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Last Chance: AMC High Performace Track and Field Series

Posted June 13th, 2008 at 1:00 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

american_milers_club_logo Four years of preparation boil down to one weekend for athletes on the verge of making the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. This Sunday, June 15, is the last day to qualify.

A highly competitive last chance meet takes place Saturday night at the IUPUI track in Indianapolis. It is the final meet of the 2008 American Milers Club High Performance Track and Field Series created by Indiana Invaders coach Greg Harger. The series began May 31 and continued June 9 and 11. The AMC meet on June 14 features 800-meter, 1500-meter and 3000-meter steeplechase races.

The rabbitted races are run with on the Mondo track after 9:30 p.m. when weather conditions are calm. The goal of the AMC meet is to provide an ideal environment for running fast times since most of the athletes want to hit Olympic Trials standard times.

The meet also provides racing experience for those already qualified for the U.S. trials, such as Alan Webb. Webb is the American record-holder in the mile and has the top 1500-meter (3:30.54) and 800-meter (1:43.84) times this year. He is entered in the 800-meter run Saturday. It will only be his second race of the outdoor track and field season after his disappointing debut at the Prefontaine Classic last weekend, but he is expected to dominate this field. He needs a confidence boost that will carry over in Eugene.

Along with Webb, other top competitors in the 800-meter run include David Krummenacker (1:43.92 PB) Jebreh Harris (1:45.91 PB) and Jackson Langat (1:46.41 PB). However, official entries are not finalized until the night of the race. Wednesday’s 800-meter race was a success with five men running under 1:48:00.

On the women’s side, Lindsey Schnell has run consistently faster 800-meter times at the AMC meets. She ran her first season best, 2:06.80, on May 31. Despite a weather delay due to thunderstorms, she improved her time Monday when she ran 2:06.05. Schnell then ran 2:05.85 on Wednesday.

The competition in the men’s 1500 is intense. In order to make the field of 30 at the trials in the 1500-meter run, athletes had to run faster than Brendan O’Keefe’s 3:40.90. O’Keefe held the 30th fastest time in the event, but ran 3:44.48 behind ZAP Fitness teammate Thomas Morgan’s 3:43.54 and Shane Stroup’s 3:40.51 on Monday. The final field will also depend on whether those qualified decide to compete in the 1500 at the trials. O’Keefe is entered in the 1500-meter race on Saturday in hopes of hitting the “A” standard of 3:39.00, which would guarantee his shot in Eugene.

Although each meet of the series has grown with more participants and faster times, one of the most exciting races was the May 31 women’s 3000-meter steeplechase. Trials qualifier Anna Willard planned to set a new American record in the event. She was on pace for the majority of the race, but slowed down towards the end to finish in a fast 9:37.00. The surprise of the night came from second-place finisher Barbara Parker. Over the last 200 meters of the steeplechase, she closed a large gap between herself and Willard to nearly win the race. She ran 9:37.08, a new national record for Great Britain.

Athletes like Anna Willard and Alan Webb will likely make the Olympic team, but the first step for others is to run at the trials.

The 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials are only a few weeks away, June 27 – July 6. Who will go and who will have to wait another four years? For these elite middle distance runners, they will finally have their answer this weekend.

For the latest information and results for The American Milers Club 2008 High Performance Track and Field Series, visit AmericanMilersClub.com.

Cheryl Lowe said:

Great article, sis. Saturday’s 800m race will be interesting to see…I guess it’ll be up on Runnerspace?
June 13th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
edvdbox » Blog Archive » stephanie webb said:

[…] Last Chance: AMC High Performace Track and Field SeriesThe meet also provides racing experience for those already qualified for the US trials, such as Alan Webb. Webb is the American record-holder in the mile and has the top 1500-meter (3:30.54) and 800-meter (1:43.84) times this year.http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2008/06/last-chance-amc-high-performace-track-and-field-series/ […]
June 20th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
stephanie webb : scriptbest said:

[…] Last Chance: AMC High Performace Track and Field SeriesThe meet also provides racing experience for those already qualified for the US trials, such as Alan Webb. Webb is the American record-holder in the mile and has the top 1500-meter (3:30.54) and 800-meter (1:43.84) times this year. … […]
June 20th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
women s olympic marathon trials : scriptbest said:

[…] Last Chance: AMC High Performace Track and Field SeriesAlthough each meet of the series has grown with more participants and faster times, one of the most exciting races was the May 31 womens 3000-meter steeplechase. Trials qualifier Anna Willard planned to set a new American record in the … […]
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm