Big time track meet ⏱

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Guy throws heavy rock farther than anyone else ever has

Unless you’ve been living under a rock of your own this past week then you’ve already heard about Ryan Crouser’s monster launch. It was a long time coming — he’d been courting the world record for years, but she finally said yes on Friday. The only surprise was by just how much his throw of 23.37m demolished Randy Barnes’s old WR mark of 23.12m. But as the first final of the week, Crouser’s big win would set the tone for the competitions to follow. There was a well-planned lull in the action that allowed the Hayward faithful to focus all of their attention on center stage and it was as if we all collectively knew the 4th throw would be it. We were captivated. Ryan knew the moment the shot left his fingers that he had it, and the place erupted!

I’ve been yelling at the clouds for years about our sport promoting the shot put as a marquis event just as we would the 100. Its simplicity makes it digestible for casual fans to understand and appreciate. (Pick up a heavy orb. Throw it.) Maybe bring out a fan at half-time and give away a free car if they can throw it half the distance? We’ve seen mile races at basketball games, so let’s insert the shot put into the half-time show at an NFL game as a potential audience. The protagonists are larger than life and worthy of awe just as we marvel at the height of basketball players. When you see shot guys in the wild, it can take a ton of willpower to not approach them and ask them how much they bench or squat.

‘They have allowed Kincaid’s kick to become a factor’

That’s it — I am done underestimating Woody. He is a gamer and it won’t soon be forgotten. Although Fisher got the best of him in their early season 10k and final 5k tuneup, it was Woody with the 53.4 final lap giving him the space to enjoy his victory with a mimic watch stop and finger point. With Bowerman TC taking the first two spots it would appear the debate as to whether or not the drama would serve as a distraction has been settled. Instead we are asking other important questions like, ‘why did Woody wear arm sleeves on a hot day?’ Behind the Bowerman Boys in the bronze medal slot, Joe Klecker totally validated all the money On poured into its relatively new Boulder-based and Dathan Ritzenhein coached group. Although fast runners do not always make good coaches, especially the otherworldly talented ones, that doesn’t appear to be an issue here. The main reason I root for Klecker is his transparency: he continued to post all of his runs and workouts on Strava all the way up until his warmup.

But these are the Trials so for every awesome, feel-good story, there’s going to be at least one that’s equally gutting. Ben True unfortunately was the target of the 10k’s heartbreak and continues to be the most accomplished modern American distance runner without an Olympic-berth. He’ll be back for the 5k and hopefully so will my emotional vulnerability — the pains of being an empathetic track fan!

#DiscussTheDiscus 💿

With 40 event-level teams to sort out over the course of 10 days, there is non-stop action at the Trials. But as opposed to NCAAs, where there are at most 30 seconds to absorb each event before moving onto the next final, the longer the duration of the trials allows each medalist to be properly recognized. What that means is if you’re only following the discipline that you yourself competed in, then you are the target demographic to grow the sport. Don’t complain about T&F not being more popular until you’re obsessed with Valarie Allman! Her 69.92m toss makes her a legitimate medal contender in Tokyo.

Throughout the trials, I’ve been staying (and working) from Tracksmith’s HQ a few blocks from the track. It’s a revolving door of athletes stopping by for massages, food and gear pickups. The day after qualifying, Chris Chavez and I had the chance to sit down with Rachel Dincoff to hear more about the journey and massive hang clean PBs that made it possible for her to qualify in the disc. The gall to continue training after college for 5 years despite never being a first team All-American. That’s something a distance runner would do! Listen here. 

Who’s THAT girl? It’s Sha’Carri!

Does it look like Sha’Carri’s enjoying the limelight? She is electric and built for a stage much bigger than anything a college town in Oregon and a stadium full of track geeks — no offense to…well all my readers — could ever offer her.

The wind was gusting early in the day on Saturday, the flags were pointing in the fun direction, and in her heat of the semi-finals, Sha’Carri made the bold decision to stop using her arms with 20% of the race left. Instead, she began pointing to the clock, just to make sure everyone saw what she did — 10.64 (+2.7). Only in this sport would we see one of the budding stars take to their phone to engage with fans on Twitter.

When she came back a bit over an hour later — having recovered from her prelim — the stadium was on the edge of its seats wondering what would happen next. Would we see records fall? The track gods said, ‘Not today!’ as a headwind blew down the home straightaway and a 10.86 would be enough for her to distance herself from Javianne Oliver and Teahana Daniels. We have been blessed with a ‘fastest woman in the country’ who is appointment television — I am excited for the rest of the world to meet her, write stodgy think pieces about her and lose to her. She ain’t cocky, she’s confident!

Are these the New (Balance) USA uniforms?

(This is the first guest write-up on The Lap Count, authored by Dana Giordano)

If you’re competing in the event that cast a dark shadow over the Olympic Trials a week ago, how do you get people talking about anythings besides the controversy? The answer is you bring the heat 🔥 and that’s just what Elle Purrier St. Pierre and her fellow New Balance-sponsored athletes did. When you are the only woman in the field that has run under 4:00 this season the move would seem clear — lead from the front. And Elle executed perfectly, leading wire-to-wire and decisively securing the win, but her finest moment came when she dropped a good ol’ F bomb on live TV.

With Shelby out of the meet, two things happened: the 2nd and 3rd slots became wide open and the world forgot that the US is pretty damn deep and brands besides Nike exist. Enter: Cory McGee. She started running in 2004 in Athens when her Dad was organizing security for those Olympic Games and based on her Fathers’ Day posts I would not want to mess with him. McGee made a world champs team way, way back in college in 2013 but hasn’t made her mark in quite the same way as a professional until Monday, when she ran a near perfect race and looked unreal doing it.

And how could I be a guest writer without shouting out my roommate Heather MacLean, who sniped the third spot. Heather must have ordered her Dunkin’ strong today because her Boston toughness came through, holding off Oskia to make it a 1-2-3 New Balance sweep. Break out the brooms; the drinks are on Jim Davis all week.

P.S. - If I beat Heather in a 1500 three weeks ago by the transitive property I’m an Olympian, right?

(Kyle here: Why don’t we allow more 1500/5k runners into the meet? Considering the predictable scratches there was no reason to narrow a field down by 4 people and not have a straight 5k final. It’s normal to have 12-15 people in a prelim 1500 and this just seems like a waste of time and resources.)

9.91 gets 5th?! 🤯

This is a middle finger in tweet form. Fred Kerley, who finished 3rd in a PB of 9.86 to make the 100m, has been quote tweeting everyone who doubted his ability to make the team in an event that is not the 400. If he is running this fast on a straightaway, then adding in a turn could possibly make him twice as good. But up front it was all about Trayvon Bromell, whose comeback story continues to warm my soul. And if you’re worried about Noah Lyles chances to make this team, don’t be — he’s not!

BIG THROWS GUY 🔨

The way we watch field events is changing: it would appear NBC invested in getting a second camera. (Split-screen is fun, but Rudy Winkler is a big man best viewed on the big screen.) Barring disaster, Rudy was going to make this hammer throw team and it was about time for the American Record to fall. Despite being a fellow Heps guy, my first time meeting him was between rounds on our living room couch while he waited for his laundry in some compression boots. Excuse my ignorance, but it was interesting to learn that his legs would be the most sore part of his body after competition. It makes sense when you think about it…I just never did.

Of course I asked him about his lifting and eating routines, and — excuse the pun — ate his answers up. But my favorite anecdote was how he lost and subsequently gained back 14 lbs. during a single day of training in Doha prior to the 2019 World Champs. If I ever stepped on the scale and saw +/- 14 lbs I’d call an ambulance immediately. But hey, I’m not the American Record holder in the hammer.

Do it for the cool ranch

The 100 hurdles was circled on the calendar for a variety of reasons, both good and bad. The 2016 Olympic champ, Brianna McNeal, was granted permission to compete despite battling for the right to represent Team USA in Tokyo after a second whereabouts failure. (This differs from the Houlihan situation because McNeal’s case is still under appeal with the CAS and a final decision will be made in time to know if she can actually be on the team.) The implication is that fourth place finisher, Gabbi Cunnigham is left waiting in the wings and won’t know if her rightful moment to celebrate on the podium was stolen from her or not until the court issues its ruling on McNeal’s appeal. But it wasn’t all bad! Keni Harrison missed out on making the team for Rio (and the medal sweep), but she channeled that disappointment to set the World Record later that summer before finally earning her Olympic redemption on Sunday.

However, it was the earrings that stole the show! This is viral marketing by way of Trojan horse. Don’t wait for the sponsorships to come to you — if you want something, go out and take it. Christina Clemons is passionate about Doritos so that’s just what she did! The “legality” of this move is questionable. (Logos need to be approved, and officials are quick to use black tape to cover up anything that doesn’t adhere to the strict standards of the sport’s governing bodies who are on a mission to shoot themselves and everyone else in the foot wherever possible to ensure major corporations are disincentivized from ever pouring any money into the sport at all.) But who cares? This was awesome.

Mom’s steal the show 👶

It may have been Father’s Day, but after Quanera Hayes and Allyson Felix brought out their adorable children onto the track to celebrate with them, we all forgot for a moment. With 100m to go in the 400m final, it appeared that it could be the end of an era. But like the savvy veteran she is, Felix found one more gear to slide into a 5th Olympic Games. The mainstream media breathed a huge sigh of relief as a familiar face will return to primetime TV. Rightfully so, she is beloved by all and her status as an icon has transcended beyond the sport. Storytelling is a huge part of the Games and as a fan you just have to hope for a balance between sharing the wonderful history of those we have followed for years and the introduction of new characters. It would appear that Quanera Hayes, a graduate of the HBCU, Livingston College, is the USA’s best chance for a medal. She is a proud Division 2 athlete and in contrast to Felix, who went professional straight out of high school, had fairly modest personal bests and a long steady trajectory. That chip on her shoulder is still there as she speaks candidly about how if she can make it to the world’s biggest stage, then other athletes like her can as well. Now 29 and a mother, she made her first Olympic team. Make sure you tell her story too! (3rd place finisher, Wadeline Jonathas has some D3 titles to her name from before becoming a Gamecock!)

Re-introducing…Clayton Murphy 🤝

Was 2016 really that long ago? It would seem people forgot that Clayton, while still in college, won the Olympic trials and took the bronze in Rio going 1:42.93. This time around, the pre-race favorite, Donovan Brazier, was the focus all broadcast and for good reason, he is the American Record holder and World Champion. But I wish NBC would have just asked me or literally anyone else with their ear to the ground if this was a good idea. Brazier has been battling injuries for months and last week I wrote about the fact that many athletes are secretly dealing with these issues. In full context, I believe that first round 1:45.00 would leave fans in awe.

Clayton looked better every time he raced this season and used his skills as a master tactician to seamlessly work through the rounds without anyone noticing. Ever since 2017, after flying too close to the sun and trying to pull off the 800/1500 double, which resulted in him not making either team, he’s been weirdly disregarded. We know that Hoppel can compete with anyone and we are still learning more about Isaiah Jewett every time he races. Let’s just hope he gets his homework done before the first round of the Olympics.

The Final Word

My apologies for not being able to cover every event, but if there’s ever been a week where you don’t need me, it is this one. Try to convince some friends to watch the meet with you this weekend! They’ll wonder why you can’t gamble on it, but that’s for another stupid newsletter. As we have another 4 days of T&F queued up we have to continue to contemplate this dilemma: do you root for those who’ve been there or the underdogs? And is it selfish to qualify in two events and prevent someone else from achieving their lifelong dreams? (Half-kidding…)