February 2003 Issue

Who'll Be Making Headlines In 2003?

by Garry Hill

Alan Webb, John Godina, Tim Broe, Jeff Hartwig, Khalid Khannouchi beating Geb and Paul Tergat, Deena Drossin, Walter Davis, Adam Nelson, Willie Hordge of the U.S. Junior 4x1, Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Paula Radcliffe.

To use an image from a bygone era, if those '02 T&FN covers were trading cards, you'd not be clipping them to the spokes of your bicycle wheels. That's a bunch of keepers.

And the most exciting part about last season is that-in theory at least-it was a down year in the sport's quadrennial cycle. The one year in four without a Worlds or Olympics. That bodes oh-so-well for '03, not only with World Championships meets indoors and out, but also with an exciting collection of ancillary plotlines.

In this, our Super Preview issue, we'll give you a tantalizing hint of what's to come in the promising year that is already beginning to unfold on the indoor circuit.

We start by introducing you to the new collegians, as our ever-popular "Where They Are Going" feature, moved from its normal fall slot, brings you up to date on all the latest in recruiting and eligibility news. And we rate the best recruiting classes of all.

Next, it's our composite listing of who the best collegians are, rated in terms of both best marks and '02 NCAA finish.

Then it's the composite outdoor schedules: domestic, international, on the roads.

Now you're in the middle of the magazine and in the heart of the year's big stories to be, 5 Big Questions: 1. What Effect Will The New False Start Rule Have? 2. Can Maurice Greene Return To The Top? 3. Can Justin Gatlin Run With The Big Dogs? 4. How Will Alan Webb's Pro Plan Work? 5. How Will The NCAA's New Regionals Affect Collegiate Track?

That's followed by our feature catching up with the return-to-health stories of a half-dozen prominent U.S. stars.

Finally, it's the outdoor records: U.S., world and collegiate.

When the '03 season gets going in earnest, having read all this will have you prepared like no other source. On your marks.

(for full depth in the mile and all the other events, read the February Issue of Track & Field News)

Where They Are Going - Collegiate Recruiting Roundup (by conference)

compiled by Dan Lilot

ATLANTIC 10

La Salle (Charles Torpey): N-John Butler 9:11.62; Mark Mullelly 9:13.68; Micah Rolfe 9:13.41.
Rhode Island (John Copeland): N-Wilfredo Nunez 23-5; Robert Scales 205-11 JT.
Richmond (Lori Taylor): N-Ryan Mace 37.24.
St. Joseph's (Mike Glavin): N-Mike Didio 4:16.01+; Andre Laboy 9:14.2+; John Mohn 4:18.5+.

ATLANTIC COAST

Clemson (Bob Pollock): N-Roy Cheney 13.92, 36.91, 52.24; Rashad Gardner 14.39w, 37.85; Grafton Ifill' (Bah) 20.89; Robert Ibeh' (CI) 21.64; Itai Magidi' (Isr) 8:46.09 St. DNR-**Dwight Thomas' (Jam) 10.12, 20.45, 13.74..

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

A top-spot sweep for Texas as the Longhorns twice score big.

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

Prize Recruits - Chris Lukezic, Kelly Willie, Molly Huddle, Chelsea Johnson

Chris Lukezic

by Rich Gonzalez

Most prep distance talents arrived at their '02 race-day wars armed with appreciable levels of physical talent and the braggadocio to match. Chris Lukezic's battle tools of choice were foresight and perspective. In the hyped developments during the Year 1 AW (After Webb), his cerebral analyses won out.

Lukezic, who has now moved on to Georgetown, coupled astute early perceptions with selective scheduling en route.

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

Leading Collegiate Eligibles

Who to look for in '03, listed both by mark and last year's finish

Performers-NCAA Divisiond I only-are listed in order of their lifetime bests. The column on the right is the finish in last year's outdoor nationals. If the athlete didn't compete in the meet, then the indoor mark (with an "i" before the number) is given. A slash followed by another number/letter indicates competition in a different event. Other symbols: h=heat;sf=semi; rs=redshirt; hs=high school; int=international; jc=junior college; inj=injured; dnf=did not finish; dnc=didn't compete in the nationals.

Men

100 METERS
10.12       Pierre Browne' (MsSt).........3
10.16       Julien Dunkley' (ECar).......6h
10.17       *Sean Lambert' (Tn).........6sf
10.18(A)    Taiwo Ajibade' (UTEP).......7sf
            ***Marc Burns' (Aub)........int
            *Rae Edwards (TxT)...........jc
10.19       Tim Walls (NCAT)..........dnf-h
10.20       ***Brendan Christian' (Tx)...hs
            Terence Newman (KsSt).......8sf
10.21       *Michael Frater' (TCU)........4
            ***Jonathan Wade (Tn)........hs
10.22       Tre Gardner (Tx)............i7h
10.23       *Anthony Buchanan (WaSt)..inj-h
            Latonel Williams' (Al)......5sf
10.24(A)    ***Kelly Willie (LSU)........hs

(For all the other events, see the February Issue of Track & Field News)

Women

100 METERS
11.09       Natasha Mayers' (USC).......2
11.14       Aleen Bailey' ..........dq-sf
11.17       *Muna Lee (LSU).............3
11.30       Elva Goulbourne' (Aub)......5
11.31       *Connie Moore (PennSt)......9
            Monica Twum' (TCU).........7h
11.33       Rachelle Boone (In)........i5
            **Lauryn Williams (Mia).....6
11.36       Aleah Williams (Tx)........5h
11.37       **Tahesia Harrigan' (Al)..6sf
            *Tania Woods (LSU).........jc
11.39       *Stephanie Durst (LSU)......7
            ***Sanya Richards (Tx).....hs
11.41       *Tiffany Green (TxT)......dnc
11.43       Danielle Carruthers (In)..9/H

(for all the other events, read the February Issue of Track & Field News)

Five Big Questions For 2003

1. Can Sprinters Adjust To New Rule?
by Jon Hendershott

Starting a race is simple, isn't it? Whether it's the "get ready-get set-go!" of children's play, or track's formal "on your marks-set-bang!" procedure, starting is just a matter of contestants waiting for the signal to unleash an explosion of speed. . . isn't it?

For top-level sprinters running in the U.S. in '03, it will be a matter of where they are doing the starting. At its '01 Congress, the IAAF passed a revision to the international false-start rule for sprint and hurdles races, replacing the long-standing two-and-you're-out stricture with what is often referred to as the "swimming rule."

The new setup, which became effective on January 1, charges the first false start against the entire field. On any subsequent jumps the perpetrator is immediately DQed. Growing ever more conscious of the need for high production values in its meets, the IAAF took the step, in large part, to ensure a smoother flow of action for TV audiences.

Although T&FN loves the new concept (see "We Think," p. 52), there's one major snag for Americans: USATF-which usually goes out of its way to make its rules dovetail with the IAAF's-decided by unanimous vote at its '01 Convention not to follow the new international rule.

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

2. Can Mo Return To The Top?
by Sieg Lindstrom

"Greene's All Washed Up-Champ Mo's On A Go-Slow." Consider the source. Those needling words came from a headline splashed across a British tabloid page last summer, with a photo of an open-mouthed Maurice Greene and the caption, "Tongue-lashed."

Yet as Greene's losses to Dwain Chambers mounted and Tim Montgomery made off with his World Record and No. 1 Ranking in the 100, let's face it, "Washed up?" became a question asked by many.
Put more fairly, can Greene-also tabloid-tagged as "Slo-Mo"-return to the top in '03?

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

3. Can Gatlin Run With The Big Dogs?
by Jon Hendershott

"He is something the track world has been waiting for for a long time. He can do whatever he wants to do: Justin Gatlin can be the next Carl Lewis." High praise from any coach, but when the coach is Trevor Graham-who until recently mentored last year's top sprinters, Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery-then it's lofty acclaim, indeed.

Graham is thrilled with the talent and eagerness he sees each day in the 20-year-old Gatlin, who absolutely brims with enthusiasm over his move to the Jamaican's North Carolina training group in October. "Life is a challenge and I want to make track my life," says the Florida native. "I look forward to handling whatever track throws at me."

A 6-time NCAA indoor/outdoor sprint champ after his soph year at Tennessee, Gatlin was ready to step up to the big leagues. Several weeks after the Nationals, Nike announced that it had signed Gatlin and another youngster with remaining collegiate eligibility-mile superstar Alan Webb-to pro contracts.

"It was a very calculated move to leave UT," Gatlin explains.

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

4. How Will Webb's Pro Plan Work?

by Sieg Lindstrom

Last June miler Alan Webb turned pro. Disappointed that his injury-affected college frosh season failed to live up to the promise of the most celebrated high school campaign in decades, Webb turned his back on school competition forever and returned to Scott Raczko, the coach who had guided him to his High School Record 3:53.43.

While many asked if Webb's departure from Michigan and respected coach Ron Warhurst was made too hastily, Webb did not look back. He returned to Virginia, where he has a 6-year Nike contract rumored to pay a quarter-million per year, the coach he believes in, lofty goals and a plan. What next for the shining talent who aims to beat the best milers in the world?

In mid-January we find Webb and Raczko at an inn beside a golf course some 6000ft up on Albuquerque's West Mesa-site of their first-ever altitude "training camp." They will spend nearly a month in New Mexico.

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

Coming Off The Shelf - Nicole Teter, LaMark Carter, Dathan Ritzenhein, Trinity Gray, John Stiegeler, Miki Barber all fighting back from physical woes

Ritz Overcoming Stress

by Don Kopriva

Many high school distance phenoms flame out when they step up to the collegiate ranks. Not Dathan Ritzenhein, who as a Colorado frosh last year ran 13:27.77 and claimed 4th in the NCAA 5K while still a teenager.

How frustrating it was, then, for him to be idled for the cross country season by a femoral stress fracture. But the 20-year-old Michigander resumed training two days after the cross nationals and is rarin' to go..

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

Toth Opens With PR 71-21/2

by Bob Ramsak

Kent, Ohio-When Kevin Toth opened his '03 campaign with a massive 71-21/2 indoor shot PR at the Black Squirrel Classic, no one was as shocked as he at moving to No. 10 on the all-time world list, No. 5 among Americans.

"That was a hell of an opener. I didn't expect it," he said of the last-round toss that actually was his second indoor PR of the meet. Toth first hit 70-5 in round 4 to extend his old indoor PR of 69-83/4, set way back in '94. "But by no means was Kent State a peak."

Rather than attribute his early-'03 form to momentum from an '02 season that earned him a No. 2 World Ranking, the 35-year-old Ohioan credits.

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

Pre-Sydney Names Stay Secret

An ugly chapter in the history of track & field has finally been closed. As the new year dawned, the Court Of Arbitration For Sport (CAS) ruled-in a binding decision-that USATF will not have to reveal the names of 13 athletes it exonerated in domestic drug cases prior to the Sydney Olympics.

The ruling closed the book on a contentious dispute that was first aired publicly during the '00 Games by the IAAF and made headlines because of a persistent rumor-one left unaddressed by the CAS decision-that one of the athletes in question went on to be a Sydney gold medalist..

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

by E. Garry Hill

I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE COLLEGIATE COACHING COMMUNITY. While many of them still have serious issues with the new Regionals concept (see p. 36), they're simply sucking it up and apparently eager to make the proverbial lemonade from what they perceive as lemons. It would have been easy for them to go on a pissing-and-moaning jag but instead I'm getting a real sense of their pulling together to make the new plan work.

Count me among the biggest boosters of the concept. Partially because I think it's going to add another exciting set of meets to the schedule, for sure, but mainly because of the ripple effect it's going to have both before and after that last weekend in May.

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

Who's Hot In High School?

THERE'S ONE THING MISSING from the informative look-ahead issue you currently hold in your hot little hands: where are the high schoolers? There's so much interest in looking forward to each year's prep season that we give the younger set an issue all their own, and that'll be the March edition.

We'll clue you in as to who to watch out for-like the pictured milers, Bobby Curtis and Steven Shepherd-in every event and take you behind the scenes with some of the biggest stars.

Speaking of milers, wait until you see our T&FN Interview: a no-holds barred chat with the mercurial Gabe Jennings. Or you can plop down to dinner with the power Georgia throwing group.

Add in news coverage of the indoor season as only our crack team of writers and photographers can do it and you've got another don't-miss issue of your favorite track magazine.

The tell-us-about-the-kids March edition will be mailed by March 7. If you aren't currently a subscriber, just call us at our toll-free 800 number and we'll take care of your order promptly. A regular 1-year U.S. subscription (including our free on-line results service) is $43.95; other rates are available on request.