Video: Marshevet Myers catches up after London victory

Marshevet Myers in London (ENG) from FusionSports on Vimeo.

Marshevet Myers talks about winning her heat in a time of 10.99 before taking the finals in 11.01 while running into a slight headwind. What’s up next for the Texas Longhorn? Myers is set run the 100m in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 1:30pm.

Tyson Gay is spectacular in London

London (August 13, 2010)- After all the questions about Tyson Gay’s health entering the London Aviva Diamond League Series against a talented field with Richard Thompson and Walter Dix, it seemed like the he might be doomed. Um, nope.

Tyson Gay roared to a world-leading win in the men’s 100m Friday night at the Aviva London Grand Prix, part of the Samsung Diamond League.

Gay shot out of the blocks and blazed down the straight to win the sprint in 9.78 seconds, despite the slight headwind (-.04mps), clipping .04 off the previous world lead. Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, the only other athlete to break 10 seconds, finished as the runner-up in a personal best 9.89.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Sally Pearson (AUS) was first out of the blocks and held the lead until the mid-way point when Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep kicked into high gear to take the lead. Reigning USA Outdoor champion Lolo Jones tried to stay with the pair but wound up third in 12.66 to Lopes-Schliep’s world-leading 12.52 and Pearson’s 12.61. 2010 NCAA 100m- and 400m hurdle champion Queen Harrison was fourth in 12.69.

Despite a sluggish start in the women’s 200m, three-time World Outdoor champion Allyson Felix stormed around the curve and into the lead, running away with the win in 22.37. Her nearest competitor, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (BAH), was over half a second back in 22.88. Felix will be looking for a repeat win tomorrow in the 400m.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, it was a battle down the final stretch between 2009 World Outdoor bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson and the World Outdoor silver medalist, Javier Culson (PUR). Running even off the final turn, Jackson used his signature kick to edge out Culson, winning the race in 48.12 to Culson’s 48.17.

Reigning World Indoor champion Bernard Lagat won the men’s 3,000m, breaking clear in the home straightaway to beat local favorite and two-time European champion Mo Farah of Britain. Lagat crossed the line in 7:40.36 to Farah’s 7:40.75. Two-time USA Outdoor 10,000m champion Galen Rupp finished fifth in a personal best 7:43.24.

In the men’s 800m, Andrew Wheating chased two-time World Indoor champion Abubaker Kaki down the final straight, but was unable to catch him, finishing as the runner-up in a personal best 1:44.56 to Kaki’s 1:44.38. Nick Symmonds finished third in 1:45.28.

In the field, American record holder Kara Patterson took second in the women’s javelin with a best effort of 63.41m/208. In the men’s pole vault, 2008 Olympic fourth-place finisher Derek Miles was the runner-up with a soggy clearance of 5.61m/18-4.75 while 2007 World Outdoor champion Brad Walker took fourth in 5.51m/18-1.

Live Results

USA Track a& Field contributed to this report.

Gay named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS- Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week for his impressive win over Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt (JAM) at the DN Galan - Samsung Diamond League meeting Friday.

The rivalry between the world’s fastest sprinters was finally tested for the first time since the 2009 World Championships, where World Record-holder Bolt claimed the top spot. One year later, in Stockholm, Gay took full advantage of his long-awaited opportunity to settle the score, entering the finals with the fastest seed and never relinquishing that position. Gay took the lead immediately from the blocks and held on for the win in a meet record time of 9.84 seconds over Bolt’s 9.97.

Also in Stockholm, Chris Solinsky, the American Record holder in the 10,000m, finished fifth in the 5,000m in 12:55.53. That is the second-fastest time ever by an American, trailing only Bernard Lagat’s American record run of 12:54.12 from earlier this year.

Now in its ninth 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 13, Jen Clayton; January 20, Shalane Flanagan; January 27, Nolan Shaheed; February 3, Bernard Lagat; February 10, Bernard Lagat; February 17, Shalane Flanagan; February 24, Amber Campbell; March 3, Amber Campbell; March 10, Phil Raschker; March 17, Ashton Eaton; March 31, Lisa Koll; April 7, Queen Harrison; April 14, Magdalena Lewy Boulet; April 21, Bershawn Jackson; April 28, Phoebe Wright; May 5, Chris Solinsky; May 12, Walter Dix; May 26, Cory Martin; June 2, Chaunte Lowe; June 9, Bernard Lagat; June 16, Queen Harrison; June 30, Kara Patterson; July 7, David Oliver; July 22, David Oliver; July 28, Conor McCullough; August 4, Kennedy Blahnik; August 11, Tyson Gay.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 8

MEN

100 - 9.84 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6   U.S. leader
200 - 20.18 Wallace Spearmon (Saucony) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
400 - 45.40 LeJerald Betters (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
800 - 1:45.32 Nick Symmonds (Nike/OTC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
3000 - 7:54.61 David Torrence (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
5000 - 12:55.53 Chris Solinsky (Nike/OTC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
110H - 13.51 Joel Brown (unat) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
400H - 47.65 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
HJ - 2.21/7-3.25 James Harris (Alabama HS) - Norfolk, VA 8/4
LJ - 7.87/25-10 Trevell Quinley (Nike) - Rakvere, FIN 8/3
SP - 22.09/72-5.75 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/5
Dec - 8090 Joe Detmer (unat) - Marburg, GER 8/8

WOMEN

100 - 10.99 Marshevet Myers (adidas) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
200 - 22.41 Allyson Felix (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
400 - 50.59 Debbie Dunn (unat) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
800 - 1:58.67 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
1500 - 4:02.72 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
3000SC - 9:37.98 Lisa Aguilera (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
5000 - 15:50.55 Jen Rhines (adidas) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
100H - 12.70 Queen Harrison (unat) & Lolo Jones (Asics) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
400H - 55.28 Sheena Tosta (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
HJ - 2.00/6-6.75 Chaunte Lowe (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
PV - 4.41/14-5.5 Lacy Janson (unat) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
LJ - 6.89/22-7.25 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
SP - 18.74/61-5.75 Jill Camarena (NYAC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/5
DT - 62.61/205-5 Becky Breisch (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
HT - 62.66/205-7 Shelby Ashe (Georgia HS) - Marietta, GA 8/7
Hept - 5984 Bettie Wade (Nike) - Marburg, GER 8/8

Former Olympian Antonio Pettigrew found dead in North Carolina

Raleigh, NC (August 10, 2010) Early afternoon on Tuesday, August 2010, Chatham County Sheriffs found former professional track athlete Antonio Pettigrew dead in North Carolina’s Chatham County according to University of North Carolina Officials.

Pettigrew was found dead in the backseat of his locked car early Tuesday. In initial reports authorities said they are unsure if his death was accidental or a suicide. AP reports that Pettigrew’s wife reported him missing from their home in Apex, North Carolina early on Tuesday morning.

USA Track and Field reports that further details surrounding Pettigrew’s death are pending and are under investigation by the Chatham County Sheriff.

Already shockwaves are already being felt around the track community.

“The USATF family extends our condolences to all of Antonio’s family, friends and colleagues,” said USATF Chairman and President Stephanie Hightower. “The track and field community is very tight-knit, and news like this affects everyone deeply.”

A 1992 graduate of St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, N.C., the 42-year-old Pettigrew had worked as an assistant track coach for UNC for four years.

Pettigrew’s track career had been mired in controversy after being stripped of his gold medals after admitting to doping.

While actively competing, he was a three-time world champion in the 4×400m relay, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the relay and the 1991 world champion in the open 400 meters. He had won five U.S. Outdoor 400m titles over span of 12 years and at one time served on USATF’s Board of Directors as a representative of the Athletes Advisory Committee.

He was stripped of the gold medal he won at 1997 and 1999 World Championships, as well as the 4×400m world record he was part of, set in 1998. He retained his 1991 world title, three U.S. outdoor championships from 1989, ‘91 and ‘94, and the 1994 World Cup title.

Pettigrew is survived by his Cassandra, and a son, Antonio Pettigrew Jr.

Athletes Drive the Sport

So far the first half of the Diamond Leagues Series and other grand prix races have lived up to expectations.

Post-doping era, track and field was supposed to be lifeless. Sort of like baked chicken with no seasonings - bland.  The mainstream media has long written off the sport or at least will not write about the sport unless there is a drug scandal involved.

The bad press to the sport was a self-inflicted wound that was somewhat deserved.  During the last decade a parade of athletes were found guilty of doping. The sport became the running joke of late night television fueled by ESPN reports that broke into programming to announce to deliver the news.

With a major international championship, 2010 was written off by some.

But the competition within the sport as it must goes on and it does. David Oliver has rebounded from an injury plagued 2009 season to not only break the American Record once, but twice.  Almost immediately Kara Patterson became a household name among avoid fans after crushing the American Record in the javelin.  Oh, and Chaunte Howard Lowe has emerged to break her own American Record in the high jump not once but twice while also findind time to dabble in the long jump this season.

The compelling force behind track and field is the athlete’s story - the most important ingredient. Their journey. Their toil. Their condition behind the wins, defeats, and records. The story is what the community wants to hear about.  And we must never forget that athletes are center stage.

Tyson Gays Beats Usain Bolts in Sweden

Cantwell, Gay and Jones headline strong American contingent in Stockholm

Press Release
USA Track and Field

August 5, 2010-INDIANAPOLIS - Christian Cantwell, Tyson Gay and Lolo Jones will lead an impressive American lineup including multiple athletes with top world marks at the Samsung Diamond League DN Galen meeting Thursday and Friday. The meet will be held in the historic Stockholm Olympic Stadium, home to the 1912 Olympic Games and site of 83 World record-setting performances, more than any other stadium can claim.

The IAAF Diamond League encompasses 32 individual event disciplines, with a points scoring ‘Diamond Race’ which runs throughout the 14 meeting series. Winners of each Diamond Race will get a Diamond Trophy and a cash prize. For complete rules and regulations, CLICK HERE.

The men’s shot put competition will take place Thursday, Aug. 5 and features an incredible line up of five of the top U.S. throwers. 2008 Olympic gold medalist, reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion and current world-leader Christian Cantwell will lead the field along with 2007 World Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa and two- time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson. 2008 NCAA Outdoor champion Cory Martin, who holds the number 2 throw in the world so far this year, two- time NCAA champion Ryan Whiting, who holds the third and fourth best world throws, and 2009 USA Indoor champion Dan Taylor will round out the talented field which will see competition from 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2009 World Outdoor runner-up Tomasz Majewski (POL).

The men’s 100m will feature the long-awaited contest between two of the world’s greatest sprinters: Tyson Gay and Jamaican rivals Usain Bolt. The two Olympians are facing off for the first time since the 2009 World Outdoor Championships where World Record holder Bolt claimed first ahead of American Record holder Gay. Bolt is tied with Asafa Powell (JAM), who pulled out the race at the last minute due to injury, for the fastest time in the world this year, while Gay is the third fastest runner in the world so far this year. 2009 USA Outdoor champion Michael Rodgers and 2010 USA Outdoor runner up Trell Kimmons will also join the field.

Entered in the men’s 800m is 2010 USA Outdoor champion Nick Symmonds, four-time USA Outdoor and Indoor champion Khadevis Robinson and five-time NCAA Outdoor champion Andrew Wheating, who will be competing as a professional for the first time. They will challenge reigning World Indoor champion and 2009 World Outdoor runner up Abubaker Kaki Khamis (SUD).

Chris Solinsky, who holds the 10,000m American Record, and two-time USA Outdoor 10,000m champion Galen Rupp will be running in the 5,000m this meet and will face tough competition from 2008 Olympic silver medalist and world-leader Eliud Kipchoge (KEN), Vincent Kiprop Chepkok (KEN) and 2009 World Athletics Final champion Imane Merga (ETH). Kipchoge, Chepkok and Merga hold the top three times in the world this year, while Solinsky and Rupp hold the second and third fastest times by an American so far this year.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor, 2008 Olympic silver medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Kerron Clement and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and current world-leader Bershawn Jackson will lead the men’s 400m hurdles field. Joined by Michael Tinsley, they have four of the top five U.S. times so far this year, and will be challenged by 2009 World outdoor silver-medalist Javier Culson (PUR) who is the third fastest in the event in the world so far this year.

Two-time World Indoor champion and current world-leader Lolo Jones is the Diamond Race leader in the women’s 100m hurdles and will look to claim another victory in Stockholm. Also look for 2010 NCAA champion Queen Harrison, who holds the second fastest U.S. time this year.

The women’s 200m will be led by three-time World Outdoor champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix, who has the fastest U.S. time so far this year. Felix will be joined by 2010 USA Outdoor champion Consuella Moore and runner-up Shalonda Solomon as well as 2008 NCAA Indoor champion Bianca Knight. 2009 World outdoor bronze medalist Debbie Ferguson McKenzie (BAH) will be their main competition.

The women’s 1,500m will include 2010 USA Outdoor champion Anna Pierce, Christin Wurth-Thomas, who has the fourth fastest time in the world so far this year, and 2009 World Outdoor bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury, as well as world-leader Anna Alminova (RUS).

In the field, four-time USA Outdoor champion and 2010 World Indoor bronze medalist Chaunte Lowe will be competing against rival Blanka Vlasic (CRO) once again. Lowe is the world-leader in the event, while Vlasic, the reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion, is the next highest jumper in the world so far this year.

In the women’s long jump, reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Brittney Reese will face all three medalists from the 2010 European Championships: Ineta Radevica (LAT), 2010 World Indoor runner-up Naide Gomes (POR) and world-leader Olga Kucherenko (RUS). Reese is the current Diamond Race leader with two Samsung Diamond League victories under her belt already this season.

Justin Gatlin’s 100m Comeback Race

13 Questions with Texas A&M sprinter Jeneba Tarmoh

You might be hearing lot about Jeneba Tarmoh after her blistering individual and relays races at the NCAA Championship that helped Texas A&M defend their NCAA crown.

Is Tarmoh the next great collegiate sprinter?

The Aggies travel to Eugene to defend their title. Enter Tarmoh. In just her first season at Texas A&M after transferring from Tennessee, Tarmoh narrowly placed runner up (22.92 ) in the 200 meters to teammate Porscha Lucas, ran 11.13 to finish third in the 100 meters and ran pivotal legs on the victorious Aggie 4×100, and 4×4 relays teams.

The Texas A&M sophomore talks abou running for Texas A&M, her educational pursuits and the lesson she learned this season.

PRJ: Winning the 100 meter in 11.00 (wind-aided) at NACAC against top international talent from North America, Central America and the Caribbean – does that make your title mean more? Of course winning always has a positive effect on a person. But what makes my title mean the most is the time I ran.
JT: Of course winning always has a positive effect on a person. But what makes my title mean the most is the time I ran.

PRJ: What’s it like to be the NCAA Champs?
JT: It’s a honor, not many teams have the talent and depth Texas A&M has. I never thought that I would be part of a team that has so much talent and it makes me feel blessed to be part of it. The feeling still has not sunk in.

PRJ: How confident were you that Texas A&M could overcome such a talented Oregon team after finishing second to the Ducks at the Pepsi Invitation back in April?
JT: I was very confident, I know that Oregon is a talented team but I also know we are just as talented.

PRJ: What amazing runs you had in the 100 and 200 meters – how do you feel about your races at the NCAAs?
JT: PROUD! Like many athletes my journey over the course of the year made me doubt my ability to attain the goals I set for myself. But a person comes to realize that the journey they go through is what makes the end product mean what it does.

PRJ: How did the team react to losing Gabby Mayo in Eugene?
JT: The team was sad for the most part, but we are aware that Gabby is not what makes the team good. We all practiced hard when it was time to, so therefore we all have trained to compete hard under every circumstance good or bad.

PRJ: What about Coach Henry? How much does it mean for you to give him back-to-back national titles and the first in school history?
JT: It always a good feeling to please some else. It made me happy because when Coach Henry smiles it means that someone has really touched his heart and it felt good to see him smile ear to ear.

PRJ: You lose some runners next year but you have some help on the way?
JT: We have plenty of help on the way and by the grace of god we also have athletes coming back stronger than last year mentally and physically.

PRJ: You were at Tennessee before transferring to College Station? Were you nervous at all about the transfer?
JT: Of course. In my mind I was afraid the team was too good for me and that I would not be able to contribute. But the reason why Coach Anderson recruited me was because I can contribute and I was wanted.

PRJ: What is campus life like at Texas A&M?
JT: For the most part it is fun. I have friends who make life so much more exciting.

PRJ: Have you thought about what you might get your degree in?
JT: I made up my mind about becoming a psychologist in high school and I’m still sticking to it. I’m almost done now so there’s no turning back.

PRJ: So when did you start running?
JT: I started running my freshman year in high school when I was 14 but it took me many years to get serious about the sport.

PRJ: What are you doing outside of track?
JT: I do everything a girl my age does. I watch tv, read, and just relax with friends and family.

PRJ: What has this last year taught you?
JT: Everything happens for a reason. God always has a plan. I learned to stand still in the midst of a trial, I hated that I had to sit the year out, but looking at how this year turned out I’m glad because I learned more about myself as a child of God, and as a person.

14 Questions with South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch

PRJ: How did you get started running?
JD: I started running when I was 10 years old. My sister ran on a summer track team at St. Augustine college in Raleigh called the Carolina Eagles. I used to watch her run every evening while I sat in the sand pit and made ant hills and holes.

Her coach would ask me “when you gonna run boi” and I’d be like “never.” Eventually, a few years later I watched her at hurdle practice. I saw what she was doing, so I grabbed a few hurdles and lined them up on the grass and started hurdling.

PRJ: Where did your love of running coming from?
Being around it majority of my life is what really developed my initial love for the sport. At first I hated it because I saw what it did to people at practices, but when I first set up those hurdles on the grass, I saw it was something I’d enjoy doing.

PRJ: Congratulations on winning your first NCAA title and South Carolina’s first 400-meter hurdle title in 48.75. The time was blazing. Did you feel confident after the first two hurdles that you could take home the gold?
JD: I said in a previous interview with our media relations guy, Miquel [Jacobs],that with the right time, circumstances and conditions anything is possible.

Unfortunately, on the backstretch it was extremely windy which caused me to exert more energy going over the first few hurdles than anticipated, but sometimes you have to stay focused and adjust to that circumstance or that condition. So that’s what I did. I wasn’t confident until the last part of the race when I knew I hadn’t yet won an NCAA title. That’s when I went into overdrive.

PRJ: In years past, you have been so close in the runner up position. How does it sound to say NCAA Champion after your name?
JD: It still feels surreal to me. I’ve always admired people who have been NCAA champions in the past because every year it’s just as competitive as the year before and I knew it took patience and hard work to have an NCAA title. I still can’t believe it.

PRJ: Did the win over Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson the two-time NCAA Champion add fuel add to the already budding rivalry?
JD: That’s exactly what it is, a “budding rivalry.” Again, that’s my homie, so I have always been supportive and excited about his NCAA wins in the past. I think it was more than just Jeshua’s NCAA titles that fired me up. It was probably more so of people doubting me and not believing I was capable of winning a title. I’ve even overheard people talk about me not being able to win. I’ve been truly the underdog for three years since I’ve been in college. But I kind of liked that because I knew what I was capable of achieving. It just took time and patience.

PRJ: What has your training consisted of after NCAA Outdoors and USA Outdoor Nationals?
JD: A lot of rest days. I back off more now so I can give my body time to recuperate. But I still have those hard practices a few days out of the week to keep my fitness level up.

PRJ: Speaking of U.S. Championships, you don’t mind going up against the top hurdles even to make a US team, do you?
JD: That’s exactly what I like. I feed off of the other runners presence and the intensity in the atmosphere.

PRJ: You said winning NCAAs that you didn’t run as fast as you wanted to run. How fast do you feel you are capable of running right now?
JD: Well, I just stepped on the scale a few days ago and I weigh the same, if not less, than I did in high school. Therefore, I feel like I can run anything I put my mind too, being I’m small enough to throw myself around the track.

PRJ: After competing the NCAA seasons how fresh do you feel to tackle Europe this summer?
JD: Being that I just finished a long college season, it’s going to be all about heart running over on the European circuit. My heart is what I run with 95% of the race, so regardless if someone thinks I’m too fatigued or still fresh, I know my heart says something else.

PRJ: You have the keen ability to run the 110s and 400 hurdles extremely well. Which race do you see being your bread and butter at the level?
JD: Growing up, coach Aaron McDougal, the man that engineered the beginning phases of my career, told me that the short hurdles were my bread and butter. I was always good in them growing up. When I got to college it took a minute to, again, adjust to another height. So once I fully adjust to the 110s again, no telling which one will be better. As of right now, the 400 hurdles are definitely it.

PRJ: What would you say is the most memorable moment in your career to date?
JD: Making the world championship team in 2009. I don’t think anything beats the opportunity of being able to represent your country and wear the U-S-A across your chest.

PRJ: In contrast, what has been the lowest moment in your career?
JD: I’ve had many. One that sticks out is sitting in the hotel my freshman year while the finals of the 400 meter hurdles went off at the 2008 NCAA championships in Des Moines, Iowa. I was so bitter about the situation, I couldn’t even go out to watch the race. But thank God for getting me through those times when I felt low.

PRJ: You have run on track and fields all over the world, which would you say is your favorite?
JD: It has to be between North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro and the Eugene, Oregon facilities. The reason why I say A&T is because all of my family and friends come out and support me. I feed off their energy and always put something fast down on that track. And I love the blue surface. It’s where I ran Nike high school nationals and all of my states meets.

Eugene is a place where track and field is appreciated and people respect what you do. The weather isn’t always great, but on your way walking to the track you see huge posters and billboards of Ashton Eaton or Andrew Wheating, athletes who run track and work hard. That’s something you don’t see anywhere else in America.

PRJ: Do you get prerace jitters?
JD: Yessir. Most definitely. I get them even before I arrive at the track facility the day of the meet. I’ll be laying in my bed running the race back and forth through my head until it feels right.

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