US Track and Field Trials

[alexis]

What a great weekend of races...

My favorite was watching Ashton Eaton set the decathlon world record. The last lap of the 1500 gave me goosebumps (I may have teared up a bit too), as the crowd was on their feet pushing him on, and then the runner who was in first, moving out of the way and cheering him on. If you did not see it, it is worth taking a few minutes to watch!
Ashton Eaton Sets Decathlon World Record - Track & Field Video | NBC Olympics

The 3rd place tie between Felix and Tarmoh was also pretty crazy. Sounds like it is now going to end up being a coin toss or a runoff.

[Chance Legstrong]

I missed them as i was racing all weekend.
def want to watch some cached replays, though
I too get the bumps and tears in certain finish line situations-human sporting drama!

[Eddie]

Alexis, that was a beautiful race.

Swimming starts tonight. Lochte didn't scratch the 400 IM, 400 free combo for tonight. Ballsy.

PS He's going to crush.

[alexis]

I'm a sucker for the swimming trials too. DVR is all set!

Alexis, that was a beautiful race.

Swimming starts tonight. Lochte didn't scratch the 400 IM, 400 free combo for tonight. Ballsy.

PS He's going to crush.

[Eddie]

I'm a sucker for the swimming trials too. DVR is all set!

I come from that world and swam Trials in '00. Looking over the psyche sheet, lots of guys still at it from my generation. It appears a more aged meet than in Olympics past. For the most part, it used to be the case that after college you hung it up and moved on. Now that there's more money in the sport (for better or worse), and people are training much longer.

Dark horse candidate in the 800 free Stephanie Peacock - from my club team - only seeded 14th in the 800 free, but she recently beat Janet Evans' American Record in the 1,650 free SCY.

Also, go Teresa Crippen!

[maunahaole]

Did anyone happen to see the cool (as in creepy porno-style) stash that Michael Phelps is rocking right now? Shades of Dave Z.

[jr59]

A STINKING coin toss? To decide who goes to the olympics?

You must be kidding!

[Eddie]

Lochte sat up in the final 50. Didn't see the race but saw the splits. He had Phelps beat at that point and he's got a lot of swimming left. Look for more.

Go Brendan Hansen! 100 breast finals tomorrow night.

[bellman]

Total sucker here for the olympic moment and I'm not talking about the focal point pieces that the journalists do. I'm talking the ones that you see in nearly every event, just pure perfection in sport. To witness the payoff from training and sacrifice.
It gets to the point where I can hardly call the family to come watch the replay without sobbing my way thru it.

The Ashton Eaton video, it looked to me like as he started he was moon walking forward or in other words he was decelerating as he was pulling away if that makes any sense. Just a lot of power there. Amazing.

[Too Tall]

Lochte sat up in the final 50. Didn't see the race but saw the splits. He had Phelps beat at that point and he's got a lot of swimming left. Look for more.

Go Brendan Hansen! 100 breast finals tomorrow night.

Yep, we were cheering that. Phelps freestyle has no comparison but this Lochte is amazing. Queen is not sure if she is more enamored with Andy Schleck or Lochte. Oh here we go.

[Shoogs]

A STINKING coin toss? To decide who goes to the olympics?

You must be kidding!

Effen ridiculous, me I'd have voted for Roshambeaux...and lead with scissors.

[alexis]

Effen ridiculous, me I'd have voted for Roshambeaux...and lead with scissors.

It is up to the athletes: the two runners involved can vote to have a coin toss, or a runoff, or one can give up the spot.

[Too Tall]

It is up to the athletes: the two runners involved can vote to have a coin toss, or a runoff, or one can give up the spot.

The athletes had some input to this. Whatever they want is the most fair. It is the Olympics and these are not your usual professional athletes.
Olympic Trials [X] like

[Look585]

I come from that world and swam Trials in '00. Looking over the psyche sheet, lots of guys still at it from my generation. It appears a more aged meet than in Olympics past. For the most part, it used to be the case that after college you hung it up and moved on. Now that there's more money in the sport (for better or worse), and people are training much longer.

I'm older than you and there were two guys from my era in the 100M Breaststroke. Jeff Commings (38) and Steve West (41). I was in the "hang it up after college" crowd and have started racing bikes for the competitive itch. I was a *way* better swimmer. 60s efforts I get, but 3hrs?

[robin3mj]

Yep, we were cheering that. Phelps freestyle has no comparison but this Lochte is amazing. Queen is not sure if she is more enamored with Andy Schleck or Lochte. Oh here we go.

Random thoughts:
That Lochte kid has some barrel chest on him. Looks like an old timey boxer, sans handlebar 'stache.
The women were hauling last night. One American record, and another race saw the winner fade (or let up?) just enough at the end to miss the AR/WR by not much.
I'm pretty thrilled that NBC and NBC Sports are putting on 2 hours of swim coverage every night. Smart, cheap idea on their part to generate excitement ahead of the Games themselves.
I have 2 tickets to the gold medal hoops game- if you know anyone with deep pockets...
I still wish I'd have gone to school somewhere with flat water, rather than whitewater. (What are some good kayaking words? Rapids. Look, I'm going through the rapids.) I think I'd have been decent at rowing crew.

[Eddie]

Random thoughts:
The women were hauling last night. One American record, and another race saw the winner fade (or let up?) just enough at the end to miss the AR/WR by not much.

The name of the game is making the Olympic team - by what margin doesn't matter. If you've still got three or four events to swim, and you've got the race won, it might be smart to shut it down and save yourself. Lochte was easily on the way to going 4:05 last night. Don't forget that Phelps' 4:03 was swum during the "fast suit" era, those suits since banned. Argument can be made that he's swimming as fast or faster than Phelps did in '08.

[robin3mj]

The name of the game is making the Olympic team - by what margin doesn't matter. If you've still got three or four events to swim, and you've got the race won, it might be smart to shut it down and save yourself. Lochte was easily on the way to going 4:05 last night. Don't forget that Phelps' 4:03 was swum during the "fast suit" era, those suits since banned. Argument can be made that he's swimming as fast or faster than Phelps did in '08.

Totally. I'm not knocking their tactics. I just think it's great that the depth of talent out there right now is such that these records are conceivably within reach, even in a competition where simply advancing is the primary goal.