Tyson Gay named USATF Athlete of the Week

USA Track & Field

For Immediate Release

INDIANAPOLIS - Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after setting an American record in the men’s 100 meters Sunday Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in China.

Two-time world 100m medalist Tyson Gay, who has been hampered by a groin injury since before the World Championships, lowered his own American record in the men’s 100 meters, clocking a blistering 9.69 seconds (+2.0mps). His run was the second-best performance of all time, equaling Usain Bolt’s then-world record from the 2008 Olympic Games. Gay had set the previous American record of 9.71 when he won the silver medal at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships in Berlin.

Now in its eighth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 24, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 24, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; March 31, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 26, Nadine O’Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 16, Galen Rupp; June 23, Kami Semick; June 30, Dawn Harper; July 7, Raevyn Rogers; July 14, Ryan Crouser; July 28, Anton Krupicka; August 11, Rita Hanscom; August 19, Christian Cantwell; August 26, Trey Hardee; September 1, Dathan Ritzenhein; September 9, Sanya Richards; September 15, Carmelita Jeter; September 23, Tyson Gay.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 20

MEN

100 - 9.69 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20    AMERICAN RECORD
200 - 20.21 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Szczecin, POL 9/15
400 - 45.28 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
800 - 1:46.33 Nick Symmonds (OTC Elite) - Szczecin, POL 9/15
110H - 13.15 Terrence Trammell (TSA) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
HJ - 2.27/7-5.25 Andra Manson (Nike) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
LJ - 8.36/27-5.25 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
SP - 21.49/70-6.25 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Szczecin, POL 9/15
Dec - 8189 Tom Pappas (Nike) - Talence, FRA 9/20

WOMEN

100 - 10.64 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20     World leader
200 - 22.37 Allyson Felix (adidas) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
400 - 50.89 Monica Hargrove (unat) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
1500 - 4:07.31 Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) - Szczecin, POL 9/15
100H - 12.56 Dawn Harper (Nike) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
PV - 4.20/13-9.25 Jillian Schwartz (Nike) - Shanghai, CHN 9/20
About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world’s oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.

For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org

PreRaceJitters sets new course with Terre Haute or Bust Campaign

After a summer filled with logging high mileage - it is finally here. The 2009 NCAA D1 Cross Country season brings fresh faces, returning athletes along with new dreams and goals for the season.

Make no mistakes - it is all about getting to Terre Haute, Indiana for the 2009 NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships or the goal is failed.

PreRaceJitters has set out on a course to shed light on the athletes and the stories that shape the 2009 cross country season. The mission is to talk about the sport in way that no one else is doing.

Michigan’s Danielle Tauro was selected as the first interview to look at a young Michigan program. The overall program has graduated Geena Gall, Tiffany Ofili and Betty Wade and this year the women have been overlooked by many in the preseason polls.

In it’s place is a cross country team loaded with young, freshmen talent and is led by a budding college star in Tauro.

Tauro delivered in our discussion - painting a insider look at the daily life of a scholar-athlete at Michigan. This is she is embarking on a journey. Coming out of high school, Tauro was a highly runner and is working her way into a prominent college runner in her own right.

You won’t want to miss the multi-dimensional interview with one of college’s most talented athletes and we will continue to bring more discussions with cross countrys most interesting and talented individuals.

PreRaceJitters Podcast #41: Danielle Tauro is Michigan’s unquestioned leader

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Is this her year to shine? The leadership torch has been passed to her and Michigan’s Danielle Tauro is embracing her role as a team leader after the school has graduated a number of seniors from last years squad.

The 2009 Michigan women’s cross country team is fifty percent freshman and the squad is also battling some minor injuries.

In the initial athlete profile of PreRaceJitters’ Terre Haute or Bust series - Tauro talks about deciding to attend Michigan, pacing this young Michigan team and setting her goals high for her self-described “crucial junior season”.

That and more on this latest PreRaceJitters’ podcast.

Bolt vs. Gay Begs More Questions

The prevailing wisdom after watching the 22-year-old Jamaican sprint to 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds in the 100 and 200 meters respectively at the World Championship is that every race under 400 meters is a rap. Usain Bolt has the ability to challenge every world record under 800 meters, bring about world peace, and deliver on universal health care and still have time to for some dance hall moves.

After setting two world records in Berlin, nothing is too far of a stretch. Really.

It is difficult to argue with nearly a two meter victory in the 100 meters at the World Championships.

But a closer looks reveals the story involving the story between the two spring giants is not complete.

The presence of Tyson Gay in the race propelled Bolt to lower his world record. There was no showboating, no shutting it down two meters from the line. Because Bolt knew that anything less than his best could threaten the chance for victory.

How fast can Gay ultimately go? I don’t think it’s unrealistic that his personal best is sub 9.70 seconds over the next two seasons.

And in the Berlin race, Tyson Gay’s 9.71 is a time that would have been a world record 13 months ago. That is still only good for a silver but news is coming out that the ever classy Gay was not 100% in the World Championship final. In fact, his groin injury requires surgery after the season. I know, some you’re thinking it is just another excuse. But the American Record holder was not at his best and one can only imagine if Gay can close some of the gap.

But track is arguably the most fickle of lovers. Hot today and then small injuries such as of the groin, foot or hamstring after running a number of fast races has slowed down some of the sports best. Think Maurice Greene.

The rivalry is not over. The fact is that every season starts completely new and fans can look forward to Bolt dueling it on the circuit in 2010. The finals left more questions about who will win the next match up and the meet after that.

Jeter Named USATF Athlete of the Week

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - Two-time World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after posting the fastest women’s 100m time in 12 years with her victory over the weekend at the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Jeter, who captured the U.S. title in June and posted a career best time of 10.83 seconds at the World Championships last month in Berlin, stormed out of the blocks and was never challenged before crossing the finish line first in 10.67 seconds, which is the third-fastest performance in history. World and Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser (JAM) was the runner-up in 10.89, with world silver medalist Kerron Stewart (JAM) finishing third in 10.90.

Jeter, who also won the World Athletics Final in 2007, has been undefeated since the Berlin World Championships, posting wins in Zurich, Gateshead and Brussels.

Now in its eighth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 24, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 24, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; March 31, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 26, Nadine O’Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 16, Galen Rupp; June 23, Kami Semick; June 30, Dawn Harper; July 7, Raevyn Rogers; July 14, Ryan Crouser; July 28, Anton Krupicka; August 11, Rita Hanscom; August 19, Christian Cantwell; August 26, Trey Hardee; September 1, Dathan Ritzenhein; September 9, Sanya Richards; September 15, Carmelita Jeter.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 13

MEN

100 - 9.88 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
200 - 20.21 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
400 - 44.93 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
800 - 1:46.19 Nick Symmonds (OTC Elite) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
1500 - 3:35.40 Leo Manzano (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
3000 - 8:04.00 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
3000SC - 8:47.14 Dan Huling (Reebok) - Paris, FRA 9/9
110H - 13.26 Dexter Faulk (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
400H - 48.11 Kerron Clement (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
HJ - 2.29/7-6 Jesse Williams (Nike) & Andra Manson (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Derek Miles (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/9
LJ - 8.24/ 27-0.5 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
TJ - 16.73/54-10.75 Brandon Roulhac (HPC Elite) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
SP - 22.07/72-5 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
DT - 62.22/204-1 Ian Waltz (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/9

WOMEN

100 - 10.67 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13     World leader
200 - 22.29 Allyson Felix (adidas) & Sanya Richards (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
400 - 49.95 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
800 - 2:00.20 Anna Willard (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
1500 - 4:10.62 Erin Donohue (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/9
3000SC - 9:33.11 Lisa Galaviz (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
5000 - 15:42.92 Jen Rhines (adidas) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
100H - 12.61 Dawn Harper (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
400H - 55.31 Sheena Tosta (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
HJ - 1.97/6-5.5 Chaunte Howard (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
PV - 4.55/14-11 Chelsea Johnson (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/9
LJ - 7.08/23-2.75 Brittney Reese (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/12
SP - 18.66/61-2.75 Michelle Carter (Nike) - Thessaloniki, GRE 9/13
DT - 61.55/201-11 Stephanie Brown Trafton (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/9

About USA Track & Field
 
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world’s oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
 
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org

USTFCCCA: Washington Women Sit On top of College Cross Country Poll

Courtesy, Keith Nunez, USTFCCCA

NEW ORLEANS (September 15, 2009) – The Washington Huskies are perched at the top of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women’s Cross Country Top 30 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the USTFCCCA announced Tuesday. The Huskies received all 12 first-place votes and earned 360 total points in the preseason poll.

Washington, last year’s NCAA Division I Cross Country National Champions, return five of their top seven runners from last year’s championship team, four of which were USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Americans. The Huskies open their 2009 season at home this weekend in the Sundodger Invitational.

Oregon comes in at No. 2 in the women’s preseason poll having earned 344 total points. The Ducks, last year’s runner-up at the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships, return two USTFCCCA All-Americans in Nicole Blood and Alex Kosinski. The Ducks will be in action on October 2 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational.

Florida State is ranked third followed by West Virginia at No. 4. Florida State returns five of their top seven runners from last year’s squad that finished third overall in the team standings at the national meet. The Seminoles are led by senior standout Susan Kuijken who finished second in the individual standings at the national meet in 2008.

West Virginia finished fourth in the team standings at the national meet in 2008 but return all seven runners from last year’s team including USTFCCCA Cross Country All-American Keri Bland who finished tenth overall in the individual standings at the ’08 national meet.

Rounding out the women’s preseason top 30 at No. 5 is Villanova, the 2008 Big East Conference Cross Country Champions. Villanova loses only one senior from last year’s team (Francis Koons) that finished sixth overall at the NCAA cross country championships.

To view the complete 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Women’s Cross Country Preseason Top 30, click here.

USTFCCCA: Oregon Voted Clear-Cut Number 1

Courtesy Keith Nunez, USTFCCCA

NEW ORLEANS (September 15, 2009) – Oregon, last year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Champions, begins the 2009 season as the No. 1 team in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men’s Cross Country Top 30 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the USTFCCCA announced Tuesday. The Ducks received nine first-place votes and earned 357 total points in the preseason poll.

Oregon will have plenty of ground to make up if they are to repeat as the men’s champions in 2009 as they lose two USTFCCCA All-Americans in Galen Rupp (last year’s NCAA Individual Champion) and Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott. The Ducks do return sophomore Luke Puskedra who finished fifth overall as a freshman. Oregon opened their season with the Pre’s Trail Run and will next be in action on October 2 in the Bill Dellinger Invite hosted by the Ducks.

Coming in at No. 2 this week is Oklahoma State. Last year the Cowboys finished eighth in the men’s team standings at the NCAA cross country championships but return all seven runners from last year’s squad. The Cowboys host the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree on October 3.

Stanford follows the Cowboys at No. 3 in the men’s preseason rankings with Wisconsin coming in at No. 4. Stanford, third at the NCAA meet a year ago, opened its season at the Nevada Twilight on September 4 and will next be in action in two weeks as the Cardinal hosts the Stanford Invitational on September 26.

Wisconsin was fourth overall in the team standings in ’08 and returns four of their top seven runners from that NCAA team. The Badgers will be looking for their eighth straight Great Lakes Region title as well.

Completing the men’s top five is Northern Arizona. NAU is led by two-time USTFCCCA Cross Country All-American David McNeill who will be looking to improve upon his individual finish a year ago (15^th) at the NCAA meet. NAU will be back in action this weekend as the Lumberjacks travel West to San Diego for the San Diego State Aztec Invitational.

To view the complete 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Men’s Cross Country Preseason Top 30, click here.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show, Episode #40

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The World Athletic Finals (WAF) provides to be a successful venture for the U.S. envoy. Is Sanya Richards latest feat good enough for her to be considered the greatest 400 meter runner ever?  Which performance was more impressive?  Kenenisa Bekele or Usain Bolt had impressive performances at the World Athletic Finals.

Send an email to comments@preracejitters.com to have your comments and questions discussed on the show.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show…where the real playas come to hang out!

Sanya Richards named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Sanya Richards has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning a share of the $1,000,000 Golden League jackpot with her win Friday at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium.

The reigning world 400m champion, Richards dominated her signature event in leading from start to finish before crossing the finish line in a world-leading 48.83 seconds, which is her second best effort ever.

Richards’ performance equaled the second-best time ever by an American first posted by National Track & Field Hall of Famer Valerie Brisco-Hooks in winning the gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The nearest competitor to Richards in Brussels was 2008 Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, who finished 1.6 seconds behind in 50.43.

Richards split the $1,000,000 Golden League jackpot with Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) and Kenesia Bekele (ETH), who also won their respective events in Brussels. For Richards, this is the third time in her career she has won a share of the Golden League jackpot, having already earned shares in 2006 and 2007.

Now in its eighth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 24, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 24, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; March 31, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 26, Nadine O’Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 16, Galen Rupp; June 23, Kami Semick; June 30, Dawn Harper; July 7, Raevyn Rogers; July 14, Ryan Crouser; July 28, Anton Krupicka; August 11, Rita Hanscom; August 19, Christian Cantwell; August 26, Trey Hardee; September 1, Dathan Ritzenhein; September 9, Sanya Richards.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 6

MEN

100 - 9.94 Doc Patton (Nike) - Zagreb, CRO 8/31
200 - 20.19 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
400 - 44.94 Jeremy Wariner (adidas) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
800 - 1:47.16 Nick Symmonds (OTC Elite) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
1500 - 3:33.33 Leo Manzano (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 9/6
3000 - 7:36.68 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Gateshead, GBR 8/31
3000SC - 8:14.69 Dan Huling (Reebok) - Brussels, BEL 9/4     U.S. leader
5000 - 12:58.56 Matt Tegenkamp (OTC Elite) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
110H - 13.39 Joel Brown (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
400H - 48.83 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Zagreb, CRO 8/31
HJ - 2.33/7-7.75 Andra Manson (Nike) - Gateshead, GBR 8/31
PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Derek Miles (Nike) - Gateshead, GBR 8/31
LJ - 8.39/27-6.5 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Gateshead, GBR 8/31
TJ - 16.49/54-1.25 Brandon Roulhac (HPC Elite) - Rieti, ITA 9/6
SP - 22.16/72-8.5 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Zagreb, CRO 8/31     World leader
DT - 62.11/203-9 Ian Waltz (Nike) - Helsingborg, SWE 9/5
HT - 71.09/233-3 Mike Mai (US Army) - Portland, OR 9/6
JT - 76.13/249-9 Mike Hazle (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4

WOMEN

100 - 10.88 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
200 - 22.73 Debbie Dunn (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 9/6
400 - 48.83 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4     World leader
800 - 1:59.14 Anna Willard (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
1500 - 4:03.46 Shannon Rowbury (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 9/6
3000 - 9:02.08 Jen Rhines (adidas) - Gateshead, GBR 8/31
3000SC - 9:37.53 Lisa Galaviz (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 9/6
100H - 12.57 Dawn Harper (Nike) - Dubnica, SVK 9/6
HJ - 1.97/6-5.5 Chaunte Howard (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 9/4
PV - 4.47/14-8 Stacy Dragila (Nike) - Dubnica, SVK 9/6
LJ - 6.70/21-11.75 Funmi Jimoh (Nike) - Rovereto, ITA 9/1
TJ - 13.48/44-2.75 Erica McLain (Nike) - Zagreb, CRO 8/31
DT - 59.35/194-8 Aretha Thurmond (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 9/6
JT - 55.04/180-7 Rachel Yurkovich (Oregon) - Gateshead, GBR 8/31

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show, Episode # 39

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The world record holder at 100, 200 and 4×100 meter relays and the world record holder at 5,000 and 10,000 might get it on like Donkey Kong.  Could Bolt beat Bekele in a distance that is fair to both athletes?  That and more is discussed in this latest episode.

-Bolt about get to paid in a major way

-Richards, Bekele, and Insinbeyva share winnings

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show, where the real playas come to hang out!

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