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Wariner, Spearmon, Perry, Merritt win in Stockholm
Jeremy Wariner, Wallace Spearmon, Michelle Perry and Aries Merritt each won their respective events Tuesday at the 40th DN Galan meet at Olympic Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden.
The reigning world and Olympic champion in the men's 400 meters, Jeremy Wariner captured another win on the European circuit with his time of 44.02 seconds. Wariner finished ahead of runner-up Gary Kikaya of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who crossed the finish line in 44.53 seconds.
In the men's 200 meters, 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Wallace Spearmon led a U.S. sweep of the top three spots with his winning time of 20.08 seconds. LaShawn Merritt was the runner-up in 20.25 seconds, with Rodney Martin third in 20.62.
In hurdles action, reigning world champion Michelle Perry was the victor in the women's 100m hurdles in 12.60 seconds, with Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton the runner-up in 12.72. In the men's 110m hurdles, Aries Merritt, who was the runner-up in Rome on July 14 (13.17), was the winner Tuesday in Stockholm in the identical time of 13.17 seconds. Fellow American Robby Hughes shared runner-up honors with Stanislavs Olijars of Latvia, each crossing the line in 13.43 seconds.
In the men's 100 meters, Jamaican co-world record holder Asafa Powell was victorious in 9.86 seconds, with a trio of Americans following close behind including runner-up Tyson Gay (9.97 seconds), Marcus Brunson (3rd-10.09) and Shawn Crawford (4th - 10.14). Xavier Carter, who made history earlier this season by winning four events at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, finished eighth in 10.27 seconds.
Elsewhere, reigning U.S. Indoor and Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson finished third in the men's 800 meters in 1 minute 44.86 seconds, and 2005 World Outdoor Championships women's 400m silver medalist Sanya Richards was the runner-up in the 200 meters in 22.35 seconds as current world leader Sherone Simpson of Jamaica won the race in 22.00. Reigning World Outdoor champion Allyson Felix was fifth in 22.71 seconds, with 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Rachelle Boone-Smith sixth in 22.85.
In field event action, reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Walter Davis was the runner-up in the men's triple jump, sailing 17.32 meters/56 feet 10 inches on his final attempt. Three-time Olympian Amy Acuff finished third in the women's high jump (1.93m/6 feet, 4 inches), and reigning USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Jenn Stuczynski finished tied for third in the women's pole vault (4.52m/14 feet 10 inches).
For more information on the DN Galan meet in Stockholm, including the complete results, visit www.iaaf.org.
Felix, Richards enter Road to Eugene'08
Two of the world's fastest women, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards, will go head to head in the 200 meters at the Road to Eugene '08, an elite high-performance meet benefiting the Professional Athletics Association, on Tuesday, August 8, at the University of Oregon's legendary Hayward Field.
The 200 meters is one of 20 outstanding events featuring elite athletes and members of the U.S. Junior National Team that fans won't want to miss.Felix was undefeated in the 200 meters in 2005 and posted that year's fastest time in the world at 22.13. She was the 2005 World Champion in the 200 meters, ranked No. 1 in the event by Track & Field News, and was ranked #9 in the world in the 100 meters. With a win in Madrid earlier this season, the 20-year-old sprinter started the 2006 season where she left off in 2005, but was slowed recently by a minor injury and illness.
Known more for her prowess in the 400 meters, the 21-year-old Richards has run the sixth-fastest time in the 200 meters this year, a 22.25 at Gateshead in June. In addition, she has run five of the top eight 400 meter times in the world in 2006, all under 50 seconds flat. Last year, Richards was ranked No. 1 in the world in the 400 meters by Track & Field News, and was the silver medalist at the 2005 World Championships.
In addition to the elite athletes, the U.S. Junior National Team will be competing in the meet, marking the end of their training camp in Eugene before leaving for the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships August 15-20 in Beijing, China.
The meet is sponsored by Nike and the Eugene Local Organizing Committee for the 2008 U. S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, in partnership with the Professional Athletics Association (PAA), USA Track & Field (USATF) and its Athletes Advisory and High Performance Committees, the University of Oregon, and the Oregon Track Club. The Olympic Trials will be held in Eugene at Hayward Field, June 27 through July 6, 2008.
Tickets for the Road to Eugene '08 are $15 each for reserved seating and $10 each for general admission. They are available at the Casanova Center ticket office, www.goducks.com, and 800-WEBFOOT.
Gagliano to coach new club in Eugene
According to The Portland Tribune, former Georgetown University coach Frank Gagliano has been named head coach of the new Nike-sponsored, post-collegiate club that will be part of the Eugene-based Oregon Track Club.
Early in his career Gagliano coached at Rutgers University and Manhattan College before arriving at Georgetown where he amassed 23 Big East Conference titles and 13 IC4A championships in cross country and track. A two-time NCAA coach of the year, Gagliano mentored 1997 world indoor and outdoor 800m bronze medalist Rich Kenah and Olympians Steve Holman and Bryan Wodward.
Since 2001, Gagliano has served as head coach of the NIKE Farm Team in Palo Alto, Calif., where he produced numerous national champions. He has coached nine athletes that have competed in the Olympic Games.
"I am thrilled to embark on this exciting opportunity to continue working with some of the sport's top athletes," Gagliano said. "Eugene is an ideal location for high-level training, and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this new team for our athletes and the sport of track and field."
Gary named OSU head men's track coach
Two-time Olympian in the 3,000m steeplechase Robert Gary was named Ohio State University's seventh men's track and field head coach on Monday. The men's cross country head coach at Ohio State since his graduation from OSU in 1996, Gary succeeds Russ Rogers, who retired in June after 19 seasons with the Buckeyes.
Gary was named 2005 Great Lakes Region Cross Country Coach of the Year last season and led the Buckeye men's cross country squad to a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships, third place in the Great Lakes meet and an 11th place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championships.
"Being named the track and field head coach at my alma mater is almost beyond my dreams," said Gary, who has been named Ohio Cross Country Coach of the Year five of the last six seasons. "Being a part of the outstanding track and field tradition at The Ohio State University is truly an honor.
"I will be committed to building a complete track and field team. We will create a culture for our student-athletes to achieve their academic and athletic goals. I envision a balanced team with all the event areas working toward a common goal of a Big Ten championship."
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