The second meeting at the 2021 American Track League was night and day impovements over ATL meeting 1.

The TV began with a much more organized approach, helping the audience know what to expect. The TV coverage was well thought out, showing the thoughtful work of Adam Schmenk and his team, the USATF TV impressario.

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The good news was the support that USATF brought to the meet.

The team on TV, with Paul Swangard, Lewis Johnson and Ato Bolden gave the meet a bold informed voice, and the quality on the TV was much higher than in week 1.

Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

The dierence is huge, one meet with a dream but no inancial support and week 2.

Bavo Paul Doyle! Paul is the man whose dream it has been to do the 4 meet indoor ATL series!

In the end, succesful athletics TV is about bold, infomed story telling! The ATL Meeting #2 did just that.

Bryce Hoppel leads the world! Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

SANDI MORRIS BACK IN TOP FORM IN POLE VAULT,

BRYCE HOPPEL RUNS SECOND FASTER 800M EVER IN US

FAYETTEVILLE, AR: Athletes continue to demonstrate they have made it through a trying 2020 in elite form as they prepare for a new Olympic year, with several throwing down season leading marks in the second week of the American Track League.

Sandi Morris vaults 4.81m, Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

With many examples of how they persevered through the challenges of 2020, Sandi Morris might be the ultimate story of adapting. With the handy help of her father, she was able to build a pit at home where she trained throughout the year. After overcoming her own recent bout with Covid, Morris showed she was resilient with a vault of 4.81m, a world leading mark. While not traveling as normal may be seen as a negative, Morris pointed out the benefits of having a meet close by. “Here at home with my coach, who stays in Arkansas – he doesn’t get to travel the world with me in a normal season in Europe, so it’s really great to be here in my back yard getting my reps in.” Morris gives credit to her father, “My dad is the only reason I was able to train, it was all thanks to him and his hard work building that pit for me. I helped as much as I could, but he is the carpenter and the perfectionist.”

Jereem Richards wins the 200m, Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

In the 200m, Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago lead the field with a time of 20.7, noting he spent eight months of 2020 stuck at home, having traveled for an event and ended up not being able to leave the country. The adaption to home workouts kept him in great form despite the challenges.

Ryan Crouser in the ring, Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

Ryan Crouser, who last week broke a 32-year-old world record in shot put, matched the previous world record but did not extend the new mark he set. “I was actually really happy with today. I came back after the big throw last week and that’s difficult to do coming off a big throw. It’s really easy when you know more is there to force it, and I threw a really consistent series, so consistency wise, this week was better. I had the energy last week, had the execution today, so I’ll be back in two weeks and hope we can put those together.

Bryce Hoppel took the WL in 800m in dominating fashion, in 1:44.36. Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

Several other athletes hit world leading times, including Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the women’s 200m and in the men’s 800m, Bryce Hoppel ran the second fastest time ever indoors with a 1:44.37. His reaction? “I’m going for one.”

Shaunae Miller Uibo, post 200m WL, Photo via ESPN TV, by Kathy Camara, Jan. 31, 2021, ATL meet 2

The American Track League’s made-for-TV event series continues for two more Sunday’s broadcast live on ESPN/ESPN2. The series, which features the top men’s and women’s track and field athletes in the world, are also part of the World Athletics 2021 Silver Label Tour, with support of USATF.

TENTATIVE Next Meet Schedule and TV Station/Times

Sunday, February 7, 2021 Randal Tyson Track and Field Center

Fayetteville, AK ESPN 3:30-5:30PM (Central)

Men’s Events:	60M	400M	Mile	60HH	LJ
Women’s Events:	60M	200M	800M	60H	PV	HJ

Sunday, February 14, 2021 Randal Tyson Track and Field Center

Fayetteville, AK

ESPN/ESPN2 TBD
Men’s Events: 60M	300M	800M 60HH	SP
Women’s Events: 60M	400M	1000M 60H	PV

About American Track League

The American Track League is a series of four meets being held in the United States in Fayetteville, AR. The ATL was founded in 2013 by Paul Doyle and has continued for the past eight years providing elite competition in the US for thousands of athletes. Providing a condensed, fast paced and unique format has been at the center of the ATL to entertain and engage fans, even from the couches of their own homes

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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