by Larry Eder
Men’s mile: a little bit of roller derby, and a lot of elbows! 2011 USA Indoors, photo by PhotoRun.netOn day two of the USA Indoors, I was in Seattle, watching a supremely satisfying Brooks PR invitational. The USA Indoors had nine world leaders and two ARs, and yet, a race that many said was the most satisfying of the day, the men’s mile, did not get on ESPN (would love someone from the production team to explain that).
Mike Rodgers 6.49 and 6.48 were highlights, as was the AR of 15-11 1/2, 4.86m from Jenn Suhr and the shot put of Jill Camerena-Williams, which gave Jill the AR with a massive 65-2 1/2.
Michael Rodgers: ” You must bring out your A game all of the time!” photo by PhotoRun.netI see the opportunities in our sport! It is not that people won’t watch or come to our elite meets, it is how, I believe that messaging in done. Media is about developing a conversation with the consumer. This conversation must be constant.
We have learnt with Runblogrun.com and the runningnetwork. The more content, relevant and timely, the more our numbers grow. Check out USATF’s web goddess, Katie Landry, who is posting interviews, video and developing their social networking opportunities. One of the best examples of how the digital world can help running is Jean Knaack at the RRCA. Jean has developed the 1,300 club RRCA (177,000 members) website with newsletters, email blasts,
relevant information, so that the members of RRCA always have access.
If you are going to sell tickets for a track meet, then you need to a) do it early, b) build up to the event and c) stay consistent.
The story by Elliot tells it all. There were amazing performances. Let’s make sure that the crowds build so that future sponsors and TV shows the excitement of our sport!
run at the Albuquerque Convention Center Sunday, hardly fretted over the
absentees.
the young men and women who can be confidently expected to give the old
guard the challenges of their lives in the run-up to the IAAF World
Championships in Daegu, Korea, this August and the London Olympic Games
of 2012.
track and field team – still quite true despite the amazing progress
seen in so many other nations? Turnover, turnover, turnover.
Duane Solomon, 2011 USA Indoor 800m champion, photo by PhotoRun.net.
emerging from the high school and collegiate ranks, America can, with
some degree of confidence, expect to keep on keeping on.
putting, a 70-0 1/2 winner Sunday), Omo Osaghae (60 hurdles king at
7.52) , Michael Courtney (400 champion at 46.11) and long jumper Jeremy
Hicks (25-2) as guys who have all it take to be even-bigger time
winners. Along with youngish vets Michael Rodgers (60 sprint king at
6.48) and Duane Solomon (800 winner at 1:48.03.)
Kellie Wells (7.79), long jumper Janay DeLoach (22-11 1/4), 60 sprinter
Alex Anderson (7.12). and 800 winner Phoebe Wright (2:02.27.)
Barringer Simpson (doubling in the women’s mile Sunday after the 3000
meters Saturday), Jill Camarena-Williams (extending the American indoor
shot put record to 65-2 1/4), and Natasha Hastings (hasting 400 meters
in 50.83)
Jenn Suhr is back! 4.86m AR at 2011 USA Indoor Champs, photo by PhotoRun.netindoor-record 15-11 1/4) remains in an American pole vault class all her
own.
and triple jumper Rafeeq Curry have global leaping talent. And that pole
vaulter Mark Hollis, weight thrower Jake Freeman and 3000-meter
racewalker Patrick Stroupe have huge upside potential, too.
Amber Campbell, and 3000-meter racewalker Maria Michta, all zooming up
the ladder.
gusto in Saturday’s remarkably easy 3,000-meter verdict over 24-year-old
Galen Rupp, complete with a 26.9-second final 200-meter sprint.
his credit, Lagat will surely pose a major obstacle to any young bloke
brash enough to challenge his right to a fourth Olympic appearance.
Michael Rodgers & Jenn Suhr Win VISA Championship Series! 2011 USA Indoor, photo by PhotoRun.net
