PreRaceJitters’ Interview: Dee Dee Trotter, 2009 adidas Track Classic Preview

PreRaceJitters: Dee Dee Trotter’s adidas Track Classic Preview from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

PreRaceJitters’ talks with Dee Dee Trotter gets the inside stuff with Dee Dee Trotter about the 2009 adidas Track Classic including her picks and highlights.

2-time Olympic shot put medalist John Godina retires

Press Release
John Godina, at the age of 36 one of the most decorated throwers in track-and-field history with nine Olympic and World Championships medals to his credit, has announced his retirement.

From the day-to-day challenges of training to the intensity of competition, I will miss the rigors of being an athlete, said Godina, a four-time World Champion and two time Olympic medalist.  But I am retiring with pride and a true sense of satisfaction with what I’ve accomplished. I’m happy to have played a large role in the drug-free revolution in my events, and I look forward to continuing a heavy involvement in the sport.

Godina’s 14-year professional career began in 1995 with a gold medal in the shot put at the World Championships just months after winning NCAA titles in both the shot and discus. He would repeat as World Champion outdoors in 1997 and 2001, also winning a World Indoor title in 2001. At the 1996 Olympics, he won a silver medal in the shot put, and at the 2000 Olympics earned a bronze medal.

Also a two-time US discus champion, Godina in 1996 became the first American in 72 years to make the US Olympic team in both the shot and discus, and his six appearances at the World Championships outdoors ties him for the most by an American male.

Twice a Jesse Owens Award winner as the top male track-and-field athlete in the US, Godina was a pioneer in the crusade against the use of performance-enhancing drugs. He plans to continue his volunteer work with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Godina recently began coaching throwers, including 2007 US runner-up Dan Taylor. Founder of the Whole Fitness gym and kPilates in Mesa, Ariz., he and his wife, Kendra Jordan, will open a second fitness studio, Karve, in nearby Scottsdale next
month.

Godina has also just opened John Godina’s World Throws Center and John Godina’s Center for Track and Field, a 13,000-foot training facility in Mesa for elite athletes in all areas of the sport.

Marshevet Hooker For Adidas Sprint

Adidas continued its unending support for sprinters with the adidas adiStar Sprint.

Was it shoes some have asked. Marshevet Hook, a former University of Texas standout had her best season to date, earning a birth to the 2008 Olympic Trials, highlighted with a fifth place finish (22.34) at 200-meters in Beijing. Even with a wind, the 10.76 she put down at the quarterfinal round of the 100-meters at the Olympic trials was jaw dropping.

According to adidas, the Sprint boasts a synthetic upper with hook-and-loop closures provides variable adjustment and support. Foam insole adds comfort. Pebax® and TPU plate with replaceable spike elements offers lightweight performance and durability.

Kicks: Adidas Gazelle

Here are some new kicks the Adidas Gazelle OP - Silver / Sky Grey / Lt Clay. They sport a simple gray upper constructed from suede, which is completely perforated.

The tongue features a darker tone of grey, white sole sole is constructed from white rubber. For anyone looking for something sans logos, colors, or otherwise distracting exterior decor these adidas Gazelle OP Mens Athletic Inspired Kicks might be for you. If what you’re looking for is a completely clean pair of kicks, with nearly no ornamentation of any kind, these should fit the bill perfectly. [Via Streething].

Do you like what you see?

Tyson Gay A Throw Back To Greatness!

It must have been the hot gear.

In sports, uniforms and shoes make the man, right? The times and performances may be tough to compare from different eras because the track surfaces and training sciences continually improve over the years. There is constant in sports and track for that matter: the gear.

We know what you are thinking, how did the athlete look performing the time?

Of course, at the U.S. Olympic Trials earlier this month, Tyson Gay ran in throw back uniforms. During the 100-meter rounds, Gay introduced a white uniform with red and blue stripes in a tribute to 1936 Olympic star Jesse Owens. He successfully executed a wardrobe change–for the finals he rocked a royal blue body suit with red and white diagonal stripes across the front.

The photo to the left is of Jesse Owens wearing the original uniform at the 1936 Olympic Games, where he won four gold medals in the 100, 200, long jump, and 4×100 relay team while defeating Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Was it the shoes that propelled him to 9.68 seconds?

Tyson’s gear certainly appealed to historically-minded fans. The 2007 World Champion at 100 and 200-meters, also sported a custom designed spike that were also inspired by Jesse Owens called “The Trinity.” The spike is named for Tyson’s daughter and it has another synergy as Gay is known for his strong religious beliefs.

It includes an X on the heel, reflecting the adidas Olympic heritage and the name Trinity embossed in gold on the side of the shoe.

“Winning is a great feeling. When you do win you can sit back and look at hard practices you went through and really appreciate the victory,” Gay said. “I wear the Trinity shoe out of respect for Jesse Owens. It’s like a new school and an old school put together. It’s my way of showing respect back to him.”

Like the man he sought to pay honor, Tyson is also a man of few words and big actions. This uniform and shoes are a personal expressing of who he is and what is important to him. While at the same time adding a hip, stylish trend to today’s sports scene.

It all depends on who you ask about the significance of gear to athletes.“We need to get some type of flame-retardant uniform in case he catches on fire,” said Drummond, no stranger to hyperbole. “He’s running so doggone fast.”

I couldn’t sum it up any better than that.

By Jay Hicks.

Texas Sprinter Bianca Knight Goes Pro

Trackshark.com is reporting that Bianca Knight turned professional, joining a growing number of track athletes leaving the college ranks early. She will forgo her remaining eligibility in collegiate track and field.

The world of elite track and field was introduced to Bianca Knight last Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championship meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The freshman from the University of Texas broke the NCAA meet record at 200-meters in a stunning time of 22.40. The second fastest time ever by an American runner puts Bianca on the level of the world’s elite sprinter.

If Bianca can deliver similar times at the professional level, she’ll be competitive among the world’s best sprinters. To put her indoor time of 22.40 into proper context, just take a look at the results from the outdoor 200-meter finals at the 2007 World Championships: Allyson Felix won in 21.82, Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell took second in 22.34, followed by Susanthika Jayasinghe in 22.63. Runners typically put up much faster times outdoors.

Given the typically short career span of the average professional sprinter, I think Knight is wise to turn pro if she competes with the world’s best at this age.

Good luck Bianca!

Nike, Adidas Gear Up For Sneaker War!

The bar for spikes was set sky high by Michael Johnson running into history sporting Nikes at the Atlanta Olympic Games, where he clocked 19.32 seconds in 200-meters and won gold in the 400-meters. Millions still remember Johnson’s custom spikes, and that’s exactly why Nike customized the shoes for him.

Sneakers are more than functional footwear. They need to feel good, look good. They represent our individual style and taste.

Shoemakers have long battled for the Chinese market, but the Beijing Olympics are the battle ground for bitter rivals, Nike and Adidas. The Chinese market, made up of mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, is the second largest market in the world and is worth a whopping $1 billion a year in sales.

Nike is hedging their bets on Asafa Powell. They imprinted his feet and studied his running style to deliver the lightest and strongest kicks ever for the 100-meter world record holder.