PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show with Carmelita Jeter

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Jay Hicks and John W. Davis recap the U.S dominate performances at Penn Relays, comment on building successful Team U.S. relay teams, and the duo catch up with Carmelita Jeter about anchoring the 4×100 meter relay at Penn Relays and the difference this year resulting in her world leading time of 10.96 in the 100 meters.

- USA vs. the World
- Sam Chelanga breaks NCAA 10 k record
- Runnerspace Video: Shannon Rowbury sets world lead in 5k

Special thanks to Carmelita Jeter. PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show, where the real playas come to hang out!

Impressive Performances at Drake Relays Trump Poor Weather

Adam Nelson. Photo by Glenda Boyd.

-Des Moines, Iowa - April 25, 2009. By Jerry Boyd.

The big stories were nonstop from the 100th Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA. Twenty of the century’s top athletes were honored for their participation over the years, from Jessie Owens to Essie Kelly Washington. Michael Johnson and Gwen Torrence were selected as the male and female athletes of the century. The Drake Relays is in its first year as one of the first outdoor events in the 2009 Visa Championship Series. The weather also claimed its share of the news starting with near perfect weather the first two days and a cold, rainy Saturday for the final day of competition.

Lolo Jones was scheduled to run the 100m hurdles and the fans came to life as she stepped on the wet track in a tuxedo like two-piece uniform. She got a good start but started pulling up before the 8th hurdle and was unable to finish the race. The crowd was stunned as she was carted off holding her right hamstring. Jones later came back on the field to speak to the sold out stadium saying that there had been some soreness for a few weeks and if it had not been the Drake Relays she “would have pulled out” of the meet.

Jones reassured everyone saying, “it is only a slight tear, and is not as bad as it seems.”  Again the fans responded with appreciation as Jones walked gingerly off the field.  Michigan’s Tiffany Ofili won the race with the worlds third fastest time of 12.82.

In the men’s 400m Special, Olympic Gold medalist and former Drake champion Jeremy Wariner dominated the field, starting strong and hit it hard at the 300m mark to finish with a convincing 45.06 for the second fastest time in the world. This is Wariner’s first 400m of the season and after wards Wariner said, “I really wanted to give the crowd a good show.”  The four time Olympic medalist is competing in two week in Osaka.

Lauren Hagans won the women’s 1500m with a strong run of 4:18.24 and Alan Webb continues to be unbeaten at Drake in the men’s mile at 4:00.61

The men’s 400m hurdles featured a heavily loaded field with former LSU standout Isa Phillips taking the win with a 49.60. The cold and rain required a little extra warm up, but Philips said, “at this level you have to be able to compete regardless of the weather”. His next appearance will be in Jamaica next week.

The best race of the day might have been the high school boy’s 4 X 400m relay. On the anchor leg Indianola and Waukee came down the home stretch shoulder to shoulder with Waukee appearing to cross the line first but an out of control lean and hard fall got the win for Indianola by one, one hundredth of a second, 3:23.15.

Once again Baylor is the Drake Relays 4X400m relay champion at 3:05.11. They have compiled an impressive string of victories winning 18 of the last 21 years and 5 straight titles in Des Moines. The victory was also the relays 40th consecutive 4 X 400m collegiate win.

Suzy Powell-Roos won the women’ discus with a throw of 59.15m – 194’01” but second place winner and Olympic champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton 58.76m – 192’09” was able to put the day in perspective. Brown-Trafton was prepared for the rain and saying ”it is a great opportunity to not be afraid to compete in wet weather” because the U.S. Championships will be held in Des Moines next year. This was Brown-Trafton’s first competing in Drake and  she went on to say, “I am happy that there is a town outside of Eugene that is into track and field”.

Jerry Boyd is a sportswriter for PreRaceJitters.com. All photos by Glenda Boyd.

Weekend Results: 4/23 - 4/25

• Drake Relays
• Penn Relays Thursday | Friday | Saturday
• BYU Invitational
• Cal State Lister Classic
• Southern Mississippi
• Nebraska Open
• Northwestern State Invitational
• Oregon Relays
• Oklahoma Sooner Open
• Sun Devil Invitational
• UCSD Triton Invitational - La Jolla, CA

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show - Week of April 20

Geena Gall-Michigan, Lacy Kramer-BYU. Photo by Glenda Boyd.

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Jay Hicks and John W. Davis react to Geena Gall’s 2:02.69 second run in the invitational 800 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays, Jacoby Ford’s 100 meter title run at the ACC Championships and Trey Harts’ record breaking 200m (20.29) performance at the Michael Johnson Classic. The duo also preview the Drake and Penn Relays.

-Geena Gall nears PR
-Michael Johnson Classic
-Penn Relays
-Drake Relays

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

2008 Drake Relays In Review

The Drake Relays has grown to one of the best track meets for college and pro runners. The 99th running was no different. Saturday’s session drew a crowd of 18,000, marking the 43rd straight year of selling out the final day.

At the Drake Relays, Lolo Jones started the outdoor season in the same manner she ended the indoor season: rolling! The reigning 60-meter hurdles champ won her second outing this season at the Drake Relays in 12.74, breaking her own meet record. For her effort, Lolo was named top female athlete of the Drake Relays. It comes as no surprise from observers that she won the prestigious meet in her hometown, running in front of her people despite swirling, gusting winds.

Drake fans were also provided a treat by witnessing two of the world’s top shot put throwers. World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell won his sixth Drake title with a toss of 68 feet, 6 inches. That effort was well ahead of Jamaican Dorain Scott and Reese Hoffa, the reigning world outdoor champion.

The first trip to Drake Relays did not go so hot for hurdle legend Allen Johnson. The 1996 Olympic champion clipped a hurdle midway through the race finishing in a distance fifth place. The winner Anwar Moore crossed the line in 13.14, winning his second Drake title in a row.

Another Olympic hopeful Shareese Woods won the 400 in 51.75. April Steiner was the only athlete to clear a height and won the pole vault in 14 feet, 2 inches despite gusty winds.

Jay Hicks