2010 Indoor Track & Field Conference Weekend Wrap Up

Saturday, February 28, 2010 — New conference champs in the collegiate track and field. The champions were crowned in the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Conference USA, MPSF, SEC, WAC, conference championship meets held over the weekend.

The NCAA meet is set up

With so many noteworthy performances it is difficult to know where start. Up until this point in the season not a lot matters, however the conference weekend is where it all begins.

Is this a dynasty in the making? The Lady Aggies of Texas A&M made some serious noise that will echo at the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships in two weeks. For the second year in a row, Gabby Mayo went about her business carving up the track, winning the 60m (7.30) and 60m hurdles (8.05) earning high point honors while helping her team to its fourth consecutive team title.

Jessica Beard wrapped up the 400m, while Porscha Lucas continued her dominance in the 200m and both claim titles in their respective events for the third straight year.  It has to be noted that Lucas lead Texas A&M’s 1-2-3 sweep of the top three spots in the women’s 200m.

Then the women’s 4 x 400 relay finished off the meet by winning for a fourth consecutive year.

“Across the board if you look at everything the team did, they really got after it today,” Aggie head coach Pat Henry said. “It’s a tough meet for us to win.  “You can have a really good team and come in here and be third or fourth, but still have a good track team at the next meet. I’m extremely pleased with the overall effort of our team.”

Already the 2009 NCAA champion in the 60-meter hurdles, Ronnie Ash added another title with his win in the 60-meter hurdles, recording a personal best 7.59. The time is the best among collegians this year and ranks fifth this year by an American on any level.  Ash helped the University of Oklahoma men’s track and field team nab the program’s 18th conference title Saturday when it won the 2010 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship

His silence is broken. Charles Clark burst onto the scene, opening up his indoor season with 20.67 winning the ACC 200 meters and registering the top NCAA time as Florida State recorded its’ eighth consecutive, ninth overall, ACC Indoor Championships title. Teammate Kimberly Williams is still on fire, leaping 46-8 1/4 inch winning the triple jump.

On his home court, Lee Emanuel was victorious in the 800, miles and DMR leading New Mexico to a fourth place finish.

Is she college track’s best all-around athlete? Queen Harrison’s record setting day gives her a strong look in the conversation. The Virginia Tech senior ran 7.94, setting a conference meet record and lowering her own school record. But the day was not over as she lowered her own school record in the 400 meters, placing second in 53.06.

The next great Oregon distance runner set the tone in Seattle.  Freshmen Jordan Hasay continues to make her mark, running 4:35.01 a three second personal record to win the women’s mile. That is a new conference meet record and of course an automatic qualifier.

The Oregon women won the MPSF title for the first time in school history with 133 points. Stanford was second with 113 points, followed by Arizona (109) and Arizona State (75).

How the west was won. Lacy Cramer lead BYU’s 1-2-3 sweep in the 800 meter running 2:05.55, ahead of teammates Nachelle Stewart 2:07.06 and Angela Wagner 2:08.90. The BYU men and women emerged victorious at the Mountain West Conference meet in Albuque, N.M.

Not to be overlooked senior Jason Colwick of Rice vaulted a crazy 5.18 meters or 17 feet, setting a Conference USA meet record in Houston and establishing himself as an NCAA title contender.

What the said: 2010 US Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1

Saturday, February 27, 2010 (Albuquerque, N.M) — Quotes courtesy USA Track & Field.

Anna Pierce, women’s 800 meter heat winner

“I wanted a bank, I didn’t even have to do anything so that was pretty nice. I feel good. I think all the altitude training is paying off. I spent most of my time training in Mammoth, I feel like I can deal with the altitude and not get too bogged down.”

Nick Symmonds, men’s 800 meter heat winner

“We all wanted to work together a little bit. I was supposed to take over the lead with 150 to go but it was too fast. I just found a way to work with him. I said last night I don’t anyone is going to run under 1:48 on this track and I think we might have just done that.”

Erica McLain, women’s triple jump winner

“I was cramping on my first jump a little bit. I felt it and knew I had to push through. My first jump ended up being 1cm over what I needed, I watched everyone’s mark and tried to stay as together as I could and it all worked out. I didn’t have much in me afterwards. In the finals I jumped on my first one and cramped, passed on the second and cramped again. I feel pretty good about how the day went. I like the runway, my training is going really well. I haven’t had a US championship title since 2005 outdoor championships and that was my freshman year of college and actually then I was just 1 cm over the standard I needed. I wanted this so bad.”

Allyson Felix, women’s 400 meter heat winner

“I felt a little sluggish, so we will just have to see how it goes. (On feeling the altitude) I felt something. Because of the altitude I’m definitely a little sluggish out there. (On the finals) I think I am going to be in the slower heat. We’ll see I’m not feeling too great going into it, but lets see if my legs can get it together.”

Kerron Clement, men’s 400 meter heat winner

“It went well today. The altitude was a little bit of a factor. It was my first time running at this altitude. The track is a fast track, but it was good.”

Jesse Williams, men’s high jump winner

“It got off to a shaky start with a couple of the lower heights and I was in fourth place when the bar changed to 7′7″. I knew I had to at least make that height to get on the team. I went ahead and made 7′8″. A couple of other guys made it and I knew if I didn’t make 7′8″ I still may have not made the team because I had a couple other early misses. I knew I had to make 7′8″, I made it on the first attempt and I feel really good about it. It was a great competition. I think it was the best competition ever for the USA championships. It was an honor to be a part of and especially to win. I am excited and I really feel that I can get a medal. The Russians have won a lot of things for a long time. Hopefully we can take it to the Russians. I’ve been training very hard. I had an injury (strained tendon on my jumping foot, just below the ankle) and this is only my second meet of the year. I hope I didn’t re-hurt my foot, it’s kind of tender right now and it isn’t feeling too goo d.”

Tim Seaman, men’s 5000 meter race-walk winner

“Today went different. Out of all the 12 championships this is definitely the most topsy turvy race I have ever done. With the altitude you can’t just push, you have push and then rest. Once I’ve taken the lead I have never let it up. This is the first time that I let the lead up. I was frustrated that I took it out so slow. I told myself ‘Ok, I’m going to take it,’ and I pushed too hard and I had to slow down. It felt like my lungs were burning and I spent three weeks at altitude so I can only imagine how these other guys how bad they felt. This is my 43rd win overall, so it moves me into No. 2 all-time track and field national championship wins. This was my 12th win in indoor, which is the most by any athlete in any event in track and field history.”

Amber Campbell, women’s weight throw winner

“This hands down was one of the best series ever. It felt great, the crowd was amazing, the ball was just flying. It felt amazing. (how it felt to open with the her best throw) Fantastic. You can never complain about opening up with your best throw ever. I was trying to focus on the things we have been working on in practice. It was mechanical. I was trying to hit the things that I have been working on, it was very step one, step two, step three. I guess I should do it like that all the time. (on her homecoming) My god parents are here and my uncle, I haven’t seen them in years. It really is like coming home.”

Tim Mack, men’s pole vault winner

“It means a lot. I am still fired up. This is the highest I have jumped in indoors in six years. I felt really good coming into the meet. (competition with the other gold medaler) We are actually really good friends, we helped each other out a lot. But a lot of time during competition I have too much to worry about than to think about other people. I was competing against the event really.”

Chaunte Howard Lowe, women’s high jump winner

“This hit my outdoor personal record (PR) but indoor yes that is the closest I have ever come to it. I knew I was over it, I felt it. Maybe I got lazy at the end but I didn’t feel like I touched the bar or anything so when it came down it shocked me. But I was happy to be able to get that much height over it. This is the best I have ever jumped this early in the season. My indoor PR last year was 195, this is by far the best. It’s really exciting because I haven’t PRed since I had my daughter, and she is two and a half now. This is huge for me. When I saw the bar fall, I was excited because I got that high, but it felt like everything had slipped through my fingers. That would have been a good mark for the Visa Series.”

Bernard Lagat, men’s 3000 meter winner

“I didn’t know how I was going to feel with the altitude. I actually didn’t feel anything after about five laps. I just wanted to have fun. I was running on the inside. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on who was going to make a move. I just wanted to win and make the team. I wanted to maintain the lead. I wanted to make sure I was going to be number one. I wanted to win and make the team. That is what I came here for.”

Renee Metivier Baillie, Women’s 3000 meter winner

“Coach might be mad at me I was supposed to wait five laps and then take off. I could just tell that everyone was putting on the breaks and I thought screw it I’m going to go. I had a really good workout on Tuesday so I had the confidence to continue. In a race situation you don’t always know what to do so I just went with my gut. I never quite knew how far the gap was, I was just focused on myself. I had to stay in the moment each lap by lap. I know I have a good kick and as soon as I hit the last lap I knew I was going to give it a run. I didn’t know what was going to happen but you have to be confident in yourself whether you win or lose.”

A.G. Kruger, men’s weight throw winner

“I had a lot of fun this year. I trained to throw far. I knew I was capable so I just came out here and threw. The tenth best throw ever. It was great.”

Lawrence Willis, men’s triple jump winner

“The competition was great. Jumping against the regining champion, I knew I had to put up a good mark. It’s…I don’t even know what to say. After taking a year off, with all the support from my family and friends, this just feels great.”

Did Bernard Lagat send a message at US Indoor Nationals? Maybe

Albuquerque, N.M.– It’s probably unrealistic to think that a race held in Albuquerque, New Mexico will have any impact four months from now in a lush and beautiful Des Moines, Iowa. Too many variables, too many unknowns.

You get the feeling tonight a message was sent in Bernard “Kip” Lagat’s uncanny kick to with 150 meters to go in the 3000m, edging out Galen Rupp. No matter how subtle it may be - a U.S. Outdoor Championships message was sent.

In front of a 2,979 sell out crowd, Lagat won in 8:12.60, ahead of Rupp in 8:13.49 at the 2010 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.

Lagat and Rupp are the cream on top of the strawberry on the American distance scene. In tonights running, the presence of the younger Galen Rupp was evident, as he stayed with Kip for the majority of the race. But the bigger picture is that Kip performed much better and had a much bigger impact on the race.

On the flip side, it wasn’t too difficult to notice Rupp in just his first full season on the professional circuit has a major upside.

Considering that the two have previously met up this indoor season, the race became a two man run off and this will surely happen again in championship races. This race could have mean a lot. Or nothing. Who really knows at this point?

But we have to know that both athletes are happy with their respective performances.

Whether you consider this a piece of foreshadowing or just a stretch of the imagination, there is no denying that Kip Lagat came to run tonight.

Indiana Sophomore to compete in Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend

By Jeremy Rosenthal, IUHoosiers.com feature writer

In seventh grade Chelsea Blanchard had doubts about being on the track and field team, since running around in circles appeared very boring.

Seven years later, Blanchard now holds the fifth-fastest time in Indiana school history in both the indoor 3,000-meter run and mile events.

In middle school, the Fort Wayne, Ind. native first wanted to be a cheerleader, but her father stepped in and offered his advice.

“He knew my personality probably wouldn’t mesh with that,” Blanchard said. “He had run in high school a couple years and thought that would be a better fit.”

It turned out he was right.

Blanchard said her dad forced into cross country in junior high school, but she had a lot of fun at practice, which would often consist of running around and playing tag with her teammates. She fell in love with the sport and continued to compete in cross country and track and field throughout high school.

When she graduated from Carroll High School, Blanchard departed with school records in four events, including a mile time of 4:58. She was also ranked in the top-10 academically.

Despite her great success in high school, initially the thought of running in college seemed a little daunting for Blanchard.

“I thought going to college where it seems so much more serious wasn’t going to be that same sense of fulfillment, but I just love it,” she said. “Everyday we come to practice and everyone on the team is wonderful and everyone is so different. It is a nice dynamic.”

In her first year as a Hoosier, Blanchard was thrust into being one of the top girls on the cross country team. IU head coach Ron Helmer said she put in more work in her first year then any other freshman he has coached.

IU assistant coach Rebecca Walter said Blanchard worked very hard and put in consistent training, but that the program is one that takes time to see results.

“I think she handled it very well,” Walter said. “It is showcased by how well she is performing her sophomore year.”

In her freshman year Blanchard placed 33rd at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Her second time around she earned All-Region honors with a 14th place finish.

After a solid performance at the Regional meet, Blanchard and her teammates received a bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships for the first time since 2004. Blanchard said it was an emotional high and felt like everything was right in the world.

In a rollercoaster of emotions the women’s cross country team finished a disappointing 31st at the national meet.

Blanchard said it was a stab in the heart, but she tried to find a positive from the experience.

“It seemed like everyone was thinking how did we let this happen,” she said. “It’s one of the worst feelings in the world and you never ever want to feel that way again. It was good for us because it was like ‘what do you want to do and how are you not going to let this happen again?’”

On the bus ride home Walter said Blanchard showed signs of maturity by asking what she could do to improve and really listening to the answer.

So far the improvement has been fairly obvious in the indoor track season. A year ago Blanchard ran a personal best time of 9:51 in the 3,000-meter run. At the Tyson Invitational this season she won her race in an NCAA provisional time of 9:24. Walter said she thinks there is still more room for improvement.

“I think her improvement is not going to stop anytime soon, now that she has everything in place,” Walter said. “She has stuck with it long enough that it is going to pay off.”

In addition to her athletic talent, Blanchard brings a vibrant smile to the track everyday and is described as fun to coach.

“I think she brings a lot to the team,” Walter said. “One of the big parts of the way we want to build our program is, it’s not just about your athletic talent, but it’s the way you go about your business. If you look at workouts as being an opportunity to have some fun and leave it on the track, and I think she has really embraced that this year.”

Outside of her sport, Blanchard is pursing a degree in visual art education and would someday like to be an art teacher. She said her art teacher in high school, Mr. Kilmer, who also used to coach cross country, is a close friend and thought she would enjoy running.

Even though Blanchard has a chance to earn individual accomplishments, she is most excited about this weekend’s Big Ten Championships because she gets to share the experience with all of her roommates. Joining her will be fellow runners Helene Delone, Breanne Ehrman and Kelsey Duerksen, marking the first time that the four roommates will compete together at a Big Ten meet.

For someone who thought track and field would be a boring sport, Blanchard is enjoying it greatly and is a leader on the team.

“She has grown really nicely into a leadership role,” Walter said. “I don’t know if she even knows that yet, but I know a lot of the girls are really looking up to her now.”

PRJ Podcast: Molly Beckwith battles injuries to Get to Top

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You may not know her name; chances are after the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship - you will know the name Molly Beckwith. She already owns a 2:02.51 outdoor personal best at 800m and is dead set on being the best.

A handful of knee surgeries. New Sport. New Coach. None of the aforementioned obstacles were enough to derail the Indiana’s Molly Beckwith mission to get to top the of 800m rankings.

Were it not for a career ending knee injury, Beckwith may have played out her career as a soccer player. Yet because she would not quit, bend or break, she may stand as a testament to perseverance.

The Worthington, Ohio native is leading a top-ranked Indiana squad into the Big 10 indoor conference and NCAA Championships with high hopes of coming out on top.

Beckwith shares with PreRaceJitters how she fought her way at Indiana University to become one of college track and field’s elite collegiate runner and one of the best in school history.

Special thanks to Indiana University. Song Bye Bye Bye courtesy of echoed.

Marcus Boyd Prepared for 4×400m Relay battle at Big 12 Indoor Conference

After losing a string of races the Baylor 400m runner is rounding into shape and preparing to defend the mile relay conference title.

Marcus Boyd Big 12 Indoors Preview from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Coach Todd Harbour on what Baylor needs to happen at Big 12 Indoor Conference

Coach Harbour Big 12 Indoor Preview from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Despite Injuries Tiffany Townsend to content for Big 12 Indoor Title

Tiffany Townsend Big 12 Indoors Preview from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Baylor’s Trey Harts discusses Defending Big 12 Indoor Titles

Trey Harts Discusses Indoor Big 12 Conference from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo

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Can Trey Harts make a run at Michael Johnson’s indoor 200m school record?

PRJ Podcast: For Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence, Peaking at Nationals Is the Plan

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2010 Indoor Season’s Best

• 200 meters: 20.80, Virginia Tech Elite, 2/5/10
• 300 meters: 32.32, Hokie Invitational, Collegiate Record, 1/23/10
• 400 meters: 45.03, Tyson Invite, World Leader, 2/11/10

If you aren’t familiar with him, you had better ask somebody about the pure-talent 200 / 400m runner.

For all accounts, Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence is having an historic season, running at pace that can’t be ignored. Earlier this season, the sophomore rattled off a new indoor 300m collegiate record and currently lays claim to the fastest 400 meter time in the world.

But he is not satisfied. Lawrence is focused and determined to deliver his best 400m performance to win his first NCAA title at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas and bringing up the Bulldogs program in the process.

In this exclusive interview, Lawrence discusses gunning for an NCAA Champion and how good this Georgia Bulldog squad can be this season.

Special thanks to the University of Georgia. Song Bye Bye Bye courtesy of echoed.

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