Weekend Thoughts: 4/10 - 4/11

There were a number of majors this past weekend, notably the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee meet at UCLA, Tennessee’s Sea Ray Relays and Sun Angel Track Classic at Arizona State.

Professionals open season.

All signs are indicating that a number of elite runners are in fabulous shape considering the early time of the year.  Some say that there is little gain in a non-Olympic year and I couldn’t disagree more with this line of thinking.  You have to admit that the best track athletes in the world facing off and exhibiting their talent is a good idea.

It’s his defining feature: An intense focus on being the best track runner in the world.  Regardless of the drama surrounding Walter Dix off the track, the two-time Olympic bronze medalist took a turn on Saturday after running 10.00 in the 100 meters with a 0.0 wind at the Seminole Invitational.

This after news reports surfaced that Dix will be training with Florida A&M’s Rey Robinson, a 1972 Olympian and touted sprint coach. He is leaving former FSU track and field coach Terry Long who was heavily involved Dix’s training last year.  At the present time, Dix is also a contract dispute with agent Kimberly Holland. What kind of a year is in store for Richard Thompson?

Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart is quietly piece her race together, running 22.62 at the Sun Angel Track Classic. Trinidad’s Richard Thompson cranked out 20.6 in the damp, cool conditions in Arizona.

Don’t call it a come back, she’s been here for years.  This year Carmelita Jeter opened the season at the Jackie Joyner Kersee/Rafer Johnson meet in 22.59.  Jeter has recently joined the HSI group and already showing signs that she may have the best season yet of her professional career.

Bringing the heat, Lauryn Williams got her season started running 11.11 at the Miami Elite Invitational, while  2008 Olympic Trials runner-up Damu Cherry flew over the hurdles in 12.43.

Hazel Clark-Riley was spotted at the Sea Ray Relays. She placed 7th in her 1,500m heat at Sea Ray Relays, running 4:31.47.  In another early season race Anthony Famiglietti jumped in the 1500m at Sea Ray Relays, winning the race in 3:42.77 by over three seconds.

College Runners
With so many talented runners, the women’s 800 is already shaping up to be a hot race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.  Chanelle Price is getting healthier as the season goes on, recording a third place finish in the 800 meters (2:05.54), behind Treniere Clement (2:04.23).

Reigning NCAA 400 meter hurdle champion Jeshua Anderson improved on his season’s best time on Saturday, running 49.44 seconds showing that he is a force to be reckoned with again this season.  In a dramatic race, Allyson Felix ran down Texas A&M’s on the anchor leg of the 4×100 relay to win in 43.46 seconds.

Winning the overall title Ronnie Ash of Bethune-Cookman University took the high hurdles in 13.58, setting a new stadium record in Miami.

The race in L.A. had twist and turns but in the end Tran Howell, Gerlad Phiri, Chris Dykes and Justin Oliver of Texas A&M prevailed in the 400 meter relays over elite runners Craig Everhart, Kerron Clement, Rodney Martin and Shawn Crawford, 39.13 to 39.28.

Alyson Felix provided fireworks on the anchor leg of the 4×100 meter relay. Felix delivered a come from behind win, crossing the line in 43.46 to 43.47 over Texas A&M.

2009 NCAA Indoor Championships - Tennessee Distance Medley Relay

PreRaceJitters catches up with the Tennessee lineup of Phoebe Wright, Brittany Jones, Chanelle Price and Sarah Bowman ran the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) in 10:50.98 seconds to better the previous world and collegiate record of 10:54.34, set in 1988 by Villanova University.

Chanelle Price Named 2008 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year

Chanelle Price may be one of the greatest in a generation. The University of Tennessee committ, ran a staggering 2:01.61, recording the second-best time in scholastic history at the Prefontaine Classic against a world-class field.

Price is a well-rounded individual. She maintained a 99.28 average in the classroom, placing her in the top 5 percent of her class.

Easton Area High (Easton Area, Pa.) middle-distance runner Chanelle Price captured the 2008 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year award. She accepted the award from 2003 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year Allyson Felix, 2004 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year Candace Parker and two-time Olympic gold medalist Mia Hamm preceding the 2008 ESPY Awards at the Nokia Theatre, where all 12 Gatorade National Player of the Year award-winners will walk the red carpet as special guests.

“They’re putting me up there with the Candace Parkers and the Allyson Felixes, the Lebron James, so I think that’s what, deep inside, I really enjoy,” said Price. “That really says something. Now I feel like I have a tradition and a legacy that I have to carry on, so these next few years I know that there are things that I have to achieve – world records, Olympic gold medals that I have to achieve for myself, but that’ll motivate me to uphold the Gatorade tradition.”

Justin Timberlake hosted the 2008 ESPY Awards at the NOKIA Theatre LA LIVE in Los Angeles. The show airs Sunday, July 20th on ESPN at 9 pm EST/PST.

By Jay Hicks.

Chanelle Price Awarded Top Honors!

Rising star Chanelle Price had one of the best races in the history of high school track this year and no one is more deserving of accolades. At a ceremony on Wednesday, she was named 2007-08 Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.Price is the first student-athlete from Pennsylvania to win such an award. She is also in the running for the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the year. The winner will be announced at a ceremony before the ESPY Awards next year.

Some of the past winners of the prestigious award include: Bianca Knight, Allyson Felix, Monique Henderson, and Sanya Richards.

Price is currently ranked in the top 10 of all female 800-meter runners in the United States. The University of Tennessee recruit has qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials beginning June 27 to July 6 at the University of Oregon.

Last month at the Pennsylvania state meet Price shattered the PIAA-AAA and National Federation record in the 800 in a time of 2:02.90.

Earlier this month, fans saw her place sixth among the sport’s elite at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon with a stunning 2:01.61—registering the second best time in scholastic history.

In the classroom, she has maintained a 99.28 average to be in the top five percent of her class.

Price Dominates & Shatters National 800 Record!

We wouldn’t be going overboard by saying this is the best high school victory you’ll ever see.

Chanelle Price took out what looked to be a 60 meter lead during the first lap as she delivered a thunderous 800 (2:02.90) at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA) last Saturday at the Track and Field Championships in Shippensburg.

She won the race 10 seconds ahead of the second place finisher Shaniel Chambers of Chester (2:12.18).

The 17-year-old’s time broke Joetta Clark-Digg’s four-time Olympian Joetta Clark-Diggs’ National Federation of High Schools record (2:04.50) and two-time Olympic medalist Kim Gallagher’s 28-year-old PIAA meet record (2:05.47).

She will run next at the Prefontaine Classic. Price’s performance might signal a changing of the guard. Former Olympic champion Maria Mutola of Mozambique returns for her 16th and final appearance in the PreClassic 800 at the Prefontaine Classic on Sunday, June 8, 2008.

The young phenom, Price will attempt to make the Olympic team at the USA Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Ore., which begins on June 27.

Jay Hicks for PreraceJitters.