by Larry Eder
Walter Dix, 2011 WC, silver medalist, 100m, 200m, photo by PhotoRun.net
It was a curious World Championships for the US, but it was also a robust World Championships. One noted observer noted that, with a bit of luck, and medals in the men’s shot put, and men’s 400m hurdles, we would have been at 27. Taking that a step farther, the men’s 4 x 100m would have put us over 30 medals.
The truth is, 25 medals is a tremendous accomplishment in one of the few world sports that actually exist. Face it, when you compete against the best in 200 plus countries, and win a medal, you are one of the world’s best. The USA track team is, by all accounts, one of the most winning teams, if not the most winning team in US history. Consider the medals won by US track teams in Olympics and World Champs and one will get my drift.
The 2011 team had a nice collection of athletes new, athletes veterans and many at the top of their game. Our selection process, top three in Trials or best wishes, is both brutal and honest. It also makes the US champs, during Trials years, among the best days of track & field anywhere in the world.
flyin….Christian Taylor, 2011 WC triple jump, gold, photo by PhotoRun.net
Jesse Williams whooping it up! 2011 WC high jump, gold medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net
just one more centimeter…Will Claye, 2011 WC triple jump, bronze, photo by PhotoRun.net
We took medals, two in fact, in the triple jump for men and one in the women’s shot put medal was a great step forward. Jesse Williams in the high jump also showcased that event. Christian Taylor and Will Claye were first US triple jumper to go 1 & 3 in the triple jump World Champs since 1991 with Kenny Harrison and Mike Conley. Jillian Carmelita Williams took first global shot put medal for a US women since the 1960 Olympics, when Earlene Browne took the bronze in Rome!
Team USA Medals
RESPECT, Dwight Phillips, 2011 WC Long Jump, photo by PhotoRun.net
GOLD (12)
Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Ga.), 17.96m/58-11.25, 9/4
W4x100 relay (Bianca Knight, Allyson Felix, Marshevet Myers, Carmelita Jeter), 41.56, 9/4
W4x400 relay (Sanya Richards, Allyson Felix, Jessica Beard, Francena McCorory), 3:18.09, 9/3
M4x400 relay (Greg Nixon, Bershawn Jackson, Angelo Taylor, Lashawn Merritt), 2:59.31, 9/2
Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.), MLJ, 8.45m/27-8.75, 9/2
Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.), W400H, 52.47AR, 9/1
Jenny Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), W1500, 4:05.40, 9/1
Jesse Williams (Eugene, Ore.), MHJ, 2.35m/7-8.5, 9/1
Carmelita Jeter (Gardena, Calif.), W100, 10.90, 8/29
Jason Richardson (Inglewood, Calif.), M110H, 13.16, 8/29
Trey Hardee (Austin, Texas), Decathlon, 8607, 8/28
Brittney Reese (Gulfport, Miss.), WLJ, 6.82m/22-4.5, 8/28
Dos et Dos, Trey Hardee, 2011 WC decathlon, 2009 WC decathlon, both gold, photo by PhotoRun.net
Gold medal finish, Jenny Simpson, 2011 WC 1,500m, photo by PhotoRun.net
SILVER (8)
Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.), M500m, 13:23.64, 9/4
Bernard Lagat, 2011 WC 5,000m, silver, photo by PhotoRun.net
Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), M200, 19.70, 9/3
Danielle Carruthers (Kennesaw, Ga.), W100H, 12.47PR, 9/3
Carmelita Jeter (Gardena, Calif.), W200, 22.37, 9/2
Lashawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.), M400, 44.63, 8/30
Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.), W400, 49.59PR, 8/29
Ashton Eaton (Eugene, Ore.), Decathlon, 8505, 8/28
Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), M100, 10.08, 8/28
Ashton Eaton, Trey Hardee, 2011 WC decathlon, silver for Eaton, Gold for Hardee, photo by PhotoRun.net
BRONZE (5)
Will Claye (Phoenix, Ariz.), MTJ, 17.50m/57-5, 9/4
Dawn Harper (Los Angeles, Calif.), W100H, 12.47PR, 9/3
Matt Centrowitz (Arnold, Md.), M1500, 3:36.08, 9/3
Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.), W200, 22.42, 9/2
Jillian Camarena-Williams (Tucson, Ariz.), WSP, 20.02m/65-8.25, 8/29
