News and Notes, Volume 11, Number 16

News and Notes, Volume 11, Number 16

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In this issue:
Stellar U.S. line-up for Monaco Diamond League
Multiple U.S. wins at Lignano

Stellar U.S. line-up for Monaco Diamond League
The tenth Diamond League event gets underway later today in Monaco. Top U.S. athletes looking for podium finishes and series points include perennial favorites Bernard Lagat and Allyson Felix along with surprise season standout Morgan Uceny.

The IAAF Samsung Diamond League encompasses 32 individual event disciplines, with a points scoring 'Diamond Race' which runs throughout the 14 meeting series. In the inaugural season, Americans won 11 of the 32 Diamond Races. Winners of each Diamond Race will get a Diamond Trophy and a cash prize. For more details on the league, visit here.

Live web coverage starts at 2:00 p.m., ET on UniversalSports.com, with TV coverage at 8:00 p.m., ET on Universal Sports.

Lagat has made his intentions known that he is on a mission to improve his own American Record in the 5,000m on Friday night. Lagat currently owns the record at 12:54.12, and he will look to lower it to the 12:49-range. Lagat will certainly be in fast company during his record pursuit, as world leader Imane Merga, Olympic silver medalist Eluid Kipchoge and Americans Chris Solinsky, Galen Rupp and Matt Tegenkamp also are entered in the race.

Felix will be running in her signature distance of the 200m and looking to add to her Diamond League points in a quest to defend her diamond titles in both the 200 and 400. Felix will face current points leader Bianca Knight, along with a strong U.S. contingent that includes Shalonda Solomon, who has run 22.15 this season, 100m specialist Carmelita Jeter and Jeneba Tarmoh.



The 1500m has gotten even more exciting for American women after U.S. champion Uceny won the last two Diamond League races. Uceny will be looking to extend her winning streak, but will face a tough challenge with the likes of world champion Maryam Jamal of Bahrain and U.S. standouts Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury.

In the men’s shot put, the American men will attempt to out-throw Canadian Dylan Armstrong who has had an outstanding year with the world lead of 22.21m and is first in the point standings. The American trio of Reese Hoffa, Dan Taylor and Christian Cantwell will challenge for the win.

Another event with no shortage of U.S. talent is the women’s 100m hurdles. Recent U.S. champion Kellie Wells has run 12.50 this year, and she will face Danielle Carruthers, who leads the Diamond League points after her second place finish in Birmingham in 12.52 and Dawn Harper who boasts Olympic gold and ran to second place in 12.58 at the U.S. Championships. The Americans will need to bring their A-game as they will face current world leader Sally Pearson of Australia who has run 12.48 this season.

The men’s 100m is sure to be the marquee event, Mike Rodgers enters this competition with the fastest time this season of 9.85 from his second place finish at the Nike Prefontaine Classic. While Rodgers may be the fastest this season, he will not be the favorite when he lines up against world record holder Usain Bolt. Other international challenges will come from Jamaica’s Michael Frater and France’s Christophe Lemaitre.

For more information, including complete start lists and results, visit http://www.diamondleague-monaco.com/en/Home/

Multiple U.S. wins at Lignano

Tuesday’s meet in Lignano, Italy proved that the Americans are on the right path as the IAAF World Championships in Daegu are quickly approaching at the end of August.

The women’s 800m saw an impressive count of five women from the USA run under the two-minute mark. Morgan Uceny continued her summer of success to win in 1:58.37. She was followed by Alice Schmidt (1:58.61), Molly Beckwith (1:59.12), Maggie Vessey (1:59.17) and Geena Gall (1:59.62).


The men’s 800m was equally impressive as veteran Khadevis Robinson picked up his sixth win of the year in a season best time of 1:44.45. Robinson’s time was only two-tenths of a second slower than the meet record he set five years ago. David Torrence took the runner-up spot in 1:45.96.

Practice made perfect for the men’s 4x100m relay. The U.S. relay pool for the IAAF World Championships had a training session while in Italy. The line-up of Trell Kimmons, Michael Rodgers, Justin Gatlin and Walter Dix executed clean exchanges and ran to a world-leading time of 37.90.

Unfortunately, the women’s relays had mixed results. The All-star team that included U.S. athletes Bianaca Knight, Jessica Young, Lauryn Williams and Barbara Pierre finished first in 42.45; however, the USA Red and Blue teams were unable to get the baton all the way around the track.

Also of note, South African Oscar Pistorius was able to qualify for the IAAF World Championships during his last chance to hit the A standard. The double-amputee athlete won the 400m in 45.07 to improve his personal best by more than half a second.

Complete results are available at: http://www.fidal.it/2011/COD2750/Index.htm

About USA Track & Field

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