Day 1 Finals Predictions

There are 2 finals on Day 1, both 10,000m.

Men's 

1. Galen Rupp

2. Dathan Ritzenhien

3. Matt Tegenkamp

I think that Rupp will lead Ritz to the Olympic A standard. Then behind them it will be a battle between Tegenkamp, Chris Derrick and Ben True.

Women's

1. Shalane Flanagan*

2. Lisa Uhl

3. Amy Hastings

4. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom

* made the team for the marathon

I think Shalane will win and pull Uhl (her teammate) to an Olympic Birth. Hastings who finished fourth at the Olympic Marathon Trials in January will be right with them to make the team. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom will make the team most likely because Shalane wont run both the marathon and 10k in London. 

Day 0 (hammer time) 6/21/12

Day 1 of Olympic Trials saw action in the men's and women's hammer throw.
Men's Results:
1. Kibwe Johnson Nike/NYAC 74.97m 245-11
2. Chris Cralle Unattached 74.36m 243-11
3. AG Kruger Nike 73.93m 242-6

Only Johnson and Kruger will be going to the Olympics though, because they are the only two with the A standard. Chris Cralle although he finished in a top three spot since he didn't have the Olympic A standard he will not be able to compete.

AG Kruger, Kibwe Johnson, Chris Cralle (L-R)
Kruger and Johnson will represent the USA in London.  

Women's Results: 

1. Amber Campbell Nike 71.80m 235-6
2. Amanda Bingson U N L V 71.78m 235-6
3. Jessica Cosby Nike 70.77m 232-2

 Amber Campbell and Jessica Cosby are both 2008 Olympians. Cosby earlier in the year at the Pre Threw the hammer to a new american record of 74.19m 243'5". Amanda Bingson a recent graduate on UNLV, came in the competition without the Olympic A standard, but on her fourth throw she threw the hammer 71.78m, a new PR and 28cm farther than the A standard.

Amber Campbell, Amanda Bingson, Jessica Cosby (L-R)
The Olympic Hammer Throwers for the USA.

Olympic Trials

So Olympic trials are here and at the end of these 11 days we will know who is going to represent the USA! These trials are slated to be one of the most competitive ever. There are many athletes doing more than one event to help their chances of making the olympic team. Some of the big names doing double duty would be Allyson Felix (100,200), Carmelita Jeter (100,200), Sanya Richards-Ross (200,400), Walter Dix (100,200), Galen Rupp (10k,5k), Dathan Rizenhein (10k,5k) and many more. This next week and a half will prove who is willing to step up to the plate and prove they are worthy of representing the USA in the Olympic Games.

Posts starting up again!

I know I havent posted in a while, but now that indoor season is starting up again I plan on posting as much as I can.

Death of Howard Aris

The president of Jamaican Track and Field died on the night of Thursday November 10, 2011. Howard Aris was a very influential man in Jamaica and he will be missed. Aris has been at the head of Jamaican athletics that produced the best times in sprinting history. i am sure that his presence, guidance and leadership wil be greatly missed by everyone in the world of track and field.

Here is an article from trackallerts.com

Worldwide T&F community expresses shock at Howard Aris' passing

Lukas Verzbicas

Lukas Verzbicas has decided to leave the University of Oregon to focus on his dream of the 2012 Olympics on triathlon. Verzbicas is the 2011 World Junior Triathlete Champion. He tweeted "Decided to pursue my olympic dream and dedicate myself fully as a triathlete with the intention of making the 2012 USA Olympic team." then also tweeted "Thank you to University of Oregon, coaches, and teammates for the unmatched experience and support. I wish you nothing but the best of luck."
I believe that this is a good move for Verzbicas. Even though he is a great runner he has more potential to make the USA's Olympic team in triathlon than track and field. Especially since he is the reigning World Junior champion in triathlon. Along with everyone else that has followed track and field i wish him the best of luck in his preparations and hopefully he makes the olympic team.

Here is the full story from the USA Triathlon website.
Junior World Champion Lukas Verzbicas Commits to Triathlon Full Time

Symmond's Speaks Up

Nick Symmonds has spoken up about how he feels on the sponsorship problem in the world of athletics. I personally agree with the statements he makes. He talks about how the USATF and the IAAF are hampering the soport from growing, because it is so hard for people to get sponsorship, meaning it is hard for them to keep training and putting in the hard work it takes to be a professional athlete. His statement on how Chevy cant tell Jeff Gordon that he cant have any other sponsors is so true. As a fan of NASCAR i understand that the more sponsors you have the better the coverage is, the more fans will flock to the sport. If the USATF and the IAAF want the sport to grow they are going to have to let sponsors into the sport, with sponsors comes, more fans, more coverage and more popularity.

http://www.flotrack.org/blog/38650-Im-Tired-of-USATF-and-IAAF-Crippling-Our-Sport