Ryan Wilson Texas Relays 2011

Ryan Wilson Texas Relays 2011 from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

43 Second Wednesday: Natasha Hastings

The 2011 Indoor season was healing. Therapeutic. It reminded Natasha Hastings why she left school a year early to go professional in 2007.

A handful of promising professionals seasons for the former University of South Carolina standout has produced an Olympic gold medal on the 4×400 relay in Beijing, but has not quite reached expectations in the open 400 meters.

That is until now.

Things are changing in Hastings’ individual race. This year, Natasha Hastings is not-so-quietly establishing herself, as one of the most versatile and consistent runners in the world.

She dropped 50.83 in the 400 meters winning the 2011 USA Indoor Nationals and  we sat down to discuss what is next for the New York native.

PRJ: Did it surprise you to see everything sort of come together during the 2011 indoor season?

NH: I certainly hoped for a great indoor, but I don’t know if I expected everything to happen as it did. I’m pleased with the indoor season, and I feel it is a great way to begin my outdoor season this year.

PRJ: What were your fall workouts like? What was different about this years offseason workouts?

NH: This year, I did my entire fall training with Coach Frye. Last year I didn’t begin training with Frye until December. So, this season we got to spend the entire off season working together. We spent a lot of time working on strength and speed endurance. We also did some work on speed development and technique.

PRJ: What was it like going back to your New York roots and running in front of the Millrose Games crowd?

NH: I was very excited to go back to Millrose this year. I hadn’t competed there since my senior year of high school, so it was a special treat to get back to the Garden. It’s always a fun experience to get back to New York, and to compete in front of my hometown crowd.

PRJ: What do your indoor performances say about what you are capable of doing in the 2011 outdoor season?

NH: I’m pretty excited about the outdoor based on the indoor, because when you compare this year to my best season back in 2007, you could say I’m right on pace or maybe even a little ahead of pace to run 49 [seconds] this year. The main focus at this point is to continue training hard, and to stay healthy.

PRJ: You’re mother the former Joanne Gardner was an elite track runner and has been with you at nearly every major meet in your career and now she serves as your agent. What influence does she have on your racing? Does she give you advice or feed back after races?

NH: She’s been very influential from day 1. She’s been to most, if not, all major meets in my career. Having been an athlete herself, she has some valuable advice and knows when to step back or even when to get involved. We do talk about my races, but she does leave the coaching part up to Coach Frye.

PRJ: Has your relationship changed at all now that your mother is also your agent?

NH: The relationship hasn’t changed much now that she is my agent. It is a little different being that she is a lot more hands-on with my career. But so far the transition has been pretty smooth.

PRJ: You are back training with Curtis Frye in Columbia, South Carolina. Why change locations/training programs/coaches now?

NH: The change kind of came about by accident. I was back in Columbia finishing up my last semester of school. I was in the library studying one night, and just thought maybe it would be a good idea to stay in Columbia and train with Frye.

The previous two seasons weren’t the successful seasons that I had hoped for, and I knew this was a situation that in the past did work for me. So, I took about a week to really think through the decision. Then I asked to meet with Coach Frye, and asked that he would coach me again. We started training the following Monday.

PRJ: Looking at your outdoor 400 meters for 2011. What can you and Coach Frye do better this spring and summer to improve your race?

NH: We’ve particularly been working on my speed development. One thing we’ve realized over the years of working together is that the faster my 200 the faster my 400 will be.

When I’m able to run a 22 second 200, I’m way more confident about going out in 23 seconds, so speed is something that is very important to the set up of my 400.

PRJ: You get out pretty quickly in the open 400 meters and recently at the Pepsi Florida Relays you dropped 22.7 - a world leading time. What does it do for your 400, when you can turn it over that well in the open 200 meters?

NH: This as I said before is a great confidence booster for me. It’s especially exciting to be this close to my 200 pr so early in the season. So, for me it speaks volumes for what’s to come in my 400.

PRJ: What is your racing schedule for the 2011 outdoor season?

NH: Tentatively, TX relays this weekend. Next weekend, I will be opening up in the 400 at Auburn University, and then we head to Penn Relays at the end of the month.

PRJ: From top to bottom, describe the depth in women’s 400 meter field?

NH: The 400 is DEEP in the US. We have Sanya Richards, Allyson Felix, Debbie Dunn, and Dee Dee Trotter who have all run under 50 seconds. Mary Wineberg is having a great season so far, and of course Francena McCrory has already run 50.5 for the season.

I honestly think it will take 49 low to make top three at the US Nationals this year. We have some amazing talent here.

PRJ: The last couple seasons have not gone as you’ve wanted and this is a world championship year. What are your goals and do you want to send a message that you still have “it”?

NH: I think I’ve already sent the message that I still have it. I’ve come pretty close to my pr’s indoor, and getting off to a fast start this outdoor. But like I said earlier, I just want to stay focused on my training and stay healthy. With that, everything else should fall into place on its own.

PRJ: You have received attention for dating professional football player William Gay of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Who would win a 400 meter race between you?

NH: I hope I’m not receiving attention because of who I’m dating LOL. But I’d like to think I can take him in the 400.

PRJ: Do you still get prerace jitters?

NH: Before every single race!

PRJ: Thanks for your time and best wishes!

Jay F. Hicks blogs about track and field and serves as PreRaceJitter’s Editor-In-Chief .  You can find him on Twitter.

Gay named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS- Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week for his impressive win over Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt (JAM) at the DN Galan - Samsung Diamond League meeting Friday.

The rivalry between the world’s fastest sprinters was finally tested for the first time since the 2009 World Championships, where World Record-holder Bolt claimed the top spot. One year later, in Stockholm, Gay took full advantage of his long-awaited opportunity to settle the score, entering the finals with the fastest seed and never relinquishing that position. Gay took the lead immediately from the blocks and held on for the win in a meet record time of 9.84 seconds over Bolt’s 9.97.

Also in Stockholm, Chris Solinsky, the American Record holder in the 10,000m, finished fifth in the 5,000m in 12:55.53. That is the second-fastest time ever by an American, trailing only Bernard Lagat’s American record run of 12:54.12 from earlier this year.

Now in its ninth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Winners: January 13, Jen Clayton; January 20, Shalane Flanagan; January 27, Nolan Shaheed; February 3, Bernard Lagat; February 10, Bernard Lagat; February 17, Shalane Flanagan; February 24, Amber Campbell; March 3, Amber Campbell; March 10, Phil Raschker; March 17, Ashton Eaton; March 31, Lisa Koll; April 7, Queen Harrison; April 14, Magdalena Lewy Boulet; April 21, Bershawn Jackson; April 28, Phoebe Wright; May 5, Chris Solinsky; May 12, Walter Dix; May 26, Cory Martin; June 2, Chaunte Lowe; June 9, Bernard Lagat; June 16, Queen Harrison; June 30, Kara Patterson; July 7, David Oliver; July 22, David Oliver; July 28, Conor McCullough; August 4, Kennedy Blahnik; August 11, Tyson Gay.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 8

MEN

100 - 9.84 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6   U.S. leader
200 - 20.18 Wallace Spearmon (Saucony) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
400 - 45.40 LeJerald Betters (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
800 - 1:45.32 Nick Symmonds (Nike/OTC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
3000 - 7:54.61 David Torrence (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
5000 - 12:55.53 Chris Solinsky (Nike/OTC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
110H - 13.51 Joel Brown (unat) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
400H - 47.65 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
HJ - 2.21/7-3.25 James Harris (Alabama HS) - Norfolk, VA 8/4
LJ - 7.87/25-10 Trevell Quinley (Nike) - Rakvere, FIN 8/3
SP - 22.09/72-5.75 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/5
Dec - 8090 Joe Detmer (unat) - Marburg, GER 8/8

WOMEN

100 - 10.99 Marshevet Myers (adidas) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
200 - 22.41 Allyson Felix (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
400 - 50.59 Debbie Dunn (unat) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
800 - 1:58.67 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
1500 - 4:02.72 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
3000SC - 9:37.98 Lisa Aguilera (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
5000 - 15:50.55 Jen Rhines (adidas) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
100H - 12.70 Queen Harrison (unat) & Lolo Jones (Asics) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
400H - 55.28 Sheena Tosta (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
HJ - 2.00/6-6.75 Chaunte Lowe (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
PV - 4.41/14-5.5 Lacy Janson (unat) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
LJ - 6.89/22-7.25 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
SP - 18.74/61-5.75 Jill Camarena (NYAC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/5
DT - 62.61/205-5 Becky Breisch (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
HT - 62.66/205-7 Shelby Ashe (Georgia HS) - Marietta, GA 8/7
Hept - 5984 Bettie Wade (Nike) - Marburg, GER 8/8

Allen Johnson Announces Retirement Ending Epic Hurdling Career

The 110m Hurdler Retirement Leaves A Big Hole In Sport.

Allen Johnson announced his retirement on Saturday, said goodbye to a professional track career that seems the stuff of sports fiction.

“It’s just come to the point where my body can’t take it anymore,” said Johnson in a trackside interview.

“Maybe I can coach some hurdlers or some sprinters… give something back. I’m going to miss it, I really am, but it was fun,” added the former World and Olympic 110 meter hurdles champion.

One of the interesting things about his career is the University of Carolina graduate never won an individual NCAA title during his time at Chapel Hill but he quickly became a star as professional.

On Saturday, one of the unique chapters in professional track and field history closed when Allen, 39, announced his retirement after winning Olympic gold in Atlanta, and turned in countless outstanding performances.

He finishes with four World Outdoor Titles, three World Indoor Titles, finished the seasoned ranked number one four times, and one of greatest performances ever with a personal best of 12.92 seconds just .02 shy of the current American Record - is among the best in track history.

Few have been so good, for so long. In 2005, Johnson earned a bronze at the World Outdoor Championships at the age of 34. Johnson has run under 13 seconds more than an hurdler in history - nine times.

Allen showed grace even in defeat. I am him picking himself after falling in the early rounds of the 2004 Athen Games preventing him from competing for a second Olympic gold medal.

Allen never was one for attention. Yet he’s getting it now.

American record holder David Oliver said on his Twitter account, “Just talked to Allen Johnson, sad to see him call it a career and retire, a real genuine dude…”

“Allen Johnson is an inspiration for competition as lifelong pursuit. He embodies all the qualities you could ask for from a champion. Above all, he conducted himself with class, on and off the track”, said Doug Logan CEO of USA Track and Field.

“He won and lost with dignity, although clearly he won more than he lost. Allen set the standard for hurdling at the World and Olympic level and has inspired a generation of hurdlers, from the U.S. to Cuba to China, who continue to chase his achievements. That chase will continue for years to come.”

Lolo Jones once said, “”In track and field I most admire Allen because I have watched him growing up. I remember Allen, specifically, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. I remember how he carried himself on TV and how he represented himself and his country was amazing.”

While Friday marked a bookend to Johnson’s career, to really appreciate his story you have to have met the man only once. He is widely known in track circles for mentoring young athletes on how to make it in the track game and befriending competitors. I’ve seen few hearts as big and as humble an athlete as Johnson.

The dashing, dazzling runs may be gone but Johnson’s contributions to this sport will never be forgotten.

Catching up with David Oliver

David Oliver Named USATF Athlete of the Week from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

David Oliver

Event: 110 meter hurdles
Personal Record: 12.90 seconds, ties American Record
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 pounds
College: Howard University ‘04
High School: Denver (Colo.) East ‘00
Coach: Brooks Johnson
Current Resident: Kissimmee, Florida

2010 U.S. Indoor National Championships 60m hurdle runner up
2010 U.S. World Indoor 60m bronze medalist
2010 U.S. Outdoor National Champion
2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist
2008 U.S. National Champion
2007 U.S. Outdoor Championships Bronze Medalist

Official Website: D.O. The King = 12.85
Twitter: davidoliversub13

Louis Carr named to USA Track & Field Foundation Board of Directors

INDIANAPOLIS - Lewis Carr, President of Media Sales for BET, has been named as a Director of the USA Track & Field Foundation Board, USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced today.

“Louis will be an asset to the board given his tremendous experience in media and marketing.  His leadership will be most welcome in those areas,” said Jackovic.

Mr. Carr is President of Media Sales for BET, the premiere media company serving African-Americans and those who consume Black culture. He is responsible for the strategic plans to generate revenue for BET, the company’s flagship; Centric, their flanker network for a mature audience and BET.com, the largest portal for African-American content online.  Mr. Carr is also President and CEO of TV, LLC which is a real estate company that owns, manages and invests in multi-family apartment buildings in Chicago. Mr. Carr’s successful career was recently documented for The HistoryMakers archive collection. Mr. Carr currently also serves on the Board of Directors of the Cable Advertising Bureau and Boys Hope Girls Hope.

A high school track star, Carr was part of a world record-breaking mile relay team, despite a severe hamstring injury. Attending Drake University on a four-year track scholarship, Carr graduated with his B.A. degree in broadcast journalism in 1978.

USATF rolls out Project 30; expands sports science and athlete-assistance programs

DES MOINES, Iowa - USA Track & Field on Wednesday introduced the first athlete recipients of Project 30 funds, designed to help athletes with high medal potential cover their training costs and living expenses.

Thirty-one athletes will receive a total of $800,000 in Project 30 funds in 2010, with $4 million to be spent over the four-year term of the program. The Class of 2010, listed below, ranges from established medal winners like Stephanie Brown Trafton, Hyleas Fountain and Chelsea Johnson to young up-and-comers like shot putter Cory Martin, hurdler Dexter Faulk and middle-distance runner Evan Jager. Additional athletes may be added in coming months.

Project 30 athletes sign a contract with USATF and Nike, which sponsors the program, providing them with between $10,000-$50,000 per year. Project 30 athletes will receive Nike shoes and equipment and will compete annually at the USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, Nike Prefontaine Classic and Penn Relays, and at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Track & Field. They will be asked to participate in press conferences, public appearances and marketing opportunities.

Officials from USATF and Nike selected the athletes in an exhaustive process that took into consideration a host of factors. Athletes who were “medal-ready” and “finals-ready” for major international championships were given first consideration, with athlete need also strongly factoring in. Athletes from all 43 events were evaluated.

“We looked at all 43 events and first picked athletes who had the greatest potential through 2013,” USATF Chief of Sport Performance Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley said. “Our final group is a great mix of veteran athletes and future stars, but they all have one thing in common, and that is their potential to land on the medal podium at the World Championships and Olympic Games. Many athletes were either losing their shoe contracts or seeing them substantially reduced, and we are very pleased to be able to step in and assist athletes perform at their best.”

Athletes without a pre-existing contract with a shoe company and those with Nike were considered for the program. Athletes under contract with other shoe companies are prevented by their contracts from signing with a competing company and therefore were not eligible for Project 30 funds.

Sport Science at center stage

The signature program of USATF’s High Performance Department, Project 30 is one of several new or expanded projects USATF has undertaken in 2010 to increase athlete support.

Beginning with the first event for sprints and hurdles held June 3-4 in Dallas, USATF has instituted a series of Sport Performance Workshops, where leading sport scientists work one-on-one with top athletes and their personal coaches. With upwards of 25 being held each year across all event disciplines, the Workshops are provided to athletes who have been designated as having viable medal potential in the upcoming World Championships and Olympic Games.

Organized by and managed by USATF’s new Associate Director of Sports Medicine & Science Robert Chapman, all Workshops are centered around the comprehensive on-track biomechanical analysis of the athlete, and are supported by the areas of nutrition, psychology, medicine, physiology, and strength & conditioning. Results of all of these areas will be documented to track the status, goals, and improvement of the athlete.

Athletes selected for the program participate in three sessions per year, along with frequent interaction with their coach and the USATF sport science and medicine professionals. Athletes and coaches can consult with a team of experts in nutrition, psychology, medicine and physiology.

“In order to have fact-based decision making, we polled athletes and coaches to ask what they needed,” Fitzgerald Mosley said. “Their #1 need is medical support and #2 is sport science. They wanted more of both, and that’s what we are giving them.”

Also beginning in 2010, USATF has expanded its existing medical reimbursement program to athletes and is providing more nutritional and dietary services. USATF is doubling the amount of medical reimbursement available to athletes ranked in the top 10 in the world to $3,000 per year, and for the first time will reimburse athletes ranked in the top 11-20 in the world for up to $1,500/year in medical costs.

Coaching stipends also will be available to the world top 11-20 for the first time, $1,000/year. World Top 10 receive $2,000 in coaching stipends annually. USATF is contracting to provide dietary support, including blood-test evaluations, with a nutritionist. In sport science, Functional Movement Screenings are being performed at the Sport Science Workshops to aid athlete performance and prevent injury. On the medical side, USATF last year partnered with St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis to provide up to $100,000/year in direct medical services to athletes.

Chaunte Lowe headlines women’s field events at 2010 Outdoor Champs

INDIANAPOLIS- American record holder Chaunte Lowe will headline a talented group of athletes in the women’s field events at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 23-27 at Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

This meet marks the third event of the 2010 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series and will feature the nations’ finest professional track and field athletes competing for national honors. It will be televised on the following dates (All time Eastern):

June 25- 8:00-10:00 p.m. on ESPN
June 26- 1:00-2:30 p.m. on ESPN
June 26- 3:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC
June 27- 1:00-2:30 p.m. on ESPN
June 27- 3:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC

The hop, skip & jumps

In what should be a clear victory, American record holder Chaunte Lowe will return to defend her National title in the women’s high jump. Lowe cleared 2.04m/6-8.25 in setting an American record at Cottbus in May and has since seen similar heights at Oslo and Rome. Should she continue to clear these heights, she should take home the title.

After performing at less than their best at the recent adidas Grand Prix, 2008 Olympic silver medalist Jenn Suhr and 2009 World Outdoor silver medalist Chelsea Johnson will look to bounce back in the women’s pole vault. This will only be Suhr’s second meet this season and she will have to work out the kinks if she wants the victory in Des Moines. Also looking to challenge Suhr and Johnson is Indoor Nationals champion Lacy Janson as she comes in with the highest American clearance of 4.66i/15-3.50 this year.

Two-time world champion Brittney Reese will return after a long break from injury to challenge 2008 Olympian Funmi Jimoh in the women’s long jump. Both Reese and Jimoh have posted competitive distances this year, but all of which were early in the season. The outcome of this event will all depend on Reese’s injury status. Also in the mix is addidas Grand Prix champion Brianna Glenn and 2008 National Champion Hyleas Fountain. Glenn’s winning mark in New York was a seasonal best and she will have to repeat her performance if she wants a chance at this year’s title. Hyleas Fountain on the other hand, hasn’t produced any long distances in this season yet, but she is capable of doing so and in turn could be in the running for the title.

In the women’s triple jump, national leader Erica McLain is entered with a wind assisted 14.42m/47-3.75. Her only other mark distant length this year was a jump in early May. For this reason, the event will be highly competitive between McLain and challengers Toni Smith and Crystal Manning; all three of which are consistently jumping within inches of each other.

The Throws

Six-time USA Indoor champion Jillian Camarena-Williams and two-time USA Outdoor champion Michelle Carter are the top entrants in the women’s shot put. The two have battled it out this season with Williams usually finding the victory. However, Carter tossed farther at Shanghai and in the heat of the competition may out-toss Williams. Another competitor to watch is three-time USA Outdoor champion Kirstin Heaston. For a victory, she would have to throw a good distance farther then she has been this season, but as a veteran thrower and competitor, she knows how to turn on the heat.

2008 Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton, four-time USA Outdoor champion Aretha Hill Thurmond, and 2005 USA Outdoor champion Becky Breisch will battle for top honors in the women’s discus. Breisch has thrown the farthest distance this season, but right on her heels, Thurmond and Trafton will give her a run for her money. All three will make for a competitive match. Also to watch is Gia Lewis-Smallwood who popped the second farthest American distance this season.

A good head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field, 2008 Olympian Amber Campbell and Britney Henry will throw the weight around in the women’s hammer throw. As a veteran of strong competition and high pressure, Campbell will look to claim the victory; but not a stranger to far distances, Henry may sneak up to take the title.

In the women’s javelin throw, it will be a close competition between top throwers 2008 Olympic Trials champion Kara Patterson, 2009 World Championships finalist Rachel Yurkovich. Also in the mix is two-time national champion and American record holder Kim Kreiner. All three are within reaching distance of each other but Patterson holds the nation’s leading mark. Kreiner hasn’t thrown since last season, so anything is possible in her season opener.

Olympic medalists headline men’s sprints & hurdles at USA Outdoor Championships

INDIANAPOLIS - 2008 Beijing Olympic medalists Jeremy Wariner, Shawn Crawford, Walter Dix, David Oliver and David Payne will headline a talented group of men’s sprinters and hurdlers at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 23-27 at Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

The third event of the 2010 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships will be televised on the following dates (All times Eastern):

June 25 - 8:00 - 10 p.m. on ESPN
June 26 - 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. on ESPN
June 26 - 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on NBC
June 27 - 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. on ESPN
June 27 - 3:00 - 4 p.m. on NBC

USATF will partner with RunnerSpace to provide real-time coverage of all events not broadcast on television beginning on Wednesday, June 23. Highlighted competitions include Friday’s men’s and women’s 10,000m as well as extensive field event coverage. In addition to the events’ video coverage, the webcasts will also include the voices of elite athletes as guest commentators.

The webcasts will be found on the USATF 2010 Championships page in addition to an already posted video clip from USATF CEO Doug Logan on the partnership at: www.usatf.org

Visa Men’s 100m

Two-time NCAA Outdoor 100m champion Walter Dix is on the way back from a disappointing 2009 season following his incredible breakthrough 2008 campaign. That year Dix finished fourth in the 100m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and second at the U.S. Olympic Trials before capturing the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games and a #4 world ranking from T&FN. Dix owns the third-fastest time this season by an American of 9.98 seconds from his May 8 win in Tallahassee, Fla.

2004 Olympic Games fourth-place finisher Shawn Crawford will also be in the mix along with 2004 World Junior champion Ivory Williams, who posted the second-fastest time this year by an American from his 9.95 clocking on April 17 in Lawrence, Kans. Other challengers include three-time ACC champion Travis Padgett, who finished fourth the last two years in this event, and Monzavous “Rae” Edwards, who finished third at last year’s championships in Eugene, Ore. Longtime 200m specialist Wallace Spearmon, also will line-up for the 100m in Des Moines.

Nike Men’s 200m

This always highly competitive event will feature two of the world’s top five athletes from the 2009 season.

2008 Olympian and two-time World Outdoor Championships (2007, 2009) bronze medalist Wallace Spearmon will be one of the favorites as he attempts to win his second career USA Outdoor title. Spearmon, who finished third at this event last year, ended the 2009 campaign ranked #4 in the world and #2 in the U.S. by T&FN. Spearmon will face a strong challenge from 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist and reigning national champion Shawn Crawford, who finished fourth at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and ended the 2009 season ranked #5 in the world by T&FN.

Others to watch include 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix, who currently owns the third and fourth-fastest times in the world this year (19.86, 19.89), and 2009 USA Outdoor Champs fifth-place finisher Xavier Carter. Rodney Martin, who has finished third at this event twice and placed fourth at the 2008 Olympic Trials, should be a factor, and up-and-comer Curtis Mitchell, a junior at Texas A&M who finished second this month at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, could also be a factor.

Visa Men’s 400m

2004 Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner, who was ranked #1 in the world from 2004-2007, enters the USA Outdoor Championships looking for his third career win at nationals. A two-time World Outdoor champion and the 2008 Olympic silver medalist, Wariner is looking to reign again as the world’s top quarter-miler. Wariner posted the fastest time in the world this year with his win at Rome on June 10 in 44.73 seconds.

Wariner’s challengers will include his 2008 Olympic Games gold medal winning 4×400m relay teammate David Neville, who will always be remembered for his dive across the finish line in the 400m final in Beijing, which secured him the bronze medal. Neville, who finished the 2009 season ranked #9 in the world and #3 in the U.S. at 400m by Track & Field News, will be vying for his first ever USA Outdoor title.

2008 Olympic silver medalist and two-time World 400m hurdles champion Kerron Clement will also take on Wariner in the open 400m. No stranger to the event, Clement owns two World Championships 4×400m relay gold medals, and a relay gold from the 2008 Olympic Games, and he finished third in the one-lapper at last year’s USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene. Clement, who entered this season ranked #5 in the nation at 400m by T&FN, has been ranked #1 in the world in the 400m hurdles over the last three years.

Others to watch include the University of Florida’s Calvin Smith, who finished fourth earlier this month at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and owns the fourth-fastest time in the world this year in running his personal best time of 44.81 seconds in Gainesville, Fla., on April 17. Others to watch include Jamaal Torrance, who finished the 2009 season ranked #9 in the U.S., reigning USA Junior champion Tavaris Tate, who owns the sixth-fastest time in the world this year (44.86), and two-time Big 12 Conference outdoor champion and 2008 NACAC champ LeJerald Betters.

Nike Men’s 110m Hurdles

With four of the world’s top ten ranked competitors on their way to compete in Des Moines, the men’s 110m hurdles figures to be one of the most competitive and exciting events at this year’s championships.

2008 Olympic Games silver medalist David Payne enters as the favorite after winning his first USA Outdoor title last year in Eugene. Payne captured his second World Outdoor Championships bronze medal in Berlin last year before ending the season ranked #4 in the world and #2 in the U.S. by T&FN.

His toughest challenge should come from 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist David Oliver, who owns three of the top four times in the world this year, including the fastest clocking globally this season of 12.99 seconds from his win in Shanghai on May 23. Others to watch include 2009 USA Outdoor Championships third-place finisher Aries Merritt, who ended last season ranked #7 in the world, and Dexter Faulk, who posted wins last year at Grand Prix events in Paris and Berlin before ending the season ranked #5 in the world. 2008 Olympic Trials fifth-place finisher Antwon Hicks could also be a factor in this race.

Hershey Men’s 400m Hurdles

2005 World Champion Bershawn “Batman” Jackson is the prohibitive favorite in this race as he looks to win his third consecutive USA Outdoor 400m hurdles crown. Jackson, who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, also won bronze at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships before ending his season ranked #2 in the world by T&FN. Jackson, who posted wins last year at Grand Prix events in New York, Eugene and Ostrava, won the 400m at the 2010 USA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., to go along with his previous title from 2005. Jackson posted the third-fastest time in the world this year of 47.94 seconds with his runner-up finish at the adidas Grand Prix in New York on June 12.

2009 World Outdoor Championships competitor and 2010 NCAA champion Johnny Dutch should provide the strongest challenge to Jackson after finishing second last year at the USA Outdoor Championships. Dutch, who began this season ranked #3 in the U.S., posted the fourth-fastest time in the world this year with his May 28 win in Greensboro, N.C., in a personal best time of 48.12 seconds.

Others to watch include 2009 USA Outdoor Champs fourth-place finisher Michael Tinsley, who placed fourth at last year’s World Athletics Final, and 2009 NCAA and Pac-10 Conference champion Jeshua Anderson.

Schedule of 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Wednesday, June 23
12:30 p.m. 100m Hurdles Jr. Women Heptathlon
1:00 100m Jr. Men Decathlon
1:30 High Jump Jr. Women Heptathlon
1:45 Long Jump Jr. Men Decathlon
3:00 Shot Put Jr. Men Decathlon
4:15 High Jump Jr. Men Decathlon
4:30 Shot Put Jr. Women Heptathlon
5:45 200m Jr. Women Heptathlon
6:45 400m Jr. Men Decathlon

Thursday, June 24
10:00 a.m. 110m Hurdles Jr. Men Decathlon
10:30 High Jump Jr. Men Final
11:00 Long Jump Jr. Women Heptathlon
11:00 Discus Throw Jr. Men Decathlon
11:20 110m Hurdles Jr. Men 1st Round
11:45 100m Hurdles Jr. Women 1st Round
12:10 p.m. 100m Jr. Women 1st Round
12:30 100m Jr. Men 1st Round
12:30 Javelin Throw Jr. Women Heptathlon
12:30 Shot Put Jr. Men Final
12:45 Long Jump Jr. Men Final
12:50 800m Jr. Women 1st Round
1:00 Long Jump Jr. Women Final
1:10 800m Jr. Men 1st Round
1:30 3000m Jr. Women Final
1:45 3000m Steeplechase Jr. Men Final
1:45 Pole Vault Jr. Men Decathlon
2:00 100m Hurdles Jr. Women Final
2:10 110m Hurdles Jr. Men Final
2:15 Discus Throw Jr. Men Final
2:20 100m Jr. Women Final
2:30 100m Jr. Men Final
2:30 Shot Put Jr. Women Final
2:40 800m Jr. Women Heptathlon
4:15 3000m Steeplechase Women 1st Round
4:30 Javelin Throw “a” Jr. Men Decathlon
4:45 800m Women 1st Round
5:05 800m Men 1st Round
5:15 Pole Vault Jr. Men Final
5:25 400m Hurdles Men 1st Round
5:30 Javelin Throw “b” Jr. Men Decathlon
5:30 Hammer Throw Jr. Women Final
5:50 1500m Women 1st Round
6:10 400m Women 1st Round
6:20 triple Jump Women Final
6:35 400m Men 1st Round
7:00 1500m Jr. Men Decathlon
7:10 100m Women 1st Round
7:35 100m Men 1st Round
8:00 5000m Jr. Men Final
8:20 10,000m Men Final
8:55 10,000m Women Final

Friday, June 25
10:00 a.m. Javelin Throw Jr. Women Final
10:00 100m Hurdles Women Heptathlon
10:15 Hammer Throw Jr. Men Final
10:30 100m Men Decathlon
10:45 High Jump Women Heptathlon
11:05 200m Jr. Women 1st Round
11:30 200m Jr. Men 1st Round
11:30 Long Jump Men Decathlon
11:55 1500m Jr. Women 1st Round
12:00n Pole Vault Jr. Women Final
12:15 p.m. 1500m Jr. Men 1st Round
12:35 400m Jr. Women 1st Round
12:55 400m Jr. Men 1st Round
1:00 Javelin Throw Jr. Men Final
1:00 Shot Put Women Heptathlon
1:15 3000m Steeplechase Jr. Women Final
1:10 triple Jump Jr. Women Final
1:20 triple Jump Jr. Men Final
1:30 800m Jr. Women Final
1:30 Discus Throw Jr. Women Final
1:40 800m Jr. Men Final
1:50 400m Hurdles Jr. Women 1st Round
2:00 Shot Put Men Decathlon
2:10 400m Hurdles Jr. Men 1st Round
2:30 200m Jr. Women Final
2:40 200m Jr. Men Final
2:50 200m Women Heptathlon
3:15 High Jump Men Decathlon
4:00 Discus Throw Men Final
4:15 3000m steeple Men 1st Round
4:45 100m Hurdles Women 1st Round
5:00 Hammer Throw Men Final
5:10 400m Men Decathlon
5:30 400m Hurdles Women 1st Round
5:45 Pole Vault Men Final
5:55 100m Women Semi-Final
6:00 High Jump Jr. Women Final
6:00 Triple Jump Men Final
6:00 Javelin Throw Women Final
6:10 100m Men Semi-Final
6:25 1500m Men 1st Round
6:45 400m Women Semi-Final
7:00 400m Men Semi-Final
7:15 800m Women Semi-Final
7:30 800m Men Semi-Final
7:45 400m Hurdles Men Semi-Final
8:04 100m Women Final
8:14 5000m Women Final
8:35 5000m Men Final
8:52 100m Men Final
9:00 10,000m Jr. Men Final
Saturday, June 26
8:00 a.m. 10km race walk Jr. Men Final
9:00 10km race walk Jr. Women Final
10:30 110m Hurdles Men Decathlon
11:30 Discus Throw Men Decathlon
11:30 Long Jump Women Heptathlon
12:15 p.m. Shot Put Women Final
12:30 High Jump Women Final
1:15 100m Hurdles Women Semi-Final
1:40 masters 100m Women Section
1:50 masters 100m Men Section
2:00 Javelin Throw Women Heptathlon
2:00 Long Jump Women Final
2:00 Pole Vault Men Decathlon
2:02 400m Hurdles Women Semi-Final
2:18 400m Hurdles Men Final
2:26 1500m Women Final
2:36 400m Women Final
2:44 400 m Men Final
2:52 100m Hurdles Women Final
3:05 400m Jr. Women Final
3:15 400m Jr. Men Final
3:20 Hammer Throw Women Final
3:25 400m Hurdles Jr. Men Final
3:35 400m Hurdles Jr. Women Final
3:45 800m Women Heptathlon
4:05 200m Men 1st Round
4:15 Javelin Throw “a” Men Decathlon
4:30 200m Women 1st Round
4:50 110m Hurdles Men 1st Round
5:15 Javelin Throw “b” Men Decathlon
5:25 1500m Jr. Women Final
5:40 1500m Jr. Men Final
5:55 5,000m Jr. Women Final
6:30 1500m Men Decathlon

Sunday, June 27
6:30 a.m. 20km race walk Men Final
6:33 20km race walk Women Final
12:00 p.m. Shot Put Men Final
12:00 Pole Vault Women Final
12:00 Javelin Men Final
12:05 200m Men Semi-Final
12:15 High Jump Men Final
12:15 200m Women Semi-Final
12:20 Discus Throw Women Final
12:30 Long Jump Men Final
12:30 110m Hurdles Men Semi-Final
12:50 3000m Steeplechase Men Final
1:15 3000m Steeplechase Women Final
1:50 800m Women Final
2:00 800m Men Final
2:10 400m Hurdles Women Final
2:20 200m Men Final
2:30 200m Women Final
2:40 1500m Men Final
2:50 110m Hurdles Men Final

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