USA Olympic Trials 21 June - 1 July

[Tuckin]

Yep, Williams is in.

Apparently the rain was persistent - which makes Ross's 2.28 clearance all the more remarkable. He only just cleared 2.18 with his third attempt to squeeze through qualifying, and his outdoor best before this year was 2.21.

[Tuckin]

As we now have a uniform drugs and punishment policy in place, shouldn't we have a uniform selection policy also, IOC should get all countries to use one system, surely this must be the fairest way forward?

No.

[ultragirl]

As we now have a uniform drugs and punishment policy in place, shouldn't we have a uniform selection policy also, IOC should get all countries to use one system, surely this must be the fairest way forward?

No.

Yes because it would put place selection in the hands of the athletes themselves, everyone would have to gear their training to peak at the trials, just imagine how exciting it would be to have every top athlete fighting for their place at a national selection championships, it would be more worthy of TV coverage as well.

[djhdjh]

The US system is in the short-run a recipe for throwing away medals as has been shown in the past, the one that springs to mind for me being Richards in 2007 but there are other examples. It's bad enough when it happens to them who win so many, let alone to us where in a good year 1 medal is 15% of the total.

In the long-term I think it's less clear cut. There's something about the way it helps nurture a ruthless athletics culture that may well be useful. But I think that can be done without having to use that method and I think we're going some way in that direction already and much as he isn't popular on here I do think CVC's no excuses mentality is a key part of that.

[trickstat]

The US system is in the short-run a recipe for throwing away medals as has been shown in the past, the one that springs to mind for me being Richards in 2007 but there are other examples.

Dan O'Brien in the 1992 Decathlon springs to mind. No-heighted at US trials whilst reigning World Champion and broke the World record later that year. I also remember Greg Foster trying to make the 110m Hurdles team with his broken arm in plaster. I think he was the World Champ at the time and his arm probably would have been OK by the time the Olympics took place.

[Guto Nyth Bran]

As we now have a uniform drugs and punishment policy in place, shouldn't we have a uniform selection policy also, IOC should get all countries to use one system, surely this must be the fairest way forward?

No.

It's the easiest method - but you shouldn't confuse easiest with fairest.

[trickstat]

As we now have a uniform drugs and punishment policy in place, shouldn't we have a uniform selection policy also, IOC should get all countries to use one system, surely this must be the fairest way forward?

What's so fair about dictating to every country how they should select their team?

[Kermit]

As we now have a uniform drugs and punishment policy in place, shouldn't we have a uniform selection policy also, IOC should get all countries to use one system, surely this must be the fairest way forward?

No.

Yes because it would put place selection in the hands of the athletes themselves, everyone would have to gear their training to peak at the trials, just imagine how exciting it would be to have every top athlete fighting for their place at a national selection championships, it would be more worthy of TV coverage as well.

If you are a serious contender then you aim is to peak at the MAJOR event of the year. If you have no hope in getting to the major event then your goal changes to peak at the national championship.

Definitely NO

[trevorp]

m200m: Walter Dix and Justin Gatlin both DNS in today's heats.

[trevorp]

wLJ prelims: a sensational jump by 22 year-old Vashti Thomas - 6.97m (+1.0). Her previous best appears to be 6.45m (6.48m indoors)

Qualifiers led by Janay deLoach 7.15w +2.8

[MRCCRRLL]

One of the most competitive events at Olympics ....cant wait.... wide open...plus we have a girl (or two) in the mix

[trevorp]

m110H Big casualty: Terrence Trammell 5th in his heat and fails to make the semi-finals.

[Tuckin]

Even though it was only the semis of the 200, this result made me chuckle given the events of the 100m the other day...

2 Allyson Felix 22.30 [22.297]
3 Jeneba Tarmoh 22.30 [22.298]

13 women broke 23 seconds - and a remarkable 6 of them broke 22.40.

[disco_rage]

Women's 200m Final
1. Felix 21.69
2. Jeter 22.11
3. Richards-Ross 22.22

Men's 110m Hurdles Final
1. Meritt 12.93
2. Richardson 12.98
3. Porter 13.08

Men's Triple Jump
1. Taylor 17.63
2. Clay 17.55

[Mr Halibut]

Whoah... Felix 21.69!
m110H: Meritt 12.93, Richardson 12.98 (twice), Porter 3rd in 13.08 and Oliver is out.
mTJ: Taylor 17.63, Claye 17.55

edit: yeah, what he ^ said

[Maza1987]

sheesh..
never knew merritt was so good at the 110h.

felix's time puts her 4th all time list.

[BernardII]

Cracking wLJ final - DeLoach (7.08mw) currently leading Reese (7.06m) and Gipson (6.87m) going into the final round.

Update on the w100m, there will be a run-off at 5pm Oregon time tomorrow.

[BernardII]

Chelsea Hayes 7.10m in the final round. Her PB before today was 6.66m!

[BernardII]

Bershawn Jackson only finishes 4th and will miss out on London.

1 M Tinsley 48.33
2 A Taylor 48.57
3 K Clement 48.89
4 B Jackson 48.94

[Tuckin]

Bershawn Jackson (US No 1 this year with 48.20) misses out in the 400mh - fourth in 48.94.

Tinsley 48.33 SB
A Taylor 48.57 SB (33 yrs old now)
K Clement 48.89 SB

[EDIT: Darn: beaten to the punch!)

[trevorp]

You have to feel for a woman who jumps 6.97m and doesn't make the team.

[Tuckin]

Spearmon wins the 200m by a clear 0.32 in 19.82 (+2.3 wind).

In the absence of the injured Walter Dix, he'll probably be the only US medal threat.

[jjimbojames]

Bershawn Jackson only finishes 4th and will miss out on London.

1 M Tinsley 48.33
2 A Taylor 48.57
3 K Clement 48.89
4 B Jackson 48.94

Slightly awkward after his press spat with Dai...

[djhdjh]

'He wrote a check that he can’t cash and I’m coming. You’re going to know I’m in the race.' Not that the other Americans aren't capable of completing the job.

Looks like going back to a speed base has worked wonders for Felix.

[Geoff]

Sports Illustrated on the US women's 100m run-off. "Reality TV at its grandest" or athletes bullied into trial by TV?

Is it definitely going ahead?

[Flumpy]

Apparently not.

Tarmoh is said to have dropped out

[Geoff]

Wise move! Let them decide it at Crystal Palace as both are on the team for the relays. They've got 4 weeks to sort it out and anything can happen in that time.

[sidelined]

Bershawn Jackson only finishes 4th and will miss out on London.

1 M Tinsley 48.33
2 A Taylor 48.57
3 K Clement 48.89
4 B Jackson 48.94

Slightly awkward after his press spat with Dai...

Can't help feeling a little schadenfreude there...

[Maza1987]

Why did she pull out?
Rumours floating around Nike paid her off. lol.

[Packin_Snacks]

That run by Allyson Felix of 21.69 in the 200m is the fastest time run at that distance in 14 years, since Marion Jones (bleh!) set her personal best (and the second fastest 200m of all time) of 21.62 secs at altitude in Johannesburg in 1998. It is also the fastest time set at sea-level in 21 years, when Merlene Ottey ran 21.64 at Brussels back in 1991!

She is going to be a big threat at the Olympics, though the Jamacian triple threat of Campbell-Brown, Fraser-Pryce and Simpson will have something to say about that I'm sure.