PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show - Episode 6

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Jay Hicks and John W. Davis deliver another lively and entertaining show, this week giving listeners the inside stuff of the professional track & field game. Read more

Instant Analysis: Millrose Games Lagat Undeniable

Millrose Games Results by event | Millrose Official Site | Visa Championship Series

Bernard Lagat (3:58.44) won the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games for the seventh time Friday night to tie Eamonn Coghlan’s record.  He beat New Zealand’s Nick Willis (3:59.48), the Olympic bronze medalist in the 1,500 meters.

Lagat said, “The race was good. I was prepared coming in. I had been training very well. I feel fast, I feel fresh. It’s good to come back and win.  Ending up the season not winning a lot last year because of the injury I had, to start the year with the win, this is not another race for me. This race means a lot.”

Don’t call it a comeback, he’s been here for years.  Veteran, two-time Olympian Terrence Trammell first race since a left hamstring strain knocked him out of the Beijing Games, winning the 60 meter hurdles in 7,45.  Antwon Hicks came in second, while Ron Bramlett back from retirement placed a respectable fourth place in 7.78, ahead of Aries Merritt 8.03.

Bianca Knight made some noise in New York City, winning the women’s 60 dash, beating U.S. Olympian Muna Lee.  “I was a little jumpy at the start. I caused the first false start. It was my first Millrose Games, so to come out with a win, I’m excited. It’s really noisy in here, even after they tell the crowd to be quiet. This year I decided my goal is to break the 200 (world) record indoors at Fayetteville (the Tyson Invitational on February 13).”

The circle produced more riveting performances.  Christian Cantwell threw 67-4.25, then was one upped only  by Adam Nelson, who won his second consecutive Millrose victory with a final throw of 68-2.5.

As we predicted in the preview, the women’s pole vault was close.  Stuczynski cleared 15-5, before taking a shot at the 15-9.75 the American record.  Stacy Dragila vaulted 15-1.5.  Look for battle  Stuczynski and Dragila to battle during the indoor season as Dragila  is healthy.

Instant Analysis: Millrose Games Is Goucher Show

Millrose Games Results by event | Millrose Official Site | Visa Championship Series

Is it a sign of things to come? The Millrose Games (MSG) television coverage kicked off with Seton Hall upsetting University of South Carolina in the women’s college 4×400 meter relay.

You get one move indoors. Allian Pompey (1:19.51) of Guyana used her move in the early part of the 600 yards, after failing to beat Monica Hargrove to the break. After drafting in second place Hargrove (1:19.50) scored a razor thin victory in her inaugural MSG appearance.

The thrill is not gone. Kara Goucher continues her success in New York City, getting down in the NYRR Women’s Mile, delivering an impressive 4:33.19 in the New York Road Runners mile, without another runner in striking distance. Runner up, Marina Muncan finished in 4:37.77.

Reigning pole vault Olympic champion Steve Hooker lives up to all expectations, winning in 19-8.50. The Aussie attempted the world record (20-2.5) held by Sergey Bubka before calling it a night. That height however, is good enough to qualify as the best indoor performance to be recorded on U.S. soil and the new Australian indoor national record. Runner up, Derek Miles clears 18-08.25 tonight in New York City.

PreRaceJitters.com will provide updates and a recap of the meet, so check back often.

Event 15 Women 600 Yard Run
===============================================================
Name Year Team Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Monica Hargrove USA 1:19.50
2 Aliann Pompey GUY 1:19.51
3 Clora Williams JAM 1:22.86
4 Marian Burnett GUY 1:22.90

Event 20 Women 1 Mile Run NYRR
===============================================================
Name Year Team Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Kara Goucher USA 4:33.19
2 Marina Muncan SRB 4:37.77
3 Mestawot Tadesse ETH 4:38.30
4 Barbara Parker GBR 4:38.64
5 Shayne Culpepper USA 4:38.92
6 Courtney Babcock CAN 4:39.56
7 Kelly Macneice IRL 4:56.99
– Korene Hinds JAM DNF
Event 7 Men Pole Vault F Schmertz
==========================================================================
Name Year Team Finals
==========================================================================
Finals
1 Steven Hooker AUS 6.01m 19-08.50
5.35 5.50 5.60 5.70 5.80 5.88 6.01 6.16
PPP O PPP O PPP XXO O XXX
2 Derek Miles USA 5.70m 18-08.25
5.35 5.50 5.60 5.70 5.80 5.88
PPP O XO XXO PPP XXX
3 Giovanni Lanaro MEX 5.60m 18-04.50
5.35 5.50 5.60 5.70
O O XO XXX
4 Darren Neidermeyer USA 5.50m 18-00.50
5.35 5.50 5.60 5.70
O O XXP X
– Jacob Pauli USA NH
5.35
XXX
– Paul Burgess AUS NH
5.35
XXX

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show - Episode 5

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Barber and Lee set for women’s 60m; Goucher enters women’s miles for 102nd Millrose Games

INDIANAPOLIS -2006 World Indoor champion Lisa Barber and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials 100m champion Muna Lee headline the field in the adidas women’s 60m dash while Kara Goucher aims for her second Millrose title in the women’s mile on January 30 at the 102nd Millrose Games, held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

The Millrose Games in New York is the first event of USA Track & Field’s 2009 Indoor Visa Championship Series. The event will be televised live on ESPN2 from 7-8:30 p.m., and on January 31 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on NBC (all times Eastern).

A local favorite from Montclair, N.J., Barber will be looking for her first win at the Garden as she returns to Millrose for the first time since her runner-up finish to Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown in 2006, where the two finished 7.095 seconds to 7.098. Later that season, Barber went on to win the U.S. Indoor title and was named the Indoor Visa champion.

Two-time Olympian Muna Lee comes to Madison Square Garden in search of her first win. In 2008, Lee took fourth in the women’s 200m and fifth in the 100m at the Olympic Games. Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks returns to the Garden looking to improve upon her third-place finish from 2007, and 2008 NCAA Indoor 200m champion Bianca Knight enters the Millrose Games for the first time. Last year’s champion, 2007 World Outdoor 100m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter, is also in the mix.

The defending Millrose champion, 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher will chase her second win in the women’s mile next week. Coming off an outdoor season where she competed in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Goucher debuted in the marathon this past fall where she turned in a history-making American performance by finishing third in the 2008 NYC Marathon. Crossing the line in 2:25:53, it was the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman.

Tickets for the 2009 Millrose Games are now available at Ticketmaster (call 212-307-7171, visit www.Ticketmaster.com or at Ticketmaster outlets); at the Madison Square Garden box office or on-line at www.Millrose-Games.com. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa.

For more information on the 2009 USATF Visa Championship Series, visit www.usatf.org.

101st Millrose Games Preview

Track fans have plenty to be excited about this week, and that goes double for distance fans. Bernard Lagat and Craig Mottram face one another in the meet’s legendary Wanamaker Mile, New York City is always a welcome stop on the schedule, and we get a sneak peak at match ups that have implications for this summer.

Clear your schedule for Friday night or Saturday afternoon, you’re going to need a couple hours of viewing time.

Lots of big names show up in the meet’s legendary Wanamaker Mile . If you’re betting against Bernard Lagat, at least do it in a meet he doesn’t care about. The indoor track at Millrose Games is one of the most Lagat-friendly you’ll find, tight curves that favor his shorter body frame. Bernard’s resume on this track is unreal: five wins in a row.

Mottram would be the clear favorite in a Lagat-less field—just last week he shredded the competition at Reebok Boston Indoor meet running a stunning 7:34.50 in 3,000 meters. That was fast enough to be the make and break for the USA-all comer record that Haile Gebrselassie held. Mottram will be ready to run the curves on Friday.

Another hot match up: Jenn vs. Stacey in the women’s pole vault. Jenn Stuczynski doesn’t have much of a history here, but her jump to break the American record last summer was impressive. Stacy Dragila, considered by many the pioneer of women’s pole vault, returns in a highly anticipated clash with the new kid on the block.

Bershawn Jackson is another runner who looks to run well at this meet, however he will have his hands full with U.S. double lap champ Khadevis Robinson in the 600. Robinson is a bomber down the home stretch and will probably try to avenge the slow time run from last week’s victory in Boston.

Other athletes towing the line are Joanna Haynes, Kara Goucher, Carmelita Jeter, Miki Barber, Reese Hoffa, Leroy Dix, Amy Acuff and Dwight Philips.

Don’t miss the action. The third event of USA Track & Field’s 2008 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the Millrose Games will be televised live Friday night from 7-8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2 and Saturday on NBC from 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET.

It will also be Webcast by Sportnet next week, available via link from www.usatf.org.