2012 Drake Relays: Spearmon gets MJ record, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

Wallace Spearmon, photo by PhotoRun.net

Jenn Suhr, photo by Photorun.net

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Jenny Simpson, photo by PhotoRun.net

The 2012 Drake Relays, sponsored by ASICS, continue to attract. Some tremendous performances. Nice run by Wallace Spearmon, breaking Michael Johnson’s 1996 record for the 200 meters. Jenn Suhr, AR in pole vault, is back, winning the mall vault at 4.65m and attempting 4.80m, and Jenny Simpson, WC at 1,500m, winning the 1,500 meters in 4:12.95!

Spearmon gets MJ record
DES MOINES (USA, Apr 28): At Drake Relays despite not very favourable
weather some top marks were registered. Wallace Spearmon confirmed great
early season shape with meet record 20.02 (+1.7) in the 200 m. The
previous mark of legendary Michael Johnson from 1997 was 20.05.
“Technically, this was my fifth try at the record. I started looking at
the clock early. I was trying to run a sub-20, but it was a little
chilly. I was just waiting for the wind gauge,” said Spearmon. Chaunte
Lowe showed she is in top shape with first attempt 198 clearence (missed
201) over returning Amy Acuff 185. Jenn Suhr returned after mall win
with 465 and tries at 480. Fast also the 100 m hurdles by Kristi Castlin
12.76 (+1.0) personal best over Nia Ali 12.83 and Canadian Angela Whyte
12.97. World champion Jenny Simpson won the 1500 m in 4:12.95. In other
women events Allison Peter of US Virgin Islands clocked 11.23 (+1.7) PB
in the 100 m. Keisha Baker won the 400 m (52.03) and Latosha Wallace
the 400 m hurdles (56.58). In menÂ´s hurdles fast times for Ryan Wilson
13.20 (+1.0) over Omo Osaghae 13.24 and olympic and world medalist
Terrence Trammell 13.36. Daegu medalist Javier Culson of Puerto-Rico won
the 400 m hurdles in 49.02 beating Johnny Dutch 49.06. Isiah Young got
the 100 m in windy 10.08 (+2.2) and French Teddy Venel the 400 m
(46.00). World indoor champion Ryan Whiting was the best in the shot put
(21.31) over Zack Lloyd 20.64 and Canadian Justin Rodhe 20.36. Jamie
Nieto with 224 beat on count-back Ricky Robertson (224) in the high
jump. Also to note fast college 4×400 m times for Florida 3:02.41 ahead
of Arkansas 3:02.47.

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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