The Official Publication of USA Track & Field
Volume X • Issue 4
2009 ING NYC Marathon winner, Meb Keflezighi
Winter 2009/2010
Permit #50 Fort Atkinson, WI PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID
VICTAH SAILER/PHOTO RUN; ERROL ANDERSON/THE SPORTING IMAGE; HAROLD LEE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
O F F I C I A L U S AT F SPONSORS
6 5 USATF Club Cross Country 6 USATF Marathon Champion: Meb Keflezighi 8 USATF Spotlight: Aretha Thurmond
O F F I C I A L U S AT F SUPPLIERS
10 USATF Annual Meeting Recap 16 USATF Annual Meeting Highlights
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18 Junior Olympics Cross Country 22 USATF Photo Shoot 26 USATF Alumnus Spotlight 28 USATF Foundation News 30 USATF Events Calendar
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Fast Forward is an official publication of USA Track & Field, 132 E. Washington St., Suite 800, Indianapolis, IN 46204, published quarterly by USA Track & Field. EDITOR Ivan P. Cropper
DESIGN & LAYOUT Basedoor Graphics LLC
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michele Cooper
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Tom Surber, Vicky Oddi
PRINTED BY Shooting Star Media, Inc. W.D. Hoard & Sons COVER PHOTO Victah Sailer/Photo Run For more information, visit www.usatf.org or call us at 317-261-0500. Questions or comments about Fast Forward ? Send email to: Membership@usatf.org For advertising inquiries, contact Larry Eder, The Running Network LLC at 608-239-3785.
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Pressented by ASICS Presented
Commitment
Self-discipline, perseverance, and sheer determination dete e rm rmin ination are nothing new to Drake Relays and Lo lo Jones. Lolo J on o es. It’s what has allowed her to overcome hurdles before ever stepping on the track. ASICS supports Lolo and her commitment to the spor sport r t by providing her with innovative footwear that propels prr op opel elss her to achieve her goals. Watch her at the t he 101st 101 0 st Drak Drake ke Re R Relays lays as she attempts to capture her he r fifth fift fi fth h 100-meter hurdles title.
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MIKE SCOTT
USATF CLUB CROSS COUNTRY
Tera Moody Boulder Running Co.
Tracey Lokken Men’s Champion
Repeat and Three-Peat at National Club XC Champs he women of Boulder Running Company/ adidas successfully defended their title and the Zap Fitness men won their third team championship in four years at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, Ky. The 12th annual USATF National Club Cross Country Championships featured more than 1,000 athletes representing America’s top post-collegiate club teams from across the United States. In the open women’s race, Serena Burla (Ellisville, Mo.), used the final one-kilometer uphill to pull away for the individual title, running 20:23 for the 6 km course. Kim Conley (West Sacramento, Calif.) took the runnerup spot, finishing in 20:36 as Alissa McKaig (Blowing Rock, N.C.) finished third in 20:38. In the team race, the Boulder Running Company/adidas had more of a fight on their hands as they dueled with McMillan Elite through mid-race before pulling away for a 15-point win. The Asics Aggies took third with 109 points. In the men’s open race, David Jankowski (Blowing Rock, N.C.) made a decisive move at 4.5 miles to pull away from Josh Simpson (Morgantown, W.V.) for the individual win, running 29:18 for a nine second win over Simpson. Jankowski’s Zap Fitness teammate, David Nightingale (Blowing Rock, N.C.), took third in 29:40 to help solidify a 32-point team victory over Boulder Running Company/adidas. International City Racing Track Club finished third in the team standings with 96 points. In the day’s opening race, Laura Haefeli (Del Norte, Colo.) unseated defending masters 6 km champion Carmen
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B Y J I M E ST E S
Ayala-Troncoso (Austin, Texas) for the overall masters win. Troncoso won the individual title in the 50–54 age group. Other winners included Karen Steen (Olympia Wash.) for ages 45–49; Katherine Martin (Northport, N.Y.) for ages 55–59; Sabra Harvey (Houston, Texas) for ages 60–64; Betty Valent (Boulder, Colo.) for ages 65–69; and Madeline Bost (Randolph, N.J.) for ages 70–74 . Team champions included Club Northwest in the 40–49 team age group, and the Impala Racing Team captured titles in both the 50–59 and 60+ team age groups. 2009 USA Masters Marathon champion Tracy Lokken (Marquette, Mich.) took advantage of the final uphill to break away from Chad Newton (Pisgah Forest, N.C.), and in the final 400 meters defending champion Simon Gutierrez over took Newton to claim the runner-up position. Lokken was timed in 32:10 with Gutierrez and Newton finishing in 32:14 and 32:18, respectively. Other individual titles went to Peter Magill (South Pasadena, Calif.) for ages 45–49; Joe Sheeran (Ellensburg, Wash.) for ages 50–54; John Barbour (Gloucester, Mass.) for ages 55–59; William Dixon (Brattleboro, Vt.) for ages 60–64; Doug Goodhue (Milford, Mich.) for ages 65–69; Thom Weddle (Minneapolis, Minn.) for ages 70–74; and Bill Iffrig (Everett, Wash.) for ages 75–79. Team titles were won by the Atlanta Track Club in the 40–49 age group; Green Mountain AC for ages 50–59; Raritan Valley Road Runners for ages 60–69; and the Snohomish TC in the 70+ age group. # For more information and video interviews from the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships, please visit www.usatf.org. 5
The
Running Man
Meb Keflezighi
Following an injury plagued 2008 season that left him contemplating retirement, 2004 Olympic Games men’s marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi was healthy again in 2009, and his results were better than ever. B Y TOM SU R B E R 6
Keflezighi, who suffered a leg fracture at the U.S. men’s marathon trials for the 2008 Olympic Games that took doctors an astounding 10 weeks to diagnose, was forced to the sidelines for six weeks while the injury healed. After working his way back into shape, Keflezighi was finally healthy and raring to go again at the
USATF MARATHON CHAMPION
VICTAH SAILER/PHOTO RUN
Above: Meb & Miss America 2009, Katie Stam of Indiana, at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; Right: Meb celebrates his New York victory.
beginning of 2009, where at the advanced age of 34, he turned in the finest season of his illustrious career. It all began in January when he won the USA Half-Marathon title for the first time in his career in a then personal best time of 1 hour 1 minute 25 seconds, and in February he captured his third men’s national 12-kilometer cross country title. It was his first victory in that event since 2002. At the London Marathon in April, Keflezighi posted a then personal best time of 2:09:21, and in July he won his second U.S. 7-Mile title in 32:25. In October, he won the Rock & Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, Calif., and in doing so, he lowered his personal best for the second time that year when he crossed the finish line in 1:00:01. During that race, his 20 km split time of 57:52 became the new American record for that event, bettering Ryan Hall’s 57:54 set in 2006. As impressive as all those accomplishments are for just one year of competition, which would add up to a highly successful career for most anyone else, they all pale in comparison to what Keflezighi did on November 1, 2009 at the ING New York City Marathon. On that day, Keflezighi returned to the site
where he injured his leg at the Olympic Trials on November 3, 2007. It was also the site where his close friend, and five-time USA road champion Ryan Shay collapsed shortly after the 5-mile mark and died during that same race. This year’s trip to New York proved to be an altogether different experience for Keflezighi, who ran a brilliant strategic race from beginning to end. In the late stages of the race, Keflezighi pulled away from four-time Boston Marathon Champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya in the final two miles to win in a personal-best time of 2:09:15. After finishing, he dropped down for a push-up and broke into tears before being greeted by his mother, wife and two daughters. “The memory of Ryan Shay is what I cried for,” he said. The win gave Keflezighi the USA Marathon Championship crown, his fourth national title of 2009, and he became the first American man to win in New York since Alberto Salazar’s now distant 1982 victory in 2:09:29. For his efforts in New York, Keflezighi earned a total prize-money payday of $206,000, which included $130,000 for the overall win and an additional $40,000 for the U.S. title.
He also tallied $30,000 for finishing under the 2:09:30 mark, and he earned an additional $6,000 for finishing atop the USA Running Series rankings for 2009. Keflezighi was joined by five American men who placed in the top 10 on a banner day for U.S. men’s distance running. Residual perks for winning in New York, in addition to the worldwide acclaim that came with it, included an appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” to give the “Top Ten List,” and his longtime coach going back to his collegiate days at UCLA, Bob Larsen, was named the recipient of USA Track & Field’s Robert Giegengack Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of USA Track & Field and the larger community of the sport. Keflizighi’s tremendous success in 2009 leaves many wondering what kind of results we’ll see from him in the future. If he stays healthy, don’t be surprised to see more of the same. # 7
VICTAH SAILER/PHOTO RUN
USATF SPOTLIGHT
From tunnel vision to panoramic view:
Meet Aretha Thurmond B Y M C K E N Z E RO G E R S n February 2009, USA Track & Field downsized its Board of Directors (BOD) by 30 percent and named fifteen individuals ranging from respected business executives, National Track & Field Hall of Famers, attorneys, officials, and Olympic athletes to the job. One year later, I decided to check in with an athlete member of the BOD, 2008 Olympic Trials champion, Aretha Hill Thurmond, about her expectations and participation on the board while maintaining her training.
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Q: What has your experience as a USATF Board member been like thus far? A: My experience on the board has been eye opening. We live in a tunnel vision world as athletes. We really focus on what am I going to eat today, what time is practice, and the whole gamut of making sure we have done our rehab. And then you get into a board room and WHOA, wait a minute, we have to think of this sport as a whole from top to bottom, inside and out. I think it has been eye opening examining all the levels 8
and legs that USA Track & Field has. Q: What were your expectations going into this role? A: I didn’t have any expectations going in. In my mind, we had an opportunity with a new structure to have three key athlete representatives so I thought, we need to make sure we have some people that are really going to go in and fight for us. Specifically, to have people that wouldn’t back down but would stand up for [athlete] rights and keep the big picture in the mind. Being in the sport as a thrower I think I understand it better than others because we don’t have the red carpet in our event so I really understand the struggle across the board. Going in, I just wanted to make sure that we knew we would really be represented. Now that I am in it, I get it… it’s a lot of work (laughter). Q: How do you feel you best contribute to the USATF Board “team”? A: Involvement… I sum it up as involvement and that means not missing a meeting, not missing a conference call, being in attendance, reading the literature, and educating
myself to make sure as a board member I am making informed decisions. Even if what I say goes against the grain, I am fine with that. I just need to make sure I am involved, informed, and educated to vote properly. Q: What is one word that describes the current USATF Board and why? A: Together. When I look at the dynamics and diverse make-up of the board I think it is very easy for a group like this to not work together. Despite being a diverse group, in one year—which is such a short amount of time—we have really come together and worked well together. And that is the point. Everyone says what they need to say but I think most people have found a way to check any egos at the door, roll up their sleeves, and really get in there and get things done. Q: How do you compare working as a Board member to being an athlete? A: Being an athlete has better prepared me for being on the board. As an athlete we are faced with a lot of diversity. We have to figure out how to get stuff done not just from the training standpoint but from the
sport management side as well. We tend to, as athletes, work with a lot of different people—our coaches, managers, physiotherapists, media, and various others. So we are bombarded with a lot of different groups that we work with on a day-today basis. So then you come into a board room, and BOOM, there you are, sitting with fifteen different people again. So having that background as an athlete made it an easier transition to allow me to work with a diverse group. Q: What can we expect from the USATF Board this year? A: Mission, vision and strategy… a great thing that the board was able to come together on was a common mission, a common vision, and a common strategy. I believe it is our goal that all decisions from here-on-out coincide with the mission, vision, and strategy. As long as you stay on the path, things are going to get done. #
Award Winners Receive Their Accolades USA Track & Field stars of today, yesterday and tomorrow were all on hand in December at the 2009 Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. B Y TOM SU R B E R he proceedings began with the evening’s emcee, NBC and ESPN Sports commenter Lewis Johnson, who introduced 2004 Olympic men’s marathon bronze medalist and 2009 ING New York City marathon winner Meb Keflezighi. Meb welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the annual year in review video. USATF National Youth Chair Lionel Leach and Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder in the decathlon Dan O’Brien presented the Youth Athlete of the Year Award to Carolina Elite Track Club sprint sensation Bryce Love. He is the first midget boy to set national records in three events in one year. Next on the stage was Don Lein, USATF’s Masters Long Distance Running Chair, who introduced the 2009 USATF Masters Athlete of the Year, four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck. De Reuck (45) is the oldest woman ever to win a major U.S. championship, having won the 2009 U.S. 20 km Championships by a margin of 17 seconds. Another highlight for De Reuck this year came at the Boston Marathon, where she was crowned the masters winner and finished an astounding eighth overall, covering the course in 2:37:57.
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
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Bryce Love
USATF ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
Masters Athlete of the Year
Colleen De Reuck
OWENS: GETTY IMAGES; RACE IMAGES COURTESY OF LOVE AND DE REUCK; AWARDS PHOTOS: USATF
Youth Athlete of the Year
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USATF ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
Alberto Salazar
Ryan & Sara Hall
HALL AND HALL: MICHAEL CHITWOOD/TEAM WORLD VISION; PORTRAIT COURTESY OF SALAZAR
Nike Coach of the Year
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Visa Humanitarian Athletes of the Year
On hand to announce the 2009 Visa Humanitarian Athletes of the Year Award winners were Ivan Cropper, USATF Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, and two-time Visa Championship Series winner and 2008 Visa Humanitarian Athlete of the Year, Lolo Jones. In September of this year, Visa Humanitarian Athletes of the Year Ryan Hall and Sara Hall launched the Hall Steps Foundation, which will fund programs to create a better life for youth living in poverty in the United States and abroad. The foundation aims to use running’s lessons to encourage people to take “small steps” toward the goal of tackling issues like clean water, sex trafficking and leadership development. Domestically, the foundation plans to create mentoring programs for at-risk youth to train for a race with an adult runner. Presenting the 2009 Robert Giegengack Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of USA Track & Field and the larger community of the sport, was USATF Chairman and President Stephanie Hightower. The award was presented to longtime track &
Jesse Owens Award Winner
field, cross country and long distance running coach Bob Larsen, who is one of the founding members of the Team USA Running Group in Mammoth, Calif., which is now known as The Mammoth Track Club. Hightower was joined on the stage by Larsen’s star pupil, Meb Keflezighi. On hand to present the USA Track & Field Nike Coach of the Year Award to National Track & Field Hall of Famer Alberto Salazar was Rob Lotwis, Federations Manager for Nike. Salazar, who led Galen Rupp, Dathan Ritzenhein and Kara Goucher to career best performances this past season. In recent years, he has led The Oregon Project, sponsored by Nike, which is dedicated to providing the means for U.S. distance runners to be successful. Next on stage was Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Maurice Greene, who introduced the 2009 women’s Jesse Owens Award winner, Sanya Richards. Established in 1981, the Jesse Owens Award is USA Track & Field’s highest accolade, presented annually
RICHARDS: VICTAH SAILER/PHOTO RUN; AWARDS PHOTOS: USATF
Sanya Richards
to the outstanding U.S. male and female track and field performers. Richards, the #1 world ranked women’s 400m runner by Track & Field News over the last four CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
SANYA’S STATS • World champion in 400m and 4x400m relay • Ran the four fastest times in the world in 2009, including WL 48.83, and seven of the 10 fastest • Second fastest American over 200m in 2009 (22.29) • Won fifth career U.S. title in 400m • Posted major wins at Nike Prefontaine Classic, Berlin (ISTAF), Oslo, Rome, Paris, Zurich, Brussels and World Athletics Final • Claimed a share of the IAAF Grand Prix million dollar bonus pool (3rd time in her career)
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Tyson Gay
years, won the first individual world outdoor championships gold medal of her career this past summer. Next to appear was three-time women’s World Outdoor 200m champion Allyson Felix, who introduced the men’s Jesse Owens Award winner, Tyson Gay, who last summer equaled or improved upon his American 100meter record a remarkable three times within a three-month time frame. In capturing the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Gay lowered his AR to 9.71 seconds before lowering it again to 9.69 seconds with his commanding win in Shanghai. In 2009, Gay posted the second, third and fourth-fastest 100m times in the world that season, and he is currently tied with Jamaica’s Usain Bolt for the second-fastest time ever recorded in the men’s 100. His 200m time of 19.58 from the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix ranks as the fifth-fastest in history. #
Jesse Owens Award Winner
TYSON’S STATS • Equaled or broke American record in 100m three times, including 9.71 and 9.69
• 9.69 is #2 performance of all-time, behind Usain Bolt’s WR 9.58 • Ran 4 of the top 5 times in the world in the 100m in 2009, all 9.79 or faster (9.69, 9.71, 9.77, 9.79) • Silver medalist at World Outdoor Championships, 100m • Ran PR 19.58 for 200m; #2 U.S. all-time behind AR 19.32 of Michael Johnson • Posted major 100m wins at Rome, Stockholm, World Athletics Final, Shanghai, Kawasaki and Daegu; 200m wins at Reebok GP in NYC and London
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GAY: ERROL ANDERSON/THE SPORTING IMAGE; AWARDS PHOTOS: USATF
USATF ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
2009 Hall of Famers Take Center Stage In Indianapolis The National Track & Field Hall of Fame welcomed five new members during the USATF Annual Meeting. B Y TOM SU R B E R he first of the Class of 2009 National Track & Field Hall of Fame inductees to be welcomed into the Hall was Dr. Ken Foreman, who founded and coached the Falcon Track Club, served three stints
Steele won an Olympic gold medal and was ranked as the world’s finest men’s long jumper on four occasions. A two-time USA Outdoor champion, Steele was the 1948 Olympic Trials champion, a two-time NCAA long jump champion, was considered the
world’s best long jumper in 1942 and 1946, and was world ranked #1 by Track & Field News in 1947 and 1948. He died on September 19, 1989. Randy Williams was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year for consideration in the Veteran
USATF
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as the head coach at Seattle Pacific University and was the head coach for a U.S. Olympic Team, World Outdoor Championships team and a U.S. World Cross Country Team. During his career as one of the world’s elite athletes, new Hall of Famer Willie
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ALL PHOTOS: USATF
USATF ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Athlete category. Williams was a two-time Olympic medalist in the long jump, and he won numerous national titles during his career including the USA Outdoor crown in 1973. He was USA Indoor champion in 1973, the NCAA Outdoor champion in 1972 and the NCAA Indoor champion in 1973. Williams was world ranked four times by Track & Field News, and was ranked #1 in the world following the 1972 season. Class of 2009 inductee Andre Phillips did his part in adding to the amazing legacy of U.S. men’s 400m hurdles greats by winning gold at the 1988 Olympic Games and ending his career with nine top ten
world rankings by Track & Field News. Phillips, who won the 1985 World Cup, the 1985 USA Outdoor title and was the 1981 NCAA 400m hurdles champion, was ranked #1 globally in 1985, 1986 and 1988. He was world ranked #3 in the 110m hurdles in 1985. During an amazing career that lasted nearly 25 years, Hall of Famer Joetta Clark Diggs was recognized for being one of the greatest and most consistent women’s 800m runners in U.S. history. A seven-time winner of the women’s 800 meters at the Millrose Games, Clark Diggs won numerous individual national championships and is a four-time Olympian. #
Opposite page: Dr. Ken Foreman; The family of Willie Steele. This page, left: Randy Williams. Above: Andre Phillips; Joetta Clark Diggs. Also pictured: Lewis Johnson, event emcee.
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Snow Problem —
Blake braves the elements to repeat victory B Y V IC K Y ODDI
winter wonderland greeted competitors at the 2009 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nevada. A winter storm that dumped about 17 inches of snow on the race course caused a one-hour delay but did nothing to dampen the spirits of over 2,300 cross country runners.
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Samuel Blake 1st place winner, Midget Boys
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Samuel Blake, the 2008 midget boys champion, toed the line looking to claim his second consecutive title. Blake, along with other young athletes ranging from 8- to 18-years old competed for boys’ and girls’ titles in five age divisions. The USATF Junior Olympic program is divided into the following age brackets: Bantam (10 and under) racing over 3 kilometers; Midget (11–12) racing 3 km; Youth (13–14) racing 4 km; Intermediate (15–16) racing 5 km; and Young Men/Women (17–18) racing 5 km. Blake (Los Gatos AA) claimed his second consecutive title, covering the 3 km course in 10:12. Runner-up Ryan Alexander of the Equalizers was 13 seconds back, finishing in 10:25. O’Brien’s Army team member Ammar Moussa (Arcadia, Calif.), who took fourth at the Nike Cross National Championships, won the Intermediate Boys competition in 15:54, finishing just ahead of teammate Luis Gutierrez who was the runner-up in 16:00. On the girls side, Team Idaho’s Emily Nist dominated
the competition, completing the course in 18:42. Runner-up Krista Menghini of the Blazers TC finished in 19:09. Additional girls’ winners included Lauren Gregory (Fort Collins Track Club) in the Bantam division, Christine Bayliss (Roseville PAL Express) in the Midget division, Natalie Rathjen (Dallas Metro Striders) in the Youth division and Michelle Hickerson (Team Idaho) in the Young Women’s division. Thirteen-year-old Rathjen, who was named USATF Athlete of the Week following her dominating 19-second win in the Youth Girls race, tried her hardest to prepare for the snow. “Since I am from Dallas, I had never run in the snow before. Running in snow was very hard, but I was prepared because I ran the course the day before the race.” This was also Rathjen’s first competition on such a large stage. “This year was my first time at the Junior Olympics or any other national level race. I ran a good race and knew that it would CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
JUNIOR OLYMPICS CROSS COUNTRY
RATHJEN, MOUSSA, BAYLISS & SAAREL: MARK COFFEY ALL OTHER PHOTOS: DENNY MEDLEY/RANDOM PHOTOGRAPHY
Division Winners
Lauren Gregory Bantam Girls
Natalie Rathjen Youth Girls
Ammar Moussa Intermediate Boys
EM Smith Bantam Boys
Ben Saarel Youth Boys
Michelle Hickerson Young Women
Christine Bayliss Midget Girls
Emily Nist Intermediate Girls
Raymond McCormack Young Men
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be tough in the last part of the race because of altitude, but I also knew that I needed to get out fast to separate from the pack and to avoid getting tripped or elbowed.” Other winners on the boys’ side included EM Smith (Rapides Jr Runners) in the Bantam division, Ben Saarel (Team Provo) in the Youth division and Raymond McCormack (Lanier) in the Young Men's division. The San Diego Road Runners captured national team titles in two divisions, winning national crowns in the Bantam Boys and Midget Girls divisions. The Equalizers also brought home two national titles, claiming the Bantam Girls and Youth Girls divisions. Other team champions included the So Cal Road Runners in the Midget Boys division, Pleasant Heat in the Youth Boys division, Team Idaho in the Intermediate Girls division, Magic Valley Runners in the Intermediate Boys division, Buffalo Chips Running in the Young Women’s division and Project 8 in the Young Men’s division. Athletes can hopefully look forward to less blizzard-like conditions next year, as the USATF National
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TOP: MARK COFFEY; BOTTOM: DENNY MEDLEY/RANDOM PHOTOGRAPHY
JUNIOR OLYMPICS CROSS COUNTRY
Jack Polerecky (Cornhusker Flyers) meets slippery conditions face to face.
Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships head to Hoover, Alabama on December 11, 2010.
For more information, including complete results and photos, visit www.usatf.org. #
2010 SPRING SHOE REVIEW ach new season brings with it the anticipation of improved design and new materials. The shoes that endured our weartesting Edesign process represent the best shoes for a variety of feet and runners. The influence of “Natural Motion” and a reexamination of and available materials can be seen in the changes that have been made in a number of the shoes. Many shoes in all categories have been lightened up and have lower profiles, though there are still a number of heavyweight shoes with heavy-duty motion stabilizing technologies, or multiple layers of plush cushioning. Such changes have further established some best practices that improve overall comfort. All brands have their own lasts and formulations of basic materials that allow them to address the majority of runners’ requirements for fit and feel. The number of offerings in the Neutral and Performance shoe categories continues to grow, while those in the Motion Stabilizing category, though smaller in number, are becoming more precisely tuned to give better support and a more efficient transition from heel to toe-off. While there are some new patents in both design and use of materials, a number of innovations have spread throughout the industry so rapidly that they have already become best practices, and the consumer is the ultimate beneficiary. Shoe companies use slightly different lasts (the foot-shaped forms on which shoes are made) and proprietary midsole formulas, and those result in a wide range of offerings on the market and improved chances that runners can find a shoe to match their fitness and biomechanics. It may take a bit of time to check out all the options, but you’ll know the right shoe for you when you try it. We offer this Review as a starting point.
Welcome to the Running Network’s 2010 Spring Shoe Review! arefoot running has been a hot topic of late: Should you run in shoes or do they hinder your natural movement? This discussion surfaces every decade or so, and in my 30+ years in the sport, I’ve developed my own take on this, which was corrorborated by Cregg Weinmann at last year’s Running Network meetings. All things being equal, a runner should run in the least amount of shoe they can, depending on their biomechanical needs. It’s true that some people can run barefoot or in minimalist shoes on long runs, etc., but others risk injury that way. I suggest what my college coach, Dan Durante, had me do: Take a varied approach. I ran on grass, dirt trails, roads and tracks. I ran on beaches barefoot or grass tracks once in a while. I ran in light shoes during fast sessions and had my favorite (heavier) training shoes for long runs and easy days. I also noted that the better shape I got in, the lighter the shoes I could successfully train in. Just remember that this is a personal decision about what
AWARD WINNERS
BEST SHOE Neutral
SP
RIN G 2010
BEST SHOE Performance SP
Scott Makani II Best Shoe—Performance
RIN G 2010
BEST SHOE Motion Stabilizing
SP
K-Swiss Keahou II Saucony ProGrid Triumph 7 Best Shoe—Neutral
Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 13 Best Shoe—Motion Stabilizing
RIN G 2010
BEST NEW SHOE SPRING 2010
BEST RENOVATION SPRING 2010
adidas adiStar Solution Best New Shoe
Brooks Glycerin 8 Best Renovation
works for you in your own set of circumstances. Find the right shoe or shoes for you, and add some variety to your training surfaces—you’ll have healthier feet for it! As always, thanks to Cregg Weinmann, our RN footwear reviewer, Kristen Cerer, our designer, Marg Sumner, our proofreader, and Christine Johnson, our RN project manager. We ask you to use the Running Network’s Shoe Review as the starting point in your journey to find your perfect running shoe. Go to your local running store (we track 683 of them at runningnetwork.com’s Store Locator) to finish the journey!
Larry Eder President, Running Network LLC
Reviewer: Cregg Weinmann Project Coordinator/Editor: Christine Johnson Designer: Kristen Cerer Proofreader: Marg Sumner, Red Ink Editorial Services Shoe Photography: Daniel Saldaña, Cregg Weinmann Advertising Sales: Running Network LLC, Larry Eder, President, 920.563.5551, ext. 112, larry.eder@gmail.com Publisher: Larry Eder, 608.239.3785 Website: www.runningnetwork.com For a Media Kit, please visit our website. This 2010 Spring Shoe Review is produced independently by Running Network LLC for its partner publications. All shoes reviewed were tested by experienced, competitive runners who were matched to the biomechanical purpose of each shoe model. Copyright © 2010 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of Running Network LLC. Running Network LLC and its partner publications suggest that, as with all fitness activities, you meet with a healthcare professional before beginning or changing your fitness regimen.
Running Network 2010 Spring Shoe Review
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American Track & Field www.american-trackandfield.com Athletes Only www.atf-athlete.com Athletics (Canada) www.otfa.ca Austin Fit www.austinfitmagazine.com California Track & Running News www.caltrack.com Club Running www.rrca.org/clubrunning Coaching Athletics Quarterly www.coachingathleticsq.com Colorado Runner www.coloradorunnermag.com Get Active! www.getactivemagazine.com Greater Long Island Running Club’s Footnotes www.glirc.org Latinos Corriendo www.latinoscorriendo.com Michigan Runner www.michiganrunner.net Missouri Runner & Triathlete www.morunandtri.com Running Journal & Racing South www.running.net RunMinnesota www.runmdra.org RunOhio www.runohio.com Track & Field News www.trackandfieldnews.com USATF’s Fast Forward www.usatf.org USATF–New England’s Exchange Zone www.usatfne.org The Winged Foot www.nyac.org The Winged M www.themac.com Youth Runner www.youthrunner.com
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USATF PHOTO SHOOT
Lights, Camera, Action!
Inside a USATF photo shoot B Y V IC K Y ODDI
he Saturday 6AM wakeup call is a bit jarring. Today, USATF and Nike are collecting a few World Champions, Olympic medal winners and USATF stars for a photo shoot, and I’m on the front lines. The phone rings early with requests from various folks… I’m scattered, rushed and excited. This is our first photo shoot featuring athletes, some of whom are models. We will work with Harold Lee Miller, a well-known Indianapolis based photographer. The athletes are in Indianapolis for the 2009 USATF Annual Meeting, and we thought it would be a great time to knock out a photo shoot featuring some new USATF fitness gear. Off to the Westin Hotel to meet Sanya Richards, David Oliver, Kerron
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Team USA ready for its close-up. From left: Hyleas Fountain, Kerron Clement, Sanya Richards, Michelle Carter and David Oliver
Clement, Hyleas Fountain and Michelle Carter. This is an amazing looking group of people with bodies forged from countless hours of hardcore training. Suddenly I realize the need to make—and stick with—a New Year’s resolution… hello 24 Hour Fitness! Harold’s studio is a wide open space that resembles a trendy yet comfortable New York City loft apartment. The frenzy begins: Ladies go straight into hair and make-up, clothes are flying off racks, and there’s lotion… lots of lotion. David Oliver swears up-and-down that the guys do not need to wear makeup, as they are already flawless (I’ll never tell). While getting ready, Michelle Carter starts singing Chamillionaire’s, I Look Good. They all look good, and good is an understatement. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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The shoot starts with everyone in the Beijing Team gear (USATF will soon be selling replica merchandise to the public). These shots are bold and intimidating. When you are the World’s #1 Team, being bold and intimidating is part of the package. Retail merchandise is next. Sanya loves the USATF/Nike Premium Full-Zip Hoody. Kerron and David can’t wait to take their shirts off for the shot with the Nike long sleeve tops. Seeing abs like washboards almost makes me drop on the spot and start doing sit-ups. Shooting wraps for the day at 2:00 p.m. with Hyleas flexing her muscles wearing the Dri-FIT armwarmers. It was a long, full day and, according to everyone’s twitter accounts, a great time was had by all. Perhaps a personal trainer is in my future. I think I will see if Hyleas is available. #
Sanya in the full-zip hoody
Are YOU fast enough? Kerron, David and Sanya
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ALL IMAGES: HAROLD LEE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY
USATF PHOTO SHOOT Bodies not included‌ Bring your own. Kerron and David
Vicky Oddi (2nd from right) and the entire photo shoot crew finish a long day with a group shot.
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Who Doesn’t Know Bruce Jenner? B Y TOM SU R B E R ndividuals of a certain age know Bruce Jenner as the decathlon gold medalist at the 1976 Olympic Games, while virtually everyone in the U.S. under 30 knows him as the harried father on a reality televisionshow about his real life family that makes the craziness of The Brady Bunch look serene by comparison. In between those two highly successful endeavors, Jenner has been
COURTESY: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
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Bruce Jenner tastes sweet victory at the 1976 Olympic Games.
a sportscaster, television and movie actor, infomercial host, entrepreneur, producer, author and motivational speaker, but none of those activities would have been possible without his phenomenal success in the world of track and field. A standout on the football, basketball and track teams at Newtown High School in Connecticut, Jenner discovered sports was his niche in life as he was dealing with the difficulties he experienced in the classroom due to his battles with dyslexia. Although school was a challenge for Jenner, his prowess on the football field led to a scholarship to Graceland College in Iowa. An injury his freshman year put him on the football sidelines for good, and eventually he left team sports behind to focus more on track and field because the individual aspect of the sport was more appealing. In 1970, he competed in his first decathlon, in which he won and set the school record. In 1972 he finished 10th at the Munich Olympics, and in 1975 he set the world decathlon record prior to entering the Olympic Games as the favorite to win the gold medal. In 1976, he improved on his world record in winning the Olympic Trials decathlon before capping off his career with another world record and gold medal winning performance at the Montreal Olympics with his total
of 8,634 points. Purposely leaving his vaulting poles in the Montreal Olympic Stadium, Jenner's physical baggage was much lighter but his mental satisfaction and his new moniker, “World’s Greatest Athlete” was a welcome weight. Jenner remains proud of his Olympic triumph and states unequivocally that there’s no test like the decathlon in measuring the quality of an athlete. “The question has been going on for years, is the Olympic decathlon champion the world’s greatest athlete, or was it Michael Jordan in his day, or whoever it may be,” said Jenner. “It’s a big argument and that’s great because it’s good for the sport, but the bottom line is this: If you look at the basics of athletics, it’s the ability to run, to jump and to throw. The decathlon is the only standardized test of your ability to run, jump and throw, and it’s standardized throughout history. I basically did the same event Jim Thorpe did, and it tests your ability to run a variety of ways with the 100, 400 and 1,500 meters and the hurdles, throw three different implements with the shot, discus and javelin, and jump three different ways with the high jump, pole vault and long jump, so I see why they give that title (“World’s Greatest Athlete”) away. But does it help me hit the golf ball? No.” While Jenner remembers fondly his success in the decathlon, he also
BOTH PHOTOS: USATF
USATF ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT
Top: Bruce Jenner with Chief of Sport Performance Benita Fitzgerald Mosely at USATF’s Annual Meeting. Bottom: Jenner with Joanna Hayes and Allyson Felix.
enjoys following the success of today’s U.S. stars, Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay and reigning world champion Trey Hardee, and he enjoys looking back at America’s dominance in the decathlon through the years. “It always amazes me that I believe there have been 22 of the modern Olympic Games with the decathlon and we’ve won 12 of them,” he said. “That’s over 50% of the time that our country has won it and to me that’s amazing because we really don’t have any programs to develop these athletes. I think because of the prestige of the event, what the event means and the rich history of the event dating all the way back to Jim Thorpe, that those special human beings seem to come out of the woodwork to train in isolation where nobody is watching, to train harder than anybody else in track and field, spend more time and energy in it to be able to stand on the same stage as the greats of the past. That was my motivation. It wasn’t for any other reason than to see if I had what it takes to stand on the same stage as a Bill Toomey, Rafer Johnson, Milt Campbell, Bob Mathias and Jim Thorpe.” Jenner is also excited about the future of the decathlon in the U.S., in particular he’s impressed with
national high school record holder Curtis Beach. “He’s got some amazing numbers,” said Jenner. “When he broke the American (high school) record with 7,900 points in high school, somebody sent me a videotape of his performance and I watched it and here’s this kid at 18 years old and he’s got some great marks! He’s my type of kid. I called his high school, and they gave me his number. I called him and we probably talked for two hours on the phone about the event and what he’s trying to do, and what I did and my philosophy. He’s a young kid that is so intense with what he’s trying to do and that is trying to follow in the footsteps of everybody else. It’s good to see young guys coming around who are that talented, so maybe we can keep this thing going.” The father of 10 children, Jenner currently stars on the E! Network hit reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians which takes viewers inside the lives of one of Hollywood’s
most popular and hectic families. While taping the show primarily in his house invades his privacy, Jenner is grateful for the opportunities the show provides. “I’m just glad the world can see what I’ve been going through all these years with all these women (laughter),” said Jenner. “It’s been a lot of fun. We’re very blessed to have a show on the air that’s successful. Is it an invasion on my privacy? Absolutely. But on the other hand, it’s a job and I get to work out of my house and I get to work with all of my kids, which is not a bad gig if you can get it. However, as soon as each season is over with, and it’s three, three and a half months of constant shooting, once it’s over with everybody in the family scatters. Everybody has had enough of each other, and we need a break (laughter).” Jenner, who delivered the keynote address at the 2009 USATF Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, is happy to be involved again with the sport he loves. “Where I come from it’s good old track and field,” said Jenner. “I played all sports in high school and I made my mark in track and field. I love the sport, and I love the people in it. I think what track and field has as its greatest asset is its champions of the past, and I think it’s really important to utilize the guys that have retired to promote the young guys coming up to help build the sport. I’ve waited for that to change and hopefully it’s getting better now.” With Jenner back on board promoting track and field in the U.S., hopefully it won’t be long until Team USA’s current stars are as well known as he is. # 27
Continued from page 21
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USATF FOUNDATION NEWS
USATF Foundation approves $385,000 in grants for 2010 THE USA TRACK & FIELD FOUNDATION approved $385,000 for grant funding in 2010 at its winter board meeting in San Diego, USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced. The total includes money available for youth grants, elite grants and special programs such as The Distance Project. “Despite the economic challenges we all face, the USATF Foundation is delighted to announce its commitment to another year of significant financial support for the sport of track and field,” Foundation Director Amory Rowe said. “As a result of our 2010 grant schedule, constituents ranging from the earliest beginners to the most elite veterans will receive the assistance they
need to continue to explore their passion and talent.” Interested parties may fill out the USATF Foundation grant application online at www.usatffoundation.org. The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track and field programs, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging athletes and anti-doping education. The Foundation each year awards more than half a million dollars in grants and other support. Its programs depend on donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field. # For more information or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org.
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USATF EVENTS CALENDAR FEBRUARY 27–28 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Albuquerque, NM ESPN2, Feb. 28 (live/tape) 7:00–9:00 pm
Go to: BestBuy.com
MARCH 6–7 USA Indoor Combined Events Championships Bloomington, IN MARCH 7 USA 50 km Championships Lloyd Harbor, NY MARCH 12–14, 2010 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships Doha, Qatar
MARCH 13 USA 15 km Championships Jacksonville, FL MARCH 26–28 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships Boston, MA
sennheiserusa.com/sports NOTE: Schedule is subject to change
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Sport for all ages, Game for all players WHETHER YOU’RE A KID winning every race on the playground, a parent participating in 5k charity runs, a volunteer coach in more sports than seasons, a busy executive doing wind sprints during the lunch break, or a masters athlete still breaking records, USATF’s Pick-N-Win Fantasy Track Game is for you! Starting its fifth season, USATF’s Pick-NWin Fantasy Track Game allows fans of all ages to select their own team of professional athletes they think will win each discipline contested in the Visa Championship Series. Challenge your friends, family, teammates, coworkers, or just other fans while celebrating a sport for all ages! And, if you’re as good as James Dunaway, Doug Cowles, Richard Ross, and Dennis Niebuhr, you might be a Grand Prize winner and receive a Visa Gift Card up to $2,000. Dozens of weekly winners and runner-ups have received Visa Gift Cards and USATF/Nike prize packages. Be sure to log onto www.visachampionshipseries.com to create your own team and play the #1 fantasy track game!
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