2009 Reebok Grand Prix Meet Coverage

About the meet

Icahn Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility on Randall’s Island featuring a 400-meter Mondo track and covered seating for spectators, is the premier outdoor track-and-field venue in New York City. The 2009 Reebok Grand Prix will be broadcast on NBC from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. EST. Check out the meet’s official website.

Pre-Meet Interviews:

PreRaceJItters’ Track and Field Radio Show, Reebok Grand Prix with Lionel Larry Lionel Larry has run 20.37 so far this season and is set to compete this weekend at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix.

6 Things You Oughta Know About Lionel Larry Coming soon!

Meet Review and Results:

Instant Analysis Tyson Gay delivers top meet’s top performance and Carmelita Jeter’s 100m streak remains in tact.

Results Check out the complete results from the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix.

Videos:

Interviews Coming soon!

Coming Soon!

Live Updates:

Twitter Follow our live updates from the Adidas Track Classic on Twitter.

PreRaceJitters’ Fan Page on Facebook Get exclusive information on PreRaceJitters’ Fan Page on Facebook.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show #26, Reebok Grand Prix Preview Show with Lionel Larry

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PreRaceJitters Reebok Grand Prix Meet Coverage

Jay Hicks and John W. Davis preview the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix, revealing their picks for the upcoming meet in New York. Former NCAA All-American Lionel Larry stops by to talk about first trip to the Reebok Grand Prix, his first season on the professional circuit, and thoughts on track and field.

• Reebok Grand Prix Official Website
• adidas Track Classic Results
• IAAF World Rankings
• Asafa Powell Ready for New York

PreRaceJitters’ Track and Field Radio Show, where the real playas comes to hang out!

Special thanks to Lionel Larry and the Global Athletics.

2009 adidas Track Classic Coverage

About the meet

Making its fifth trip to The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California the adidas Track Classic will begin at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. PDT. Check out the meet’s official website.

Pre-Meet Interviews:

Marshevet Hooker Marshevet Hooker has run 22.93 so far this season and is one of the top ten sprinters in the world and is set to compete this weekend at the Adidas Track Classic.

DeeDee Trotter Meet Preview Dee Dee Trotter gives her insight stuff on the Adidas Track Classic.

Meet Review and Results:

Instant Analysis The Adidas Track Classic wrap up upon conclusion of meet.

Results Check out the complete results from the Adidas Track Classic.

Videos:

Interviews Video interviews from the Adidas Track Classic in Carson, California.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show #24, adidas Track Classic Preview Show PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show Adidas Track Classic Preview Show.

Photos:

2009 Adidas Track Classic Photos from the 2009 Adidas Track Classic by Danny Wariner.

Wednesday

Live Updates:

Twitter Follow our live updates from the Adidas Track Classic on Twitter.

PreRaceJitters’ Fan Page on Facebook Get exclusive information on PreRaceJitters’ Fan Page on Facebook.

PreRaceJitters Interview: Allyson Felix, adidas Track Classic Preview

Allyson Felix, Adidas Track Classiv Preview from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

PreRaceJitters’ catches up with Allyson Felix about the upcoming adidas Track Classic, her favorite sports outside of track and field and how she deals with the travel requirements of being a professional track athlete.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show #24, Adidas Track Classic Preview Show

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You don’t want to miss this one.

Jay Hicks is live and direct from Carson, California home of the Adidas Track Classic.  John W. Davis is back in the studio as the duo reveal their picks in the hottest races that include: Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor and many more names.

-Official Adidas Track Classic Website
-PreRaceJitters Adidas Track Classic Live Coverage Site
-Adidas Track Classic Press Conference

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

2009 Adidas Track Classic to Run Fast Without Tyson Gay

Photo by Jay Hicks.

-Carson, CA. Home Depot Center.

Those looking to see the 2007 IAAF World Champion at 100 and 200 meters will have to wait a couple of weeks.  Meet officials formally announced today that Tyson Gay is not competing in the 2009 adidas Track Classic and remained at home in Texas to train in preparation for the Reebok Grand Prix in New York taking place in two weeks.

Tyson is not competing and we are disappointed,” Rich Kenah, one of the meet officials, told reporters.”He’s just not ready to run 100 and 200 yet so he won’t be competing here.

Last year, Gay ran a 100 and 200 meter double at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

In his place, former 100 meter Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene spoke to reporters about the adidas Track Classic.  The retired sprinter said, “having a high quality is about having great athletes but the fans really energize the athletes to perform well here at Carson.”

“Dancing is harder than running,” said Greene. You have get your heel and toe placement just right.  And the judges are know if you miss one item in your routine.

True to the meets’ reputation this years meet hosts some of track and field’s biggest names.

Competing this year is Jenn Stucyznski.   Last year she set the American record pole vault at 16 feet, 1.75 inches and is the events three time reigning champion.

Stucyznski said, “We come out here to get get some sun and heat.” “Jumping outdoors is all about wind and conditions. The last two years that I jumped here the the conditions.”

Allyson Felix is running her first 200 meters of the year. “I’m not really sure where I am at in my 200 meters. 

“We haven’t done that much speed work so will tell me where I am.”  Felix went on to say, “It is really special for me to run here.  I believe that I have only missed running year since the start of this meet. It’s great because my family can come.  For some of them is the only chance for my family to be present to see me run all year long,” said the 2007 World Champion at 200 meters.

Also running at the meet includes: Jeremy Wariner, Sanya Richards, LaShawn Merritt, Darvis Patton, Bernard Lagat, Shalane Flanagan, Terrence Trammell, Kerron Clement, Marshevet Hooker, and Hazel Clark.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Weekly Radio #23 with Marshevet Hooker

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This week, Marshevet Hooker joins Jay Hicks and John W. Davis on PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show to discuss her athletic family, training under Jon Drummond and the upcoming 2009 adidas Track Classic in Carson, CA.

That and much, much more on PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show.

-Oregon’s 4 x mile collegiate record
-Qatar Super Grand Prix
-Osaka Grand Prix

Special thanks to Marshevet Hooker.

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

Instant Analysis - QATAR SUPER GRAND PRIX

The weather at the Qatar Super Grand Prix - IAAF World Athletics Tour - meeting in Doha on Friday was predictably good. Sunny and warm with a breeze. A track that is soft but yet firm.

A place to go fast.

David Oliver led the assault on the world leader board in a meet that saw over a dozen world leads and a meet record. Oliver flew over the hurdles in 13.19 over Antwon Hicks (13.24) and Andrew Turner (13.31).

How fast can Travis Padgett go this season? Today the former Clemson standout made his move early, getting out the blocks quickly as he ran 10.00 equaling the world fastest time. With Padgett coming out gunning at 10.00, it easily be said that his personal record of 9.89 is in jeopardy.

Is Allyson Felix signaling an unofficial career shift to the 400? Felix put down 50.75, with a field including Shericka Williams (51.08) and Natasha Hastings (52.39). Last year Felix won the meet in 10.93, a world leading time at the time. This year the Beijing silver medalist at 200 meters set the world leading time in the 400 meters. A monumental shift in the women’s 400 would occur if Felix competes at major championships in the one lap race.

It was the hottest race of the evening. Abubaker Kaki Khamis of Sudan ran a dizzying second lap on the way to running 1:43.09 in the 800 meters that saw three runners peel off sub 1:44 seconds. Abubaker fought off Asbel Kipruto Kiprop and Mohammed Al-Salhi to retain victory.

Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart is going to be a force to reckon with this season in the 100. She easily ran 10.93, against a field featuring Stephanie Durst (11.15) of the U.S. and Jamaica’s Sherri Ann-Brooke (11.20).

Getting back to business as usual, Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic cleared 2.05 meters, before making a ran at a World record 2.10 meter jump. Reese Hoffa got off early heaving 21.64 to win the shot put.

Click here for full results.

Mt. SAC Relays Highlight the Weekend

Photo by Glenda Boyd.

By Jerry Boyd

What happens when you combine a grass roots track & field community with a great track facility, near perfect weather and some of the premier athletes in the world?  You get the 2009 Mt. Sac Relays at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut California.  The meet organizers have put together three days of wonderful competition for all levels including youth, masters, Special Olympics, Paralympics, college and professional runners.

Perhaps the biggest race on Saturday was the men’s invitational 200m where Lionel Larry of Adidas ran an early season personal bests of 20.37 ahead of Dwain Chambers, who ran 20.51.  Hailing from California and training in Carson, Lionel considers Mt. Sac Relays a home meet and the crowd responded loudly when he competed.  The next time he will be in action is May 2nd in Jamaica.  Just after the fans settled down from the men’s 200m, the women came back with a close 200m of their own featuring Arizona State’s Charonda Williams running 22.84 to claim victory.

In the women’s invitational 100m, Carmelita Jeter set a world leading time of 10.96.  The mark is also a personal best time for Jeter and is the first time in that she has run under 11-seconds in her career.

Geena Gall of Michigan won the women’s invitational 800m just missing a PR with 2:02.69.  It was Galls’s first time to run at Mt. SAC and even though a light wind gave her a little trouble she was able to finish over a second and a half ahead of the closest competitor.  Gall and the Michigan team will be competing next at the Penn Relays next week.

The men’s 400m hurdles featured National Champion and World Jr. Champion Jeshua Anderson of Washington State.  Anderson was been running well but crashed on hurdle 8 and opened the door for Justin Boyd, competing for the G&G Track Cub, to take the win at 50.32.  Justin said, “I saw Anderson fall but had to concentrate on his steps to finish strong.”  This is Boyd’s first appearance at Mt. SAC and will travel to Des Moines next week for the Drake Relays.

Allison Felix ran the anchor leg for the winning 4X100m relay with a 43.98.  The same group consisting of Allyson Felix, Ginnie Powell, Michelle Perry and Natasha Hastings also won the sprint medley relay at 1:38.77.

The men’s pole vault had an impressive field including Olympic silver medalist Todd Stevenson but the Japanese national record holder Diachi Sawano owned the day.   Sawano put on an impressive demonstration clearing 5.70m – 18’08. 25”.

Olympian Suzy Powell of Asics won the women’s discus with a throw of 5.67m – 195’09”.

On Friday night, Julia Howard won the women’s invitational 1500m with a time of 4:13.72.  After the race, I spoke with Lauren Hagans who placed third with a PR of 4:14.94.  She was excited after a tough race where she was blocked in and had to make a bold move to get in the open.  Hagans is a former Baylor All-American now running unattached and will take next weekend off before returning to run at Stanford the following week.

At the end of the day there were smiles all around.  The Mt. SAC Relays organizers, officials and volunteers do a remarkable job with this big meet.  It was a pleasure to see a mix of athletes from the determined high school competitors to the talented and gracious professionals.

“Rumors and News in Track & Field”

It’s just one week past the 2009 Indoor National Championships and things are really getting started in the outdoor season.  This week in the collegiate track and field is the Texas Southern University Relays, which is a hotly contested relay battle on the Houston sprinting scene.

Other meets to watch out for are the Miami Hurricane Invitational, Oregon Preview in Eugene and the Georgia Relays.

It’s sad news. Friday, March 6 is Black Friday - the day that Trackshark’s staff including Tom Borish were officially notified of being laid off. Earlier this week one of track and field’s most well-known site went dark. Fans and colleagues alike are sitting tight to hear what is next for Borish.

Don’t get lost in the shuffle. Check out PreRaceJitters for the full schedule of meets and links to results each week.  Links either go to the meet website or the results page.

Say cheese. Last week, a half dozen or so of Adidas’ top athletes such as Veronica Campebll-Brown, Allyson Felix, Jeremy Wariner and Blanka Vlašić descended on the Home Deport Center located in Carson, CA.  Carson is the site of the adidas Track Classic.

It’s safe to assume that photo shoots and promotional videos were recorded for the upcoming season.  The real question is will Vlašić  make an appearance in North America at the 2009 adidas Track Classic this year?

It’s about that time.  Jeremy Wariner is expected to open up the season on Saturday at the Baylor’s Dr. Pepper Invitational at their home track in Waco, Texas.  The four-time Olympian is expected to run the 200 meters, along with training partners Darold Williamson and Reggie Witherspoon.  Typically Wariner and the Waco All-Stars relay team runs at the TSU Relay but this year he is running at home track in Waco.

In other news, Lindford Christie and his training group were seen in San Diego, CA having made the trip across the pond to train in the United States.

How will the cookie crumble?

Rumor is that the effects of axing USA Track & Field’s High Performance division at the behest of a panel appointed by Doug Logan will negatively impact the Texas Relays.  The division’s budget is being used elsewhere, meaning that hotel and transportation costs for athletes running at Texas Relays will now have to come from other sources.

Speaking of sources, mine indicate that the University of Texas has received the normal level of inquiries from professional runners who still want to run at the high school and college meet.  As of right now, meet officials are expecting a good professional turn out.  Coach Bubba Thorton undoubtly has many of the athletes on speed dial as the 2008 head coach of Team USA.  In the end, we will have to wait and see if the meet is unaffected by the High Performance divisions demise.

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