U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS - MEN’S 50 KM RACE WALK SANTEE, CALIF. (JANUARY 22)
Paul Nestor
John Nunn won the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s 50 km Race Walk in 4:04:41 to lead a fast race that saw multiple American and course records set Sunday in Santee, Calif.
JOHN NUNN
Olympians at the 20 km distance, Nunn and Tim Seaman, both of San Diego, pushed each other throughout the race with several changes of the lead as both walked well under the Olympic “B” standard
of 4:09. Seaman finished second in 4:05:50. The duo led the way for the top five men to better the previous course record of 4:28:53 set in 2009 by current race director Philip Dunn.
Seaman finished as the runner-up in 4:05:50, while Ben Shorey rounded out the podium taking third in 4:17:30. Patrick Stroupe set a PR by more than seven minutes to finish fourth in 4:19:43, and Erich Cordero finished fifth in 4:28:03.
The fast pace of the day also produced numerous American Records. Erin Taylor-Talcott (Owego, N.Y.) not only became the first woman allowed to compete as a guest in the 50 km Olympic Trials, but also recorded three American Records en route to her historic finish. Talcott first established the 25 km record in 2:13:38 before bettering her own 35 km record in 3:08:33 and finally setting the 50 km record by nearly six minutes with her sixth place finish of 4:33:23. Allen James (Sanborn, N.Y.) also added his name to the record books for the 45-49 division with his 35 km split of 3:06:35. James went on to finish seventh in 4:39:25.
USA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (FEBRUARY 25-26)
For the third consecutive year, the Albuquerque Convention Center welcomed the nation’s best and presented a chance to punch their ticket to represent Team USA at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. It was the fourth and final stop of this year’s indoor VISA Championship Series.
The first day of competition was highlighted by Bernard Lagat bringing the crowd of 2,037 to their feet during the final lap of the men’s 3,000m, William Claye jumping a world leader in the men’s triple jump and Amber Campbell setting a meet record in the weight throw.
What many considered to be the most anticipated race of the night, the men’s 3,000m didn’t turn out as most had expected. While many thought that Galen Rupp and Lagat would go
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In the men’s triple jump, Will Claye jumped the third best indoor mark in American history with a jump of 17.63m/ 57-10.25 to grab his first USA Indoor men’s triple jump crown.
Amber Campbell didn’t waste any time in the women’s weight throw, as her first attempt of the day was her best. Campbell sent the hammer flying 24.78m/81-3.75 to improve her own USA Indoor Championships record from 2010 and win her sixth USA Indoor title in the event.
In the men’s weight throw, A.G. Kruger earned his seventh USA Indoor title with a lob of 24.57m/80-7.5.
While fighting through an Achilles injury, Jenn Suhr cleared both 4.67m/15-3.75 and 4.62m/15-1.75 on her first attempts to claim her sixth USA Indoor pole vault championship.
Jesse Williams managed to add a second USA Indoor title to his resume after clearing 2.31m/7-7 in the men’s high jump.
It took Amanda Smock five tries to gain the lead in the women’s triple jump. On her fifth jump, she soared 13.77m/ 45-2.25 to claim her first USA Indoor title.
AMANDA SMOCK
down to the wire, it was Lopez Lamong who went head-to- head with Lagat. Rupp was able to hang with the two leaders until there was 700m left in the race and he began to show fatigue. Lagat and Lamong entered the bell lap together and then Lagat took off. He flew over the final 200m in only 26 seconds. Lamong finished in the runner-up spot in 7:51.75, while Rupp finished third in 7:57.36.