USATF Track and Field Championships this weekend

[Coyote Mas Loco]

Probably considered JV events compared to 100 milers, but the USATF championships are being held at Drake University in Des Moines, IA this weekend. Today is the last day of competition and there should be coverage this afternoon on NBC.

Highlights so far, Molly Huddle blasted a 4:38 final mile to win the women's 10000 m the other night. 20 year old Noah Lyles, more of a 200 m specialist thus far won the 100 in 9.8, signalling a changing of the guard in the sprints (post Bolt, and hopefully someday post drug cheat Justin Gatlin). Centro is back baby! Winning a tactical 1500. Best race so far was the showdown between Iowa girls Jenny Simpson and Shelby Houlihan in the women's 1500--also a tactical race but a blistering final lap, with Houlihan running a 57 seconds and pulling away from multi world and Olympic medalist Simpson on the home stretch. And the women's steeple with Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs duking it out.

Today's track events will feature the men's and women's 5000 m and 200 m. 

recap from yesterday: http://www.usatf.org/News/Price-is-right-for-another-American-record-perform.aspx

[Richard21142]

I spent a lot of yesterday watching the meet (recorded on the dvr).  There have been some pretty exciting events, but the crowd size is pretty low, particularly when compared to the crowds when the meet is held in Oregon.

Props to Houlihan for the move she made in the stretch.  She looked like she had just came out of the blocks.

[Arrojo]

Thanks for posting! I watched some yesterday. Lyles is the real deal. That 200m I posted from the 70 year old was from this meet.  It’s not a Masters competition, but that was a special invitational masters 200 .

[Coyote Mas Loco]

Randmart, I can sort of relate. But my wife knew what she was getting into from the get-go. We'd only gone out 2-3 times and she came over to watch the 84 Olympics, and here I was with stop watch and pad of paper taking splits in the women's 3000.

Richard, not Eugene-level enthusiasm in Iowa. But that's a pretty big stadium, and most of the home side was full. Probably 6000-7000 in attendance.

Arrojo, yeah that was great and I'm still astounded at that 200!

[Coyote Mas Loco]

Crowds very thin on Sunday, maybe 3000-4000 before the thunderstorms shut things down for a few hours. But some good competition in the 200, 800, 5000.