Final Day, Final Thoughts

Some opening thoughts

The U.S. Olympic Trials have been a huge success. A great team of vets and young athletes, some amazing moments in many events, and some races, due to the Olympic A and B standards, need to be determined over the next few weeks. The pallor of drugs did cast a heavy blanket over the trials, and that is wrong.

The USADA testing is well meaning, but they need to remember that leaks, threats, not sending press releases to writers that they do not like is bush league and not up to the standards and needs of the sports world. In fact, their actions have jeapordized much of the good work that they are doing.

It is karma, in my mind that so many of the USADA tainted athletes did not move on. I think that this will be the cleanest team that the U.S. has sent in many years.

My thought is this? It is great for other countries to accuse the U.S. athletes of using drugs, but when will we see the level of testing in France, Germany, Russia, etc. that U.S. track athletes are subjected to? It is the only way to clean up our sport.

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Women's 20k walk final

Teresa Vail won the 20k walk this morning in 1.35.57, with Joanne Dow in second in 1.38.42 and Bobbi Chapman in 1.39.01.

The walkers had their race at 7 am again to avoid the heat.

Special Report, Women's 20k Race Walk

Persistence Pays off, by Steve Vaitones

Success in track and field may be immedaite, or a long time coming. Teresa Vail's first USA national ttile was in 1984--yes, 20 years ago. She's competed in every Olympic Trials as well as two exhibition races held at the Trials before the walk was added to the Olympic schedule. She's had mixed results, which included a " did not finish" in 2000. This year she set the pace from the two kilometer mark on, and went on to win the 20k walk at age 41, adding the ultimate line to her competitive resume--Olympian.

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Mens 110 High Hurdles, Semi finals

Heat 1

Allen Johnson is a man on a mission. He ran 13.17, clear of the field, to take first in the first semi final. Johnson is at the top of his game. He is hurdling relaxed, but with the force needed to get the game done accurately and quickly. Also moving onto the final are Duane Ross, Ron Bramlett and Aubry Herring.

Heat 2

As heat 1 was the Alle Johnson show, heat 2 is the Terrance Trammell show, with his 13.14 win. Arend Watkins, Mark Crear and Robby Hughes all move on to the finals.

*****

Women's 100 m hurdles

Heat 1

Joanna Hayes had a superb run, giving her not only the win, but the third all time performance EVER by an American, with her fine 12.50. In second was Nicole Denby, then Michelle Perry and Danielle Carruthers.

Heat 2

Melissa Morrison won this one, in 12.67, after a false start that was chargd to her. Gail Devers was second, in 12.70, with Jenny Adam and Ebony Foster moving on as the final hurdler to make the 100m hurdle finals.

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Some thoughts about the Trials

There was a good selection of refreshments for the Trials, and I purchased official merchandise. T shirts were $18, Long sleeves were $20, and Polo shirts were $30--a little high, but not too overboard.

A nice innovation was the Hoppy Brewery parties, staged by Hind and the ASCIS Aggies under the innovative eye of Peanut Harms. Nice parties, several coaches clinics, including an amazing one on distance running on Saturday, featuring Jim Spivey, Steve Scott, Walt Lange, James Robinson, Joe Rubio, Mark Conover and emceed by the always prepared Mike Fanelli. Spivey, Scott and Robinson traded notes on training with Walt Lange talking about how coaches must look for new young runners in every situation at school. We will provide a transcript of the conference from American Track & Field magazine.

The Trials did have a nice crowd each and every day, even on Saturday, which was a weak day, even with the decathlon. The problem this meet has, just like ALL track meets is that meet directors forget that they are in a business. Spend a few dollars on direct mail, and advertise to promote your event. This is how road racing grew and is way ahead of track and field in terms of promotions.

Track & Field must also look at its time and presentation. In recent months, Peter Diamond, who is one of the most important players in terms of Olympic TV broadcasting did an excellent talk to IOC and IAAF sponsors. He commented on his concern--and Peter is a track fan---that track and field is about to loose its position as a major world sport.

He suggests that evenign sessios at World and Olympic venues be two to two and a half hours, and features ONLY semis and finals. He also said, do morning sessions, throw everything but the kitchen sink so that TV has something to cover there.

He also mentioned that for national meets to be covered int eh US, should limit the meetings to two hours, and finals only. He says that this gives track and field a chance to be included in sports programming plans.

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A Modest Proposal

How would you change the Olympic Trials? If you have an idea, please spell it out at http://www.american-trackandfield.com and click on message board. Tell us your idea and we will compile them and send them to Craig Masback, USATF CEO.

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Men's Discus Throw

Well, it was just not Carl Brown's day. Jarred Rome moved from third to first on his final throw! Throwing 65.77m or 215-09 gave him the title.

Ian Waltz went from third to second in his last throw, hitting 64.69 or 212-03. In third, Casey Malone threw 64.47m in the first round and watched as he went from first to second to third. Carl Brown was fourth in 61.99m or 203-04.

******

Men's 1,500 meters

Alan Webb has learned a valuable lesson-run your own race, train your own way and listen to your coach, your agent and most of all, to your heart. The race got off to a good start, with Said Ahmed taking the lead. Alan Webb was on his side, then Webb took the lead at 200 and did not relinquish the leading position. The 300 was hit in 42.11 and the 400 meters was hit in 59 as Alan Webb slowly picked up the pace. The second lap, with Alan Webb in the lead, Charlie Gruber, Ahmed, Stember, was lead by Webb, in 1.56 at the 800 meters and then, Webb, who had controlled the entire race, did the MOVE. At about 780 meters, Webb took off, and in a very short time, had daylight between himself and Mike Stember, Charlie Gruber, Jason Lunn, Robinson and Rob Meyers.

Alan Webb runs like a combination of Steve Ovett-his arm movements, and Sebastian Coe-his ability to increase spead. Webb ran the second and third laps-that middle 800 meters was run in 1.53.

How tough was Webb running? Well, Mike Stember, a very talented miler himself, went after Webb during the second and third laps, and with about 300 to go, as Webb really increased the pace, Stember started to drop back, and was passed by Gruber, Myers, Lukezic and Jason Lunn.

Jason Lunn had a problem during the race, where he was spiked-a gash in his foot and one of his shoes was half off for the rest of the race.

How fast was Webb running? His first 300 meters in 44.11, his second lap in 1.42.84, and his third run past the finish line in 2.37.11, which was laps of 58 and 53.

Webb hit the 1200 mark in 2.52.48, his staccato steps giving him more daylight on the field than before, as Charlie Gruber and Rob Meyers fought their way out of the crowd, and as Mike Stember fell back through the field.

Alan Webb ran his own race, and was rewarded with first place in 3.36.13, with Charlie Gruber in second in 3.38.45, and Rob Myers taking third in 3.38.93. In fourth was Christopher Lukezic, who ran 3.40.05 and in fifth was Jason Lunn, who ran 3.40.81.

The win for Webb is all the sweeter considering his last few years. Finally, we have an American who can compete with the world's elite.

*****

Women's 1,500 meters final

Just as the runners lined up, Suzy Favor Hamilton announced her withdrawal from the race.

The pack, lead by Carrie Tollefson, Mary Jane Harrelson and Jen Toomey, through 66.77 for the 400 meters and 2.14.56 for 800 meters. The pack was close, and at 1000 meters, Marla Runyan dropped out, just behind the pole vault pit. Tollefson looked strong, as did Shalane Flanagan, who helped with the pace for the first 800 meters.

Jenelle Deatheredge moved up from last to middle of the pack. As they passed the bell in 3.04.97, Tollefson was fighting hard, Toomey was in second, and the pack followed. And that is the way it stayed.

Carrie Tollfeson and Jen Toomey separated themselves from the pack, and the pack followed until 1400 meters, when Deatheredge and Rudolph begin to move.

Toomey went by Tollefson with about twenty meters to go, but Tollefson did not give up. Deatheredge looked like she could win the whole thing, but it was not to be.

With ten meters to go, Tollefson started to fight again, and inched ahead of Toomey, and Rudolph caught Deatheredge, as she went by on the outside, Jenelle had no where else to go, and Deatheredge was relegated to fourth.

On Friday night, as I left the stadium, about 11.45 pm, I saw Carrie Tollefson, who had finished sixth in the 5k on Friday night, and came back and fought like the champion she is to win here, in 4.08.32. Jennifer Toomey, running one of the few 1,500s in her career, ran 4.08.43 and Amy Rudolph, the charger, ran herself into third in 4.08.57, with Jenelle Deatherage in 4.08.71. What a race!

The difference between sixth place and winning the 1,500? Just take a look at Carrie Tollefson's face on the victory stand after the 1,500 meters.

*****

Men's 110m Hurdles

In the spring of 2001, at the adidas Outdoor in Portland, Oregon, I was standing next to Allen Johnson, and asked him about his training partner, Terrance Trammell. Terrance was having a bad spring, and many had written him off. Allen looked at me and said, " Terrance is awesome, he will be dangerous one day."

Terrance had a good race here, and Allen had a so so race. It looked as if Allen had a poor start, as Duane Ross and Terrance were way ahead. Terrance took the lead after the seventh hurdle and Allen Johnson just could not get back.

Trammell lead in 13.09 at the finish. Duane Ross in 13.21 and Allen Johnson in 13.25.

Terrance Trammell jumped and danced with glee on his win. Allen Johnson knelt down on the track, cleaned his glasses, and moved off the track.

*****

Women's 100 m hurdles

Gail Devers had a great start, and great first 30 meters,but Joanne Hayes was on a mission, and she was right next to Devers. So was Melissa Morrison and Danielle Caruthers.

Devers was hurdling flawlessly, but so was Hayes. They continued to hurdle next to each other, and Devers, with all 25 years of track experience on the line, leant at the tape. So did Hayes.

Gail held on to the finish, running 12.55 ( 12.547) with Joanna Hayes in 12.55 ( 12.549)

Melissa Morrison ran 12.61 with Danielle Carruthers in 12.62 and Jenny Adams in fifth place in 12.74.

*****

172,230 fans were in the stands over the 8 days of track here, the second best showing ever in history of the Olympic Trials.

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Men's high jump, final

Sacramento got its wish, and the 22,000 plus fans watched the happiest, most uncontrolled, but agile display of the joy of making an Olympic team. Jamie Nieto, when he cleared 2.33m ran down the field, tore his singlet off and put one arm in the air, as the crowd cheered, then he did a somersault, as the crowd went nuts.

Jamie Nieto cleared 2.33 on his second try, after clearing 2.19, 2.24, 2.27, and 2.30, and 2.33--the lst two on second attempts. His 2.33 m was a 7-07.5 clearance.

Matt Hemingway took second in 2.30m or 7-06.5 after trying to clear 2.36m.

Tora Harris was third in 2.27m, or 7-5.25, and finished ahead of Keith Moffatt and Henry Patterson, both at 2.27m, but both with more misses.

Finishing in seventh was Charles Austin, who was the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and the American record holder.

******

Womens Pole Vault

Deja Vu all over again....

Stacy Dragila controlled this event from the beginning, clearing 4.35, 4.45, 4.55, all on first attempts. She cleared 4.65 on her second attempt, then 4.75 on her third attempt. And she made three good attepts at 4.89 or 16-1 1/2 and just was close, but no cigar. She did set a new stadium record, and Olympic trials record.

In second was Jillian Schwartz, who cleared 4.55m or 14-11, and had less attempts than Kellie Suttle, who also cleared 4.55m or 14-11. Kellie had a scary jump, when her pole disintegrated, but she was clear headed enough to get into the pit.

In fourth was UCLA under grad Chelsea Johnson, who jumped like a pro, taking three attempts at 4.40m, then cleearing 4.50 on first attempt. She missed at 4.55 and then took two attempts at 4.60, but it was not to be, and she placed fourth.

The nice thing is that Chelsea has put herself into the upper echelon of the women's pole vault, and we should see her around for many years to come.

******

Men's 200 meters, final

Shawn Crawford got his race, and his first. Running a great turn, Shawn ran 19.99 into a 0.7 m headwind and won a great race. Justin Gatlin ran 20.01 in second, running a solid race the whole way and cementing his presence into the sprint elite.

In third was Bernard Williams, who held off Darvis Patton, 20.30 to 20.32.

******

Women's 200 meter dash, final

The last race of 2000 was the men's 200 meters, if I recall. The last race of 2004 will be remembered as the opening salvo of one Allyson Felix, who ran, what one expert told me was, " the fastest ever legal race for a junior ( 19 and under) with her 22.28 into a negative headwind of 1.2.

Consider that her 22.19 in Mexico was not drug tested and that the women who ran the 22.19 in Moscow in 1980 was never seen on the racing scene again, Allyson should have the record.

Anyway, Felix ran away from Muna Lee, who ran 22.36 for a nice second place and Torri Edwards, who ran 22.39 in third place.

Felix is very exciting to watch. She runs the turns with abandon, and her legs begin to lengthen out as she hits the final straightaway. She will be dangerous in Athens.

*****

Final thoughts....

I wanted to make sure that our web fans know that this was one of the best run meets that I have been at. The 2004 Olympic Trials had perfect weather, great crowds, excellent coverage and wonderful athletes and coaches. The problem is this--our sport is the most vigilant at catching dopers, and now, with USADA, and WADA, even with their problems and what I feel are growing pains of a freshman year nature, the word is out--cheat and your life will be made a living hell.

I am very lucky to make a living at something that I love. In competing, in coaching, in writing and in representing the magazines of the Running Network, it is like the famous philosopher Steve Martin says, " some get paid for selling Flair pens, and I get paid for doing this..." Thanks for reading our words, thanks to Brian Eder for sending this newswire around the world. Thanks to Jeremy Borling and Brenda Barrara for posting and running our websites, and thanks to Victah Sailer and Photo Run for covering the photos. And special thanks to executive editor James Dunaway for making sure that I spell receive correctly.

I will be writing a couple more pieces before Athens, but make sure that you follow our coverage over there.

Thanks for reading and caring about our sport.

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