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TAFWA Award

Dunaway AwardAt the 2019 annual meeting of the Track and Field Writers of America, Dave was presented with the James Dunaway Memorial Award “for track & field journalism excellence.”

2020 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships

Dave HunterOn February 28-29, Dave served as the Color Analyst on the live ESPN3 broadcast of this championship gathering. Coverage of this 2-day conference championship can be viewed on the ESPN app.

Dave Hunter

Dave HunterDave Hunter is a track & field journalist, announcer, and broadcaster.  Dave reports on the premier track & field gatherings around the globe, frequently serves as an arena or stadium announcer for championship events, and has undertaken foreign and domestic broadcast assignments in the sport.

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Article Archives

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Category: Event Coverage

 

April 29th, 2017

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In 2000, Penn mastermind Dave Johnson concocted a novel plan to incorporate track & field professionals into the Penn Relay Carnival. The idea was grounded upon the concept of a global team relay competition. The United States - the "home country" - would take on teams assembled by other nations comprised of pros looking for an appropriate season opener for their extended outdoor seasons. When the approach was embraced by both USATF and NBC, the threads of both professional track & field and international team competition were weaved into the Penn Relays tapestry.

18 years later, USA vs. The World is a beloved fixture and a critical element of Penn's concluding day. Yellow, black, and green are predominant throughout Franklin Field as roving throngs of Jamaican fans - armed with air horns - help fill Franklin Field on Day Three. With a new pact recently inked among USATF, NBC, and Penn, the USA vs. The World concept - borne at the turn of the century - will march on for at least another 4 years.

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Category: Event Coverage

 

'Nova's Piccirillo Now Penn's Most Decorated

April 28th, 2017

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

As Day Two dawned, Penn Relays athletes, coaches, officials, and fans were greeted by another gorgeous spring day in the City of Brotherly Love. While some may have complained that the temperature was a little warmish for the longer running events, no one could quarrel with the dominating sun, blue skies, and only an occasional light zephyr out of the south.

Penn is more than a superb track & field carnival. It is an exercise in multi-tasking - as one attempts to absorb the results from events just completed, watch progression in the high jump, check out form in the long jump warmups, record times in the shuttle hurdles, and appreciate the athleticism in the series of age-group 100 meter finals. Amid the constant swirl of activity, here are some of the more notable track moments from Day Two of the Penn Relays:

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Category: Event Coverage

Granddaddy Of All Relays Is Like No Other!

April 27th, 2017

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

OK, so you consider yourself to be a track & field aficionado - a connoisseur of athletics. But let's be honest: if you have not personally experienced the majesty, the cultural immersion, the electricity of The Penn Relay Carnival, your résumé is incomplete. Over the next three days of perfect springtime weather, the University of Pennsylvania will host approximately 20,000 athletes from more than 1,000 high schools, 200 colleges from 32 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 11 countries, and a professional gathering featuring some of the most accomplished track & field athletes in the world who will compete in 302 events to the delight of over 100,000 frenetic fans.

And the excitement is not limited to inside the ivy-covered walls of Franklin Field. After all, this Relay is billed as a carnival - and it is. A festival-like atmosphere surrounds this historic landmark: nervous athletes stretching and completing their warm-ups, fans relaxing and enjoying a bite to eat, others trying their hand at sideshow games, food stands offering standard fare and exotic cuisine, and the ever-present, irrepressible green-black-and-yellow clad Jamaican fans - all amid the blare of party music and the unusual blended aroma of sizzling Philly cheesesteaks and analgesic balm.

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Category: Event Coverage

 

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.

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Category: Event Coverage

 

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.

Details
Category: Event Coverage

 

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.

Details
Category: Track

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.

Details
Category: Event Coverage

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.

Details
Category: Event Coverage

 

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.

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Category: Event Coverage

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.

Blankenship_BenFH-USind17.jpG

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:

RunBlogRun Some photographs on this site have been reproduced with permission from runblogrun.com.