September 2002 Issue

U.S. Hot In Kingston

Kingston, Jamaica, July 16–21—Through the first seven editions of the IAAF’s World Junior Championships, 1986–98, the U.S. performance was pretty predictable: 4–5 gold medals and about a dozen awards overall.

Then came October of ’00, and the disaster that was Santiago, Chile. Stuck competing far-far out of season, Americans were able to claim just a single medallion, a bronze.

But this year everything—a date close to the domestic season, a site just a short hop from home, no language barrier—came together as the U.S. squad, a well motivated one bubbling over with future talent, had the country’s best showing ever.

The tally for the two squads—men coached by Bill Whittaker, women by Monica Gary—was 9 golds (beating the previous best of 6, set in ‘96) and 21 medals total (beating the 17 of ’94).

Lashinda Demus was the big star, not only lowering her own World Junior Record in the 400H to 54.70, but also anchoring the winning 4x4 to an American Junior Record of 3:29.95.

The U.S. men also did their share of record damage, the 4x1—anchored by coverboy Willie Hordge—claiming a WJR of 38.92 and Andra Manson (see p. 11) raising the high jump AJR to 7-7. Manson’s mark was also a High School Record, as was Kenneth Ferguson’s 49.38 in the 400H…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Four PRs For Andra Manson

by Sieg Lindstrom

Ten straight bars, four of them PRs—Andra (“Ahn-dray” ) Manson blew through the World Juniors high jump like a Texas tornado. He jazzed the fans and left the rest of the track world just a little stunned.

“I look at it like this,” the 18-year-old Texan says. “Things like that don’t surprise me because I’ve always told my coach as long as I keep working out, I can’t help but get better. Going 7-7, yeah, it’s awesome and it’s a good thing to do, but my goal is to have a record—8-2 or something like that.”…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Mo Dips Under 9.9

by Ed Gordon

Rome, Italy, July 12—The big magnet for European meets these days is the Maurice & Marion Show, but aside from both century times ending in 89, there were few similarities in their races at the third Golden League stop, the Golden Gala.

Greene had to wait through three false starts by his sprinting brethren and he greeted the last one with an especially annoyed look. When the race finally got underway, he parlayed one of the best starts of his career-—reaction time of 0.115, almost as fast as his 0.113 at USATF—into a brilliant world-leading 9.89.

“I can’t always be at my best,” said Greene, still smarting from his back-to-back losses at the end of June, but he quickly added, “Tonight I showed I’m still No. 1.”

Tim Montgomery (9.94) and Bernard Williams (10.00) posted seasonal bests in the next two positions.

With his ninth career sub-9.9 performance (see “Stat Corner,” p. 42), Greene moved ahead of training partner Ato Boldon, who has eight, as the Trinidadian was witness to the event with his last-place 10.23, shockingly a season best (and the fastest 9th ever)…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Edwards Bounces Back

by Dan Lilot

Stockholm, Sweden, July 16—In track, as in love, timing is everything. The timing for this year’s DN Galan could not have been better, coming as it did 90 years, minus a day, after the IAAF was founded in the beautiful wood and brick of Stockholm Stadium during the ’12 Olympics.

Add a spectacular Scandinavian summer evening, a capacity crowd of 15,790 and a handful of Swedish stars and the timing was right for a memorable evening of GP track.

The most anticipated event was the triple jump matchup between Jonathan Edwards and Christian Olsson. The upstart Swede had yet to beat the Briton this year and had missed their scheduled clash in Rome four days earlier with a cold, but was the only one to beat the WR holder last year, when he did it twice.

After each fouled his initial attempt, Edwards sprinted down the runway with his usual speed. He planted 3 inches from the end of the board, nearly reached the end of the runway after his step phase and bounded out to 58-4, an outdoor world leader.

Up next was Olsson, who had the rhythmic clapping support of the entire stadium. But another foul had the lanky Swede, who heads the world list with his indoor 58-43/4, worrying more about staying in the competition than challenging the leader.

With Edwards passing, Olsson recorded a 56-2 third jump to stay in. But another foul and a 57-3/4 best saw Olsson finishing 2nd once again, as Edwards passed his final four.

Said the 36-year-old Briton, “That is the best I’ve jumped for a year. It was just solid, good footwork. For the first time this season I’ve managed to put together a good jump in the early rounds.”

In the women’s 800, Nicole Teter continued her summer of playing catch-up…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Chasing El G

by Dan Lilot

If the IAAF is looking for a cosmopolitan poster boy for its theme of “Global Athletics” it would be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than Bernard Lagat (BUR-nerd La-GAT).

The Kenyan native studied at Washington State, is moving to Arizona, has an Australian manager, has a coach from China’s Sichuan Province, makes his summer base in Germany and writes an on-line diary for the IAAF in Monaco.

But aside from trying to figure out a flight itinerary that would see him travel Tucson–Pullman–Tübingen–Tunis within five days this summer, this globetrotter is trying to tackle the more difficult problem of how to beat reigning mile king Hicham El Guerrouj.

“I believe in my mind that I have everything I need to beat him, “says the 27-year-old known as “Kip” to his friends. “But obviously there is still something lacking. I have the endurance and the speed, but the most important thing is having the belief that I can beat him.”

And that belief is growing. In ’00 he won Olympic bronze. Last year, after garnering the World Champs silver behind the Moroccan, Lagat chased El G to the wire in the Brussels 1500 as the pair recorded the Nos. 2 and 3 times ever, 3:26.12 and 3:26.34.

More recently Lagat gave his rival another scare in Monaco (see p. 20), as it was the Kenyan—rather than the WR holder— who tucked in behind the rabbits’ furious tempo.

“Normally I follow, but I wanted to be the one behind the pacemakers this time,”…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Lagat's New Training Mate

by Dan Lilot

Bernard Lagat picked up a high-class training partner last winter when former U.S. 1500 champ Seneca Lassiter came to train with him under James Li. The Arkansas alum, who beat Lagat three straight years in the NCAAs, 1997–99, moved to Washington after 61/2 years in Fayetteville.

“I just needed a change,” says the 25-year-old Virginia native, who is once again the current U.S. champ. “After I was done at Arkansas I was still just training with the team. No disrespect to Coach [John] McDonnell, but he’s a college coach. That’s what he’s paid to do. I was on the team’s schedule and so my body was dead by the summer.”…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Summit Meeting In The 800

by Brian Russell

Fontvieille, Monaco, July 12—If you reviewed the startlists before the Golden League stop in Monaco, you could be forgiven for perhaps thinking you were a few hours drive away in Zürich. Such was the quality and depth of fields at the Herculis meet.

Truly Weltklasse-like was the men’s 800 field, featuring as it did last year’s top two rankers (André Bucher and Yuriy Borzakovskiy), the two who medaled behind Bucher at the Worlds (Wilfred Bungei and Pawel Czapiewski) and the World Record holder, Wilson Kipketer. To say nothing of the winner of the two preceding GL meets, American David Krummenacker (see sidebar).

All were curious to see if Krummenacker could continue his winning ways in the face of far stiffer opposition than he had faced in Rome and Paris.

When it was over, the Kipketer of old— out all of last year with a foot injury— returned. The field ignored the rabbit, and after a 51.4 by Kipketer, the 3-time World champ took the lead at about 550m. Only Krummenacker moved with him and he cut the margin to 0.2 with a 200 to go.

That margin stayed the same as the Dane (1:43.76) and the American (1:43.95 PR) became the first sub-1:44 runners of the year.

Said Kipketer, “I didn’t think at all about running the world’s fastest time; just the win.”

In retrospect, Krummenacker figured he might have won, explaining, “I think probably with 150m to go, or maybe with 200m to go, I should have passed Kipketer” …

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Krummenacker’s Breakthrough Year

by Sieg Lindstrom

It’s common knowledge that getting the last word doesn’t always mean you’re right. But then there are cases like David Krummenacker, who last spring made a prescient comment that concluded our analysis of the U.S.’s apparently declining 800 fortunes (T&FN April).

”I don’t like the fact that America’s only known for sprinting,” the 26-year-old Georgia Tech alum said then. “Running fast is obviously a part of it, but I’d also like to get up there and be one of the guys who’s mixing it up with the Buchers, the Borzakovskiys—the top guys—and for people to be able to say, ‘Well, you know there are some Americans up there doing it too.’ ”

Famous last words? Hardly. The latest word on the European circuit is that Krummenacker is indeed up there doing it too.

Doing it in the 1500 as well as his flagship event. In Stockholm Krummenacker placed 2nd to Bernard Lagat, running 3:31.93 to become the No. 5 American ever. In the 800 he followed up his second straight USATF crown by winning two major European clashes—Paris and Rome—then placed a close 2nd to Wilson Kipketer while defeating the rest of a loaded Monaco field with a PR 1:43.95.

That mark and his Stockholm 1500, which came just three days apart, were each the fastest U.S. times since ’97 and made Krummenacker the first American to hold sub-1:44 and sub-3:32 PRs.

”I don’t know,” he says. “The new coach and the new training regime that I’ve been working under really seem to be working great for me.”…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

199-1 For Kreiner

Rheinfelden, Germany, July 26—USATF javelin runner-up Kim Kreiner capped a quick 4-meet European tour by setting an American Record of 199-1 (60.68) in this small town on the Swiss border.

A gift to herself on her 25th birthday, Kreiner’s first round toss bested the 197-0 (60.06) standard set by Serene Ross in besting Kreiner at the USATF Champs.

Did the record come as a surprise? “Yes and no,” said Kreiner (see sidebar). “I knew I could throw that far because I’ve been throwing well in practice, but it’s always a surprise when it actually happens.”

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

236-3 For Norgren-Mahon

by Bob Ramsak

Walnut, California, July 28—When the year began, Anna Norgren was a 219-5 hammer thrower who was the third-best American ever, but a mere No. 29 on the all-time world list.

In mid-April Anna Norgren-Mahon opened her season at 223-6, remaining No. 3 among Americans but improving to No. 23 in the world.

Her next meet was Penn, where a 227-6 PR upped her to No. 2 American and all the way to No. 14 in the world.

Two meets later, at West Point, she prepped for Nationals by becoming the American Record holder, first at 233-2 to become No. 7 in the world, then at 235-0 (71.64) to climb to No. 5.

Here, in some USATF High Performance events contested a part of the U.S.-Germany decathlon (see p. 32) she improved her AR to 236-3 (72.01). Despite the improvement, she remained only No. 6 on the all-time world list, action in Europe having demoted her in the interim…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Who Wants To Retire?

by Jon Hendershott

Long of tooth? Some might say that. Gray of hair? Maybe a few, here and there. Getting on in years? Sure, but aren’t we all? But lacking motivation or suffering from waning desire? Not a chance.

They are six of America’s most tested athletes, and all will be at least 35 by the time year is over. Four—Regina Jacobs (1500), Jearl Miles Clark (400), Gail Devers (100H), Jeff Hartwig (PV)—even won U.S. titles this year.

Another, Antonio Pettigrew, claimed a fifth U.S. 400 crown last year—a dozen years after his first. And the last, Charles Austin, won six high jump titles in a row (1995-00), finished 2nd in ’01 and has owned the American Record for more than a decade.

All six own medals from the Olympics and/or World Champs, and all have set World and/or American Records.

Increased financial reward makes it far easier for athletes to remain in the game much longer than they used to, but what drives our senior-citizen six to stay at the top level at their ages? All claim an intense love for the sport, but each has a unique drive as well…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Turova Steeples 9:16.51

by Sieg Lindstrom

Gdansk, Poland, July 27—The early history of the fledgling women’s steeplechase is that it has been largely populated by runners who weren’t quite at the top levels elsewhere. Belarus’s Alesya Turova, 22, is cut from a different bolt of cloth, as she proved again at the BALT 2002 meet.

A finalist in the World Championships last year, she brought solid 4:05.99 and 8:32.59 flat credentials when she debuted in the splash-and-dash event in the Czech Republic in June. The result was a World Record 9:21.72.

From there she turned her 5-10/141 frame to the 1500, her huge last 200s finding her finishing 4th in Oslo (PR 4:04.36), winning Zagreb (4:05.41), taking 2nd in Rome (4:01.70 PR) and winning Monaco (4:01.01 PR).

Returning to the steeple she ran 9:23.91 (No. 3 performance ever) in Heusden-Zolder the night after Monaco, but then after a week’s rest came to this noted seaport on the Baltic. Going out strongly, she reached the first kilo in 2:59.1 (6 seconds up on her WR pace) and covered the second in 3:08.1 (6:08.0) before finishing in 3:08.5 to smash her own record at 9:16.51…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Commonwealth Games 100

by Roy Conrad

Manchester, England, July 26–31—Easily the most ballyhooed event heading into the 17th Commonwealth Games (the first to be staged on English soil since ’34) was the men’s 100. It was built up as a showdown between England’s formidable duo of Dwain Chambers and Mark Lewis-Francis, with challengers the likes of Frank Fredericks, Kim Collins, Deji Aliu and the third English entrant, Jason Gardener.

Chambers had bolstered his favorite’s role with decisive wins over Maurice Greene in Oslo and Sheffield only two days apart. The 24-year-old sped a windy 9.95 in the latter contest ahead of Lewis-Francis (9.97w), but the 19-year-old MLF rebounded to take the British title from Chambers and Gardener.

When Fredericks opted for only the 200 (which he won at 20.06), the Manchester stage was set after Collins (10.08) took the first semi from Lewis-Francis (10.15), while Chambers (10.06) won the second ahead of Aliu (10.14).

On the line for the final, Chambers appeared tense, but Collins playfully put a finger to his lips to quiet the boisterous pre-England crowd, then got a good start which was matched by Lewis-Francis. Chambers got away poorly.

Collins and MLF matched strides until about 70m, where the Englishman screamed in pain as his right hamstring pulled. At the same moment, Chambers slowed with a cramping thigh and finished 8th (11.19), beaten by teammates Lewis-Francis (10.54) and Gardener (10.22) as England went 1-2-3 at the wrong end.

Said Chambers’ manager, Jonathan Barnett, “We are going to put this right, once and for all. We’re going to find a specialist to find what what’s causing these cramps.”…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

Euro Champs: Radcliffe’s Incredible 10

by Sieg Lindstrom

Munich, Germany, August 6–11—On the European Championships’ first night Paula Radcliffe ran 30:01.09, the No. 2 women’s 10K in history, sending a clear message that the 18th edition of the continental clash would not be waterlogged by cool rain that fell frequently throughout the six days of the event.

Continuing her banner season, Radcliffe attacked with gusto. The 28-year-old Briton followed Constantina Dita’s opening 69.78 lap but then led every circuit thereafter en route to the first major track 10K title of her career.

Only Junxia Wang’s 29:31.78, set during the credibility-defying Chinese National Games of ’93, had ever run faster, and Radcliffe easily chopped Ingrid Kristiansen’s 30:13.74 best from the “real” recordbook.

“I set out with two main aims—to win and to beat the European Record because Ingrid was always a heroine of mine,” said Radcliffe, who was 12 when the Norwegian set her then-WR.

As the 72-and-change laps rolled by with defending champion Sonia O’Sullivan of Ireland and ’96 Olympic champ Fernanda Ribeiro of Portugal struggling to keep up, raindrops began to fall and umbrellas opened on the uncovered side of the stadium. By 2000m (5:57.21), the drops had become a downpour. But Radcliffe—her head bobbing its familiar signal of effort—pressed on alone, past 3km in 8:56.84, 5km in 14:57.65 and 8km in 24:01.18. Ribeiro quit after 14 laps…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

U.S. Long Jumpers Bounce Back

by Jon Hendershott

WHEN THE U.S. uncharacteristically produced no World Rankers in the long jump in the Olympic year, T&FN wrote a long piece in the May ’01 issue lamenting slumping American fortunes in its once-banner event.

The ’01 season then produced a trio of rated jumpers: Worlds runner-up Savanté Stringfellow was No. 2, Kevin Dilworth No. 3 and WUG champion Miguel Pate No. 10. And Olympian Dwight Phillips hovered close.

Last winter Pate’s Collegiate Record 28-21/4 won the U.S. Indoor title. Stringfellow PRed at 27-111/2 to defend his U.S. outdoor crown with Pate 2nd and both have strongly impacted the European scene this summer.

Neither jumper is reluctant to say how our story affected their motivation. “Basically, it pissed off almost every young long jumper in the U.S.,” says Stringfellow. “You placed the weight on our shoulders and that wasn’t fair”…

(for more, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

From The Editor

Why the year 1971 should inspire you in 2003…

(for the full opinion, read the September Issue of Track & Field News)

And in the October issue…

It’s our big High School Annual edition. Check out all the choices for the Prep All-American team, read about the HS Athletes Of The Year and check out those deep lists.