12th IAAF World Junior Championships: USA Day One Highlights

Marcus Boyd of USA in action during the Men's 400m heats

Brian Bishop of USA in action during the Discus Throw qualifications

Jeneba Tarmoh of USA in the Semi-Final of the Women's 100m

American junior champion Terrell Wilks was the quickest to advance to Wednesday’s 100m final, but there was heartbreak for his compatriot, Antonio Sales, who was disqualified for causing the second false start in his semi-final.

Wilks was timed at 10.37 into a headwind, whereas the winner of the second semi, South Africa’s Wilhelm van der Vyver ran 10.38 with a much kinder wind gauge reading.

Wilks was far from impressed though. He admitted afterwards: “I am not happy at all with my semi-final race. I had a bad start, but I got into the final – that’s what really counts. I am still expecting to win.”

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake won the third semi with 10.42 to set up what could be a close final.

American Jeneba Tarmoh goes into the women’s 100m final as favourite, backing up her 11.21 from earlier this year by becoming the quickest in the semi-finals.

She won the third heat with 11.38 into a wind of 0.5m/s. However, Britain’s World Youth bronze medallist Ashlee Nelson suggested she could challenge with her semi-final win in 11.43 (-0.7m/s). Bahamas’ Sheniqua Ferguson took the other semi in 11.56 with a neutral wind reading.

New apparel line for Team USA designed for speed!

One of the most joyful moments of the 2008 Olympic Trials has been the public unveiling of the new Nike USA Track and Field uniforms last Monday, June 30, to be worn by all Team USA members in Beijing. The unveiling took the form of the 23 Nike athletes who had qualified for the team to date doing a flag-waving victory lap before 20,000 fans gathered at Hayward Field for that evening’s events.

And with that teddy bear of a shot putter, Reese Hoffa, leading the charge, the event couldn’t help but be a lot of fun.

“We debuted The Swoosh at the 1972 Olympic Trials,” noted Nike Media Relations Manager Jacie Prieto. “But traditionally the Nike way is a larger-than-life debut or unveiling. We wanted something organic for this, though, for the track and field fans, and we thought this was perfect.”

The full "We The People" graphic
The Nike uniforms were on display most of last week for select media members to preview. The Nike Swift System of Dress is designed to be lightweight and give athletes plenty of choices.

Featuring the Nike Swift materials the company has just introduced, the uniforms are intended to reduce weight to achieve less drag and lead to faster times. Prieto said the uniform has seven percent less drag than the Athens version, and that wearing the new Nike Swift Suit translates to a benefit of about two-hundredths of a second in the 100 meters.

Continue reading at http://www.dyestat.com//?pg=us-2008-Outdoor-Track-US-Olympic-Trials-Nike-Innovations

Olympic Trials: 110 Hurdle finals

The 110 hurdles finals at the Olympic Trials, was loaded with America's top talent in the hurdles. The top three will advance to take on the best in the world like, China's Liu Xiang and Cuban world record holder Daron Robles. The race was clean from the start. The top three runners all broke away from the pack by the fifth hurdle. David Oliver, Terrence Trammell and Anwar Moore all established an early presence. In the end; David Oliver took first, Trammell ran in to take a close second place and David Payne earned the last ticket to Beijing after Anwar moore took a spill on the last hurdle. Moore would have easily taken third place if he hadn't hit that last hurdle. As for the top three finishers, its off to Beijing to compete and bring home the gold. Congratulations to David Oliver on the Olympic berth and good luck!

Olympic Trials: Track & Field Wrap-up!

EUGENE, Ore. - Another American record and some dramatic close calls highlighted the final day of competition Sunday at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field, where a Hayward Field record crowd of 21,176 fans brought the eight-day attendance total to 167,123.

The top three finishers in each event at these Olympic Trials, who have met Olympic performance standards, will earn the ultimate prize of a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Stuczynski delivers

American record holder and World Indoor silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski kept the track world on the edge of its collective seat in the women's pole vault, contested in swirling winds. Far and away the top American vaulter, with a best mark this season that is 8.5 inches better than her next-best compatriot, Stuczynski spent the first 90 minutes of competition sitting on the sidelines as other vaulters took attempts at lower heights. When she entered, at 4.60m/15-1.25, only two other vaulters were still jumping: April Steiner Bennett and Erica Bartolina.

But something happened on the way to the bar for Stuczynski: she missed her first two attempts at 4.60m. Were she to miss her third and final attempt, she would have made no height and would fail to make the Olympic Team. With a huge sigh of relief, the two-time USA outdoor champion cleared the bar by nearly a foot, setting Olympic spots for her, Steiner Bennett (4.60m/15-1), and Bartolina (4.55m/14-11).

Stuczynski was the only vaulter of the three to clear 4.65m/15-3.75, and she immediately had the bar raised to 4.76m/15-7.5 in an attempt to break Stacy Dragila's 2004 Olympic Trials record of 4.75m/15-7. She easily soared over it on her first attempt, then raised the bar to 4.92m/16-1.75, 1 cm better than her own American record of 4.91m/16-1.5. After a close miss on her first attempt and a less-close miss on her second, she easily made it on her third try. With all other competition concluded, the full house of 21,000-plus remained in their seats and Stuczynski took two unsuccessful tries at a world-record height of 5.02m/16-5.75.

Jones astonishes in hurdles; Oliver wins first title

The men's and women's hurdles races delivered impressive performances and two new national champions.

In 2004, Lolo Jones had just completed her senior year at LSU and had been fourth at the NCAA Championships. At the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, she crashed a hurdle, dashing her Olympic dreams. Four years later in Eugene, she was dominant in all rounds and left no doubt that the 2008 Word Indoor gold medalist must be considered a contender for gold in Beijing. Jones was astounding in Sunday's final, executing flawlessly and winning in 12.29 seconds (+3.8mps), tying the #2 time ever run under any conditions (windy or not). Damu Cherry was a distant second in 12.58, with Dawn Harper third in 12.62 as all three made their first Olympic Teams. Nichole Denby was fourth in the same time, missing out on Beijing by .007 seconds. Defending Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes, visibly limping, was seventh in 12.96.

In the semifinals, Jones posted a 2008 world-leading mark by winning the second heat in 12.45 (+1.45). A favorite not advancing to the final was two-time world champion Michelle Perry, who has been struggling with a thigh injury and has competed with her left thigh taped. She was sixth in the first semifinal in 12.79 and did not advance.

Like Jones, David Oliver completed a sweep of the 2008 U.S. indoor and outdoor titles in the men's hurdles. Though slow out of the blocks, Oliver rallied past two-time Olympic silver medalist, defending Olympic Trials champion and 2007 World Outdoor silver medalist Terrence Trammell to win the 100H in 12.95 (+2.5). Trammell was second in 13.00 and World Outdoor bronze medalist David Payne third in 13.25, a beneficiary of an untimely fall by Anwar Moore, who was in third but fell over the final hurdle and finished eighth in 16.64.

Oliver also ran an outstanding semifinal race, crossing the line .01 under the American record, in 12.89, but aided by an illegal 3.2mps wind. It was the fourth-fastest time ever run under any conditions. Trammell won the second semi in 13.08 (+2.0mps).


Lagat completes double

In perhaps the most tactical race of these Olympic Trials, world champion Bernard Lagat withstood a relaxed pace, pushing and shoving to win his second title of the Olympic Trials. The two-time Olympic 1,500m medalist for Kenya and the 2007 world champion at 1,500 and 5,000 for Team USA, Lagat will compete in both events in Beijing.

Lagat went to the lead at the gun, but 2000 Olympic Trials champion Gabe Jennings sprinted to the lead after 200m. Running 60-second laps, the tightly packed field came through 800m in 2:00.70 with Jennings, Lagat, Said Ahmed, Leonel Manzano and Lopez Lomong at the front. Approximately 1,000m into the race, Ahmed literally pushed his way between Jennings and Lagat to take the lead, and the race was on.

With 300 to go, it was Ahmed, Lagat and Manzano, and 100m later Lomong had moved up to third. That finishing order remained the same as the three men, all of whom are naturalized U.S. citizens, will represent the United States for the first time at the Olympics. Lagat won in 3:40.37, with Manzano second in 3:r0.90 and Lomong third in 3:41.00. William Leer was fourth in 3:41.54 and Alan Webb fifth in 3:41.62.

A graduate of Washington State University, Lagat has lived in the United States for 12 years and became a citizen in 2004. The 2005 and 2008 NCAA champion, Manzano was born in Mexico but raised in Texas. A Lost Boy of Sudan, Lomong fled the country in 1991 and spent 10 years in a refugee camp in Kenya. He was relocated to Tully, N.Y., where he graduated high school in 2004 before attending Northern Arizona University, for whom he was the 2007 NCAA 1,500m champion.


Terrific 200s

Walter Dix once again made good on the tremendous promise he has shown as a collegiate athlete at Florida State. The 22-year-old won his first national title in the 200 on Sunday, coming from behind to overtake the defending Olympic gold medalist by the smallest of margins.

Gold medalist Shawn Crawford came off the turn running powerfully, with Dix and Rodney Martin trailing him slightly. Roughly 70 meters from the finish line, two-time World Outdoor medalist Wallace Spearmon launched his late-race push as Dix gained incrementally on Crawford. At the finish, Dix and Crawford both were timed in 19.86, a Hayward Field record, as Crawford leaned so severely he nearly fell. Dix was given the win by .005 seconds in the photo finish, with Spearmon third in 19.90. The 2007 NCAA 100 and 200 champion, Dix was runner-up in the 100 meters at the Olympic Trials and will compete in both events in Beijing.

The women's 200 had drama of its own. The world's dominant 200m runner, two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix was a heavy favorite to win her specialty event entering the Olympic Trials, even though she had yet to run a 200m in 2008. But coming off the curve in Sunday's final, it was 100m champion Muna Lee, running in lane 6 to Felix's lane 5, who held the lead. A composed Felix pulled even with Lee, then kept pushing to win in 21.82 (+5.6mps). Lee finished in 21.99 as Marshevet Hooker lost her balance one stride before the finish and fell across the line third in 22.20, just .01 ahead of Lauryn Williams in fourth.

Dominant Rowbury

Shannon Rowbury likewise entered the Olympic Trials as the prohibitive favorite in the women's 1,500 meters, and she delivered in convincing fashion. Strong and swirling winds kept the field packed tightly through the first two laps as Treniere Clement handled leading duties through 400m in 68.17 and Lindsey Gallo paced 800m in 2:15.73. Just past 1,000m, Rowbury took off and put on an impressive display of confident running as only Christin Wurth-Thomas and Erin Donohue attempted to move as well. Rowbury crossed the finish line in 4:05.48 - a very fast time in unfavorable winds - as Donohue (4:08.20) passed Wurth (4:08.48) in the final straight for second and third, respectively. Beijing will be the first Olympic Team for all three women.

Men's TJ raises pulses

The men's triple jump saw multiple lead changes and a final-round bomb that shook up the Olympic Team roster and left a world champion without a spot in Beijing. 2004 Olympian Kenta Bell, 2005 world champion Walter Davis, 2007 USA indoor and outdoor champion and '08 indoor champ Aarik Wilson, 2006 NCAA champion Rafeeq Curry, Allen Simms, and Brandon Roulhac traded the first six positions throughout the competition as Bell opened the jumping with a big mark of 17.23m/56-6.5, a jump that kept him in first for most of the competition.

That is, until Wilson took to the runway for his final attempt. The Indiana University grad exploded with a mark of 17.43m/57-02.25 (+2.0) to move from sixth to first, setting a Hayward Field record and knocking Davis from third to fourth. Bell was displaced from first to second with his 17.23, and Curry ended third with a best mark of 17.21m/56-5.75, just 1cm - or .5 inch - ahead of Davis in fourth (17.20m/56-5.25).

Waltz, Smith win throws titles

Ian Waltz won his third national title, and made his second Olympic Team, in the men's discus, as four of his five measured throws were farther than his next-best competitor. Waltz' best mark of 65.87m/216-1 put him well ahead of Michael Robertson in second (63.73m/209-1) and Casey Malone third (62.67m/205-7).

The men's javelin featured an upset as Bobby Smith won his first national title with a throw of 76.06m/249-6. Mike Hazle was second with 75.76m/248-7, with Brian Chaput third with 75.63m/248-1. Hazle and fifth-place finisher Leigh Smith (74.24m/243-07) are the only men's javelin finalists to have met the Olympic A standard, and they will be on the team for Beijing.

Fourth time the charm for Dow

2003 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Joanne Dow won her fourth career U.S. women's 20 km title and earned her first Olympic roster spot in four tries, over a 1 kilometer loop course adjacent to Autzen Stadium. In cool and blustery conditions, the 44-year-old Dow jointly held the lead with 2004 Olympian Teresa Vaill, 45, through three kilometers before breaking away and winning convincingly in 1:35:10, with Vaill second in 1:36:34. Vaill also placed second in the women's 10 km Olympic Trials in 1984 and 1988. Both competitors entered the competition holding the Olympic "B" standard, with Dow qualifying for the Olympic Team roster spot with her victory. Susan Armenta, 34, was third in 1:42:11.

In youth exhibition races, Jordon Berstrom won the boys' 400m dash in 51.62, and BryAnne Wochnick won the girls' 400 in 57.62.

Gay, Stuczynski crowned Visa Champions

The Olympic Trials also was the final event of USATF's Visa Championship Series. At the conclusion of the meet, Tyson Gay and Jenn Stuczynski were crowned Visa Champions as the athletes with the top individual performances of the Visa Championship Series. Gay's wind-aided time of 9.68 in the men's 100m final on June 29 was worth 1,311 points using IAAF scoring tables, comfortably ahead of Brad Walker's score of 1,279 for his American record pole vault of 6.04m/19-9.75 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic.

Stuczynski's AR in the vault Sunday afternoon was worth 1,232 points and the win, while Hyleas Fountain's personal-best score of 6,667 in the heptathlon was worth 1,226 points, good for second place. She had led Stuczynski by 1 point in the standings up until the moment Stuczynski cleared her American record.

World Juniors 110 Hurdles Preview

Booker Nunley of Garner High in North Carolina was the National Junior champion in 13.40 despite have to run as an unattached athlete when a mix-up of the number of units he was taking resulted in his ineligibility. Running over the 42 inch international height hurdles, where he had a personal best of 13.91 might have helped him work on his technique. Last year his personal best over the high school 39 inch hurdles was 13.88.

Joining Nunley on the U.S. team is Oscar Spurlock of Southern California, who just edged Ronald Brookins of Sacramento St., 13.801 to 13.807. Spurlock set a personal best of 14.01 over the 42-inch hurdles in finishing fourth in the USC-UCLA dual meet and later placed sixth in the Pacific 10 at 14.04. Spurlock set a seasonal best of 13.72 over the 39-inch hurdles in the semifinals of the Junior championships. Last year as a high schooler he had a best of 13.72 and win the Texas State 5A title with a 13.73.

Nunley’s time ranks behind just Yohany Portilla of Cuba at 13.30 and Konstantin Shabanov of Russia at 13.32 on the yearly world Junior list. Portilla has just two FAT times this year but has seven hand times between 13.1 and 13.3, all in Havana. It is good to keep in mind that money is very valued commodity in Cuba and the federation only sends athletes to Youth and Junior championship the feel have an excellent chance of winning a medal.

Shabanov, whose best of 13.40, set a national junior record and came in the Russian Junior championships, has a genetic advantage. His father, Georgiy, who was a 13.71 hurdler in the 1980s. Aleksey Dryomin, was second to Shabanov in the their trials, with a personal bet of 13.50. Jamaican Kieron Stewart set a national record of 13.49 over the 39-inch hurdles in finishing second in the 2007 Carifta Games and then won this years Island Games in New York City with a wind-aided 13.39.

Youth National Highlights: Track Eastern

This past weekend Track Eastern competed at the 2008 USATF Youth National Meet. We had a number of athletes competing from the Bantam to the Young Men and Women age groups. We kind of used this meet as a tune-up for the regional meet coming up in two weeks in Rock Hill, SC. Overall, we performed exceptionally well, as I said there is still some kinks that we have to work out.

In the Bantam age group we had Sydney Jenkins run the 100 and 200 dashes. Sydney contested a 14.19 in the 100 meter dash placing seventh. That Saturday, Sydney ran the 200 meter dash placing sixth in a time of 28.79.

Erin Jenkins represented Track Eastern in the Youth age group. Erin is a rising hurdler. He competed in the 100 and 200 meter hurdles. Erin qualified for the finals in both of his hurdling events. In the finals on Sunday, Erin ran 28.13 placing eighth, then came back later on in the day to post a time of 15.53 to capture a fifth place finish.

Track Eastern had a lot of representation in the Intermediate age group. For the girls, Dannielle Davis competed in the 100 meter hurdles placing sixth in a time of 15.26. Stephanie Jenkins also ran the hurdles. In the 400 hurdles, Stephanie ran a 1:14 after falling over the last hurdle. Intermediate girl sprinter Dominique Weathers, ran the 200 meter dash. Qualifying for the finals on Saturday, Dominique ran a time of 24.63 seconds placing eighth overall. The intermediate girls also competed in the 4x100 meter relay. The team consisted of Dannielle Davis, Amber Clark, Ronqeiya Luther and Bryanna Wyatt. Each girl ran a strong leg to place fourth in a time of 48.33 seconds. As for the Intermediate boys, it was a meet of fine tuning our races. We had two athletes compete in the 200 meter dash, Dontrez Carmon (23.15) and Thomas Eubanks (24.24). Dontrez also ran the 400 meter dash, in a time of 51.68. David Coe and I ran the 110 meter hurdles. David contested a time of 15.91 just missing the finals. I ran a 15.78 qualifying for the finals. I posted a 15.58 in the finals taking sixth overall. I also competed in the 400 meter hurdles. In the prelims I ran a time of 57.28. I came back in the finals on Sunday to post a time of 55.45 placing second. That Saturday, Thomas, David, Dontez and I came together to run the 4x100 meter dash relay. We took seventh in a time of 44.10.

The Young Women age group displayed a number of outstanding performances. Future Gamecock Kelsey Mckorkle, competed in the 400 meter dash along with Brandy Swann. Brandy posted a time of 55.95 seconds placing fourth, while Kelsey ran a time of 55.04 placing first overall. Ryanna Henderson competed in the 1500 meter run. Ryanna placed second in a time of 4:52.18. Saturday the girls competed in 4x100 meter relay. With strong legs from Kelsey Mckorkle, Toccara Jones, Jayvonna Bowman and Brandy Swann, they ran away witht the victory in a time of 46.75. Some of those girls also ran on the 4x400 meter relay team. Kelsey, Brandy, Jayvonna and Ryanna all ran strong to place second in a time of 3:51.76. Track Eastern had a some of the Nation's best athletes compete in the Young Men age group. In the 100 meter dash final on Sunday, Track Eastern had three sprinters perform well. Demetrius David took sixth in a time of 11.00 seconds. Third was Darryl Williams in a time of 10.84 and coming in second was Fuquan Green run a time of 10.76. Track Eastern had another Gamecock compete, Booker Nunley ran the 110 hurdles. Booker ran a time of 13.72 seconds in the prelims and came back in the finals to post a time of 13.50 seconds to take first place. The young men 4x100 relay team ran well with strong legs from Darryl Williams, Fuquan Green, Demetrius David and Christopher Herring. The Young Men 4x400 meter relay who took a close second place, they ran a great race. Coming up short by two hundredths of a second to run a time of 3:11.25, they took second overall. The race was crazy.

Johnny Dutch .1 Away From Olympic Spot

University of South Carolina freshman Johnny Dutch, a 2007 Clayton High School graduate and 9-time NC State hurdle champ, finished 5th in the 400M hurdles at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon this weekend. Johnny, who is only 19, ran a personal best time of 48.52, which was only .1 of a second behind the 3rd place finisher (who was the final Olympic spot) and .35 behind the winner (the top 3 are either past Olympic or World Champions!). His time also placed him 5th individually on the IAAF world list (Kerron Clement, Bershawn Jackson, Angelo Taylor, and Justin Gaymon are top 4). His 2008 season will end at the 2008 IAAF World Junior Championships to be held July 8-13 in Bydgoszcz, Poland where he will represent team USA.

Garner's Nunley hurdling obstacles

By Tim Stevens, Staff WriterComment on this story Booker Nunley can look back on missing the spring track season at Garner High as a blessing -- although when he first learned he had been ruled ineligible, it didn't seem that way.
"I thought I knew what was best for me," Nunley said this week. "But God had a better plan in mind."
Nunley won the U.S. junior national championship in the 110-meters hurdles last week in Columbus, Ohio.
His time (13.408 seconds) was the fastest in the junior division in the United States this year and is believed to be the fastest in the world. His time was almost a half-second faster than his previous career best of 13.88.
The victory earned Nunley a berth on the U.S. team in the IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in July.
"I don't know what is in Poland except for the junior worlds," Nunley said. "This is our Olympics. I am going to have a chance to compete against the best young runners in the world."
Nunley might not be packing for Poland if an administrative error had not cost him his senior season of high school track.
He had played football through his junior year and was a good enough wide receiver to receive scholarship offers from Miami and East Tennessee.
But for his senior season, he decided to concentrate on track, for which he had offers from Tennessee, N.C. State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and others.
Nunley, who has a 3.4 overall grade-point average, took only two classes last fall. He was on track to graduate and dropped two courses he didn't need.
He passed his two courses, but N.C. High School Athletic Association rules require athletes to pass at least three courses to be eligible to compete in the following semester.
"I didn't know the rule," he said.
He found out he was ineligible days before the NCHSAA indoor championships. He had won a major invitational on Saturday but learned on Monday that his high school career was over.
"It hurt," Nunley said. "My whole track season was wiped out that quickly."
Curtis Frye, the South Carolina coach, called to say Nunley's track scholarship was not in jeopardy and encouraged him to keep practicing.
Steve McGill, a teacher at Ravenscroft and Nunley's private hurdles coach, told Nunley to pick himself up and make the best of the situation.
"We talked about how Booker now had the chance to work on his technique," McGill said. "He didn't have to worry about winning races. He could practice and get a lot better."
Hurdling is a combination of technique and speed, and McGill believes the biggest improvements come in improving technique.
McGill has worked with international champion hurdler Wayne Davis of Southeast Raleigh, former national high school hurdles champ Johnny Dutch of Clayton and the University of South Carolina and former state high school hurdles champ Gabby Mayo of Southeast Raleigh and Texas A&M.
"Look at all of the people, and we all have great technique," Nunley said. "We're not talking about jumping over sticks. We're hurdlers, and Coach McGill teaches us how to get faster."
The final piece of the puzzle came when a woman in Cary --Nunley doesn't know her or even know her name -- sent him a list of college track meets that he could enter.
Running in college meets forced Nunley to move to 42-inch tall hurdles, which are three inches taller than high school hurdles.
Nunley believes running on the higher hurdles this spring helped him improve his technique and made him stronger.
When he dropped back to the 39-inch hurdles for the junior nationals, he never felt faster.
"I guess I surprised a lot of people, but I thought I would do well," Nunley said. "I had run a 13.91 over the 42s, and Coach Fry told me that would convert to around a 13.4."
The championship race felt different than any previous race.
Nunley said he felt fast, but afterward he was sore.
"I've never been sore before or after a race," he said. "Maybe I've learned how to push myself more."
Never before had he been the focus of so much attention.
"Booker has been overshadowed by Wayne and Johnny," McGill said. "We have had some fantastic hurdlers in the area, international class runners.
Nunley said he is surprised a bit by the attention.
"I've always seen people go to the winners to congratulate them, but this time that was me," Nunley said.
tim.stevens@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-8910

OHIO!!!

OHIO!!
This is where the true action took Place. Well I flew out and arrived in Columbus, Ohio late that Wednesday night. A lot of people tell you to relax before the meet but I had been so focused since we step on the plane to go to Ohio and plus the hotel that we stayed in was the epicenter for all the Jr. Nationals activities. So The first night we just walked the streets looking for something to eat. Once I had eaten I tried to sleep but I didn’t fall asleep until 3a.m. that Thursday morning. I couldn’t help it, I was to hype. The next day we got up to find some breakfast and then we walked the Ohio State campus. Later on that day we went to the track to get a quick workout in before the race the next day. The workout didn’t really go as plan which really had me worried. I couldn’t get comfortable in the blocks and my starts all felt terrible and finally when I started to hurdle I felt really sluggish. I can remember telling myself that I know I didn’t come all the way up here just to lose. Then I thought that maybe it was just that I needed some competition beside me to get my adrenaline pumping and then I would be okay. Later that night to relax my nerves, my dad and I went to see the Incredible Hulk. I really didn't think the movie would be that good but I really like it. The movie did its job because it got my mind off of the race for a while but that lasted until I got back to the hotel to get some sleep. Well that’s funny because sleep is the one thing that I didn’t get. I just kept thinking about all the scenarios that could happen during the race. My legs kept tightening up like they were running and it was like I couldn’t control it. I don’t know when I fell asleep but I do know it had to be after 2 that Friday morning. So I woke up about 11 that Friday morning but that was okay because my race wasn’t until 4 in the afternoon. I felt really tired in my legs from trying to sleep and I had to admit that I thought the day could only get worse from there. So we left for the track at about 1 and I started to warm up at about 2 because the race started at 4 but they want everybody at the hipping tent about 3:40. During the warm up I went to a shaded spot that was far away from everybody to stretch and to really get my self hype. Warm ups went okay but I was really nervous. Its funny because in hurdle warm ups, every hurdler looks like he’s ready to break 12.87. The competition looked really tight. So they called all of us up to get our hip numbers for the prelims and wouldn’t you know it, I got lane 9!!! To me the lanes in the straight away really don’t matter. Usually!!! But this had me really nervous. For one thing I had never been on a 9 lane track. But then I remembered last years World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Liu Xiang had lane 9 and he ended up winning. That really got me motivated. So they took us to the starting line. The first heat ran and the time was a 13.93. This being the biggest meet of the year so far, I was thinking the times would be faster. So I was thinking that maybe it was a very slow track. So my heat was next. I did my warm up but I felt really bad. I mean it was so bad that I thought it would be better to just stand behind by blocks and wait. That’s what I did too. So the starter got us set in the blocks. When the starter shot the gun from what I can remember my start felt pretty normal and my first two hurdles felt normal as usual. But then something happened. After hurdle two, I took off. I mean it felt like when a roller coaster go’s from that slow coast at the beginning to that sudden burst of speed. Everybody beside me felt like they were standing still. That speed also made me so crowed that it felt like I had to twist my body to get over the hurdles. I crossed the finish line expecting the announcer to say something like 13.6 or 5 but when he said 13.49 I just started jumping. I was so excited! Afterwards I Just found a spot just to rest because the finals were at 7 that same day. During my second warm up I didn’t do much because I didn’t want to get tired before the finals. I spent most of my time trying to get myself hyped again. I remember hoping the finals were slower because I felt tired. But once we got into the blocks, all I could think about was going to Poland to represent the USA. The gun sounded and I was out. I told myself that if I was the first one to the first hurdle, I was going to win that race. I felt really fast but I wasn’t feeling as crowded as I did in the prelims. Once I crossed the finish line, the first thing that I thought about was that I had made the USA national team. I really didn’t know what my time was until my dad came running down and told me it was 13.4. I couldn’t even believe it. I finally won a national title. Later that night they fitted me for the USA uniform and other USA clothing. It was the greatest feeling in my life…so far.

110 Hurdle Junior National Champion!

Booker,

Whew….I have finally accomplished one of my goals for this year! Well it was more like a dream for me; that was winning the Junior National Championship!

About three weeks ago I started my 39 inch hurdle training. I had been hurdling over the professional height for the entire season. My first 39 race was a developmental meet and there really wasn’t any competition there. I ran 13.88. I was kind of worried because I was expecting to run some ridiculous time. Coach McGill just told me that it was just my first meet over the lower height and that there wasn’t any comp. So I threw the race out of my head. The next week I was at an AAU meet near Charlotte, NC. I pretty much had to work with the same conditions but this time I had sort of a bum leg and a very sore groin. But I push through it and ended up running a 13.80. Watching the film of this race I could see that I was very quick over the hurdle and also a lot of the sprint mechanics we had worked on that week were finally internalizing. So I was really CONTENT with the race. I was so excited for the next week because I had run two 13.8’s with no comp and then we were heading to North Carolina A&T for the North Carolina state games. This is usually a very fast track. I had run some of my fastest races there. But boy this meet really turned into a living nightmare. First of all, it was probably about 100 degrees. Then I made the mistake of warming up a lot more than I usually do. I tried to hide in the shade but the damage was already done. I was so drained at the start that when the race started I had to struggle just to reach the first hurdle. It seemed to take an eternity to reach every hurdle. Although, I ended up winning, I knew the time was slow but when I looked at the clock, I almost died. The clock said 14.41???????I really couldn’t believe that with a week to go until Jr. Nationals I ran that slowly. But I knew it was because of almost dying of the heat. My mom said my eyes were bloodshot red. Usually I take the day off after a meet. But after that performance, my dad and I got up early the next morning and went to the track. All we worked on was my start. This IS the weakest point of my race. Once we felt we had straightened out my start it was time for Coach McGill to do his thing. McGill made my last three workouts all about speed. I can’t give away my secrets, so you’ll have to ask him. After those practices I was given two prep talks. One, by my dad; He basically told me to get mad and to get the urge to just want to destroy people when I come out the blocks. The other prep talk was from coach McGill. He just told me to believe in myself and to tell myself that no one was going to beat me. Then it was off to Ohio!!!

Junior Nationals 110 Meter Hurdles Champion!

On the track the best performance of the day, and perhaps the weekend, came from Booker Nunley (Garner, NC) in the mens 110m hurdles. The University of South Carolina-bound Nunley (pictured right by Margot Kelly) ran 13.49 in the prelims, one of the better times ever. Well, Nunley ran even faster in the finals, placing first in an exceptional time of 13.40.

2008 NIKE OUTDOOR NATIONALS!

Malcolm,
This year I have accomplished one of my goals, to run at Nike Nationals. I was unsuccessful during indoor season trying to qualify but I worked a lot harder during the outdoor season. I was able to qualify in the 400 hurdles. I am one of the few sophomores running the 400 hurdles this year at Nationals. It feels great to be able to run. Qualifying has shown me that I am making progress and my training is beginning to pay off.


As in preparation for Nike Nationals, I focused on my 400 hurdle training. I watched the film on my last 400 hurdle races (55.73) and (55.13). I realized that I was not attacking the first hurdle like I should be. I told my dad and Coach McGill that I was sprinting out about the first 10 to 15 steps and then I would settle into a rhythm as I approached the first hurdle. Sunday, I worked with my dad on my block start. We were working on trying to be more technical and powerful at the start instead of trying to immediately come out running. We were working on trying to increase the length my drive phase. My dad stressed to me that I need to focus more at the start and become more aggressive.

Last year Coach McGill worked with Johnny Dutch before Nike and Jr. Nationals. Coach McGill got Johnny down to a low 50 in the 400 hurdles, now Johnny is at South Carolina University running a 48 mid in the 400 hurdles. I feel Coach McGill will get my time down to a low 50 before I leave high school. McGill has been emphasizing the same techniques he gave to Johnny, to me. Coach McGill and I talked about my race strategy going into the 400 hurdles Saturday. We determined that my goal is to run a 53 in the 400 hurdles. To achieve this goal, Coach McGill and I thought about my rhythm between the hurdles. My goal is to 15 step between the first eight hurdles. Then on the last two hurdles, take 17 steps. With my 400 meter strength and adrenaline pumping on race day, I know that taking 15 steps through the eighth hurdle will be easy. McGill and I are feeling very confident. Now it is time for me to just go out there to show and prove.

An Author Underwrites a Successful Track Program

The track at New Bern High School was paid for by the writer and runner Nicholas Sparks, in sunglasses.


By ANNA KATHERINE CLEMMONS
Published: June 14, 2008
NEW BERN, N.C. — At the convergence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers in the wetlands of eastern North Carolina sits this town of 29,000 people. It has been around for nearly 300 years, but has never had a reputation as a breeding ground for professional athletes. One of its proudest athletic achievements came last year, when the New Bern Bears defeated Charlotte Independence for the Class 4A high school state football championship, after which the town threw a parade. Continue reading at,

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/sports/othersports/14sparks.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&th&emc=th

USA vs. Jamaica

Malcolm,


Just recently, Usain Bolt of Jamaica, broke the 100 meter dash world record with a 9.72. Before that, teammate Asafa Powell held the record with a 9.74. This has sparked another great debate for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. The question is, Who will win the 4x100 meter relay at the Olympics. I'm pushin for Team USA to bring it home, but with the Jamaicans curently holding the two top 10o meter sprinters, many think the chances of the happening are quickly fading away. Many people justify their argument based on the fact that Jamaica has Bolt and Powell. They are only two guys on a four man relay team. I feel the US is stronger due to the good old saying that its all about quality not quantity. The jamaican 4x100m team will have two runners capable of running 9.7 something, but what are the other two runners going to run? As for the US, we have a number of guys able to break 10 seconds in the hundred. The USA is going to be tested this year in Beijing but I know they'll be ready.

Booker,

OK, let me start off by saying that I am not, by no means, cheering for the Jamaicans. But I find it hard to believe that the U.S. will win the 4x1 in the Olympics. Yeah, its all about quality over quantity but if you put it that way, the Jamaicans have all of the quality while the U.S. have all of the quantity. Other than Tyson Gay, how many Americans can consistently run sub 10s. Only one other American has broken 10 this season and HE WAS IN COLLEGE!! The U.S. has a lot of 10.1 and 10.0 runners but so do the Jamaicans. Like I said before the Jamaicans are the quality team because you have the man who broke the record this year in Usain Bolt and the man who broke the record the record TWICE last year in Asafa Powell. All the other two Jamaicans have to do is make sure the don't drop the baton and run. With the two Jamaican powerhouses, who is going to help Tyson Gay match up with Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt. Lets not forget that Asafa Powell almost ran down Leroy Dixon to bring the Jamaicans back to win the World Championships last year. With the way Usain Bolt is running and with Asafa Powell, the Jamaican might be ahead on the last leg this year. I know that a lot goes into the relay like chemistry and perfect baton exchanges but if everything goes perfect for the Jamaicans, I find it difficult to bet against them. U.S.A..... ALL THEY WAY!!!

TRACK EASTERN: Milestat Meet Champions

Malcolm,

This past Saturday, I competed at the 2008 Milestat Gala. I ran the 11o & 400 hurdles and the 200 meter dash. Besides the heat being in the high 90s, the weather was nice. The meet started at 5 p.m. due to the extreme heat. First was the 110 hurdles. I was feeling great during my warm-up; so I did a couple of starts over the first three hurdles. During my warmup I felt quick over and fast in between the hurdles. When they called for my heat I was ready to run. By me anticipating the gun, it caused me to jump out early. I clearly false started, so I stood up coming out the blocks. Once i saw that they weren't going to call it I had to play catch up. I came fourth in my heat and ran a 15.66. I felt like Daron Robles from earlier in the season.
I then competed in the 400 meter hurdles. I wasn't feeling to good about the 400 hurdles after the practice I had on Thursday. The 400 hurdle heats were seeded by everyone's 300 hurdle times. I had the ninth fasted 300 hurdle time posted. I missed the fast heat by one time. It turned out to be a good thing. I earned the 4th lane in the next heat. By the time we got to the 400 hurdles the sun had pretty much gone down, and it had cooledoff about 10 degrees. When my heat came, I just let everything go. I went out and attacked the first 3 hurdles good but not like I wanted to. I relaxed down the back straight running my 15 step pattern. Then once I got to the 200 mark, I turned it up. There was no one with me, I had passed the guy in lane 5 coming out the first turn, so I was really racing the clock. In the last 200 I dropped my steps between the hurdles from 15 to 17 and kept my arms pumping. When I crossed the finish line, I was so relieved. I felt like I ran a 54 but it was a 55.13. I was happy, it got me the win in the 400 hurdles. It put me #2 in the state of North Carolina behind my brother.

Event 26 Boys 400 Meter Hurdles
============================================================================
Meet Record: # 54.59 6/9/2007 Brandon Smith, Western Branch
Name Year Team Seed Finals H#
============================================================================
1 Nunley, Malcolm Unattached 39.66 55.13 2
2 Medley, Antonio Unattached 39.34 56.01 3
3 Carnahan, Brad Unattached 39.53 56.98 3
4 Sparks, s Unattached 39.47 57.25 3
5 Osorio, Gustavo Unattached 40.48 57.88 2
6 Lewis, Jeffrey Unattached 39.50 58.62 3
7 Wolff, John Unattached 42.98 59.10 1
8 Kourlesis, Chris Unattached 40.86 59.15 2
9 Grooms, Robert Unattached 40.48 59.26 2
10 Boswell, Cameron Unattached 41.65 59.54 1
11 Jeter, Justin Unattached 42.94 1:00.47 1
12 Kidd, Jason Unattached 42.63 1:00.49 1
13 Bah, Alihaji Unattached 42.53 1:03.51 1
14 Long, Khyiem Unattached 42.11 1:04.84 1

Fuquawn Green Gives a Show at The Milestat Gala

My other Track Eastern teammates had outstanding performances as well. The quality in the sprints was definitely bolstered by the Track Eastern athletes including Fuquawn Green, who placed second in the 400 meter dash (49.35) and came back to win the 200 meter dash (21.46).

Anthony Hendrix Runs 1:51.55!

The 800 meter dash at the Milestat Gala was heated. My teamate Athony Hendrix blasting the field running a 1:51.55. This is a great time. That time put Anthony #2 in the state of North Carolina and 15 overall in the Nation.
Event 28 Boys 800 Meter Run
=========================================================================
Meet: # 1:49.27 6/9/2007 Dylan Ferris, East Forsyth
Name Year Team Seed Finals
=========================================================================
1 Hendrix, Anthony Unattached 1:52.41 1:51.55
2 Collins, Logan Unattached 1:54.13 1:52.63
3 Dorrell, Peter Unattached 1:54.40 1:53.10
4 Zahorodny, Wil Unattached 1:51.15 1:53.83
5 Keels, Allante Unattached 1:56.78 1:53.87
6 Hagen, Ryan Unattached 1:57.20 1:54.28
7 Dinkins, Russell Unattached 1:57.52 1:54.33
8 Hendrix, Andrew Unattached 1:54.37 1:55.19
9 Hencke, Brian Unattached 1:55.09 1:55.34
10 Degfae, Tihut Unattached 1:56.01 1:56.12

Wayne Davis Wins The 110s!

Event 14 Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
=================================================================================
Meet: # 14.07 6/9/2007 Adams Abdulrazaaq, Highland Springs
Name Year Team Seed Finals Wind H#
=================================================================================
1 Davis, Wayne Unattached 13.65 14.31 2.1 3
2 Artis, Jeffrey Unattached 13.99 14.49 2.1 3
3 Radlin, Reynaldo Unattached 14.35 14.79 2.1 3
4 Caines, Gregory Unattached 14.35 14.82 2.1 3
5 Washington, Andre Unattached 14.62 15.11 2.1 3
6 Bolton, Randy Unattached 15.22 15.36 2.3 2
7 Brown, Vincent Unattached 14.10 15.39 2.1 3
8 Fayson, Akeem Unattached 15.13 15.54 2.3 2
9 Harris, Devon Unattached 15.06 15.61 2.3 2
10 Nunley, Malcolm Unattached 15.17 15.66 2.3 2
11 Lewis, Jeffrey Unattached 15.85 15.83 2.4 1
12 Long, Khyiem Unattached 15.22 16.75 2.3 2

As for the Track Eastern girls: Dannielle Davis, freshmen from Southeast Raleigh High, competed in the long jump and 110 meter hurdles. Dannielle placed fourth in the long jump and eighth in the 100 meter hurdles. Brandy Swann Competed in the 400 meter dash placing third and Allie Johnson running a 1:06.52 placing second in the 400 hurdles.

Justin Gatlin: Denied!

2004 Olympic 100 meter dash gold medalist, Justin Gatlin was denied an appeal to drop his 4 year ban from track & field. If the appeal had went through and Gatlin were to have won the appeal, Justin Gatlin would have been able to defend his title in The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Gatlin had already ran the times that would have qualified him for the Olympic Trials. If Justin Gatlin were reinstated, it would've brought new light and much more publicity to the 100 meter dash. I was really hoping Gatlin got a second chance. Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay would have been the front runners for the USA team. I really don't understand why track & field is so strict with their doping policies. In any other sports, if an athlete of this magnitude had got busted, they wouldn't have got punished so harshly as a track & field athlete. That doesn't mean I'm condoning doping or cheating in track in field, but I also don't believe in a "LIFE TIME BAN". It was a sad day in track & field when Jastin Gatlin was banned. I believe that the top track & field governing bodies should re-think their policies. I wonder if an athlete like Kobe Bryant got in trouble for cheating would he get a life time ban from basketball? What do you think?

Byron Gibson: 100 Meter Olympic Hopeful

Alabama University alumni and post-collegiate track athlete Byron Gibson is putting in work. Training with Coach Steven Mcgill at Ravenscroft in Raleigh , NC , Byron Gibson is shifting all his focus toward qualifying for the 100 meter dash for the trials in Eugene , Oregon . As a training partner of Byron, I have really seen his improvements. I have also witnessed his times getting faster and faster. Byron is right on the edge of qualifying for the Olympic Trials.

Although, Byron is having much success in the 100 meter, He began the season with high hopes to qualify in the 110 meter high hurdles. This goal was deterred by his new form that was implemented this year. His new method of hurdling, is taking a while to come along. Byron Gibson is a name that we will hear more about in the near future.

Training Session 6/3/08

To day I had hurdles practice with Coach Mcgill at Ravenscroft in Raleigh,NC. I brought my video of my race from Saturday at AAU Summersports Games in the 110 hurdles. As we looked at the race on film and examined it, Coach Mcgill noticed some flaws in my race. Mcgill said it was technique over the hurdle. Watching the race, He saw that I wasn't running over the top of the hurdles. It started with my arms. They weren't moving in the running motion causing flaws in my lead and trail leg. I wouldn't have thought of that on my on. I ran a 15.13, 4 tenths of a second better than my previous time without any competition. After today's practice, we are feeling pretty good about Saturday. I'm running at the 2008 Milestat meet. There I plan to break 15 big, and go for the meet record in the 400 hurdles(54.48).

GAY vs. THE WOLRD

Watching the the 100 meter dash at the 2008 Reebok Grand Prix, i was happy and disappointed at the same time. I was happy to see Usain Bolt break the world record. It was cool to see the record broken live. That was cool. At the same time, I was disappointed to see the USA fall in the 100 meter dash once again. Our dominance in 100 meter dash is slowly slipping away to the Jamaicans. As you can see, we run the 200 meter and the 400m for right now, and with Bernard Lagat running for the USA, America can show promise in the 1500, 3000, or the 5000. As for the 100 meter dash, i want to the US on top in Beijing. After seeing that race, I still believe Tyson Gay can and will be victorious at the Olympics. The USA has to claim the 100 meter dash again. The USA is known for its dominat sprinters like Gay, Spearman, Wariner, Merritt just to name a few. Its a month before the trials, and Tyson is on his way to peak performance. I want to watch Gay claim the 100 and 200 meter double in Beijing.

Merritt edges out Wariner

This past weekend, the world witnessed something of epic proportions. Jeremy Wariner was beat by Rival competitor Lashawn Merritt. Earlier in the outdoor season, I got a chance to see Lashawn Merritt run the nations fastest time in the world at the Raleigh Relays. It was pretty cool to see a professional run a low 44. I didn't think a sub 45 second 400 looked like that. Watching the race, Merritt looked real smooth especially in that last 100. This is real promising. Beijing looks to be heated in the 400 meter dash. I'm looking for them to break the 4x400 meter relay record. I'm a real big Michael Johnson fan. I don't know if Johnson's 400 meter record will be standing after this season. I hope so, because I want to break those records.