5 Things We learnt from USA, Canada and Jamaica Trials

1. 3-way showdown between the big guns will not materialize

Tyson Gay's hip injury has unfortunately put him out of commission as he will n ot contest the 100m or 200m at the world championships in Daegu. However fans shouldn't be too disappointed, there are enough speedsters in action to keep the event highly entertaining. Walter Dix leads the charge for the US team and Jamaica's Asafa Powell who prevailed over a deep field in Kingston poses a strong enough challenge for defending champion Usain Bolt.

2. Drug ban doesn't mean the end of one's career
Former Olympic Champion Justin Gatlin returned from a four year ban in athletic wilderness to make the US team posting 9.99 seconds in Eugene. That effort not only silenced the critics but was good enough to book his spot on the US team. Gatlin who won the Olympic gold in 2004 has long maintained his innocence and is keen to return to sprint glory. He could prove a threat to Bolt and his long time nemesis Asafa Powell.



3. Level Playing Field in Women's Sprints



The US has caught up to the Jamaicans. Carmelita Jeter continues to reign supreme with Marshevet Hooker-Myers not far behind. Their times of 10.74 and 10.83, though wind-aided, send a strong message that nothing is guaranteed come world championships. Jamaica's Campbell- Brown's 10.84 is commendable but with less than a stellar season opener by defending champion shellyann Fraser Pryce and Kerron Stewart only now rounding into form, this event is wide open. In the 200m the world leading 22.15 posted by American Shalonda Solomon should not be taken lightly, the same goes for Jeter's spritely 22.23. Compared to the Jamaican times of of 22.44 from Campbell-Brown and 22.63 from Stewart, it's fair to say the US has the edge going into Daegu.

4. False Start rule rather risky
Several athletes are still very uncomfortable with the IAAF’s (one strike and you’re out) rule. Jamaica’s Mellisa Wallace became the early victim after she was disqualified in the now infamous women’s 100m semi-final. Less than five minutes later the country’s sprint darling Campbell Brown also false started leaving meet officials in a quandary. In the end the starter made the controversial decision to give Campbell-Brown a second chance. Meanwhile in Canada, despite being initially charged with a false start Nikita Holder ran the women’s 100m race under protest and placed third. Holder’s disqualification was later overturned.
All this begs the question “What will happen if key stars like Usain Bolt, David Oliver, Allyson Felix or Asafa Powell were to false start in Daegu?”I won't even attempt to answer that one.

5. Fireworks in store for Men's Shot put

Over the past few weeks Canada and the US appear to be trading world best throws back and forth. Canada's Dylan Armstrong unleashed a massive heave of 22.21 metres to capture the national title for sixth time, besting the previous high throw of 21.87 by American Reese Hoffa. At the US trials Hoffa could only manage 21.86 for third. First place went to 35 year old veteran Adam Nelson with a throw of 22.09 while defending world champion Christian Cantwell's 21.87 was good enough for second.

Spotlight on Canada: Team Trials begin

By Tamika Forrester
Canadian track enthusiasts long for the glory days of Olympic champion Donovan Bailey and Olympic silver medalist Bruny Surin. Sadly the era of Canada's dominance in sprinting seems a faded memory as Jamaica and the USA have owned the sport in the past decade. But don't count Canadians out just yet we're known to turn out a scintillating performance or two when least expected.

Canada's World Trials begin today at the Foothills Athletic Park in Calgary, Alberta where the nation's best line up to vie for a spot on the team. Interestingly, the buzz comes NOT from the track but rather its less glamourous counterpart, the field.

Canada current No. 1
Shot putter Dylan Armstrong, who was a centimetre short of copping the bronze medal in the Beijing olympics, is arguably having the season of his life. Last month he set a new Canadian record with an amazing throw of 21.72 metres. He's currently leading on the prestigious Samsung Diamond League circuit.



The women's 100m hurdles packs the heat
In 2003 world Champion Perdita Felicien started the trend of Canada doing well in the highly intense obstacle event. Perdita's teammate Priscilla Lopes-Schliep gave Canada a bronze medal in 2008 and a silver at the 2009 world championships. Lopes-Schliep is expecting her first child in September and will not be in competition this year. But the audience can expect a good performance from the now Calgary based Perdita who's already run under 13 seconds this year. She will be seeking her 10th National title

Heptathlon also in the mix

London, Ontario native Jessica Zelinka will be in action, looking to better her Canadian record of 353 points in the Heptathlon

Canada's Fastest Man

The young but much heralded sprinter Sam Effah could be the one to revive Canadian sprinting. Last year he clocked an eye-popping 10.06 - only four Canadians in history have run 100 metres faster. That's VERY encouraging. Sam's best this year is only 10.37 but there's still plenty of time to whip himself in shape for the worlds' in Daegu, South Korea.

Fans can watch live coverage of the championships in Calgary on Saturday (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 4 p.m. ET)

After national trials, fans can turn their attention to an impressive line up of international track meets in Canada. This is part of the inaugural National Track League. Maybe this will finally garner some well needed attention to a sport that's been relegated to the backseat well behind the popular hockey and basketball.


Up coming Track Meets:
Edmonton International Track Classic Edmonton AB June 29
Harry Jerome International Track Classic Vancouver BC July 1
Victoria International Track Classic Victoria BC July 3
Aileen Meagher International Track Classic Halifax NS July 10
Toronto International Track & Field Games Toronto, ON July 13

Ready, Set, Go!! Jamaican Athletes gear up for Team Trials

Sure Bets to Win

Jermaine Gonzales national record holder in the men's 400m
Dwight Thomas men 110 hurdles champion
Kenia Sinclair women's 800m

The event will begin on Thursday, June 23 and end Sunday, June 26, 2011 

Early Track Season

By Tamika Forrester

The track season is shaping up pretty nicely, there have been notable performances early on with spectacular runs in several events. A few athletes have been a bit sluggish but are now getting into their rhythm and improving with each race. Here are some notable performances

HIGHLIGHTS:

                                                                                                            
Mens 100m

Tyson Gay 9.79 in Florida 

Steve Mullings 9.80 in Eugene

(Hon. Mention) Michael Rodgers 9.85 and Usain Bolt 9.91

Addidas Grand Prix: chilly weather equals chilly performances

With the wind, heavy mist and cool temperatures of about 16 degrees C, Saturday's Addidas Grand Prix in New York offered lukewarm to chilly performances. Athletes who braved the weather to line up for their respective events turned in times way off their personal bests.

In the mens 100 metres Jamaica's Steve Mullings got the better of his training partner Tyson Gay. Steve won in a photo finish with both athletes clocking 10.26. Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 10.33. Gay blames the loss on his sluggish start but insists he will be ready for Usain Bolt come time for World Championships.

Interestingly there were three false starts for this race. First, Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago jumped early, then the Americans Travis Padgett and Rae Monzavous Edwards were cited for starting too soon. All three were disqualified. This is a perfect example of just what the new IAAF false start rule (Once and you're out) will mean for athletes in major finals. Can you imagine an Olympic or world championship final where key stars false start? That would spell disaster for meet organizers who will most likely bill the event around expected performances of major stars. Case in point recently at the Eugene meet, world 200m champion Allyson Felix was allowed to start the 400m despite a clear false start. In fact there was an obvious look of surprise on Felix's face when she found out she was not disqualified. You see meet organizers had billed the event as a show down between Felix and Sanya Richards Ross- A show down which did not materialize as Felix finished 3rd and Richards Ross way down the field.

But lets get back to the wet Addidas Grand Prix. Marshevet Hooker-Myers won the women's 100m with a time of 11.36, no where near the 10.85 she ran in Eugene. The same for the women's 200m where Felix bested the field clocking only 22.92 more than a half-second off her season best.
100m Olympic and World champion Shellyann Fraser-Pryce placed a dismal 7th a rather disappointing performance after her excellent run less than a month ago at the Jamaica Invitational meet.

The less than ideal weather conditions appeared to have no such impact on the mens 400 metres. In a scintillating race, Jeremy Wariner the 2004 Olympic champion, won the race in 45.13 just narrowly beating out Jamaica's Jermaine Gonzales who showed brilliant speed in the last 20 metres to clock 45.17.