Right now, Thursday night, it is raining and thundering in Manhattan. My flight, United 646, was the last one to land in LaGuardia. We had to make two attempts, the first aborted, when the wind sheer was over 25 miles an hour, and was literally pushing us around the sky. The pilots of this flight are owed a few adult beverages (on their time off) by me. It was one of the more spectacular landings that I have had in all of my flying years.
Here is a little bit on the four athletes who braved the Empire State Building:
Jessica Ennis is the European and World Champion in the heptathlon. Her recent 6790 at Gotzis shows that she is over her injuries from the spring. Ennis wins in 2011 Daegu and London, and she may be the biggest heptathlete ever.
Blanka Vlasic, the World and European champ in the high jump, is one of the most popular stars of the sport. Vlasic jumps with a style that is her own, and she has captivated fans in many stadiums across the world.
Tyson Gay is the man who beat Usain Bolt. Their battle in Daegu, Korea, over 100 meters, could be the race of the world champs. Now healthy, and running at about 75 percent of his capacity (his comments), Gay recently ran 9.79 for 100 meters.
Jeremy Wariner, the Olympic champ from 2004, and World Champ in 2005, 2007, is running well again. He is looking to run the 400 meters in the World Champs and is working with his long time coach, Clyde Hart, once again. Wariner had a close race with Angelo Taylor last week, showing Jeremy Wariner, that he will have to be at his best in Daegu, Korea.
Blanka Vlasic, Jeremy Wariner, Jessica Ennis, Tyson Gay, 2011 adidas GP NYC Press Conference, photo by PhotoRun.net