Runnerville

Damned if they do. Damned if they don’t.  What with the current state of affairs in the sport, and the standing USOC mandate that USATF re-organize it’s bloated bureaucracy, anything controversial here at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon is sure to bring out the boo-birds for USATF. 

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 There is more than a bit of wistfulness in the smoke-tinged air here in Eugene, Oregon for these 2008 Olympic Trials.  Last night after Tyson Gay’s best-ever men’s 100-meters  - forget the wind or the geo-magnetic Allen Belt, ain’t nobody ever ran faster anywhere, anytime  - one of a myriad of reunions took place up in the hills outside Eugene at the home of Steve Dinatale.  Read more…

 So when did Track Town USA turn into Sprintville America?  Suddenly, by all the evidence.  Day Two of the U.S. Olympic Track Trials in Eugene saw the greatest quarterfinal round in sprint history, on a track renown for it’s distance running exploits.  With temperatures in the mid-nineties, an aiding wind just inside the allowable limit, and another amped up crowd busting through the gates at Hayward Field, the three 100 meter men’s quarters resulted in new American, collegiate, high school, U.S. and world junior records.  Wow! Read more…

The remainder of the 2008 Olympic Track & Field Trials could well be hard pressed to match the spirit of the of Day One in Eugene. After a 28-year absence, the sport’s premier national meet returned to the hallowed grounds of Hayward Field on the university of Oregon campus under glorious blue skies and an array of fluttering American flags. A record 20,964 track-hungry fans spilled out of the gussied up grand dame of American tracks, carrying 10th grader Laura Roesler of North Dakota down the homestretch and into the semifinals of the women’s 800 meters. Pretty in pink (singlet), the Fargo prep notched a 2:04.03 fourth place finish in heat one to stir the crowd for the first of what promises to be many times over the next nine days. Read more…

USATF board member Stephanie Hightower discusses the state of of our sport AND our governing body. The LA Marathon is sold; Chris Devine apologizes. Tiger Woods does it again. Meb is ready. Athlete values rise and fall at NCAA Champs. It’s all on today’s episode of the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - Stephanie Hightower joins us in the “studio” from Ohio. The four-time U.S. 100m hurdles champion and 1980 Olympic Team member, Hightower currently serves on the board of USATF and is the chair of USATF’s Women’s Track and Field Committee. In today’s discussion she responds to the demand from USOC for USATF to restructure. Is this a chance to split the organization into different governing bodies (e.g., race walking, track & field, youth, masters, ultra, etc)? Yes, but no. We find out where things stand in the CEO search. Will we have a new one by June 27th, the start of the US Olympic Trials? Sounds doubtful. And Matt digs in about the presentation of our sport on television and in person. What happens in the board room - are their conversations about what the fans want? A great conversation, and some great insight into the challenges facing USATF in this CEO-less Olympic year.

Quick News: The LA Marathon is sold. Tiger wins on Monday, which Toni loves. But Matt argues that the US Open got really, really lucky. Toni puts an end to the LetsRun rumors - Meb is healthy and ready to go, according to his brother and agent, Merhawi. And what athletes gained and lost value at this year’s NCAA meet?

Major Russ Stewart calls in from Tikrit, Iraq. If you listen to only two-minutes of the show, these are the two minutes you want to listen to. The Tikrit Running Club is up and running (who wants a t-shirt?), Russ roots for Webb and laments people who don’t consider Bernard Lagat an American. Thanks Russ. Stay safe!

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 or email to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com.

[Music is “Keep on Running” by The Trojans.]

Track visionaries have been saying it for years: the sport of track & field is stale and requires massive change to elevate its status to that of other professional sports. Those who voiced such opinions, pleading for change, ran up against brick walls. Then proceeded to bang their heads against said brick walls. Years of banging resulted in severe apathy - track is track; it is what it is. Except among a select few who kept the movement alive and inspired the next generation. So here we are today, witnessing a perfect storm of BALCO, the internet, world-class U.S. performances, a second running boom, and the chronic underperformance of our governing bodies. Finally someone has taken notice.

In a stern letter from Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive, to Bill Roe, USATF President and our guest on The Toni & Matt Show #13, track’s governing body was given an ultimatum: change your structure or else risk sanctions and possible decertification. USATF has until June 24 to submit a plan. If the USOC chooses decertification, it will actually take over USATF until a new federation can be formed. Although rare, it has happened in modern pentathlon, team handball, and taekwondo. (click “read full article” for the rest of this story) Read more…

Abdi, Ed Eyestone, your comments, and the Pre Classic. It’s all on this episode of the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - The Prefontaine Classic:Brad Walker gets the American Record in the pole vault. Bekele, running at 9:30 in the morning, goes after, but misses, his own World Record at 10,000m. The fans are back in Eugene, but the TV coverage hasn’t changed.

Abdi Abdirahman joins us in the “studio” from Tucson, Arizona. On his 27:16, just 3 seconds off the American Recrod: “I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t thinking about the record.” Is he willing to push the pace at the Trials? Will he go after the American Record there? GMC Denali’s and XM Satellite radio - it’s all here.

You Talk. We Respond. Joe from South Jersey thanks Tegenkamp for responding personally. He also points out that we need a winner and more team-based events on the track. Brett wants team scoring at the Olympic Games. We couldn’t agree more. Imagine the interest in a tight battle for 8th place in the 5,000m if it meant the difference between team gold and team silver. Besides, who cares about total medals? Billy from Portland calls in with his thoughts of the Pre Classic…and high praise for the Toni & Matt Show: “Your show is my favorite.” And Ben Olson writes in: I am an 8 year old runner from Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Alan Webb is my sports hero. My buddies that I play hockey, baseball and golf with don’t know who he is, but they will this summer. Everyone will know who he is with his olympic gold medal. He will dominate in August.

Ed Eyestone joins us in the “studio” after his appearance in the NBC studio at Hayward Field. Ed talks candidly about his opinions of the Pre broadcast (his first with NBC), explains why the 5,000m and 10,000m races weren’t shown, describes his preparation for calling a meet, and tries to give an answer to Matt’s question: What the hell happened in the men’s 800m?

Bislett Games in Oslo: The baby-faced assassin reigns supreme and Andrew Baddeley gives Brits another great white hope.

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 or email to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com.

[Music is “Super Duper Love” by Joss Stone.]

Toni as host of and Matt as featured presenter at the first annual Running Film Festival.

(hat tip to Katie at RunningTimes.com)

Matt will be presenting this subject matter (but not this video)…

There has been some debate here and there about the nature of running contracts — the secrecy behind them, and the criteria that affects their size, length, utility and… I think that’s gone far enough.

The CBC (that’s the Canadian version of NBC or the BBC) has an article on 800m World Silver Medalist Gary Reed, and his contract negotiations with Nike Canada.  It maintains that Canadians who come through the American collegiate system cash in on those four years of increased visibility in the US, at the bargaining table.  A silly criterion if you ask me, but enlightening nonetheless, to hear that folks factor that in… or at least, some folks think the shoe companies factor that in.