The Newest Member of BSDP

We have the newest Junior Member of the Big Sky Distance Project!!!!!!

Eon Journey Hunt was born June 28th. He weighed 7 lbs 4 oz. Mom is doing fine and should be back to running in a few weeks (and probably kicking everyone's ass in a few months - look out Montana Cup)

Dad is still in a daze realizing that he is now responsible for more than just feeding the cons.

Rumor has it that dad has already been teaching Eon the finer points of Sandbagging.

The Muddy Buzzard.

Missoula Goes Wild Tomorrow Morning

The weather here in western Montana has taken a decided turn for the cooler. Too bad the race wasn't yesterday. We only got up into the mid 70's. But, it will certainly be better than the triple digit highs of last year.

Temps prediced to be probably high 40's , low 50's at race time (6:00 starter's gun). High's predicted to be mid-'80,s. But, with most all of the finishers probably done by noon, it should be reasonable weather. In fact, for the front runners, it should be really quite pleasant.

Sounds like Keifer Hahn may elect to defend his title (and rumors of racing for a 2:30 time). Sounds like Zach Strong will also be on the line. He's had a pretty solid year; but, not a spectacular time at Gov's Cup. Perhaps he's looking for redemption in the his newly adopted hometown. I'm not predicting a winner; but, would love to see someone pop off a sub 2:37 (sub 6:00 pace). Would certainly give some credibility to the course.

Women's races sound to be wide open at this point.

Brandon Fuller is back to defend his title in the 1/2 marathon. But Casey Jermyn will be in the race. He's running regularly and looks pretty fit. I would give the nod to casey in my predictions.

Good luck to all.

For updates, check out the Missoulain on-line. They've had some pretty good coverage leading up to the race (in the print version).

The Muddy Buzzard

Running Wild In Missoula

The second annual Missoula Marathon is this weekend. It's a great example of how to put on a successful event. It's competing with the Spring Meadow Triathlon for the big events this weekend.

Both are well run events, with good participation and community support.

And, I have a feeling that there the Missoula Marathon is going to take the event to the next level in terms of participation, performances, and overall event excitement. With the finish on the Higgins street bridge, a new marathon relay and some cooler weather that last year, all the pieces seem to be falling into place.

And, watch for some big news from one of the event sponsors. All in all, a wild weekend is ahead.

TB

Deja Vu

So, just had time last night to watch the taped coverage of the men's 10,000 at the Oly Trials (god bless the DVR) (and, by the way, I was pretty impressed with the coverage). In many ways, it reminded me of the men's 10,000 from 1980.

I was lucky enough to attend several days of the trials in Eugene 28 years ago. And in the 10K, another young U of O runner was battling with the leaders to make the team. Alberto Salazar gave a gritty performance (to get third if I remember correctly) with the entire stadium cheering him along all the way around the track.

Well, here it is almost 30 years later and a similar situation took place last night. With the ironic twist of Al Salazar being his past coach and current "mentor", young Duck Galen Rupp rode the wave of the hometown cheers to a second place finish and earn a ticket to the show in Bejing.

I was pretty impressed by the manner in which he raced agains seasoned competitors like Abdi, Jorge and Ritz. A very impressive performance by this young man. He clearly looks to be one of the new young guns of the American distance scene.

TB

Eugene 08 - Halftime's Over

The 2nd half of the Oly Trials kick off today. After and exciting first 4 days, look for more fireworks as we enter the 4th of July weekend.

Can Bernard Lagat come back to make the team in the 1,500 in addition to the spot he already has on the 5K team? ( I predict yes)

Will Alan Webb overcome the pressure and make the team at 1,500 meters? (Maybe - I give it 50-50 that he either runs brillinatly or that he runs like doggy poo)

Will Allison Felix dominate the women's 200 field? (Probably)

Can Jon Godina make the team in the discus after a long and successful career as one of the world's best Shot Putters? (I sure hope so).

Can Jen Struzinski (spelling??) set herself up by winning big in the women's pole vault and preparing to challenge world record holder Isanbeyava (again spelling?) for the gold in Bejing? (With the way that she has progressed over the last 2 years, it may be realistic)

Will Abdi win the 10,000? (Probably) Who will join him on the team (Meb? Ritz (doubling up with the marathon)? Dan Brown? Jorge?)

Can Lyle Weese make the steeplechase finals? (Yes) But who will win the steeple with Dan Lincoln (AR Holder) out? (No good guess, the field is wide open - Familegetti could definately make it if he's healthy and ready to run like hell)

Will Ellie Rudy of MSU finish in the top 6 in the women's pole vault? (Sure hope so; but, she hasn't vaulted much this year and I'm not sure how sharp she is)

Check usatf.org for tv listings. The meet is shown everyday (Thursday and Friday on USA, on NBC on the weekend).

See you on the roads, tracks, trails and trials.

TB

Day 4 - Eugene 08

The men's 800 was a thriller. After breaking out of a box with about 150 meters to go, Nick Symmonds blew away the rest of the field. His performance wasn't a big suprise - but the action behind him was stunning.

After swinging wide off the last corner, Andrew Wheating was in 6th with about 50 meters to go. But, he held form and ran hard through the line to pull of a second place finish. Behind him, Christian Smith was battling with Kadevis Robinson (many time national champ) and Lopez Lomong (Northern Arizona alum and one of the lost boys of the Sudan).

Literally diving across the line, Smith held off Robinson for third; and, to make it even better, he got the A standard with his 1:45.4 +- finish.

It's an all Oregon team with Symmonds and Smith representing the Oregon Track Club and Wheating an Oregon sophmore.

The other big race of the night is the men's 5,000. They've just taken off. Brett Vaughn (Colorado) took it out right away and has about 20 meters at the 800. Lagat, Goucher, Solinsky, Riley, Tegenkamp all handing with the pack.

Goucher is trying to join his wife on the team (she has qualified in the 10,000 and is in the 5,000 finals); but, in addition to being in the top 3, he needs to run sub 13:21 to ge the A standard.

The crowd is loud and active. Lots of rythmic clapping, feet stomping on the wood floor of the East grandstand and yelling their heads off. What a rush it must be to race in taht atmosphers.

Pack through mile at about 4:20. They've caught up to Vaughn. Goucher needs the pace to stay honest to have a shot at the standard.

Tegenkemp looks great, Lagat is crusing, Goucher has takent he lead at 8:00 and is pressing.

My prediction is Lagat, Tegs and Solinsky. Goucher isn't going to be able to pullit off.

A mile to go and they are at 9:22. So, in order to make it, Gouch needs to place and run a 4:00 last mile to make it.

Lagat is tracking, with Asmeron, Dobson, Tegs and Solinsky. Asmeron is really looking good and has just takent the lead with 1200 to go. He may be the spoiler.


Solinky just made a big move with 1,000 to go. The real race is on. Gouch dropping back and just stepped off the track with 800 to go.

The rest of the bigies on in the hunt.

Solinky still leads, Asmeron hangin on, He's got a kick. Tegs and Solinksy still in it.

Here comes Tegs with 400 to go.

Bell lap, 5 guys in the hunt for 3 spots.

Lagat pulls away with 200 to go. Tegs got tripped up with about 120 to go but pulls it back togetehr and gets in for 2nd. Dobson pulls it off for third.

Not a bid team. Lagat is defending world champ, Tegs was 4th. Dobson is solid.

Goucher has to hope to be able to make it in the 10,000.

Now, two rest days and then we pick it back up on Thursday.

See you later in the week.

TB

Track Town

Eugene '08 is underway with the Olympic Track Trials returning to the motherland of US Track and Field - the venerable Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The first 3 days are in the books - no big surprises so far; but some stunning performances.

My choices of the performances of the weekend -

• Women's 10,000 - Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher putting on a classic distance duel with the outcome not decided until the last 300 meters. But the big story of the race was Amy Yoder Begley finding a way to dig deep over the last 800 (especially the last 200) to get the Oly A standard and make her way onto the team.
• Men's 100 - Tyson Gay smoked the track. American Record in the quarters (9.77) and the fastest all time in the finals @ 9.68. Unfortunately, the wind was over the allowable, so it won't go into the record books. But the guy was flying. He came out well, had great initial drive phase, and his form over the last 50 meters was a thing of beauty.
• Women's Heptathlon - Diana Pickler had to stay within 1.5 seconds of GiGi Johsnon in the final event (the 800) to hold onto her third place slot. She stuck to her like glue, set a Heptathlon PR for the event, finish less than a second behind GiGi and booked her Oly ticket.
• Women's 400 hurdles - Queen Harrison drives over the last couple of hurdles from lane 8, and pulls off an upset 2nd place finish.
• Men's Pole Vault - 40 year old Jeff Hartwig goes 18-8 for 2nd place and to represent us old guys at the big show.

More as the week progresses.

TB