Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 19 April 2017

Stefandini_Ekaterini-OlyGame16.jpgEkaterina Stefanidi, photo by PhotoRun.net

A successful track & field athlete needs several critical traits: natural talent; a disciplined work ethic; a reliable support system; knowledgeable coaching; an unflappable demeanor; an unshakeable focus; and - among the most important - an engrained sense of motivation which inspires the athlete to employ all of those other characteristics in the quest to achieve the targeted track & field goal. A survey of the current marquee track & field athletes suggests that Ekaterina Stefanidi, reigning Olympic and Diamond League pole vault champion, is among those few athletes who receive high marks in virtually all of these categories - especially motivation.

Read more: Ekaterina Stefanidi's Motivation

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 17 April 2017

Kiplagat_EdnaA-Boston17.JPgEdna Kiplagat, photo by PhotoRun.net

One Cruel Move In The Newton Hills Seals Boston Win

Boston, Massachusetts

Patriots' Day

Monday, April 17th, 2017

On a sun-drenched Patriots' Day morning, Boston Marathon legend Kathrine Switzer - who would celebrate the 50th anniversary of her historic 1967 participation in this race by running 121st Boston Marathon in a later wave - fired the starting pistol to send an elite group of world-class women storming out of Hopkinton to begin their 26 mile 385 yard odyssey to Boston's Back Bay. The 70 degree temperature at the race's start promoted conservatism early as a pack of about 15 pacesetters - led by defending champion Alsede Baysa of Ethiopia and her country woman Buzunesh Deba - split the first downhill mile in a guarded 5:55. The lead pack - which included hopeful Americans Desi Linden and marathon debutante Jordan Hasay - was in warm-up mode as it glided by 2 miles in 11:31. The 5K split - 17:45 - projected a finishing time of around 2:29. Everyone in the lead pack knew faster racing was ahead.

Kiplagat_EdnaA-Boston17.JPgEdna Kiplagat, photo by PhotoRun.net

One Cruel Move In The Newton Hills Seals Boston Win

Boston, Massachusetts

Patriots' Day

Monday, April 17th, 2017

On a sun-drenched Patriots' Day morning, Boston Marathon legend Kathrine Switzer - who would celebrate the 50th anniversary of her historic 1967 participation in this race by running 121st Boston Marathon in a later wave - fired the starting pistol to send an elite group of world-class women storming out of Hopkinton to begin their 26 mile 385 yard odyssey to Boston's Back Bay. The 70 degree temperature at the race's start promoted conservatism early as a pack of about 15 pacesetters - led by defending champion Alsede Baysa of Ethiopia and her country woman Buzunesh Deba - split the first downhill mile in a guarded 5:55. The lead pack - which included hopeful Americans Desi Linden and marathon debutante Jordan Hasay - was in warm-up mode as it glided by 2 miles in 11:31. The 5K split - 17:45 - projected a finishing time of around 2:29. Everyone in the lead pack knew faster racing was ahead.

Read more: Edna The Great!

Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 17 April 2017

Kirui-RuppH-Boston17.JPgGeoffrey Kirui and Galen Rupp, in the heat of the battle, photo by PhotoRun.net

Boston, Massachusetts

Patriots' Day

Monday, April 17th, 2017

The elite men danced nervously just behind the starting line as they waited for the first wave start of the 121st B.A.A. Marathon. As the men's favorites were introduced, the largest ovation was saved for American Meb Keflezighi - the 2014 champion and the first American to win this Patriots' Day race since 1983. As the crowd favorite joined other elite Americans Galen Rupp, Luke Puskedra, Jared Ward, Abdi Abdirahman, Shadrack Biwott, and newbie Augustus Maiyo at the starting line, there was pervasive speculation as to how the Yanks might fare in the 42 kilometer battle against a field that included the defending champion Lemi Hayle of Ethiopia, Kenya's Geoffrey Kirui, Emmanuel Mutai, Wilson Chebet, and 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir.

Read more: Geoffrey Kirui Wins 121st Boston Marathon

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Track

Published: 11 April 2017

Spratling_BrycenQ-USind17.jpgBrycen Spratling, photo by PhotoRun.net

Brycen Spratling To Experiment With 800 Meters

March 16th , 2017

Back in the late '60's, Martin McGrady - a terrific middle distance racer - dominated the indoor scene. His specialty was the frenetic 600 yard run - an event upon which he was virtually untouchable on those creaky 160 yard banked wooden tracks. Dominating the likes of Olympic 400m champion and world record holder Lee Evans and every other middle distance great, McGrady was a 3-time indoor national champion and 3-time Millrose Games winner. In 1970, he set the indoor 600 yard world record of 1:07.6 - a global best that endured for 22 years. With all due respect to my friend Eamonn Coughlan, McGrady was the original, the authentic "Chairman of the Boards." Superior at the indoor Imperial distance, McGrady could never find his groove in an outdoor, metric Olympic distance event. Unable to transform his indoor success to the big outdoor oval, McGrady has been relegated to the footnotes of track & field.

Memories of McGrady are evoked by watching the speed, the grace, the talent, and the indoor superiority of middle distance performer Brycen Spratling. Two years ago, Spratling flashed around the Armory's 200 meter oval to win the Millrose Games 500 meter race in a world best time of 1:00.06. Several months later - as part of a USA quartet - the long sprinter ran the 400m leg on a world-record setting distance medley relay team. Yet like McGrady a generation ago, the two-time world record holder is still searching to find the outdoor event that is right for him.

Read more: The Search for His Event

Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 05 March 2017

Harrison_KendraQ-USind17.jpGKendra Harrison wins 60m hurdles, photo by PhotoRun.net

Houlihan_ShelbyFH-USind17.jpGA busy weekend double for Shelby Houlihan, photo by PhotoRun.net

Sowinski_ErikFH-USind17.jpGEric Sowinski wins a big 600 meters! photo by PhotoRun.net

Morris_Sandi1-USind17.jpGSandi Morris wins pole vault, photo by PhotoRun.net

Day Three of USATF Indoors Showcases New And Old Stars

Albuquerque, New Mexico

March 5th, 2017

Day Three of these championships had a tough act to follow. With two world records - Gwen Berry's terrific 84 foot heave in the weight throw and Noah Lyles' stunning 31.87 in the 300 meter dash - a national high school record of 2:43.18 in the women's 1000 meter run by Samantha Watson in the preliminary rounds, and pentathlon winner Erica Bougard's last-jump win in the women's long jump adding spice to Day Two, Day Three athletes would need exceptional performances to top Saturday's show. Sunday produced no additional world records, but the depth and breadth of the final edition of this national gathering was stunning as the 2017 indoor championships concluded with 8 meet records either tied or broken.

Read more: Many Stars Dazzle On High Plains

Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 04 March 2017

Berry_Gwen-USind17.jpGGwen Berry, Weight throw WR, 25.60m/84'00"

Albuquerque, New Mexico

March 4th, 2017

The pursuit of national indoor track & field indoor championships here in the high plains began in earnest with a full slate of Day Two events on the track and in the field. While impressive performances were expected, the day became special very quickly.

Early in the afternoon, in the women's weight throw, Gwen Berry electrified the crowd when her first attempt - only the second throw of the competition - sailed 25.22m/82'9", a throw that set a new indoor national championship and Albuquerque Convention Center record, a new world leader, and ranked #3 on the all-time world list. But Berry - coming off an injury and undecided about her championship participation as recently as Monday - was far from done. Not letting her monster opener break her concentration, Berry went on a tear, throwing 24.45m/80'2¾ and 25.21m/82'8½ on her second and third attempts. After two successive fouls, the Olympian saved her best for last. On her final attempt, Berry let it all go with a tremendous, arcing throw that measured 25.60m/84'0" to set a new world record and take down the previous global best of 25.56m/83'10¼ set in 2007 by American Brittany Riley. "I honestly didn't know what I had in store for me today," admits the new champion. "I was injured four weeks ago. I worked my butt off. I didn't think I had world record potential in me. I thought I could win with a good 80 foot throw, but a world record was not in my sights." With no fair throws less than 80 feet, Berry - now a three-time national weight throw champion - completed a sensational series that in addition to her world record throw also included the 4th and 5th best weight throws of all time.

Read more: Gwen Berry's World Record Spices USATF Day Two

Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 04 March 2017

IMG_0829.JPGLeft to right: Ajee Wilson (new AR holder and #13 on the all-time world list at indoor 800m); Noah Lyles (USA HS record holder in the indoor and outdoor 200m); Sam Kendricks (reigning Oly pole vault bronze medalist); and Keni Harrison (WR holder, 100H). Photo and description courtesy of David Hunter.

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Ben Blankenship, Chris Sorratos, Garret Heath, Even Jager all battle in the mile, photo by PhotoRun.net

Albuquerque, New Mexico

March 4th, 2017

As has frequently been the case over the years, this weekend Albuquerque, New Mexico will once again host the USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships. Many elite American athletes have made the pilgrimage to the Land Of Enchantment to test their fitness, to race against their most challenging domestic foes, and to pursue the glory of capturing a national championship. Yet others have elected to bypass this championship gathering for a variety of reasons that include: nursing injuries; avoiding the high plains' altitude challenge; and acknowledging that this championship meet does not fit into their build up for what they consider to be more challenging and important contests during the upcoming outdoor season.

Many of the athletes here to compete have taken time to explain why they are here and what they hope draw from this championship competition. Here are the thoughts of some:

Read more: The Importance Of USATF Indoors

Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 03 March 2017

Bougard_Erica800-USind17.jpGErica Bougard, March 3, 2017, photo by PhotoRun.net

Albuquerque, New Mexico

March 3rd, 2017

As the 2017 USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships got underway, the nation's top multi athletes found that on Day One they had the resurfaced Mondo track and field at the Albuquerque Convention Center all to themselves. It was a special opportunity they didn't squander.

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Erica Bougard, March 3, 2017, photo by PhotoRun.net

In the opening event of the women's pentathlon - the 60 meters - Erica Bougard took advantage of a great start to rocket down the sprint straight, crossing first in 8.21, and ringing up 1082 points. Defending national champion Barbara Nwaba earned 1037 points claiming 2nd in 8.41. Her Santa Barbara Track Club teammate Chari Hawkins - 3rd in this event a year ago - finished 3rd in 8.44 to garner 1030 points. Multi veteran and American record holder in the pentathlon Sharon Day-Monroe clocked 8.56 to finish the first event in 6th with 1004 points.

Read more: Combined Events Kick Off Indoor Championships

Details

Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Road Racing

Published: 13 February 2017

Hasay_Jordan-Houston17.JPGJordan Hasay, photo by PhotoRun.net

Has Talented Distance Star Finally Found Her Event?

An essential ingredient for the success of any athlete who aspires to compete at the highest levels of international track & field is talent. Some - a very few - might be able to achieve on talent alone. But for the vast majority, success requires that God-given talent be joined by a thoughtfully-assembled training regimen, an unwavering work ethic, savvy coaching, an ever-present support system - and a pursuit for excellence in a carefully-selected event that is right for the athlete.

No one doubts the natural talent Oregon Project athlete Jordan Hasay brings to her craft as a distance runner. Since her prep days where she first tasted success, through her undergraduate years at the University of Oregon, and now in her post-collegiate career as a professional, Hasay has been a dedicated athlete who has been wisely coached. The California native became a household word throughout the track community at the 2008 Olympic Trials where the high school junior ran 4:14.50 in the semi-finals of the 1500 meters to break the national high school record and advance to the final where the emerging prep star finished 10th.

Read more: Jordan Hasay's Renaissance

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Track

Published: 23 January 2017

IMG_0946.JPGHorace Ashenfelter relaxing at his New Jersey home with Max.
(Photo by Tom Ashenfelter 1/21/17)

Today Horace Ashenfelter III celebrates his 94th birthday. You young whippersnappers may ask, "Horace who?" While Ashenfelter has lived a full, robust, and multi-faceted life, he is best known as the upset winner of the 1952 Olympic steeplechase - the Helsinki champion of the longest track event not won by Emil Zatopek.

Back in the day, the Penn State athlete captured 3 NCAA titles and won 15 individual AAU Championships. A frequent competitor at New York's Armory, Ashenfelter was a 5-time winner of the Millrose Games 2-mile run and was ultimately inducted into the Millrose Games Hall of Fame in 2001.

When he wasn't training or racing, Ashenfelter worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he served as a U.S. special agent. His FBI service and his skill as a distance runner prompted apocryphal tales - such as the yarn that Ashenfelter was the first American spy to allow himself to be chased by a Russian.

Read more: Happy 94th Birthday, Horace Ashenfelter!