atf newswire
volume 9, number 32
Saturday, June 24, 2006
AT&T USA Outdoor Championships

7,500 fans watched a good day of junior competitions and senior competitons. While the championships is long, with junior and senior meets together, it makes best sense for the sport. It is hard for people to take five days off to see all track. But it just isnt that way. Fans come for juniors and then for seniors, and each get to see the other part of the sport.

The meet has the performances of the athletes shine out, and that is the way that it should be. The media environs are some of best we have ever have, although this writer spends most of meet walking around the track, meeting with friends and coaches and enjoying the meet.

If you are a coach, athlete or official, this is the end of a long season. One of the good things is that there are events for all, however my biggest beefs were the little promotion that the local sports corporation did for the meet and this writer believes that there needs to be a focus on winning events, ie. 100 meters, shot put, 5,000s were a good match, as it kept nearly all fans on Friday happy. Friday showed that this meet could be and should be cut down by a day.

Face it. ESPN and ESPN2 are running poker and domino shows on television, and if they can make that stuff exciting, then we are in real trouble. Track and Field are not only exciting, but we have truly great athletes with stories to tell...make the athletes personable. Why doesn't TV spend more time introducing the athletes, adding bits about the athletes so that the average fan can identify?

Making the World Champ or Olympic teams over the next 24 months is going to be absolutely a herculean task, why not promote that? Why not promote USATF team as not only the most winning in US sports history, as it is, but also one of the toughest to make? Think about it--10 or 12 guys in 400 meters, heck, US could run 3 teams internationally and sweep in the long relay--that is how tough that event is in this country.

Speaking of world sport, Sherone Simpson, all of 21, ran 10.82 in the Jamaican championships on Saturday, June 24, which gives her a tie for the 12th best 100 meters ever!

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Women's 20k race walk

20,000 meters is longest race on the track, and Joanne Dow of adidas showed her prowess with a fine 1:35.20.76 for the 20k walk. Teresa Vail of Walk USA was second in 1:39:24.07, and in third was Sam Cohen of Parkside AC (UW Parkside, Wisconsin).

Racewalk is one of the events and cultures that give athletics the events for everyone's mentality. Racewalking, according to the exercise phys crowd, has one of the highest vo2 max requirements, so distance runners need to appreciate going at seven minute pace for 12 to 31 miles while maintaining legal form. It is kind of like running a 20k or 50k, and being asked to do a triple axle every 5k and being graded on it. Esoteric it is, but race walking is one of the disciplines that takes us back to the beginning of our sport.

Women's junior 1,500m run

I first saw Danielle Tauro run at Millrose this past year, making her one of the first young women from New Jersey to win in a while there. Tauro ran well and has had an amazing season. She capped that off with her 4:24.53 victory at Indy. In second was Erin Bedell in 4:25.86 and Jenna Ortman in 4:28.62 in third.

Mens' Junior 1,500m run

AJ Acosta has had an excellent season. His victory at Foot Locker, his 8:46 for two miles at the Nike Outdoor, his victory at California State Meet, and now his 3:45.95 for 1,500 meters here. Eight runners together with 400 to go and ten guys go under 3:55. Word on the street is that AJ, going to Oregon, is looking to run a sub four minute mile. Watch dyestat.com for info on the event, which will be held in either Southern California or in Oregon, around July 1.

Heptathlon

Gigi Johnson kept her lead from day one and long jumped 6.20m for 912 points, 40.53m for the javelin (677) and finally, running the 800 meters in 2:19.56 for 829 points for a total of 6,183 points.

Hyleas Fountain of Nike finished in second, long jumping 6.56m for 1027 points, threw the javelin in 37.23m or 122-02 for 614 points. The 800 meter run for Hyleas was 2:16.79, for 868 points in her final event, giving Hyleas 6148 points.

Fiona Asigbee was third, with her long jump of 6.22m for 918 points, 40.51m for the javelin for 677 points and 2:20.65 for the 800 meters with a final event score of 815, giving Fiona a total of 6030.

Men's 110m hurdles

First round of the hurdles, in one of the truly tough events to make on the US track team, showed no surprises. Ryan Wilson won heat one in 13.42, with Joel Brown of Nike, Antwon Hicks of adidas and Aries Merritt of Reebok moved on.

Dominique Arnold of Nike won heat two in 13.35, with Robby Hughes, Aubrey Herring and John Yarbrough all moved on.

Allen Johnson of Nike won the third heat in 13.58, with David Payne of Reebok, Ron Bramlett and Montrell Person also moved on.

Terrance Trammell won heat four in 13.51, with Jason Richardson, David Oliver and Marlon Odom all moved on.

Men's Decathlon

The decathlon always surprises and there were lots of surprises here. As some seem to forget, there are ten events in the decathlon and that means ten chances for things to go wrong. The event du jour was the pole vault, event number eight.

Tom Pappas lead the high hurdles in 14.32 (934), with a discus throw of 49.78m (866), a 163-04, and a pole vault of 5.10m, or 16-8.75 (941).

Bryan Clay ran the hurdles in 14.32, threw the discus in 51.06m, or 167- 06 and then no heighted in the pole vault. The whole concept of the pole vault is to run very fast with the pole, insert in the vault box and then jump over the height designated by said pole vault bar. When that does not happen, one no heights. ATF was also told that Bryan had just not been feeling up to snuff anyway. Bryan retired from the competition.

Trey Hardee had deja vu all over again. Trey hurdled 14.10 in the hurdles, threw 41.87m or 137-04, and then no heighted in the vault, giving him a three week total of two disasterous decathlons. Freiderich Neitzche did say what does not kill you makes you strong. While Neitzche is the patron saint of facism, at least in the decathlon, this seems to be true. We hope that Trey gathers himself and finishes a couple of decs this summer.

Joe Detmer of Wisconsin (warning, we do stop for Wisconsin athletes here, hey, we live 40 miles from campus, what do you expect?) hurdled 15.27 for 8127, threw the discus 33.43m or 109-08 or 532 and then no heighted in the vault. Joe then threw the discus 52.78m for 172-02 or 630 points and then ran the 1,500 meters in 4:30.46. Joe showed some real class and ran the 1,500 meters, helping Robert Arnold to his pr in the 1,500 meters in 4:31.04.

Tom Pappas threw the javelin 55.68m or 182-08 or 673 points and then ran 4:59.50 for 563 points for a total of 8319. Tom's winning total is the world leader.

Ryan Harlan hurdled 14.08 for 964, threw the discus in 42.49m or 140- 10 or 725 points, then cleared 15-01 or 4.60m for 790, threw the javelin in 63.13m or 207-01 for 785 then ran the 1,500 meters in 5:01.90 for 549 points for a total of 7872, taking second in the competition.

Robert Arnold of Arizona ran the hurdles in 14.67 for 890, threw the discus in 38.78m or 127-03 for 640 points, vaulted 4.90m or 16-00.75 for 880, threw the javelin for 58.61m or 192-03 for 717 and then ran a personal best at the 1,500 of 4:31.04 for 738 for 7827 points, taking third.

Men's 200 meter Dash, first round

Wallace Spearmon ran 20.61, leading the first round. Kelly Willie, Leroy Dixon, Jeff Laynes and Mark Jelkes also move on.

Jeremy Wariner of adidas ran 20.28 for the second heat. Rodney Martin, Rubin Williams, Trell Kimmons also moved on.

Tyson Gay of adidas ran 20.46, Jordan Vaden, Mozavous Edwards and Otis McDaniel also moved on.

Chris Berrian ran 21.19 to move on, with Preston Perry and Micheal Cooley also moved on.

Womens' 200 meter dash heats

Muna Lee ran 22.80 to take heat one. Kandace Tucker and Tonette Dyer of Baylor also moved on.

Shalonda Solomon of South Carolina ran 22.86, Lauryn Williams of Nike, Sharesse Woods of Charlotte and Amandi Rhett of United Stars also moved on.

Rachelle Boone-Smith of Nike ran 22.53 with Cleo Tyson of Tennessee, Connie Moore of Nike, Janice Davis of Stanford and Alexandria Anderson of Texas also moved on.

La Tasha Jenkins of NIke ran 22.51. Allyson Felix, with her right thigh bandaged, Latasha Kerr and Angelea Daigle-Brown also moved on.

Women's 100m hurdles, semi finals

Damu Cherry of Nike ran 12.58 in the first semi. Michelle Perry of Nike ran 12.66, Anjanette Kirkland of Nike ran 12.99 and Dawn Harper of UCLA ran 13.02.

Virginia Powell, the NCAA champion, now with Nike, ran 12.70. Jenny Adams of adidas ran 12.87, LoLo Jones of Nike ran 12.90, and Ebony Foster of North Carolina State ran 13.04.

Women's 400 meter dash finals--ALL Sanya, ALL the time...

Sanya Richards of NIke is the class of the U.S. 400 meter event. Personable, athletically talented, Sanya ran this final like she ment it: Sanya made up most of the stagger on the next two lanes by the 200 meters and just kept going, running 49.27 for the fastest time in the world and a meet record!

Dee Dee Trotter of adidas ran a strong race in second in 50.40 and Monique Henderson of Reebok ran 50.71 for a strong third position.

Women's 3000m steeplechase

The womens' steeplechase was in one of the hottest times of the day. Combine that with 3000 meters of running and hurdling and you have some serious challenges. Carrie Messner of ASICS lead for the first six laps, but as she entered the sixth lap, Carrie Messner was in trouble and started falling back in the race, as Kristin Anderson, Delilah DiCrescenzo of Westchester, Trina Cox and Kelly Strong of ASICS went by. Also included in this group was Lisa Galaviz who took the lead with one lap to go and that was that.

Lisa Galaviz is coached in Arizona by Louie Quintana, one of our country's best young distance coaches and Lisa executed perfectly, running the last lap well and hitting the tape in 9:57.98 for the win. Also running well and nearly catching Lisa was Kristin Anderson, who moved up from fifth on the last lap and ran 9:57.98 for second! In third, Delialah DiCrescenzo of Westchester in 10:03.31.

400m hurdles, Women's semis

LaShinda Demus of Nike ran 53.50 for this semi, running well and hurdling better than the first round. Sheena Johnson of Nike ran 54.09 and continued her fine hurdling. Shauna Smith, also of Nike, ran a superb race and moved on, with Dominique Darden also moving on to the final.

Tiffany Ross-Williams of Reebok ran 54.94 in the second semi, with Sandra Glover of Nike, Markita James of Nike and Ellannee Richardson also moving on.

Mens 400 m hurdles, final

In the intermediate hurdles, the combination of 400 meter running and hurdling make this the most difficult race on the oval. Kerron Clement came off the turn in last place and moved up over the last 60 meters, running a world leading 47.39 to take first. Not giving Clement an inch, Bershawn Jackson ran 47.48 took second. James Carter, giving NIke a 1,2,3, took third in 48.44 with Joey Woody of adidas in fourth in 49.12.

Women's high jump

Chaunte Howard of Nike set a stadium record of 2.01m or 6-07 to take the high jump. Amy Acuff of ASICS was second at 1.92m or 6-03.5 and Destinee Hooker cleared 1.86m at 6-01.25.

Men's 400 meters, State of Wisconsin has a good day

The men's 400 meters is a brutal event in the U.S. and this final was no different. Bets were on LaShawn Merritt of Nike, but a few observers were looking at Andrew Rock of adidas, the silver medalist from Helsinki and wondering if it was Andrew's day.

Well, Andrew took this race in the last forty meters and ran his perfect race, running a personal best of 44.45, and running through the finish. Rock caught LaShawn Merritt of Nike with ten meters to go, and Merritt seemed to lean too early for the tape and put his arms up, running 44.50 for second. David Neville of Indiana set a school record for his third place performance in 44.75. Darold Williamson of Nike ran 44.94 for fourth, and Otis Harris, Jr. of Nike ran 45.00 for fifth. Jamel Ashley of Reebok ran 45.01 for sixth, Derrick Brew of Nike ran 45.23 for seventh and Milton Campbell ran 45.51 for eighth.

Women's Discus Throw

Aretha Thurmond of Nike threw 62.50m or 205-01 for first here, with Suzy Powell of ASICS taking second in 192-06 or 58.68m. Rebecca Breisch was third in 57.97m or 190-02.

Suzy Powell is developing a new training center in Central California for a group of field athletes, watch ATF newswire for more details!

Women's 1,500 meters

On the way to the track on Saturday, Tiffany McWilliams of adidas, one of our most promising athletes, was hit by a car. She was shaken up, and taken to the hospital for observation, but the injury was not serious.

Christin Wurth of Nike tried to steal this race and lead from the second lap to the bell and, even with a cold, did not want to give up. Lindsey Gallo, Treniere Clement and Sarah Schwald were all in tow, ready to pounce. Treniere Clement of Nike went by with 250 to go and while she did not get any real estate, held on for the win in 4:10.44. Lindsey Gallo of Reebok ran 4:10.72 for a personal best in second, Sarah Schwald of Nike, having battled injuries this past year, ran well for third in 4:11.60. Carrie Tollefson of adidas, having run the 5,000 on Friday, took fourth here in 4:12.23 with Christian Wurth finished fifth in 4:12.82, but it was Wurth who made this race.

Women's Long jump

Rose Richmond of Nike jumped 6.93m or 22-9, getting her best effort in her fourth attempt. Tianna Madison had a rough day, taking second with a 6.7m or 22-2.5 with her one fair jump and five fouls. Grace Upshaw of NIke jumped 6.65m for 21-10 in third.

Men's Pole Vault

The winds were a bit strange for the vaulters, but everyone has to jump in the same conditions and Russ Buller and Toby Stevenson had the fans enthralled.

Jeff Hartwig, Brad Walker and Tim Mack all had some tough vaulting today. Hartwig of Nike ended in third in 18-4.5 or 5.60m, Brad Walker of Nike took third in 5.60m or 18-4.5, and so did Thomas Skipper of Oregon, who also tied for third in 18-4.5. Why would there be three thirds? Well, dear friends, all had the same clearances and misses.

Jonathan Takahashi was sixth in 18-4.5 and Tim Mack of Nike was seventh in 18-00.5.

But the champs came down to Russ Buller of ASICS and Toby Stevenson of Nike. Ross Buller cleared 5.50 on his first, 5.60 on his first, 5.70 on his third and 5.80 on his first. Toby cleared 5.50 on his first, 5.60 on his first, 5.70 on his third but 5.80 on his second,a dwhen neither cleared 5.85 or 5.91, then Russ won on less attempts.

Women's 100 meter hurdles

The last event on Saturday night kept the crowd happy.

Virginia Powell of Nike kept her season rolling with a fine 12.63 to take this hurdling championship. Damu Cherry of Nike was second in 12.64, with Michelle Perry of Nike in third in 12.67 and Jenny Adams of adidas in 12.75 was in fourth, with LoLo Jones in fifth in 12.76 and Anjanette Kirkland of Nike in 12.87 in sixth.

Watch for our Sunday coverage shortly.

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