The Decastar decathlon and heptathlon, an IAAF Combined Events Challenge competition, takes place on Saturday and Sunday in the Bordeaux suburb of Talence. Leading names are European decathlon champion Romain Barras (France) and a faceoff between World Indoor medalists Tatyana Chernova (Russia) and Natalia Dobrynska (Ukraine).
Meet website
Previews: IAAF / L'Equipe
The IAAF Race Walking Challenge Final will take place on Saturday in Beijing. Who ya got in your racewalking fantasy league?
Race website / IAAF preview
The Great North City Games takes place on Saturday in the streets of Gateshead, England. It’s one of those city-center competitions, set up as a dual meet between the UK and Australia. Most of each nation’s A-squad will be there, including Steve Hooker.
Meet website
Athletics Weekly / ESPN UK / BBC Sport / The Mirror / Bettor.com
The next day (Sunday) is the Great North Run half marathon in the same city. Martin Lel has dropped out, leaving the marquis matchup between Haile Gebrselassie and Dathan Ritzenhein. Yeah, I think I know how this one is going to come out. This is the "more celebrity, less competition" run in Britain--Coronation Street's stars are among the 54,000 entrants.
Race website
Athletics Weekly / BBC Sport / AA of Ireland
The final track invitational of the season, the Super Meet, takes place on Sunday in Kawasaki's Todoroki Stadium. The headliner is French sprint phenom Christophe Lemaitre.
Meet website / Daily Yomiuri
The Rock N’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon will be run on Sunday. Some good matchups here: Ryan Hall v. Gebre Gebremariam v. Abderrahim Goumri for the men, Shalane Flanagan v. Meseret Defar in the Ethiopian’s first-ever half-marathon
Race website
Live webcast: competitor.com beginning at 7:55 AM.
The CVS Downtown 5k, the USATF road championship at that distance, will be run on Sunday in Providence RI. The top entry is Molly Huddle, who broke the American Record at this distance last month.
Race website / USA Running Circuit page
Live webcast: Runnerspace.com beginning at 11:05 AM
Another weekend of college XC is on tap.
USTFCCCA collegiate meet listing
Track on TV
Continental Cup Day 2 rerun, 1 PM Friday on Universal Sports
Diamond League Zurich rerun, 6 PM Saturday on Universal Sports
Diamond League Brussels rerun, 5 PM Sunday on Universal Sports
Endurance, 6:45 PM Sunday on Showtime Extreme
Showing posts with label USATF Championships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USATF Championships. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Monday, March 01, 2010
Weekly Awards
Valerie Vili earns the Performance of the Week award for her 20.57 put at the Sydney Track Classic. It beat her own meet record by nearly half a meter, and approached the Australia all-comers record of 20.69 set by WR holder Natalya Lisovskaya in 1985.
Honorable mention include Tatyana Lysenko's 75.66 hammer throw, Maria Abakumova's 68.31 javelin throw, Steve Hooker's 5.91 pole vault, and Usain Bolt's 43.58 relay leg.
The competition of the week was the men's shot put at the USATF Indoor Championships. Eight of the throwers have a seasonal best of at least 20 meters.
Honorable mention include Tatyana Lysenko's 75.66 hammer throw, Maria Abakumova's 68.31 javelin throw, Steve Hooker's 5.91 pole vault, and Usain Bolt's 43.58 relay leg.
The competition of the week was the men's shot put at the USATF Indoor Championships. Eight of the throwers have a seasonal best of at least 20 meters.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What's On The Weekend
Professionals
The USATF Indoor Championships take place in Albuquerque on Saturday and Sunday. TV coverage is on Sunday from 7 to 9 PM on ESPN2.
Meet website / USATF preview #1 / USATF preview #2 / USATF preview #3 / KOAT-TV
Several other nations are having their nationals over the weekend, most notably Russia (Moscow, Friday through Sunday) and Germany (Karlsruhe, Saturday and Sunday).
The World's Best 10k, an IAAF Gold Label road race and true to its name, will be run on Sunday through the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Race website / IAAF preview / EAA preview / Runner's Web
The Tokyo Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label road race, will be run in Japan on Sunday.
Race website / IAAF preview / JRN preview / Nishinippon.co.jp
The Rock'n'Roll Mardi Gras Marathon and Half Marathon will be run during Lent in New Orleans on Sunday. The half marathon features Martin Lel versus Sammy Wanjiru.
Race website / IAAF preview / Flotrack coverage / Runnerville / NOLA.com
The Fukuoka International Cross Country Meet, an IAAF cross country permit meet, will be run in Japan on Saturday. It functions as Japan's selection race for the World Championships.
Meet website (in Japanese) / IAAF preview /Live webcast
The Eurocross, an IAAF cross country permit meet, will be run on Diekirch, Luxembourg, on Sunday.
IAAF preview
The Sydney Track Classic, a stop on the Athletics Australia Tour, will be held at the city's Olympic Park.
Meet website / Live webcast / Flotrack coverage / Sydney Morning Herald
Colleges
This is Conference Championship Weekend. Major conference action:
Atlantic Coast, Thursday through Sunday, Blacksburg VA
Website / preview / Live webcast: Friday 3-7:30, Saturday noon-4
Big Ten Men, Saturday and Sunday, Minneapolis MN
Website / TV: Big Ten Network, March 9, 7 PM
Big Ten Women, Saturday and Sunday, University Park PA
Website / preview / TV: Big Ten Network, March 9, 9 PM
Big XII, Friday and Saturday, Ames IA
Website / preview
Conference USA, Friday and Saturday, Houston TX
Website / preview
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Friday and Saturday, Seattle WA
Website / preview / Flotrack coverage
Mountain West, Thursday through Saturday, Albuquerque NM
Website / preview
Southeastern Conference, Friday through Sunday, Fayetteville AR
Website / preview / TV: ESPNU, March 11, 9 PM
All the rest
The USATF Indoor Championships take place in Albuquerque on Saturday and Sunday. TV coverage is on Sunday from 7 to 9 PM on ESPN2.
Meet website / USATF preview #1 / USATF preview #2 / USATF preview #3 / KOAT-TV
Several other nations are having their nationals over the weekend, most notably Russia (Moscow, Friday through Sunday) and Germany (Karlsruhe, Saturday and Sunday).
The World's Best 10k, an IAAF Gold Label road race and true to its name, will be run on Sunday through the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Race website / IAAF preview / EAA preview / Runner's Web
The Tokyo Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label road race, will be run in Japan on Sunday.
Race website / IAAF preview / JRN preview / Nishinippon.co.jp
The Rock'n'Roll Mardi Gras Marathon and Half Marathon will be run during Lent in New Orleans on Sunday. The half marathon features Martin Lel versus Sammy Wanjiru.
Race website / IAAF preview / Flotrack coverage / Runnerville / NOLA.com
The Fukuoka International Cross Country Meet, an IAAF cross country permit meet, will be run in Japan on Saturday. It functions as Japan's selection race for the World Championships.
Meet website (in Japanese) / IAAF preview /Live webcast
The Eurocross, an IAAF cross country permit meet, will be run on Diekirch, Luxembourg, on Sunday.
IAAF preview
The Sydney Track Classic, a stop on the Athletics Australia Tour, will be held at the city's Olympic Park.
Meet website / Live webcast / Flotrack coverage / Sydney Morning Herald
Colleges
This is Conference Championship Weekend. Major conference action:
Atlantic Coast, Thursday through Sunday, Blacksburg VA
Website / preview / Live webcast: Friday 3-7:30, Saturday noon-4
Big Ten Men, Saturday and Sunday, Minneapolis MN
Website / TV: Big Ten Network, March 9, 7 PM
Big Ten Women, Saturday and Sunday, University Park PA
Website / preview / TV: Big Ten Network, March 9, 9 PM
Big XII, Friday and Saturday, Ames IA
Website / preview
Conference USA, Friday and Saturday, Houston TX
Website / preview
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Friday and Saturday, Seattle WA
Website / preview / Flotrack coverage
Mountain West, Thursday through Saturday, Albuquerque NM
Website / preview
Southeastern Conference, Friday through Sunday, Fayetteville AR
Website / preview / TV: ESPNU, March 11, 9 PM
All the rest
Fantasy League Outlook, Women
I picked the men yesterday.
Women’s 60 meters
Carmelita Jeter will win unless she false-starts.
Women’s 400 meters
Allyson Felix will open her season here, and that makes this a bit unpredictable, but she’s so much better than anyone else entered that I consider her a safe pick.
Women’s 800 meters
Anna Willard is entered in both the 800 and 1500, and both finals are on the same day, so there’s some risk involved in picking her since she’ll drop out of one event or the other. All indications are that she’ll run the 800, and if so I can’t see her being beaten. Otherwise the favorite’s role would be shared by Alysia Johnson and Erin Donahue.
Women’s 1500 meters
Rowbury likewise is entered in both the 1500 and 3000, but it’s possible she could compete in both. She’d be a heavy favorite in the 1500. But what if she doesn’t run the 1500? Willard. And if she doesn’t run the 1500? Sara Hall. But Hall is entered in both the 1500 and 3000, so what if she doesn’t run the 1500? Then we go down to Erin Donahue...who is also entered in both the 800 and 1500, so if she’s not in this race I’d take Sara Bowman. Just keep your eyes peeled for any kind of indication of who is running what. The default position is Rowbury but stay vigilant.
Women’s 3000 meters
Rowbury, and if she drops out then Hall, and if she drops out then Desiree Davila. Again, keep up on the details.
Women’s 60m Hurdles
Lolo Jones is head and shoulders above the rest.
Women’s 3k Race Walk
Joanne Dow?
Women’s High Jump
Chaunte (Howard) Lowe for the win.
Women’s Pole Vault
Jenn (Stuczynski) Suhr was entered but dropped out, leaving Chelsea Johnson as a heavy favorite.
Women’s Long Jump
Hyleas Fountain has a (marginally) better mark in 2010 than Brittney Reese, but I like the world champ to win.
Women’s Triple Jump
No Americans have achieved a world-class mark this year, making this choice a bit hard. Oddi says Shakeema Welsch, I won’t disagree.
Women’s Shot Put
Michelle Carter is the big name, but Jill Camarena-Williams has had a superior season. I’ll go for the “upset”, if you can call it that, and take Williams.
Women’s Weight Throw
Amber Campbell.
Women’s 60 meters
Carmelita Jeter will win unless she false-starts.
Women’s 400 meters
Allyson Felix will open her season here, and that makes this a bit unpredictable, but she’s so much better than anyone else entered that I consider her a safe pick.
Women’s 800 meters
Anna Willard is entered in both the 800 and 1500, and both finals are on the same day, so there’s some risk involved in picking her since she’ll drop out of one event or the other. All indications are that she’ll run the 800, and if so I can’t see her being beaten. Otherwise the favorite’s role would be shared by Alysia Johnson and Erin Donahue.
Women’s 1500 meters
Rowbury likewise is entered in both the 1500 and 3000, but it’s possible she could compete in both. She’d be a heavy favorite in the 1500. But what if she doesn’t run the 1500? Willard. And if she doesn’t run the 1500? Sara Hall. But Hall is entered in both the 1500 and 3000, so what if she doesn’t run the 1500? Then we go down to Erin Donahue...who is also entered in both the 800 and 1500, so if she’s not in this race I’d take Sara Bowman. Just keep your eyes peeled for any kind of indication of who is running what. The default position is Rowbury but stay vigilant.
Women’s 3000 meters
Rowbury, and if she drops out then Hall, and if she drops out then Desiree Davila. Again, keep up on the details.
Women’s 60m Hurdles
Lolo Jones is head and shoulders above the rest.
Women’s 3k Race Walk
Joanne Dow?
Women’s High Jump
Chaunte (Howard) Lowe for the win.
Women’s Pole Vault
Jenn (Stuczynski) Suhr was entered but dropped out, leaving Chelsea Johnson as a heavy favorite.
Women’s Long Jump
Hyleas Fountain has a (marginally) better mark in 2010 than Brittney Reese, but I like the world champ to win.
Women’s Triple Jump
No Americans have achieved a world-class mark this year, making this choice a bit hard. Oddi says Shakeema Welsch, I won’t disagree.
Women’s Shot Put
Michelle Carter is the big name, but Jill Camarena-Williams has had a superior season. I’ll go for the “upset”, if you can call it that, and take Williams.
Women’s Weight Throw
Amber Campbell.
VISA Championship Series Issues
There’s been a bit of barking over the VISA Championships Series standings and the venue of the upcoming USATF Championships. The series awards bonus money to the top three Americans, as measured by their best performance in the series according to the IAAF scoring tables.
The nationals are being held in Albuquerque, at an altitude of 5300 feet. That has a significant effect on the sprints, hurdles, horizontal jumps and distance events. In a recent release, USATF CEO Doug Logan said the following:
The whole system does lend itself to certain unfairnesses anyway, even aside from altitude issues. Professionally rabbitted distance races are the norm, and are reflected as such in the scoring tables, but championship meets lack paid pacemakers and never produce exceptional times. So by the time the nationals come around, distance runners cannot move up in the standings, only down. Outdoors, no allowances are made for wind, so a wind-aided sprint/hurdle/jump can win the big money.
But in this particular instance, I don’t think the altitude in Albuquerque is going to affect who is going to win. Christian Cantwell’s leading mark, a 72’ (21.95m) effort in the shot put, is beyond the reach of all but a few athletes in the meet. This year money is being paid out for second and third, and even catching one of those won’t be easy.
What does it take? Here you go.
In the 60 meters, the altitude is estimated to give an advantage of 0.04 seconds. The US leader is Ivory Williams at 6.51, and I don’t think he can get that 6.44. Maybe he can; it would take a "real" improvement of 0.03.
The 400 is hard to read. The estimated advantage due to altitude is 0.37, and only Kerron Clement has the wheels to run the equivalent of an indoor 45.42. Considering that this is his season opener, I don’t think he’ll get it.
The altitude will be of a smaller aid to the hurdlers, maybe 0.02 seconds. Terrence Trammell has run 7.43 and is more than capable of running the 7.40 needed to catch Cantwell, as it would take a "real" improvement of 0.01.
As for the rest of the events, forget it. Not happening.
On the women’s side of things, Shannon Rowbury leads the standings. But neither Carmelita Jeter nor Lolo Jones competed in either of the first two meets, and pretty much every time they’ve run this year they put up marks that would be ahead of Rowbury’s. With Allyson Felix entered in the 400, I think those will be your top three who win the money.
The nationals are being held in Albuquerque, at an altitude of 5300 feet. That has a significant effect on the sprints, hurdles, horizontal jumps and distance events. In a recent release, USATF CEO Doug Logan said the following:
International standards set by the IAAF do not take into account altitude adjustments for scoring tables, records or rankings. That will hold true for the USA Indoor Championships as well, given that the scoring for the Visa Championship Series uses official IAAF tables. Rather than arbitrarily make an adjustment based on nothing more than a guess, which would result in vast inequities in the tables, it is far more fair to have athletes compete and have their performances compared as they always are.I don’t for a second believe the stuff about "discussed extensively by USATF staff, with input from coaches and members of the sports science and sports medicine communities". They simply never thought about it when considering the bid put forth by Albuquerque, or if they did it was deemed unimportant.
I can assure you that well before our sport committee chairs approved awarding the Indoor Championships to Albuquerque, the relatively moderate altitude of the site was discussed extensively by USATF staff, with input from coaches and members of the sports science and sports medicine communities as well.
The whole system does lend itself to certain unfairnesses anyway, even aside from altitude issues. Professionally rabbitted distance races are the norm, and are reflected as such in the scoring tables, but championship meets lack paid pacemakers and never produce exceptional times. So by the time the nationals come around, distance runners cannot move up in the standings, only down. Outdoors, no allowances are made for wind, so a wind-aided sprint/hurdle/jump can win the big money.
But in this particular instance, I don’t think the altitude in Albuquerque is going to affect who is going to win. Christian Cantwell’s leading mark, a 72’ (21.95m) effort in the shot put, is beyond the reach of all but a few athletes in the meet. This year money is being paid out for second and third, and even catching one of those won’t be easy.
What does it take? Here you go.
| Event | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
| 60m | 6.44 | 6.48 | 6.49 |
| 400m | 45.05 | 45.33 | 45.41 |
| 800m | 1:44.77 | 1:45.41 | 1:45.54 |
| 1500m | 3:34.76 | 3:36.07 | 3:36.35 |
| 3000m | 7:34.14 | 7:37.27 | 7:37.90 |
| 60H | 7.40 | 7.47 | 7.49 |
| HJ | 2.39 | 2.37 | 2.36 |
| PV | 5.95 | 5.88 | 5.86 |
| LJ | 8.54 | 8.44 | 8.42 |
| TJ | 17.77 | 17.58 | 17.55 |
| SP | 21.95 | 21.64 | 21.57 |
In the 60 meters, the altitude is estimated to give an advantage of 0.04 seconds. The US leader is Ivory Williams at 6.51, and I don’t think he can get that 6.44. Maybe he can; it would take a "real" improvement of 0.03.
The 400 is hard to read. The estimated advantage due to altitude is 0.37, and only Kerron Clement has the wheels to run the equivalent of an indoor 45.42. Considering that this is his season opener, I don’t think he’ll get it.
The altitude will be of a smaller aid to the hurdlers, maybe 0.02 seconds. Terrence Trammell has run 7.43 and is more than capable of running the 7.40 needed to catch Cantwell, as it would take a "real" improvement of 0.01.
As for the rest of the events, forget it. Not happening.
On the women’s side of things, Shannon Rowbury leads the standings. But neither Carmelita Jeter nor Lolo Jones competed in either of the first two meets, and pretty much every time they’ve run this year they put up marks that would be ahead of Rowbury’s. With Allyson Felix entered in the 400, I think those will be your top three who win the money.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Fantasy League Outlook, Men
My picks for this weekend's USATF Championships men's events. Women's picks coming tomorrow.
Men’s 60 meters
This is a two-man race between Ivory Williams and Mike Rodgers. Rodgers has sharpened up a little bit over the last week or two, but he’s still nowhere near what he was in either of the last two indoor seasons. I think Williams will win.
Men’s 400 meters
This is hard to pick because there’s been so little action among the contenders. Kerron Clement is probably the best athlete of those entered, but we don’t really know what kind of shape he’s in. Bershawn Jackson has been racing consistently and well. If he doesn’t win, he’ll be in the top three, and when faced with great uncertainty in fantasy leagues you want to go with safety.
Men’s 800 meters
Nick Symmonds hasn’t raced a whole lot, but there are two big reasons I think he’s ready to run very well. He led off the OTC’s record-setting distance medley in about 2:51, which indicates he’s ready for 1:46 or so. Secondly, the meet is in Albuquerque, at some 5300 feet of altitude, and he’s been training there for a month. I think he’s going to dominate.
Men’s 1500 meters
This is a bit enigmatic, but I’m going to take Leonel Manzano. He’s among the three or four best milers in the country, is a good tactician, and has done some altitude training.
Men’s 3000 meters
Unrabbited. Championship. Indoors. 3000 meters. At altitude. Every single factor which is an advantage to Bernard Lagat is present in this race. I can’t imagine him being beaten.
Men’s 60m Hurdles
It’s a two-man race between Terrence Trammell and David Oliver. The former is far more consistent than the latter. Pick Trammell.
Men’s 5k Race Walk.
Tim Seaman?
Men’s High Jump
This should be a three-way battle between Jesse Williams, Andra Manson and Dusty Jonas. I rate it as a toss-up. I’ll take Williams but I’m far from confident.
Men’s Pole Vault
Ugh. This has not been a good year so far for US men’s pole vaulters. Jason Colwick and Scott Roth are the only guys with decent clearances to their name, and they’re both collegians and not entered. Jeremy Scott has shown the best consistency.
Men’s Long Jump
Brian Johnson is the current world leader.
Men’s Triple Jump
Brandon Roulhac is the defending champ but hasn’t shown the same kind of form he had last year. Walter Davis is the man to take.
Men’s Shot Put
Christian Cantwell is everyone’s undisputed #1.
Men’s Weight Throw
This will probably come down to AG Kruger and Cory Martin. I like Kruger.
Men’s 60 meters
This is a two-man race between Ivory Williams and Mike Rodgers. Rodgers has sharpened up a little bit over the last week or two, but he’s still nowhere near what he was in either of the last two indoor seasons. I think Williams will win.
Men’s 400 meters
This is hard to pick because there’s been so little action among the contenders. Kerron Clement is probably the best athlete of those entered, but we don’t really know what kind of shape he’s in. Bershawn Jackson has been racing consistently and well. If he doesn’t win, he’ll be in the top three, and when faced with great uncertainty in fantasy leagues you want to go with safety.
Men’s 800 meters
Nick Symmonds hasn’t raced a whole lot, but there are two big reasons I think he’s ready to run very well. He led off the OTC’s record-setting distance medley in about 2:51, which indicates he’s ready for 1:46 or so. Secondly, the meet is in Albuquerque, at some 5300 feet of altitude, and he’s been training there for a month. I think he’s going to dominate.
Men’s 1500 meters
This is a bit enigmatic, but I’m going to take Leonel Manzano. He’s among the three or four best milers in the country, is a good tactician, and has done some altitude training.
Men’s 3000 meters
Unrabbited. Championship. Indoors. 3000 meters. At altitude. Every single factor which is an advantage to Bernard Lagat is present in this race. I can’t imagine him being beaten.
Men’s 60m Hurdles
It’s a two-man race between Terrence Trammell and David Oliver. The former is far more consistent than the latter. Pick Trammell.
Men’s 5k Race Walk.
Tim Seaman?
Men’s High Jump
This should be a three-way battle between Jesse Williams, Andra Manson and Dusty Jonas. I rate it as a toss-up. I’ll take Williams but I’m far from confident.
Men’s Pole Vault
Ugh. This has not been a good year so far for US men’s pole vaulters. Jason Colwick and Scott Roth are the only guys with decent clearances to their name, and they’re both collegians and not entered. Jeremy Scott has shown the best consistency.
Men’s Long Jump
Brian Johnson is the current world leader.
Men’s Triple Jump
Brandon Roulhac is the defending champ but hasn’t shown the same kind of form he had last year. Walter Davis is the man to take.
Men’s Shot Put
Christian Cantwell is everyone’s undisputed #1.
Men’s Weight Throw
This will probably come down to AG Kruger and Cory Martin. I like Kruger.
Friday, February 12, 2010
What's On the Weekend
Professionals
The Reunión Internacional Ciudad de Valencia, an IAAF indoor permit meet, will take place in Valencia, Spain, on Saturday.
Meet website
The USATF cross country championships will be run in Spokane on Saturday. Headliners are 5k/10k aces Dathan Ritzenhein and Shalane Flanagan. Flocast will have a live webcast of the meet.
Meet website / Flotrack coverage / Live webcast link / USATF preview
The Toyota Indoor Flanders, another IAAF indoor permit meet, will take place in Gent, Belgium, on Sunday.
Meet website
The Chiba International Cross Country, an IAAF cross country permit meet, will take place in Chiba, Japan, on Sunday.
IAAF preview / Kyodo News
Colleges
The Iowa State Classic will be held in Ames on Friday and Saturday.
Flocast coverage
The Husky Classic will be held in Seattle on Friday and Saturday.
Info & preview / Live webcast / Flocast coverage
The Tyson Invitational will be held in Fayetteville on Friday and Saturday.
Info & preview
The Texas A&M Challenge, a matchup between the Big 12, SEC, and Conference USA, will be held in College Station on Saturday.
Flocast coverage
The Reunión Internacional Ciudad de Valencia, an IAAF indoor permit meet, will take place in Valencia, Spain, on Saturday.
Meet website
The USATF cross country championships will be run in Spokane on Saturday. Headliners are 5k/10k aces Dathan Ritzenhein and Shalane Flanagan. Flocast will have a live webcast of the meet.
Meet website / Flotrack coverage / Live webcast link / USATF preview
The Toyota Indoor Flanders, another IAAF indoor permit meet, will take place in Gent, Belgium, on Sunday.
Meet website
The Chiba International Cross Country, an IAAF cross country permit meet, will take place in Chiba, Japan, on Sunday.
IAAF preview / Kyodo News
Colleges
The Iowa State Classic will be held in Ames on Friday and Saturday.
Flocast coverage
The Husky Classic will be held in Seattle on Friday and Saturday.
Info & preview / Live webcast / Flocast coverage
The Tyson Invitational will be held in Fayetteville on Friday and Saturday.
Info & preview
The Texas A&M Challenge, a matchup between the Big 12, SEC, and Conference USA, will be held in College Station on Saturday.
Flocast coverage
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Weekend Update
There's news, and then there's analysis of the news. The internet and its blogs and non-traditional reporting has allowed the latter to thrive. Here are four great examples from the last week.
1) Kenenisa Bekele gets beaten in Edinburgh XC
And not by a little bit, either--he was fourth, some 150 meters behind the winners. It's safe to say he hasn't been beaten like this in years. What, exactly, does it mean? He partly blamed missed training while in Edinburgh due to snow and ice, but it's not possible to put any shine on this turd. He ran poorly, and beat no one of note.
I do world rankings in each event using a points system, and recently got the system up and running for the 2010 season. It has Bekele at #2 for the 3k-5k category, and I thought "Huh, that's weird. It'll correct itself soon enough." Maybe it was right, and my assumption that he's invincible was wrong.
2) World 10k champ Linet Masai inexplicably forced out of Abu Dhabi half marathon by AK
The Zayed International half marathon is a huge payday, by far the biggest for a non-marathon race. Masai, one of the world's best runners, probably would have finished second and walked away with $100,000. But on the eve of the race she was not granted the release necessary by Athletics Kenya, with no explanation, and didn't get to run. Let's Run speculates as to why, and it sounds just about right. It's the same kind of stuff that made Steve Prefontaine apoplectic, but with sexism thrown in to boot.
3) College track IS concerned with pleasing fans
By the way things go at nearly all college meets, you'd figure this was the last thing college coaches are worried about. In a discussion at the Track & Field News forums about the recently-released NCAA technical manual and exactly how the idiotic new regionals system works, westcoasttiger had this to say:
Another issue not spoken of, but which must be on some coaches' minds, is the increase in regional cable sports TV outlets such as the Big Ten Network. Track lags far behind these other "minor" sports in getting itself on the air, and for the same reasons as cited above. Doubtless this is why powerhouse programs like Arkansas, Texas and Texas A&M are now scheduling dual meets, which are the only regular-season competitions suitable for TV coverage.
4) USATF isn't fan-friendly either
Duh. But T&FN's editor Garry Hill points out how. Analyzing the recently-released USATF Indoor Championships meet schedule, he sees an average time gap between running events of over ten minutes--and that's in the Sunday "prime-time" live TV portion of the program. The common critiques of baseball and soccer is that basically nothing happens during most of the competition, but this meet schedule really does pack 18 minutes of action into an hour and 45 minutes.
Two things jump out at me while reading this. The first is that no one cares about keeping the meet moving along. It's not just scheduling things so far apart, it's the entire idea of how to schedule a meet. If you want to tightly schedule a meet, you run the risk of clipping off warmup time for athletes in the next event, but not if you think creatively. Since the straightaway races of 60 meters and 60 hurdles and the multi-lap races of 400 and up use different surfaces, you simply alternate between them. Example: 1500 goes first, during which the hurdlers do their final warmups, then the hurdles, during which the 400 runners do their final warmups, and so on. Outdoors it gets a bit more complex, but there's still no reason the 1500 runners can't warm up during the 100, since they use opposite ends of the track.
Secondly, this is the kind of critical analysis that must get a wide airing if the sport is to correct itself. Track and field is often described as "insular", and a "wide airing" is a relative term here, but I'd guess for the most part the USATF bigwigs take it as important if it's in the pages of T&FN and not if it isn't. In the piece on Linet Masai, Johnson describes how USATF has gone probably too far in terms of satisfying athlete concerns over the good of the sport as a whole. A prominent editorial in T&FN about this poor scheduling, explaining while being good for the athletes in the short-term it makes for ever-decreasing fan interest, and how the livelihoods of professional athletes are wholly dependent on said fan interest, might have a chance to make a difference. Griping on a message board, no matter how justified, won't make a difference.
1) Kenenisa Bekele gets beaten in Edinburgh XC
And not by a little bit, either--he was fourth, some 150 meters behind the winners. It's safe to say he hasn't been beaten like this in years. What, exactly, does it mean? He partly blamed missed training while in Edinburgh due to snow and ice, but it's not possible to put any shine on this turd. He ran poorly, and beat no one of note.
I do world rankings in each event using a points system, and recently got the system up and running for the 2010 season. It has Bekele at #2 for the 3k-5k category, and I thought "Huh, that's weird. It'll correct itself soon enough." Maybe it was right, and my assumption that he's invincible was wrong.
2) World 10k champ Linet Masai inexplicably forced out of Abu Dhabi half marathon by AK
The Zayed International half marathon is a huge payday, by far the biggest for a non-marathon race. Masai, one of the world's best runners, probably would have finished second and walked away with $100,000. But on the eve of the race she was not granted the release necessary by Athletics Kenya, with no explanation, and didn't get to run. Let's Run speculates as to why, and it sounds just about right. It's the same kind of stuff that made Steve Prefontaine apoplectic, but with sexism thrown in to boot.
3) College track IS concerned with pleasing fans
By the way things go at nearly all college meets, you'd figure this was the last thing college coaches are worried about. In a discussion at the Track & Field News forums about the recently-released NCAA technical manual and exactly how the idiotic new regionals system works, westcoasttiger had this to say:
At the USATFCCA convention group leader (and the force behind this crappy new qualifying albatross) Sam Seemes speaks to the entire coaching group about how the collegiate nationals in xc, indoor and outdoor are struggling to put butts in the stands compared to various other sports. This system is certainly taking things the opposite direction. The ONLY way to bring more fans to the stands is to bring legitimate drama to the meets via real competition and most importantly creating a true TEAM aspect to the sport. Seemes spoke of how lacrosse, water polo, gymnastics, tennis, softball and soccer were kicking track's butt in attendance and revenue. Well the draw for those sports is each has a true team focus even tennis and gymnastics which are not inherently team sports.He then goes on to give some pretty good ideas about how to fix the problem, citing collegiate swimming's setup as one to emulate. The real point, of which I was not aware, is that other so-called "minor" sports are concerned with getting (paying!) butts in the seats and track is not...or at least the concern is one where, as usual, track people see themselves as individuals first and foremost, and "herding cats" is not a strong enough metaphor.
Another issue not spoken of, but which must be on some coaches' minds, is the increase in regional cable sports TV outlets such as the Big Ten Network. Track lags far behind these other "minor" sports in getting itself on the air, and for the same reasons as cited above. Doubtless this is why powerhouse programs like Arkansas, Texas and Texas A&M are now scheduling dual meets, which are the only regular-season competitions suitable for TV coverage.
4) USATF isn't fan-friendly either
Duh. But T&FN's editor Garry Hill points out how. Analyzing the recently-released USATF Indoor Championships meet schedule, he sees an average time gap between running events of over ten minutes--and that's in the Sunday "prime-time" live TV portion of the program. The common critiques of baseball and soccer is that basically nothing happens during most of the competition, but this meet schedule really does pack 18 minutes of action into an hour and 45 minutes.
Two things jump out at me while reading this. The first is that no one cares about keeping the meet moving along. It's not just scheduling things so far apart, it's the entire idea of how to schedule a meet. If you want to tightly schedule a meet, you run the risk of clipping off warmup time for athletes in the next event, but not if you think creatively. Since the straightaway races of 60 meters and 60 hurdles and the multi-lap races of 400 and up use different surfaces, you simply alternate between them. Example: 1500 goes first, during which the hurdlers do their final warmups, then the hurdles, during which the 400 runners do their final warmups, and so on. Outdoors it gets a bit more complex, but there's still no reason the 1500 runners can't warm up during the 100, since they use opposite ends of the track.
Secondly, this is the kind of critical analysis that must get a wide airing if the sport is to correct itself. Track and field is often described as "insular", and a "wide airing" is a relative term here, but I'd guess for the most part the USATF bigwigs take it as important if it's in the pages of T&FN and not if it isn't. In the piece on Linet Masai, Johnson describes how USATF has gone probably too far in terms of satisfying athlete concerns over the good of the sport as a whole. A prominent editorial in T&FN about this poor scheduling, explaining while being good for the athletes in the short-term it makes for ever-decreasing fan interest, and how the livelihoods of professional athletes are wholly dependent on said fan interest, might have a chance to make a difference. Griping on a message board, no matter how justified, won't make a difference.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
The Week In Review
Weldon and Robert Johnson's Week That Was feature is usually pretty good, but this week's installment is an excellent analysis of all angles of last week's USATF championships. It may be their best one yet.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Fantasy League Thoughts
I finished 28th out of well over 2000 who played USATF's Pick & Win game over the course of the outdoor season. I made a couple of bonehead moves that killed me; had I not picked Tyson Gay in the USATF 100, I would have been second.
EDIT: USATF's early updates were misleading. I finished 26th, and my errors only cost me about ten places.
So what wisdom can I give you? A number of things.
Never pick someone who has a Worlds bye
Who did? Tyson Gay, who dropped out of the 100 after one round. Jeremy Wariner, who ran the 200 and didn't make the final. Bernard Lagat, who opted for the 800 and didn't show up for his semifinal. Kerron Clement, who ran the flat 400. Michelle Perry, who was a no-show for the 100 hurdles finals. The only athletes who didn't take advantage of their byes were Allyson Felix, Brad Walker and Reese Hoffa. Two of those who dropped out before the final--Gay and Perry--I picked to win and it cost me second place.
I looked at Track & Field News' formcharts, saw Gay listed at #1 in the 100, and assumed it meant they thought he was going to run all the rounds. Those guys are generally plugged in and I thought they knew something. Turns out that wasn't the case, which killed me because I knew who were the next three guys in order after Gay. Which brings me to my next point...
The 100 is the easiest event to predict
Absolutely the easiest, so long as you look at the right information. The 100 is raw explosive power applied through highly skilled technique. Athletes must hone that technique through racing, and since the races are always close they can't let up before the finish. The result is that no one can hide what condition they're really in.
If you know where to look, that condition is obvious. Take their race times, use Dr. Jonas Mureika's online calculator to factor out the effects of wind and altitude, and it's pretty much right on the ball. Now, not all winds are equal; a crosswind measured with an aiding vector of 2.0 m/s is far different from a pure tailwind with the same aiding vector, and winds can be different at the start than at the finish. Humidity and temperature also play a small role in sprint times. But if you look at an athlete's three or four most recent races, these minor inconsistencies even out and you can pretty much tell how they're going to line up.
This is why I wanted nothing to do with Walter Dix. While his best single mark of the year was much superior to that of anyone in the meet (save Gay), it was way back in early April. His last outing before USATF saw him lose to Trell Kimmons and Bernard Williams in times that just didn't look very good. He was too much of an unknown quantity.
In the men's 100, if Gay was removed from the equation, the best series of times had been put up by Mike Rodgers and Darvis Patton, followed by Rae Edwards. I thought Patton was going to be hurt a little by his recent paternity-related short layoff. I was right on.
In the women's 100, I thought Carmelita Jeter was way better than everyone else, with Muna Lee next and Alexandria Anderson after her. I did not think Lauryn Williams was going to be a factor, despite her big-meet reputation. Jeter made a mistake early in the race and caught a cramp late but still managed to hold on for the win. And the wind/altitude correction exposes why Williams is such a big-meet runner: she and Lee were the only finalists who ran up to their season-best standard. Which brings me to my next point...
Do your homework
I saw that Maggie Vessey won the Prefontaine 800 and ran well at the Reebok Grand Prix, decided she was on a definite upswing, and picked her to win. But I neglected to look at how she runs, and as soon as I saw a Let's Run analysis of her semifinal I knew I was screwed.
She takes the Yuriy Borzakovskiy approach to the 800, namely stay way back on the first lap and then eat 'em up on the second. This works extremely well under certain circumstances, but not all, and when it fails it does so miserably. Borza still hasn't figured out when to moderate his tactics.
Athletes who run like this plan on even splits for the two laps. This works if the pace goes out crazy-fast and the athletes tie up. Perfect examples include the '72 and '88 men's Olympic final, and the Prefontaine Classic women's race this year went just like that. Vessey ran well back and ran pretty much even pace the whole way, and it was easy pickings to pass a strung-out field.
Today, the pace went out at 59.x and Vessey probably ran 63.x, by which time she'd already thrown away the race. No one was going to have a grizzly bear jump on their back, she was going to have to run negative splits, and go way wide to pass a crowd. So she ended up fourth.
Note that Nick Symmonds used to run this way, but has matured by realizing the situations where it doesn't work. Now he only trails if the pace is too aggressive, and today he started working his way up from the back after only 100 meters.
EDIT: USATF's early updates were misleading. I finished 26th, and my errors only cost me about ten places.
So what wisdom can I give you? A number of things.
Never pick someone who has a Worlds bye
Who did? Tyson Gay, who dropped out of the 100 after one round. Jeremy Wariner, who ran the 200 and didn't make the final. Bernard Lagat, who opted for the 800 and didn't show up for his semifinal. Kerron Clement, who ran the flat 400. Michelle Perry, who was a no-show for the 100 hurdles finals. The only athletes who didn't take advantage of their byes were Allyson Felix, Brad Walker and Reese Hoffa. Two of those who dropped out before the final--Gay and Perry--I picked to win and it cost me second place.
I looked at Track & Field News' formcharts, saw Gay listed at #1 in the 100, and assumed it meant they thought he was going to run all the rounds. Those guys are generally plugged in and I thought they knew something. Turns out that wasn't the case, which killed me because I knew who were the next three guys in order after Gay. Which brings me to my next point...
The 100 is the easiest event to predict
Absolutely the easiest, so long as you look at the right information. The 100 is raw explosive power applied through highly skilled technique. Athletes must hone that technique through racing, and since the races are always close they can't let up before the finish. The result is that no one can hide what condition they're really in.
If you know where to look, that condition is obvious. Take their race times, use Dr. Jonas Mureika's online calculator to factor out the effects of wind and altitude, and it's pretty much right on the ball. Now, not all winds are equal; a crosswind measured with an aiding vector of 2.0 m/s is far different from a pure tailwind with the same aiding vector, and winds can be different at the start than at the finish. Humidity and temperature also play a small role in sprint times. But if you look at an athlete's three or four most recent races, these minor inconsistencies even out and you can pretty much tell how they're going to line up.
This is why I wanted nothing to do with Walter Dix. While his best single mark of the year was much superior to that of anyone in the meet (save Gay), it was way back in early April. His last outing before USATF saw him lose to Trell Kimmons and Bernard Williams in times that just didn't look very good. He was too much of an unknown quantity.
In the men's 100, if Gay was removed from the equation, the best series of times had been put up by Mike Rodgers and Darvis Patton, followed by Rae Edwards. I thought Patton was going to be hurt a little by his recent paternity-related short layoff. I was right on.
In the women's 100, I thought Carmelita Jeter was way better than everyone else, with Muna Lee next and Alexandria Anderson after her. I did not think Lauryn Williams was going to be a factor, despite her big-meet reputation. Jeter made a mistake early in the race and caught a cramp late but still managed to hold on for the win. And the wind/altitude correction exposes why Williams is such a big-meet runner: she and Lee were the only finalists who ran up to their season-best standard. Which brings me to my next point...
Do your homework
I saw that Maggie Vessey won the Prefontaine 800 and ran well at the Reebok Grand Prix, decided she was on a definite upswing, and picked her to win. But I neglected to look at how she runs, and as soon as I saw a Let's Run analysis of her semifinal I knew I was screwed.
She takes the Yuriy Borzakovskiy approach to the 800, namely stay way back on the first lap and then eat 'em up on the second. This works extremely well under certain circumstances, but not all, and when it fails it does so miserably. Borza still hasn't figured out when to moderate his tactics.
Athletes who run like this plan on even splits for the two laps. This works if the pace goes out crazy-fast and the athletes tie up. Perfect examples include the '72 and '88 men's Olympic final, and the Prefontaine Classic women's race this year went just like that. Vessey ran well back and ran pretty much even pace the whole way, and it was easy pickings to pass a strung-out field.
Today, the pace went out at 59.x and Vessey probably ran 63.x, by which time she'd already thrown away the race. No one was going to have a grizzly bear jump on their back, she was going to have to run negative splits, and go way wide to pass a crowd. So she ended up fourth.
Note that Nick Symmonds used to run this way, but has matured by realizing the situations where it doesn't work. Now he only trails if the pace is too aggressive, and today he started working his way up from the back after only 100 meters.
USA Championships Thoughts
My thoughts on the USA Championships and its TV coverage...
Larry Rawson appeared to be on his best behavior. I noted few if any truly awful moments from him. Ditto for Carol Lewis.
Ato Boldon broke things down in replays of the 100 races like a good analyst does in any other sport: using the telestrator and stop-action to highlight good and bad execution and comparing them side by side. So why do they handcuff Dwight Stones, who could do the exact same thing in most if not all field events, by keeping him out of the booth and away from the necessary equipment?
Speaking of field events, it looks like no one knows where to position the cameras for maximum effect.
Another classy move for the 100 finals: plugging in to the PA system and using stadium announcer Scott Davis' introductions.
USATF got smart and allowed both Flotrack and RunnerSpace to webcast the portions of the meet that ESPN/NBC didn't want. There's a lot of criticism of these outfits (Flotrack in particular) for being nothing more than a bunch of poorly prepared college kids, to which some reply that they care a whole lot more than the Rawson/Lewis type of outfit. I think both are valid criticisms, and they remind me of the early days of political blogs. Yeah, those were amateurish, but they were run by passionate people who cared about more than just the bottom line. And now many of them, such as Talking Points Memo, now do a far better job on investigative journalism than The New York Times. This is the first major step in broadening video coverage of domestic track, and it will get better by leaps and bounds.
Larry Rawson appeared to be on his best behavior. I noted few if any truly awful moments from him. Ditto for Carol Lewis.
Ato Boldon broke things down in replays of the 100 races like a good analyst does in any other sport: using the telestrator and stop-action to highlight good and bad execution and comparing them side by side. So why do they handcuff Dwight Stones, who could do the exact same thing in most if not all field events, by keeping him out of the booth and away from the necessary equipment?
Speaking of field events, it looks like no one knows where to position the cameras for maximum effect.
Another classy move for the 100 finals: plugging in to the PA system and using stadium announcer Scott Davis' introductions.
USATF got smart and allowed both Flotrack and RunnerSpace to webcast the portions of the meet that ESPN/NBC didn't want. There's a lot of criticism of these outfits (Flotrack in particular) for being nothing more than a bunch of poorly prepared college kids, to which some reply that they care a whole lot more than the Rawson/Lewis type of outfit. I think both are valid criticisms, and they remind me of the early days of political blogs. Yeah, those were amateurish, but they were run by passionate people who cared about more than just the bottom line. And now many of them, such as Talking Points Memo, now do a far better job on investigative journalism than The New York Times. This is the first major step in broadening video coverage of domestic track, and it will get better by leaps and bounds.
Friday, June 26, 2009
USA Championships Preview -- Weekend
I'm going to be a bit busy this weekend, and I wanted to get my predictions out there now.
Saturday
Men's 20k Walk, 10 AM EDT
Defending champ: Kevin Eastler
T&FN pick: Patrick Stroupe
My pick: ditto
Analysis: This is like the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards at the Oscars, in that no one cares who wins.
Men's Pole Vault, 5:55 PM
Defending champ: Derek Miles
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Jeremy Scott
Analysis: Derek Miles and Brad Walker have been a bit too inconsistent for my tastes. Scott might not win, but he won't bomb either.
Men's Hammer Throw, 6:25 PM
Defending champ: AG Kruger
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Kruger has dominated this event in the US for several years.
Men's Long Jump, 7:20 PM
Defending champ: Trevell Quinley
T&FN pick: Dwight Phillips
My pick: ditto
Analysis: The best jumper almost always wins in this event, and Phillips is head and shoulders above the rest.
Women's Javelin Throw, 7:30 PM
Defending champ: Kara Patterson
T&FN pick: Kim Kreiner
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Even coming off injury, she's the USA's best.
Women's 400m Hurdles, 8:15 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Tiffany Williams
T&FN pick: Lashinda Demus
My pick: Sheena Tosta
Analysis: I see this as a toss-up between Tosta and Demus.
Men's Steeplechase, 8:40 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Anthony Famiglietti
T&FN pick: Josh McAdams
My pick: ditto
Analysis: This is a pretty weak event.
Women's 400 meters, 8:54 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Sanya Richards
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: As long as her Behcet's disease doesn't act up, this will be an easy win for Richards.
Men's 400 meters, 9:02 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: LaShawn Merritt
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: No one can beat Merritt right now, not even Wariner.
Women's 1500 meters, 9:11 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Shannon Rowbury
T&FN pick: Christin Wurth-Thomas
My pick: Anna Willard
Analysis: The USA is four-deep in great milers, and one of them (Jenny Barringer) is only doing the steeple. The other three are listed above. You could make a case for any of them to win, but Willard's strong showings in both the steeple and 800 make me think she has more tools to work with than the others.
Men's 110m Hurdles, 9:23 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: David Oliver
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Terrence Trammell
Analysis: Trammell is having his best season in a few years and always seems to come up big at the national championships. It is most likely to be a tight race between him and Oliver.
SUNDAY
Women's 20k Walk, 11 AM EDT
Defending champ: Joanne Dow
T&FN pick: Theresa Vaill
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Who cares?
Women's Heptathlon
Defending champ: Hyleas Fountain
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: It shouldn't be close.
Women's Pole Vault, 2:30 PM
Defending champ: Jenn Stuczynski
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Probably the strongest favorite in the whole meet.
Men's High Jump, 2:45 PM
Defending champ: Jesse Williams
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: On paper, at least, this is a no-brainer.
Women's Hammer Throw, 3:10 PM
Defending champ: Jessica Cosby
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: She's thrown further and more consistently than all the others.
Women's Long Jump, 3:30 PM
Defending champ: Brittney Reese
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: She's by far the best women's long jumper in the USA.
Men's Shot Put, 3:35 PM
Defending champ: Reese Hoffa
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Hoffa had an average indoor season but has come on strong outdoors, while Cantwell has done the opposite.
Men's 400m Hurdles, 4:05 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Bershawn Jackson
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: With a Worlds bye, Kerron Clement is running the flat 400 instead. That makes this pick a whole lot easier, because Clement was the only one I thought had any chance at Jackson.
Women's Steeplechase, 4:14 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Anna Willard
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Jenny Barringer
Analysis: This should be a ding-dong battle between Willard and Barringer and both will break the American Record. Willard will have the 1500 on her legs, so I went with Barringer.
Women's 800 meters, 4:44 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Hazel Clark
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Maggie Vessey
Analysis: This is not a strong event for the USA, which complicates an already unpredictable event. Clark isn't as reliable as her sister was, and Vessey has run two good races in a row.
Men's 800 meters, 4:53 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Nick Symmonds
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Symmonds has improved each year, and is racing on his home track. But the 800 is the least predictable of all running events, so anything can happen.
Women's 100m Hurdles, 5:22 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Lolo Jones
T&FN pick: Dawn Harper
My pick: Michelle Perry
Analysis: Damu Cherry has had the strongest season so far, but Perry has been righting her ship since a severe injury last year. She beat Cherry at the Prefontaine Classic and I think things are coming together for her now and should win.
Men's 1500 meters, 5:31 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Bernard Lagat
T&FN pick: Leonel Manzano
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Lagat has a bye to the World Championships and so is not racing the 1500. Manzano's recent form is better than all the others.
Men's 200 meters, 5:43 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Walter Dix
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Wallace Spearmon
Analysis: Dix hasn't raced well recently, and he'll have six rounds on his legs by the 200 final. Spearmon has had some good races this year and pretty much no one else in the field has.
Women's 200 meters, 5:52 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Allyson Felix
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: This shouldn't be close.
Saturday
Men's 20k Walk, 10 AM EDT
Defending champ: Kevin Eastler
T&FN pick: Patrick Stroupe
My pick: ditto
Analysis: This is like the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards at the Oscars, in that no one cares who wins.
Men's Pole Vault, 5:55 PM
Defending champ: Derek Miles
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Jeremy Scott
Analysis: Derek Miles and Brad Walker have been a bit too inconsistent for my tastes. Scott might not win, but he won't bomb either.
Men's Hammer Throw, 6:25 PM
Defending champ: AG Kruger
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Kruger has dominated this event in the US for several years.
Men's Long Jump, 7:20 PM
Defending champ: Trevell Quinley
T&FN pick: Dwight Phillips
My pick: ditto
Analysis: The best jumper almost always wins in this event, and Phillips is head and shoulders above the rest.
Women's Javelin Throw, 7:30 PM
Defending champ: Kara Patterson
T&FN pick: Kim Kreiner
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Even coming off injury, she's the USA's best.
Women's 400m Hurdles, 8:15 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Tiffany Williams
T&FN pick: Lashinda Demus
My pick: Sheena Tosta
Analysis: I see this as a toss-up between Tosta and Demus.
Men's Steeplechase, 8:40 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Anthony Famiglietti
T&FN pick: Josh McAdams
My pick: ditto
Analysis: This is a pretty weak event.
Women's 400 meters, 8:54 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Sanya Richards
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: As long as her Behcet's disease doesn't act up, this will be an easy win for Richards.
Men's 400 meters, 9:02 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: LaShawn Merritt
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: No one can beat Merritt right now, not even Wariner.
Women's 1500 meters, 9:11 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: Shannon Rowbury
T&FN pick: Christin Wurth-Thomas
My pick: Anna Willard
Analysis: The USA is four-deep in great milers, and one of them (Jenny Barringer) is only doing the steeple. The other three are listed above. You could make a case for any of them to win, but Willard's strong showings in both the steeple and 800 make me think she has more tools to work with than the others.
Men's 110m Hurdles, 9:23 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champ: David Oliver
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Terrence Trammell
Analysis: Trammell is having his best season in a few years and always seems to come up big at the national championships. It is most likely to be a tight race between him and Oliver.
SUNDAY
Women's 20k Walk, 11 AM EDT
Defending champ: Joanne Dow
T&FN pick: Theresa Vaill
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Who cares?
Women's Heptathlon
Defending champ: Hyleas Fountain
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: It shouldn't be close.
Women's Pole Vault, 2:30 PM
Defending champ: Jenn Stuczynski
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Probably the strongest favorite in the whole meet.
Men's High Jump, 2:45 PM
Defending champ: Jesse Williams
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: On paper, at least, this is a no-brainer.
Women's Hammer Throw, 3:10 PM
Defending champ: Jessica Cosby
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: She's thrown further and more consistently than all the others.
Women's Long Jump, 3:30 PM
Defending champ: Brittney Reese
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: She's by far the best women's long jumper in the USA.
Men's Shot Put, 3:35 PM
Defending champ: Reese Hoffa
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Hoffa had an average indoor season but has come on strong outdoors, while Cantwell has done the opposite.
Men's 400m Hurdles, 4:05 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Bershawn Jackson
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: With a Worlds bye, Kerron Clement is running the flat 400 instead. That makes this pick a whole lot easier, because Clement was the only one I thought had any chance at Jackson.
Women's Steeplechase, 4:14 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Anna Willard
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Jenny Barringer
Analysis: This should be a ding-dong battle between Willard and Barringer and both will break the American Record. Willard will have the 1500 on her legs, so I went with Barringer.
Women's 800 meters, 4:44 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Hazel Clark
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Maggie Vessey
Analysis: This is not a strong event for the USA, which complicates an already unpredictable event. Clark isn't as reliable as her sister was, and Vessey has run two good races in a row.
Men's 800 meters, 4:53 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Nick Symmonds
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Symmonds has improved each year, and is racing on his home track. But the 800 is the least predictable of all running events, so anything can happen.
Women's 100m Hurdles, 5:22 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Lolo Jones
T&FN pick: Dawn Harper
My pick: Michelle Perry
Analysis: Damu Cherry has had the strongest season so far, but Perry has been righting her ship since a severe injury last year. She beat Cherry at the Prefontaine Classic and I think things are coming together for her now and should win.
Men's 1500 meters, 5:31 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Bernard Lagat
T&FN pick: Leonel Manzano
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Lagat has a bye to the World Championships and so is not racing the 1500. Manzano's recent form is better than all the others.
Men's 200 meters, 5:43 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Walter Dix
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Wallace Spearmon
Analysis: Dix hasn't raced well recently, and he'll have six rounds on his legs by the 200 final. Spearmon has had some good races this year and pretty much no one else in the field has.
Women's 200 meters, 5:52 PM (live on NBC)
Defending champ: Allyson Felix
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: This shouldn't be close.
Pick N' Win Update
I just want to let everyone know that I picked Amy Yoder-Begley to win in last night's USATF 10k. And she did, which even the Let's Run guys thought wasn't possible at all.
So far, there have been six finals. I picked five winners and a second. I wonder how I'm going to spend that $2000 VISA gift card...
So far, there have been six finals. I picked five winners and a second. I wonder how I'm going to spend that $2000 VISA gift card...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
USA Championships Preview - Day Two
Friday's finals...
Coverage will be live on ESPN from 8 to 10 PM.
Women's Triple Jump, 7:50 PM EDT
Defending champion: Shani Marks
T&FN pick: Erica McLain
My pick: Yvette Lewis
Analysis: I'm picking Lewis for two reasons. She has the best American jump of the year after wind and altitude are factored in, and she beat McLain in the process of making it.
Women's Shot Put, 8:15 PM
Defending champion: Michelle Carter
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Liz Wanless
Analysis: Wanless has been consistent save the Reebok Grand Prix, and recently put up the yearly American leader.
Men's Discus Throw, 9:40 PM
Defending champion: Ian Waltz
T&FN pick: Jarred Rome
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Consistently top American this year.
Women's 100 meters, 9:40 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champion: Muna Lee
T&FN pick: Carmelita Jeter
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Jeter is not only the best sprinter in the USA right now, but the best in the world.
Men's 100 meters, 9:50 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champion: Tyson Gay
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: The only question is whether Gay will run all the rounds or merely fill the requirements for getting his Worlds bye and run the heats only. If he's up for the whole thing, and it sounds like he is, he's essentially a lock.
Women's 5000 meters, 10:50 PM
Defending champion: Kara Goucher
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Goucher is head and shoulders above all the other runners entered in this race.
Men's 5000 meters, 11:15 PM
Defending champion: Bernard Lagat
T&FN pick: Matt Tegenkamp
My pick: diito
Analysis: I like how both Solinsky and Teg ran at the Prefontaine Classic; I think Tegenkamp is a more solid pick. But you can't go too far wrong with either one.
Coverage will be live on ESPN from 8 to 10 PM.
Women's Triple Jump, 7:50 PM EDT
Defending champion: Shani Marks
T&FN pick: Erica McLain
My pick: Yvette Lewis
Analysis: I'm picking Lewis for two reasons. She has the best American jump of the year after wind and altitude are factored in, and she beat McLain in the process of making it.
Women's Shot Put, 8:15 PM
Defending champion: Michelle Carter
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Liz Wanless
Analysis: Wanless has been consistent save the Reebok Grand Prix, and recently put up the yearly American leader.
Men's Discus Throw, 9:40 PM
Defending champion: Ian Waltz
T&FN pick: Jarred Rome
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Consistently top American this year.
Women's 100 meters, 9:40 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champion: Muna Lee
T&FN pick: Carmelita Jeter
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Jeter is not only the best sprinter in the USA right now, but the best in the world.
Men's 100 meters, 9:50 PM (live on ESPN)
Defending champion: Tyson Gay
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: The only question is whether Gay will run all the rounds or merely fill the requirements for getting his Worlds bye and run the heats only. If he's up for the whole thing, and it sounds like he is, he's essentially a lock.
Women's 5000 meters, 10:50 PM
Defending champion: Kara Goucher
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Goucher is head and shoulders above all the other runners entered in this race.
Men's 5000 meters, 11:15 PM
Defending champion: Bernard Lagat
T&FN pick: Matt Tegenkamp
My pick: diito
Analysis: I like how both Solinsky and Teg ran at the Prefontaine Classic; I think Tegenkamp is a more solid pick. But you can't go too far wrong with either one.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
USA Championships Preview - Day One
Over the next few days I'll preview the USA Track & Field Championships by filling you in on my choices for USATF's online fantasy league. I'm currently 35th out of more than 2000, so I think my opinion may carry some weight. Here goes with Thursday's final events.
Late update: Let's Run's Day 1 previews for men and women are up.
Men's Javelin, 6:30 PM EDT
Defending champ: Bobby Smith
T&FN pick: Mike Hazle
My pick: ditto
Analysis: The long throws are a bit outside the areas of my expertise. Further complicating the matter is the fact that none of these throwers are competitive on the international level. So I see no reason to argue with the Mountain View gang.
Women's High Jump, 8 PM
Defending champ: Chaunté Howard
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Howard's major competition will come from Destinee Hooker, but for Hooker to win she must be at her best at the same time that Howard has an average day or worse. Not likely.
Men's Triple Jump, 8:15 PM
Defending champ: Aarik Wilson
T&FN pick: Brandon Roulhac
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Roulhac has been consistently the best US triple jumper in 2009, the only American who can claim to belong in the top 20 or so in the world.
Women's Discus, 6:45 PM
Defending champ: Aretha Thurmond
T&FN pick: Stefanie Brown-Trafton
My pick: ditto
Analysis: She's the defending Olympic champion and has the world's leading throw by a meter and a half.
Women's 10,000 meters, 10:50 PM
Defending champ: Shalane Flanagan
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Amy Yoder-Begley
Analysis: My pick is based on trying to score points in USATF's online contest, and when in doubt you must follow the "do no harm" strategy. I don't really think Begley will beat Flanagan, but Flan has been oddly inconsistent this year and could possibly lay an egg. Begley is solid as a rock for second at worst.
Men's 10,000 meters, 11:30 PM
Defending champ: Abdi Abdirahman
T&FN pick: Galen Rupp
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Rupp has had a long season so far, but that's the only thing he's got going against him. He's proven he can win under any style of racing, and there are sober observers speculating he could run sub-27:00 right now.
Late update: Let's Run's Day 1 previews for men and women are up.
Men's Javelin, 6:30 PM EDT
Defending champ: Bobby Smith
T&FN pick: Mike Hazle
My pick: ditto
Analysis: The long throws are a bit outside the areas of my expertise. Further complicating the matter is the fact that none of these throwers are competitive on the international level. So I see no reason to argue with the Mountain View gang.
Women's High Jump, 8 PM
Defending champ: Chaunté Howard
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Howard's major competition will come from Destinee Hooker, but for Hooker to win she must be at her best at the same time that Howard has an average day or worse. Not likely.
Men's Triple Jump, 8:15 PM
Defending champ: Aarik Wilson
T&FN pick: Brandon Roulhac
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Roulhac has been consistently the best US triple jumper in 2009, the only American who can claim to belong in the top 20 or so in the world.
Women's Discus, 6:45 PM
Defending champ: Aretha Thurmond
T&FN pick: Stefanie Brown-Trafton
My pick: ditto
Analysis: She's the defending Olympic champion and has the world's leading throw by a meter and a half.
Women's 10,000 meters, 10:50 PM
Defending champ: Shalane Flanagan
T&FN pick: ditto
My pick: Amy Yoder-Begley
Analysis: My pick is based on trying to score points in USATF's online contest, and when in doubt you must follow the "do no harm" strategy. I don't really think Begley will beat Flanagan, but Flan has been oddly inconsistent this year and could possibly lay an egg. Begley is solid as a rock for second at worst.
Men's 10,000 meters, 11:30 PM
Defending champ: Abdi Abdirahman
T&FN pick: Galen Rupp
My pick: ditto
Analysis: Rupp has had a long season so far, but that's the only thing he's got going against him. He's proven he can win under any style of racing, and there are sober observers speculating he could run sub-27:00 right now.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Christian Cantwell Gets Mean
In case you haven't heard, Cantwell not only won the biggest event at the USA Indoor meet, he made the biggest stink.
But here's why throwers do tend to be a friendly bunch:
Cantwell saved his best shot for second-place finisher Reese Hoffa (70 feet 2 1/2 inches). Last week, Cantwell asked Hoffa, the reigning world indoor and outdoor champion, to bring his 128mm indoor shot to nationals. Hoffa declined, believing it was not his job to help a competitor.Throwers tend to be a friendly bunch, but this seems a bit extreme. Imagine, if you will, another coach calling up Bill Belichick and asking for a favor the day before a game. Ridiculous.
"For the most part Reese is a pretty good guy, but he pulled a quick one on me this weekend and I'm a little upset with him," said Cantwell. "So, I'm glad he made it, but, in the end, I would have rather had [third-place finisher] Adam [Nelson] make the team for the world championships. Reese has a 128 indoor and he wouldn't bring it.
"I couldn't believe it when I called him and said, 'Would you bring this for me?' He goes, 'Nah, I'm not going to pack it.' I said, 'Well, send it. I'll pay for it.' He goes, 'No, I'm not going to help you. Why would I help you? You're my competitor.' He's a hypocrite."
When told of the comments by Cantwell, Hoffa looked genuinely shocked. He didn't think turning down the request was a big deal, especially since Cantwell easily could have purchased his own shot.
But here's why throwers do tend to be a friendly bunch:
By the time the US team heads to Valencia, Hoffa figures the bad feelings will have blown over.
"He can trash talk all he wants," said Hoffa. "While he's in Valencia, he's got to have someone to hang out with."
Sunday, February 24, 2008
USATF Indoor Championships Recap
IAAF Recap
USATF Recap
Results
Less Than Our Best liveblog
My thoughts on the USATF Indoor Championships...
I knew Michael Rodgers was going to win the 60, because he's outrun all but Olusoji Fasuba this winter. But that's all I knew about him. Turns out he was last year's NAIA champ at Oklahoma Baptist.
My hope for a domestic rivalry in the men's 800 meters may come to pass. Just 0.01 separated Robinson & Symmonds today. Let's hope there are enough 800m races in the outdoor VISA series to build on this.
As Matt Taylor demonstrated in the last Runnerville Weekly, the Tyson coverage of the men's shot was shameful. Today they actually built some drama into the event--inarguably the toughest event to win in the entire meet.
Rob Myers still runs waaay too tight, but he ran just about a perfect race to win his second national title. Love to see an Ohio guy win!
This week's TV complaint: The USATF XC coverage looked very dull. I had a USATF party going on in my basement bar, so I couldn't always zero in on everything like usual, but it looked like a good time to go get another beer.
How did I do in the fantasy league? OK. I went from 50th t0 49th. Looks like my 9-for-13 at Tyson was a one-off success.
On to Valencia! It seems that WCSN's coverage is getting a bit more reliable, so I'm going to figure out how to hook my laptop up to my TV to watch the indoor worlds.
USATF Recap
Results
Less Than Our Best liveblog
My thoughts on the USATF Indoor Championships...
I knew Michael Rodgers was going to win the 60, because he's outrun all but Olusoji Fasuba this winter. But that's all I knew about him. Turns out he was last year's NAIA champ at Oklahoma Baptist.
My hope for a domestic rivalry in the men's 800 meters may come to pass. Just 0.01 separated Robinson & Symmonds today. Let's hope there are enough 800m races in the outdoor VISA series to build on this.
As Matt Taylor demonstrated in the last Runnerville Weekly, the Tyson coverage of the men's shot was shameful. Today they actually built some drama into the event--inarguably the toughest event to win in the entire meet.
Rob Myers still runs waaay too tight, but he ran just about a perfect race to win his second national title. Love to see an Ohio guy win!
This week's TV complaint: The USATF XC coverage looked very dull. I had a USATF party going on in my basement bar, so I couldn't always zero in on everything like usual, but it looked like a good time to go get another beer.
How did I do in the fantasy league? OK. I went from 50th t0 49th. Looks like my 9-for-13 at Tyson was a one-off success.
On to Valencia! It seems that WCSN's coverage is getting a bit more reliable, so I'm going to figure out how to hook my laptop up to my TV to watch the indoor worlds.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Cantwell Has Massive Series
Christian Cantwell just made this weekend's USATF men's shot final even more interesting. Today he competed at the Central Missouri Classic and put together what might be the best series in indoor shot-putting history.
His best put, 72' 9 1/4" is an indoor PR (but inferior to his outdoor best). So far as anyone can determine, he's the first ever to have all six puts at 70 or better in an indoor competition.
But I'm still going with Adam Nelson to win. Nelson has a history of coming up big in big meets and Cantwell does not.
In other news, part of Saturday's competition has been rescheduled. Very bad weather in the Boston area has made travel difficult. If you've got either Bershawn Jackson or Jen Toomey in the fantasy league, scratch 'em because they won't be there.
His best put, 72' 9 1/4" is an indoor PR (but inferior to his outdoor best). So far as anyone can determine, he's the first ever to have all six puts at 70 or better in an indoor competition.
But I'm still going with Adam Nelson to win. Nelson has a history of coming up big in big meets and Cantwell does not.
In other news, part of Saturday's competition has been rescheduled. Very bad weather in the Boston area has made travel difficult. If you've got either Bershawn Jackson or Jen Toomey in the fantasy league, scratch 'em because they won't be there.
USATF Indor Nationals Preview
USATF previews
Let's Run previews: Men -- Women
Meet website
Start lists
TV coverage: Sunday, 5-7 p.m., ESPN2
I'll be having a viewing party at The Bell Lap, despite Barack Obama's rudeness in scheduling a rally just six miles away at the exact same time. The beer of the week will be Sam Adams Boston Ale. I've already done the Boston Lager, and I prefer ales over lagers.
I've got a chance to win the USATF Fantasy League, albeit a small one. My picks:
Men
60m: Michael Rodgers
400m: Kelly Willie
800m: Khadevis Robinson
1500m: Steve Sherer
3000m: Jonathon Riley
60H: Allen Johnson
5k Walk: Michael Kazmierczak
High Jump: Jesse Williams
Pole Vault: Derek Miles
Long Jump: Brian Johnson
Triple Jump: Kenta Bell
Shot Put: Adam Nelson
Weight Throw: A.G. Kruger
Women
60m: Angela Williams
400m: Mary Wineberg
800m: Sasha Spencer
1500m: Christin Wurth-Thomas
3000m: Katie McGregor
60H: Lolo Jones
3k Walk: Theresa Vaill
High Jump: Amy Acuff
Pole Vault: Jen Stuczynski
Long Jump: Lela Nelson
Triple Jump: Shani Marks
Shot Put: Elizabeth Wanless
Weight Throw: Amber Campbell
Let's Run previews: Men -- Women
Meet website
Start lists
TV coverage: Sunday, 5-7 p.m., ESPN2
I'll be having a viewing party at The Bell Lap, despite Barack Obama's rudeness in scheduling a rally just six miles away at the exact same time. The beer of the week will be Sam Adams Boston Ale. I've already done the Boston Lager, and I prefer ales over lagers.
I've got a chance to win the USATF Fantasy League, albeit a small one. My picks:
Men
60m: Michael Rodgers
400m: Kelly Willie
800m: Khadevis Robinson
1500m: Steve Sherer
3000m: Jonathon Riley
60H: Allen Johnson
5k Walk: Michael Kazmierczak
High Jump: Jesse Williams
Pole Vault: Derek Miles
Long Jump: Brian Johnson
Triple Jump: Kenta Bell
Shot Put: Adam Nelson
Weight Throw: A.G. Kruger
Women
60m: Angela Williams
400m: Mary Wineberg
800m: Sasha Spencer
1500m: Christin Wurth-Thomas
3000m: Katie McGregor
60H: Lolo Jones
3k Walk: Theresa Vaill
High Jump: Amy Acuff
Pole Vault: Jen Stuczynski
Long Jump: Lela Nelson
Triple Jump: Shani Marks
Shot Put: Elizabeth Wanless
Weight Throw: Amber Campbell
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
