(8-28-09) From USATF Press Release - Dathan Ritzenhein set an American record in the men's 5,000 meters and Sanya Richards continued her quest to win her third Golden League crown Friday at the Weltklasse Zurich, the fifth leg of the AF Golden League 2009.
Thirteen years after Bob Kennedy set the American record of 12:58.21 in the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting , 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein smashed that record by almost 2 seconds finishing third in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds. It was an almost 20 second personal best for Ritzenhein, which makes him the second-fastest non-African in history and only the third American ever to run under 13 minutes.
2009 world champion Sanya Richards won the women's 400m in a world-leading 48.94. Even with three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix coming after her off the turn, Richards sped away down the final straight to run her third-fastest time ever. Felix finished a distant second in 49.83. Richards is now five-for- five in Golden League meetings this season.
The women's 100m was a rematch from last week's world championships featuring seven of the eight Berlin finalists in the race. Two-time world bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter shot out of the blocks when the gun went off and powered to the finish for the win in 10.86. Jeter was the only woman to break 11 seconds. Reigning Olympic and World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM) was fourth in 11.10 and Berlin silver medalist Kerron Stewart (JAM) was once again the runner-up in 11.04.
Anna Willard became the fifth American woman ever to break the four-minute barrier in the women's 1,500m with her runner-up finish in 3:59.38. Before this year, only two Americans had ever broken that barrier. Berlin bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury was fourth in 4:00.81, and Christin Wurth-Thomas was fifth in 4:01.01.
2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper finished as the runner-up in the women's 100m hurdles, running 12.48 to reigning world champion Brigette Foster-Hylton's 12.46. Two-time USA Outdoor champion Ginnie Powell finished fifth in 12.70 and Lolo Jones was eighth in 13.06. On the men's side, three-time world silver medalist Terrence Trammell once again took runner-up honors, crossing the line in 13.17. Two-time world bronze medalist David Payne was fourth in 13.32 and Beijing bronze medalist David Oliver was fifth in 13.33.
The men's 400m finish was a mirror image of the podium at the Berlin World Championships. Reigning Olympic and World Outdoor champion LaShawn Merritt pulled away from '04 Olympic and two-time world champion Jeremy Wariner coming down the final stretch to win in 44.21. Wariner finished second in 44.62 and bronze medalist Renny Quow was third in 44.77.
For more information and complete results from the Weltklasse Zurich Golden League meeting, visit www.iaaf.org.
Rock 'n Relay Returns to Portland, Moves to Fall
(8-25-09) From Press Release - This year's Rock 'n Relay will be held Saturday, September 19 at the Amnesia Brewery (corner of N. Mississippi and Beech St.) in Portland, OR. This unique event features a four-person marathon relay, as well as an individual 4.5-mile event and is a benefit for the Albina Youth Opportunity School.
Great music, a beautiful urban course starting and finishing at the Amnesia brewery, running and walking with friends, beer (at the Amnesia brewery), and food - all on a beautiful fall day - and add a dash of Music Fest Northwest and you have a recipe for one of Portland's quintessential events.
Now, in its third year, this event has expanded to include much more for the 2009 edition. With the addition of Music Fest Northwest, not only do you get a full day of healthy fun, you get a discounted bracelet into a four-day Portland music festival. Music Fest Northwest is the premier music festival in the area, attracting top musicians from all over the country. (Check out the lineup at wweek.com).
Each relay team consists of four members, each doing three 2.18-mile loops. The idea is to hand off to a new team member after every loop until all 12 loops are completed. Don't have a team of four? Come do the individual 4.5 miler!
For additional information, visit www.terrapinevents.com.
Great music, a beautiful urban course starting and finishing at the Amnesia brewery, running and walking with friends, beer (at the Amnesia brewery), and food - all on a beautiful fall day - and add a dash of Music Fest Northwest and you have a recipe for one of Portland's quintessential events.
Now, in its third year, this event has expanded to include much more for the 2009 edition. With the addition of Music Fest Northwest, not only do you get a full day of healthy fun, you get a discounted bracelet into a four-day Portland music festival. Music Fest Northwest is the premier music festival in the area, attracting top musicians from all over the country. (Check out the lineup at wweek.com).
Each relay team consists of four members, each doing three 2.18-mile loops. The idea is to hand off to a new team member after every loop until all 12 loops are completed. Don't have a team of four? Come do the individual 4.5 miler!
For additional information, visit www.terrapinevents.com.
Portland's Kara Goucher Leads Team USA Women's Marathoners to Fifth-place Finish
(8-23-09) From USATF Press Release - 2008 Olympic Trials 5,000m champion and 10,000m runner-up Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) was the top U.S. finisher at the women's World Marathon Cup competition Sunday through the streets of Berlin. The race was contested under mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 70's.
Goucher, who stayed with the main pack for the majority of the race, finished 10th in a season's best time of 2 hours 27 minutes 48 seconds. Goucher's finish is the highest by an American woman in the World Championships marathon since Linda Somers finished seventh in 1995.
Goucher was closely followed by 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon fifth-place finisher Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.), who finished 11th in 2:27:53, which greatly improves on her previous personal best of 2:31:33 set last year in Chicago.
2008 Olympic Trials marathon fifth-place finisher Tera Moody (Boulder, Colo.) rounded out the scoring for Team USA as she placed 28th in 2:36:39 to give the U.S. its combined time of 7:32:20.
Team USA women's fifth-place finish in the World Marathon Cup at a World Outdoor Championships is its best ever. Team USA finished sixth in 1999, 2005 & 2007.
Other finishers for Team USA included 2008 USA 25 km champion Paige Higgins (Littleton, Colo.), who finished 30th in 2:37:11, and Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.), who placed 30th in 2:42:49.
Team USA quotes
Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colorado)--I wanted to break 2:30 today, but with the heat, I had to be a little more conservative. I felt really great, but I just didn't have the turnover.
I felt great from the get-go. I was getting a bit impatient.
Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Michigan)--I went out pretty even, and was able to pick it up along the way. A huge pack was sitting in front of me, and as it broke up, I was able to weave my way through. I felt great going into the last lap, and was able to pick people off.
I came in very fit, and having the confidence from the Chicago Marathon, and being able to move through the field was huge.
Kara Goucher (Portland, Oregon)--My legs felt great, and I felt really relaxed. It was great to have a loop course where my husband and coach could yell at me. The pace felt comfortable, and it felt like practice.
I had a lot of problems keeping my fluids down. After the second personal fluid station, I started throwing up what I took in. I would start taking it, then a mile later, I'd throw up.
I started to cramp with 13k to go, and then the field started to surge. It wasn't there. I just wasn't good enough today. I thought I hydrated myself well leading up to the race.
When the field made their break, my body wouldn't go.
Paige Higgins (Flagstaff, Arizona)--It went very well, but the heat got to me. Tera Moody and I pretty much buddied up together and pursued the second chase pack. We were in it to get a real good team placing.
I liked running on a criterium-style course like this. You can figure out the undulations, and you can break up the course into sections. My coach told me to do a 30k run, and a 12k race. The fans made a huge difference, and that's why I love this course. It's very runner-friendly, and even if you're not a runner, you can see us pass by four times.
Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colorado)--It wasn't what I had expected. The first 10k I was right on what I wanted to run, and on the second lap I was feeling th esame thing.
Shortly before the half-marathon, I started feeling some hot spots on the bottoms of my feet. The race was harder than I thought with the blisters and all. I'm glad I finished the race, but I wished I could have done better.
For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org.
Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.universalsports.com. For complete TV listings, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/mediaCoverage.asp.
For more information on Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/.
Goucher, who stayed with the main pack for the majority of the race, finished 10th in a season's best time of 2 hours 27 minutes 48 seconds. Goucher's finish is the highest by an American woman in the World Championships marathon since Linda Somers finished seventh in 1995.
Goucher was closely followed by 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon fifth-place finisher Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.), who finished 11th in 2:27:53, which greatly improves on her previous personal best of 2:31:33 set last year in Chicago.
2008 Olympic Trials marathon fifth-place finisher Tera Moody (Boulder, Colo.) rounded out the scoring for Team USA as she placed 28th in 2:36:39 to give the U.S. its combined time of 7:32:20.
Team USA women's fifth-place finish in the World Marathon Cup at a World Outdoor Championships is its best ever. Team USA finished sixth in 1999, 2005 & 2007.
Other finishers for Team USA included 2008 USA 25 km champion Paige Higgins (Littleton, Colo.), who finished 30th in 2:37:11, and Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.), who placed 30th in 2:42:49.
Team USA quotes
Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colorado)--I wanted to break 2:30 today, but with the heat, I had to be a little more conservative. I felt really great, but I just didn't have the turnover.
I felt great from the get-go. I was getting a bit impatient.
Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Michigan)--I went out pretty even, and was able to pick it up along the way. A huge pack was sitting in front of me, and as it broke up, I was able to weave my way through. I felt great going into the last lap, and was able to pick people off.
I came in very fit, and having the confidence from the Chicago Marathon, and being able to move through the field was huge.
Kara Goucher (Portland, Oregon)--My legs felt great, and I felt really relaxed. It was great to have a loop course where my husband and coach could yell at me. The pace felt comfortable, and it felt like practice.
I had a lot of problems keeping my fluids down. After the second personal fluid station, I started throwing up what I took in. I would start taking it, then a mile later, I'd throw up.
I started to cramp with 13k to go, and then the field started to surge. It wasn't there. I just wasn't good enough today. I thought I hydrated myself well leading up to the race.
When the field made their break, my body wouldn't go.
Paige Higgins (Flagstaff, Arizona)--It went very well, but the heat got to me. Tera Moody and I pretty much buddied up together and pursued the second chase pack. We were in it to get a real good team placing.
I liked running on a criterium-style course like this. You can figure out the undulations, and you can break up the course into sections. My coach told me to do a 30k run, and a 12k race. The fans made a huge difference, and that's why I love this course. It's very runner-friendly, and even if you're not a runner, you can see us pass by four times.
Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colorado)--It wasn't what I had expected. The first 10k I was right on what I wanted to run, and on the second lap I was feeling th esame thing.
Shortly before the half-marathon, I started feeling some hot spots on the bottoms of my feet. The race was harder than I thought with the blisters and all. I'm glad I finished the race, but I wished I could have done better.
For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org.
Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.universalsports.com. For complete TV listings, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/mediaCoverage.asp.
For more information on Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/.
Cyclocross Developmental Team Set to Launch in Portland
(8-19-09) From Press Release - CycleOne CrossWorld will officially launch in the Fall of 2009. The team will be open to beginners up to intermediate level riders of all ages and gender. CycleOne will provide everything needed to get started in this exciting and rigorous sport. This developmental approach is a package deal that includes all the training and racing support you will need. The cost to join is only $100. That covers your entire 2009 cross racing season including skills clinics, equipment selection, nutrition guidelines, and a complete season long training plan. There will also be classes for hands on maintenance and repair. Each week we will meet on the westside for group training sessions. It's a great way to get in those much needed miles, while maintaining intensity and the "fun factor". The inaugural team meeting will be held the second week of September.
Fall is rapidly approaching and for many Portland area cyclists that means just one thing... Cyclocross fever! Although the roots of the sport are somewhat nebulous, modern consensus says the sport originated in France around 1900. The first organized race in the U.S. was in 1962 in San Francisco. Once defined as an off-season training venture for road and track cyclists, it is now a nationally sanctioned sport and is the fastest growing style of bike racing in the world. And Portland is at the center of that growth. The cyclocross season runs from September through November, with Nationals being held in Bend in mid-December. The equipment is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive. Although a cross bike is preferred by most riders, many novice riders and a few veterans prefer to use a mountain bike. You might even find a race worthy bike at any local swap meet. The typical race course will contain numerous obstacles along the way which force you to dismount and run while carrying the bike. Sections of the course are usually on pavement, although most of it will be on dirt or grass, and of course, there is the ever present mud! It's just a bunch of grownups out playing in the mud... It's a circus, it's a carnival, and it's a blast! And anybody can do it. Are you ready to join the hottest new team in Portland?
Check out www.cycleone.net for more information.
Fall is rapidly approaching and for many Portland area cyclists that means just one thing... Cyclocross fever! Although the roots of the sport are somewhat nebulous, modern consensus says the sport originated in France around 1900. The first organized race in the U.S. was in 1962 in San Francisco. Once defined as an off-season training venture for road and track cyclists, it is now a nationally sanctioned sport and is the fastest growing style of bike racing in the world. And Portland is at the center of that growth. The cyclocross season runs from September through November, with Nationals being held in Bend in mid-December. The equipment is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive. Although a cross bike is preferred by most riders, many novice riders and a few veterans prefer to use a mountain bike. You might even find a race worthy bike at any local swap meet. The typical race course will contain numerous obstacles along the way which force you to dismount and run while carrying the bike. Sections of the course are usually on pavement, although most of it will be on dirt or grass, and of course, there is the ever present mud! It's just a bunch of grownups out playing in the mud... It's a circus, it's a carnival, and it's a blast! And anybody can do it. Are you ready to join the hottest new team in Portland?
Check out www.cycleone.net for more information.
Gambles, Lavelle Win Lake Stevens 70.3
(8-17-09) This year's Lake Stevens Ironman 70.3 Triathlon brought some of the country's top triathletes to the small community just outside of Seattle, WA. Once again, the contenders did not disappoint with the men's course record being broken by Joe Gambles, and Becky Lavelle outrunning the competition.
Notably, Gambles lost by one second to Luke Bell during last year's event, but his 2009 performance was very different - breaking the course record by 3 minutes, 40 seconds, and besting second place by more than seven minutes.
Lavelle clocked the best swim of the day, but came into T2 in second place behind Heather Wurtele, nearly a half a minute back. But a 1:24:29 half marathon would put her in the lead and provided her the overall win by over a minute.
Top Northwest finishers were Matt Lieto (Bend, OR) in 7th place - 4:12:24, and Linsey Corbin (Missoula, MT) in 6th - 4:39:25.
Complete race results can be found HERE. More information about the event and information about the 2010 edition of this event can be found at www.lakestevens703.com.
Lake Stevens 70.3
August 16, 2009
Lake Stevens, WA
Male Overall Results
1. Joe Gambles, 3:56:36
2. Jeffrey Symonds, 4:03:46
3. Justin Park, 4:07:26
4. Eric Limkemann, 4:09:48
5. Jamie Whyte, 4:11:26
6. James Hadley, 4:11:41
7. Matt Lieto, 4:12:24
8. John Flanagan, 4:12:44
9. Mike Neill, 4:15:02
10. Adam Jensen, 4:15:21
Female Overall Results
1. Becky Lavelle, 4:28:16
2. Heather Wurtele, 4:29:24
3. Michellie Jones, 4:31:07
4. Melanie McQuaid, 4:36:19
5. Samantha Warriner, 4:39:23
6. Linsey Corbin, 4:39:25
7. Alexis Smith, 4:42:57
8. Britta Martin, 4:44:00
9. Crystal Anthony, 4:46:54
10. Sara Gross, 4:50:16
Notably, Gambles lost by one second to Luke Bell during last year's event, but his 2009 performance was very different - breaking the course record by 3 minutes, 40 seconds, and besting second place by more than seven minutes.
Lavelle clocked the best swim of the day, but came into T2 in second place behind Heather Wurtele, nearly a half a minute back. But a 1:24:29 half marathon would put her in the lead and provided her the overall win by over a minute.
Top Northwest finishers were Matt Lieto (Bend, OR) in 7th place - 4:12:24, and Linsey Corbin (Missoula, MT) in 6th - 4:39:25.
Complete race results can be found HERE. More information about the event and information about the 2010 edition of this event can be found at www.lakestevens703.com.
Lake Stevens 70.3
August 16, 2009
Lake Stevens, WA
Male Overall Results
1. Joe Gambles, 3:56:36
2. Jeffrey Symonds, 4:03:46
3. Justin Park, 4:07:26
4. Eric Limkemann, 4:09:48
5. Jamie Whyte, 4:11:26
6. James Hadley, 4:11:41
7. Matt Lieto, 4:12:24
8. John Flanagan, 4:12:44
9. Mike Neill, 4:15:02
10. Adam Jensen, 4:15:21
Female Overall Results
1. Becky Lavelle, 4:28:16
2. Heather Wurtele, 4:29:24
3. Michellie Jones, 4:31:07
4. Melanie McQuaid, 4:36:19
5. Samantha Warriner, 4:39:23
6. Linsey Corbin, 4:39:25
7. Alexis Smith, 4:42:57
8. Britta Martin, 4:44:00
9. Crystal Anthony, 4:46:54
10. Sara Gross, 4:50:16
Bolt, Gay Make History in World Championships 100m Final
(8-16-09) From USATF Press Release - Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay put on a remarkable display of speed and power in the men's 100m final Sunday evening at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics at the 1936 Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.
In the most anticipated event at these Championships, Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m from Jamaica, grabbed the lead early in the race and held it throughout before crossing the finishing line first and lowering his own world record from 9.69 seconds to a hard to imagine 9.58.
Gay (Clermont, Fla.), whose reaction time was slightly better than Bolt's (0.144 to 0.146) shattered his American record when he crossed the finish line in 9.71 seconds. Gay's previous AR was set at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene when he finished in 9.77 seconds.
Former Jamaican world record holder Asafa Powell finished third in a season's best 9.84, with 2008 Olympic Games finalist Darvis "Doc" Patton (Grand Prairie, Tex.) finishing eighth, as he did at the Beijing Olympics, in 10.34.
2009 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Tex.) bowed out of the 100m competition this evening after the first semifinal when he finished fifth in 10.04 seconds. 2009 USA Outdoor Championships third-place finisher Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Kansas City, Ks.) finished sixth in the second semi in 10.14, and did not advance.
Day leads Team USA heptathletes
2008 Olympian, 2009 USA Outdoor heptathlon runner-up and 2005 NCAA high jump champion Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.) finished 10th this evening in the women's heptathlon. Day, who finished with a total of 6,126 points, posted a huge personal best in the javelin with a toss of 44.14 meters/144 feet 10 inch, which easily bettered her previous best of 40.62m/133-3 set at the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene. Day will next compete in women's high jump qualifying on Tuesday morning.
2008 Olympian and 2009 USA champion Diana Pickler (Sachse, Tex.) finished 11th with 6,086 points, with 2009 USA Champs third-place finisher Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich.) 24th with 5,134 points
Women's shot put final
Two-time USA Outdoor champion Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Tex.) finished sixth in the final of the women's shot put with her third round throw of 18.96 meters/62 feet 2.50 inches. For Carter it was a huge step forward after placing 15th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Clement, Jackson advance to men's 400m hurdles final
Reigning world champion and 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Kerron Clement (Gainesville, Fla.) ran comfortably in heat 1 of the men's 400m hurdles semifinals, winning the race in his fastest time this year of 48.00 seconds. Clement, whose time was the fastest in two semifinals, will look to defend his world crown in Tuesday night's final.
Joining Clement on Tuesday will be 2005 world outdoor champion, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and reigning USA Outdoor champion Bershawn "Batman" Jackson (Savoy, Ill.), who posted a win in the second semifinal in 48.23. 2009 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up Johnny Dutch (Clayton, N.C.) finished sixth in that race in 49.28 and will not advance.
Jeter, Williams, Lee move on
2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (Los Angeles) flew out of the blocks in heat 4 of the women's 100m quarterfinals and was never challenged throughout the race. She crossed the finish line in 10.94 seconds (-0.4 mps), just missing her personal best time of 10.92 from her win in London on July 25. Jeter's performance was the second-fastest in round 2.
2005 world champion and '07 silver medalist Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.) got out well in heat 2 of the women's 100m quarterfinals and grabbed the lead halfway through the race. She gradually extended the lead the rest of the way before finishing first in 11.06 seconds, which is her fastest time this season.
Also turning in a season's best this evening was two-time Olympian Muna Lee (College Station, Texas), who finished third in heat 3. Lee crossed the finish line in 11.13 seconds, finishing just behind Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown (1st-10.99) and Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.08). The women's 100m semifinals and final will take place tomorrow evening.
Richards and Dunn aren't done yet
2008 Olympic bronze medalist and world ranked #1 Sanya Richards (Austin, Tex.) ran a blistering first 200 meters in heat 3 of the women's 400m semifinals. Richards built a huge lead before easing off the accelerator late in the race and crossing the finish line first in 50.21 seconds. Richards will move on to Tuesday evening's final along with 2009 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up Debbie Dunn (Norfolk, Va.), who finished third in the first semifinal in a new personal best time of 49.95. 2008 World Junior silver medalist Jessica Beard (College Station, Tex.) finished fifth in the first semifinal in 51.20 and will not advance.
Men triple jump qualifying
Reigning USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Brandon Roulhac (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished 14th in men's triple jump qualifying with a best of 16.94 meters/55 feet 7 inches.
Two-time Olympian and 2005 world outdoor champion Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.) qualified 22nd with a best of 16.62m/54-6.50 and Two-time Olympian and two-time Olympic finalist Kenta Bell (Decatur, Ga.) was 30th with a top effort of 16.32m/53-6.50.
Team USA Medal Table - 2009 World Championships in Athletics
Gold (1) Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.), men's shot put, 22.03m/72-3.50
Silver (1) Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.), men's 100 meters, 9.71
For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org. Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.universalsports.com. For complete TV listings, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/mediaCoverage.asp.
For more information on Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/.
In the most anticipated event at these Championships, Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m from Jamaica, grabbed the lead early in the race and held it throughout before crossing the finishing line first and lowering his own world record from 9.69 seconds to a hard to imagine 9.58.
Gay (Clermont, Fla.), whose reaction time was slightly better than Bolt's (0.144 to 0.146) shattered his American record when he crossed the finish line in 9.71 seconds. Gay's previous AR was set at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene when he finished in 9.77 seconds.
Former Jamaican world record holder Asafa Powell finished third in a season's best 9.84, with 2008 Olympic Games finalist Darvis "Doc" Patton (Grand Prairie, Tex.) finishing eighth, as he did at the Beijing Olympics, in 10.34.
2009 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Tex.) bowed out of the 100m competition this evening after the first semifinal when he finished fifth in 10.04 seconds. 2009 USA Outdoor Championships third-place finisher Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Kansas City, Ks.) finished sixth in the second semi in 10.14, and did not advance.
Day leads Team USA heptathletes
2008 Olympian, 2009 USA Outdoor heptathlon runner-up and 2005 NCAA high jump champion Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.) finished 10th this evening in the women's heptathlon. Day, who finished with a total of 6,126 points, posted a huge personal best in the javelin with a toss of 44.14 meters/144 feet 10 inch, which easily bettered her previous best of 40.62m/133-3 set at the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene. Day will next compete in women's high jump qualifying on Tuesday morning.
2008 Olympian and 2009 USA champion Diana Pickler (Sachse, Tex.) finished 11th with 6,086 points, with 2009 USA Champs third-place finisher Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich.) 24th with 5,134 points
Women's shot put final
Two-time USA Outdoor champion Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Tex.) finished sixth in the final of the women's shot put with her third round throw of 18.96 meters/62 feet 2.50 inches. For Carter it was a huge step forward after placing 15th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Clement, Jackson advance to men's 400m hurdles final
Reigning world champion and 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Kerron Clement (Gainesville, Fla.) ran comfortably in heat 1 of the men's 400m hurdles semifinals, winning the race in his fastest time this year of 48.00 seconds. Clement, whose time was the fastest in two semifinals, will look to defend his world crown in Tuesday night's final.
Joining Clement on Tuesday will be 2005 world outdoor champion, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and reigning USA Outdoor champion Bershawn "Batman" Jackson (Savoy, Ill.), who posted a win in the second semifinal in 48.23. 2009 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up Johnny Dutch (Clayton, N.C.) finished sixth in that race in 49.28 and will not advance.
Jeter, Williams, Lee move on
2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (Los Angeles) flew out of the blocks in heat 4 of the women's 100m quarterfinals and was never challenged throughout the race. She crossed the finish line in 10.94 seconds (-0.4 mps), just missing her personal best time of 10.92 from her win in London on July 25. Jeter's performance was the second-fastest in round 2.
2005 world champion and '07 silver medalist Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.) got out well in heat 2 of the women's 100m quarterfinals and grabbed the lead halfway through the race. She gradually extended the lead the rest of the way before finishing first in 11.06 seconds, which is her fastest time this season.
Also turning in a season's best this evening was two-time Olympian Muna Lee (College Station, Texas), who finished third in heat 3. Lee crossed the finish line in 11.13 seconds, finishing just behind Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown (1st-10.99) and Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.08). The women's 100m semifinals and final will take place tomorrow evening.
Richards and Dunn aren't done yet
2008 Olympic bronze medalist and world ranked #1 Sanya Richards (Austin, Tex.) ran a blistering first 200 meters in heat 3 of the women's 400m semifinals. Richards built a huge lead before easing off the accelerator late in the race and crossing the finish line first in 50.21 seconds. Richards will move on to Tuesday evening's final along with 2009 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up Debbie Dunn (Norfolk, Va.), who finished third in the first semifinal in a new personal best time of 49.95. 2008 World Junior silver medalist Jessica Beard (College Station, Tex.) finished fifth in the first semifinal in 51.20 and will not advance.
Men triple jump qualifying
Reigning USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Brandon Roulhac (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished 14th in men's triple jump qualifying with a best of 16.94 meters/55 feet 7 inches.
Two-time Olympian and 2005 world outdoor champion Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.) qualified 22nd with a best of 16.62m/54-6.50 and Two-time Olympian and two-time Olympic finalist Kenta Bell (Decatur, Ga.) was 30th with a top effort of 16.32m/53-6.50.
Team USA Medal Table - 2009 World Championships in Athletics
Gold (1) Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.), men's shot put, 22.03m/72-3.50
Silver (1) Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.), men's 100 meters, 9.71
For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org. Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.universalsports.com. For complete TV listings, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/mediaCoverage.asp.
For more information on Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/.
Inaugural XTERRA Portland Drops Anchor August 15
(8-13-09) From Press Release - About 200 athletes will compete for placing in the first XTERRA Portland off-road triathlon Aug. 15 at Hagg Lake near Forest Grove.
The Strands Professional Purse is a bounty of $5,000 cash which will be distributed among the top ranking five pro men and top five pro women finishers. The top man and woman will also receive a personalized XTERRA Portland racing jersey while amateur and elite triathletes will win first, second and third place medals for their age group.
XTERRA Portland is a 1000 meter swim, 25 kilometer mountain bike and a 5.5-mile trail run, culminating in an off-road triathlon in Scoggins Valley Park about 35 miles west of Portland. The XTERRA-style of racing is known for taking triathlons off the pavement onto dirt trails for the ultimate extreme triathlon endurance race.
According to Justin Barnhart, assistant race director of XTERRA Portland, the two-buoy clockwise swim will be in warm, calm waters while the bike leg is rolling single and double track under shaded trees. "The relatively flat, but technical course has sharp turns requiring quick and reactive decision-making," explains Barnhart. "Bursts of speed on short and steep climbs will force the rider out of the saddle, get the legs burning, and several rocky or root filled sections will challenge the rider's agility, control, and balance."
XTERRA races offer exhilarating "off-road" or extreme swimming, cycling and running events for triathletes across the globe. For more information on XTERRA races, visit: www.xterraplanet.com
For more information on XTERRA Portland, contact Robert Jackson at: XTERRAPortland@gmail.com or type www.XTERRAPortland.com.
The Strands Professional Purse is a bounty of $5,000 cash which will be distributed among the top ranking five pro men and top five pro women finishers. The top man and woman will also receive a personalized XTERRA Portland racing jersey while amateur and elite triathletes will win first, second and third place medals for their age group.
XTERRA Portland is a 1000 meter swim, 25 kilometer mountain bike and a 5.5-mile trail run, culminating in an off-road triathlon in Scoggins Valley Park about 35 miles west of Portland. The XTERRA-style of racing is known for taking triathlons off the pavement onto dirt trails for the ultimate extreme triathlon endurance race.
According to Justin Barnhart, assistant race director of XTERRA Portland, the two-buoy clockwise swim will be in warm, calm waters while the bike leg is rolling single and double track under shaded trees. "The relatively flat, but technical course has sharp turns requiring quick and reactive decision-making," explains Barnhart. "Bursts of speed on short and steep climbs will force the rider out of the saddle, get the legs burning, and several rocky or root filled sections will challenge the rider's agility, control, and balance."
XTERRA races offer exhilarating "off-road" or extreme swimming, cycling and running events for triathletes across the globe. For more information on XTERRA races, visit: www.xterraplanet.com
For more information on XTERRA Portland, contact Robert Jackson at: XTERRAPortland@gmail.com or type www.XTERRAPortland.com.
LibertyBank Sunrise to Summit Slated for Sept 5, Hill Climb TT Added
(8-6-09) From Press Release - The 12th Annual LibertyBank Sunrise to Summit and Bend to Bachelor is fast approaching, September 5th, 2009. Don't miss out on the opportunity to hike or run to the top of Mt. Bachelor from Sunrise Lodge. Or really challenge yourself and bike from the parking lot of Seven Peaks School, to the parking lot of Sunrise Lodge, than either run or hike to the top of Mt. Bachelor, or have a relay member finish it off.
New this year! We have added the Mt. Bachelor Hill Climb Time Trial. This is in standard time trial format with 30 second intervals, beginning at 10 a.m. at Seven Peaks School and ending at Mt Bachelor's Sunrise Lodge. To register, go online at www.mbsef.org or call Molly at the MBSEF office at 388-0002.
If you sign up after August 22nd, the fee increases by $5 dollars. So, sign up today and save money!
This event is operated by and a benefit for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation whose mission is to be the Northwest's leading youth sports training organization for Alpine and Nordic skiing, Snowboarding and Cycling.
Sponsored by LibertyBank, Mt. Bachelor, MBSEF, Deschutes Brewery, Contemporary Family Dentistry, FootZone, Pepsi, Rebound Physical Therapy, Heart Center Cardiology, All Star Storage, the Bend Bulletin and 92.7.
New this year! We have added the Mt. Bachelor Hill Climb Time Trial. This is in standard time trial format with 30 second intervals, beginning at 10 a.m. at Seven Peaks School and ending at Mt Bachelor's Sunrise Lodge. To register, go online at www.mbsef.org or call Molly at the MBSEF office at 388-0002.
If you sign up after August 22nd, the fee increases by $5 dollars. So, sign up today and save money!
This event is operated by and a benefit for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation whose mission is to be the Northwest's leading youth sports training organization for Alpine and Nordic skiing, Snowboarding and Cycling.
Sponsored by LibertyBank, Mt. Bachelor, MBSEF, Deschutes Brewery, Contemporary Family Dentistry, FootZone, Pepsi, Rebound Physical Therapy, Heart Center Cardiology, All Star Storage, the Bend Bulletin and 92.7.
Nike Cross Nationals Returns to Portland in December
(8-5-09) From Press Release - The 6th annual Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) will be held this year on Saturday, December 5th. This premier year-end cross country meet showcases the best runners and teams across America as they come together at Portland Meadows racetrack for the 5,000-meter cross country challenge.
WHAT IS NXN?
The Nike Cross Nationals is comprised of 8 Regional Qualifying meets and the National Finals in Portland. Following in the tradition of European cross country meets, the Nationals event will again feature a multiple loop race course with man-made obstacles built on the inside of the horse race track at Portland Meadows in Oregon. Spectators can enjoy a continuous live view of the race from the venue's enclosed 3,000-seat grandstand, and a live webcast feed of the event will run on nikecrossnationals.com.
Fields of 22 seven-person teams and an additional 45 individuals (male and female) will lay it all on the line in the quest for the sport's biggest prize, the coveted Winged Goddess of Victory statue.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
All teenage cross-country runners and teams are invited to participate in the NXN Series which includes the Nike Cross Nationals Regional Championships in eight select cities across the United States.
The teams and individuals competing in Nike Cross Nationals are selected through a series of regional qualifying events. The nine regions represented are: Heartland, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, South, Northeast, Southeast, California and New York. There are also four at-large teams.
In addition, NXN-VI in Portland will feature the NXN Open Race for any additional club teams and individuals (even team members from different schools) willing to test their mettle across the championship course!
HOW DO YOU QUALIFY?
Qualifying for the featured NXN Championship race in Portland will be extended in each gender to the top two placing teams and the top five placing individuals not on a qualifying team from each of the eight regional championship meets. California comprises the ninth region, with an additional two team berths and five individual spots per gender from that region extended based on criteria to be detailed later.
There will also be four at-large team invitations per gender based on input from a committee of cross-country experts across the nation, with greatest weighting criteria given to those third-place squads at regional championships that may have defeated an eventual regional champion during the course of the season. Only teams that finish among the top four places at a regional championship will be considered for an at-large invitation by the committee.
THE BEST OF THE BEST…
Much like the Tour de France tradition of the overall tour leader donning the yellow jersey during the next stage of the race, the top attending individual returnee in each gender from last year's NXN Championship race will be wearing a custom-designed race uniform identifying him or her as the one to beat.
The top eligible returnees for 2009 are Chelsey Sveinsson (Texas) and Joe Rosa (New Jersey). But they'll need to come ready to run!
Cross country participation numbers and the levels of competition continue to skyrocket so the action promises to be even more exciting this year!
In 2008, Sveinsson and Reed Connor (Texas) took the individual championship while club teams from Spokane, Washington (boys) and Manlius, New York (girls) each took home the Nike statue.
SO WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
This year we are taking seven runners and two chaperones instead of eight runners and one chaperone. This will eliminate the eighth traveling runner and provide stronger support for each team.
The great state of Wyoming has moved from the Southwest Region to the Northwest Region.
WHERE ARE THE REGIONAL MEETS?
NXN - NORTHWEST (11.14.09), Boise, Idaho
NXN - HEARTLAND (11.14.09), Souix Falls, South Dakota
NXN - MIDWEST (11.15.09), Terre Haute, Indiana
NXN - SOUTHWEST (11.21.09), Tempe, Arizona
NXN - SOUTH (11.21.09), The Woodlands, Texas
NXN - SOUTHEAST (11.21.09), Cary, North Carolina
NYN - NORTHEAST (11.28.09), Wappingers Falls, New York
NXN - NEW YORK (11.28.09)m, Wappingers Falls, New York
GET IN ON THE ACTION!
Visit www.NikeCrossNationals.com for more details and registration information.
WHAT IS NXN?
The Nike Cross Nationals is comprised of 8 Regional Qualifying meets and the National Finals in Portland. Following in the tradition of European cross country meets, the Nationals event will again feature a multiple loop race course with man-made obstacles built on the inside of the horse race track at Portland Meadows in Oregon. Spectators can enjoy a continuous live view of the race from the venue's enclosed 3,000-seat grandstand, and a live webcast feed of the event will run on nikecrossnationals.com.
Fields of 22 seven-person teams and an additional 45 individuals (male and female) will lay it all on the line in the quest for the sport's biggest prize, the coveted Winged Goddess of Victory statue.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
All teenage cross-country runners and teams are invited to participate in the NXN Series which includes the Nike Cross Nationals Regional Championships in eight select cities across the United States.
The teams and individuals competing in Nike Cross Nationals are selected through a series of regional qualifying events. The nine regions represented are: Heartland, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, South, Northeast, Southeast, California and New York. There are also four at-large teams.
In addition, NXN-VI in Portland will feature the NXN Open Race for any additional club teams and individuals (even team members from different schools) willing to test their mettle across the championship course!
HOW DO YOU QUALIFY?
Qualifying for the featured NXN Championship race in Portland will be extended in each gender to the top two placing teams and the top five placing individuals not on a qualifying team from each of the eight regional championship meets. California comprises the ninth region, with an additional two team berths and five individual spots per gender from that region extended based on criteria to be detailed later.
There will also be four at-large team invitations per gender based on input from a committee of cross-country experts across the nation, with greatest weighting criteria given to those third-place squads at regional championships that may have defeated an eventual regional champion during the course of the season. Only teams that finish among the top four places at a regional championship will be considered for an at-large invitation by the committee.
THE BEST OF THE BEST…
Much like the Tour de France tradition of the overall tour leader donning the yellow jersey during the next stage of the race, the top attending individual returnee in each gender from last year's NXN Championship race will be wearing a custom-designed race uniform identifying him or her as the one to beat.
The top eligible returnees for 2009 are Chelsey Sveinsson (Texas) and Joe Rosa (New Jersey). But they'll need to come ready to run!
Cross country participation numbers and the levels of competition continue to skyrocket so the action promises to be even more exciting this year!
In 2008, Sveinsson and Reed Connor (Texas) took the individual championship while club teams from Spokane, Washington (boys) and Manlius, New York (girls) each took home the Nike statue.
SO WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
This year we are taking seven runners and two chaperones instead of eight runners and one chaperone. This will eliminate the eighth traveling runner and provide stronger support for each team.
The great state of Wyoming has moved from the Southwest Region to the Northwest Region.
WHERE ARE THE REGIONAL MEETS?
NXN - NORTHWEST (11.14.09), Boise, Idaho
NXN - HEARTLAND (11.14.09), Souix Falls, South Dakota
NXN - MIDWEST (11.15.09), Terre Haute, Indiana
NXN - SOUTHWEST (11.21.09), Tempe, Arizona
NXN - SOUTH (11.21.09), The Woodlands, Texas
NXN - SOUTHEAST (11.21.09), Cary, North Carolina
NYN - NORTHEAST (11.28.09), Wappingers Falls, New York
NXN - NEW YORK (11.28.09)m, Wappingers Falls, New York
GET IN ON THE ACTION!
Visit www.NikeCrossNationals.com for more details and registration information.
Northwest Athletes on Team USA Ready to Compete at World Championships in Berlin
(8-4-09) From USATF Press Release - Reigning world champions Tyson Gay, Bernard Lagat, Allyson Felix, Jeremy Wariner, Kerron Clement, Michelle Perry, Reese Hoffa and Brad Walker will lead a potent Team USA roster at the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships. USA Track & Field on Tuesday announced the Team USA roster for the 12th edition of the Championships, which will be held August 15-23 in Berlin, Germany.
This will be the first time Team USA has returned to Berlin for a major international championship competition since the 1936 Olympic Games, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.
"These World Championships are special to us for many reasons," said USATF CEO Doug Logan. "It is Team USA's chance to come back strong in the post-Olympic year, and it is an opportunity to honor the incredible legacy of the great Jesse Owens. We feel our team roster will represent the United States well on both counts."
At the most recent World Outdoor Championships in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, Team USA tied the all-time World Championships record for gold medals with 14, matching its feat from 2005, and tied the American all-time medal tally at a World Outdoor Championships with 26. In Osaka, Team USA led a medal table in which a record 46 countries won medals. When Team USA last won 26 medals at a World Outdoor Championships in 1991, just 29 countries appeared on the medal table.
Team USA has dominated the 11 previous World Outdoor Championships with its overall total of 228 medals (110 gold, 60 silver, 38 bronze). Russia is in second place on the all-time medal table with 122 medals (33 gold, 51 silver, 38 bronze).
The highly accomplished 2009 Team USA squad consists of 20 Olympic medalists, 28 World Outdoor Championships medalists and 10 American record holders.
Reigning world champions include Tyson Gay, who will look to defend his world 100m and 200m titles from the 2007 Championships in Osaka, Japan. Gay won the 100m gold medal in 9.85 seconds and captured the world crown in the 200m by running 19.76. Gay's 200m performance bettered National Track & Field Hall of Famer Michael Johnson's World Outdoor Championships record of 19.79 set in 1995.
Gay posted the fastest 100m time in the world this year of 9.77 seconds with his win in Rome on July 10, and he also tops the world list in the 200m with his 19.58 clocking at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York on May 30, which is the third-fastest 200m in history.
Also looking to defend two world titles in Berlin will be two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, who became the first man ever to achieve the 1,500m/5,000m double at a World Outdoor Championships in Osaka. Lagat won the 1,500m in 3 minutes 34.77 seconds, and the 5,000m in 13:45.87.
Two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Allyson Felix made history of her own in Osaka in becoming only the second woman ever to win three gold medals at a World Outdoor Championships. Felix, who won gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, won the women's 200 meters in 21.81 seconds, giving her the greatest margin of victory (.53) in that event in World Championships history.
Other Americans looking to defend their Osaka individual world titles include 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Kerron Clement in the men's 400m hurdles, American record holder Brad Walker in the men's pole vault, 2006 World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa in the men's shot put, and 2005 and 2007 women's 100m hurdles world champion Michelle Perry.
Team USA members who are the current world leaders in their events include Tyson Gay (M100m, 9.77 & 200m, 19.58), 2008 Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt (M400m, 44.50), Andra Manson (MHJ - 2.35m/7-8.50), 2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Dwight Phillips (MLJ - 8.74m/28-8.25); Sanya Richards (W400m - 49.23), Lashinda Demus (W400mH - 52.63), Brittney Reese (WLJ - 7.06m/23-2) and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton (WDT - 66.21m/217-2).
NBC, Versus to broadcast meet
The 2009 World Championships will be broadcast in the United States daily on NBC and Versus. The broadcast schedule is as follows. All times Eastern; subject to change; check local listings.
August 15: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. NBC
August 16: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. NBC
August 17: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Versus
August 18: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Versus
August 19: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Versus
August 20: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Versus
August 21: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Versus
August 22: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. NBC
August 23: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. NBC
The full Team USA roster by event is listed below.
Men's Roster by event - As of 8/4
100m: *Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.); Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas); Darvis Patton (Grand Prairie, Texas); Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Kansas City, Kan.)
200m: *Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.); Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles, Calif.); Charles Clark (Virginia Beach, Va.); Wallace Spearmon (College Station, Texas)
400m: *Jeremy Wariner (Waco, Texas); LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.); Gil Roberts (Oklahoma City, Okla.); Lionel Larry (Compton, Calif.)
800m: Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.); Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.); Ryan Brown (Seattle, Wash.)
1500m: *Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.); Lopez Lomong (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Leonel Manzano (Austin, Texas); Dorian Ulrey (Port Byron, Ill.)
3000m Steeplechase: Josh McAdams (Cordova, Tenn.); Dan Huling (Geneva, Ill.); Kyle Alcorn (Fresno, Calif.)
5000m: *Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.); Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore.); Chris Solinsky (Madison, Wis.); Evan Jager (Beaverton, Ore.)
10,000m: Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.); Dathan Ritzenhein (Eugene, Ore.); Tim Nelson (Redding, Calif.)
Marathon: Dan Browne (San Diego, Calif.); Nate Jenkins (Lowell, Mass.); Justin Young (Superior, Colo.); Matt Gabrielson (Minneapolis, Minn.); Edwardo Torres (Boulder, Colo.)
110m hurdles: David Payne (Covington, Ky.); Terrence Trammell (Atlanta, Ga.); Aries Merritt (Bryan, Texas)
400m hurdles: *Kerron Clement (Los Angeles); Bershawn Jackson (Savoy, Ill.); Johnny Dutch (Clayton, N.C.); Angelo Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.)
High Jump: Tora Harris (Chula Vista, Calif.); Andra Manson (Austin, Texas); Keith Moffatt (Atlanta, Ga.)
Pole Vault: *Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.); Jeremy Scott (Brookland, Ark.); Derek Miles (Tea, S.D.); Toby Stevenson (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Long Jump: *Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.); Brian Johnson (Zachary, La.); Miguel Pate (St. Francisville, La.)
Triple Jump: Brandon Roulhac (Tallahassee, Fla.); Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.); Kenta Bell (Decatur, Ga.)
Shot Put: *Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.); Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.); Dan Taylor (Mesa, Ariz.); Adam Nelson (Charlottesville, Va.)
Discus Throw: Casey Malone (Ft. Collins, Colo.); Jarred Rome (Chula Vista, Calif.); Ian Waltz (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Hammer Throw: A.G. Kruger (Ashland, Ohio); Thomas Freeman (Westbury, N.Y.); Mike Mai (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Javelin Throw: Chris Hill (Athens, Ga.); Mike Hazle (Chula Vista, Calif.); Sean Furey (San Diego, Calif.)
Decathlon: Trey Hardee (Austin, Texas); Ashton Eaton (Eugene, Ore.); Jake Arnold (Tucson, Ariz.)
4x100m Relay Pool: Tyson Gay (Lexington, Ky.); Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas); Darvis Patton (Grand Prairie, Texas); Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Kansas City, Kan.); Travis Padgett (Marietta, Ga.); Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles); Terrence Trammell (Atlanta, Ga.); Wallace Spearmon (College Station, Texas)
4x400m Relay Pool: Jeremy Wariner (Waco, Texas); LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.); Gil Roberts (Oklahoma City, Okla.); Lionel Larry (Compton, Calif.); David Neville (Valencia, Calif.); Kerron Clement (Los Angeles); Bershawn Jackson (Savoy, Ill.); Angelo Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.)
*Denotes IAAF Wildcard as defending world champion
Women's Roster by event - As of 8/4
100m: Carmelita Jeter (Inglewood, Calif.); Muna Lee (College Station, Texas); Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.)
200m: *Allyson Felix (Los Angeles); Muna Lee (College Station, Texas); Marshevet Hooker (Pflugerville, Texas); Charonda Williams (Richmond, Calif.)
400m: Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas); Debbie Dunn (Norfolk, Va.); Jessica Beard (Euclid, Ohio)
800m: Hazel Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.); Geena Gall (Ann Arbor, Mich.); Maggie Vessey (Soquel, Calif.)
1500m: Shannon Rowbury (San Francisco, Calif.) Christin Wurth-Thomas (Springdale, Ark.); Anna Willard (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.)
3000m Steeplechase: Jenny Barringer (Boulder, Colo.); Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio); Lindsey Anderson (South Ogden, Utah)
5000m: Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.); Julie Culley (Arlington, Va.)
10,000m: Amy Yoder Begley (Beaverton, Ore.); Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.); Katie McGregor (St. Louis Park, Minn.)
Marathon: Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.); Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.); Paige Higgins (Flagstaff, Ariz.); Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.); Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
100m hurdles: *Michelle Perry (Santa Clarita, Calif.); Dawn Harper (Los. Angeles, Calif.); Ginnie Powell (Los Angeles, Calif.); Damu Cherry (Winter Garden, Fla.)
400m hurdles: Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.); Sheena Tosta (Chula Vista, Calif.); Tiffany Ross-Williams (Kissimmee, Fla.)
20km race walk: Teresa Vaill (Gainesville, Fla.)
High Jump: Chaunte Howard (Snellville, Ga.); Amy Acuff (Isleton, Calif.); Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.)
Pole Vault: Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.); Chelsea Johnson (Atascadero, Calif.); Stacy Dragila (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Long Jump: Brittany Reese (Gulfport, Miss.); Brianna Glenn (Chula Vista, Calif.); Funmi Jimoh (Stanford, Texas)
Triple Jump: Shakeema Welsch (Charlotte, N.C.); Erica McLain (Menlo Park, Calif.); Shani Marks (Brooklyn Park, Minn.)
Shot Put: Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas); Jillian Camarena (Tucson, Ariz.); Kristin Heaston (Opelika, Ala.)
Discus Throw: Stephanie Brown Trafton (Galt, Calif.); Aretha Thurmond (Opelika, Ala.); Becky Breisch (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Hammer Throw: Jessica Cosby (Mission Hills, Calif.); Amber Campbell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.); Erin Gilreath (Munice, Ind.)
Javelin Throw: Kara Patterson (West Lafayette, Ind.); Rachel Yurkovich (Eugene, Ore.)
Heptathlon: Diana Pickler (Sachse, Texas); Sharon Day (Costa, Mesa, Calif.); Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich.)
4x100m Relay Pool: Carmelita Jeter (Inglewood, Calif.); Muna Lee (College Station, Texas); Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.); Alexandria Anderson (Austin, Texas); Jessica Young (Fort Worth, Texas); Shalonda Solomon (Inglewood, Calif.); Marshevet Hooker (Pflugerville, Texas); Charonda Williams (Richmond, Calif.); Allyson Felix (Los Angeles)
4x400m Relay Pool: Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas); Debbie Dunn (Norfolk Va.); Jessica Beard (Euclid, Ohio); Natasha Hastings (Los Angeles); Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.); Allyson Felix (Los Angeles)
*Denotes IAAF Wildcard as defending world champion
For more information on Team USA at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, visit: www.iaaf.org.
This will be the first time Team USA has returned to Berlin for a major international championship competition since the 1936 Olympic Games, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.
"These World Championships are special to us for many reasons," said USATF CEO Doug Logan. "It is Team USA's chance to come back strong in the post-Olympic year, and it is an opportunity to honor the incredible legacy of the great Jesse Owens. We feel our team roster will represent the United States well on both counts."
At the most recent World Outdoor Championships in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, Team USA tied the all-time World Championships record for gold medals with 14, matching its feat from 2005, and tied the American all-time medal tally at a World Outdoor Championships with 26. In Osaka, Team USA led a medal table in which a record 46 countries won medals. When Team USA last won 26 medals at a World Outdoor Championships in 1991, just 29 countries appeared on the medal table.
Team USA has dominated the 11 previous World Outdoor Championships with its overall total of 228 medals (110 gold, 60 silver, 38 bronze). Russia is in second place on the all-time medal table with 122 medals (33 gold, 51 silver, 38 bronze).
The highly accomplished 2009 Team USA squad consists of 20 Olympic medalists, 28 World Outdoor Championships medalists and 10 American record holders.
Reigning world champions include Tyson Gay, who will look to defend his world 100m and 200m titles from the 2007 Championships in Osaka, Japan. Gay won the 100m gold medal in 9.85 seconds and captured the world crown in the 200m by running 19.76. Gay's 200m performance bettered National Track & Field Hall of Famer Michael Johnson's World Outdoor Championships record of 19.79 set in 1995.
Gay posted the fastest 100m time in the world this year of 9.77 seconds with his win in Rome on July 10, and he also tops the world list in the 200m with his 19.58 clocking at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York on May 30, which is the third-fastest 200m in history.
Also looking to defend two world titles in Berlin will be two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, who became the first man ever to achieve the 1,500m/5,000m double at a World Outdoor Championships in Osaka. Lagat won the 1,500m in 3 minutes 34.77 seconds, and the 5,000m in 13:45.87.
Two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Allyson Felix made history of her own in Osaka in becoming only the second woman ever to win three gold medals at a World Outdoor Championships. Felix, who won gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, won the women's 200 meters in 21.81 seconds, giving her the greatest margin of victory (.53) in that event in World Championships history.
Other Americans looking to defend their Osaka individual world titles include 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Kerron Clement in the men's 400m hurdles, American record holder Brad Walker in the men's pole vault, 2006 World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa in the men's shot put, and 2005 and 2007 women's 100m hurdles world champion Michelle Perry.
Team USA members who are the current world leaders in their events include Tyson Gay (M100m, 9.77 & 200m, 19.58), 2008 Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt (M400m, 44.50), Andra Manson (MHJ - 2.35m/7-8.50), 2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Dwight Phillips (MLJ - 8.74m/28-8.25); Sanya Richards (W400m - 49.23), Lashinda Demus (W400mH - 52.63), Brittney Reese (WLJ - 7.06m/23-2) and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton (WDT - 66.21m/217-2).
NBC, Versus to broadcast meet
The 2009 World Championships will be broadcast in the United States daily on NBC and Versus. The broadcast schedule is as follows. All times Eastern; subject to change; check local listings.
August 15: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. NBC
August 16: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. NBC
August 17: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Versus
August 18: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Versus
August 19: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Versus
August 20: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Versus
August 21: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Versus
August 22: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. NBC
August 23: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. NBC
The full Team USA roster by event is listed below.
Men's Roster by event - As of 8/4
100m: *Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.); Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas); Darvis Patton (Grand Prairie, Texas); Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Kansas City, Kan.)
200m: *Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.); Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles, Calif.); Charles Clark (Virginia Beach, Va.); Wallace Spearmon (College Station, Texas)
400m: *Jeremy Wariner (Waco, Texas); LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.); Gil Roberts (Oklahoma City, Okla.); Lionel Larry (Compton, Calif.)
800m: Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.); Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.); Ryan Brown (Seattle, Wash.)
1500m: *Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.); Lopez Lomong (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Leonel Manzano (Austin, Texas); Dorian Ulrey (Port Byron, Ill.)
3000m Steeplechase: Josh McAdams (Cordova, Tenn.); Dan Huling (Geneva, Ill.); Kyle Alcorn (Fresno, Calif.)
5000m: *Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.); Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore.); Chris Solinsky (Madison, Wis.); Evan Jager (Beaverton, Ore.)
10,000m: Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.); Dathan Ritzenhein (Eugene, Ore.); Tim Nelson (Redding, Calif.)
Marathon: Dan Browne (San Diego, Calif.); Nate Jenkins (Lowell, Mass.); Justin Young (Superior, Colo.); Matt Gabrielson (Minneapolis, Minn.); Edwardo Torres (Boulder, Colo.)
110m hurdles: David Payne (Covington, Ky.); Terrence Trammell (Atlanta, Ga.); Aries Merritt (Bryan, Texas)
400m hurdles: *Kerron Clement (Los Angeles); Bershawn Jackson (Savoy, Ill.); Johnny Dutch (Clayton, N.C.); Angelo Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.)
High Jump: Tora Harris (Chula Vista, Calif.); Andra Manson (Austin, Texas); Keith Moffatt (Atlanta, Ga.)
Pole Vault: *Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.); Jeremy Scott (Brookland, Ark.); Derek Miles (Tea, S.D.); Toby Stevenson (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Long Jump: *Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.); Brian Johnson (Zachary, La.); Miguel Pate (St. Francisville, La.)
Triple Jump: Brandon Roulhac (Tallahassee, Fla.); Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.); Kenta Bell (Decatur, Ga.)
Shot Put: *Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.); Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.); Dan Taylor (Mesa, Ariz.); Adam Nelson (Charlottesville, Va.)
Discus Throw: Casey Malone (Ft. Collins, Colo.); Jarred Rome (Chula Vista, Calif.); Ian Waltz (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Hammer Throw: A.G. Kruger (Ashland, Ohio); Thomas Freeman (Westbury, N.Y.); Mike Mai (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Javelin Throw: Chris Hill (Athens, Ga.); Mike Hazle (Chula Vista, Calif.); Sean Furey (San Diego, Calif.)
Decathlon: Trey Hardee (Austin, Texas); Ashton Eaton (Eugene, Ore.); Jake Arnold (Tucson, Ariz.)
4x100m Relay Pool: Tyson Gay (Lexington, Ky.); Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas); Darvis Patton (Grand Prairie, Texas); Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Kansas City, Kan.); Travis Padgett (Marietta, Ga.); Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles); Terrence Trammell (Atlanta, Ga.); Wallace Spearmon (College Station, Texas)
4x400m Relay Pool: Jeremy Wariner (Waco, Texas); LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.); Gil Roberts (Oklahoma City, Okla.); Lionel Larry (Compton, Calif.); David Neville (Valencia, Calif.); Kerron Clement (Los Angeles); Bershawn Jackson (Savoy, Ill.); Angelo Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.)
*Denotes IAAF Wildcard as defending world champion
Women's Roster by event - As of 8/4
100m: Carmelita Jeter (Inglewood, Calif.); Muna Lee (College Station, Texas); Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.)
200m: *Allyson Felix (Los Angeles); Muna Lee (College Station, Texas); Marshevet Hooker (Pflugerville, Texas); Charonda Williams (Richmond, Calif.)
400m: Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas); Debbie Dunn (Norfolk, Va.); Jessica Beard (Euclid, Ohio)
800m: Hazel Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.); Geena Gall (Ann Arbor, Mich.); Maggie Vessey (Soquel, Calif.)
1500m: Shannon Rowbury (San Francisco, Calif.) Christin Wurth-Thomas (Springdale, Ark.); Anna Willard (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.)
3000m Steeplechase: Jenny Barringer (Boulder, Colo.); Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio); Lindsey Anderson (South Ogden, Utah)
5000m: Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.); Julie Culley (Arlington, Va.)
10,000m: Amy Yoder Begley (Beaverton, Ore.); Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.); Katie McGregor (St. Louis Park, Minn.)
Marathon: Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.); Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.); Paige Higgins (Flagstaff, Ariz.); Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.); Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
100m hurdles: *Michelle Perry (Santa Clarita, Calif.); Dawn Harper (Los. Angeles, Calif.); Ginnie Powell (Los Angeles, Calif.); Damu Cherry (Winter Garden, Fla.)
400m hurdles: Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.); Sheena Tosta (Chula Vista, Calif.); Tiffany Ross-Williams (Kissimmee, Fla.)
20km race walk: Teresa Vaill (Gainesville, Fla.)
High Jump: Chaunte Howard (Snellville, Ga.); Amy Acuff (Isleton, Calif.); Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.)
Pole Vault: Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.); Chelsea Johnson (Atascadero, Calif.); Stacy Dragila (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Long Jump: Brittany Reese (Gulfport, Miss.); Brianna Glenn (Chula Vista, Calif.); Funmi Jimoh (Stanford, Texas)
Triple Jump: Shakeema Welsch (Charlotte, N.C.); Erica McLain (Menlo Park, Calif.); Shani Marks (Brooklyn Park, Minn.)
Shot Put: Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas); Jillian Camarena (Tucson, Ariz.); Kristin Heaston (Opelika, Ala.)
Discus Throw: Stephanie Brown Trafton (Galt, Calif.); Aretha Thurmond (Opelika, Ala.); Becky Breisch (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Hammer Throw: Jessica Cosby (Mission Hills, Calif.); Amber Campbell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.); Erin Gilreath (Munice, Ind.)
Javelin Throw: Kara Patterson (West Lafayette, Ind.); Rachel Yurkovich (Eugene, Ore.)
Heptathlon: Diana Pickler (Sachse, Texas); Sharon Day (Costa, Mesa, Calif.); Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich.)
4x100m Relay Pool: Carmelita Jeter (Inglewood, Calif.); Muna Lee (College Station, Texas); Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.); Alexandria Anderson (Austin, Texas); Jessica Young (Fort Worth, Texas); Shalonda Solomon (Inglewood, Calif.); Marshevet Hooker (Pflugerville, Texas); Charonda Williams (Richmond, Calif.); Allyson Felix (Los Angeles)
4x400m Relay Pool: Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas); Debbie Dunn (Norfolk Va.); Jessica Beard (Euclid, Ohio); Natasha Hastings (Los Angeles); Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.); Allyson Felix (Los Angeles)
*Denotes IAAF Wildcard as defending world champion
For more information on Team USA at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, visit: www.iaaf.org.
Race Report: 2009 Mid-Summer Triathlon
(8-4-09) Submitted by Dave Campbell - The return to Blue Lake seven weeks after the June rendezvous is a very different race and this Sunday's event was no different. For starters, many of the women (nearly 400 strong) race Saturday in their own unique, uber-popular, and very newbie friendly event. Then Sunday's event splits the fields (and talent) between an Olympic distance race (that usually draws the "heavy hitters" for 1500m swim, 40k bike, and 10k run) and a Sprint Race (800m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) that is a TRI-NW Regional Sprint Championship event and is thus hotly contested amongst the rank-and-file age groupers of the region. Oh, and then there is the weather. This one is almost always hot as opposed to the typically cool and even wet June conditions. The course is typically very fast in August with little wind along the flat bike course on Marine Drive along the Columbia River.
For starters, the water was warm and the outside air temp was already mid 70s at 7 a.m. as the athletes prepared to race. Despite the 8 a.m. start we all knew the run would be HOT. Athletes were advised against full wetsuits with shorties, sleeveless, and "without" being the preferred choices. As a veteran competitor (and doing only the sprint race due to coming back from injury) I was sure I would be fine in my full suit and was... for about the first half. For the second boiling half, all I could focus on was getting that thing off! Most of us don't realize how much we sweat in a hot swim and while I was fine, just a little uncomfortable, this was an issue for some others.
Triathlon is, by design, an individual sport. You have to put out your own best effort and ultimately you are racing the clock. This is never as clear as during wave starts. To be "leading" your wave and "let up" or "lose focus" with no one nearby to push you is a big mistake. The best strategy is to push as hard as you can all the way to the line. By my reckoning, the fastest guys were in the 40-49 wave (the young guns racing the Olympic) but I was sure there were earlier starters who would be fast too.
Fastest in the warm water was 22-year-old Colt Cassidy of Snohomish, WA in a solid 11:00 followed 33 seconds slower by Ankist Zadeyn, 37, of Portland, and only 42 seconds back was top woman Kristin Anderson of Portland, age 36. The man who always bemoans his lack of pool time David Ciaverella, 43, of Happy Valley got back into the race with his top split of 29:10. After a bike-long duel with Marcelo Silva, 40, of Portland that netted by 2nd best bike to go with my 4th best swim, I "led" my wave off the bike knowing full well 10 minutes ahead another race was being waged. Cassidy's 29:47 (4th best) had indeed kept him in the lead but he then blew all of our doors COMPLETELY off with a 16:21 run to take the overall victory well clear in 1:00:11, one of the fastest sprint times I have seen here EVER. Silva logged the 4th best run (19:39) to take second and first Master with Ciaverella 37 seconds behind in third. 27-year-old Eric Gushurst of Portland was 5th overall to win his age group, just tenths of a second ahead of 35-year-old Sean Bryson of Vancouver, WA tops in his group. The ageless triathlon legend of the Northwest himself, Frank Goulard was 8th overall (at 56!) and the big winner of his division.
For the ladies, Northwest legend and Hawaii Ironman finisher Kristina Hughes, 38, of Tigard triumphed in 1:14:11 on the strength of her bike-run combo. Her 33:34 bike was 25th best overall and her run (22:49) 20th... of 219 competitors! 39-year-old Patty Boyd of White Salmon, WA was second overall over 4 minutes back while 3rd overall Rowena Spence (31) of Santa Barbara, CA won her age group in 1:19:41. Masters Champion was Marcia Reynolds (41) of Portland in 1:29:09.
Additional Regional Champs were Seth Sotelo of Grants Pass in the 12-14s in 1:44:18, and his sister Lucy on the women's side in 1:54:50. Thomas Cameron of Lake Oswego was tops in 15-17 yr olds in 1:20:45 while the 18-19 titles went to Josh Embury of Eugene (1:19:44) and Marilyn Sohlberg of Happy Valley in 1:53:09. Sarah Lee of Eugene joined Cassidy as 20-24 champion in 1:27:17. Joining Gushurst as 25-29 champion was Portland's Beth Orten in 1:25:31. Todd Vogt of Portland topped the 30-34 in 1:12:04 alongside Rowena Spence. Steve Small of Seattle (1:12:40) and Aimee Demaret of Vancouver, WA in 1:31:14 were tops in the 45-49 age bracket. Tom Box of Salem (1:14:43) and Ellen Mendoza (1:40:16) of Portland triumphed in the 50-54 group. Melanie Cooke of Portland (1:46:10) joined Goulard as top 55-59er. Matt Henderson (1:20:19) and Meffie Armstrong (2:05:54) both of Lake Oswego won the 60-64s. Albany, Oregon multisport legend Kirk Rose back from being hit by a car this spring and having open heart surgery was a joyful and very well-received 2nd in 1:24:21. John Spence of Bend was top 65-69 in 1:22:03, faster than a whole lot of younger guys!
The Olympic Triathlon enjoyed a strong turnout of nearly 200 athletes and the surprise appearance of two New Zealand ITU National Team Members. 22-year-old Andrew Curtayne of Auckland BLASTED the course in possibly the fastest time here EVER - 1:51:38 (17:55 Swim/57:00 bike/34:01 run). Portland's Philippe Kozub, 33, who is new to me was second in a spectacular (and normally race winning) 1:56:54, while Curtayne's NZ teammate Bruce Hunter, 23, was third in 1:58:44. For reference, 2:01 has been a very common winning time here in past yrs! WOW!!! Brynje Enderle of Portland (31) topped the ladies in 2:12:54.
There are many fabulous races still dotting the calendar through mid-September so enjoy this amazing weather (maybe too amazing... stay hydrated and go early!), keep training, and see you at the races!
For starters, the water was warm and the outside air temp was already mid 70s at 7 a.m. as the athletes prepared to race. Despite the 8 a.m. start we all knew the run would be HOT. Athletes were advised against full wetsuits with shorties, sleeveless, and "without" being the preferred choices. As a veteran competitor (and doing only the sprint race due to coming back from injury) I was sure I would be fine in my full suit and was... for about the first half. For the second boiling half, all I could focus on was getting that thing off! Most of us don't realize how much we sweat in a hot swim and while I was fine, just a little uncomfortable, this was an issue for some others.
Triathlon is, by design, an individual sport. You have to put out your own best effort and ultimately you are racing the clock. This is never as clear as during wave starts. To be "leading" your wave and "let up" or "lose focus" with no one nearby to push you is a big mistake. The best strategy is to push as hard as you can all the way to the line. By my reckoning, the fastest guys were in the 40-49 wave (the young guns racing the Olympic) but I was sure there were earlier starters who would be fast too.
Fastest in the warm water was 22-year-old Colt Cassidy of Snohomish, WA in a solid 11:00 followed 33 seconds slower by Ankist Zadeyn, 37, of Portland, and only 42 seconds back was top woman Kristin Anderson of Portland, age 36. The man who always bemoans his lack of pool time David Ciaverella, 43, of Happy Valley got back into the race with his top split of 29:10. After a bike-long duel with Marcelo Silva, 40, of Portland that netted by 2nd best bike to go with my 4th best swim, I "led" my wave off the bike knowing full well 10 minutes ahead another race was being waged. Cassidy's 29:47 (4th best) had indeed kept him in the lead but he then blew all of our doors COMPLETELY off with a 16:21 run to take the overall victory well clear in 1:00:11, one of the fastest sprint times I have seen here EVER. Silva logged the 4th best run (19:39) to take second and first Master with Ciaverella 37 seconds behind in third. 27-year-old Eric Gushurst of Portland was 5th overall to win his age group, just tenths of a second ahead of 35-year-old Sean Bryson of Vancouver, WA tops in his group. The ageless triathlon legend of the Northwest himself, Frank Goulard was 8th overall (at 56!) and the big winner of his division.
For the ladies, Northwest legend and Hawaii Ironman finisher Kristina Hughes, 38, of Tigard triumphed in 1:14:11 on the strength of her bike-run combo. Her 33:34 bike was 25th best overall and her run (22:49) 20th... of 219 competitors! 39-year-old Patty Boyd of White Salmon, WA was second overall over 4 minutes back while 3rd overall Rowena Spence (31) of Santa Barbara, CA won her age group in 1:19:41. Masters Champion was Marcia Reynolds (41) of Portland in 1:29:09.
Additional Regional Champs were Seth Sotelo of Grants Pass in the 12-14s in 1:44:18, and his sister Lucy on the women's side in 1:54:50. Thomas Cameron of Lake Oswego was tops in 15-17 yr olds in 1:20:45 while the 18-19 titles went to Josh Embury of Eugene (1:19:44) and Marilyn Sohlberg of Happy Valley in 1:53:09. Sarah Lee of Eugene joined Cassidy as 20-24 champion in 1:27:17. Joining Gushurst as 25-29 champion was Portland's Beth Orten in 1:25:31. Todd Vogt of Portland topped the 30-34 in 1:12:04 alongside Rowena Spence. Steve Small of Seattle (1:12:40) and Aimee Demaret of Vancouver, WA in 1:31:14 were tops in the 45-49 age bracket. Tom Box of Salem (1:14:43) and Ellen Mendoza (1:40:16) of Portland triumphed in the 50-54 group. Melanie Cooke of Portland (1:46:10) joined Goulard as top 55-59er. Matt Henderson (1:20:19) and Meffie Armstrong (2:05:54) both of Lake Oswego won the 60-64s. Albany, Oregon multisport legend Kirk Rose back from being hit by a car this spring and having open heart surgery was a joyful and very well-received 2nd in 1:24:21. John Spence of Bend was top 65-69 in 1:22:03, faster than a whole lot of younger guys!
The Olympic Triathlon enjoyed a strong turnout of nearly 200 athletes and the surprise appearance of two New Zealand ITU National Team Members. 22-year-old Andrew Curtayne of Auckland BLASTED the course in possibly the fastest time here EVER - 1:51:38 (17:55 Swim/57:00 bike/34:01 run). Portland's Philippe Kozub, 33, who is new to me was second in a spectacular (and normally race winning) 1:56:54, while Curtayne's NZ teammate Bruce Hunter, 23, was third in 1:58:44. For reference, 2:01 has been a very common winning time here in past yrs! WOW!!! Brynje Enderle of Portland (31) topped the ladies in 2:12:54.
There are many fabulous races still dotting the calendar through mid-September so enjoy this amazing weather (maybe too amazing... stay hydrated and go early!), keep training, and see you at the races!
Portland's Twilight Criterium Rolls On
(8-3-09) From Press Release - Downtown Portland's Biggest Bike Racing Starts at Twilight This Friday, But it Almost Didn't Happen This Year!
Portland's Twilight Criterium brings up to 15,000 Portlanders together to watch some of the nation's fastest racers accelerate on the streets around the wooded North Park Blocks. Spectators enjoy a festival atmosphere with booths, food and drink, and the entire event is a fundraiser for Bikes for Rwanda, putting work bikes into the hands of Rwandans attempting to revive their nation's coffee industry.
But the race almost didn't happen this year after a major sponsor pulled out. No race through the downtown, no fundraiser.
Then a group of downtown bike lawyers and racers teamed up with the promoter to piece together a combination of donated time and money to make the race happen. Lawyers and racers are competitive, but for this event they put up enough seed money to make the race a possibility and then Subaru stepped forward as a major sponsor, Good Sport Promotion donated time, and the race was saved!
The saving of the 2009 "Portland Twilight Criterium Presented by Subaru: is a good example of Portlanders working together. I hope you will consider joining us at the race and I would be happy to speak with you further about it. Portland's downtown will be a great setting for an evening of racing on Friday night!
For more information, please see the following links:
Portland Bicycle Lawyer Sponsors:
http://stc-law.com/
http://www.bicyclelaw.com/
http://berkshireginsberglaw.com/
http://www.bicycleattorney.com/
Bikes to Rwanda:
http://www.bikestorwanda.com/
Event Website:
http://www.portlandtwilight.com/
Portland's Twilight Criterium brings up to 15,000 Portlanders together to watch some of the nation's fastest racers accelerate on the streets around the wooded North Park Blocks. Spectators enjoy a festival atmosphere with booths, food and drink, and the entire event is a fundraiser for Bikes for Rwanda, putting work bikes into the hands of Rwandans attempting to revive their nation's coffee industry.
But the race almost didn't happen this year after a major sponsor pulled out. No race through the downtown, no fundraiser.
Then a group of downtown bike lawyers and racers teamed up with the promoter to piece together a combination of donated time and money to make the race happen. Lawyers and racers are competitive, but for this event they put up enough seed money to make the race a possibility and then Subaru stepped forward as a major sponsor, Good Sport Promotion donated time, and the race was saved!
The saving of the 2009 "Portland Twilight Criterium Presented by Subaru: is a good example of Portlanders working together. I hope you will consider joining us at the race and I would be happy to speak with you further about it. Portland's downtown will be a great setting for an evening of racing on Friday night!
For more information, please see the following links:
Portland Bicycle Lawyer Sponsors:
http://stc-law.com/
http://www.bicyclelaw.com/
http://berkshireginsberglaw.com/
http://www.bicycleattorney.com/
Bikes to Rwanda:
http://www.bikestorwanda.com/
Event Website:
http://www.portlandtwilight.com/
Portland's Goucher Wins Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon
(8-3-09) Courtesy Running USA wire #62-08-09, by Dan Cruz - To the clamoring of thunder sticks and roar of thousands of spectators, Kara Goucher cruised to victory at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Executing her training plan for the upcoming IAAF World Championships and exceeding the expectations of her coach Alberto Salazar, Goucher finished in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 5 seconds, almost twenty seconds ahead of the first male finisher and produced the second fastest women's half-marathon time on a record standard course in the USA.
"I felt I could run in the 67-68 minute range," said Goucher, 31, who remains undefeated over the 13.1 mile distance. "The race was great, better than my preparations for Boston. It was awesome to be the first finisher and I wanted to enjoy the crowd. I really liked how the course changed up, there was never a stretch where it was dull, and you are going through the city, going over bridges and along the water. I really liked the course."
Chicago's Rock 'n' Roll debut race was broadcast on a live webcast at competitor.com, which included live commentary from start to finish. The webcast, dubbed the 'Kara Cam'focused exclusively on Goucher running her first half-marathon on U.S. soil.
"I think its fun; it gives a little something different to road racing. I was a little more self conscious than usual," the 2008 Olympian said of the live webcast. "The Rock 'n' Roll format creates a great atmosphere, it was fun because I really like music and it helped me work my stride."
"By just focusing on Kara, initially I wasn't sure how it was going to work," said race commentator Todd Williams, a U.S. Olympian and current U.S. record holder in the 15K. "I think it was a great thing and gives other American distance runners something they can aspire to be. By her winning here, for the first time it instantly elevates the status of American road racing."
Chicagoland resident Chad Ware finished first overall on the men's side, beating his PR by a full minute with a time of 1:08:24. Ware, who ran cross country and track at Butler University, was runner up in the 10,000m at the '07 Horizon League Championships.
"It was cool, it was different being right there with a woman," said Ware, the runner-up in May's Cellcom Green Bay Marathon with a time of 2:20:56. "I was right on the pace I was hoping to run and having Kara there definitely helped me get my PR."
Race morning greeted a sold-out field of 18,000 with ideal conditions, including low humidity and no wind. The scenic course showcased many of Chicago's historic landmarks such as Soldier Field, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum and the beautiful Chicago Waterfront.
"Today went well. Featuring an athlete like Kara was awesome, it's good for the sport," said Juli Henner, renowned coach and U.S. Olympian who provided color commentary for the competitor.com webcast. "The course really showcased Chicago. When you take the turn just past the 8 mile mark and you see the skyline, running along the water - hopefully they get the Olympic bid, what a beautiful city to showcase."
The second running of the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon is set for August 1, 2010.
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon
Chicago, IL, Sunday, August 2, 2009
WOMEN
1) Kara Goucher (OR), 1:08:05
2) Connie Abbott (KS), 1:21:50
3) Amanda Domich (IL), 1:22:28
MEN
1) Chad Ware (IL), 1:08:24
2) David Williams (WI), 1:08:49
3) Emisael Favela (IL), 1:09:14
Complete results and more at: www.RunRocknRoll.com
"I felt I could run in the 67-68 minute range," said Goucher, 31, who remains undefeated over the 13.1 mile distance. "The race was great, better than my preparations for Boston. It was awesome to be the first finisher and I wanted to enjoy the crowd. I really liked how the course changed up, there was never a stretch where it was dull, and you are going through the city, going over bridges and along the water. I really liked the course."
Chicago's Rock 'n' Roll debut race was broadcast on a live webcast at competitor.com, which included live commentary from start to finish. The webcast, dubbed the 'Kara Cam'focused exclusively on Goucher running her first half-marathon on U.S. soil.
"I think its fun; it gives a little something different to road racing. I was a little more self conscious than usual," the 2008 Olympian said of the live webcast. "The Rock 'n' Roll format creates a great atmosphere, it was fun because I really like music and it helped me work my stride."
"By just focusing on Kara, initially I wasn't sure how it was going to work," said race commentator Todd Williams, a U.S. Olympian and current U.S. record holder in the 15K. "I think it was a great thing and gives other American distance runners something they can aspire to be. By her winning here, for the first time it instantly elevates the status of American road racing."
Chicagoland resident Chad Ware finished first overall on the men's side, beating his PR by a full minute with a time of 1:08:24. Ware, who ran cross country and track at Butler University, was runner up in the 10,000m at the '07 Horizon League Championships.
"It was cool, it was different being right there with a woman," said Ware, the runner-up in May's Cellcom Green Bay Marathon with a time of 2:20:56. "I was right on the pace I was hoping to run and having Kara there definitely helped me get my PR."
Race morning greeted a sold-out field of 18,000 with ideal conditions, including low humidity and no wind. The scenic course showcased many of Chicago's historic landmarks such as Soldier Field, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum and the beautiful Chicago Waterfront.
"Today went well. Featuring an athlete like Kara was awesome, it's good for the sport," said Juli Henner, renowned coach and U.S. Olympian who provided color commentary for the competitor.com webcast. "The course really showcased Chicago. When you take the turn just past the 8 mile mark and you see the skyline, running along the water - hopefully they get the Olympic bid, what a beautiful city to showcase."
The second running of the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon is set for August 1, 2010.
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon
Chicago, IL, Sunday, August 2, 2009
WOMEN
1) Kara Goucher (OR), 1:08:05
2) Connie Abbott (KS), 1:21:50
3) Amanda Domich (IL), 1:22:28
MEN
1) Chad Ware (IL), 1:08:24
2) David Williams (WI), 1:08:49
3) Emisael Favela (IL), 1:09:14
Complete results and more at: www.RunRocknRoll.com
Registration for the 2010 Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival is Now Open!
(8-3-09) From AA Sports Press Release - AA Sports is proud to present the 14th Annual Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival presented by Sunriver Vacations, which will take place June 25th – 27th, 2010 in Sunriver, Oregon! It is rated among the most scenic events in the country and typically attracts many top athletes from around the nation.
The weekend is filled with music, food, entertainment and a Sport and Fitness Expo. Pacific Crest offers a variety of opportunities in which the whole family can participate including a Long Course Triathlon, Marathon (Boston Marathon Qualifier), Half-Marathon, Endurance Duathlon, along with a 5k, 10k and Kids Splash n’ Dash and 1-mile Dash. Registration is now open for the 2010 event at www.racecenter.com/pacificcrest.
The weekend is filled with music, food, entertainment and a Sport and Fitness Expo. Pacific Crest offers a variety of opportunities in which the whole family can participate including a Long Course Triathlon, Marathon (Boston Marathon Qualifier), Half-Marathon, Endurance Duathlon, along with a 5k, 10k and Kids Splash n’ Dash and 1-mile Dash. Registration is now open for the 2010 event at www.racecenter.com/pacificcrest.
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