AO-SUMMER-2011-LORES

Volume 16, Number 2, Summer 2011

• USA OUTDOORS • NIKE PRECLASSIC • adidas Grand Prix

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Permit #50 Fort Atkinson, WI

PAID PRST STD U.S. Postage

• SUMME Publisher’s Comments We hope that you are enjoying your summer. By the time you get this, many of you will be putting in the miles for Fall cross country and anticipating the World Champs on TV (check your local listings).

AO is traveling across Europe, having a track vacation.

We were able to visit the AREVA Paris Meeting (July 8) and the AVIVA Birmingham (July 10), as well as the World Youth Champs in Lille, France. The U.S. team did very well there, taking 16 medals!

In the AREVA Paris Meeting, we watched Matt Centrowitz (cover athlete), Andrew Wheating and Leonel Manzano all hit the A standards for the World Champs. Amy Hastings came heart-breakingly close to the US standard at 5000m. Shalane Flanagan, the US champ at 10,000 meters, came very close three times this summer to the AR for 5000m now held by Molly Huddle.

At the DN. Galan Stockholm meeting, held on July 29, we walked through history. The stadium hosted the 1912 Olympics. I was able to walk down the same wooden path that Jim Thorpe did in 1912! The stadium holds 15,000 and it was sold out.

The highlight of the evening was Vivian Cheruiyot running the third fastest 5000 meters of all times. Once again, Shalane Flanagan came oh-so-close to the U.S. record for 5000 meters.

Usain Bolt won the 200 meters, and then spent most of an hour signing autographs for young Swedish fans. We said hello to Usain the next morning, as he headed to the airport, to do his final preparations for the World Champs, held in Daegu, Korea, Aug. 27–Sept. 5.

Watch for the Fall issue in late September! And enjoy the rest of the summer. Remember, get your daily track fix at runblogrun.com (free sub!) and our twitter.com/run blogrun!

See you this fall at a cross country race!

Larry Eder Publisher, Athletes Only runblogrun@gmail.com twitter: @runblogrun www.atf.athlete.com 608.239.3785 6

ON THE COVER: Matt Centrowitz

CONTENTS 7 • Darren De Reuck: Summer Training for High School Runners 11 • Darren De Reuck: Value of Cross Country

15 • USA OUTDOORS 28 • adidas Grand Prix 30 • New Balance Outdoors

Photorun.net Athletes Only is produced, published and owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc., PO Box 67, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0067; 920.563.5551 phone; 920.563.7298 fax; Christine Johnson, President; Larry Eder, Vice President. Publisher assumes no liability for matter printed. Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for content of paid advertising and reserves the right to reject paid advertising. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Copyright © 2011 by Shooting Star Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Publisher. Athletes Only is not related to or endorsed by any other entity or corporation with a similar name and is solely owned

by Shooting Star Media, Inc. Publisher recommends, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with your physician before instituting any changes in your fitness program.

• SUMMER 2011 • atf-athlete.com

SUMMER T RCross AIN I N G Country

FOR HIGH SCHOOL

RUNNERS

By Darren De Reuck

With spring track in the history book and the summer holidays ahead high school runners can do one of three things: a) get lazy and take the summer off from running, b) work on building a solid base for the upcoming cross country season or c) train way too hard and peak before the state meet rolls around in November. My choice would be b), and I believe many savvy high school runners would choose that too. This theory would hold true for beginners as well as seasoned juniors and seniors.

If you have just finished your track season, then a well deserved mini-break is definitely in the cards. The time may vary among athletes and how your season went ... by this I mean whether you made State and extended your season or whether after Regionals your season was over, but take at least 7–10 days away from running. If you feel a need to do something during this period, then cross train by either swimming or biking. When you start back running make sure you ease back into training and give your body time to readjust. The summer should be devoted to building a solid “base” and working on your aerobic fitness.

Most of your runs should be easier or as I’d refer to as “conversational pace” with a slightly longer run over the weekend. Based on your level of fitness I’d suggest the following: Beginners should work on time on legs as opposed to distance while seasoned runners could work with miles run per week. Both “beginners” and “seasoned” athletes should work on a four-week cycle:

WEEK1

Long ... so getting in 5–7 runs with a mid week longish run and long run over the weekend

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WEEK 2 Long ... same as Week 1

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WEEK 3

Fast ... keep the runs at 5–7 for the week, but reducing the mid week longish run and long run each by at least 20–25% and adding a fartlek or hill session during the week

KILKENNY XC4

WEEK 4

Recovery ... here you would only run 3 times with no long runs and cross train twice in the week

The all new Kilkenny XC4 is a lightweight cross country racing spike and flat with an excellent fit and ride that gets you to the finish line faster.

I am a firm believer in “strides” and been youthful with plenty of fast twitch fiber, high schoolers can get over-zealous on doing strides and working too hard here. Twice a week on easy days incorporate 7 x 30 second light strides or pick-ups with 60 sec. easy within your run, but only after you’ve warmed up sufficiently. Work on turn-over, quick feet underneath you and efficiency ... stay away from over-striding and getting up in the shoulders.

For me, this a great way to get my athletes to work on their gait and becoming more efficient with the foot plant. Just remember that these are light, controlled efforts and not fullout sprints.

During the 2 “long” weeks incorporate a “tempo” run where you run at a sustained pace for a given period of time ... start with 5 minutes and build through the summer to 20 minutes ... the effort should be controlled and not more than 80% of max ... leaving you feeling tired, but able to continue if necessary for a bit longer.

Continued on page 10

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MOLLY HUDDLE 5000 METER AMERICAN RECORD HOLDER

W E K N OW B EC AU S E WE RUN.

saucony.com

©2011 Saucony, Inc.

FIND YOUR STRONG

Continued from page 8 During the third “fast” week incorporate a “fartlek” (playing with fast and slow speed) or hill session. I emphasize that a fartlek should be run hard, but not to the extent that you have to walk during the recovery section.

Working on a ladder format is a great way to do a fartlek: go up the ladder and come back down ... 1/2/3/2/1 minutes with the shorter efforts faster than the longer ones and taking half the pick-up as recovery. Hill sessions are great for building leg strength and known as speed work. “disguise.” I have five “golden rules” to running hills:

(i) (ii) (iii)

shorten your stride (quick feet underneath you)

drive with the arms (quick arms will get the feet turning over)

drive off the balls of your feet

(iv) (v)

focus on looking 5–10 feet in front of you and not the top of the hill keep your shoulders relaxed (drop your arms if you feel like you getting up in the shoulders)

I do not use long hill repeats as one looses form on long hills. Keep it short and sweet and work on form and driving up with a jog down as recovery.

I’d suggest 90 seconds max on the incline and not much more than a 3–4 degree gradient. Start with 45 seconds and build to that 90 seconds through the summer. Start with 6 times and build it to 8x90 seconds by summer’s end.

In closing, “mix” it up. By this I mean, run in different areas and make slight up or down shifts in mileage on a given run. This will help your training from becoming tedious and or boring.

Enjoy the summer holidays and when your cross country season starts in the fall your coach will say, “Who is this strong well-balanced athlete ready to roll?”

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VALUE Cross Country OF

By Darren De Reuck

Camaraderie, team bonding and spirit, building solid strength and having fun are just a few things that immediately come to mind when I think of cross country. Then you have the actual running of cross country over undulating muddy terrain, through the woods and out in the country. It

seems for the most part that courses today are flat and fast and drifting away from the good old "lose your spike in a mud pit" ones. However, every so often high school cross country courses are rugged and challenging and not on your typical grass fields...they require a tremendous

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amount of strength and your fast track runners are suddenly at a disadvantage. Now that’s cross country and with it brings a tremendous amount of physical and mental benefits.

Cross country is a unique sport and one that will probably become a life-altering activity should

you choose to join your school’s team. Many sports offer physical activity, but few offer the chance of adopting a lifetime hobby that builds strength, confidence, and long-term healthy habits.

There are no bench-warmers in cross Continued on page 14

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For a list of New Balance dealers in your area, visit newbalance.com

com/890 ©2011 New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

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• SUMMER 2011 • atf-athlete.com

The New Balance 890 with REVlite.

The neutral-cushioning bar is hereby raised.

Built with REVlite — the lightest midsole foam we’ve ever created — the 890 weighs practically nothing, and it’s about to change everything.

com/890

©2011 New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

Continued from page 12

country ... everyone gets to lace up and compete irrespective of their level. Practice hard and keep training, and you’re likely to make the team whether it’s Varsity or JV. Cross country running is hard work and determination.

While it’s fun to compete against friends and runners from other schools, you’ll always be able to run against your most fierce competitor ... yourself. Tracking your progress and watching your improvement will give you an inner confidence and tremendous feeling of accomplishment.

Cross country running is an inexpensive sport ... a pair of training and cross country flats are all that’s required, coupled with the great outdoors ... no special equipment or gear. With the hard training, over time you’ll start to feel the body’s natural endorphin release and that “runner’s high.” The feeling of conquering a workout or race and that mental and physical accomplishment.

Because cross country running is intense and works many muscle groups, one needs to enter the season with a solid pre-season base, so as to avoid injury. Working out in the summer and building that foundation will go a long way in getting you ready for a good cross country season. Even if you are the best runner on your team, use the benefits of your fellow team mates to make you better. From the camaraderie that comes with a team, to the hard

workouts your coach has you do, the people that you run with will motivate you to perform your best by their words and their actions.

Forming bonds with your teammates will raise everyone’s performance to a new level. Teams with a positive atmosphere foster friendly competition and make runners better.

In closing, yes, cross country running is very much team oriented, helps you build strength for the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons, but all of this is pointless if you are not “having fun.” Competition gets the adrenaline pumping, winning for the team is awesome, but don’t get obsessed with this and waste precious energy on worrying instead of relaxing and enjoying yourself.

At the end of the day, your loved ones will love you just as much and your teammates will console you, so go out there and enjoy yourself and have fun doing it.

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The USA Outdoor Champs, held in Eugene, Oregon from June 23–26, 2011, was four days of tremendous competitions. It should not have been a surprise as everything is on the line when one is trying to make the top three finishers on team USA. The truth is this, the 2011 team for the World Champs is a mixture of new faces as well as many veterans. From Ashton Eaton’s brilliant win, to Kellie Wells in the 100m hurdles, to Brittney Reese’s life time best in the long jump, there were great performances!

The youngest member of the team is Trevor Barron, the 20 kilometer race-walk winner, who set four U.S. records while winning his race. The Visa Championships Series checks were won

by David Oliver and Carmelita Jeter. The key for this team is, How well will it perform in Daegu, at the 2011 World Athletics Championships.

Continues on page 18

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APRIL 18, 2011 BOSTON MARATHON 2:04:58

RYAN HALL

Continued from page 15

Both shot puts were tremendously exciting. On June 23, the fans in Eugene were treated to possibly the best women’s shot put competition in U.S. history.

Jill Camerena-Williams, who had set the U.S. indoor record of 19.87m at the U.S. Indoor champs, threw 19.85m/65-1 in round 2. Michelle Carter responded by throwing 19.86m or 65-2 in the same round. Camerena Williams responded with a huge foul in round three, 19.61m, 19.84m, and 19.79m.

“Michelle has beat me like this before!” noted Jill Camerana Williams. (On July 8, Jill Camerena Williams tied the U.S. outdoor record of 20.12m).

Continued from page 9

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The mens’ shot put was held June 26. The men’s shot put featured Christian Cantwell, the 2009 World Champ, Reese Hoffa, the 2007 World Champ and Adam Nelson, the 2005 World champ and Olympic Silver medalist. Adam Nelson, at 36, found his mojo and hit 22.09m/72-5.75 in the second round to surprise the field. Christian Cantwell, recovering from shoulder surgery, continues to improve, taking second in 21.87m/71-9.

Cantwell had a huge throw on his last attempt. 2007 World Champ Reese Hoffa was third in 21.86m/71-8.75. Adam Nelson noted on his best competition in years, “The key was that I was able to stay healthy the entire year. On top of that I was persistent with my workout, which has helped me get to where I am now.”

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The men’s sprints were completely changed when Tyson Gay pulled out of the U.S. Champs, citing an injury. He had surgery soon after the champs, and will be back for 2012. Walter Dix took the mantle and won the 100 meters in 9.94 with Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic Gold medalist and 2005 World Champ, just back from a drug ban, in 9.95. Mike Rodgers was third in the 100 meters in 9.99.

Walter Dix noted, “I was able to get through my cramp and I just let it rip. I had to adjust because I’m from Florida, but my body adjusted well.” Dix would come back to win the 200 meters, as well.

Justin Gatlin, who had spent 4 years out of the sport due to a positive drug test, commented: “I had a lot of pent up frustration, sadness and anger at the end of the race today. I just let out a roar.”

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Carmelita Jeter told AO that “when I listen to coach John Smith, I run well, when I don’t, well....” Jeter listened to her coach, and won the 100 meters in 10.74, the second fastest time of the year (Jeter had run 10.70 in Eugene in early June at the Nike Pre.) Marshevet Myers took second in 10.86 and Mike Barber took third in 10.99. Carmelita told the media after the race, “I love it here in Eugene. The fans truly appreciate what we do out there and that is what this is all about.”

The women’s 200 meters was a huge win for Shalonda Solomon, with her personal best of 22.15. Carmelita Jeter took second in 22.23. Texas A&M’s, running from lane 8, ran the best race of her life, in 22.28, to take third!

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Galen Rupp took his third straight title, using a 1:52 last 800 meters to take the win and go to Daegu with his 28:38.17. Osaka fourth placer in the 5000 meters, Matt Tegenkamp, took second in 28:39.97 and Scott Bauhs took the third in 28:40. Rupp, Tegenkamp have A standards and Bauhs has the B standard for the 10,000m. Bobby Curtis the fastest U.S. runner at 10,000m, finished fourth.

Rupp wore his allergy mask (there is actually a Facebook page on Galen Rupp’s face mask) for 17 laps. The pace was pretty tepid as Jason Hartmann, Abdi Abdirahman lead with Bobby Curtis, Rupp, Patrick Smyth, and Matt Tegenkamp lurking.

After the race, Galen Rupp noted: “This race was very tactical, every race is, even at this level, so my technique is what helped me finish strong ... After hearing that bell, all that triggered in my mind was to drive it home to the finish line. I am happy with the race and I look forward to taking it to Worlds.”

Matt Tegenkamp, who told me after the race, “ I was not ready to run

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that fast to finish yet.” The finish was a preview of what will happen in the Daegu final.

Matt continued, “I didn’t notice where Galen was until probably the last 700 meters and I didn’t feel him coming up on me until the last 200. He ran a smart race. I think I’m just coming into my stride after missing last year.”

The women’s 10,000m was the Shalane Flanagan show. Shalane took off and did not look back, running her fourth sub 31 minute 10,000m, with a fine 30:59.7. Her last lap, just under 61 seconds, showed that Shalane is looking strong for Daegu. Kara Goucher was second and Jenn Rhines was third , with Desi Davila in fourth and Magda Levy in fifth, running her personal best!

Shalane Flanagan described her race afterward: “I wanted to run aggressively tonight, I wanted to come out and run my own race. I was excited to make the team.

I hit a nice rhythm and I felt really good.Training has been going great for me in Flagstaff. I didn’t know how fit I was, but the altitude has apparently done me well. I’m excited that I’m feeling sharper and I’m getting my legs back under me. I think my best times will come in August and September.”

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The women’s 5000 meters showed why Molly Huddle is the U.S. record holder. Showing the confidence of a record holder, Molly Huddle dropped a 72.1 with 1200 meters to go and finished the race in 63.9, winning in 15:10.00 to take the title. Angela Bizzari was close to Huddle much of the race, but Amy Hastings, also running a brave race, moved into second, running 15:14.31 and Angela in 15:16. Desi Davila and Jenn Rhines doubled back from the 10,000 meters the night before, running quite well.

Molly Huddle had some good observations after her race: “I wanted to run my best regardless of who was or wasn’t going to be in the race. “It was a long time coming. I knew that I had a really good chance to win. The final mile is the most important to my race.”

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The men’s 5000 meters took off with seven laps to go.

At that time, Chris Solinsky, Matt Tegenkamp and Andrew Bumbalough ran back to back laps in 61 seconds! Lagat, Rupp followed, and then, with four laps to go, Solinsky went to the front, running a 4-minute mile and separating the field from Solinsky, Rupp and Lagat. Matt Tegenkamp fell off with three laps to go.

Solinsky continued to push the pace, leading with a lap to go. Bernard Lagat went by on the last stretch, taking the race in 13:23.06, with Solinsky in second in 13:23.65 and Galen Rupp, coming back from the 10,000m win the night before, in third, in 13:25.52. This was Bernard Lagat’s

fifth win over 5000 meters!

Bernard commented: “Galen really took control of the race early, it wasn’t easy. I followed him really close and I was working hard.

“I feel awesome. I have nothing to lose now, I made the team and that is the most important thing. I’m really excited that I won the race today. Tomorrow, I’m going to be in there to run serious again and look for another win.”

(Lagat would go on to take 2nd in the 1500 meters to Matt Centrowitz. On July 22, Bernard Lagat would break the AR for 5000 meters once again, running 12:53.60 from 12:54.12.)

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kswiss.com/running

GO IN THE DARK You have the power to outrun light. The all-new California is reflective from heel to toe. Run brighter and fearless. You my friend, are gonzo.

2011 Honda LA Marathon Race Report: ing a flooded street in Brentwood, like the other 23,542 finishers. He just ran away from everyone, including defending champion Wesley Korir, who finished 3rd.

Just how amazing was Markus Geneti? He went by the elite women, around 1 hour, 34 minutes into the race, even with the elite women’s 17 minute, 3 second lead. This is part of the $100k LA Marathon race challenge, which is given to the male or female elite runner who actually crosses the finish line first. Each year, the handicap for the elite women is a bit different. Just before 20 miles, Genuti flew by the women. His countrywoman, Buzunesh Deba, charged past Amy Hastings into the lead. Hasting followed her, and charged back into the lead, just as she had for the previous 20 miles.

Deba, Mara Dibaba and Hastings did battle over 26.2 miles. Hastings, training with Terrance Mahon and the Mammoth TC, hit the halfway point in 1:14 and duked it out with Deba, who, in her ninth marathon, ran her personal best of 2:26:34. Deba finally broke away from Hastings just before 23 miles. Hastings did not give up. She held on to run 2:27:03 and become a real possible challenger for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 11 months.

Marathons are about preparation. Marathons are about focus. The Honda LA Marathon, as presented by K-SWISS, has elevated the game: a more runner-friendly course and amazing digital communication with the runners as they prepared. Constant positive affirmation, like a digital coach, was given to the marathoners as they prepared for the race.

Even with all that Mother Nature could throw at it, the field persevered, because, as all 23,543 finishers understood, the pursuit of the marathon, the goal of finishing the 2011 Honda LA marathon is bigger than any one of the individual runners. When all those fiery spirits come together, there is strength and power in numbers!

See you at the 2012 Honda LA Marathon, presented by K-SWISS!

—By Larry Eder

Kristin Burns Studio/LA Marathon

©2011 Rich Cruse/LA Marathon

The author Charles Dickens opens A Tale of Two Cities like this: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

That line could have described the challenges Mother Nature threw at the 23,543 finishers of the Honda LA Marathon, presented by K-SWISS. While the race started under threatening clouds, those clouds did open, but the nearly 25,000 starters braved, at times, torrential rains, tough winds and a challenging course throughout the city of Los Angeles, for the duration of the race. Yet, with all of those challenges, nearly 97% of the starters finished the 2011 Honda LA Marathon.

Rod Dixon, 1983 winner of the NYC Marathon, fourtime Olympian and Olympic medalist, is director of coaching & training for the Honda LA Marathon. Dixon noted, “What a day, what a weekend. Certainly one for the record books!”

Rod was rightly proud of the high finishing rate of his training club, the LA Road Runners (sponsored by the race’s official footwear and apparel sponsor, K-SWISS). The LA Road Runners were a microcosm of what happened in the 2011 Honda LA Marathon. There were many, many success stories. Rod noted, for his club, “We had eight runners under 3 hours. Fourteen runners qualified for Boston (the previous best was two), and it looks like 96–98% finished and 58% set personal bests!

Why did so many marathoners not only finish (97%), but 58% ran personal bests? Part of the story is the success of training groups, and the fact that the more one prepares for a situation, the better one’s chance of success.

Many of the marathoners were running for causes. For many marathoners, this makes the actual running of the race an even bigger thing, as they are running for someone or something else.

Rod Dixon says it best: “The LA Roadrunners trained and prepared for the LA Marathon, with a great team of pace leader-coaches. For whatever race day presented, we prepared the best that we could. Based on that confidence, the Roadrunners accepted the weather and adjusted their goals and tackled the adverse conditions like true champions.”

23,543 stories at the 2011 Honda LA Marathon, where the weather, the course and the runners’ focus and training all overcame their personal challenges. Markus Geneti, an elite Ethiopian runner known for his racing over 1500 meters and 3000 meters, debuted at LA. Geneti took charge before 10 miles, and just did not stop, running a 4:26 mile en route to his 2:06:35 marathon finish. Geneti faced the rain, includ-

Kristin Burns Studio/LA Marathon

adidas Grand Prix Dream Races

By Chris Lotsbom Junior Editor, Race Results Weekly

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The adidas Grand Prix stop of the Samsung Diamond League here in New York featured four high school Dream events between 100m and the mile. One dream came true, as Lukas Verzbicas joined the sub four-minute mile club by running 3:59.71 in the Jim Ryun Dream Mile, with Ryun, the first high schooler ever to run under 4, in attendance.

The 18-year-old senior from Orland Park, Illinois became just the fifth high school athlete ever to break 4 minutes in the mile. Verzbicas cracked the barrier thanks to a little bit of luck and a whole lot of grit.

With a light mist falling and temperatures perfect at 64ºF (1ºC), 15 boys toed the line in Icahn Stadium with dreams of going sub 4. This would be Verzbicas’ final high school race, and all eyes were on him, the favorite coming in. He had made it clear that his goal was to add a long Lithuanian name to the short but distinguished list of American prep sub 4-minute milers. Would he go down in history next to Webb, Liquori, Danielson, and of course, the host Ryun?

“I think it’s definitely possible,” he said the day before the race, confident as usual. “We are all going to go after it, and it should work out. I don’t see why it shouldn’t happen.”

Twenty-four hours later, while on the starting line, he looked poised, bouncing up and down, shaking out his lanky legs.

After pace maker Connor Manley took the first quarter mile in 57.68, California’s Jantzen Oshier and Verzbicas trailed by a decent margin. Over the next lap, the chances of a sub 4 time seemed to diminish as the group hit 800m in 2:01.97 with the cool, calm, and collected Oshier doing the leading duties. He would be a key factor in Verzbicas’ race, breaking the wind in the middle laps. But if Verzbicas wanted 4 minutes, then he had to clock a 1:58.03 final 800m, a rediculous negative split.

With 650m remaining, Verzbicas took a look at the clock and knew he had to move.

“By then, with around 600m to go, I thought I’m not going for time, I’m just going for the win now because the guys were right on my back.”

Leading into the turn and taking the bell with Oshier at 3:01.38, Verzbicas had to run sub 59 to get his goal. He wanted to do something special.

“I was really hurting that last lap. The wind was in my face, but I just put my head down, said ’this is my last high school race,’ and I did it.”

1500m came and went, clocked at 3:43, unofficially.

You could tell by his facial expression that he had enough in the tank.

“With 100m to go, I thought he had it,” said Ryun, who was overjoyed by Verzbicas’ effort. Verzbicas wasn’t completely sure until a few seconds later.

“I did not know until the last 50 meters when I saw the clock, because I was really doubting myself,” he said.

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Crossing the line in 3:59.71, Verzbicas closed a historic chapter of his athletics career in just the way he imagined. Ever since last year he had been working toward this moment, and it was finally here.

“It’s goal setting and goals coming true,” said a smiling Verzbicas, recounting the time at this meet last year when he told a small group of media members that he guaranteed he would break 4 minutes before his high school career came to an end.

Even his fellow competitors recognized the accomplishment.

“Lukas is a great guy, great runner,” said Oshier, who will be attending the University of California next year. “Lukas broke 4, I am happy to be part of that. He is very talented. As of right now, Lukas is the best.”

Verzbicas’ next goal is a gold medal at the World Junior Triathlon Championships this September, where he will be competing in honor of his close friend and teammate Kevin McDowell, who was a medal favorite and diagnosed with cancer this year. Then it will be off to the University of Oregon. When asked if he would like to be the next Steve Prefontaine or Galen Rupp, two men who dominated collegiately in Eugene, Verzbicas replied confidently, “Maybe I just want to have my own tradition.”

The girl’s Dream Mile was won by Cami Chapus of HarvardWestlake in California. Coming off of a California State 1600m title the week before, Chapus made the cross-country trip to New York and just wanted to contend for the win.

After the pack of 13 went out in 69.5 seconds, then passed the half mile in 2:25, the race looked to be playing out as a sit and kick affair. Five wide into the third lane, no one wanted to take the initiative and make the race honest.

After the bell, it was a battle between the two Californians, Chapus and Alli Billmeyer, as the two opened up a small gap in front of the large chase pack.

Down the homestretch, a hard-charging Eleanor Fulton seemingly came out of nowhere, but Chapus was able to hold her off, 4:42.71 to 4:42.91. Billmeyer rounded out the top three in 4:42.90.

Spots 1 through 5 were determined by less than 1 second.

“I think we all helped each other come through in a fast time.

Once it got down to the last part of the race, I knew I just had to keep going and leave it all on the track," said Chapus, who will be competing in two relays and racing 1500m of the mile at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, hoping to earn a qualifying time for the IAAF World Youth Championships.

“The main thing going into the race was to have fun with it. It’s been a great experience.”

The adidas Dream 100m was held for the first time here, bringing the nation’s fastest sprinters to Randall’s Island. Running down the same stretch in which Usain Bolt set his first world record of 9.72 in 2008, the prep sprinters took center stage hours before their idols, Olympians and national record holders, were to race down the same lanes.

After setting themselves in the blocks, the boy’s field, all clad in bright gold adidas speed suits, had to raise once, only adding to the tension in the air. Running into a stiff headwind of 3.0 m/s, record times seemed to be out the window.

Out of the blocks, reigning New Balance Outdoor Nationals champion Sean McLean and national leader in the 100m Marvin Bracy began to separate from the rest of the eight-man field. With a lane separating each other, the two battled the whole way down the homestretch. Leaning at the line, it was Bracy by .01 of a second, 10.47 to 10.48.

“The weather conditions didn’t affect us, we just came out here and did what we had to do on the track,” said Bracy. “It felt great to come out here and win, with that crowd, everybody roaring, and these flowers are nice.”

McLean viewed the weather differently, as he slipped coming out of the blocks.

“The first fifty meters I struggled because of the weather, but after that it was all fine.”

The girl’s Dream 100m went to favorite Octavious Freeman of Florida, who has been undefeated since her sophomore year. The country’s best sprinter in both the 100m and 200m, Freeman came in hoping to take a shot at Angela Williams’s national record of 11.11.

But the slippery conditions, plus the harsh wind, made chances of attaining the record extremely thin.

Despite a poor start, Freeman, a 10 time Florida Section 2 champion, ran away from the rest of the field, finishing in 11.78. Second went to Myasia Jacobs (11.90), and third to Tynia Gaither (11.92).

“I feel like I came out here to run a much faster time,” said a dissapointed Freeman. “That’s like a practice time for me. With the conditions and all, I think I still should have ran a little bit better.”

Freeman will be heading to the University of Central Florida in the fall.

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NEW BALANCE OUTDOOR NATIONALS National Records Set at Day Two of New Balance Outdoor Nationals

By Chris Lotsbom Junior Editor, Race Results Weekly GREENSBORO, N.C. (18-Jun) – For the second straight day, records fell in bunches here at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals competition in Greensboro, North Carolina. Two national and two meet records were broken, creating a day that many will remember for years to to come.

Aisling Cuffe bettered current American record holder Molly Huddle’s national high school mark in the 2-mile, running 9:54.22 in front of a large crowd late in the evening. Then in the final event of the night, the boys’ 4x800m relay, another national record fell with Long Beach Poly TC of California coming from behind to

earn their mark of 7:28.75. Meet records of 8:49.85 in the girl’s 4x800m and 4.17m in the pole vault also fell, with Bronxville TC (NY) and Morgann LeLeux (GA) claiming those marks, respectively.

As the day turned to night here, the clock ticked closer to the most anticipated race of the evening: the girl’s 2-mile. The race would pit a field full of credentials up against one another.

Cuffe, the Indoor Nationals 2-mile champion, would have to face indoor 5000m record holder Waverly Neer, as well as Thursday’s outdoor 5000m champion Wesley Frazier. Also on the line

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• SUMMER 2011 • atf-athlete.com

would be Kayla Beattie, the Illinois state champion in the 1600m and 3200m.

Cuffe would take the race out hard from the gun, immediately setting the tone that she was out to get Huddle’s 9-year-old record. But by 800m, the field had strung out to single file, and had a surprise leader: Kayla Beattie. Passing the mile in 4:58.8, Cuffe was a few steps back, inching closer and closer to the leader, with Neer and Frazier slipping farther back.

Coming down the homestretch, fans began a slow clap similar to one heard frequently at Hayward Field in Eugene. Would there be magic at Aggie Stadium tonight? Cuffe answered with an emphatic yes, surging and breaking away from Beattie.

“I knew I had to go then, even though I was sacrificing my leg speed,” explained Cuffe postrace.

Crossing the tape minutes later in 9:54.22, Cuffe had earned a national record, something she narrowly missed doing indoors.

“It’s my last individual high school race, and I guess I am happy it ended that way,” she said. “It hasn’t really sunken in yet.” Cuffe will compete one last time in the distance medley relay on Saturday.

Less than an hour after Cuffe’s record setting run, another national mark was ready to fall. That was in the boy’s 4x800m. Long Beach Poly TC of California finished just under the national record of 7:30.67, set by Albemarle, Virginia in 2009. Christopher Hall, Myles Andrews, Aaron Harris and Christian Penn combined to run 7:28.75, the fastest time ever run in U.S. high school history. The team, comprised of four seniors, used their momentum to jump into the lead around the final turn, passing No Speed Limit TC in the process. Both teams wound up under Albemarle’s previous mark. Still out of breath, the team posed in front of the finish clock with their time proudly displayed.

“We just came out with one mindset—to get the record,” said the anchor Andrews, who split an incredible 1:47.71.

In the girl’s 4x800m, Bronxville TC of New York came to the line following a day of dramatic ups and downs. Three members of the team had their plane delayed for three hours Friday afternoon, causing all to stress that they would miss their relay heat. Arriving at the track only an hour and a half before the gun, with tears still drying in their eyes, the team began to settle down, focusing on the task at hand.

The quartet comprised of Mary Cain, Meredith Rizzo, Courtney Campbell and Emilie Hoffer ran cool, calm and collected, passing the baton smoothly. Once Cain, only 15-years-old, got the stick, she flew, clocking a split of 2:03.74. The final time of 8:49.85 was more than 6 seconds faster than the previous meet mark.

“We are all so young,” said an excited Cain, who couldn’t believe the team had won. “We will all be back for the next two years.”

A meet record was also set by Louisiana senior LeLeux in the pole vault. The University of Georgia–bound defending champion jumped 4.17m (13-8 ft) feet to defend her title. LeLeux credited her gymnastics background, as well as her male training partners, for helping her achieve success in the vault.

“My dad built an indoor and outdoor pit, and ever since sixth grade, I have been competing with the boys. That’s how I keep my motivation.”

With over 10 championship events being contested, there were dozens of highlights worthy of headlines. Below are a few snapshots of what happened in other events.

- For the third year in a row, Alex Collatz of California won the girls’ discus. Despite competing with an injury, her final throw earned a mark of 46.70m.

- Kendell Williams ran the 800m as hard as she could, trying to break the sophomore record of 5142 in the heptathlon. She did just that, capping off the 7 event competition with a 2:28.65. Her point total was 5169; now Williams has both the freshman and sophomore national records. Bus she wasn’t done for the day: Williams placed 2nd in the 100m hurdles later in the evening.

- Ammar Moussa broke away from Jim and Joe Rosa with 400m remaining in the boy’s 2-mile, finishing in 8:51.80. The win gave Moussa his second national title of the school year; he won a team title in cross country last fall.

• SUMMER 2011 • atf-athlete.com

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