2001 July Issue

Two World Records -- Dragila: 15-3 & 15-5

Pocatello, Idaho, April 27--Tired of traveling early in the spring, vault queen Stacy Dragila wanted to stay at home during April. The World Record holder's outdoor debut made it clear she had done some serious training on her home ground.

Dragila upped her own global standard at the ISU Springfest--not once, but twice--first to 15-3 (4.65) and then to 15-5 (4.70).

The first leap raised the record from the 15-2 1/4 (4.63) she used to win last year's Olympic Trials, while Dragila's second record effort equaled the event's highest clearance ever. That Dragila mark, also made last year, was ineligible for record consideration as it came on an elevated runway.

Coach Dave Nielsen explained that during April, Dragila was doing "longer intervals, lifting more and heavier, hurdling and jumping." But the Olympic champion did no vaulting until about two weeks before her first meet.

Added Nielsen, "Even then, it was only a little ... more in the July issue

Meb Takes Down Nenow's 10K AR

by Sieg Lindstrom

Stanford, California, May 4--Bob Kennedy and six swift Kenyans coached by Kim McDonald set up a fast 10,000 at the Cardinal Invitational, hoping to break Mark Nenow's 15-year-old American Record of 27:20.56. The fabulous race before an awed crowd of some 3500 did produce an AR. Only it went to Meb Keflezighi, not Kennedy.

A day before his 26th birthday, Olympic Trials 10K champ Keflezighi (see sidebar) lowered the PR he set in Sydney by nearly 40 seconds to 27:13.98, placing 4th behind three Kenyans.

On a temperate, windless night, winner Abraham Chebii chopped his own PR down from 28:01 to a world-leading 27:04.20 which made him No. 9 all-time and eclipsed the U.S. all-comers mark, 27:07.34, set by Haile Gebrselassie at the '96 Olympics.

In 2nd, Ben Maiyo, 7th-place finisher in the '99 World Championships 10K, moved to No. 14 all-time at 27:07.55, and Luke Kipkosgei, owner of a 27:22.54 PR from '98, clocked 27:12.37 in 3rd, as eight runners broke 28:00 running to the beat of a dozen Stanford student drummers under a nearly full moon.

At the start the half-dozen identically-clad Kenyans, in salmon-colored uniforms, broke to the front and set about forging the 27-minute pace their sometime training mate Kennedy had requested. With Kennedy tucked in behind them, ... more in the July issue

A Present For Meb

by Jon Hendershott

Meb Keflezighi is brimming with energy, even though he broke the American Record in the 10,000 only minutes earlier. The UCLA alum is excited to bask in the glory of his record run, of course, but he wants to begin another celebration--in about an hour it will be May 5, his 26th birthday.

He is heading off to join many of his 10 brothers and sisters, plus other family members, who have traveled north to Stanford from San Diego for a birthday party.

"Yes, the record is kind of an early birthday present," smiles the new recordman.

He was born Mebrahtom Keflezighi ("Kuh-FLEZ-ghee") in the small African nation of Eritrea, but grew up and was schooled in Southern California after his family emigrated when he was 12. He became a U.S. citizen in the summer of '98.

That summer, he wore a national uniform for the first time as he represented the U.S. in the Goodwill Games 10,000. He placed 6th at 29:57.80 as Kenyans Julius Gitahi and James Maina ran 2:00 faster to finish 1-2.

"Meb was lapped twice by those runners, so it's very gratifying to see him now running toe-to-toe with top Kenyans," reflects Bob Larsen, who has coached Keflezighi since '94. Larsen directed him to a 5/10 double at the '97 NCAA as a UCLA junior, plus the cross country crown.

Along with veteran coach Joe Vigil, Larsen now directs the Southern California unit of Team USA (T&FN, May), the program backed by USATF and Running USA with the goal of boosting U.S. distance fortunes.

One immediate effect of the Team USA program helped Keflezighi to set his AR. He explains, "We spent three weeks training at Mammoth Lakes [in California's Sierra Nevada mountains]. I got in great training with Phillip Price [former Arkansas standout who ran a PR 13:35.74 last year]. Then I did workouts at UCLA and the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista and things came pretty easily. I felt great, I knew coach Larsen and I were on the same page and that the record was possible."

Larsen adds, "Before Stanford, we wrote down the AR as one option. We have to give credit to Bob Kennedy, since we guessed he'd go with the Kenyans. I figured Meb would go if Bob went with them.

"Another option was ... more in the July issue

What A Penn Weekend!

by Jonathan Berenbom

Philadelphia, April 26-28--A Penn Relays record Saturday crowd of 48,922 was treated to one of the rarest sights in track & field: Michael Johnson trailing on the anchor leg of a 4 x 400. In what was billed as his final race on American soil, Johnson trailed Jamaica's Michael Blackwood for the first half of his leg before gliding away to victory over the final 200m.

"Normally when I run the anchor leg, it's usually pretty boring," said Johnson, whose 44.2 anchor capped off a 2:58.60 performance. "I usually get the stick 5-6-7--15m--ahead. They made it interesting today, but it was fun."

Not to be outdone on a weekend which longtime Penn habitués thought might have featured the best weather "ever," Marion Jones turned in a virtuoso performance of her own, anchoring a U.S. 4x4 squad to a 3:21.34 win. That's the fastest time in the world since '97. LaTasha Colander-Richardson's 49.7 third leg broke the race open against a strong Jamaican squad, and then Jones cruised a... more in the July issue

Villanova Is Back -- A shocking relay drought ends

by Rich Sands

Never mind who let the dogs out--who let the 'Cats back in? After a 20-year drought in what was once their signature event at Penn, the Wildcats of Villanova won a fiercely contested distance medley relay to the vigorous approval of a packed house.

Fittingly, the last 'Nova foursome to win included current head coach Marcus O'Sullivan. That '81 victory, with O'Sullivan running the 800 leg, marked the 16th consecutive DMR title for the Wildcats (and the school's 21st dating back to '56).

But during the past two decades they were rarely a factor in the event, and since a 4 x 1500 win in '93, the Main Line school had been without a relay championship in what had once seemed like its own personal showcase.

While the women's side of the Villanova program flourished in the '90s with numerous NCAA titles (not to mention a trophy case filled with Penn hardware), the men's team was inconsistent at best. O'Sullivan was hired in '98 with the mandate to reinvigorate the squad. Initially he ran both programs, but he handed over the distaff reins to fellow alum Gina Procaccio this season.

He credits the guidance of his former assistant coach, the late Jim Tuppeny, who emphasized the importance of recruiting: "Tupp would always say, you'll never out-coach anybody. There's a lot of great coaches out there. He said recruiting is what we built our program on way, way back." (Tuppeny, who once coached under legendary Villanova mentor Jumbo Elliott and also served as a longtime Penn Relays meet director, passed away last November.)

It was no easy task. "When I came in it was just hard to recruit, because high school kids have a memory of about four years," says O'Sullivan with a laugh. "They forget so quickly. Fortunately for us though,... more in the July issue

Ritz & Webb Shine At Penn

Philadelphia, April 27-28--Under the best weather Penn has enjoyed in more than a half-century, the relay-dominated meet was a delight, but it was the distance runners who shone the brightest, even though circumstances conspired to keep superstars Dathan Ritzenhein (Rockford, Michigan) and Alan Webb (South Lakes, Reston, Virginia) from going head-to-head.

Running in the open 5K, Ritzenhein wanted just to run under 14:00. Left unsaid was his hope for much more, even threatening Gerry Lindgren's 36-year-old national record of 13:44.0.

A slow first kilo (2:50.0) and a tiring final 1000 (2:47.2) put paid to Ritz's record hopes but he still ... more in the July issue

Time For The Women To Shine At Drake

by Don Kopriva

Des Moines, Iowa, April 26-28--It's not the Drake Women's Relays, but more than ever, women garnered the applause and the records at the 92nd edition of the meet. From Illinois's hurdle quartet to pole vaulter Kellie Suttle to high jumper Amy Acuff to shot putter Teri Tunks, women on the track and in the field provided the main stories.
Although the men didn't exactly fall asleep out there, it was the distaff side of the sport that wowed the usual enthusiastic crowds.

While the warm (80 degrees) but windy (15-25mph) weather over the Friday and Saturday sessions held performances on the track down a bit, the competition itself was fierce.

Running the seldom-contested but fan-favorite shuttle hurdle relay, Illinois set a Collegiate Record at 52.85, bettering the Illini's own 53.39 from '96 and also surpassing a hand-timed 53-flat set by LSU in '91. Swedish twins Jenny and Susanna Kallur ran the first and third legs with Cameé Williams sandwiched in the second, all a setup for Canadian Olympian Perdita Felicien, who scorched the barriers for an easy win over Nebraska (55.44).

Susanna Kallur, the reigning world Junior champ, came back 40 minutes later to upset ... more in the July issue

Powell's 26-Foot Return

by Jon Hendershott

Modesto, California, May 12--After four seasons away from competition, World Record holder Mike Powell returned to long jumping at the 60th Coca-Cola Modesto Relays and showed he can still be a major player in the sand-pit wars.

Powell spanned 26-5 1/4 on his opening leap, which stood up for victory over Canada's Rich Duncan (25-6 3/4w). It was Powell's first meet since his final effort at the '96 Olympics caused a groin injury so serious it took him four years to recover fully from it.
The 37-year-old Powell--who got serious about returning only late last year (T&FN, May)--passed his second jump, then ... more in the July issue

Welcome To The Club -- Kellie Suttle joined vaulting's 15-foot club at Drake

by Jon Hendershott

It didn't take long for vaulter Kellie Suttle to fly to new heights this spring. After opening her outdoor season at 14-0, the 28-year-old Olympian twice elevated her career best by topping the 15-foot barrier.

At Drake the pupil of respected coach Earl Bell scaled 15-1/4 to raise her outdoor best from last year's 14-10 1/4 and her all-time high from the 14-11 1/2 she jumped indoors this winter.

Then at Modesto (see p. 18) she glided over 15-1 to claim a share of No. 3 in world history. The international veteran had one decent try at the World Record setting of 15-5 1/2.

"I'm so excited by all this, because I know there's way more to come," says Suttle in a voice bubbling with unbridled enthusiasm. "Training has gone really well, I'm finally getting the runway worked out and I'm getting on bigger poles. I have more and more confidence every time I get on the runway.

"I just have to be more patient with each jump. You always have to do a technically sound jump--but that's hard for me to do since I get so excited jumping. But I know a lot more is there, maybe 15-6 and more."

Former WR holder Bell says, "Kellie has been ready for the last three years to go higher. She has broken through a lot of mental barriers, the biggest one being ... more in the July issue

USC & UCLA Split -- Superb Dual Meets

Los Angeles, California, May 5--The best dual meets of the year saw the USC men clip a 22-year UCLA winning streak by a single point, 82-81, and the UCLA women keep alive a 9-year skein of wins. The latter contest, pitting squads that figure to battle for both the Pac-10 and NCAA crowns, came down to the concluding 4 x 400 relay, with the Bruins prevailing 3:32.76-3:33.17 for an 85-78 win.

The finish was so close that UCLA women's coach Jeanette Bolden retreated into the Loker Stadium entryway to avoid watching hurdle doubler Michelle Perry (13.18/56.23) crank a 52.5 anchor lap to save the victory.

"Everyone on my staff wants it to come down to the relay," Bolden told the Daily Bruin. "Except me." Perhaps due to painful memories of the '99 NCAA Championships, when UCLA reached the 4x4 with a 2-point lead and Perry on anchor. In that race... more in the July issue

Conference Champs -- Vols End Arkansas SEC Reign

by Glen McMicken

Columbia, South Carolina, May 11-13--Arkansas had never lost a Southeastern Conference outdoor men's title since joining the league in '92, but the reign came to an abrupt end when the Hogs ran into Tennessee's sprint-based shredder.

Bill Webb's Vols rode the efforts of Leonard Scott and frosh Justin Gatlin to a surprising 153-107 1/2 win over Florida, despite winning only three individual events. The Razorbacks ended up 3rd at 104.

"I hope we can make this a habit," Webb said. "I'm so proud of the way our people came through in the clutch. I don't know how they pick the MVP, but Gatlin gets my vote."
Gatlin scored 251/2 points, including... more in the July issue

Jennings Lowers 800 Best

by Dan Lilot

Stanford, California, May 13 /by Dan Lilot/--Running only his second outdoor race of the year, Stanford junior Gabe Jennings stamped himself as a double NCAA threat by winning the 800 in a quick 1:46.83 over teammate Michael Stember (1:47.17).

Stember followed Kenyan rabbit Sammy Langat to a sub-52 first circuit, while Jennings moved up into contention on the backstretch. In the final straight, fellow Olympian Stember tied up slightly as the short-striding Jennings--whose recent training has had an anaerobic emphasis--powered past to best his PR set at the '98 USATF.

"I wasn't that surprised by his performance," said Cardinal mentor Vin Lananna, "because... more in the July issue

Webb Splits 2:14/1:52 In 4:06

Alexandria, Virginia, May 17 /from Pearl Watts/--In what may well have been the most masterful performance of his career (to date), Alan Webb won three district titles in the space of just 80 minutes.

His first win, the 1600, was impressive enough, taking only 4:06.74 as it did. The incredible part is that he purposely went out in conservative fashion, checked his watch after a 2:14 split for two laps and proceeded to kick home in a scintillating 1:52 (55/57).

Forty-five minutes later... more in the July issue

NCAA Surprise -- Regionals On Hold

The plan to implement regional qualifying to the NCAA Championships, reported in our pages as a fait accompli last month, has been stalled by a vote of the NCAA Board of Directors that caught many by surprise. The hold on the initiative, which would have taken effect next year, has also blocked--at least for now--a 40% increase in the number of athletes at the collegiate nationals.

The Board of Directors declined to allocate $363,000 that would have been used to establish four regional meets and fund the increase in field size.

According to a report in The NCAA News, "The Board did not disagree with the intent to expand the field size, but it took issue with the establishment of regionals that may interfere with exam schedules, devalue conference championships and possibly extend the season."

The matter was referred back to the NCAA Championships Cabinet, which was asked to address these concerns.

The proposed regional qualifying system would have scrapped the current scheme of automatic and provisional qualifying marks in favor of a head-to-head competitive qualifying format augmented by a smaller group of at-large qualifiers to the NCAA based on performances during the season. It was and is a controversial concept.

Not surprisingly, it seems the Board's decision did not come without the application of pressure from... more in the July issue

Sprint Stars Oppose No-False-Start Rule

Even though they're fierce competitive rivals, Maurice Greene and Ato Boldon are fast friends, as befits training partners. The pair are also unified when it comes to their distaste for the IAAF's proposal to go to the type of starting system long used by U.S. high schools and colleges, which allows for no false starts.

"I don't think you can give professional athletes such restrictions and still expect them to perform as they've performed during the years," said Boldon during a May trip to Australia. "When everybody starts running closer to 10-flat and not 9.79, I think the IAAF is going to second-guess their thinking."

Echoing Boldon's thoughts at the Osaka GP, 100m World Record holder Greene said, "I really don't think it would be a good idea. When you have a group of athletes who are there to compete and are very eager to run, you... more in the July issue