USA Track & Field Picks New President

RENO, Nev. - Women’s Track & Field Committee Chair Stephanie Hightower was elected to a four-year term as USA Track & Field’s president Friday at the 2008 USATF Annual Meeting at the Silver Legacy Resort in Reno, Nevada.

A former-world class hurdler, Hightower succeeds two-term incumbent Bill Roe, whose eight years as USA Track & Field’s President will come to an end on Sunday, the final day of the Annual Meeting.

Hightower led the way after the first round of voting with 304 votes, with USATF Vice President Dee Jensen in second place with 263 votes and former USATF Vice President Bob Bowman in third place with 58 votes, which caused him to be eliminated.

In the afternoon runoff election, Hightower was the victor with 328 votes, with Jensen tallying 300 votes.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve this organization,” said Hightower. “We have a multitude of opportunities that lie before us, and I’m just happy that I’ll have the opportunity to work with the USATF family and move the sport into the 21^st century.”

“This is a historical Annual Meeting,” Jensen said. “As I said throughout the campaign, we are at a critical juncture. I would like to congratulate Stephanie on her victory and thank my supporters for their hard work. I look forward to continuing to contribute to USATF’s future.”

Hightower brings a wealth of experience to the USATF presidency. In addition to serving as USATF’s Women’s Track & Field Committee Chair, she started her USATF Board service as a member of the Athletes Advisory Committee (ACC) and serving as AAC Secretary and AAC/USOC representative.

Willie Gault Tapped As New CEO

You may recall when he a part of the world record 4×100-meter relay, or when he qualified for the 1980 Moscow Games, or when caught for over 100 yards as a part of the Superbowl Chicago Bears. Willie Gault achieved a lot during his athletic career.

It was recently announced that legend Willie Gault has agreed to become co-CEO of SignaLife. Signalife, Inc. announced that Willie Gault - whose passion has led to the formation of Athletes for Life - the non-profit charity who sponsored heart screenings at which the lives of patients across the country have been saved, including 16-year old high school athlete Josh Nails - has been appointed co-CEO of the Company to handle all operations.

On behalf of investors as well as individually, Mr. Gault has achieved numerous large mergers and acquisitions in various industries throughout the 50-United States, and manages these investment interests for a vast array of clients nationally and internationally.

Mr. Gault’s initial salary shall be $1.00 per annum, until the Company is profitable. Mr. Gault also commented: “I am honored to take on this position. Every person deserves not to die suddenly. In no other disease state can it be said that “this disease can kill instantly.” The exception is stroke, however, even that can be prevented by good comprehensive physician-screenings.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Rupp and Oregon Win XC Titles

This season he picked where he left off last season in terms of success and winning. Olympian Galen Rupp managed his first individual NCAA Div I Cross Country Championship title. The 2008 Olympian covered the 10k course in 29:04, leading the University of Oregon to a second consecutive title. Liberty Universities’ Samuel Chelanga led the race from the gun up until the 400-meters mark when Rupp pulled ahead to put away the victory.

“My coaches told me to sit back, be smart and stay focused,” Rupp said. “It was going to come down to a sprint and I relaxed until I was ready to go. I was more patient than last year, and when I made my move it was decisive. With about 800m to go I heard someone say ‘Remember last year,’ and that helped me win.”

The Red Raider football team isn’t the only of the schools sports to discover winning ways this season. Sally Kipyego solidified her three consecutive women’s title. In flying over the 6 km course in 19:29, Kipyego became the winningest women’s cross country runner in Division I history.

Susan Kuijen of Florida State managed to stay within striking distance through half-way, but Kipyego easily pulled away for a six-second win. The University of Washington won the women’s team title over Oregon with 79 points.

“It was cold and windy and the hardest of my three wins,” Kipyego said. “I tried to stay positive and run my best race. It’s an amazing feeling and a wonderful opportunity.”

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Unstoppable Bolt and Isinbayeva Snag Top Award

NCAA XC Moving Forward

Progress is being made in college cross country. The sport needs to be broadcast live and as frequently as possible.

CSTV will air the Division Cross Country National Championship meet live on CBS College Sports Network from Terre Haute, Indiana at Indiana State University.

The NCAA is also streaming the video live on the internet. This marks the second year in which the race will be aired live on Monday, November 24th at 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST.

The women’s race is schedule to begin at 12:08 p.m. EST, followed by the men’s race scheduled for 12:48 p.m. EST.

Thirty-one teams made up of 18 automatic bids and 13 at-large bids and 38 individuals for each championship were selected to participate in this year’s national championships.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Jesse Owens Award Given To Clay and Trafton

Not only have they won Olympic gold medals, now they hauled in the highest distinction given each year by USA Track & Field.

Olympic gold medalists Bryan Clay and Stephanie Brown Trafton have been named winners of the 2008 Jesse Owens Award by USA Track & Field.

Clay’s season was capped with two massive score performances during season while winning at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, and the Olympic Games in Beijing.

With that, the 27-year-old Clay did not need much prodding to share his feelings.

“I have always regarded Jesse Owens with the highest respect for his accomplishments in the 1936 Olympics,” said Clay. “To be selected to receive this award and having my name associated with the legendary Jesse Owens is a great honor and a humbling experience. I am grateful, appreciative and truly humbled to have been chosen for such an esteemed award.”

Coming into the season, Stephanie Brown Trafton was an unlikely athlete that you could find to win the award, due in part because she who has never won a national title in the women’s discus throw.

Her first throw of 212 feet, 5 inches in Beijing put her into a lead that the world’s top throwers could not get within three feet of her mark. Brown Trafton is the first ever women’s thrower to be presented with the Jesse Owens Award.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Tim Montgomery Runs To Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel

Chasing the big money after track career ends.

Tim Montgomery has fallen far from the days when he was once riding high as the 100-meter world record holder (9.78). Things quickly began to unravel after that race. The world record was erased from the record book in light of doping charges.

It will quickly go one way or the other. Either Montgomery will share some real honesty or he will be there singing the same song of lies and deception as he sits down with HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.

Although he never tested positive for a banned substance, Montgomery was implicated in the U.S. investigation into Bay-Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), near San Francisco.

He later testified about taking performance enhancing drugs during the BALCO trial.

Montgomery, was convicted in a U.S. District Court in Norfolk, VA., of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, and distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin. He received the minimum sentence for the crimes.

“I was blind. I never had a job in my life,” Montgomery told U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Friedman. “I did the wrong thing.”

The sentence will not run concurrent to the 46 months he was given in a New York federal court after pleading guilty in 2007 to conspiracy in a bank fraud and money laundering plot.

The interview will air when Real Sports returns on November 25, 2008 at 10pm ET/PT.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

2008 USATF Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Former 800-meter Olympian Johnny Gray leads the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame Class of 2008.

The new class was announced on Tuesday and also includes Don Bowden, Bill Carr and Bernie Wefers, are joined by contributor Jimmy Carnes.

There are four categories in which individuals may be voted into the Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2008 will be inducted Saturday evening, December 6, at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held in conjunction with USATF’s 2008 Annual Meeting in Reno Nevada.

Those categories are: Modern athletes, retired less than 25 years; Veteran athletes, retired more than 25 years or more; Coaches; and Contributors. Each category has its own selection committee that chooses the finalists from the list of nominations.

Johnny Gray: Is the American recordholder in the indoor (1:45.0) and outdoor (1:42.60), and won a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games. During his prolific career he made four Olympic teams, a three-time U.S. World Outdoor team member, and twice, he was ranked No. 1 in the world in the 800.

DON BOWDEN: A 1956 Olympian at 1,500 meters, Don Bowden ran 3:58.7 and is best known for being the first American ever to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile.

BILL CARR: The 1932 Olympic 400m gold medalist, Bill Carr also captured gold at the ‘32 Los Angeles Olympics as anchor of the 4×400m relay USA team that finished in the world record time of 3:08.2.

BERNIE WEFERS: A three-time USA 100y and 220y champion and two-time IC4A 100y champion, Bernie Wefers is considered one of the most dominant sprinters of his era.

JIMMY CARNES: One of the leading figures in the formation of The Athletics Congress/USA, as USATF was known when it began operations.

For more information on the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, visit: usatf.org

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Radcliffe Repeat NYC Marathon Champion

Paula Radcliffe defended her title at the New York City Marathon on Saturday to become the second woman to win the race three times.

Unlike Radcliffe’s tight victories in 2004 and ‘07, the world record holder from Britain pulled away from Ludmila Petrova of Russia at about the 22nd mile mark to win comfortably in 2 hours, 23 minutes, 56 seconds.

“The last two times it’s been a really close finish at the end,” Radcliffe said. “It was nice to make it a little easier on the husband.”

Kara Goucher, in her marathon debut, took third. She became the first American to claim victory since Anne Marie Letko was third in 1994. Goucher posted the fastest time in a marathon debut by an American woman, breaking Deena Kastor’s record established back in 2001.

Radcliffe said afterwards,”It was tough out there this year because of the wind. … Everybody wanted to run behind me,” Radcliffe said. “This year I was determined to feel comfortable at the halfway point.”

Top-ten finishers (unofficial times):

MEN -
1. Marilson Gomes Dos Santos, BRA 2:08:43
2. Abderrahim Goumri, MAR 2:09:07
3. Daniel Rono, KEN 2:11:22
4. Paul Tergat, KEN 2:13:10
5. Abderrahime Bouramdane, MAR 2:13:33
6. Abdi Abdirahman, USA 2:14:17
7. Josh Rohatinsky, USA 2:14:23
8. Jason Lehmkuhle, USA 2:14:30
9. Hosea Rotich, KEN 2:15:26
10. Bolota Asmerom, USA 2:16:37

WOMEN -
1. Paula Radcliffe, GBR 2:23:56
2. Ludmila Petrova, RUS 2:25:43
3. Kara Goucher, USA 2:25:53
4. Rita Jeptoo, KEN 2:27:49
5. Catherine Ndereba, KEN 2:29:14
6. Gete Wami, ETH 2:29:25
7. Dire Tune, ETH 2:29:28
8. Lidia Simon, ROU 2:30:04
9. Lyubov Morgunova, RUS 2:30:38
10. Katie Mcgregor,USA 2:31:14

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

USC Standout Runner Shot On Halloween

Violence visits the sports community, although this time it involves ones of track’s own.

University of Southern California sprinter, Bryshon Nellum is recovering after being shot in the leg three times on Saturday after leaving a Halloween party.

The nineteen-year-old sophomore, was hospitalized in stable condition following the shooting at 2 a.m. Friday.

It is unclear at this point, whether the former standout high school runner considered by many as a prospect with the talent to eventually become a professional track athlete.

As a senior at Long Beach Poly, he set the California record at 200-meters in 20.43. Bryshon also dropped 45.54, a personal best, in winning the 400 state title.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

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