Olympic Preview (Men's Sprints)

(Will it be a Jamaican Party in the short sprints?)
(Left: Usain Bolt, Right: Yohan Blake)


What a toss up. That's the feeling I get when I think about the men sprinting events. Each event has multiple potential winners and great stories behind each of them.

100 Meter Dash

This has always been the main event of the Olympics. Who is the world's fastest human? In the past the world title was dominated by the US. With the recent development of Jamaican sprint stars there has been a strong challenge against that. Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell could complete an American sweep. The US does not have as much depth as they did in the past. Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will have to carry the torch for Team USA, youngster Ryan Bailey does not have the top end speed to keep up with the talented core of Jamaicans. Also competing in the race is Richard Thompson and Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago.

Bolt has looked more human in the past two seasons compared to 2008 and 2009 when he set the world on fire with his rip roaring speed. Yohan Blake is the next in line for Jamaica and seems to have better habits than that of his country men. He has been more focused and is out to prove that his win over Usain Bolt at the Olympic Trials was not a fluke. Justin Gatlin is also a guy to keep an eye on, Gatlin won the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal his 9.80 at the US Olympic Trials was nothing to sneeze at especially since it cold and wet that night. Bolt will still enter as the heavy favorite but there are plenty of others in the race that can defeat him.


200 Meter Dash

Compared to last season the times have been a little bit pedestrian. The current top time is 19.80 ran by Blake. This event in my opinion maybe the most open event yet.

Without Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Walter Dix the US is very thin in event and have only one true athlete capable of earning a medal. Wallace Spearmon who has been on the American sprint scene since 2005 with his 20.10 indoor world record. In 2004 he finished 2nd behind Usain Bolt but was disqualified for stepping outside his lane. Spearmon has been on a path for a redemption and has generated some positive marks this season. His 19.82 ran the US Olympic Trials was barely wind-aided and would have converted to 19.83 without the wind. Blake is the favorite in this event and has not lost to anyone all year, it will take a season's best to defeat a charging Usain Bolt and upset minded Wallace Spearmon.


400 Meter Dash

My personal favorite event. The US hopes to continue the winning streak in this event that has lasted since 1984 took a serious hit. At a meet prior to the Olympic Games defending champion Lashawn Merritt slightly tweaked his hamstring. Merritt believes he will be ready for the Olympics but a hamstring issue is not an injury you can return from quickly.

NCAA Champion Tony McQuay will have to carry the flag for team USA. Teammate Bryshon Nellum is a long shot to medal and Kirani James the defending World Champion just became the heavy favorite to win it all. Another young talent Luguelin Santos from the Dominican Republic has the second best time behind Merritt. It looks as if the US dominance in the 400 is in serious jeopardy.

110 Meter Hurdles

Aries Merritt has been the world's most consistent hurdler this season. Merritt claimed the 2012 World Indoor Title and has beaten Liu Xiang of China and Dayron Robles of Cuba. Xiang and Robles have dominated the event in recent years but with Merritt's 12.93 performance three times this season, he may be the man to beat. Fellow US teammate Jason Richardson claimed the World Championship title last summer in Daegu and has also dipped under 13 seconds this season.


400 Meter Hurdles

In this event it is quite possible that Angelo Taylor could win his third Olympic Gold Medal. He will face a strong challenge from the hometown hero in and defending World Champion in David Greene and this years number one performer Javier Culson of Puerto Rico. Culson has been on fire this season but will see the best of Taylor, Greene and the talented 2009 World Champion Kerron Clement.

Clement has been seriously underrated. After having multiple surgeries and injuries he has been out of the world scene as of late. He returned back to his coach Mike Holloway, the man who coached him to an indoor world record in the open 400 meters back at the University of Florida. His personal best of 47.24 puts who amongst the best ever but a gold medal is seriously needed in his legacy. Clement made the Olympic team by hundredths of a second but do not count him out of contention just yet.

4x100 and 4x400 Relay

This will be US vs Jamaica as was always meant to be. Jamaica has dominated the US since 2008 and does not appear to be looking back. Jamaica currently has the world's best time and will be looking to run 36 seconds and set a new world record, but without Asafa Powell there chances of winning are severely dim.

In the 4x400 relay the US is heavy favorites as usual with a solid core of athletes are capable of running sub 45 and some capable of running sub 44. The final two medal positions are currently up for grabs between Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, host Great Britain and South Africa. This race will require all four legs of Team USA to split a personal best to continue the streak.

Olympics Preview (Women's Sprints)

(Allyson Felix looking to win Olympic 200 Gold)

(SI Photo)

It is finally here. The Olympic Games 2012 in London. Every four years the sport of track and field is on display in the greatest athletic competition in the world. For the sport of track and field this meet is where legends are made. This when we saw Flo-Jo, Evelyn Ashford, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Hicham El-Geroug, Maria Mutola, Quincy Watts, Maurice Greene, Usain Bolt, Merlene Ottey, Gail Devers and countless others. This is the opportunity to permanently right yourself into the history books. The past few World Championships has helped to fuel a highly competitive meet.

100 Meter Hurdles

This event is one of my favorite events to watch female athletes. Solid technique is required to become a champion in this event however unlike the men this event requires serious speed from the women. Very few female hurdlers have been able to win this event on the Olympic Games level without world class sprint speed.

In 2008 Dawn Harper of the United States shockingly upset the favorite LoLo Jones to win the event in 12.54. Jones race ended in heartbreak after being the leader of every hurdle then clipping the final hurdle to stumble to 7th. Harper has yet to claim the world number 1 ranking since her gold medal in Beijing 2008, but she has been able to medal at the world championships. Last season in Daegu she earned a bronze medal clocking in at 12.47 her personal best. This season Harper is a candidate for the Olympic Gold medal buy winning the U.S Olympic Trials title. Nonetheless Sally Pearson of Australia is the one to beat.

In 2008 Pearson a young 22 year-old finished second by Harper to earn the silver medal. In 2011 Pearson took the world number 1 ranking from LoLo Jones and did not slow down. At the World Championships in Daegu the star clocked in at 12.28, the fourth fastest time in world history and better than the American record of 12.33 set by Gail Devers in 2000.


100 Meter Dash

As expected the queen of the sprint world will likely be decided by the two dominant sprint powers of the world, USA and Jamaica. After a jaw-dropping sweep in the women's 100 meter's in 2008 Jamaica's sprint queen Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce returns. Pryce set a Jamaican record clocking in at 10.70 at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. The always consistent Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica continued her world class consistency in the 100 meter dash finishing second and would like to avenge herself after missing the team in 2008.

Although Campbell-Brown has been the most consistent sprinter at every World Championships including a gold medal at the Indoor World Championships this year she seems to be out of it for the gold. The race is expected to come between Carmelita Jeter of the United States and Pryce. No other American female sprinter can keep up with Jeter, Pryce or Campbell-Brown. Still, you should not count out Campbell-Brown she is always capable of great performances.


200 Meter Dash

Allyson Felix of the United States and Campbell-Brown of Jamaica have dominated this event together since 2004. No other female sprinter has won either the World Championships in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 or the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008 besides those two. Felix owning three world titles in '05,'07' and '09 while Campbell-Brown has the titles for the previous two Olympic Games and the World Championships in 2011.

At the Olympic Trials Felix proved this may finally be her time to win the Gold medal away from Campbell-Brown. Felix ran a very strong race that ended with a new trials record time of 21.68. Felix's time is the fastest time ran at this distance since 1997 when Marion Jones ran 21.65. No other female athlete has been under 22 seconds this season. Campbell-Brown barely made the Jamaican team, Pryce is new to the event and Jeter does not have the strength to finish. This event has Allyson Felix all over it.


400 Meter Dash

Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States has been the most famous female 400 meter runner since Ana Guevara of Mexico. Like Guevara, Ross is lacking an individual gold medal. Due to a string of injuries she has not been able to completely put together a healthy season. In 2009 she earned her first individual title clocking in at 49.00, just 0.30 seconds shy of her American record 48.70. In 2011 she was returning from a injury plagued 2010 season, Ross had her moments but was unable to medal at the World Championships.

This season however, those injuries seem like a distance memory. Her time of 49.28 at the U.S. Olympic Trials reminded us of the Sanya Richards-Ross of old. With only one defeat to her name Ross seems in prime position to finally earn an Olympic Gold Medal individually. Her prime competition will come from 2011 World Champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana, Novlene Williams of Jamaica and world number 1 of Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia.


400 Meter Hurldes

Melaine Walker of Jamaica and Lashinda Demus of the U.S. have been rivals for many years. Both had phenomenal high school seasons, collegiate seasons and now professional seasons. Walker is the defending Olympic Champion but has been behind a surging Demus in recent years. Last season capped off Demus's best season in her history. Setting an American record with 52.47, the third fastest time in history. Walker will need a personal best to beat Demus and claim the gold.


4x100 Relay

This is event was once dominated by the United States. In 2000 the Bahamas changed all that. The Golden girls upset the strong US team with phenomenal passing and a strong anchor in Debbie Ferguson. The US has not won the Olympic Gold medal since 1996. This has all been due to poor exchanges. This year we hope to be different after being disqualified in 2008 due to a dropped baton.

Jamaica has perhaps the best group of sprinters in Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, Pryce and Campbell-Brown. The US should provide a challenge with Tianna Madison, Felix, Jeter and Jeneba Tarmoh. However the recent mishap in Monaco should serve as a warning that they need to practice more.

4x400 Relay

I really wish I could say that the US are the favorites but they are not. The usually consistent Russians are the clear favorites to win this event. Russia has three current female athletes running under 50 seconds. No other country in the world can say that. They have very solid core of 400 runners that includes a few athletes who run at the 50 second level. Other than Ross the only female athlete from the US with a personal best under 50 seconds in DeeDee Trotter. This event will be a challenge like in 2008. The US is counting on a strong relay leg from Allyson Felix and youngster Francena McCrory.

Professional Development

(David Oliver)

(American Record Holder)

The summer season for track and field fans are reserved for two groups, professional athletes and track clubs. This is the time when high school sprinters spend time with their AAU Coaches or trainers and sharpen the skills that there high school coaches cannot. Collegiate athletes use this time to heal or personal improve to better prepare themselves for the next season. For professional athletes it's go time. They all push towards the championship meet that season or continue to improve there change of making their countries team by competing.

For professional athletes it is truly a challenge to make a living. To compete on the international stage it requires for athletes to train for 6 to 8 hours a day to simply develop the ability to compete at a high level. Improving is not always going to happen and may require some getting used to for some athletes. Every four years the Olympics are held and remain the biggest event in track and field history. The length of time between the Olympic Games makes it hard to defend your Olympic title, some do not even try. With two IAAF World Championships in between the four years new athletes are always rising, whether due to drugs or shear hard work. A great example is David Oliver.

Since Oliver's graduation from Howard University in 2004 he has steadily improved with the help of his coach Brooks Johnson. Johnson has held historical success in the sports dating back to the 70's. Oliver was more a sprint style hurdler during his days at Howard. With the direction of his coach he was able to improve upon technique and use his speed to help propel to a high level in track and field.

In 2006 the United States was becoming familiar with Oliver. His chiseled physique stood out against most hurdlers, the formal football player never let the weights slide. He busted onto the world scene winning a Golden League meet in Berlin, Germany. He won the USA Indoor Championships in 2007. That outdoor season he finished third to qualify for the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. In 2008 he earned a bronze medal at the Olympic Games and set a personal best of 12.95 joining the sub 13 club in the men's 110 meter hurdles.

In 2009 Oliver sustained a calf injury which forced him to miss another World Championship medal. Oliver would not be dismayed coming back in 2010 to by earning a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championship. That outdoor season Oliver set a American record in the hurdles by clocking in at 12.89. He would go on to have his most successful season in 2010 by defeating Liu Xiang of China and Dayron Robles of Cuba several times.

However in 2011 the competition stiffened. His hurdling started to seem a little shaky and the competition started to get much better and began refining their technique. His performances were up and down. He would again defeat Xiang at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 12.94. Oliver would ride that momentum to the USA Outdoor Championship winning the event over Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson with a time of 13.04. At the World Championships however Oliver was not able to use his early season success finishing in a disappointing 5th place, behind Dayron Robles and fellow American Jason Richardson. This past season we watched as three younger athletes all qualified for Team USA for the Olympic Games.

I am not counting Oliver out for the future even though he is 30. If anything Oliver has proven how difficult it is to be a professional track and field athlete. Every four years a new crop comes in even more hungry and ready than before. The United States has plenty of talented young athletes that will look to carry Team USA for the future. Oliver will have to get back to his great in 2010 to be able compete for a spot on Team USA.


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Olympic Trials Review Part 2

(Allyson Felix)

(Photo belongs to Sports Illustrated)

All good things must come to an end. It was sad to see another Olympic Trials come and go that I was not apart of. However I will admit it was great watching it on television live. There were so many great performances this weekend, not only from the US Olympic Trials but the Jamaican Olympic Trials as well.

Allyson Felix was amazing in the women's 200. It has been a while since I have seen a woman command the 200 like that. Felix dazzled the crowd with a time of 21.68 to break an Olympic Trials record formally held by Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo). Carmelita Jeter was the closest athlete to Felix finishing second with a time of 22.11. Felix currently sits amongst the greats in the history of the sport. All that is left for her to do is win the good medal. With Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica having an average year in the 200 and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce also of Jamaica having never broke the 22 second barrier, I think the title is well within her grasp.

In the men's 200 Wallace Spearmon dominated the second half of the race to walk down every athlete in front of him to a commanding win with a time of 19.82. Spearmon has been the most consistent American sprinter this season at 200 meters especially with Walter Dix out due to injury. The youngsters Maurice Mitchell of Florida State the NCAA Champion and Isaiah Young of Ole Miss also qualified to send a pretty solid squad to the London Olympics. However the only real threat to win or even medal is Spearmon.

In the men's 110 high hurdles there were some great performances and major letdowns. Let's focus on the good first. Aries Merritt who won the indoor world title proved that his consistent development in the event is finally paying off with a personal best time of 12.93 to win the trials title. Merritt is one of two serious threats to win the gold for Team USA. The other would be Jason Richardson, Richardson also went under 13 seconds with a time of 12.98 for second. Richardson is the defending world champ and will look to keep China's Liu Xiang and Cuba's Dayron Robles from the top of the podium.

The let downs came from David Oliver and Terrance Trammell. Oliver has been Team USA's most consistent hurdler over the past years and even has the American record. However the muscular hurdler was unable to make the team finishing a disappointing 5th.  The even more painful performance to watch was that of Terrance Trammell. I have been a fan of Trammell since I was middle school student. I watched him at South Carolina and all throughout his professional career. It was painful to see Trammell not only lack the speed by the technical execution needed for hurdlers.

The men's 400 hurdlers had the same set up. Angelo Taylor must seriously be considered as the Edwin Moses of his time. His career spans back to 2000. He has been a top tier 400 hurdler for more than decade. Having won the event twice already at the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2008, Taylor looked very strong for majority of his race. He clipped the second to last hurdle stumbling but was still able to finish 2nd. I would not be surprised if Taylor win's his 3rd Olympic Gold Medal and stands at the top of the podium for 400 hurdlers. Although Kerron Clement has all the talent in the world, he has yet to get his technique together. He was far from is 47.24 performance in 2005,but he did have surgery earlier this year. Clement had a third place finish at the trials and will have just a few weeks to get it together for London.

The let down in this event came from Bershawn Jackson. I will be the first to admit I a huge fan of "Batman". That nickname perfectly suits him. After having a injury laden 2011 season and a strong start to this season, the former World Champion looked poised to qualify for another Olympic team. During the final lean at the tape he stumbles across the line falling and unable to outline Clement for the final position. It will be an interesting group of low hurdlers, especially with Jackson not part of the group.

Lashinda Demus again proves to be the class of the women's 400 meter hurdles world wide. The current American record holder has kept a low profile this season obviously focusing on a big performance at the Olympic Games. The defending world champion ran a dominant race finishing with a time of 53.98. Demus timed her steps perfectly and effortlessly won the event with a little left in the tank to spare. Melaine Walker of Jamaica ran nearly a second slower and will have to run a personal best to take the title from Demus.

 Leo Manzano had better medal at the London Olympics in the 1,500. Manzano has been main-stay in American distance circles. However he had never received a major international medal in any distance event. At last year's World Championships Oregon alumnus Matt Centrowitz earned a bronze  medal and was considered the next great athlete in American middle distance racing. Manzano would not be denied, his final lap was simply sensational. He outkicked Centrowitz to claim the title and certainly looks capable of earning a medal.


There was a upset of equal value in the women's 1,500. Jenny Simpson formerly Jenny Barringer of Colorado, stunned the world last year by winning the IAAF World title. She is now doubt a true talent and strong persona in the eye of American distance running with her success at the NCAA level. Winning the title was expected to be a harbinger for the future American distance running. Morgan Uceny apparently did not get the memo,. Besides Uceny was the overwhelming favorite at last year's World Championships but was tripped during the race and was unable to make the podium. Uceny ran a strong race complemented with a solid final lap to win with a time of 4:04.59.

The women's Long jump took the field event headlines. Brittney Reese who has been the best long-jumper in the United States since the great Jackie Joyner Kersee retired, shows why she is the world champion. Reese leaped out to 23-5 1/2 on her final jump to surpass youngster Chelsea Hayes. Reese is inching closer and closer to 24 feet and maybe ready this summer to reach that mark.

The men's triple jump added intrigue as well. Former Florida Gators Christian Taylor and William Claye finished 1-2 in the triple jump as expected. Walter Davis would stop a would be Gator sweep by finishing 3rd. However we was unable to reach the "A" standard and retired following his performance. That leaves the door open for any athlete that meets the "A" standard that wants to compete for Team USA. It was sad to see Davis retire in that fashion. Before Taylor and Claye, Davis was at times the lone representative for Team USA in the Triple Jump and carried the country on his back in the event for almost a decade. Thank you Walter Davis for a great career.