MICHIGAN RUNNING NEWS - July 19, 2004 - Vol. 3, no. 35

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field - EXTRA

Sponsored by:

Steve's Run, Dowagiac, July 31, 2004 http://www.swmich.edu/fireup/stevesrun/

The Perfect 10-Miler & SELREC 2 Miler Classic, Aug. 15, 20 04 Lyndhurst, OH, http://www.perfect10miler.com

Crim Festival of Races, August 28, 2004 http://crim.org

Cleveland Clinic Sports Health River Run, September 11-12, 2004 http://www.hermescleveland.com/River_Run/

Toronto Waterfront Marathon, September 26, 2004 --"a great course to run a PR on..." http://torontowaterfrontmarathon.com

Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Bank Marathon, October 24, 2004 http://www.detroitfreepressmarathon.com/

Toronto Marathon, Sunday, October 17, 2004 10th anniversary - http://www.torontomarathon.com

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Editor: Jennie McCafferty

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__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - NOTES

-- TRIALS ARE A TREAT FOR SPORTS' FANS

-- JORDAN DESELITES PR'S IN STEEPLECHASE FINAL

__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - JULY 17

-- MICHIGAN STATE'S PAUL TEREK WINS PLACE ON OLYMPIC DECATHLON TEAM

-- MAURICE GREENE TREATS KIDS TO AUTOGRAPHS, PHOTOS, ADVICE

__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - JULY 18

-- EASTERN MICHIGAN'S JAMIE NIETO IS HIGH JUMP CHAMPION

-- ALAN WEBB BLAZES FINAL TWO LAPS IN 1500 METER WIN

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__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - NOTES

-- TRIALS ARE A TREAT FOR SPORTS' FANS All major sporting events have unique versions of color, energy, action, superstars and fans, but the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials have more action than most-- resembling a three-ring circus with something for everyone. If you can't get to the Olympic Games, the Trials are the opportunity to see the superstars who will be competing. Put the 2008 Trials on your calendar now (site to be determined) for the Trials are a sporting spectacle second to none. At one point during Sunday's finals, Jamie Nieto was jumping for an American high-jump record at one end of the field, while at the same time Stacy Dragila was trying for a world record in the pole vault at the opposite end of the field, the final round of the men's discus were happening in the infield, and the men running the 1500 meter final were at the starting line.

Meanwhile, kids, parents, friends and fans would wait at the area known as the Mixed Zone where the athletes would talk with reporters and sign programs that fans stuck under the fence. Outside the bleachers, the atmosphere was similar to a carnival midway or a state fair--complete with fried dough, snow cones, souvenir sales, and many people happy to be handed the hand-held wooden fans we usually associate with Spencer Tracy in the movie "Inherit the Wind."

-- JORDAN DESELITES PR'S IN STEEPLECHASE FINAL Eastern Michigan's Jordan Desiletes placed sixth in the steeplechase on Thursday. Desiletes' 8:24.62 was a personal record.

__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - JULY 17

-- MICHIGAN STATE'S PAUL TEREK WINS PLACE ON OLYMPIC DECATHLON TEAM The1500 meter race concludes the ten-event, two-day decathlon. On Saturday, Brian Clay had solidified his claim on first place, defending national champion Tom Pappas was assured of a place on the Olympic team in second place, and the drama for the third and final place on the team was set between two Michigan athletes: Phil McMullen and Paul Terek. McMullen (Nike/Western Michigan/Cadillac) and Terek (WGAC/Michigan State/Livonia) are both fast 1500 meter runners.

The stadium announcer set the stage: each second was worth 6 points; Terek was sitting in third place 89 points ahead of McMullen; McMullen would have to beat Terek by 15 seconds to make the team.

McMullen took the lead from the start, Terek ran at the front of the following pack. With about one lap to go, McMullen took off, almost certain of the 1500 win. The crowd roared. Could Terek stay within that 15 seconds to keep his place on the team? Around the final turn, McMullen began to slow a little and Terek found another gear. At the finish, McMullen won by 11 seconds--not quite enough. Terek collapsed just beyond the finish line--having given it everything he had to win the trip to Athens.

It was disappointing for Phil McMullen, as he finished fourth at the 2000 trials, too.

-- MAURICE GREENE TREATS KIDS TO AUTOGRAPHS, PHOTOS, & CHARM A crowd of mostly young kids had gathered around an athlete, so I stopped to see who was getting all the attention. It was the Trials100 meter champion and defending Olympic gold medallist Maurice Greene. Greene couldn't have been more gracious-- signing shirts and programs, posing for photos with beaming children, and advising each one to train hard and be good.

__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - JULY 18

-- EASTERN MICHIGAN'S JAMIE NIETO IS HIGH JUMP CHAMPION Jamie Nieto is a Sacramento native and he gave his home-town crowd a performance to remember. Once Nieto cleared the final bar with a PR 7-7.75 to nail the championship, he was ran to the infield, tossed his shirt and did a couple of back flips. Nieto will join Eastern Michigan Olympians Earl Jones (Bronze, '84, 800m), Paul McMullen ('96, 1500m), Clement Chuckwu ('00, 400), and Hayes Jones (Gold, '64, 110h). Nieto credits his Eastern Michigan scholarship for helping his jumping career succeed. "If I hadn't gone to Eastern Michigan, I probably would have gone to Berkeley and spent the time hanging out with my friends."

-- ALAN WEBB BLAZES FINAL TWO LAPS IN 1500 METER WIN Alan Webb gave the Hornet Stadium crowd of over 20,000 a race to remember in Sunday's 1500 meter final. With more than two laps to go, Webb surged way ahead in a dramatic move that left the 2000 Olympian Michael Stember and the rest of the field to battle for second. Webb contined to widen his lead and finished in a sizzling 3:36.13. Charlie Gruber was second; Ohio State's Rob Myers was third.

-- SPRINTER SHAWN CRAWFORD KNOWS IT'S ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT Shawn Crawford made the Olympic team in the 100 meter race during the first week of the trials, just behind Maurice Green and Justin Gatlin. When it was time for the 200 meter preliminary heat, Crawford ran a record 19:88 that showed he would be a medal contender in Athens. In the finals, he ran another sub-20:00 to clinch the championship and his second spot on the Olympic team.

As I returned to my hotel after Sunday's finals, Crawford was in the lobby, so I took the opportunity to shake his hand. I thanked Crawford for entertaining the fans; he said. "You're welcome; that's my job."

__/ U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, TRACK & FIELD - CARTER SHERLINE PHOTOS AND LARRY EDER'S OLYMPIC GAMES PREVIEW COMING Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios took thousands of photos at the trials. We'll be making many of those available in a series of slide shows. Larry Eder, publisher of American Track and Field, will summarize the Trials and provide previews of several events at the Olympic Games. The shows will be available at http://michiganrunner.tv.

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Saturday, July 31

* Steve's Run, Dowagiac, 9:00 am, 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR/W http://smc.cc.milus/fireup/stevesrun/ Michigan Runner Race Series Trail Run

August 13-29

* Olympic Games, Athens, Greece http://www.olympic-usa.org/

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