Record Setting Day 2

Day two of the 2012 Olympic Trials will likely go down in history forever and never forgotten those of thus that were there.  Historic Hayward Field continued to earn it's place as one of the best track venues in the world as home state hero and former Duck, Ashton Eaton scored 9,039 points to set a new World Record in the Decathlon.  The mark is obviously a new American Record, Trials,  Hayward Field record as well.  The best comparison we could come up with was a perfect game in baseball. He broke two individual decathlon event records (100m and long jump) along the way and won seven of the ten events.  (Yes, they keep records for each of the events within the multi event).  Eaton needed a two second lifetime best in the final event (1500m) to break the record in front of a raucous Eugene crowd.  He was on pace for two laps and then fell off pace two seconds with 400 meters to go.  World famous and longtime self proclaimed decath-nut announcer Frank Zarnowski made sure we all knew the splits Eaton needed to hit to stay on pace.  With 350m to go Eaton found the reserve he needed and the turnover picked up as his posture lifted and the crowds down the backstretch around Bowerman curve and then down the homestretch pushed him to the record with two seconds and 13 points to spare.  Eaton is only the second man to ever break the 9000 point barrier.

Day two was another rainy overcast afternoon of track and field.  The meet actually was delayed about 20 minutes due to a heavy downpour that rolled across the venue right as the track session was to begin.  The women's 100m and 100m hurdle teams were set as well.  The men's shot put and high jump along with the women's disc and triple jump prelims were held.  Men's putter Adam Nelson and high jumper Andra Manson were the notable athletes to not advance.  The semi finals of the men's and women's 400m and 800m set the fields for those finals as well.  Regardless of who actually makes those teams, the US will be very well represented as virtually all the favorites advanced.

Today's photos include:  another rainy day at HHF, Eaton leading the decathletes on a victory lap, a huge banner featuring legendary coach Bill Bowerman in the OT Pavillion that surrounds the stadium, and a local pub noting the distance (in miles) to the other Pac-12 institutions.

Olympic Trials Day 1

As I attend my fourth consecutive US Olympic Trials the feeling and belief that this meet is the "World's Greatest Track & Field Meet" comes roaring back to life.  Even with lots of "Oregon Sunshine" (as the locals like to call it) reigning/raining down on the opening day at Hayward Field the competition was fierce and Olympic team spots were awarded and lost.  This meet has a finality that seem both fair and cruel at the same time.  While finishing in the top three is the general consensus of success it's not quite that clear cut.  Time/Distance/and Height standards also come into play and must be met as well.  Virtually all of the favorites moved through in the men's 400 and 800 prelims as well as the women's 100/100H/400/and 800 prelims.  The women's pole vault was cancelled due to the poor jumping conditions.  There were two world records set in the men's decathlon (yes, they keep separate event records within the multi events) which means the American record is in jeopardy.  The only finals on day one were the men's and women's 10K's which had completely different story lines.  The men's race had one distinct favorite along with another for US record holder needing to finish in the top three AND run the Olympic A standard.  The local favorite won as expected and broke the Trials record.  Along they way he helped his teammate (who finished a heartbreaking fourth at the Olympic marathon trials earlier this year) get his A Standard and finish third in a driving almost pounding rain at times.  

*Editor's note....both of those runners train at our track at the University of Utah during specific high altitude training periods. 

The women's race was much different although had an even more exciting finish.  Only four runners in the field had run the Olympic A standard time.  One of those runners announced she will only run the marathon in London.  So unless someone in the field could unleash a huge personal best all the other three runners had to do was finish the race.  One collegiate runner pushed the pace earlier in an attempt to go after the standard, but no one followed and by half way it was apparent that no would reach the standard and the team was set.  Although the race did finish with a flurry down the homestretch for the top three places.  The women's fourth place finisher at the Olympic marathon trials turned into a sprinter in the final 80 meters to run down the pre race favorite and an up and comer collegian who was fresh off of winning the NCAA 10K.  So in a weird twist of qualifying and Olympic standards it was first, fourth, and seventh who will be going to London.  

*Editor's note....The top three in the women's 10K would have likely been different had one notable runner competed.  However, due to being a qualifier in the marathon her and her coach decided that the Trials 10K might be getting "greedy".  So she ran a 10K time trial at a local high school track earlier in the day in a time that would have made it four runners sprinting the final homestretch that evening.  However, she enjoyed cheering on her teammates from the stands with her husband and son who you will see here.  They have also trained at our facility. 

Top Five...Again!!!

For the third consecutive year we had top five finisher at the US Junior Championships.  Freshman Susannah Hurst earned a medal by finishing fifth in the 5K (17:28) on a very warm (90 degree) Saturday evening in Bloomington, IN.   Kaitlin Urmston also competed and finished 10th in the javelin with a toss of 137-1.  Overall, it was a great experience for both athletes as they competed against the best Under 20 athletes in the US.  

Do You Have a Dish?

If the television set up in your home is through DirecTV or Dish Network we need your help.  They need to know you want the new Pac-12 Networks as part of your plan.  The Pac-12 already has signed agreements with their primary competitors (Comcast, TimeWarner, Brighthouse, etc).  You need to call/email and demand that they pick up the Pac-12 Network when it goes live later this summer.  The Pac-12 Network will include a National feed along with six regional feeds that will provide over 850 live events in the first year alone.  Call now!  

Cross Country Camp

The annual Middle/High School (grades 7-12) Utah Cross Country Camp will be held July 10-13.  Registration deadline is July 1st.  To ensure the best athlete/coach ratio in the country this camp is limited to the first 24 runners who sign up.  The cost is ONLY $250 for resident campers (includes all meals) and $150 for commuters (includes lunch).  

Click HERE to learn more and sign up today!!! 

Senior Bree LeRoy ended her career on a high note at her first NCAA Finals appearance by clearing two bars and finishing 22nd overall.  Her first attempt at the third bar (5-10.75) was her best and would have been a new lifetime best.  However, the bar would not stay up and she failed on her other two attempts.  To come to the NCAA Finals for the first time is always the most difficult, but as she has all year, she handled the pressure well and gave herself a chance to go out with a new PR.

Watching Bree's development over the last four years has been very enjoyable.  Her last two years were by far her best as she led us in points scored at the outdoor conference meet in both seasons.  She was also our first ever all Pac-12 track and field athlete.  She worked hard for all of her success and she was fun to be around everyday.  You can't ask for much more as a coach.  She will be greatly missed by all of us associated with Utah TF.

Up next....yes the season still is not completed....is the US Junior National Championships where we will have two competitors.  Freshmen Kaitlin Urmston (javelin) and Susannah Hurst (5K) will compete next weekend (June 15-16).  After that junior Amanda Mergaert may have earned a spot in the US Olympic Trials with her 4:13 clocking in the 1500m at the NCAA meet.  That time is just shy of the 'A' Standard for the Trials so we won't know for sure that she is in for about another week.  Stay tuned!

In the Blink of an Eye...

A human blinks in .14 seconds.  Junior Amanda Mergaert ran a huge lifetime best in the biggest race of the year, but came up the blink of an eye short of making the 1500 final at the NCAA Championships.  Last year she finished 14th and missed the final by .24.  This she ran five seconds faster than a year ago, but the result in regards to final placing and advancement are the same.  Fourteenth, Second Team All American, missed final by .15 seconds.

It was one of the performances in Utah school history.  Amanda ran with the lead pack of nine throughout the race making effortless moves, while allowing the pack to do the work.  After a quick, but fair pace of 2:18 through 800m it was a charge to the finish.  Amanda ran the next 400m in 67.7 and then finished the final 300m in a blistering 48 seconds.  With about 350m to go the lead pack was able to get a couple steps on Amanda, however she responded with 250m to go and caught back up to the group coming down the homestretch passing two runners to finish seventh in the heat only .33 seconds behind the sixth place runner.  However, when all the results were compiled she came up just shy of making the top 12 and advancing to Saturday's final.

It was a finish filled with mixed emotions.  A huge life time PR and school record by three seconds, but to come up just shy of advancing for the second straight year will sting a bit.  Her time was also only .7 seconds from the Olympic Trials A standard.  So imagine half your face smiling and the other half a mixture of disappointment/madness.

As a coach I can't really ask for anything more than running the fastest you've ever run in the most important race of the year.  However, I can appreciate the disappointment my athletes feel when they want and expect more and just miss it.  It was another huge day of learning and growing for Amanda.  She has enjoyed a ton of success especially in the bigger meets.  I have no doubt she'll do what she has done for three years and use this experience to further her ability and fuel her desire.

Don't forget that today we have senior Bree LeRoy closing out her outstanding career as she takes part in the women's high jump final at 4:30 local time.  This is her first appearance at this meet.  Bree was our first ever outdoor track and field All Pac-12 performer a month ago after finishing third in this event.