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Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Wariner, Merritt Easily Qualify for 400 Meter Finals

Posted July 1st, 2008 at 12:30 AM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

All 400 meter roads lead to Waco, Texas, three runners from Baylor University made it to the 400-meter finals Saturday night in Hayward Field.

Jeremy Wariner said, “I came to qualify and get a preferred lane for the finals tomorrow. LaShawn [Merritt] and I were not trying to kill each other. Making the Olympic team is not guaranteed, so I have to focus on running my own race.”

In the first heat Reggie Witherspoon (44.99) a Baylor alum took the heat, followed by Darold Williamson, also a Baylor University alum.

In the second heat, number one ranked 400 meter runner Wariner (44.66) won his quarterfinal heat in 44.69, ahead of LaShawn Merritt (44.76).
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In Between Eugene Will be Des Moines

Posted December 13th, 2007 at 9:54 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Eugene, Ore., will host the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008, and the U.S. Outdoor Championships in 2009 and 2011. In between, USATF announced today, the national championship meet will move to Des Moines, Iowa, home of Drake University and the Drake Relays.

“For several years, we have wanted to bring one of our premiere events to Drake Stadium,” USATF CEO Masback said in a prepared statement. “The Drake Relays is truly a community event with phenomenal fan support, and that community spirit shone through in Des Moines’ bid. We look forward to building a very strong partnership with local organizers for what will be an outstanding 2010 USA Outdoor Championships.”

Drake Stadium will get a $15 million renovation for the championships. “We envisioned that the facility would make Drake and Des Moines the Midwest capital of track and field,” Drake President David Maxwell said. “This event is a huge plus not only for Drake but also Des Moines and Iowa as a whole.”

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Glaring Omission in National Track & Field Hall of Fame

Posted November 20th, 2007 at 5:13 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Today the USATF announced the newest inductees into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, the class of 2007: Jane Frederick (pentathlon/heptathlon), Calvin Smith (100m/200m), Glenn Morris (decathlon), George Woods (shot put) and Elvin C. “Ducky” Drake (coach). All are worthy candidates, but Don Bowden, the first American to break four minutes for the mile, should have been a part of this class.

On June 1st, 1957, Bowden, just 20 years old, ran a 3:58.7 mile in Stockton, CA to break Wes Santee’s 4:00.5 American record. By doing so, he became only the 12th man in history to break the 4:00 barrier for the mile run. His time that day also made him the third-fastest miler of all time. Without a doubt, an accomplishment like that stands head and shoulders above almost any other achievement imaginable in American Track & Field.
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