Runnerville

 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!

In the first quarterfinal, America’s current sprint king, Tyson Gay, running in an unaccustomed lane two, seemed to stumble slightly out of the blocks, and then eased to the line.  Yet he did it all in 9.77 seconds to break Mo Green’s 1999 American record by two-hundredths for the classic sprint distance. Perhaps he was frightened by his near miss in the opening round when he misjudged the finish line, and barely qualified with a 10.14 clocking.  His start coach Jon Drummond put it to him good afterwards, and Gay responded.

“I got out pretty good,” the naturally shy Gay told the press afterward. “I had a little stumble but I stayed aggressive through the drive phase. I’m thankful it was a (personal record), but your body can be fatigued after a PR.”

Later than night Gay accepted the congratulations of many well-wishers while having dinner with his family not far from the track.  The intimacy of the Eugene setting is another special aspect to this year’s Trials. 

But Gay wasn’t alone in his record. In second place young Jeff Demps of Florida caught the same 1.6 mph tailwind, and undid a slew of records in one fell swoop.  He broke J-Mee Samuels’ 2005 American high school record by seven-hundredths, took down the U.S. junior mark, and equaled the world junior mark established by Jamaica’s Darrell Brown in 2005. 

Then in the second quarterfinal Clemson’s Travis Padgett blazed a 9.89 in his orange Tiger kit, breaking UCLA’s Ato Boldon’s collegiate record 9.90 from 1996.  And, fittingly, Boldon called the race for NBC.  Darvis Patton’s 9.89  took the third quarterfinal.  What was going on with all the fast twitch frenzy?

If he hadn’t eased up in the final meters, Gay might have given Usain Bolt’s 9.72 world record - set earlier this summer in New York - a scare.  As it was, his 9.77 was the fastest quarterfinal ever run, besting a mark held by the estimable Carl Lewis. What will come in Sunday’s final?  Maybe a surprise like in the women’s 100 final?

All the fireworks in the men’s quarters overshadowed what was supposed to be the marquee event of the day, the women’s 100m final.  Each of the eight lanes was loaded with a potential Olympian.  200-meter star Allyson Felix was nearest the stands in lane eight, hoping to begin her 100-200 double.  Favorite Marshavet Hooker in lane five had notched a 10.76 in her semis, and was a solid pick to win along with 2003 world champion Torri Edwards who turned a so-so season around at the Pre Meet here in early June.  But at the gun Hooker stumbled horribly, and with that much talent in smoothly accelerating away, it was a fatal error for the former Texas Longhorn. 

Former LSU All-American Muna Lee was the surprise winner in 10.85, followed by more expected team members Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams, the 2005 world champ.

“I was just coming to make the team,” Lee said, who had been involved in a car accident in College Station, Texas June 16th. “All the girls are good. It was like an NCAA championship again. I felt really good. I knew I could blast it at the beginning and relax at the end. I learned how to do that really well this year. I’m really excited about it.”

Fireworks, too, in the first women’s 800 meter semifinal. 2006 US indoor champ Alice Schmidt led the first semi out in 28.6 through the 200.  Then around the far bend heels were clipped and the crowd gasped as four women spilled to the track.  Schmidt was away and easily the winner.   Olympian Nicole Teter was among the victims, but after all the tumblers filed protests, USATF officals put them all through into the Monday final.  Which means a 12-woman start.  Watch out for more fireworks then. 

The shot put final was contested amidst the men’s and women’s sprints, but was scheduled perfectly to keep the crowd riveted. The Big Three of Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell, and Adam Nelson came through.  But much of the excitement came in the final rounds.  The first big throw of the day didn’t come until Hoffa’s 71′, 11 ¾” in round five.  He upped that with a 72, 6 ¼” in the final go round, and Cantwell’s 71, 2 ¾” also came in the final round. Nelson never did find the rhythm in the Eugene circle. He had to survive an off day.  It took a fourth round heave of 68, 6 ½” to secure his spot in Beijing over Dan Taylor whose 68′, 3″ in round one was not only a seasonal best, but put the pressure on the Big Three.

END

• London Recap - May 4th, 2010
• What are you running for? - May 3rd, 2010
• Solinsky AR 26:59.60!!! - May 2nd, 2010
• London Preview - April 23rd, 2010
• 1988 Olympic Gold Meets 2004 Silver - April 21st, 2010