On the Run with Matt McGowan. From mid July – August print RUNOHIO

Last month saw a lot of outstanding competition in track and field as well as road racing.

The 101st boys and 34th girls Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships provided another outstanding weekend of competition. The Ohio State University Jesse Owens Track was also the site of the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Ohio’s Jessica Baird won her third 400 meter Junior title. Ohio’s Ryan Fleck and Erik Kynard went 1-2 in the men's high jump. Perhaps the race of the day was the women’s 1500 meters where Californian Jordan Hasey came from behind in the final 150 meters to win her second Junior title. Check out the RUNOHIO photo galleries - http://www.runohio.com/show/galleries

I spent eleven days in Eugene, Oregon for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field - Team Trials. This was the first time I attended all eight days of competition. I have attended four Trials before, but just for the last four days of competition. I flew out with my assistant high school cross country coach, Steve Taliaferro, and he stayed for the first three days and my brother, Jeff, came out for the final five days. Eugene bills itself as “Track Town USA” and they lived up to their hype. They had a “Track Town Plaza” where fans who didn’t have a ticket to the meet could watch it on two jumbo screens. The Eugene 08 committee also sponsored a street fair around Hayward Field to allow fans to enjoy a festival atmosphere.

Check out the RUNOHIO photo galleries - http://www.runohio.com/show/galleries

I also had a chance to talk with a number of Bob Schul’s Distance Legends, check out my blogs with them at - http://www.runohio.com/aggregator/sources/4

Over 20,000 fans attended each of the eight U.S. Olympic Track and Field - Team Trials sessions. The fans who attended were some of the most knowledgeable track and field fans around as they were cheering for the field events, sprints, and distance races. The crowd seemed to really get excited about the distance races. The first night Amy Yoder Bagley electrified the crowd as she ran her final mile in the 10,000 meters in around 4:50 with a last lap of 67.8. Amy’s time of 31 minutes, 43.60 seconds made it to Beijing with 1.40 seconds to spare as she made the Olympic “A” standard of 31:45. Note: Even if a runner finishes in the top three they must meet the “A” standard to go to the Olympics. Former Ohioan Katie McGregor had the “A” standard going into the race and by finishing fourth would have gone to the Olympics if Yoder Bagley had not run under 31:45.

Former Division III collegiate runner Nicholas Symmonds who now runs for the Oregon Track Club won the 800 meters with University of Oregon Andrew Wheating finishing second. Oregon Track Club member Christian Smith took home the bronze with the entire crowd standing and cheering for the hometown trained trio.

Tyson Gay set an American record in the 100 meters (9.77) and then bettered the World record (9.68) only to have it nullified because the wind was too strong. Gay’s pull up in the 200 meters silenced the capacity crowd. Hopefully, he will be healthy for the Olympics

Anna Willard sprinted the final 200 meters to set a new American record in the 3000 meter steeplechase 9:27.59 while earning the opportunity to run in the first ever held Olympics women’s steeplechase.

Over 21,000 attended the final day with the 1500 meters and the women’s pole vault making for an excellent end to the Trials. Jennifer Stuczynski passed in the pole vault until 15 feet 1 inch and missed on her first two tries before clearing the height and earning a spot on the Olympic team. She then went on to clear 16 feet 1 ¾ inches to set a new American record.

Everything seemed to go very well for the Trials. Since I was staying in the media residence hall right behind the track I didn’t see any news or coverage of the Trials. It was my understanding that NBC did not release any coverage each day to ESPN or anybody else. But when Tyson Gay pulled up I saw that on ESPN at the restaurant a dozen times one night. Hopefully, in the future the mass sports market will be able to see highlights on the evening news or on ESPN as this would really help promote the sport. Yoder Bagley’s finish, the men’s 800 meters, Gay’s 100 meter American record, Willard’s steeplechase American record, and Stuczynski’s pole vault American record could have made the highlights of many television sports coverage. Track and Field fans would have welcomed the coverage on ESPN and other nightly sports shows. It seems that NBC should have released their highlights to help promote the upcoming Olympics.

I will be helping direct the Watterson/Whetstone Alumni Track and Cross Country Alumni 5km cross country race with the cross country coaches from Whetstone and Bishop Watterson on July 26th. This will be the third year for the race and is open to current students, alumni, and parents from the two schools.

On August 16th I will be working with the St Francis DeSales cross country coaches to assist with the Columbus Crew 5km. The nice thing about this race, besides working with a rival school, is that everyone who runs the race gets a free ticket ($26 value) to the Columbus Crew FC Dallas game that evening. Register online - http://www.runohio.com/read_event/crew-5k

Make sure you take it easy on the hot humid days and drink plenty of water before and after your runs.

I hope you enjoy watching the Summer Olympics August 8 – 24.

Good luck with your summer training and racing.

This issue will serve as a mid July – August RUNOHIO and the next issue will be a September/October issue and the deadline is August 9th.

Matt McGowan