2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Recap.....(Track Events)

In very windy conditions, athletes competed and no amazing times were really posted in the prelims/semis. The Women's 4x100m relay will see Texas A&M (43.19), LSU (43.35), Florida (43.65), and Baylor (44.15) face off in the finals. On the Men's 4x100m relays scene it will be LSU (39.11), Texas A&M (39.13), Tennessee (39.24), and South Carolina (39.37) battling in the finals. The Women's 800m final will be very competitive since 9 of the 16 women competing ran 2:06 (2:06.10 fastest prelim time). In the Men's 800m it will be equally as competitive because 10 of the 16 runner clocked in at 1:49 and Andrew Wheating ran the fastest qualifying time of 1:48.88. In the Women's 400m hurdles, standout Queen Harrison did not show for the race, which, according to NCAA regulations, may disqualify her in the 100m hurdles as well. Nicole Leach proceeded to run the fastest qualifying time of 56.75, with three 57's and a load of 58's following. On the Men's side freshman sensation Jeshua Anderson qualified with the fastest time in 49.90, the next fastest time is 49.99 (Rueben McCoy), and the rest with the exception of two are 50's. The Women's 400m dash will be competitive as 6 of the 16 runners are under the 53 second barrier with Kenyata Coleman (51.78) posting the only 51 second time. The best races to watch next will be the Men's 400m. 13 of 16 men ran 46 seconds.....with only Lejerald Betters (45.87), Terrance Reid (45.69), and O'Neal WIlder (45.56) running under 46. The windy conditions really played a factor in the 100m dash as the times aren't blazing, but given those wind conditions the races were very competitive. The Women's 100m dash finals will see Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.28), Lakecia Ealey (11.31), Jessica Onyepunuka (11.46), Samantha Henry (11.51), and Simone Facey (11.61) compete. On the Men's side, it will be Travis Padgett (10.20), Richard Thompson (10.33), Trindon Holliday (10.34), Walter Dix (10.45), and Teddy Williams (10.46), and a few others under 10.49 compete in the finals. Women's 3000m Steeplechase looks to be Jenny Barringer (10:00.56) running away winning the qualifying round by 12 seconds. The Men's 3000m Steeple will have mainly three athletes, Billy Nelson (8:44.77), Luke Gunn (8:44.92) and Patrick Mutai (8:45.18) batting for top honors in that race. The Women's 5000m prelims has 7 of 16 athletes under 16:50.00 with Christina Munoz (16:45.48) leading the pack by 2 seconds. And finally on the Men's side of the 5000m prelims, 4 of 16 men are under the 14:15.00 mark with Rober Curtis (14:10.24) and Stephen Pifer (14:10.86) taking control. I'll have the field event recap up soon as the 2nd day of the championships begin.

Is the NCAA Qualifying System Flawed?

I have a problem with the way the NCAA qualifies its athletes, particularly in the sprints, to the next rounds. They decided to take the top 3 in each heat and advance the next 6 times to the semifinals at the 2008 NCAA Track & Field Championships. This rule has been around for the longest, and I've continually despised the NCAA for implementing it. Think about it, what if all 3 of those athletes in one heat aren't faster than 1 athlete who placed 4th in his heat? What happens when athletes with faster times than those who place 1st-3rd in their respective heats don't qualify? It takes a toll on the morale of the athletes and the quality of the competition. The old fashioned "let everybody run and take the fastest _ times overall" was the best method introduced, but they stick to one with gaping flaws. I just don't understand why they feel this the best way to run the meets, especially the major ones where the more quality the competition the better the athletes perform. It isn't fair to the athletes who make it, and definitely unfair to those who should have made it. Let me know what you think.

~TrkFeen

2008 NCAA Track & Field Championships Begin Today.....

Well the time is finally here. Today marks the beginning of the championships and the battle for the team titles ensue. I've posted a link to the right of this page which will give you complete access to the live results of the meets as it goes on.

~TrkFeen

Sanya Richards: Robbed of 400m WR?

There isn't too much controversy over the Women's 400m WR (World Record for you learners) of 47.60 by East Germany's Marita Koch. Personally I've dreaded the purity of this record more than any other questionable one out there. There's also the 10.49 and 21.34 run by Florence Griffith Joyner...very questionable indeed. The reason I didn't do a topic on this is just for the simple fact that nobody believes she wasn't doping during those times, so I'd be preaching to the choir. But Marita Koch is another story. For starters, she ran back in the times where Germans and Russians were under heavy speculation of doping in various sports. The women looked like men with breasts and slightly lighter mustaches, and usually short hair. Their muscle definition was off the roof, and their voices were exceptionally deep for a woman. Whatever the case may be, I feel as though Sanya Richards is being robbed of that record seeing as even though she someday wishes to break it, realistically, without the use of steroids, that day will most likely never come. The only woman to even break the 48 second barrier in the last 12 years besides Mexico's Ana Guevara is Sanya Richards. The record was set 23 years ago. Back then there was also a Russian runner (Jarmila Kratochvilova) who owned the record at 47.99 two years prior. So you mean to tell me that NO American woman has gotten close to even touching the 47 second barrier with all the legendary coaches we have here, and there are TWO women who, back in their country's respective doping years, have? Whereas on the Men's side we completely own the 400m dash (and ironically the same coach mentoring the record holder for the Men's is coaching Richards). No, we can't prove it, but there sure is enough to say that by a reasonable doubt those women were on something and this record is tainted. They should just place an asterisk by it and place the next "legit" time from a historically "legit" country as the WR. Probably that of France runner Marie-Jose Perec (48.25). But hey, that's just my opinion, that's not going to happen so we'll have to suffer with the tainted record that is and hope one day it is surpassed by an completely (for the most part) natural athlete.

NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Chamiponships On Horizon.......

June 11th-14th marks the period where new champions will be crowned and others dethroned. There have been plenty of blazing times run this year along with some impressive jumps and throws. There are six entries in the Men's 100m in the 10 flat range (Two under 10 seconds). Five entries in the Women's 400m under 52 seconds. The Men's 400m hurdles have ten entrants under the 50 second barrier. There will be a battle in the Women's 800m as thirteen entries are under 2:05.00 in very close proximities to each other. I could go on and on about the different events and the level of competetion at this meet, but I'd be all day. There will be events which could be considered runaway victory's and showdowns between three or fewer athletes. Kelly-Ann Baptiste (LSU) and Simone Facey (Texas A&M) are the only two women entering the meet under 11 seconds in the Women's 100m...no one else comes remotely close. Leo Manzano (Texas) comes in as the favorite in the 1500m run by four seconds. Jessica Pressley (Arizona State) is posed to claim the Shot Put title coming into the meet ahead of the second place entrant by three feet and an inch (Her throw 61-6). The thing I love about track and field however, is the unforseen upsets. You never know who's going to come to the track/field ready to run/throw/jump and step up when the lights come on. I have my picks made for who I feel will come out on top in certain events, but in most you can't predict the winner because the times and distances are so close. I'll have updates as the NCAA Championships come closer.

~TrkFeen

The U.S. Olympic Trials Upcoming.....

There is alot of buzzing going on about the U.S. Olympic Trials coming up June 27th-July 6th. There are many athletes battling for those top three slots to move on to the Olympic Games in Bejing, some will repeat their visits, while other hope to move in the spotlight and have their names mentioned with the best......all the while the goal being to bring back a Olympic Gold Medal to the U.S. One of the more controversial events in my opinion would probably be the Womens 100m dash. So many different athletes have the opportunity to take hold of the 100m title at the trials, in my opinion there are 7 hopefuls.

-Allyson Felix (Season Best 10.93)
-Marshevet Hooker (Season Best 10.94)
-Muna Lee (Season Best 10.97)
-Torri Edwards (Season Best 10.93)
-Bianca Knight (Season Best 11.11)
-Lauryn Williams (Season Best 11.13)
-Porscha Lucas (Season Best 11.15) (If she comes out to the Trials)

I feel as though all these women respectfully have the ability at any given time to step in front of the others, mainly because they all have moments where they can be inconsistent. Personally I feel as though Torri Edwards is the favorite so far, most would argue in favor of Allyson Felix, but I have my thoughts as to my decision. Felix is extremely inconsistent coming out of the blocks through her first 10-15 meters. When she ran her 10.93 in Doha she came out fast and smooth, unlike at the Prefontaine Classic where she came out sluggish and finished strong. It's going to take for her to run a complete race before she claims the 4 Olympic Gold Medals she dreams of obtaining. Marshevet Hooker had a strong showing at the Reebok Grand Prix along with Muna Lee whole both dipped under the 11 second barrier. Torri Edwards is coming along and showed dominance at the Prefontaine Classic. Bianca is my "Franchise" athlete, if you will, because I believe she will grow into a dominant 100/200m runner and begin to blow away fields with ease. Lauryn Williams is coming into her own as the season continues on as her times drop and I feel she may dip under the 11 second barrier soon. Porscha Lucas had a tough showing at the Big 12 meet and if she decides to come out to the Trials I believe she will be stiff competetion for the rest of the women and may prove to slide her way into the top 3. Her main event though will be the 200m where she has a world leading 22.29 time posted form the Big 12 Championships.

Footage of the Women's 100m Dash at the 2008 Nike Prefontaine Classic
Lane Assignments (Right to Left)
1. Peta-Gaye Dowdie
2. Sherone Simpson
3. Carmelita Jeter
4. Torri Edwards
5. Allyson Felix
6. Lauryn Williams
7. Kerron Stewart
8. Oludamola Osayomi



~TrkFeen

Welcome to Track & Field Universal

I'd like to say hey to everyone gracing this page with their presence. I assume that you found your way here because of your love for Track & Field and the need to have information on it. On this blogging site I intend to provide as much info as I possibly can on all aspects of Track & Field including results from all meets around the United States on Professional, College, High School, and even Junior levels. Hopefully you'll find the videos and posts to you liking and have desire to visit in the future. So welcome, explore and indulge in this world of Track and Field with me.

~TrkFeen