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EUGENE, Ore. - The Road to Eugene '08 began with a world junior record and an American junior record Tuesday at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The crowd of 5,692 helped keep the athletes energized.
The Road to Eugene '08 is a cooperative effort between the Local Organizing Committee for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, USA Track & Field, and the USATF Athletes Advisory Committee. This inaugural Mid-Summer Classic featured many of America's top track and field athletes competed for $200,000 in prize money. The meet is a benefit for the Professional Athletics Association (PAA), a newly formed union of professional track and field athletes.
In the first event of the night, the junior women's 4x100-meter relay team of Bianca Knight, Jeneba Tarmoh, Elizabeth Olear, and Gabrielle Mayo set a World Junior Record, getting the baton around the track in 43.29 seconds. The previous record of 43.38 was set by Team USA in 1999.
In the men's hammer, 2006 U.S. champion A.G. Kruger threw 74.95 meters/245 feet 11 inches for the win. 2006 U.S. Junior champion Walter Henning broke his own American junior record twice on his was to a second place finish. On his first throw of the day, Henning hit 72.28m/237-1 and bettered that on his last throw, hammering out a 72.59m/238-2. His previous record of 71.62m/235-0 was set in June at the 2006 Finish Line USA Junior Championships.
In the women's 100-meter hurdles, former LSU standout Lolo Jones pulled away for the win in 12.70 seconds. "Perfect weather and a fast track (helped today). It's awesome because the crowd is so into it, anywhere else we're struggling," said Jones. 2005 U.S. Indoor champion Danielle Carruthers was second in 12.81 while 2004 Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes, competing in her first outdoor race of the year, was third in 12.92.
Brandon Myers won the junior men's 100 meters in 10.62 seconds while Gabrielle Mayo, the anchor for the world-record setting 4x100m, won the junior women's 100m in 11.42.
2005 World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist LaShawn Merritt ran the second-fastest men's 300-meter time in history, crossing the line in 31.31 seconds. Only Michael Johnson's world record time of 30.85 is faster. After his race, Merritt said, "I run a lot of 300s in practice but have never competed in it outdoors. I tried to keep my form and stay relaxed. My objective going in was just to win." 2004 Olympic 400m bronze medalist Derrick Brew was second in 32.40, just ahead of 2005 NCAAm champ Darold Williamson who finished third in 32.42.
2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford edged out the competition in the men's 100 meters, winning in 10.15 seconds. Jason Smoots was second in 10.17, while 2003 World Outdoor 200m silver medalist Darvis Patton was third in 10.19.
2005 World bronze medalist Sandra Glover won the women's 400-meter hurdles in 55.49 seconds. 2004 Olympian Sheena Johnson was second in 55.58, and 2006 U.S.Junior champion Nicole Leach was third in 55.70. In the men's 400m hurdles, 2006 NACAC champion Kenneth Ferguson beat 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist James Carter to the line, winning in 49.47 while Carter crosses the line in 49.70.
In the junior men's 300 meter, Bryshon Nellum held off a late charge from Calvin Smith for the win, crossing the line in 33.19 seconds while Smith was second in 33.27. Sa'de Williams, the U.S. Junior 400m third place finisher, won the women's 300m in 37.13 while 2006 U.S. Junior 400m champion Jessica Beard finished second in 37.55.
In the men's pole vault, the top three all had the same clearance of 5.70 meters/18 feet 8.25 inches with first going to 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson. 2006 World Indoor champion Brad Walker was second and 2006 U.S. champion Russ Buller was third. 2005 World Youth silver medalist Scott Roth won the junior men's pole vault with a height of 5.10m/16-8.75 with Phillip Hansen second also at that height.
2006 U.S. runner-up Alice Schmidt won the women's 800 meters in 2 minutes 0.25 seconds while two-time NCAA 1,500m champion Tiffany McWilliams was second in 2:00.88.
2006 U.S. Indoor champion Akiba McKinney won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.62 meters/21 feet -8.75 inches. 2005 World Outdoor champion Tianna Madison was second with her mark of 6.50m/21-4 and 2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Rose Richmond was third with 21-3.50.
2006 World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa dominated the men's shot put, winning with a heave of 21.61 meters/70 feet-10.75 inches. Former Ohio State standout Dan Taylor was second with 21.17m/69-5.5 and 2005 World Outdoor champion Adam Nelson was third with 20.27m/66-6.
2006 U.S. 5,000m runner-up Matt Tegenkamp ran a lifetime best in the men's 1,500 meters, winning in 3 minutes 36.07 seconds while former Arkansas standout Said Ahmed was second in 3:38.31.
Other winners include Robby Hughes, who won the men's 110-meter hurdles in 13.37 seconds. 2006 U.S. champion Ian Waltz won the men's discus with a toss of 63.67 meters/208 feet 11 inches. 2006 World Indoor 60m champion Lisa Barber won the women's 200m in 22.92. Three -time Olympian Amy Acuff won the women's high jump with her clearance of 1.92m/6-3.5.
In her final appearance at Hayward Field, two-time Olympian Kellie Suttle won the women's pole vault with a height of 4.40m/14-5.25. Five-time U.S. runner-up Suzy Powell won the women's discus with a toss of 60.53m/198-7. Baylor freshman Erin Bedell won the junior women's 2,000m in 6:04.60. American record holder Erin Gilreath won the women's hammer with a heave of 68.84m/225-10.
For more information and complete results, visit www.goducks.com.
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