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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

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.”

(c) 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

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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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