ATF_Summer 2011H-LORES

Summer 2011 $5.95 Volume 18, Number 2

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Group Publisher: Larry Eder, [email protected] Editor: Christine Johnson, [email protected]

Advertising: Larry Eder, [email protected]/Contributors: Darren De Reuck, John Godina, Chris Lotsbom,

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Photographers: Lisa Coniglio/PhotoRun, Victah Sailer/PhotoRunLayout/Design: Kristen Cerer

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Special Thanks To: Tim Garant, Alex Larsen, Tom Mack, Mary Atwell, Deb Keckeisen, Sydney Wesemann

In loving memory of Violet Robertson, 1913–2003www.american-trackandfield.com

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American Track & Field (ISSN 1098-64640) is produced, published and owned by Shoot-ing Star Media, Inc., PO Box 67, Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538-0067, Christine John-son, President, Larry Eder, Vice President. Copyright 2011 by Shooting Star Media,Inc. All Rights Reserved. Publisher assumes no liability for matter printed, and assumesno liability or responsibility for content of paid advertising and reserves the right toreject paid advertising. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not neces-sarily those of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced or storedin any form without written permission of the Publisher.

American Track & Field is not related to or endorsed by any other entity or corporationwith a similar name and is solely owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc.

Publisher recommends, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with yourphysician before instituting any changes in your fitness program.

8 Starting Blocks

30 Exit

10 Training High-School Runners for 5 KM Cross Country

12 Value of Cross Country

14 Minimalism: Summer 2011

18 A simple exercise to improvedownhill running effectiveness

20 LA Marathon

22 Trail Shoes: Summer 2011

24 Dick Booth – Jumps Coach Moves to University of Alabama

28 Junior Editor, Race Results Weekly

Cover photo: Lukas Verzibas, Morgan Uceny, Adam Nelson


Photo: Jiro Mochizuki, www.photorun.NET

What a great summer of track & field! As I write this, I am in Stockholm, having justenjoyed a tremendous night of track and field at the DN Galan Stockholm Diamond

League meeting.

Being in one of the most hallowed stadiums in all of our sport was part of the excitementof my track vacation. The performances of Christian Cantwell, Andreas Thorkildsen, ValerieAdams, Carmelita Jeter, and Shalane Flanagan are always awe inspiring. Seeing how anoth-er nation supports track and field has been a revelation.

Most of you know that I have been going to meets in the UK for much of the last decade.This summer, adding Paris, Lille, Birmingham, Stockholm, London, Eugene, and NewYork, has shown me what the sport can do at its best.

I also see the U.S., with 50 state high-school track meets and over 400,000 paid attendance,as another example of how disconnected we are here. Most states have their high schoolstate meets with 8,000–40,000 fans coming to high school meets, and paying. Why couldwe not, at several of them, provide a one-hour, short, elite program at end of meet, pro-viding TV with strong crowd, high school sports with some dollars for their developmentand build the brand of track and field?

These are the challenges we face in track and field in the United States. And, I believe, thatyou, my 37,553 head track and field coach friends at the high school and college level, haveapproaches that could make sense on building our sport. Send me your suggestions [email protected], and I will publish them, either on runblogrun or in ATF!

It’s your sport. If you do not get involved, you have nothing to complain about.

Larry Eder, Publisher

Publisher’s Note

2011 Stockholm Diamond League


Photo: Victah, www.photorun.NET

Starting Blocks

s ta r t i n g b l o c k s

For any track fan with an iota of realism, the move of theMillrose Games from Madison Square Garden uptownto the 168th Street Armory could not have been a sur-

prise. Millrose, for nearly a century the most famous indoor

meet in the world, had been struggling: disappointing crowds,disappointing buzz. The meet could no longer regularly packthe Garden to the rafters as it did from the 1920s to the1990s. And the Garden’s 160-yard track—once the standardfor indoor tracks—could not compete with the dozens offaster 200-meter tracks that became the new standard.

The meet, like Madison Square Garden itself, was simplypart of the declining indoor scene in the United States, whichhad a virtual monopoly on indoor track since the first everindoor meet was held in New York in the 1880s.

A century later, in 1987, the IAAF awarded its firstindoor world championships to Indianapolis, as a nod to thesupremacy of the U.S. in developing indoor track. But in real-ity the U.S. circuit already was in a downtrend, with shrink-ing sponsorships and losses of meets, even as indoor trackflourished in Europe.

Though the decline of Millrose was inevitable given thetrends of the domestic indoor circuit, that doesn’t make thenews any less devastating. Eamonn Coghlan, the Irish mileradopted by New York fans for the thrills he provided atMillrose, compared it to the Rose Bowl going Division III.

The Millrose situation is a body blow to the sport’s afi-cionados. It just won’t be the same even though the nicelybanked 200-meter synthetic track at the Armory is a superiorsurface to the cramped 160-yard board track in the Garden,home to Millrose since 1914. The 5,000-seat Armory is justnot a spectator facility on par with the 18,000-capacityGarden. The new version won’t be the social event thatMillrose was in its heyday, attracting many general sports fanswho often attended no other meet in a year. But those daysare gone, just like the smoky haze from cigarettes and cigarsthat formed a cloud above the Garden track during the erabefore nonsmoking ordinances.

No athletes and not many fans would like to return to thedays of smoke-filled arenas. Norb Sander and his Armory staffhave worked a wonder in restoring it as a hub for high schooland college indoor track. Who knows? Maybe they can worksome sort of revival for Millrose and make it relevant again.One thing’s sure: Thanks to the faster Armory track, plenty ofMillrose meet records will be broken next February.

Those who mourn the change of Millrose’s status recallthe glory days of the meet with the Garden packed to capaci-ty and the crowd in a frenzy during lead changes of theWanamaker Mile or another exciting event with Olympicchampions and world record holders. But those days are amemory, not a current reality. Let’s hope Sander and newmeet director Ray Flynn can create a new, exciting reality forthe meet.

2009 Millrose Games Madison Square Garden, NYC



s ta r t i n g b l o c k s

Ryan Hall passed the first big test after his decision to leave TerrenceMahon as his mentor and to coach himself. Hall finished 4th atApril’s Boston Marathon in a personal best 2:04:58, the fastest timeever by an American. Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai won the race in2:03:02—57 seconds under the world record. Neither mark willstand as a record because the course has a net drop above the allow-able limit. The field also benefited from a strong tailwind for mostof the race on the point-to-point course.

Hall made the right calls in prepping for Boston. Now he’s mak-ing a decision that could be second-guessed in planning to run theChicago Marathon in October prior to the Olympic Trials marathonin January in Houston, a gap of 96 days.

“I’ve definitely thought through that scenario quite a lot,” Hallsaid in a conference call. “I actually look at it as the perfect amountof time between Chicago and the Trials. I don’t start my [marathon]training until 10 weeks before. It’s actually perfect for me to have 14weeks between.”

The fast Chicago course appeals to Hall as does the fact that therace will have pacesetters unlike Boston, where Hall has done muchof the leading in his recent races there. The Chicago pacers couldhelp Hall break Khalid Khannounchi’s U.S. record of 2:05:38.

“The great thing about having paced races is you don’t have tothink the first 20 miles,” Hall said. “You don’t have to be mentallyengaged until the last 15 kilometers.” Enjoy Chicago, then. For theTrials and the Olympics, Hall will have to be engaged the entire race.

Hall Making the Calls

You wonder if the IAAF isn’t secretlyrooting for South Africans OscarPistorius and Caster Semenya to benonfactors at the upcoming WorldChampionships. No news from thosetwo would be good news for the IAAF,which has not distinguished itself inits handling of the cases of the tworunners.

Pistorius, known as the “BladeRunner,” is a 400-meter runner whohas no lower legs and runs with pros-thetics. On July 19 he ran 45.07 toqualify for Daegu. Last year in a caseadjudicated by the Court ofArbitration for Sport (CAS), Pistoriuswas approved to run internationally.Now it appears the decision was a rushto judgment without benefit of ade-quate scientific input.

“The current evidence alreadysuggests that he has a significantadvantage,” South African sports sci-ence expert Ross Tucker toldIOLSport, a South African publica-tion. “He keeps falling back on theCAS ruling, and telling people thatthe science has cleared him. That iscompletely untrue. What has hap-pened is the lawyers were able to clear

him because the [CAS] process wasflawed in that it did not allow all thescience to be presented.”

According to Ross and other sci-entists, Pistorius’ prosthetic legs enablehim to move his legs 16% faster thanhistory’s fastest sprinters and to staylonger on the ground, enabling him toapply more force per stride.

“His advantage is large, and it’snot a question of an advantage overother able-bodied runners, but overwhat able-bodied legs would pro-duce,” Tucker said. “In other words,what, theoretically is the advantage ofcarbon-fiber compared to humanlimbs? Do they perform better? Theanswer is yes, and that’s why we mustmake a fuss.”

Tucker realizes his opinion is not human-interest-story friendly.Pistorius has become a symbol of over-coming adversity, an international hero.“He is all those things, make no mis-take,” Tucker said. “He’s inspirationaland he should get enormous credit forthat. The problem is thus a perform-ance one, and I exist in the world of sci-ence where the evidence matters, notthe emotion and opinion.”

It would be nice if Semenya’s situ-ation could be settled by science aswell. She is of mixed gender, a situationthat came to light prior to the 2009World Championships where she wonthe 800. Both IAAF and South Africanofficials have acknowledged mistakesin not treating her case with more sen-sitivity and confidentiality.

But what about the science?There have been reports that Semenyahas male sex organs and much moreperformance-enhancing testosteronein her system than normal females.Opponents and their coaches claimthis gives her an unfair advantage.

The IAAF has suspendedSemenya and reinstated her. What theorganization hasn’t done is give thepublic and her opponents a completereport on the situation. There are toomany doubts and not enough certain-ty in the situation.

There are no easy answers to hardquestions. But as Pistorius andSemenya continue to run well, thequestions will get harder. And theanswers could affect track and field infar-reaching ways.

Pistorius and Semenya Could Pose Problems for the Sport


One of the great things about racinghigh-school cross country is the factthat races typically don't exceed 5 km.

This virtually assures that most young runnersare not overtraining and thus are not constantlygetting hurt. Of course there are quite a fewgung-ho kids out there ripping up the miles andfollowing a high-intensity schedule, but they arein the minority.

Although the 5,000-meter distance is rela-tively short, prepping for the race still requires agood base of endurance running and strength.Still, this kind of training should be much lesstaxing than a half or full marathon schedule. 5km races are intense; but they don't stress thebody as much as the longer distances – whichmeans that speed workouts can be short andsweet, long runs don't need to be all-day events,and high school beginners to the sport can getinto distance running without being discour-aged by the amount of work involved.

If you gave your runners a "SummerTraining Schedule" to follow and they did fol-low it, your team should have a solid base ofaerobic training, coupled with some strengthtraining, to start the season. This will help themtremendously when you mix in some speedwork, which involves plenty of short, fast inter-vals. While beginners should not do more thanone speed session a week, more experiencedrunners can add a second weekly speed session.

The cross-country season itself gives you asa coach plenty of wiggle room. The season caneither be short or long, depending on whetherindividual athletes and/or the team qualifies forState, and then, for the best runners, perhapsregional Footlocker and Footlocker finals. If one has a solid base starting the season and

the goal race is running well at State, you’llprobably want to dial back training somewhatin the first part of the season so that peakingdoes not become an issue.

Prioritize the races to be run, and trainthrough the small meets early in the season.Having small peaks for the important races isgood, but you obviously do not want your run-ners to peak too soon. There is a fine linebetween overtraining and perfecting a peak.

Interval trainingBefore starting your young runners on intervaltraining, it’s a good idea to explain to themwhat interval training is, and why it will helpthem become better runners. You might explainit this way:

“Interval training consists of activity at ahigh intensity for a period of time, followed bylow intensity recovery for a period of time.These "sets" are repeated.

“Sprint Intervals - the high-intensity por-tion are called ‘Sprint Intervals,’ and are meas-ured either by time or distance. They can be asshort as 15 seconds or as long as 20 minutes. Anexample of a Sprint Interval workout would berunning at full pace along a stretch of field for30 seconds and then recovering by jogging, say,60 to 90 seconds before repeating the 30-secondsprint.

“Rest Intervals or Active Rest - the periodsof recovery are called Rest Intervals or ActiveRest. During this period athletes do not stopthe activity, but generally exercise at a low inten-sity which allows the body to recover from thesprint interval. The length of these periods aredetermined primarily by your fitness levels andthe type of the sprint interval.

TRAINING HIIGH-SCHOOL RUNNERSFOR 5 KM CROSS COUNTRY by Darren De Reuck

Although the 5,000-meter distance

is relatively short,prepping for the racestill requires a goodbase of endurance

running and strength.


“The intervals – the recovery periods -- areimportant; the basis of the interval training is toinsure that your speed work is done at an opti-mal intensity, and without sufficient rest yourinterval training will resort back to an aerobictype of activity.

“Intensity - the intensity of the sprint inter-vals is how hard you push yourself. We measurethis on perceived effort on a scale of 1 to 10;with 1 being effortless and 10 representing themaximum effort possible. This is a completelypersonal scale depending on your own fitnesslevels and the type of interval training. Seasonedathletes may be working on improving theirspeed and a "10" may represent an all out effort

ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Grantedthat they could not maintain a 30 second sprintfor 5 minutes, but the maximum effort still rep-resents a 10. The same is said for beginners, whoat first may even have to do their intervals whilepower walking; a one-minute walk at a briskpace may leave some people completely out ofbreath, but this would be their 10. A ‘10’ ismerely the maximum amount of effort a personcan safely expend for that particular interval”

To sum up, one of the most important les-sons you can teach your kids is this: “The over-trained runner gets hurt, but the smart runnerkeeps running, and winning.”

“The overtrained runner gets hurt, but the smart runner keeps running, and winning.”


Value of Cross Countryby Darren De Reuck

Camaraderie, team bonding and spirit, building solid strength and havingfun are just a few things that immediately come to mind when I think ofcross country. Then you have the actual running of cross country over

undulating muddy terrain, through the woods and out in the country. It seemsfor the most part that courses today are flat and fast and drifting away from thegood old “lose your spike in a mud pit” courses. However, every so often highschool cross country courses are rugged and challenging and not on your typi-cal grass fields They require a tremendous amount of strength, and your fasttrack runners are suddenly at a disadvantage. Now that’s cross country, and withit comes a tremendous amount of physical and mental benefits.

Cross country is a unique sport and one that will probably become a life-altering activity should you choose to join your school team. Many sports offerphysical activity, but few offer the chance to adopt a lifetime hobby that buildsstrength, confidence and long-term healthy habits.

There are no bench-warmers in cross country. Everyone gets to lace up andcompete, irrespective of level. Practice hard and keep training, and you are like-ly to make the team whether it is Varsity or JV. Cross country running is hardwork and determination.

While it is fun to compete against friends and runners from other schools,you will always be able to run against your most fierce competitor—yourself.Tracking your progress and watching your improvement will give you an innerconfidence and tremendous feeling of accomplishment.

Cross country running is an inexpensive sport: A pair of training and crosscountry flats are all that are required, coupled with the great outdoors—no spe-cial equipment or gear. With the hard training, over time you will start to feel thebody’s natural endorphin release and that “runner’s high”—the feeling of con-quering a workout or race and that mental and physical accomplishment.

Because cross country running is intense and works so many muscle groups,one needs to enter the season with a solid preseason base to avoid injury.Working out in the summer and building that foundation will go a long way ingetting you ready for a good cross country season. Even if you are the best run-ner on your team, use the benefits of your fellow teammates to make you better.From the camaraderie that comes with a team to the hard workouts your coachhas you do, the people you run with will motivate you to perform your best bytheir words and their actions. Forming bonds with your teammates will raiseeveryone’s performance to a new level. Teams with a positive atmosphere fosterfriendly competition and make runners better.

In closing, yes, cross country running is team oriented and helps you buildstrength for the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons, but all of this ispointless if you are not having fun. Competition gets the adrenaline pumpingand winning for the team is awesome, but do not get obsessed with this andwaste precious energy worrying instead of relaxing and enjoying yourself. At theend of the day, your loved ones will love you just as much and your teammateswill console you, so go out there and enjoy yourself and have fun doing it.

Andrew McClanahan, www.photorun.NET

The all new Kilkenny XC4

is a lightweight cross country

racing spike and flat with an

excellent fit and ride that gets

you to the finish line faster.


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Minimalist Shoes: Summer 2011 by Cregg Weinmann

The benefit of running in minimal shoes is the improved strength provided by intermittent stress. However, the smallerthe difference between the heel height and the forefoot height (referred to as the heel-to-forefoot drop), the more stress isplaced on the kinetic chain—the muscles and tendons from the feet to the hips and related structures beyond. Thisrequires a gradual adaptation that varies from one person to another. Using a minimalist shoe will affect your running ina positive way when used in moderation. Here we have taken a look at eight models that provide an overview of multiplesolutions from across the running shoe industry. Keep in mind that these are more training aids than training shoes in thetraditional sense, so use the web resources provided by the various brands (as well as searching out other online resources)and adapt them to your own running.

adidas ClimaCool RideOn the shelf, the ClimaCool Ride creates buzz as it comes in about a cou-

ple dozen color combinations and features a compelling look, but it’s much

more than just a pretty shoe. Its light weight and low profile merge well with

the foot to maximize the foot’s natural motion. The upper is airmesh with

minimal welded overlays, providing just enough structure to wrap your foot

while allowing it to move much as it wants to. The midsole is a laterally zig-

zagged ribbon of molded EVA that provides good cushioning while allow-

ing the foot a good level of freedom. And using rubber only on the zig-zag-

ging areas of the outersole saves about 10–15% on the weight of the rubber.

The low profile and flexibility require a bit of getting used to, but the shoe

will hold up to a good level of wear.

“Snug like a slipper, plus it’s nice and light. Comfortable and feels good while I run. Works well forfaster-paced running.”

$90 Sizes: men 4–13,14,15; women 5–12 Weight: (men’s 11) 9.5 oz.; (women’s 8) 8.6 oz. Heel/Forefoot Drop: 5 mm

Altra Instinct (m) / Altra Intuition (w)Altra is a new brand that approaches minimalism by reducing materials and

shaping the mid/outersoles and upper to the foot. The midsole is a thin layer

for just enough cushioning when combined with the Strobel board and

innersole, and it’s equal height in both the heel and the forefoot, i.e., no

pitch or heel-to-forefoot drop. The shape of the heel mimics the shape of an

actual heel not just inside the shoes but outside as well, where it has round-

ed edges that prevent the levered touchdown response that you get with a

more traditional squared-off heel. The airmesh upper is snug in the heel

with a noticeably wider forefoot for toe splay. The different lasting of the

men’s and women’s versions ensures a better fit for a wider variety of feet. As

with all zero-drop shoes, an adaptation period is recommended and Altra

has outlined its recommendations with more specificity than most on its

website, http://altrarunning.com/transition

“I love the shape; they fit my foot great! Nice responsive ride—perfect amount of cushion for a ‘levelshoe’ without a big heel.”

$100 Sizes: men 6–13,14,15; women 6–11 Weight: (men’s 11) 10.1 oz.; (women’s 8) 9.1 oz.Heel/Forefoot Drop: 0 mm

ASICS Blur 33The 33 Series, named for the 33 joints in the foot, is ASICS’ foray into

minimalism, though it has already had a number of minimalist shoes in its

competition collection. The Blur is the first in a series that offers more flex-

ibility and road feel than its traditional training shoes. The upper is a min-

imesh over a wide open mesh liner. Suede overlays provide a secure fit. The

interior features PHP with its memory foam comfort. The midsole fea-

tures near-traditional heel-to-toe offsets, but vertical siping and flex

grooves provide pronounced flexibility. The multiple layers of cushion-

ing—the Solyte midsole, EVA Strobel board, and Ortholite innersole—

provide a plush feel to the shoe. The outersole of segmented rubber allows

a good measure of flexion and traction.

“These shoes feel snug and light. Surprisingly nice feel. They are also really flexible and move wellwith the foot.”

$85 Sizes: men 6.5–13,14; women 5–12 Weight: (men’s 11) 11.0 oz.; (women’s 8) 8.7 oz.Heel/Forefoot Drop: 10 mm

Merrell Trail Glove (m) / Merrell Pace Glove (w)Merrell’s approach with the Trail Glove (and the women-specific Pace

Glove) is a dramatic departure from its usual trail shoe offerings.

Working with Vibram, a longtime partner, Merrell has developed a

new outersole that’s durable and provides good traction in a much

thinner piece of rubber. It’s designed to protect the foot without

adding needless weight in the process. The midsole is a very thin layer

of molded EVA that mimics the contours of the foot and provides a bit

of protection without changing the zero drop from heel to forefoot.

Merrell has launched a website for questions about its shoes and natu-

ral running form: www.merrell.com/US/en/Barefoot

“Soft, breathable mesh upper makes it light and friction free. They hugged my foot supportive-ly and running was a light touch, with a decent measure of protection.”

$110 Trail Glove (m)/$100 Pace Glove (w) Sizes: men 7–12,13,14,15; women 5–12 Weight:(men’s 11) 7.9 oz.; (women’s 8) 5.4 oz. Heel/Forefoot Drop: 0 mm


r e v i e w

Nike Free 3.0 v2While the Nike Free 3.0 was the spark for the minimalist movement when

it was introduced in 2007, it was a bit ahead of the curve and so not fully

understood or appreciated at the time. The 3.0 v2 added some new touches

while in a holding pattern in the marketplace. The midsole and outersole

remain the same—an ultra-flexible matrix of deep grooves in Phylite (a blend

of EVA and rubber), with a few pieces of carbon rubber at the heel and the

toe. The upper features the changes, including switching to a closed mesh

with welded overlays to eliminate seams, adding suede on the medial

metatarsal, eyestay, and heel, and the inclusion of a very thin thermoplastic

toe cap. The result is a close-fitting, lightweight shoe with a small heel-to-

forefoot drop, with the real benefits coming from the ultra-flexible sole.

Nike’s original suggested use of the Free, now nearly lost in the mists of time,

was as a training aid: gradually increasing use until it was a part of a regular

routine of several days each week. That’s still their advice with the 3.0 v2.

“Fast and nimble. Really allows my foot to get a workout because of the flexibility.”

$85 Sizes: men 6.5–13,14; women 5–12 Weight: (men’s 11) 7.4 oz.; (women’s 8) 6.0 oz. Heel/Forefoot Drop: 4 mm

New Balance Minimus Trail MT10/WT10The Minimus Trail represents the most versatile of

the three Minimus shoes New Balance has intro-

duced. (The others are geared for roads and train-

ing.) The upper is a stretch mesh with a sueded lin-

ing in the heel; it nicely hugs the foot while allowing

the toes to spread. The midsole is a low-profile design

with 4 millimeters of drop from heel to toe, offering some

cushioning while encouraging a flatter, midfoot contact with the ground.

The durable Vibram rubber outersole is great for traction and has a good

feel for both the roads and trails. New Balance has information on transi-

tioning to this shoe at www.newbalance.com/performance/running/good-

form-running Its more moderate appoach and thorough transitioning plan

earned the Minimus Trail MT10/WT10 our new award for Best Shoe in

the Minimalist category.

“Good toe room, but hugs my foot well. Nice and low to the ground without eliminating all of thecushioning.”

$100 Sizes: men 7–13; women 5–11 Weight: (men’s 11) 8.4 oz.; (women’s 8) 6.9 oz. Heel/Forefoot Drop: 4 mm

Vibram Bikila LSVibram’s Five Finger (VFF), while not the original minimalist shoe, has cer-

tainly been a catalyst for the category. As a training aid, it strengthens the

foot and improves proprioception. The LS is the counterpart to the original

Bikila which featured a hook-and-loop strap to secure the shoe. The LS uses

laces to better accommodate narrow feet or those with a high instep. The

upper is the same synthetic stretch material so it still fits very closely, making

sizing critical as it runs up to two U.S. sizes smaller. The midsole consists of

thin layers of EVA strategically placed to offer a bit of cushioning, but just a

bit. The outersole is composed of dozens of rubber pods contoured to the

foot for traction and protection. The zero drop of the sole and the adjust-

ment to the pocket-like compartments of this foot-glove may require a little

longer transition to regular use than some other options. Vibram answers

many questions at www.vibramfivefingers.com/faq/barefoot_running_faq.htm

“Great feel for the trail, road, or ground. Just enough protection to save your bare foot.”

$100 Sizes: men 7–13 (Euro 40–47); women 6–10 (Euro 36–42) Weight: (men’s 11) 6.2 oz.; (women’s8) 5.5 oz. Heel/Forefoot Drop: 0 mm

Saucony HattoriWith the Hattori, Saucony’s approach is to maximize the minimal, and it’s

the lightest shoe presented here. The upper features a thin layer of lycra-

like mesh, bolstered in the midfoot and heel by synthetic suede and secured

by heel and midfoot straps with hook-and-loop closures. The forefoot is

supported by ultra-thin, welded thermoplastic film, so the stretch is mod-

erated. The midsole is a blend of EVA and rubber that Saucony calls EVA+.

The outersole is largely exposed EVA+ which does a credible job, but it’s

really the rubber pods at the heel, first metatarsal, and big toe that handle

the wear. The contact of the sole is full-length, with no heel-to-forefoot

drop, which is addressed in a video on the Hattori page (navigate there

from www.saucony.com).

“So light and flexible, it’s like not wearing anything.”

$80 Sizes: men 7–13,14; women 5–12 Weight: (men’s 11) 4.7 oz.; (women’s 8) 4.1 oz. Heel/Forefoot Drop: 0 mm

BEST SHOEMinimalistSU M M E R 2 0 11

CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for Running Network LLC. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Copyright © 2011 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted

without prior written permission of Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.


Almost half of a runner’s off-the-trackmileage involves running downhill.Disregarding the small percentage of

mileage that is truly flat, if a runner runs aloop and returns to the same location, he orshe will have run as many downhill miles asuphill miles. And the key to effective down-hill running is the work done by the quadri-ceps. As the top of the hill is achieved, therunner begins an effortless glide down theback slope with the assistance of gravity, andthe quadriceps begin their role as stabilizersand decelerators. Foot-strike after foot-strikethe quadriceps are asked to tame gravity.Without that sturdy, eccentric dampening ofimpact, the runner would be faced with anever-accelerating downhill ride, a loss of con-trol, and quite possibly, a nasty fall.

Clearly, mastering downhill stability isimperative to the health, as well as the per-formance of the runner. One simple but ele-gant exercise—the Single Leg Box Drop—can build both strength and awareness as therunner re-educates the nervous system todampen impact while stabilizing the kneeand hip joints. Once this is achieved, therunner can safely carry more downhill speedand, thus, increase performance.

Begin on a low box or step. In a con-trolled, smooth movement simply step for-ward from the box to a single-legged, bent-knee landing. The key to the exercise is notthe movement to the ground, but the move-ment after contact with the ground and theability to maintain and hold the proper posi-tion.

The landing position is critical. Mostathletes want to reach for a straight-legged,rigid landing in which the brunt of the forceis transferred to the skeletal system. In thisexercise, we are looking for absorption offorce by the leg muscles, therefore, a bentknee is a must. Aim for a 50–60° knee bend

while also absorbing impact with a toe-to-mid foot strike. Landing on the heel wouldserve to transfer the energy directly to theskeletal system, jarring bones and cartilageover time. Upon foot strike, absorb the fallfrom the step with quadriceps and glutes.Because the down step is in the forwarddirection, the quadriceps will be pressed intoaction more dominantly than in flat-groundrunning. The quads not only absorb thedownward vertical momentum but also theforward momentum of the body.

At the bottom of the movement (50–60°knee bend), hold the position and check theposition for a three count. Check that theknee is directly over the toe—not only front toback, but also side to side. Do not allow theusual inward drifting of the knee toward thecenterline of the body when absorbing theimpact. This is key to stability of the knee jointbut also will create an efficient transfer of ener-gy from the eccentric phase to the concentricphase of foot strike when running, therebyincreasing performance.

If you perform this exercise facing amirror, you will be able to observe not onlythe finish position, but also the movement asthe leg takes the weight of the descent. Do

not allow the knee to drift forward of thetoe—this signifies mediocre use of thequadriceps upon impact.

Finally, check for the engagement andrecruitment of the core and pillar for stabili-ty. Explaining the process of developing pil-lar stability would take many pages. For sim-plicity, we check for three main indicators ofinstability in the torso: 1) If the hips are notlevel or the down-leg hip is “poking” out tothe side, this indicates instability in the coreand glutes. Focus on locking in the core (asdescribed in Core Performance by MarkVerstegan) and activating the down-leg glutefor stability; 2) If the shoulders are not level,this again indicates instability in the core.Lock it in and find shoulders-level balanceon one leg; 3) If the chest is pitched down-ward (usually accompanied by a down-legthat is too straight), this indicates instabilityin the core as well as inactivity in either thedown-leg glute or the spinal erectors of thelower back, possibly both.

Work up gradually to doing the SingleLeg Box Drop from a 4–8" box or step.Begin with four sets of eight reps on each leg.As your skill and strength improve, you canadd weighted vests to increase the workload.As you get closer to race time, reduce theload to bodyweight only and perform onlytwo sets of five to activate the nervous systemand reinforce the neural patterns that willgive you downhill stability on race day.

John Godina is a three-time world championand two-time Olympic medalist in the shot putand the best shot put–discus combinationthrower in history. He founded and operates theJohn Godina World Throws Center at Athletes’Performance in Phoenix. Reach him atwww.worldthrowscenter.com, www.ath-letesperformance.com or (480) 449-9000.

A simple exercise to improve downhill running effectivenessbyJohn Godina

As the top of the hill isachieved, the runner begins aneffortless glide down the back

slope with the assistance ofgravity, and the quadriceps

begin their role as stabilizersand decelerators.


Each summer brings more shoes designed to enhance your off-road running experiences. This year, subcategories in this typeof shoe have become more distinct. We’ve taken a look at shoes from the burgeoning Responsive, Performance, and Racing

categories, with a Hybrid thrown in for good measure. Responsive Trail shoes are designed to adapt to the trail (by geometryor by materials); Performance Trail shoes are responsive as well as light (under 350 grams). Trail Racing shoes have very lowprofile designs and are very lightweight, often well under 300 grams. Hybrid Trail shoes have features that suit both roads andtrails, especially cushioning and stability to manage overpronation and the imbalance caused by uneven terrain.

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Trail Shoes: Summer 2011 by Cregg Weinmann

Montrail FairhavenThe Fairhaven is the latest Montrail shoe that splits the difference between

the trail and the road. The mesh upper offers a fairly plush interior, while

memory foam in the ankle collar provides a snug heel fit. Soft sueded over-

lays enhance the secure saddle design. The midsole has a large lateral crash-

pad and generous full-length cushioning, while featuring Montrail’s new

Fluid-Post technology, a traditional medial support of firm EVA that pro-

vides stability as the foot moves toward toe-off. The outersole is a familiar

Gryptonite™ configuration (Y-shaped lugs that are variously-angled to pro-

vide traction on different terrains on a segmented sole to encourage flexi-

bility. The result is a shoe that performs as well on the trail as it does get-

ting you there.

$110 HYBRID TRAIL Sizes: men 7–13,14,15; women 5–11 Weight: 13.1 oz. (men’s 11); 11.3 oz. (women’s 8)

Shape: semi-curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to moderate overpronation

ASICS Trail Sensor 5The Trail Sensor has evolved into a responsive, adaptable trail cruiser. The

upper has been dialed in to hug the foot and keep it over the midsole, while

a gusseted tongue keeps out debris. The midsole and outersole combine to

flex where needed to handle uneven terrain, just as the original did, but the

decoupling and geometry between the heel and forefoot accomplish this

task better than ever and give a lower profile to boot. The traction is out-

standing, and the durability of the rubber stands up to trail and road almost

equally well. Overall, the responsiveness almost neutralizes the weight

(which is a bit on the high side for this category), though the tradeoff is a

blend of tough/plushness that will stand up to a good number of miles.

$120 RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: men 7–13,14,15; women 6–12 Weight: 14.0 oz. (men’s 11); 11.5 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semi-curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, Solyte Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity HPiHi-Tec has made a noticeable upswing in quality over the past few seasons,

but its new V-Lite Infinity HPi is an “all-in” effort. The shoe begins with a

well-designed dual-density midsole, not uncommon in trail runners, but

different here because of the low-profile silhouette that provides good cush-

ioning and stability. A Vibram outersole offers durability and traction, with

rubber pared back in non-essential wear areas to save weight. The upper is

engineered mesh with sublimated graphics, HF-welded overlays and, most

importantly, Ion Masking to repel moisture. A gusseted tongue keeps out

debris, and sueded linings offer a plush interior. Lacing grommets spaced

beyond the width of the throat provide secure cinching for a broad range

of feet. Its versatility, stability, and ride earned the V-Lite Infinity HPi our

award for Best New Trail Shoe.

$135 PERFORMANCE TRAIL Sizes: men 7–12,13; women 5–10,11 Weight: 12.0 oz. (men’s 11); 10.0 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semi-curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to moderate overpronation

Brooks Cascadia 6The Cascadia has been Brooks’ purest trail model through five iterations.

Round 6 incorporates the DNA midsole technology, giving an improved

feel to the cushioning while maintaining the stability of the shoe. The out-

ersole features a new multidirectional lug pattern to improve traction while

climbing or braking. The upper has several added touches that enhance its

performance: Two eyelets extend from a flexible elastic strip attached to the

eyestay to allow the lacing to move with the foot and an added lace loop at

the top of the tongue prevents it from slipping off-center (a cause of dis-

comfort). The use of soft suede overlays includes a lattice-like saddle that

lends support without constricting the foot. Added foam at the ankle collar

provides a cushy feel and conforming fit to the shoe.

$110 RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: men 7–13,14,15; women 5–11,12 Weight: 13.2 oz. (men’s 11); 11.3 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semi-

curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, S-257 Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation


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New Balance 915The 900 series is the peak of the New Balance trail line and the 915 carries

the banner for 2011. The upper features the same flared tongue seen on the

876 trail shoe, but here it’s combined with a gusset-like midfoot wrap of a

micro-mesh over the saddle with wide open mesh beneath to secure the

foot well. The midsole is a two-density foam with a soft heel that works

with the rounded outersole and Stabilicore midfoot support to guide the

foot onto the trail by conforming to the surface, then stabilizing the con-

tact by engaging the firmer components. The forefoot has a Rockstop plate

which, while somewhat stiff, allows good forefoot flexion yet protects the

foot and sole from debris and rocks. The lugged outersole employs a tes-

sellated pattern of triangular lugs of carbon rubber that result in excellent

traction.

$120 PERFORMANCE TRAIL Sizes: men 7–13,14; women 5–11,12 Weight: 12.2 oz. (men’s 11); 10.1 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semi-curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, perforated EVA Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to moderate overpronation

Inov8 X-Talon 190The X-Talon 190 pushes the envelope for full-featured trail racing shoes,

giving up little in protection, while maximizing grip and providing a nim-

ble feel for the trail. The battle against grams for trail racing lightness has a

new champion in the X-Talon 190, especially since it has the same ultra

aggressive, sticky rubber outersole as its sibling (and a former champ) the

X-Talon 215. The upper uses a skeletal HF-welded saddle-like design with

thermoplastic strands running from the midsole to each eyelet of the eye-

stay, securing the foot over the midsole. A high-friction, printed toecap

reinforces the upper while adding minimal weight. Extra foam at the ankle

collar improves the fit and comfort—especially for sockless use. The mid-

sole is a low 10 millimeters in the heel with 7 millimeters in the forefoot,

resulting in one hecka fast trail racer.

$110 TRAIL RACING Sizes: men 5–13; women 6.5–11 Weight: 7.5 oz. (men’s 11); 5.3 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biome-chanics, for racing and faster trail running

Saucony ProGrid PeregrineThe Peregrine takes its name from the world’s fastest bird, the Peregrine

Falcon. But if you’re going to fly, you’d better be equipped. Beginning with

the same platform as Saucony’s racing shoes that have a 4-millimeter drop

in height from heel to forefoot, it adds a midsole of ProGrid Lite. The out-

ersole is an aggressively lugged, multidirectional layer of rubber with flexi-

ble spines for traction at the perimeter and solid lugs down the middle for

protection. The upper features a no-sew matrix of thermoplastic that sup-

ports the foot with minimal overlays at heel and toe. A half-saddle–like sup-

port shores up the medial side and two rectangles of EVA run up the cen-

ter of the gussetted tongue to protect the top of the foot. A gaiter anchor

increases its versatility and function. The lightness, traction, and flexibility

exhibit Saucony’s commitment to speed on the trail and validate the

Peregrine’s performance.

$90 TRAIL RACING Sizes: men 7–13,14; women 5–12 Weight: 10.8 oz. (men’s 11); 8.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semi-curvedConstruction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral bio-mechanics, for racing and faster trail running

Pearl Izumi Peak IIThe second round of Pearl Izumi’s trail flyer takes a new look at perform-

ance. Round 1 took most of its cues from its road counterpart, the Streak,

and while the two have a bit of shared genetics, the Peak II is its own enti-

ty. The low-profile midsole is the only aspect with a shared geometry (it

takes the same approach to heel and forefoot heights as the Streak), but it

has tooling specific to the trail environment. That outersole borrows a bit

from last season’s more substantial trail offering (the IsoSeek IV) with lug

shape and placement that are designed for traction up- and downhill, as well

as climbing and braking.The no-sew upper uses HF-welded suede for sup-

port and to eliminate irritation often caused by stitching. The tongue fea-

tures a stretchy arch band that encircles the foot, while the Strobel board

and two-density Ortholite innersole contribute to the comfort and protec-

tion. Two tributes to Pearl’s Colorado home are included: The lace holder

on the tongue is the state flag and the embossing on the toe bumper is the

profile of the Rocky Mountains. The fit, traction, and light feel earned hon-

ors for this renovated speedster.

$110 TRAIL RACING Sizes: men 7–13,14; women 5–11,12 Weight: 10.9 oz. (men’s 11); 8.9 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semi-curved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board For: medium- to high-arched feet with neu-tral biomechanics, for racing and faster trail running

CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for Running Network LLC. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Copyright © 2011 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted

without prior written permission of Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.


Dick Booth’s track and field coaching career is longand storied, and it has produced one of the finesttrack records in NCAA, U.S., and world track-

and-field history. Booth spent 27 seasons as the men’s field events coach

at the University of Arkansas (1978–84, 1988–2009),where he recruited or coached every Arkansas schoolrecord holder in the men’s field events. Under his direc-tion, Arkansas captured 14 NCAA indoor track titles in 24tries with a string of eight consecutive outdoor champi-onships between 1992 and 1999 and another winningstreak with titles earned in 2003–06.

While at Arkansas, he recruited or coached everyArkansas school record-holder in the men’s field events.Between his Arkansas stints, he served as head coach atLouisiana-Lafayette, and from 2009 up to last week, wasmen’s field event coach at the University of Florida. A weekago he accepted the position as jumps coach at theUniversity of Alabama.

Booth has mentored 49 NCAA champions, 150 All-Americans and 11 Olympians. The jumpers he’s workedwith include many of the finest collegiate track athletes inhistory: Mike Conley, Erick Walder, Robert Howard,Edrick Floreal, Brian Wellman, Jerome Romain, RayDoakes, Matt Hemingway, Melvin Lister and Kenny Evans.

Booth has also coached pole vaulter Mark Klee andshot put-discus standouts Marty Kobza and ScottLofquist, and high jumpers Hollis Conway and NeilGuidry.

Mike Conley captured a Gold medal in the triplejump at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, makinghim Booth’s most successful jumper, while Hollis Conway,the American indoor record holder in the high jump, wonthe Silver medal at the 1988 Olympics and a Bronze at the1992 Olympics.

More recently, his two triple jumpers, Will Claye andChristian Taylor, have been sweeping everyone beforethem. At the Southeastern Conference OutdoorChampionships in Athens, Georgia, Claye won both thelong jump and triple jump titles with a wind aided (+2.2)17.24m/56-6.75 the TJ. Taylor finished second, with awind-legal SEC record jump of 17.15m/56-3.25 (+1.4).

Claye won the men’s long jump with a leap of8.29m/27-2.50 (+1.9), while Taylor was fourth at8.00m/26-3 (+0.5).

At the NCAA Indoor Championships, Claye scored18 points, winning the men’s triple jump (17.32m/56-10)and placing second in the men’s long jump (8.04m/26-4.5).

At this year’s NCAA Championships Claye andTaylor had an epic battle in the triple jump as Taylor wonthe NCAA Championship, with Claye second.

Taylor’s winning jump was a wind-aided leap of17.80m/58-4.75, the best-ever collegiate TJ, surpassingthe 1985 wind-aided measure by Arkansas’ Mike Conley(17.72m/58-1.75). Claye recorded a wind-aided best of17.62m/57-9.75, the third-best all-conditions jump incollegiate history. Taylor and Claye’s wind-legal marks of17.40m/57-1 and 17.35m/56-11.25, respectively, movedthem into the top-five in collegiate history.

Dick Booth has received plenty of recognition for hisfine work. He’s been awarded Men’s National Indoors andOutdoors Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.

But what stands out above all with Dick Booth is hismodesty and loyalty to his athletes. He considers himself amotivator, way more than a corrector.

Dick Booth’s philosophy of “giving his athletes anopportunity to feel proud of themselves for handling achallenging workout and recognizing their improvementsto the group” is clearly working.

I had the privilege of interviewing Dick Booth at theAUSATF Champs in Eugene, and his comments makeinteresting and inspirational reading for coaches and ath-letes, alike.

Which of your jumpers have you been most proud of? Dick Booth: It would be easy to name my most successfulathletes based upon national or international competi-tions, but I have just as much respect for those nearlyanonymous athletes who had great work ethic and madegreat improvement. All of those athletes made significantcontributions to our training group and none of us wouldhave been as successful without them. A consistent posi-tive work attitude will carry these guys through the chal-lenges of life, and that might be the most importantaccomplishment of any athletic program. How can younot be proud of an athlete who willingly accepts the chal-lenges put before him, and is recognized for his achieve-ments at the end of the day?


c o a c h e s

Dick Booth – Jumps coach movesby Roy Stevenson


What do you attribute your remarkable jump coachingsuccess to? I have been very blessed throughout my career to have hadso many physically gifted athletes with high-quality char-acter and a strong willingness to embrace those trainingchallenges put before them. I believe you never sneak upon success. It requires an unusual depth of commitmenttoward one’s goals. As a coach I feel the need to sufficient-ly challenge them to fully explore their potential. We musttrust that we are working harder, smarter and more consis-tently than our challengers. We will frequently surpriseourselves with our practice achievements in areas of speed,strength, endurance, tenacity and will. You'll miss thosesurprises if you aren't pushing hard enough.

What do you look for in your raw jumping talent?At the university level we have the advantage of watchingyoung talent being groomed by the “good coaches at thejunior high and high school levels.” They do our prelimi-nary work of recognizing talent, and rarely do they miss ayoung prospect with both the raw physical gifts and thedrive to develop it to the level that attracts us.

What philosophy do you impart to your athletes? God was very good to you regarding physical gifts, goodhealth and an opportunity to explore your potential. Ourjob is to be good stewards and do our best to magnify our

potential into production, and humbly recognize where itcame from.

What basic advice would you give to high school andother university coaches who are looking to extendtheir athletes to their full potential?“They won't care how much you know until they knowhow much you care.” Be a motivator way more than a cor-rector. Recognize the good things as frequently as possible,and criticize when necessary. Frequently give them anopportunity to feel proud of themselves for handling achallenging workout. Recognize their improvements to thegroup.

Each success reinforces the group, and allows respectfor each other’s achievements. To me coaching is more of acalling than a job. We have such a wonderful opportunityto affect young lives, and to have this special relationshipis unique and challenging. We owe them our best.

How do you keep your jumpers motivated through thepre-season and competitive season?My personal excitement about the challenges that lie aheadand the prospects for success that we possess. Successfulathletes rarely need much external motivation. That is oneof the traits that makes them special.


c o a c h e s

es to University of Alabama


C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

Bernard Lagat, New 5000mrecord, July 22, 2011, HerculisMonaco, 12:53.60

Jillian Camerana-Williams withshot put AR equalling of 20.18m

on July 8, 2011, AREVA Paris



Junior Editor/Race Result Weekly(meet results):www.nationalscholastic.org orFacebook: NewBalancenationals

Aisling Cuffe of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York solidifiedher mark in high school track

and field history here at the NewBalance Outdoor Nationals inGreensboro, North Carolina, runninga national high school record of9:54.22 in the 2-mile. Cuffe’s was justone of three national records to fallover the three-day competition, whichbrought together many of the besthigh-school athletes from across the

United States. Cuffe, a senior who has won

national titles in cross country andindoor track, wanted to end hercareer at Cornwall Central HighSchool in style by breaking MollyHuddle’s nine-year-old mark, whichstood at 10:01.08. Huddle is the cur-rent American record holder over5000m.

Cuffe would take the race outhard from the gun, immediately set-ting the tone that she wanted therecord. But at 800m, the field hadstrung out to single file and had a sur-prise leader: Kayla Beattie. Passing themile in 4:58.8, Cuffe was a few stepsback, inching closer and closer to theleader.

Coming down the home stretch,fans began a slow clap similar to oneheard frequently at Hayward Field inEugene. Would there be magic atAggie Stadium tonight? Cuffeanswered with an emphatic “yes,”surging and breaking away fromBeattie.

“I knew I had to go then, eventhough I was sacrificing my legspeed,” explained Cuffe post-race.

Crossing the tape minutes later in9:54.22, Cuffe had earned a nationalrecord, something she narrowlymissed doing indoors.

“It’s my last individual highschool race, and I guess I am happy itended that way,” said the StanfordUniversity–bound senior. “It hasn’treally sunken in yet.”

Cuffe’s final team race came twodays later in the distance medley relay,where she closed with a 4:41.24 finalleg, leading her team to a fifth placefinish.

Another national record fellmoments after Cuffe had crossed theline. Long Beach Poly TC ofCalifornia finished just under thenational record of 7:30.67 in the4x800m relay, running 7:28.75.

Christopher Hall, Myles Andrews,Aaron Harris, and Christian Penn, allseniors, combined to run the fastesttime ever in U.S. high school history.Andrews used his momentum aroundthe final turn to take over the lead,passing No Speed Limit TC in theprocess. Both teams wound up underAlbemarle, Virginia’s previous mark.Still out of breath, the team posed infront of the finish clock with theirtime proudly displayed.

“We just came out with onemindset—to get the record,” said theanchor Andrews, who split an incredi-ble 1:47.71.

In the final day of competition,Harvard-Westlake of California fin-ished off an amazing double with a vic-tory in the distance medley relay despitefeeling the effects of being ill. AmyWeissenbach, K.C. Cord, LaurenHansson and Cami Chapus lowered theprevious national mark by nearly tenseconds with a time of 11:22.23. Thebookends of the relay were key to theirrecord-setting mark: Weissnebach’s3:24.85 opening 1200m leg andChapus’ 4:45.23 final one helped fendoff charging Fayetteville-Manlius(Stotan TC), who also dipped under theprevious national mark.

“I just knew if it came down tothe last 600m, 400m or 200m that Icould kick, and that I knew I reallywanted this for my team,” said ahoarse Chapus, struggling to keep herlost voice audible. All four of the teammembers were battling illnessthroughout the weekend.


R a c e r e s u l t s

New Balance Outdoors by Chris Lotsbom

“I just knew if it came down to thelast 600m, 400m or 200m that I

could kick, and that I knew I real-ly wanted this for my team,” said

a hoarse Chapus, struggling tokeep her lost voice audible.


Aside from the national records,many spectacular races played out overthe three days of competition.

On the first day, the boys’ andgirls’ 5000m races took center stage, asEdward Cheserek broke the meetrecord, running 14:25.74, and WesleyFrazier set a new sophomore classrecord of 16:24.83.

Cheserek, a sophomore fromNew Jersey, controlled the race afteropening with a 63-second quartermile. Gunning for a sub 14-minuteperformance, the Kenyan-born athletecame up short as his pace faded in thesecond half.

“I was tired; it was hard. Withnobody pushing the pace, it was toughfor me,” he said. But his time wasgood enough to best the previous meetrecord by a little over five seconds.

The girls’ 5000m was won bysophomore Wesley Frazier, who hadone of the best meets a sophomorecould ever wish for. Not only did sheset a class record in the 5000m, shecame back the following day to finishthird in the 2-mile, then returned inthe mile to win after kicking hard inthe final meters.

“I have no idea [how I won],”explained a shocked Frazier. “I wasabsolutely surprised, I was feeling real-ly good.”

Only a sophomore, the questionis raised: Can she complete the triple ala Lukas Verzbicas at New BalanceIndoors by the time she graduates?

“I don’t know. It will definitelymotivate me for the next year, though,to get the triple.”

In the middle day of competition,the 4x800m team from Bronxville TC(New York) came to the line followinga day of dramatic ups and downs.Three members of the team had theirplane delayed for three hours thatafternoon, causing all to stress thatthey would miss their relay heat.Arriving at the track only an hour anda half before the gun, with tears stilldrying in their eyes, the team began tosettle down, focusing on the task athand.

The quartet composed of MaryCain, Meredith Rizzo, CourtneyCampbell and Emilie Hoffer ran cool,calm and collected, passing the batonsmoothly. Once Cain, only 15 yearsold, got the stick she flew, clocking asplit of 2:03.74. The final time of8:49.85 was more than six secondsfaster than the previous meet mark.

Meet records were also set in thefield events. Shelby Ashe of Georgiawon the hammer throw with a mark of61.67m (202-4 ft), despite a slowthrowing circle. Ashe, who will attendHarvard University, isn’t going straightto Cambridge. She will take next yearoff from school to focus on theOlympic Trials and making the teamfor London.

“I am a baby in the sport, Ihaven’t been throwing that long,” saidAshe, “and we thought that going tocollege and having to adjust to every-thing that goes on freshman year ontop of training, we wouldn’t get thatmuch done. So staying here with thesame coach and same environmentwould just help me throw harder andgrow in the sport.”

Louisiana senior MorgannLeLeux defended her title with a meetrecord in the pole vault. TheUniversity of Georgia–bound champi-on jumped 4.17m (13-8 ft) to win forthe second year in a row. LeLeux cred-ited her gymnastics background, aswell as her male training partners, forhelping her achieve success in thevault.

“My dad built an indoor and out-door pit, and ever since sixth grade, Ihave been competing with the boys.That’s how I keep my motivation.”

Also in the field, Alex Collatz ofCalifornia won the girls’ discus for thethird year in a row, and KendellWilliams set a new meet record in theheptathlon with a total score of 5169.

Other highlights of the meetincluded Sean McLean dominatingboth the 100m and 200m, AustinMudd running a personal best of1:48.09 to win the 800m and an upsetwin for Jacob Blankenship in the pole

vault. Ammar Moussa of Californiawon the boys’ 2-mile, earning his firstindividual national title.

One of the most heart-wrenchingmoments of the meet came in the200m. Octavious Freeman, the Queenof the Sprints for the past two years,had not lost a race since her sopho-more year. The senior easily won the100m championship on Friday, andwas all set to do the same for the 200mSaturday. But in the qualifyingrounds, Freeman was running on thevery inside of her lane around the turnand down the homestretch. After win-

ning the heat, all seemed fine until theUniversity of Central Florida–boundFreeman was disqualified for presum-ably stepping out of her lane.

With Freeman out, Kyra Jeffersonof Detroit won the title in 24.18.


r a c e r e s u l t s


USATF’s Board of Directors fired Doug (Who?) Logan in September 2010. Sincethen, a search has been under way to find a replacement, led by the capable andwell-respected Steve Miller. Now, after 11 months, the search has been deferred

until after the 2012 Olympics.Thus, at best USATF will be without a Chief Executive Officer for two years. Mean-

while, in charge will be acting CEO Mike McNees, who reportedly did business withLogan in Florida when McNees was city manager of Sarasota.

We don’t know why USATF, assisted by an executive search firm, Bialla & Associates,which quotes its minimum fee as $200,000, couldn’t turn up anyone who both could dothe job and would take the job.

I believe part of the problem is that the job of USATF’s CEO has not been properlydefined. I think you’ll agree with me if you read the 1,700-word “Job Description”whichUSATF published in a news release December 14, 2010. To view the release go towww.USATF.org and search for CEO Search Update.

Personally, I found it poorly written, repetitive, unprofessional and far too long, If youcan’t describe a job in less than 500 words, tear it up and start over. The best comment Iheard was, “I know someone who’d be perfect for the job. The only problem is, he died2,000 years ago.”

The current surmise is that Vin Lananna – who has had a long and distinguished careeras a coach and administrator at Dartmouth, Stanford, Oberlin and now Oregon – wasinterviewed for the job and offered the job, but said something like, “I can’t take the jobright now, but if you can wait a year, we might be able to make it happen.”

Meanwhile, unlike Logan, McNees at least is familiar with track and field. He letteredat Indiana University in 1975-77 as a long sprinter and 400-meter hurdler. It appears hewas hired by Logan as chief operating officer as someone he knew and trusted to run thestaff while Logan spent much of his time traveling and seeing the Big Picture.

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Looking backwards, the search for Craig Masback’s successor took seven months and pro-duced in Doug Who? a total unknown who had little familiarity with track and field, ashort and spotty career in sports management, and a lot of bad ideas, including ways tofix several things which weren’t broken, most visibly the Olympic Trials.

Despite repeated requests for information about the details of Logan’s hiring, no-one atUSATF has stepped forward to accept responsibility for what turned out to be a fiasco.

How about it, USATF? I’m going to keep asking until you start talking.

— James Dunaway

Update: The Everlasting Search


ATF_Summer 2011H-LORES

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