THE BEGINNING OF THE PROFESSIONAL SEASON

This is a odd year for professional athletes. There is no major outdoor championships but there is a major indoor championship. Although many track and field fans do not follow indoor as often as they follow the outdoor season this is indoor seasons started off with a bang.



*SPRINTS*





In the men's 60 meter hurdles Terrance Trammel again proves that over the short distance in the hurdles his speed is too much for his competition to overcome. At the Millrose Games, the first stop on Visa Championship Series tour, Trammel clocked in at 7.49 in the men's 60 meter hurdles.



Lisa Barber has not been in the lime light recently but Barber maybe making a comeback after stunning New York track and field fans with her big win in the women's 60 meter dash clocking in at 7.24 defeating former world champion Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown. Although the 60 meter sprint is Barber premiere event I would not be surprised if she made the women's team in the 100 meters this outdoor season.



In the women's 60 meter hurdles Priscilla Lopes-Schliep continued her winning ways in the short hurdles clocking in at 8.01. Although it is not the sub 8 second race we have come accustomed to from Lopes-Schliep it is still a solid time to start off the season. Lolo Jones however has began the season with a sub 8 performance clocking in at 7.85 which is the world leading time.



Mark Jelks was once dubbed the next Maurice Greene by his coach at Kansas City Community College maybe on his way there with his world leading performance of 6.56 in the men's 60 meter dash. It will be quite interesting when Jelks goes head to head with Ivory Williams the Millrose Games winner and Michael Rodgers one of the world's best at 60 meters.



The 400 is an interesting event indoors. We have not either on the men's or women's side seen an American dominate this event of a consistent period during the indoor season. Also keep in mind that during the indoor season competing in this event is also the 400 meter hurdlers preparing themselves for the outdoor season. The indoor season's best professional 400 meter runner right now is James Davis, who is always one of the best during the indoor season. This event in the professional ranks is wide open since there is no true star. Bershawn Jackson can be tabbed as the favorite after 600 yard win at the Millrose Games but I am expecting someone else to step up and take the crown.



The same can be said for the women's 400, there has been no true consistent champion. Sanya Richards may compete this indoor season giving some light to one of the best events in track and field. Monica Hargrove seems to always be in the mix, not necessarily as a star but a blooming one. Hargrove won the 400 meters at the Millrose Games clocking in at 55.07. Hargrove's time may not be a stellar time but keep in mind it was on a normal banked track. I expect Hargrove to at least crack 53 seconds at the Boston Indoor Games but she will have competition from Jamaica's Shereefa Floyd and Shareese Woods.



Next: The Pro's Field Preview and a College Update.