Allyson Felix, 2011 USA Outdoor Champs, photo by PhotoRun.net

David Oliver, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

How a sleeping bag became a major catalyst for Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s Paris win

Anna Cockrell’s Silver Lining

Cole Hocker and a powerful illustration of incredible self-belief in this new era of the men’s 1500m

Morgan Uceny, 2011 USA Outdoor, photo by PhotoRun.net

A great day three at the US Champs. David Oliver defended his title, with a time of 13.04, with Aries Merritt (13.12) and Jason Richarson (13.15). Allyson Felix won the 400 meters in 50.40, with Francine McCorory running pb in second, 50.49. Debbie Dunn was third.
In the men’s 400 meters, Tony McQuay, NCAA champ, won the 400 meters here in a huge upset over Jeremy Wariner. McQuay ran 44.68, and Wariner and Greg Nixon were timed in 44.98. Wariner had not looked that good in the rounds!
Wallace Spearmon, with an achilles injury, did not get out of round 1, running 20.85. Tyson Gay obviously did not run the round and neither did Justin Gatlin.
Hats off to LaShinda Demus, one of my favorite athletes, who won the 400 meter hurdles in 54.21. In second, Queen Harrison ran from lane 1, running 54.78 and Jasmine Chaney, who was only 4th in NCAA, took third here in 55.22, a pb!
The 1,500 meter races were the races of the day, for me. In the women’s 1,500 meters, Christin Wurth made the race, running 62.24, 2:08.33, and Wurth did not give up. Leading until the final straightaway.
Morgan Uceny, who has run superbly this season, lead the chasing pack. Uceny flew down the final straightaway, winning in a fine 4:03.21. Next came Jenny Simpson, who went by Wurth with fifty meters to go, running 4:05.66, as Wurth desperately tried to hold on.
It was Shannon Rowbury, fighting for her dream to make the team, who caught Wurth and took third, 4:06.20 to 4:06.21.
The men’s race, while fascinating, was, well less than satisfying. Running a pace slower than the women’s race, 65 seconds for lap 1, 2:11 for the 800 meters, this was going to be a barn burner.
Dwight Phillips, the 2009 champion, finished tenth here in the long jump. He has had a rough season, with new coaching relationship, etc.
The pack of Lagat, Centrowitz, Wheating, Torrence, Ulrich, Manzano were all there, as Centrowitz moved through the pack and took the lead from Lagat at the 200 meter mark. Running a brutish 52.25 for the last 400 meters, Matt Centrowitz, Jr. added the US title to his NCAA title, with his win here. Bernard Lagat was second and Leonel Manzano, who moved into lane three and just gutted his way to third, passing Wheating and Leer. Wheating ended up in fourth and Leer in fifth.
And this is where the strange stuff begins. Only Wheating and Leer have B standards. Word was that Bernard Lagat is not running the 1,500 meters, and Wheating will have a shot, but that waits to be official.

And now, off to day 4!

POWELL VS. LEMAITRE AT PONTAISE

LAUSANNE (SUI): Sprinting wars will continue on
Thursday at Athletissima of Lausanne (part of Samsung Diamond League). In the 100 m fresh Jamaican champion
Asafa Powell (9.90 in
semifinals) will face fastest European Christophe Lemaitre (9.96 and 9.95 this
summer twice improving national and European U23 record). They met already once
in Rome at
Golden Gala, Powell was second 9.93 and Lemaitre third 10.00. The young French
man never beat so far the former world record holder from Jamaica. In
total 32 olympic, World and European gold medalists are expected. Other top
highlights are Dayron Robles at 110
m Hurdles, David Rudisha in the 800 m, the duel Philips Idowu
against Teddy Tamgho in triple jump, with growing shape Blanka Vlasic in high
jump and epic shot put duel after top weekend performances (Armstrong, US
throwers, Majewski). Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce saved her energy for Athletissima 100 m as she was not running
the Jamaican Championships. First years sub 4 minutes could be expected from
loaded women 1500 m
field.

RACES: OLIVER AND FELIX WINS,
WARINER BEATEN

EUGENE (USA, Jun 25): After semis in Osaka
2007 David Oliver will have his second Worlds. He won the 110 m hurdles with fast 13.04
(+1.4) during Saturday US Championships programme. To Daegu also Aries Merritt
13.12 and Jason Richardson 13.15 (equaled PB). Fourth 0.01 behind is the
multiple silver medalist Terrence Trammell 13.16. Personal best for fifth Jeff
Porter 13.26. The 400 m
ended with a surprise as NCAA Champ Tony McQuay improved to second fastest in
the world this year 44.68. Former world and olympic winner Jeremy Wariner was
second but only just over Greg Nixon (44.971 to 44.978). Fourth for relay is
Jamaal Torrance 45.11. Even a new PB of 50.49 was not enough to win for
Francena McCorory at 400 m.
Allyson Felix was better with 50.40. She
is now the first woman with national titles at 100, 200 and 400 m. Third for Daegu is
World indoor champion Debbie Dunn 50.70. Top names remained for relay Jessica
Beard 51.06 and Natasha Hastings 51.14. Lashinda Demus fulfilled 400 m hurdles favorite role
with 54.21, second Queen Harrison 54.78 and third is a surprise. Jasmine Chaney
who was only 4th at NCAA Champs got the third Daegu spot in personal best
55.22. Olympian Billy Nelson, who only recently landed a shoe company deal with
New Balance, won the steeplechase in 8:28.46 over defending champion Daniel
Huling (8:29.27). In a tight finish,
Kyle Alcorn got third (8:29.44). Nelson
already has the world championships “A” standard of 8:23.10, so he will be
headed to Daegu. The racing was rough during both 1500 m finals. In the
women’s contest, Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas surged to the front right from
the gun, running the first 400
meters in a swift 62.34, and building up a five-meter
lead. But instead of settling her pace
down, as one might expect in a national championships, she continued to press,
passing 800 meters
in 2:08.33. But at the end she was unlucky fourth 4:06.21 just 0.01 behind the
third Shannon Rowbury 4:06.20. Morgan Uceny
was the winner in 4:03.91 ahead of Jenny Simpson 4:05.66. The men’s race was
even rougher than the women’s, and a lot slower. Matt Centrowitz won in 3:47.63 ahead of
Bernard Lagat 3:47.96 and Leo Manzano 3:48.16. But because Lagat wants to run
only the 5k in Daegu also the fourth Andrew Wheating will have the chance
(3:48.19). But it was close as Will Leer had 3:48.20 for fifth. But nobody has
A-standard this year, and only Leer and Wheating are having B-standard from the
top five.

TECHNICAL: GOODWIN WINDY 833

EUGENE (USA, Jun 25): 2008 World junior
champion Marquise Goodwin won the long jump with windy 833 (+2.1, also legal
816 +1.7) and will have his first senior worlds at age of 20. Will Claye was
second (819 +3.2) and will even double in Daegu after qualifiying also in the
triple jump. The same did not happen to Christian Taylor who was fourth 807
(+4.0) just 3 cm
behind Jeremy Hicks 810 (+3.1). Dwight Phillips with wild card was 10th (789
+2.4) and decathlon world champion Trey Hardee did not produce any significant
mark. The standards situation is not easy, Goodwin has B, Claye A and Hicks is
without a standard. The other three technical events are also struggling with
quality. Derek Miles won the pole vault with 566 over Jeremy Scott 560. Third
Nick Mossberg has no standard (554). 2007 World champion Brad Walker no
heighted (two attempts at 554 and one at 566). Kara Patterson won the javelin
as expected with 59.34. The others do not have even the B-standard. In women
hammer Jessica Cosby 71.33 and Amber Campbell 70.07 ruled. Third was a surprise
Keelin Godsey with PB of 68.90 but still short of B-standard (69 meters).

PRELIMS: GATLIN NOT RUNNING THE 200 M, SPEARMON OUT

EUGENE (USA, Jun 25): Hyleas Fountain leads
the heptathlon with solid 3706 over Sharon Day 3663. No major casualties in
women 100 m
hurdles heats. Top names won their races in windy times. Danielle Carruthers
12.67 (+2.4), Lolo Jones 12.73 (+2.5) and Kellie Wells 12.53 (+3.4). Only legal
was the last heat where NCAA Champion Nia Ali improved her PB to 12.73 (+1.5).
Jeshua Anderson was after heats also the fastest of the 400 m hurdles semis 48.99,
all top names advanced. In the 200
m heats Justin Gatlin was a no show and world medalist
Wallace Spearmon with achilles injury was out as only fifth in his race (20.82,
+3.5). Fastest with windy 20.24 (+3.5) was 2004 olympic winner Shawn Crawford.
Kerron Clement was also out in windy 20.84, he also did not contest the 400 m finals. He has the wild
card for 400 m
hurdles in Daegu as reigning world champion. In women 200 m heats the fastest for
Carmelita Jeter 22.37 (+2.7), but 22.39 of Bianca Knight were legal (+1.6) as
were the 22.54 (+1.1) by NCAA Champ Kimberlyn Duncan. Also Sanya Richards-Ross
easily advanced (22.84, +1.7).

BATCHELOR WINDY 817

KINGSTON (JAM, Jun 25): Tarik Batchelor leaped to 817
(+2.1) to win the Jamaican long jump title (also had legal 805 +0.3) over
Julian Reid (808, +0.7) in the Saturday programme of the national
championships. Kenia Sinclair scored the expected double and won after 1500 m also the 800 m in 2:00.96. Korene
Hinds in 9:41.67 in race of two beat Mardrea Hyman 9:46.15. Junior discus
thrower Traves Smikle improved with senior implement to good 59.83 m. No drama in 200 m semis. Veronica
Campbell-Brown won the first (22.79, +0.2) and Kerron Stewart the second
(22.78, +0.5). In the menÂ´s 200
m Steve Mullings was the fastest with 20.25 (+0.5) and
Nickel Ashmeade won the other race in 20.41 (+0.7). Also in the 400 m semifinals no major
casualties, Kaliese Spencer achieved 50.71 in her race and Rosemarie Whyte 50.85 in the second one.
Lanceford Spence was the fastest in menÂ´s semis 45.51, Riker Hylton won the
second race in 45.58 (PB).

THOMAS 232, PINDER 44.78

FREEPORT (BAH, Jun 25): High jump 2007 world champion Donald Thomas
cleared 232 to get the Bahamian title and tried at world leading 236 cm. Trevor Barry as
second got 229. 17-years old Ryan Ingraham confirmed the high jump tradition
here with 223 lifetime best and win in junior category (belongs to U19). NCAA
Indoor champion Demetrius Pinder won the 400 m in personal best and third fastest of the
year 44.78. Second Ramon Miller 45.34 still ahead of World Indoor Champion
Chris Brown 45.73. 17-years old (belongs to U17 category) Shaunae Miller who
won last year gold in Moncton at World Junior Championships won the senior
women 400 m
in new national junior record 51.85. In the 200 m finals wins for Debbie
Ferguson-McKenzie 23.09 (-2.3) and Michael Mathieu 20.66 (-1.5). Olympic
medalist Leevan Sands won the triple jump as expected (16.82, +2.0). In the
relays Trinidad women clocked 43.40 to beat Bahamas 43.62. In the menÂ´s 4×400 m
Bahamas got 3:02.56 over Trinidad 3:04.31.

ARMSTRONG NR AND WL 22.21 IN SHOT PUT

CALGARY (CAN, Jun 25): Excellent world lead and
national record of Dylan Armstrong in shot put 22.21 highlighted the last day
of Canadian Championships. His series was sensational: 21.75 – 21.89 – f – f –
21.78 – 22.21. His previous national mark was 21.72 from April in La Jolla,
that means all legal marks on Saturday were better than this. Canada is so
only 8th country with national mark starting with 22 and interestingly he is
22nd ever shot putter with 22+ result. Perdita Felicien won 10th national title
with 12.80 (+3.9) at 100 m
hurdles and was also solid in heats 12.87 (+1.3). Angela Whyte false started in
the finals. Crystal Emmanuel (will be 20 this year) improved to 22.88 (+1.8) in
the 200 m.
MenÂ´s title for Bryan Barnett 20.71 (+3.5) over Jarred Connaughton 20.75. Jenna
Martin won the women 400 m
in 51.95. NCAA double gold medalist Sheila Reid got the 1500 m in 4:16.97. Another
NCAA winner Julie Labonte triumphed in shot put (18.12). Hammer was a family
affair. James Steacy got the menÂ´s title (76.27) and Heather Steacy the women
one (70.86 over Sultana Frizell 70.17).

OTHER RESULTS

SAN JOSE (CRC, Jun 25): Rolando Palacios of Honduras
won also the 200 m
at the Central American Championships with 20.97 (-0.5).

YERINO (RUS, Jun 25): Second day of Russian U23 Championships saw
Dmitriy Tarabin improving to 85.10
in javelin. Fast 400 m winning time for Olga Topilskaya 51.10. Barcelona finalist
Vladimir Krasnov won the men race in 46.32. Yevgeniya Pecherina got 62.27 in discus and Yelena
Arzhakova 2:00.11 in the 800 m.
All names good enough to attack medal podium in Ostrava at European U23 Championships. Nina
Argunova clocked 13.03 (+1.2) to win the 100 m hurdles and was faster in heats 13.02
(+0.4). As guest running in the 200
m heats Anastasiya Kapachinskaya posted European leading
22.55 (-0.4).

OSAKA (JPN, Jun 26): Satomi Kubokura broke her own
national record at women 400m hurdles with 55.34. Informs Ken Nakamura.

FUKAGAWA (JPN, Jun 25): At Hokuren Distance Challenge Kenyan Gideon
Ngatuny led three Japan-resident Kenyans to the top of the men’s 10 000 m A-heat with a win
in 27:43.82, but the trio had company from 5000 m national champion
Kazuya Watanabe who was shooting for the Daegu World Championships A-standard
of sub-27:40 but came up just short in a large PB of 27:47.79. Although
outstanding, his time means that Watanabe will run only the 5000 m in Daegu. Second
James Rungar 27:44.86 and third Alex Mwangi, both Kenyans 27:47.51. The women’s
10 000 m
was also fast, with nine of the top ten recording new PBs led by Kenyan Sally
Chepyego going under the World Championships A-standard with a 31:27.98. Seika
Nishikawa a teammate of marathon national record holder Mizuki Noguchi, was
second in a lifetime best 32:12.64. From Brett LarnerÂ´s blog.

EUGENE (USA, Jun 25): Last day of US Junior
Championships saw Aurieyall Scott completing her sprint double with excellent
22.83 (+0.9) at 200 m.
Fast also second Jessica Davis 22.93. Sean McLean won the boys 200 m in 20.64 (+1.5) ahead
of World Youth Champion Prezel Hardy who improved to 20.65. Ronell Mance won
the 400 m
in 45.85. Tyler Sorensen walked the 10 000 m in meet record 42:44.03. Shanay
Briscoe after being 9th in senior competition won the junior high jump with 188
and tried at Daegu B-standard 192.

ROAD RESULTS

SAINT-AMAND LES EAUX (FRA, Jun 25): French 10 000 m title for
Stephane Lefrand 28:38.82, his personal best.

LANGEUX (FRA, Jun 25): Young Ethiopian and last year 6th in Moncton
Atsede Tsegay won the 21st Corrida de Langeux in new course record 27:46 at 10 km. Best European was the
French Abdellatif Meftah as 9th in 29:08. Kenyan Myriam Wangari was the best
woman and in 32:31 missed the course record by 5 seconds. Russian Yelena
Zadorozhnaya was 3rd (33:34).

MERU (KEN, Jun 25): Former Hannover marathon champion (in 2007) Daniel
Mbogo clocked 2:18:42 to win the 12th edition of the Safaricom Lewa marathon at
the Lewa Wildlife conservancy which borders Isiolo and Meru. Best woman was
Monica Muthoni in 2:49:20.

KUALA LUMPUR (MAS, Jun 26): Kenyans dominated the Standard
Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon. Better times in women category. Rose Nyangacha
clocked 2:34:38 to win over Rose Chesire 2:35:12 PB and Ruth Kutol 2:37:24.
Kennedy Kiptoo was the best male runner after 2:20:09. For winners 17 500 USD
first prize award.

ADDITIONS

SZCZECIN (POL): The 1:58.12 of Svitlana Usovich in the 800 m is not only European
but also a World lead 2011. Interestingly she missed her personal best from
Osaka 2007 Worlds by 0.01.

EUGENE (USA): Javelin thrower Mike Hazle
was four times second at US Champs and in 2011 got his first gold (so no 5th
title, but only first).

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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