two fouls, a safe jump, and then, in round four, Tiombe Hurd let it go. In the technically hardest event in our sport, the triple jump, the event that challenges your back, your hamstrings, your achilles, and lets some discover their soleus muscles, Tiombe Hurd, hopped, skipped and jumped 14.45m, or 47-5 1/2, breaking the eight year old record of Sheila Hudson or 14.41, or 46-6.

Her response? The most natural, joyful, unrehearsed jumps of joy that we have seen so far!

Vanitta Kinard finished second, due to her fifth round jump of 14.06m, and Shani Marks was third, due to her fifth round jump of 13.73m.

An amazing odyssey for Vanitta Kinard. In the tent, after the triple jump, Vanitta revealed that she must head home to LA, to take care of her brothers. Her stepfather had murdered her mother in the spring, and Vanitta has been training in Manhattan, Kansas since then. She seemed pretty matter of fact, but it was fairly tough for many of the media to consider how someone can hold themselves together with such challenges. Vanitta is seven centimeters off the Olympic A Standard, but told ATF correspondent John Nepolitan that she is confident that she can make it.

A 47 plus foot throw, gives Tiombe Hurd a chance to compete against the international competition, who are jumping 47 plus and 48 plus and 49 plus jumps.

*****

Men's 100m, semi finals

Heat 1

Maurice Greene is very hot. Greene had the best start we have seen all season and with a 2.0 wind, and won the first semi final in 10.01. Brian Lewis went out hard, but faded to seventh. John Capel, who was in lane 1, finished second in 10.16 with Coby Miller in third, in 10.17. The battle for fourth palce was furious, and Tim Montgomery barely edged Mickey Grimes who were both timed in 10.23. Greene is also pretty darn impressive, considering that he was battling a 2. 0 wind.

Heat 2

Thanks to a wind shift, this heat was blazing. Do not get me wrong, Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin hauled over the last fifty meters. Leonard Scott had a strong start, but could not hold on to the lead after Crawford and Gatlin got going at fifty meters. Scott did hold on to third, in 10.01. Bernard Williams took fourth in 10.04. And then there is Dwight Phillips, who ran 10.28 for eigth in the 100 metes semi--a great warm up for his long jump final in less than an hour!

*****

Women's 400m Intermediate hurdles, Finals

Running like the world class athlete that she is, Lashinda Demus showed her potential, Demus was running sub 52 second pace, when she hit the second to last hurdle, HARD, then stutter stepped the last hurdle, then held on for third and ran a mid 53. Sheena Johnson, running her own race, held on an ran a world leading 52.96 to win this incredible race. Second place was Brenda Taylor, who ran 53.36. Third place was Lashinda Demus, who ran 53.46 after hitting that hurdle so hard, in fourth place was Sandra Glover, who was the silver medalist in Paris last year, and who ran 53.50 today and did not go on to Athens. This result should wake up a few hurdlers!

It is pretty clear that Demus and Taylor can both, with a few more races, go under 52 seconds--wait till we get to Athens!

*****

Men's 400m intermediate hurdles

In one of the best 400m hurdle races that this writer has seen, Bershawn Jackson, James Carter and Angelo Taylor were nearly even over the hurdles at 300 meters. Carter continued to push, running 47.68 to take first. And a well practiced lean at the tape got Angelo Taylor second place and a seasonal best of 48.03, Bennie Brazell held on to third in 48.05 and Bershawn Jackson in fourth in 48.11. Three hurdlers were together at the finish, without Taylor's lean at the finish, he would have been fourth--lesson for all those hurdlers and quarter milers--run through the finish, please!

Angelo Taylor became the first Olympic champion of the meet to make the 2004 team. Nick Hysong in the pole vault, and Marion Jones in the 100 meters, have made it two Olympic champions not going to Athens in their events. This is quite typical of the US Olympic Trials system, a system that requires you to be there on your day and compete well, or else.

*****

Crowd today is 22,000, largest of the first three days of the Trials. Also, the 9.93 run by Shawn Crawford is the fastest legal time in the stadium or the city of Sacramento.

*****

Men's 100m, Final--Maurice Greene is Back!

22,000 people are watching as the announcer starts the introductions, and the weather is perfect. Who will make the team? Will Maurice continue his resurrection? Will Justin Gatlin show his promise? Is is the season of Shawn Crawford? What about Coby Miller?

A fair start, and Maurice Greene is out of the blocks well, his head down, counting his steps. Justin Gatlin is on Greene's shoulder, right next to him. Coby Miller is out strong and close, as is Shawn Crawford. Greene, Crawford, Capel, Gatlin all together at fifty meters. Coby Miller begins his final stretch run at about sixty meters, and Crawford is waking up as well. At 80 meters, Greene, Miller, Gatlin, Crawford are together.

Now it gets interesting. Maurice Greene knows how to sprint and is timing his lean. Greene is running full out but his lean begins about 95 meters and is timed to perfection! Greene takes first in 9.91, with Justin Gatlin also leaning in for second in 9.92. Shawn Crawford leans latest of all, to take third in 9.93, and Coby Miller, murdering the track with his pounding style, runs 9.99 for fourth!

And it goes on! John Capel holds on for fifth in 10.02, with Bernard Williams in sixth in 10.04, Tim Montgomery in 10.13 for seventh and Leonard Scott in 10.35 in eigth.

This was a real horse race, and Maurice Greene proved that he is the 100 meter sprinter to be reckoned with--he covets the event, as 1968 Bill Toomey has said, and he also knows how to lean. The term world's greatest sprinter should also have world's longest greatest sprinter--Mo has shown that he has the guts and strength to defend his title in 2004! Bravo for such a superb race!

Talk about living up to the hype.

*****

Women's javelin, final

Kim Kreiner took the lead in her first throw, with a 55.48, or 180 foot throw, then in round two threw 55.65m or 182-07. Sarah Malone got her second place throw in round six, with a fine 54.22m or 177-11. Denise OConnell took over the second place in round four, with a throw of 54.05m or 177-04, and held on to third. Fourth place was Erica Wheeler, who threw 53.61m or 175-11.

For young women who like softball, or who were gymnasts, the javelin is a great event to get involved in--the US is pretty weak here, and it is an event to focus on . We have got to have young women in this country who can throw 200 plus, with some training.

*****

Men's Pole Vault

Tim Mack played the game of chess that the pole vault is well today, clearing 5.50, 5.60, 5.70 on first attempts, 5.85 on third attempt, and 5.90 or 19-4.25 on his first attempt. That would prove to be the winning vault.

Toby Stevenson, the helmet wearing former Stanford athlete, cleared 5.50m, 5.60m, 5.70 on second, 5.80 on first, 5.85 on first, and held on for second in 5.85m, 19-2.25. Toby took jumps at 5.90 and 5.95 but was not close.

Derek Miles held on for third, with a jump of 5.80m over Tye Harvey, who also celared 5.80m, but had lower height challenges, taking him down to fourth place.

*****

Masback on TV

Craig Masback was on CNBC on Friday, and according to some business wags who saw him, he did quite well. "Masback spoke on the importance of the Trials, he handled the drug questions like a pro and he reached a business crowd who are interested in sports as fans but also as business investments."

ATF suggests that Craig Masback take a shot at getting on Cavuto on Business, on Fox, which is also a popular show with the suits. As the CEO of USA Track & Field, that is part of the job that Craig has to do, he must be the minister of propaganda, listening to negative comments on the sport, but also reminding the media what is good with our sport, and how to put it all in perspective--which is hard to do in 90 second sound bites.

*****

Some other observations

Maurice Greene is wearing the devestator. For media, and anyone interested, the Nike place at the trials has an amazing display on speed, and the development of Nike shoes. This media wonk notices that 2004 has coincided with companies giving media the LOWEST access to athletes, and information of any event in recent history. Gone are the days where Nike held daily briefings, Reebok held every other day briefings at Sevilla. The drug cloud has had a typical reaction--cut the opps down for media access and the simple questions. Problem is, which you would learn in PR 101, is that in times of crisis, provide MORE access to media, answer their questions, tell them when you do not have answers, and get them.

Access to athletes gives media more stories to write about besides the obvious. We shall see if anyone is listening or considering that alternative.

*****

Men's Long Jump, final

What a sad demise in the long jump. In the stands, Michael Connelly, the great LJ/TJ guy could have long jumped in his jeans and made the darn team. Michael Powell, the WR holder in the long jump, was not happy. He had been training, with jumps over 26 feet and was injured. "I sure hope 26-2 does not make it, or I will be really--add your own final expletive--".

Dwight Phillips jumped 27-2 for the win. Tony Allmond jumped 26-7 for second. John Moffitt finished in third on his last jump, in 26-5 1/2.

Okay, readers, get your kids out long jumping. Fifteen years ago, 27-8 did not make the team! Oh, well, no one can be perfect.

*****

atf newswire is published for the good of the sport by shooting star media, inc. copyright 2004 For digital media kits, please go to www.shootingstarmediainc.com
For more complete coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials, go to american-trackandfield.com

A proud member of the runningnetwork

http://www.runningnetwork.com