US Olympic Track and Field Trials (Page 2)

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1143

Discuss....

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Dathan Ritzenhein has pinned his Olympic hopes on the 10,000 meters.

The former Rockford High School runner needs to finish in the top three and run at least 27 minutes, 45 seconds in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Friday in Eugene, Ore.

He missed that standard May 27 when he ran 27:50 on a hot day in Hengolo, Holland, but Ritzenhein is encouraged by training with 10,000 standouts Galen Rupp and Mo Farah.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/06/dathan_r...

Three-time Olympian Jen Rhines has scratched from the women's 10,000, a move that has significant ramifications for who'll make the Olympic team in the event.

That's because Rhines was one of eight women with the Olympic "A" standard (31:45) in the event. Three of the eight--Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher--have already made the marathon team. Flanagan will run the 10,000 at the Trials, but will give up her spot in the event if she places in the top three. By all accounts, Goucher, who won the national half marathon title on Saturday, isn't running, and Davila has said she isn't.

http://olympictrials.runnersworld.com/2012/06/19/jen-rhines-scratch...

Eight days of action get underway in Eugene this Friday!

The running events at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials get underway this Friday, June 22, at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. Below is a time schedule for the foot races, which Competitor.com will cover from start to finish. There is also a full schedule of field events which get underway on June 21. A listing of times for those contests can be found at USATF.org.

Be sure to check out our Olympics page every day for complete Trials coverage of the middle and long-distance races, including athlete profiles, race reports, video and more! NBC and the NBC Sports Network will feature 12 hours of live coverage over eight days of competition. Viewing information is included below and on nbcolympics.com.

http://running.competitor.com/2012/06/news/2012-u-s-olympic-trials-...

Yep, the decathlon is going to be a good one. Really good.

EUGENE -- It's a measure of decathlete Ashton Eaton's talent and belief in himself that he walked away from the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships bitterly disappointed with the silver medal.

"I let the pressure get to me," Eaton said. "It was only pressure induced by myself to perform well, because I thought I needed a gigantic score to get a gold medal. When I knew I wasn't going to have a gigantic score, I got down on myself."

http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2012/06/us_olympi...

I hope so. My dad really wants him to get back into the shape he used to be.


EUGENE, Ore. –– Jeremy Wariner is coming off what he would consider to be two bad races, a fifth-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic and runner-up finish at the adidas Grand Prix.

In recent years, that might have been enough to send him into a months-long mental tailspin.

Jeremy Wariner competes in the men's 400m during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.But the two-time Olympic medalist heads into these Olympic Trials a different man than the one who ran carefree as a collegian in 2004 and the one who began to exhibit signs of unraveling four years ago.

In a word, Wariner is happier.

“A lot of it is my family,” he explained recently. “I’m married now, and I can just see everything coming together. I’ve always been family-first about everything. My family’s been so great. They’ve been backing me no matter what. It just makes things a lot easier. It has been making me have so much fun.”

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/track-and-field/jeremy-warine...

Ahead of the ’12 United States Olympic Trials (Beaverton, Oregon, June 21; Eugene, Oregon, June 22–July 1), statistics guru K. Ken Nakamura has crafted some detailed analyses of the numbers from previous editions of the meet.


Follow the links below to the stats for each event, which are being activated on a daily basis. White background in table cell indicates link for the event is now live; others not yet posted.


http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1082

Before you place your bets.....


We preview the men's 10,000 at the 2012 US Olympic Men's Track & Field Trials, but before we do that, we list the leading entrants so you can get some background info before you read our preview.

The Leading 13 Contenders

Those With The "A" Qualifer Of 27:45.00

Galen Rupp - 26:48.00 - American record holder. Only a flare-up of allergies could prevent him from making the team.
Bobby Curtis - 27:24.67 - Villanova alum has purposely stayed off the track so far this year as he wants to get his peak right. His 27:24 last year makes him the 7th-fastest performer in US history. 4th last year behind Rupp, Teg and Bauhs.
Tim Nelson - 27:28.19 - We think he's been injured, as our results database doesn't show much for him. Been overshadowed by DIII Track athlete of the year - Tim Nelson.
Matt Tegenkamp - 27:28.22 - No 10ks this year. 30-year-old is definitely past his peak but his peak was way better than everyone's but Ritz & Rupp in this race. 13:15.00 SB.
Chris Derrick - 27:31.38 - Ran 27:31.38 at Payton Jordan, also has run 13:19 this year.
Brent Vaughn - 27:40.21 - Ran 27:40.21 at Payton Jordan. TFN's pick for #3 has never finished higher than 5th at a US Champs on the track.
Ben True - 27:41.17 - Ran 13:26 for 5,000 at Pre.
Joseph Chirlee - 27:43.96 - Former Kenyan ran 28:32 on April 6, 28:16 on April 29th and 27:43 on May 30th.



http://www.letsrun.com/2012/rupp-0620.php

Alberto Salazar watched Galen Rupp run the 5,000 meters three weeks ago at the Prefontaine Classic, and didn't like what he saw.

Rupp finished third in 12 minutes, 58.90 seconds, more than eight seconds faster than any other U.S. man has run this year.

It was a pretty good result. But for Salazar and Rupp, pretty good isn't good enough.

Salazar started the Nike Oregon Project to resurrect U.S. distance running. Rupp is his centerpiece, and Salazar hadn't been completely happy with Rupp's form for some time.

"It had to get a little worse for me to panic," Salazar said.

After the Pre Classic, Salazar and Rupp huddled with Oregon Project strength coach David McHenry to take immediate corrective action. Salazar thought Rupp's upper body was too tight, making his form mechanically unsound.


http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2012/06/us_olympi...

It is starting. Woo Hoo....



Matt Taylor was wrong. Hammer Time at the Nike Campus was a huge success.

Well I at least think it was, but I have no frame of reference because I've never watched a hammer competition in my life. Before a festive crowd of "3000" (not sure how they came up with that number as no tickets were taken), the hammer throwers said they loved the atmosphere and the sport got more attention than it ever has.

As for the competition on the women's side: Amber Campbell, Amanda Bingson, and Jessica Cosby got the top 3 spots. Bingson of UNLV also got the "A" standard for the first time so that will be your Olympic team.


http://www.letsrun.com/2012/hammer-0621.php

Day 1 of the 2012 US Olympic Track & Field Trials will conclude with the running of the women's 10,000.

And while we hate to be the one to kill your buzz, it is our duty to tell you that this race is almost certainly going to result in a bit of a letdown (there is a reason, after all, that you come to LetsRun.com each day - to get the truth and hard-hitting, opinionate analysis - not fluff PR pieces that make up what is left of track and field journalism).

We say it's going to be a bit of a letdown because it comes right after 13 sub-28:00 men will have battled it out in the men's 10,000 for three Olympic spots with the presumed victory going to Oregon's favorite son - Galen Rupp.




http://www.letsrun.com/2012/flanagan-0620.php

Friday, June 22 — TV COVERAGE: 9-11 PM EST on NBCSN

3:10 PM Men’s 400m First Round

3:35 PM Women’s 400m First Round

5:00 PM Women’s 800m First Round

5:20 PM Men’s 800m First Round

5:40 PM Women’s 100m Hurdles First Round

6:00 PM Women’s 100m Qualifying

6:45 PM Men’s 10,000m Final

7:20 PM Women’s 10,000m Final

http://running.competitor.com/2012/06/news/2012-u-s-olympic-trials-...

Four years after leaving the U.S. Olympic track and field trials at Eugene, Ore., in a wheelchair, Alysia Montano is the favorite again in the 800 meters as the trials return to Hayward Field.

"I am very ready," the 26-year-old East Bay resident said, "and also I'm not scared."

Certainly not scared about competing on the track she left in tears after breaking her right foot in 2008. Winning at the USA championships last year in Eugene "killed the ghosts" of Hayward Field, said Tony Sandoval, who has coached the former Alysia Johnson since her days at Cal.

More confirmation came three weeks ago in her season debut on the same track at the Prefontaine Classic, where she ran a meet-record time of 1 minute, 57.37 seconds -- the second-fastest in the world this year.

http://www.mercurynews.com/cal-bears/ci_20899852/alysia-montano-ret...

For you sprint enthusiasts out there....LOL (she is hot by the way...LOL. She is a USC lady.)


Allyson Felix, hungry for Olympic gold at 200 metres after back-to-back silver medals, will skip defending her US 400m crown to attempt a 100-200 double at the US Olympic trials.

And while the 26-year-old sprinter would love to pull off the double at the London Olympics in August, she dropped the 400 and is focusing on the 100 only as ways to improve her chances of finally taking an elusive 200 Olympic title.

"It's all about the 200 and whatever puts me in the best position to go for a gold medal in the 200," Felix said Thursday.

"Deciding what events to do is all about the 200. It was all about what was going to set me up for running the best


http://www.supersport.com/athletics/international/news/120622/Quest...

Anthony Famiglietti, 2008 Olympic Trials steeple champ, appealed to make it into the 3k steeple in Eugene. Just a few days ago news broke that Alan Webb's appeal was accepted by the USATF without the Trials standard (http://bit.ly/KXSexW). From his series of tweets this morning it looks like his appeal was denied and he is visibly upset. In just three tweets he brings up a lot of questions that need to be answered about the appeals process and what it means about equality in our sport.
Here are the series of tweets:



http://www.flotrack.org/article/13121-Fams-Appeal-Denied

From this site, there is an updated blog for each event, each heat on the right side of this website...


http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2012/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trial...

Wow!  Ashton Eaton ran his 100m in 10.21 for 1044 points  (decathlon 100m) 

I know. If he can really do well in the field events, look out. Really, look out.

And his first long jump is the best in decathlon history, 8.23/27 feet. He's 2-2 with decathlon records.

Look out folks. Look out. This is Eaton's home turf. He has something to prove. This could be an amazing decathlon.

I hope Alberto and company are watching this. Now, I know Rupp and Farah beat Bekele in the Pre Classic 5,000, but Bekele is coming back. This could be an amazing Olympic 10,000 ( Rupp has to get the 10,000 tonight at 8:45 pm CST on NBC Sports) with Farah, Rupp and Bekele.


Kenenisa Bekele declared himself "100 per cent back" after running the third fastest time in the world this year over 10,000 metres in Birmingham to surely book his spot on the Ethiopian Olympic team.

Bekele, the Olympic champion and world record holder over 10,000m and 5,000m, was running his first 10,000m of the year and produced a strong finish at the Alexander Stadium to win in 27 minutes 02.59 seconds.

Crucially, in one of his last chances to secure selection for London, the time, a stadium record, was the fastest by an Ethiopian athlete in 2012.


http://www.sportinglife.com/others/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=ot...

Edited by Tireman 4 2012-06-22 6:59 PM

Rupp looked smooth as silk. I mean smooth as the day is long. Amazing. He guided Ritz to the A standard and good ol' Tegs made it too. Rupp literally looked like he was jogging that 27:25. All three are sub 13 minute 5 kers. I was so happy Ritz made it after he crushing meltdown at the US Olympic Marathon Trials in January ( he got 4th and I was there to see it). I am telling you this, Rupp will be a factor in the Olympics. I know Bekele is getting stronger and Farah is a beast at the 10k, but I am telling you, look out.

Men's results:

1 Galen Rupp Nike 27:25.33 M
2 Matt Tegenkamp Nike / Oregon TC Elite 27:33.94
3 Dathan Ritzenhein Nike 27:36.09
4 Chris Derrick Stanford 27:40.23
5 Aaron Braun adidas/McMillan Elite 27:41.54
6 Ryan Vail Brooks 27:52.53
7 Brent Vaughn Nike 27:55.44
8 Luke Puskedra Oregon 27:56.62
9 Bobby Mack III Unattached 27:58.07
10 Robert Curtis Reebok 27:58.48
11 Hassan Mead Minnesota 27:59.04
12 Benjamin True Saucony 28:08.17
13 Jacob Riley Hansons-Brooks Distance Projec 28:08.36
14 Tim Nelson Nike / Oregon TC Elite 28:15.11
15 Joseph Chirlee U.S. Army 28:17.84
16 Jeff Schirmer ASTF 28:35.18
17 Christopher Landry Unattached 28:35.46
18 Girma Mecheso Oklahoma State 28:38.73
19 Josh Simpson AST 28:48.32
20 David Jankowski ZAP Fitness Reebok 29:00.67
21 James Strang Unattached 29:09.77
22 Mikhail Sayenko Brooks / Club Northwest 29:18.57
23 Juan Carlos Trujillo adidas 29:36.50


Edited by Tireman 4 2012-06-22 10:10 PM

I am not sure if I am disappointed or not. I knew many of the big guns would not be there (Kastor and Goucher), but I was thinking, gee only four women have the A standard and one will not, even if she won ( Flanagan), would not race it in the Olympics. Kind of a buzzkill for me. The race sure showed it. I mean it was literally killing me watch it. After the last 5K, it got interesting, but heck fire. First, I am happy for Amy Hastings. I did watch her get 4 th in the Olympic Trials Marathon ( she would drop off the lead pack, then come back, then drop off and then come back. Lots of spunk) She won the race that is great. I am happy for Natosha Rogers of A&M who took off 40 seconds off her PR, but missed the A standard ( which is 31:45) by running a 31:59. All in all, I am proud of the team and hope they do well. Eventhough, Rogers, Williams and Erdmann ran faster than Bawcom in the race, Bawcom still goes because she has run under the 31:45 standard.

1 Amy Hastings Brooks 31:58.36
2 Natosha Rogers Texas A&M 31:59.21
3 Shalane Flanagan Nike / Oregon TC Elite 31:59.69
4 Lisa Uhl Nike / Oregon TC Elite 32:03.46
5 Alisha Williams Boulder Running Company/adidas 32:08.51
6 Tara Erdmann Unattached 32:09.15
7 Janet Cherobon-Bawcom Nike 32:17.06
8 Stephanie Rothstein adidas/McMillan Elite 32:24.25
9 Deborah Maier Unattached 32:25.82
10 Kellyn Johnson adidas/McMillan Elite 32:30.40
11 Alissa McKaig ZAP Fitness Reebok 32:31.66
12 Meaghan Nelson Iowa State 32:32.45
13 Rebecca Donaghue New Balance 32:37.39
14 Adriana Nelson Unattached 32:38.95
15 Rachel Ward Ragged Mountain Racing 32:39.53
16 Liz Costello Unattached 32:53.31
17 Alvina Begay Nike 32:58.63
18 Katie McGregor Reebok 33:11.92
19 Addie Bracy Unattached 33:14.12
20 Wendy Thomas Boulder Running Company/adidas 33:17.40
21 Katie DiCamillo New Balance Boston 33:26.72
22 Katie Matthews Boston University 33:45.22


This is how Amby Burfoot of Runners World explained it:

Not so. That used to be the case but USATF policy is now to send as full a team as possible, meaning you have to have the A standard. Also changed policy to disallow chasing A standard after the Trials. They want people at the meet to know right then who the Olympic team is.

Edited by Tireman 4 2012-06-22 10:23 PM