July 5, 2008

Deep thoughts on Day Six, by Larry Eder

What a night of track & field! When I did not think it could get any better, we have distance geek heaven-rounds of 1,500 meters, 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter final, hammer final and high jump final? And then, the one and only Ian Stewart preceeds the 10,000 meter introduction, speaking about racing against Pre?
Afterwards the Villard Street gathering was superb. Steve Jones, Alberto Salazar, Jenn Rhines, Terrance Mahon, Jorge Torres, Galen Rupp all joined the festivities. With Mr. Shaver in attendance, after his short incarceration in China for the look alike talking blow up doll of a certain late night movie actress--the party was quite the place to be!
Saucony had sponsored the Friday night party, so even Fred Doyle came out of the woodwork.

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July 4, 2008

Happy July Fourth! Global News, by EME News, Alfons Juck, Notes by Larry Eder

Happy Fourth of July to all! This was one of my favorite holidays as a kid. My grandfather, a police office in St. Louis, loved it and would put flares around the yard at night and we watched fireworks! I will be celebrating the fourth next weekend upon my return to Fort Atkinson. But enjoy the day with your loved ones!

It is mid morning in Eugene, Oregon and the fans are still talking about the great racing last night. The newest star, Anna Willard, set the American record in the steeplechase last night. This last spring, she ran a 4:12 1,500 meters relay leg, a sub 2:04 800 meters and a sub 54 on the 4 x 100 meters. Finally! An American who has leg speed in the steeplechase! If Willard can get into 9:15-9:20, which seems quite likely, she can be a world player. She needs to get that 1,500 meters down under 4:05 ( preferably 4:00) and her 800 meters down a bit. But Anna ran the race with consumate skill and grace. Making the move with 500 meters to go and just extending it, she stayed out of trouble and is on the road to Beijing!

Oh, watch for three Running Network/ Michigan Runner programs today! Our producer, Jenn McCafferty, is hard at work cleaning up the files and posting them! We hope you have as much fun watching them as we do prognosticating!

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Anna Willard Sets AR in Steeplechase! , Deep thoughts on Day Five, by Larry Eder

Day five of the U.S. Olympic Trials lived up to the hype. Great four hundred battles, huge 1,500 meter rounds, steeple rounds, and then an AR in the women's steeplechase! The Villard Street Pub, the unofficial party central in Eugene, Oregon, (the campaign center for Mr. Green, soon to be announced as Barak Obama's running partner). The Pub was filled with coaches, athletes, fans, talking track until the closing hours, as the minions left to head to the dorms and hotels around Eugene, talking about one great night of track and field.....

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July 3, 2008

IOC, WADA, USADA increasing tests in Beijing, EME News, by Alfons Juck, Notes by Larry Eder

In an huge increase over testing in Sydney, the folks at WADA, and the IOC are increasing the testing by 90 percent over Sydney levels, with 4,500 planned tests. These tests will be in camp, in the village, virtually anywhere they want to do them. They are also noting that if said athlete test positive during Olympics or from July 1, 2008 on, said athlete will not be going to London 2012.

We applaud the testing. We also applaud European meets and agents in agreeing to a) not allow athletes with a 2 year ban to compete and b) not represent athletes with two year ban. We are hearing positive signs from various shoe companies about supporting such measures and would be the first to applaud that support.

The key is that we need to focus testing on out of competition and focus on the high level cheating-anyone caught in a championship event is a complete and total idiot. But, it does happen.

I still contend that IOC, WADA and USADA catch about 90 percent of the cheaters. The final ten percent are what pollute our sport because they have made all great peformances questionable.

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July 2, 2008

Deep thoughts on July 2, by Larry Eder

This is where your favorite writer, who has just found an iced americano, spends a few minutes on the behind the scenes happenings at the trials.....

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All Around the World, EME News, by Alfons Juck, Notes by Larry Eder

Second day of break at Trials in Eugene, Oregon and all starts again tomorrow. Nice comments by Bill Roe, President of USATF on the state of sport. Bill is a good man and loves the sport. Eugene 2008 is a huge success and it should be model for all national championships and Oly Trials in future. It could be duplicated in other areas of country with support and leadership.

Credit needs to go to the right people. Dave Taylor, former Nike executive and Duck cross country and track athlete, is a fine example. For past two years, this man has spent several evenings and days each week, as Chief of Stuff, insuring that the Olympic Trials would be the event that they are-a true celebration of the athlete and a meeting place for fan, athlete and sport. Vinn Lananna and Mike Reilly, who took the US champs to a new level at Stanford 2001-2003, should not be overlooked, as they have made this a priority. Actually, they have run it like a business-which is something our sport has been remiss in this country. Nike, especially John Capriotti's group, has put time and effort here and it shows. And the advertising messaging is totally dialed in, actually, in my mind, the best that has come out of anywhere in years.

It is a Eugene lovefest, and this is not negative, just a fact. What needs to happen in upcoming years, is that the local businesses in town feel the economic benefit from the event. Coaches clinics have been quite successful and the folks at Niketown and Eugene Running Store have done super things to promote the event, the sport and make the ten days in Eugene that much more memorable.

I have not seen any TV on the Trials. I have heard that it it good, but I do think that NBC has blown it by not offering ESPN and 2 teasers each night of highlights. That is just wrong.

There are huge stories, real human drama in this event. A keen eyed producer could see that, from Nicole Teter, and her 40 days of training to the Madison gang and their bonds and moving from the Midwest to Portland.

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July 1, 2008

U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field '08 - Day 4 Recap

The Running Network's Larry Eder and Paul McMullen recap a day of stunning distances races in the men's 800 (Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating, Christian Smith), the men's 5,000 (Bernard Lagat, Matt Tegenkamp, Ian Dobson), & women's 800 (Hazel Clark, Alice Schmidt, Nicole Teter). They also review the conclusion of the decathlon (Bryan Clay, Trey Hardee, Tom Pappas) and preview the men's 400 (Jeremy Wariner, LaShawn Merritt).

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Deep thoughts on Day four, by Larry Eder

The U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon have had four amazing days of track & field. Every night, when I catch up with my friends, someone asks, " What was your favorite moment?"

So many moments each day to celebrate, remember, consider once again, so for the sake of my short term memory, and your satisfaction, here are a few of my favorite moments of the past twenty-four hours:

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Mr. Green & Barack Obama-Running Partners-Could Happen! Also, Jimi Hendrix sited in Eugene, Oregon

Seriously, folks, I was walking back from the stadium on Monday afternoon and sitting over the bus stop, just by Agate and fifteenth street was Jimi Hendrix. Well, the guy looked like Hendrix, fiftyish, the stylish flamenco type outfit and droopy hat, with Afro that our favorite guitarist wore at Monterrey Pop. Anyhow, I asked him what he was doing, if he had any message to his fans, his people.

He told me that he had come to see the Trials and the 800 meters would be "righteous".He also told me that he really thought that Barack Obama needed a person of the people for his running mate. When I asked him who that should be, he looked at me, smiled, and then a knowing laugh appeared as he muttered the words, " Mr. Green is my man...." Then, he quietly disappeared into the crowded Track Town Festival.

Was it a coincidence? I think not, dear readers. As we all know, Mr. Green is residing at the Villard Street Pub most nights. Last evening many of the sports finest coaches, sports agents, and athletes were found at the environs, exchanging banter on the greatest 800 meter race EVER, the race of the trials. I myself, first telling Nick Symmonds that I was not a stalker, did tell him that I worship him. But, hey, all in a good day in Eugene, Oregon.

Make sure you visit the Villard Street Pub. You can sample many of the fine Oregon Micro Beers and Wines, check out PCS apparel, adidas footwear, Running Network publications, Saucony footwear, or just hang out with friends. For the gourmand, I might suggest the blue cheese sliders, fish and chips, or perhaps the hummus plate.

Remember, the Hootie Race is coming up!

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June 30, 2008

U.S. Olympic Team Trials Recap, Day 4, Part 1

This evening is packed! We have the 5,000 men's final, the final event of the decathlon, the 1,500 meters, 400 meter rounds deux, and myriad other stuff that I have forgotten, but will remember shortly. Oh, women's steeplechase rounds and women's 5,000 meter rounds tonight, a long night at the office!
Here we go, sports fans, more athletics' propaganda that you can worship! So, open a beverage of your choice ( cold, please not any of this lukewarm mush), perhaps some veggie dip, and enjoy!

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