by Larry Eder
Five world leads! Two American records! And a Sunday schedule to die for!
Why are only the die hard fans here? In a town where the Drake Relays have
sold out for thrity-one plus years, and track and field has a real tradition,
the half filled stands put tears into true fans eyes.
One fan told me yesterday, “You have to be really tough to be a track fan.” So
true. The reasons Sacramento and Eugene were successes were because they
were promoted a year out (heck, actually two years out), and creative ways were
found to get fans and athletes to the locales.
Des Moines has a fine Art Festival, nice restaurants, nice hotels (reasonable too),
and is pretty easy to get around. Out on Jordan Parkway, about fifteen minute drive
from the stadium, there is every restaurant you could desire.
The press area has been good and the attention to the media strong. The tent for
the USATF members is a good idea, but getting fans to a USATF championship
must be a priority, and has to be done a year out. Anything less is just not
professional.
EME NEWS (JUN 27, 2010)
Five world leads, Howard 205 and 690 superb double
DES
MOINES
(USA, Jun 26): Very hot weather at the third day of the USATF national
championships but still five world leading marks (men 400 m, 400 m H,
women 200 m, high jump, heptathlon. High jumping mother Chaunte Lowe
was the star of
the meeting when jumping a new US national record in the high jump.
Lowe cleared 205 in her third attempt (also a world leader) to take the
national title and
jump her second national record this year, she also participated in the
long jump and ended second with an excellent jump of 690 (+1.2). The
gold in
the long jump went to world champion Brittney Reese who jumped 708
(+3.2). Brianna Glenn managed third with a jump of 681 (+2.0). Hometown
favorite Lolo Jones convincingly took the gold in the 100m hurdles in
front of friends and family clocking a time of 12.69, kellie Wells got
silver in 12.84 while Damu Cherry was third in 12.86 and Ginnie
Crawford fourth (12.90). Jillian Camarena
had a good series in the women’s shot put and grabbed the gold with
life-time best 19.13. Although the afternoon heat Bershawn Jackson won
the 400m
hurdles in 47.32, a 10th American performance all time and
the fastest time since 2008. NCAA champion Johnny Dutch came in
second in 47.63, third was for Michael Tinsley in 48.72. The women’s
1500m final was close until the finish line but it was Anna Pierce
(4:13.65) who got the win over Erin Donohue (4:13.87) and Shannon
Rowbury (4:14.41) with Christin Wurth-Thomas (4:15.33). In the women’s
400m final Debbie Dunn easily took
the victory in a new stadium record and new lifetime best of 49.64
(another world leader),
ahead of silver Francena McCorory (50.52) and Natasha Hastings (50.53).
Sanya Richards-Ross, who surprisingly only managed fourth in last
nights semi-finals decided to not start the race. Greg Nixon was the
surprise winner in the men’s race before in 44.61 (world leader) ahead
LeJerald Betters (44.71), Jamaal Torrence (44.80) and Tavaris Tate
(44.84, for all top four personal bests). Pre-race favorite Jeremy
Wariner pulled up
after 100m and stopped the race injured. Aber Campbell (71.52) took
gold
in the women’s hammer throw just ahead of Jessica Cosby (71.24). Jake
Arnold crowned himself national champion in his fifth decathlon of the
year with a total of 8215 (last week was in Kladno). Former world champ
Tom Pappas was second (81010). Hyleas Fountain scored a
massive world leading 6735 points, winning the event by over 700
points. Fountain won
all events but the javelin throw and the 800m. During second day she
achieved 679 (+2.7), 42.26 and 2:17.80. In the qualifying rounds of the
men’s 200m Rodney Martin ran the fastest time with 20.62 (-0.7), 100m
champion
Walter Dix got the 7th fastest time with 21.04. David Oliver
showed he is the favorite in the 110H with the fastest qualifying time
in the heats (13.58).
