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Olympic Review, Winter 2012-2013
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Publisher’s Comments Do you like going to parties? I flew 5,000 miles, tux in hand, and went to an amazing party last fall. I flew to Barcelona, Spain to join the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the IAAF, the governing body of
track & field. The first day there I spent 12 hours interviewing some of the best athletes in the world. The big ones, at the end of the day, were Yohan Blake, Allyson Felix and Usain Bolt. That was fun. My best remembrance of the celebration? Well, that had to be the hurdlers’ get-together. Picture Aries Merritt, WR holder, Gold medalist; Colin Jackson, former WR, Silver medalist; Renaldo Nehemiah, former WR holder, HS record holder, former 49er football player; and Harrison Dillard, 1948 100m champion and 1952 110m hurdles champion, all in a room together. On September 15, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium, Aries Merritt set the WR, running 12.80 for the 110 meter hurdles. Colin Jackson, now a BBC TV commentator, and Renaldo Nehemiah, a sports agent, both noted that Aries would be the next guy to break his own record. At age 91, Harrison Dillard, I have to admit, was my favorite. Dressed in a dapper suit, Harrison was an elegant, thoughtful and fascinating man. Harrison won the 100 meters in the ‘48, not qualifying in the 110m hurdleshis best event. He had to wait 4 years, and came back in the 110m hurdles, to win that in 1952—a unique double in men's track & field! Barcelona is beautiful. I spent the last morning wandering the Olympic museum at the 1992 Olympic stadium. After enjoying my last walk and then a nice bowl of fish soup, I headed back to the States. I "enjoyed" the three flights back to Madison, Wisconsin and pondered how lucky I had been to meet some of my heroes. Watch for our next issue in April!
Larry
Publisher, Athletes Only runblogrun@gmail.com twitter: @runblogrun www.atf.athlete.com 608.239.3785
ON THE COVER: Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix
CONTENTS 4 • MINIMALIST SHOES Winter 2013
13 • OLYMPIC REVIEW 18 • ALL THAT HAPPENED IN 1:40:91 24 • ARIES MERRITT Run for your Life
26 • USAIN BOLT Fastest Man in the World
28 • WHAT A YEAR 30 • KARHU AIRSTREAM Winter 2013
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Athletes Only is produced, published and owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc., PO Box 67, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0067; 920.563.5551 phone; 920.563.7298 fax; Publisher assumes no liability for matter printed. Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for content of paid advertising and reserves the right to reject paid advertising. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Copyright © 2013 by Shooting Star Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Publisher. Athletes Only is not related to or endorsed by any other entity or corporation with a similar name and is solely owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc. Publisher recommends, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with your physician before instituting any changes in your fitness program.
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Minimalist Shoes Winter 2013 In this review, our third annual look at minimalist shoes, we examine this growing category and feature 7 new shoes and one updated model for you to consider. In deciding what a minimalist shoe is, we use the following ranges: a minimal heel-to-forefoot drop (5 millimeters or less); minimal support (can fold down the heel of the upper or pinch the sides of the heel together) and little sole structure (should be able to twist torsionally with little resistance); and light in weight (under 10 ounces for a men’s size 11). Shoes that satisfy at least two of these three characteristics we classify as minimal. Your use of minimalist shoes will be determined by your fitness and preferences, but all runners can benefit from the use of a minimal shoe for at least some of their running.
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The adiPure Adapt is the most minimal of the adidas adiPure line. The shoe’s elastic materials conform to the foot and flex as it moves. The upper is a stretchy, booty-like construction—almost like a sock—completely covered with rubbery overlays that provide a hint of structure without getting in the way. Though the midsole is the lowest in the adidas running line with a stack height of 15mm and a drop of 4mm, it is a bit more than one might expect from the very minimal nature of the shoe. Deep flex grooves and a forefoot-only outersole provide a flexible, responsive ride and a measure of protection without sacrificing the feedback desired in a minimalist shoe. “These ‘shoes’ have to be about as minimal as it gets. They hug my feet perfectly, and provide decent cushioning and protection, though I probably wouldn’t recommend them for everyday running.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 4mm Sizes Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight 5.3 oz. (men’s 11); 4.1 oz. (women’s 8)
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The Torin is a new shoe to the Altra line, a young brand that has taken solid root in the minimalist market. The brand’s aesthetics take a step forward with this model, now packaging its roomy toe-box and foot-friendly shape in a sleeker design. The upper is open mesh with welded overlays and saddle-like, ghilley lacing across the midfoot to securely wrap the foot for performance. The midsole has a generous 28mm stack height (15mm in the midsole), combined with the familiar Altra zero-drop geometry to provide the benefits of a minimal shoe with enough cushion to keep from being beaten up. The segmented carbon outersole allows good flexibility and traction without weighing things down. The result is a daily trainer with zero-drop geometry. “Really roomy in the toes; not too big or wide, just spacious. The ride is plush, but the foot is close to the ground, especially the heel.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 8–13,14,15; Women 5.5,6.5–11,12 Weight 9.6 oz. (men’s 11); 8.4 oz. (women’s 8)
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The Pure Drift is a new shoe in Brooks’ Pure Project line. The Drift splits the difference between the original Pure’s 4mm geometry and zero-drop by featuring an insole with a 4mm drop atop a fabric-covered Strobel board, so zero-drop can be had by simply removing the insole. The upper is open mesh with a few midfoot overlays and the familiar Navband to secure the midfoot while flexing with it. The midsole features flex grooves in a traditional placement (but deeper) and two “Toe Flex” grooves that allow the metatarsals freedom both laterally and longitudinally. The outersole is a zigzag ribbon of rubber from the big toe, under the metatarsals, and down the lateral side to the heel, which provides a little more durability. The Pure Drift earned honors as our Best Minimalist Shoe for Winter 2013. “Plenty of room for my toes to spread. Light as a racer with great flexibility, but still enough support to feel that it’s a shoe.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 7–13,14; Women 5–12 Weight 7.2 oz. (men’s 11); 6.1 oz. (women’s 8)
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• Olympic Review • atf-athlete.com
MINIMALIST WINTER 2013
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Introducing the Wave EVO Cursoris.
THE ONLY MID-FOOT SHOE WITH WAVE TECHNOLOGY. Experience a transfer of energy with every step for a smoother, more effortless ride. Start transforming your daily run into a mezamashii run with EVO.™ Join us at mizunorunning.com.
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Mizuno introduces its EVO line of two minimalist shoes with its characteristic twist. Though they’re similar— one aims at performance while the EVO Cursoris is a bit more plush—both have the same zero-drop geometry and lightweight approach. It’s light with a roomy forefoot and 12mm of foam underfoot. The upper is open airmesh in the forefoot (vamp) with smaller mesh on the heel (rear quarter). The midsole is Mizuno’s durable AP foam, which has a toughened skin in the areas where it’s exposed to the road. A visible insert under the metatarsals provides a slightly softer feel underfoot, and the overall shape encourages midfoot striking and a snappy toeoff. The Wave technology is provided by both shaping the forefoot insert and running the length of the midsole. For durability, the outersole is a sparse forefoot-only treatment of carbon rubber. “Different than any shoes I’ve worn: snug and sleek in the heel, stretchy and roomy in the toes. The sole is cushy, but flexible. I’ve really enjoyed running in them.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight 7.5 oz. (men’s 11); 5.5 oz. (women’s 8)
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The New Balance Minimus 10 Trail has its first update as a tested veteran and the approach taken in Round 1 continues here: pair 4mm geometry with a relatively low stack height, and use thin materials in the upper to keep the weight down. The upper is an open mesh similar to the previous edition, the revised forefoot strap has been slightly repositioned for comfort, and the tongue is now a traditional construction, although it’s partially anchored to allow the shoe to fit more foot shapes. The midsole is virtually the same as before: a thin layer of foam with a 4mm heel-to-toe drop that offers just enough protection to feel like a shoe, but also provides adequate feedback. The Vibram® outersole now features hexagon-like connections of rubber between the actual hexagon-shaped treads from Round 1 to offer better traction, durability, and protection. “Nice to see an updated shoe that doesn’t mess with what works. These are simple; fit great, plenty of toeroom, light and flexible, and nice and low to the ground.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 4mm Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight 7.1 oz. (men’s 11); 6.0 oz. (women’s 8)
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The Maliko is named after a bay on the island of Maui and this shoe’s suitability in both wet and dry situations is just the beginning of that inspiration. Another notable feature of the Maliko is its split toe construction (the big toe is separated from its brethren), which increases the power and agility of your stride by providing better balance. The upper is a tough, closed mesh with welded supports, a wrapped arch, and swept heel cup of thin TPU with drainage ports under the arch in case you’re running through water. Monosock construction hugs the foot, while thin laces and a quick-snugging lace-lock complete the fit. There’s no midsole to speak of—the EVA Strobel board and removable EVA arch pad in the heel handle those duties—allowing a zero-drop or very mild ramp angle options. The outersole is durable carbon rubber, effectively textured to grip in wet conditions. “Once you get past the look of the split toe, you realize these are comfortable performance running shoes. The design is awesome, light and flexible with good traction and nothing extra added.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 7–12,13; Women 5,6–10,11 Weight 7.3 oz. (men’s 11); 6.2 oz. (women’s 8)
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The Virrata derives its name from the Finnish verb “to flow,” an apt description of the performance of this light and flexible shoe. The upper is a micromesh with well-placed, welded overlays to secure the foot. Though thin, it doesn’t feel skimpy, but rather racer-like light. The midsole is the same rubbery compound used in both the Kinvara and the Mirage, providing a resilient and responsive ride, with deep flex grooves making for an ultra-flexible sole. The majority of the outersole is toughened EVA with some carbon rubber on the highest-wear areas, particularly at the extremes of heel and toe, to improve traction at touch-down and toe-off. The Virrata brings cushioning, flexibility, and zero-drop geometry to everyday running. “Really cushioned, but responsive, and light—nice and light. The zero drop isn’t really noticeable like some I’ve tried. These are more like a racer or lightweight training shoe.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight 6.9 oz. (men’s 11); 6.2 oz. (women’s 8)
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The GoBionic joins the GoRunRide in Skechers’ growing minimal running shoe line. The GoBionic fine tunes some features, while employing the best of what works in the Ride. The soft and breathable synthetic upper is suitable for sockless wear. Supportive, sueded overlays give a little structure to the well-ventilated mesh. The midsole features zero-drop geometry, but with a comfortable 16mm stack height and a flexible design that allows the foot to flex as it needs to. The entire outersole is segmented into numerous pods of toughened EVA and carbon rubber in the high-wear portions at heel, toe, and select spots between. The result is a flexible and protective shoe that fits well without breaking the bank. “Really flexible with a nice bounce. They are light and feel great on your bare feet. They are a little thin under the heel.” Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 6.5–12,13,14; Women 5–10,11 Weight 6.2 oz. (men’s 11); 5.3 oz. (women’s 8) CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for Running Network LLC. He can be reached via email at shuz2run@lightspeed.net. Copyright © 2013 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.
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Š2013 Brooks Sports, Inc.
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Starting Blocks Next to the London Olympics, perhaps America’s biggest track and field news story of 2012 comes from Iowa. The 104-year-old Drake Relays, long a major feature of the early outdoor track season, has signed a new major sponsor, HyVee supermarkets. According to a spokesperson, Hy-Vee has made a 5-year commitment, which for 2013 involves approximately $500,000 for prize money in track and field events, plus a 90-minute ESPN telecast, $120,000 in road race prize money, and other activities. The meet, which shares the last weekend of April with the Penn Relays, has signed an impressive lineup of elite athletes, including 16 London medalists so far and more expected. The new presenting sponsor, Hy-Vee, is an employee-owned, eight-state grocery chain headquartered in West Des Moines, with 235 stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Its 60,000 employees and more than $17 billion in annual sales make it one of the 50 largest privately owned companies in the United States. Perhaps the most significant feature of this year’s Hy-Vee Relays sponsorship is a series of “London Games Rematch” events that will pit 2012 Olympic gold medalists against the finalists they defeated in London. They will compete for prize money of $50,000 for each Rematch track event ($25,000, $15,000 and $10,000) and $25,000 ($12,000,
by Dick Patrick of USA TrackNews
$8,000 and $5,000) for each Rematch field event, with as many as 10 events possibly involved (compared with the Olympic Trials payouts of $4,000 for each winner and a total of $12,000 per event). One top Rematch race will be the men’s 110 meter hurdles, with gold medalist and world record holder Aries Merritt, silver medalist Jerome Richardson and Jamaica’s bronze medalist Hansle Parchment—all confirmed entrants—plus five other top hurdlers, all eligible to win the money if they finish in the top three on Drake’s fast blue track. The full list of Rematch events has not been announced, but among other confirmed London gold medalists are pole vaulters Jenn Suhr and Renaud Lavillenie, long jumper Brittney Reese, and men’s 400 hurdler Felix Sanchez. And probably many other stars and their agents will be calling meet director Brian Brown to ask if there’s an open lane. In fact, says Brown, “that’s already happening, and it’s very refreshing.” The 90-minute, tape-delayed telecast is scheduled for Saturday evening prime time, April 27, 8–9:30 p.m. Eastern, 7–8:30 Central, etc., on ESPN2. Hy-Vee has long used sports as an advertising and promotional tool in its eightstate marketing area. The company’s current activities include sponsorship of both of Kansas City’s major league teams, the Royals in baseball and the Chiefs in football, the
annual Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines, which features the world’s highest prize money, and “Iron Kids” triathlons in more than a dozen Midwestern markets, to name a few. “It’ll elevate everything we do in terms of the types of elite athletes we draw,” Brown said. “So far the commitments we’ve already garnered suggest the elite stars will come and compete for what we’re offering.” Brown added, “To have a local company as strong as Hy-Vee take an interest in this community event is win-win for them and win-win for us. We’re really proud of the partnership.” The Relays sponsorship reportedly grew out of an ongoing relationship between Drake and Hy-Vee. For example, Hy-Vee donated $300,000 last spring for a student learning commons and the company has already sponsored some of the road races that are a part of the Relays. USATF, which has worked for several years with the Penn Relays to produce the USA vs. the World relay series, sees the sponsorship as a plus. “It’s great news for the sport,” said spokesperson Jill Geer. “We need more companies devoting resources and overall support to advance and elevate the sport and our athletes. Drake and Penn have long coexisted, and both meets will continue to thrive and grow.”
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Yes, Virginia, There Really ARE Student-Athletes—I Stanford’s Miles Unterreiner personified the term student-athlete in November when he competed in the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Louisville and interviewed for a Rhodes Scholarship 2,000 miles away in Seattle on the same day. Not that it was easy, competitively or logistically. Thanks to an anonymous Stanford
benefactor and an OK from the NCAA, Unterreiner was able to pull it off. The fifth-year senior, completing a Master’s degree in History this fall, attended a Rhodes function and preliminary interviews in Seattle on Friday, then took a private plane to the meet in Louisville. After the race Saturday, he took the private plane back to Seattle for the final interview.
Had he not been able to attempt the double feat, he would have attended the meet only and applied for a Rhodes Scholarship next year. “My team and my teammates have given me so much over the last 4 years that it’s really tough for me to let them down at this really important point in the season by not being there,” Unterreiner told the San Jose Mercury News. “There’s no way I can’t go to the national meet.” Unfortunately, the story doesn’t have the happy ending it deserved. Unterreiner finished 140th in the meet, as Stanford, tied for #2 in the pre-meet team rankings, finished 16th. And he was not selected for that Rhodes Scholarship. But he did have his shot—so give the NCAA, often an easy target for criticism—credit for allowing a real student-athlete to test himself at the highest levels of both his pursuits. Track and field athletes, however, were not shut out for the prestigious academic honor to study a year or two at Oxford University. Dakota McCoy (javelin, hurdles) of Yale and Katie Whitcombe (sprints, hurdles) of Navy both qualified for Rhodes Scholarships.
Yes, Virginia—II. The typical collegiate cross country runner—single and in the teens or early 20s— could probably learn something from DIII women’s champion, Wisconsin–Oshkosh’s Christy Cazzola, 27, a mother of two. An outstanding high school runner who won Wisconsin state titles at 800 and cross country, Cazzola decided not to attend college after graduation and instead went to work. After jobs that included working in a bakery and after she had her first child, she decided to attend college to earn a degree in nursing and increase her income potential. Now a senior, Cazzola, a four-time DIII track champion, won her first cross country title this fall. The experiences of working and being a mother give her a perspective most college athletes lack. “Being in college, after all I’ve been through, it’s much easier for me,” she told Running Times magazine. “When I hear college kids complaining about their professors, I’m thinking, ‘Hey, you’ve got it pretty good.’ I’m able to stay focused and I know what my goals are. If I hadn’t done things the way I did and had gone straight to college, I’d be much more distracted. I really think everyone should take a couple of years off before going to college.” 10
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Bell Lap Hurdler Lolo Jones and sprinter/long jumper Tianna Madison may be headed for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Both made two-person women’s sleds for the U.S. bobsled team that is competing in Europe. “Lolo and Tianna accepted the challenge to compete for a spot on the team, and they did an incredible job,� said USA bobsled coach Todd
Hayes, who recruited the track athletes to try out. “They are just tenacious competitors that want to win at everything they do. It wouldn’t matter if it was ping pong, checkers or bobsled, they still want to be the best.� Both plan to continue their track careers. Jones was 4th in London in the 100 hurdles; Madison was part of the winning 4x100 team.
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Adam Nelson, twice a silver medalist in the shot put at the Olympics, may get a gold after all. Nelson could be upgraded to 1st place at the 2004 Games after the International Olympic Committee retroactively tested samples from Athens and found four positives. One of the positive tests came from Ukraine’s Yuri Bilonog. In the Athens Games, where the shot put was held at the ancient Olympic stadium, Nelson and Bilonog tied for 1st. The tiebreaker is the next best throw; Nelson fouled on his five other attempts. As we go to press, the IOC has not yet ruled if Nelson will have his medal upgraded, but he feels that what the IOC has done in showing it will continue to pursue dopers even after 8 years is victory enough for him. “If the medal comes,� he adds, “that’ll be icing on the cake.�
Adam Nelson
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By ELLIOTT DENMAN New York, New York was blown out of the water in its bid, seven years ago, to stage the Games of the XXX Olympiad. “Good try, Gotham, well and done, but not really what we were looking for,” the NYC delegation, in effect, was told. It boiled down to a Paris–London race. Any few votes here—or there—could swing it one direction or other. London got those votes and became the International Olympic Committee’s choice. And now that London’s Games have safely been placed away in the history books, we can say we are mighty darn glad, too, that the 2005 vote went the way it did. Might New York’ New York, have done as well as London? Call that a definite very-very-very long stretch. Might Paris have done as well as London? Just might, but again, a big stretch. Continued on page 14
Women’s 4x100m relay (T. Madison, A. Felix, B. Knight, C. Jeter) 40.82 WR
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Women’s 4x400m relay (D. Trotter, A. Felix, F. McCorory, S. Richards-Ross) 3:16.87
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In 16 incredible days, London got on with it magnificently. It deserves the praise of the universe for the job it did. Everything Lord Sebastian Coe, the visionary and architect behind it all, said at the Closing Ceremonies was right on the money. “Today sees the end of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city,” he told the 80,000 in the Olympic Stadium seats and a likely worldwide television audience of over a billion. He continued. For the third time in its history, London
Jenn Suhr WPV, 4.75/15-7 Alyson Felix W400, 49.55 Aries Merritt M110H, 12.92 Brittney Reese WLJ, 7.12m/23-4 Sanya Richardson-Ross W200, 21.88 Ashton Eaton MDEC, 8,869
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Christian Taylor MTJ, 17.81m/58-5.25
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was granted the trust of the Olympic movement and once again we have shown ourselves worthy of that trust. “Thank you to the people who built the stadiums, the people who created a new neighborhood [in East London] in an old city, the people who stood guard to keep up us safe. “Thank you to the tens of thousands of volunteers who gave their time, their boundless enthusiasm, and their goodwill, and who have the right to say “I made London 2012” And thank you to the people of this country. The British people got behind London’s bid and they got behind London’s Games London 2012 has played host to some incredible sport, to awe-inspiring feats that are the synthesis of Incredible determination and skill by the world’s greatest sports men and women. To all the Olympians who came to London to compete. Thank you. On the first day of these Games, I said we were determined to do it right. I said these Games would see the best of us. On this last day, I can finish with these words: When our time came, Britain—we did it right. Continued on page 19
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ALL THAT HAPPENED IN 1:40:91 By JUSTIN LAGAT the Masai children and signify to the world the potential of a Masai child when he or she gets the chance to pursue their dream. Alchemy Viral, actress Amanda Holden and the CEO of Prudential are some of the people who have recently joined this undertaking. Third, Rudisha is now a role model and will influence and shape the character and determination of many young people. In 2010 I spoke with Rushida's coach, Brother Colm O’Connel, and he told me the secret behind Rushida's success, besides his natural talent and unique running technique. It all lies in his discipline. Rudisha is focused on what he wants to achieve, he is fully committed in his training and he is willing to sacrifice many pleasures to make sure that his training is his first priority. Fourth, the Irish priest who has helped mold and train a number of Kenya’s Olympic Gold medalists and world record holders, including Peter Rono and Wilson Kipketer, prefers to keep a low profile, but he has again been brought into the spotlight by Rudisha’s performance. Since 1976 Brother Colm has been training young Kenyan athletes at St. Patrick’s High School in Iten. He must be one of the most experienced coaches in the world and is worthy of special recognition. Fifth, from the money Rushida will earn from brand endorsements, contracts from clothing manufacturers, and appearance money in races, his financial status will change for the better. Sixth, Rudisha is now irrevocably a legend. With his status, he will be able to have a say in affairs to do with international running. He will be a guest of honor at various functions, regardless of their relationship to running. He now stands a better chance of holding one of the biggest offices in the IAAF upon retiring from competitive running. His life is changed forever, and doors are open for him everywhere. What I have written might just be the tip of the iceberg of all that really happened within 1 minute, 40 seconds and 91 microseconds! I’m sure this performance means a lot more than any one of us can imagine.
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80,000 spectators at the London Olympic Stadium and millions of others watching TV screens at various places across the world witnessed the spectacular 800m event. The start gun went off. Seeming to take advantage of his long strides, David Rudisha immediately stepped ahead of his competitors and effortlessly continued to open a gap crossing the first lap in 49 seconds. Within 1 minute and 40 seconds, it was over! An Olympic Gold medal had been won, and a world record smashed. The significance of what just happened, to me, appeared to have all happened much too quickly. Like everyone else, I agree that it was as a result of hard training and progressive runs of many years. But, for now I am only concerned with what this victory meant for Rudisha, Kenya, his community and his coach, among others. First, Rudisha’s performance brought glory to his nation and saved it from what would have been a worse scenario at the Olympics. Apart from the men’s 3000m steeple chase, the results of the other events where Kenyans had a lot of hopes to win Gold medals had been below their expectations. These included the women’s marathon, the men’s and women’s 10,000m, women’s 3000m steeple chase and the most disappointing of them all, the men’s 1500m. Rudisha’s performance brought back some morale to the Kenyan team and helped put Kenya’s name where it rightfully belongs as far as the middle distance running is concerned. Second, Rudisha’s performance put his Masai community on the world map, which may bring investors and organizations that will improve the livelihoods of the populace there. A charity organization based in the UK, www.etceducation.org, being supported by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite Organization, is seeking to have Rudisha become one of their ambassadors to promote their initiative to provide free education, sponsoring more teachers and building more teaching facilities for the marginalized children in the community that around the Masai Mara. This organization has been working in the area for some years now and feels that Rudisha’s image will inspire
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Continued from page 15
The London Games will likely be called the best ever, Certainly long miles better than the last Summer Games the U.S. hosted—Atlanta 1996. Probably a tad better than the second Games Down Under—Sydney 2000. But just a tad. An improvement in so many ways over Athens 2004. Outspent by far – but certainly not out outdone— by Beijing 2008. Athletics—track and field—was, of course, just one of 31 Olympic sports, and that number depends on how you do the counting. And consider all the glories in athletics that London 2012 gave us: Most memorable on the men’s Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake dominating the dashes, but having to run for their lives to beat the U.S. in the greatest 4x100 relay race the world has ever seen. Young Kirani James, taking the 400, in a strange American-less 400. David Rudisha Continued on page 21
Men’s 4x100m relay (T. Kimmons, J. Gatlin, T. Gay, R. Bailey) 37.04 AR
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Men’s 4x400m relay (B. Nellum, J. Mance, T. McQuay, A. Taylor) 2:57.05
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Brigetta Barrett WHJ, 2.03m/6-8 Leo Manzano M1500, 3:34.79 Michael Tinsley M400H, 47.91 Carmelita Jeter W100, 10.78
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Lashinda Demus W400H, 52.77
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leading home the pack in the greatest 800 meter race ever run. Mo Farah sweeping the 5 & 10, the latter as slow as molasses but nevertheless enthralling. Aries Merritt and Felix Sanchez outhurdling the world. Four one-time-or-another U.S. collegians racing off with the 4x400—and beating the U.S. Christian Taylor, tripling the pleasure in the TJ. Will Claye double-medaling the LJ and TJ. Keehorn Walcott—of Trinidad, and Tobago, too—spearing javelin Gold. Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee doing the old decathlon 1—2 Ding Chen finally walking China to its first 20K Gold; 50Ker Sergey Kidyapkin of Russia winning the Games’ longest, toughest footrace. Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda joining Johnny Hayes (USA) and Delfo Cabrera (Argentina) as London’s Olympic marathon champions.
Trey Hardee MDEC, 8,671 Dawn Harper W100H, 12.37 Erik Kynard MHJ, 2.33m/7-7.75 Galen Rupp M10000m, 27:30.90 Will Claye MTJ, 17.62m/57-9.75 Jason Richardson M110H, 13.04
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Justin Gatlin M100, 9.79 DeeDee Trotter W400, 49.72 Kellie Wells W100H, 12.48
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Reese Hoffa MSP, 21.33m/69-8
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Marvels on the women’s side Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the double double-barreled 100 titlist. Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross, first with individual Golds, then more-so magnificent, baton in hand. Awesome Aussie hurdler Sally Pearson. Jenn Suhr, vaulting off the injury list and up-up-over the PV heights. Brittney Reese, longing for an LJ win and getting it. Just-20 Elena Lashmanova baby-facing to 20K Gold. And Jessica Ennis, hepping all British spirits and jump-starting an array of GB success. All these— and so many more—“did it right.” May the spirit of all of them, as the good Lord Coe put it, “inspire a generation.”
Will Claye MLJ, 8.12m/26-7.75 Carmwlita Jeter W200, 22.14 Janay DeLoach WLJ, 6.89/22-7.25
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The 110 meter hurdles is an event that has absorbed the attention of some of the greatest athletes in our sport. Renaldo Nehemiah, Greg Foster, Rod Milburn, Guy Drut, Dayron Robles, Allen Johnson, Liu Xiang, Colin Jackson, and now Aries Merritt have given the event their very best.
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Aries Merritt, WR, 110m hurdles: The Athletes Only Interview, by Larry Eder The 110 meters is about the competition. Jason Richardson, the 2011 world champion, and Aries Merritt, the 2012 Olympic champion and now World record holder, have not avoided each other in competition. They race each other on a sometimes weekly basis. This type of competition brings out the best in athletes. One final comment: Aries Merritt did not just break the world record, he just destroyed it. One keen observer doubted if we will see the record broken in the next decade. Jason Richardson, the second-fastest 110m hurdler in 2012 and the Olympic Silver medalist, during an interview last weekend in Newcastle, England, noted the following: "I enjoy racing against Aries Merritt. He is now the world record holder, and I wanted to congratulate him on his fantastic season and world record." Thanks to Aries Merritt for taking some time out of the celebration of his 12.80 new World record to answer our questions. What a way to end the 2012 track & field season!
Run for your life AO, #1: You now have the WR and an Olympic Gold medal. How does that feel? Aries Merritt: Feels satisfying because I have accomplished everything I ever wanted to in my life in track. AO, #2: Tell us about the Olympic Trials, where you just flew through the rounds. Aries Merritt: Olympic Trials was nerve wracking. More so than the Games or Brussels. If you make one mistake, you don't make the team, and the 4-year wait begins. Hardest team to make for sure is Team USA, so you need to be ready. AO, #3: You raced well before the Olympics. Could you tell a fast time was coming? Aries Merritt: I knew eventually a fast time [would be] coming, I just didn't know when. After the Games ... I first thought it would happen in Lausanne {Switzerland], but that was a good lesson. Don't chase records. Execute well and fast races will happen. AO, #4: What do you remember about the Olympic final? Aries Merritt: I remember being calm and waiting on the gun. Once it fired I remember halfway through the race, Dayron yelled, and at that moment I thought, "Run for your life!� AO, #5: After London, it was your goal to run fast, how did those races feel? Aries Merritt: It was my goal to break the world record, given the conditions supported it. I wasn't tapped out at 12.92 and I knew that deep down. AO #6: You had one race where you false started. How did you refocus your energy after that race? Aries Merritt: Things like this happen in track and field. You have to immediately move on and not dwell in the past or it will affect later performances. I was disappointed, but put it behind me by the next day. AO, #7: Did you feel that you were ready to run this fast? Aries Merritt: I was ready to run extremely fast, but 12.80 never entered my mind.
AO, #8: Tell us about the WR race race today. Aries Merritt: It was a very solid racce. Good start, good clearance over the top of the hurdle, good speed in between, and a good run in off the last hurdle. I just managed to put an entire race together. AO, #9: You realize that your breaking the world record was the largest margin since Renaldo Nehemiah went 12.93 in 1981? Any thoughts on that? Aries Merritt: That's a really nice stat that I didn't know. Renaldo was a legend, and to be mentioned in the same sentence means I'm doing something right. A few decades after I retire, I hope I can be someone that future hurdlers are compared to. AO, #10: How did you get started hurdling? Aries Merritt: Jumping a fence in high school because of a dare. AO, #11: What is it about the 110 hurdles that attracted you to the event? Aries Merritt: The fact that you need speed and agility as well as flexiblity and grace to be successful. The finished product is a work of art. AO, #12: You have now run 12.80. Can you run faster? Aries Merritt: I think I can run faster given conditions and better overall execution. I guess I've never put limits on myself, so I'm not about to start now. Honestly though, I need to sit down with my coach and rethink what is possible going forward. AO, #13 Congratulations once again on such a fantastic season! Can you give us the name of your coach and where you train? Aries Merritt: Andreas Behm is my coach, and Texas A&M University is where I train. Special thanks to Aries Merritt, and to Rich Kenah/Global Athletics & Marketed for putting the interview together.
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By ELLIOTT DENMAN
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LONDON – Usain Bolt, alias Superman: face it, you’re slowing up. It’s perfectly clear—clear that life in your sport’s fastest lane is taking its toll. Hate to say this, Supe, Mr. B, but you’re not what you used to be.
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Sunday night, for instance. On the Olympic Stadium track called “definitely one of the fastest I’ve ever run on,” by virtually every athlete on the premises, the best 100 meters that you, the Jamaican jet, could manage to give us was 9.63 seconds. Oh, you “Bolt from the Blue,” you did eclipse your own Olympic record set in Beijing four years ago, that 9.69. But you couldn’t even approach your own world record, the 9.58 you delivered at the 2009 Berlin World Championships. Usain, you bird, you plane, you Superman of Sprinting, you man of skyhigh expectations, your 9.63 was just not good enough. Wonder was that you weren’t even booed.
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Superman, you admitted to a case of prerace jitters. But you did not have to duck into a telephone booth—yes there are a few of them left in this enlightened land—to regain your poise. The happy sight of 80,000 checking every one of your moves calmed your nerves. Likely, those jitters were a year in the making. That infamous false start/DQ thing at Daegu in 2011 can do that, even to Superman. You slipped somewhat in your blocks Sunday night, but your start wasn’t the worst in the seven-man–one-Superman field, either. Netherlands’ Churandy Martina was quickest to react—but still wound up 6th in 9.94. Next quickest was USA’s Tyson Gay—who used it to place 4th in 9.80. With all the final placings sorted out, the homage-dispensers lined up, “Usain Bolt, he’s the fastest man in the world,” conceded fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake (running a PR-equaling 9.75). “To be the second fastest man behind Bolt is an honor.” “Watching Usain Bolt, what he has done, he gives me my own inspiration to be a better runner,” said USA’s Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, 3rd in his best-ever 9.79. “I’m just glad to have this moment, to be back on the podium once again, after eight years.” Yes indeed, back on the podium after four years in (still-argued) drug-suspension exile. “I have no excuses, I gave my all,” said Gay, 4th in 9.80. “Everyone came together and made me the best I can be.” So that left only Superman as the only one in eight not the best he can be. “The crowd, it was wonderful,” you said. “I knew it was going to be like this.” Nevertheless, restiveness ruled. Superman hadn’t broken the world record, hadn’t come close, hadn’t been close since 2009. Fans of the world, their glass was officially half-empty. Mr. B, your 9.58 world record is all of three years old and aging before our very eyes. Pass the Kryptonite, please, to this gentleman. We saw it all Sunday night.
Superman’s in trouble.
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Mr. B, Supe, it’s simple as this, you need to give us something never before seen or done, every time out. It goes with your other-worldly territory. We, the track fans of the universe, are a greedy bunch. We pay very big bucks/pounds/Euros to see you do all this. We can no longer be happy with your pedestrian performances. We expect world records from you every time out. Not just routine records, a nibble of a 100th here, a nibble of another 100th there. We've come to expect you to give us new records set by huge globs of time. You took us from the 9.7s era to the 9.6s, to the 9.58 in Berlin. Well and good, but that’s history, that’s old stuff. What have you done for us lately? This is the early phase of the eighth month of the year 2012. We ask, we demand, that you take us on some really wild rides, in the very immediate future. 100-meters-wise, isn’t it time you brought us into the 9.4s, the 9.3s, the 9.2s? We ask you, a man who lives by the clock, why the heck all this hesitation? 200-meters-wise, starting tomorrow and into Wednesday, we demand you take us into the 18s. You have already revolutionized our sport, turned it upside down and inside out. You’ve also put our whole sport back on the map. You’ve actually given all of track and field/alias athletics the “name athlete” it needs to regain its mainstream status, the status needed to challenge all theballgames (base, foot, basket) that totally hog up available space and airtime. Nevertheless, you, Mr. B, you Superman, you are overdue. We pay heavy poundage here in London to see you do your multiple things. We listen to your banter. We check out your famous prerace and postrace rituals, your strange gesticulations, your skyward glances, your hair combings, your trademark “lightning bolt” maneuverings. Mostly, we love all this stuff you do. It’s only the fuddy-duddies who don’t. Even your rivals, foreign and domestic, appreciate it all—obviously on the old “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” theory. You’ve just won the heavyweight championship of footracing, and the men you left in your slipstream were last seen genuflecting in your direction.
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WHAT A YEAR! 2012 should have been a great year for track-and-field, and it was. The first few months were quiet enough, but in late June the Olympic Trials exploded with a bang. The biggest bang of all was Ashton Eaton’s rainy, windy world decathlon record of 9,039 points. You say you can’t do anything about the weather in Eugene? Well, Eaton did. Then came London. Fine weather, enormous, enthusiastic crowds, and terrific competition. You have to award the gold of golds to David Rudisha’s 1:40.93, a gun-to-tape “catch-me-if-youcan” effort that produced the Games’ only men’s world record. Another great front-runner was Britain’s Jessica Ennis, who led off her heptathlon victory with a 12.54 100m hurdles PR and never looked back as she took the gold medal with 6,955 points. That was on Britain’s “Golden Day,” with victories as well from Greg Rutherford in the long jump and Mo Farah, who won the first of his two gold medals by outsprinting his training partner, American Galen Rupp, in the 10,000. Americans surprised me with a number of gutty performances that rang up a total of 29 medals (I had predicted 23). And two of our best women sprinters won long-awaited individual gold medals: Allyson Felix in the 200 (21.88), and Sanya Richards-Ross in the 400 (49.55). In fact, there were exciting peformances in almost every event, from Usain Bolt’s 9.63/19.32 repeats in the 100/200 to Yelena Lashmonova’s world record 1:25:02 in the 20km walk. How good was 2012? When Track and Field News held its vote for the year’s best men’s performance, I answered, “There is no way I can separate (Aries) Merritt’s 12.80, Rudisha’s 1:40.91 and Eaton’s 9039 and rank them in any order.” Finally, in that most treacherous and unrewarding of jobs, as head of the host Olympic Organizing Committee, Sebastian Coe grew, right before our eyes, from the most persuasive of advocates to an amazingly effective executive who put on the most successful Games since Tokyo, and made it look easy. What will the world give him to do next? Okay, 2013. Top that if you can.
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— James Dunaway
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The Karhu Airstream: For Love of a Trailer
Karhu
by Jon Gugala
The Karhu Airsteam tour honors the U.S. tour of Finnish athletes in the spring of 1975 to compete in a series of track meets promoted by the late Steve Prefontaine. I remember Karhu because it was the brand that San Jose City College track athletes wore in 1977. Orange, with the Karhu logo, and fast. They were fun. The Airstream is the Mercedes of travel trailers. Jon Gugala, one of our fearless writers, will be joining the Karhu Tour for the week of October 22-29. Here is his first colum. Please follow him, it should be pretty humorous! And if you are in the area, visit the Karhu Airstream. It will be unforgettable.
Love and Trailers by Jon Gugala
I fell in love with a trailer in a parking lot. It was outside of the Boston Marathon expo in April [2012]. There, surrounded by parked cars, was a vintage Airstream trailer. And a dancing bear. So I went over, and I got in the trailer ("An Airstream," the Karhu CEO said. "A trailer is something that gets hit by a tornado."). There was the legacy of Karhu: the great Finnish runners of the early '70s, on a road trip across America after an invitation to Eugene, OR by none other than American distance legend Steve Prefontaine. And that was what I fell in love with, just like every young man and woman coming up in the sport—not the activity—of running: Pre, mustached, living in a trailer, training for the 1976 Olympic Games, and dreaming. We fell in love with a time that we've never known, and we're probably all fools idealizing halcyon days that may have never been.
down. It's about the run itself, the purity you can't buy, and others can't sell. In that trailer, or Airstream or whatever, Karhu has sent two guys, one Finnish and one American, on an epic 4,000mile road trip. They left mid-September from Chicago with that idea, mimicking the same roadtrip of the elder Finns. And that trip's idea, planted in me in Boston, has germinated, and it's taken root.
And now, here it comes. For a week, from October 22 to October 29, I'll be joining the Karhu crew on their three-month road trip, where I'll witness the country in all of its Kerouacian zooming. From Austin to Oklahoma, I'll see running shops and races; I'll see a lot of open road and hopefully the part of running that I imagined when I fell in love with Prefontaine and the first Running Boom. And yes, somewhere in there, I'll probably end up running in a bear suit. You should follow along. I'll be posting a near-daily blog here (blog.karhu.com/category/view-all/usa/), with photos and videos and words and dancing bears, the whole beautiful mess pressed and folded. So come along. Get your "sisu" up (nope, that does not mean what you think). Find a little of what was lost, but still lives on in a vintage Airstream and three guys with beatup running shoes in the back.
It's that dream that we—runners competitive either in our local 5K or Rio 2016—believe in. And love. And it's not about buying GPS watches and gobs of designer energy gels. It's about the pack of runners on a Sunday at dawn, the guys or gals to your left and right. It's about the "easy 5" you put in after work as the sun's going 30
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Karhu
But that doesn't kill the dream.
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2012. THE YEAR OF NEW PERSONAL BESTS. THE RE-ENGINEERED GT SERIES.
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