Olympic Trials Intro Video

This video was shown at the beginning of each day of competition at the Trials, just after the national anthem. Obviously, many of the highlights towards the end changed from day to day. I love the old shots of Hayward Field and still get some chills seeing the clips of Prefontaine and the final still frame from the close of the men's 800 meters.

Sorry for the shaky camera and low audio quality. I shot this in the volunteer meal area on our little Sony digital camera. I was hoping to shoot it from the west grandstand, but alas...

Olympic Trials: Day 7

Highlights from day seven of the U.S. Olympic Trials…

MEN’S 3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE: Anthony Famiglietti set a hard pace down early and served notice that anyone else would have to keep up to beat him. After slamming down a 62-second first lap, Fam went on to lead from start to finish and win the steeplechase in 8:20.24, just five seconds off of the Olympic Trials record, to make his second Olympic Team. William Nelson (please, no drug testing jokes) was second in 8:21.47 and challenged Famiglietti for the lead with 250 meters to go. Joshua McAdams was third in 8:21.99.

MEN’S 200 METERS: The news of the day from this race will be the injury Tyson Gay suffered in his quarterfinal heat. After getting a good start out of the blocks, Gay took a hop at about 40 meters and buckled down to the ground. He had to be helped off by a cart for what was later diagnosed as a severe cramp. That cramp will keep him from potential double gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters.

"Before I went out on the track I felt a little tightness in my hamstring,” Gay said in a USATF release later in the day “So I had kind of a bad feeling. When I came off the curve the first two steps were fine, and then I felt it, sort of a pull, about 40 meters in. Once I was on the ground it didn't hurt as much as when it happened."

As for the final tomorrow, it will be the rest of who was expected to be there. Rodney Martin won the first semifinals heat with the day’s fastest time of 20.04 seconds. Wallace Spearmon was second in 20.05 seconds and collegian Walter Dix was third in 20.09 seconds. Shawn Crawford won the second heat in 20.21 seconds.

WOMEN’S 200 METERS: Allyson Felix appears on her way (finally) to returning to the Olympics. After missing out on a spot on the 100-meter team, Felix turned in the fastest time in the semifinals of 22.22 seconds and looked very fluid in doing it. She led a fast second that included 100-meter champion Muna Lee (second in 22.33), Shalonda Solomon (third in 22.48) and Carmelita Jeter (fourth in 22.61). Bianca Knight will stand to challenge for an Olympic spot after winning the first hear in 22.53 seconds.

WOMEN’S 100 METER HURDLES: It appears that Lolo Jones will be the one to beat. Jones was the fastest by far in the first two rounds of the hurdles, clocking an easy 12.59 seconds in the quarterfinals.

MEN’S 110 METER HURDLES: It will be a battle between David Oliver and Anwar Moore in the final two rounds on Sunday. Oliver turned in the best time of the first two rounds, using a just-legal wind of +2.0 to win his quarterfinals heat in 13.07 seconds. Moore was smooth in the first heat, winning in 13.17 seconds. The heats included our first false start disqualification of the meet, that going to American record holder Dominique Arnold.

WHAT TO WATCH ON SUNDAY: Eight days in Track Town USA wraps up on Sunday, with finals in the hurdles and 200 along with the men’s and women’s 1,500 meters.

Breaking News: Gay Injured In 200

Trials 100 meter champion Tyson Gay pulled up injured in the first heat of Saturday's 200-meter quarterfinals. About 40 metes into the race, Gay took a high hop as if something had happened to his left hamstring. He was wheeled by cart off of the track.

The track announcer reported about five minutes ago that Gay suffered from a severe cramp, but no injury to the hamstring, which is good news for the U.S. in terms of the 100 meters. Either way, however, Gay will not have his chance to double in the 100 and 200.

USA Track & Field's official release can be found here.

Olympic Trials: Day 6

Hayward Field at twilight during the women's 1,500 meters. Taken from the press tribune in the west grandstands.

Here's a wrap from day six of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials...

MEN'S 10,000 METERS: It waas another night for the home faithful as another one of their own qualified for the Olympic team. Oregon's Galen Rupp stayed with the lead pack throughout the 25-lap race and finished second in a time of 27:43.11. The standing crowd moved from excited to deafening as Rupp moved into the lead with two laps to go. It was short lived as Abdi Abdirahman, who led most of the race, took the lead back with 600 meters left, winning the race in 27:46.33.

Adam Goucher, whose last minute bid to get into the race through a USATF appeal has caused some consternation in the track community, finished seventh after spending about a mile leading the chase pack. Meb Keflezighi, the American record holder in the event, was out of it midway through the race. The time off needed from an injury earlier this year hurt Meb, who finished 13th in a time of 28:39.02.

WOMEN'S 5,000 METERS: Kara Goucher finally got her own race. The Portland transplant who has been adopted by the Hayward crowd surged in the final 100 meters to past American record holder Shalane Flanagan and win with a time of 15:01.02. Flanagan finished third. Both ladies will represent the country in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter disciplines.

WOMEN'S 1,500 METERS: The story of this wasn't who won the semifinal heats, but who made it into the finals field. Jordan Hasay is a three-time California prep champion at 1,500 meters, and entered the Olympic Trials out of her junior year in high school. Hasay was quickly adopted by the Hayward crowd, who willed her from eighth place with 300 meters into fifth place and a spot in the finals on Sunday. Hasay's finish time of 4:14.50 is a new U.S. high school record (previously held by Christine Babcock, who finished ninth in the same heat). She will join the likes of Shannon Rowbury (first in heat 1, 4:11.75) and Lindsey Gallo (winner of heat 2, 4:12.54).

After the race, Hasay posed by the timing board, which flashed her HS record time. At the same time, the crowd in the south grandstands made an empassioned plea for her school choice, chanting "Come to Oregon!" Me thinks she and Vin Lananna will have some words before all is said and done.

MEN'S 200 METERS: Tyson Gay did not make the same mistake twice. In his heat of the preliminaries, Gay made sure he did not pull up at the wrong line, easily winning in 20.43 seconds. Walter Dix, who finished second to Gay in the 100 finals, won his heat in a time of 20.66 seconds. Wallace Spearmon won his heat in a time of 20.81 seconds.

FACES IN THE CROWD: Seen lots of people over the last few days here at the trials, some from my recent history and some from the past. Those include Ron Tabb (former Pacific XC and track coach), Pacific track athletes Caitlyn Tateishi and Kelsey Owens (2007 NCAA Division III XC All-American), Scott Ball (my track coach at Pacific) and Bob Latham (former XC/track coach at Bend High School).

WHAT TO WATCH SATURDAY: Quarterfinals and semifinals in both the men's and women's 200 meters and the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The last of the hurdles races take place, with the qualifying heats of the men's 110-meter hurdles and women's 100-meter hurdles.

Olympic Trials Media Gaffes

A couple of recently reported media gaffes from the Olympic Trials...

• NBC has exclusive rights to all Olympic Trials television coverage. Anything shown on any station (NBC or not) must credit NBC Olympics/USOC. Apparently Eugene's KEZI-TV didn't get the memo. Early along during the trials, the local ABC affiliate showed extended coverage of the goings on at Hayward. NBC attorneys showed up the next day and, according to postings on Oregon Media Insiders, have presented KEZI with a $240,000 bill for the coverage. That is equal to $30,000 per minute of coverage.

• Sometimes those oh so great Internet word filters don't work the way their supposed to. Such was the case for the OneNewsNow Christian news Web site, which has the word "gay" in their filter of unacceptable words. That's fine and good...unless it's part of your name. Coverage on the site of Tyson Gay's performance at the trials changed his name to "Tyson Homosexual." I know this is Eugene and all, but...

Many other news organizations were able to latch on to the rather laughable text before OneNewsNow made the neccesary corrections to the site, such as referenced in this Fox Sports story. The reference, however, still shows up in OneNewsNow's search engine.

Eugene can be proud. It truly is an event for all, right?

Olympic Trials: Day 5

The news from Eugene and day five of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials...

MEN'S 400 METERS: The expected story line was for defending Olympic champion (and Michael Johnson coached) Jeremy Wariner to come in, cruise to the victory and lead the U.S. team to Beijing where he would win another gold. Apparently, somebody forgot to tell LaShawn Merritt about that.

Merritt pulled off what many will call another upset over Wariner on Thursday night, pulling ahead of Wariner in the final 100 meters to win in 44.00 seconds. Wariner, who had the lead with 150 meters to go, finished second in 44.20. In another surprise, David Neville, who drew lane 8, finished third in a respectable 44.61 seconds.

The race marks the second time this season that Merritt has better Wariner. Merritt also won a duel last month in a IAAF Grand Prix meet in Berlin.

I almost wonder how much of Wariner's heart was in the races in Eugene. Sure, you need only be in the top-three to make the Olmypic team, but Wariner cruised through the first two rounds. He pulled up well ahead of the line in thre preliminaries and seemed to be putting strides in during the semifinal. Wariner was a no-show at the post-race press conference, instead making himself available to reporters later.

WOMEN'S 400 METERS: Sanya Richards made her comeback complete. One year after fighting off a rare illness, Behcet's Syndrome, which left ulcers on her legs and left her severely fatigued, Richards won the women's 400 meter finals in 49.89. She led from start to finish in a very competitive race that included 50.85-second second place finish by Mary Wineberg and a 50.88-second third place finish by Dee Dee Trotter.

MEN'S 1,500 PRELIMINARIES: In the three heats of the quarterfinals, none was as exciting as the third and final heat featuring two of the top milers in the world today: Bernard Lagat and Alan Webb. Webb, appearing in his first race at the trials, put down the hammer and raced, finsihing first with the best time of the preliminaries at 3:41.27. Lagat, who earned a trip to Beijing by winning the 5,000 meters on Monday, cruised to a fourth place finish in 3:42.11. Lagat spent most of the race lurking in the back of the pack, then moving up to an automatic advancement spot in the final lap. Not that he would have needed it: all 10 runners in the third heat advanced to today's semifinals by either place or time.

WOMEN'S 3,000 METER STEEPLECHASE: Anna Willard was the easy one to pick out of the group in the steeplechase. She was the blonde with the streaks of pink through her hair. By the end, though, Willard was easy to pick out because she was the one in front, running an American record of 9:27.59 to become the nation's first ever women's steeplechase qualifier for the Olympics (this is the first year the event will be contested in the Olympics). Lindsay Anderson was second in 9:30.75. Colorado's Jennifer Barringer, who had set a new stadium record in Monday's semifinals, was third in 9:333.11.

MEN'S MASTER'S 3,000 METERS: The first of two exhibition races that started the evening was a master's 3,000 meters. I can only dream of being able to run as fast as some of these guys after I turn 40! In fact, 13 of the 16 entrants finished with times faster than I ever ran in high school! Tony Young of Club Northwest won the event in an amazing 8:47.17. Damian Baldovino, a resident of Lakeview and a graduate of Medford High School, was third in 8:56.35.

IN THE PRESS TENT: I had fun catching up with Herald and News (Klamath Falls newspaper) writer Lee Juillerat, who was up to do stories on both Ian Dobson and on Baldovino. He didn't recognize me when I first saw him Monday night (I have put on a few pounds since me HS days) and it was nice to talk and hear things were well for him. An avid runner himself, Lee for years was the mastermind behind the Lake of the Woods Run that I participated in for a number of years. He was known for making sure he wore bib number 337, which when worn upside down read, "Lee." Considering how many races now use personalized bib numbers with names, it was safe to say that he was ahead of his time.

IN THE PRESS: My good friend at The Oregonian, Molly Blue, continues to create some great online content for the O's Web site, OregonLive.com. Her work (with former UO runner Pat Tyson) yesterday includes an interview with 800 meter placers Christian Smith and Andrew Wheating and an interview with Jeff Johnson, who provided Phil Knight with the name for his little shoe company, Nike. (Oh, and by the way, he was a high school coach of Andrew Wheating's).

The Eugene Register-Guard continues to put together spectacular coverage of the trials, which once again includes an 8-page wrap-up section of yesterday's coverage. Included in today's July 4 recap is an article about athletes at the trials who are members of the military and proudly represent their country every day, not just on the track. After the Olympics, all of these athletes will be back on true active duty, performing their job specialties alongside the everyday rank and file. On a day like this, we can only thank them for their work as athletes and, more importantly, for their service to our country.

WHAT TO WATCH ON FRIDAY: The second edition of the speed show begins as preliminary rounds of the men's and women's 200 meters take place, as do semifinals in both the men's and women's 1,500. The finals of the women's 5,000 meters are tonight at 8:55. The race features, most notably, Kara Goucher. The men's 10,000-meter final is the last event at 9:20 p.m. The event features a number of well-known names, include Dan Browne, Adam Goucher and Dathan Ritzenhein. The crowd favorite will be Galen Rupp, who sat out his 2008 Oregon collegiate track season to concentrate on training for the trials and Olympics. He will be racing in the yellow Oregon singlet this evening. Also run will be Meb Keflezighi, who was first coached in high school by former Pacific coach Ron Tabb. Keflezighi was the silver medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon, but failed the make the marathon squad for Beijing.

Olympic Trials: Day 4

It's back to action today (Thursday) after a couple of days at the beach and at home with the family. With as much fun as it is to be at the trials, I sure miss Melissa, Sydney and Hannah while I am gone. It was great to walk in to the beach house in Manzanita and have Sydney greet me with a big smile and hug! She certainly loves her dad...and dad certainly loves her...and all of them.

Before we get on to Thursday's action, I wanted to recap what happened on a very exciting night four on Monday...

Former Willamette University national champion Nick Symmonds crosses the line first in the 800 meters, earning his first trip to the Olympics. Andrew Wheating, left, finished second while a diving Christian Smith, right of Symmonds, was third to complete an Oregon sweep in the event. Photo courtesy of The Oregonian.

MIGHTY OREGON: The atmosphere when the introductions were made for the men's 800 meters equalled the decibel level you might at a Civil War football game or when UCLA visits Mac Court. The crowd was crazy loud when the local three: Nick Symmonds (of Willamette and now Oregon Track Club Elite), Andrew Wheating (Oregon) and Christian Smith (Oregon Track Club Elite) took the track.

The race played out much to game plan, but what wasn't neccesarily in the cards was the storybook finish. Symmonds, who spent much of the race in sixth place, issued a repeat performance of his come from behind sprint in the semifinals. Apparently boxed in with 100 meters to go, Symmonds again found a hole in lane one that gave him the room he needed to put it into high gear. He won the race, clocking a time of 1:44.10, and earning a trip to Beijing.

Wheating, meanwhile, was content to hang at the back of the eight-man pack for well over 500 meters before pulling off his now trademark come-from-behind finish. Almost as if mirroring Symmonds, Wheating pulled into lane four with 100 meters to go and literally reeled in the field. The Vermont transplant, who the Eugene faithful have adopted as their own, finished second in 1:45.03, and earned a somehwat unexpected trip to the Olympics.

Then there was Smith. One of last qualifiers allowed into the event, Smith entered into a neck-and-neck dual with favorite Khadevis Robinson (who entered the trials with the best U.S. time this season). At the line, Smith made an expected and contraversial dive to the line. It worked to his advantage as Smith finished third at 1:45.57 to Robinson's 1:45.53. Robinson was none too happy with the tactic, unloading a colorful tyraid on reporters as he crossed through the mixed zone.

During those two minutes, the crowd at Hayward Field could hardly stand still. The entire stadium stood as the runners came around the Bowerman Curve at 300 meters and didn't leave their feet until the three Oregon runners finished their victory lap around Hayward. A number of people have called that 800-meter race the defining moment of these "Eugene Trials." I would have to agree. As thrilling and important as Tyson Gay's 9.68 100 meters was on Sunday, the 800 provided the quintesential example of what Track Town USA is all about.

Ian Dobson (Klamath Union '00, on left), Bernard Lagat and Matt Tegenkamp at the postrace press conference following the men's 5000-meter final.

MIGHTY PELICANS: I have made it no secret that I remember racing against Ian Dobson in my days as a prep runner in Klamath Falls. Running in road races as an 11-year-old when I was a senior at Klamath Union, it is clear then that Ian had the potential to be something special as a runner.

Monday night, Ian was looking some redemption after a down couple of years on the international running scene. He qualified to run in the 5,000-meter final on Monday night, but entered the race with the 12th fastest time from the preliminaries. I was sure that he was going to have to run the race of his life to have a chance at qualifying for the Olympics.

If it wasn't the race of his life by time, it certainly was by effort and spirit. Ian spent most of the race anywhere between third and seventh place, usually finding himself at the back of the front pack. Then circumstances played their hand in his favor. Adam Goucher, considered a favorite in the race, dropped out with one lap to go after he noticed that he would not be able to run a Olympic "A" qualifying standard in the race. (Eight runners had met the standard. Adam was not one of them.)

That left overall favorite Bernard Lagat, a Kenyan transplant and Washington State University standout, in the lead, followed Matt Tegenkamp, Bolota Asmerom and Ian to battle it out in the final lap. Lagat quickly built a lead over by the 200 mark and clearly had the victory, leading Tegenkamp, Asmerom and Ian to battle it out. In the final 100 meters, Ian found just enough to edge past Asmerom and cross the tape in third, finishing in 13:29.76.

Ian joins a long list of distinguished Klamath Basin track Olmypians, which includes 1932 5000-meter silver medalist Ralph Hill and decathlon gold medalist Dan O'Brien. As someone who remembers Ian from way back win, I could not be prouder of him and hopes he represents the U.S. well in Beijing. I had a chance to congratulate Ian in the mixed zone after the race. While I am sure it meant nothing to him, to be able to shake his hand and congratulate him meant volumes to me. A connection from one Klamath Union Pelican to another.

FOLLOWING THE MEET: After an early dinner at 4:30, I was still hungry at the 11 p.m. conclusion of the day. So I journey across Franklin Blvd. to enjoy some Track Town Pizza and a brew. Soon find out that I have been circled around by a Nick Symmonds celebration party involving all of his closest family from Boise and friends. Hiding quietly at a nearby booth, with close friends, was second place finisher Andrew Wheating. The entire restaurant got a good laugh when Nick spotted him and yelled in fecitious surprise, "Look...it's Andrew Wheating!" The two posed from some pictures and clearly enjoyed the moment for both of them. They represent Oregon well.

WHAT TO WATCH THURSDAY: Finals take place tonight in the women's high jump, men's and women's 400 and the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. The men's 400 will feature favorite Jeremy Wariner, the defending Olympic 400 gold medalist. The women's race will feature Sanya Williams, who looks to complete an incredible comeback after missing much of 2007 to an illness, and Dee Dee Trotter, who won this event at last year's U.S. Championships. The women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, meanwhile, will mark the first time that the race will qualify individuals for the Olympics. Ran at Olympic Trials in the past for a U.S. championship, this is the first time that the event will be contested at the Olympic Games.

ON FRIDAY: Events do not begin until 5:30 p.m., allowing for a nice fireworks display after the men's 10,000 meters, which should finish aroung 9:50 p.m. Will likkely spend most of the day trying to get more done on my men's soccer media guide.