Video: Tribute to IAAF World Champion Women

The athletes have left Berlin – some with medals and some with heartache – but all with the sense of pride that comes from representing their countries. World records were broken,  personal bests were recorded and fans got to see elite competition between the very best track and field athletes in the world.

Some of the many highlights include:

Allyson Felix scored a hat trick by winning her 3rd World Championship in the 200m.

Brittney Reese became the third American woman in the history of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics to win the Long Jump title.

After a string of misses, Sanya Richards won her first 400m global title.

Jamaican Shelley-Ann Fraser confirmed her Olympic title winning form by adding the world 100m gold in a faster time than Beijing.

Blanka Vlasic of Croatia became the IAAF World Champion in women’s High Jump for the second time.

Oh, and in a nod to the guys, let’s not forget Usain Bolt’s two smoking hot world records.

Check out his video tribute to the Wonderful Women of the 12th IAAF World Championships:

Live Blogging from the Reebok Grand Prix Saturday, May 30 4:30pm ET

Women Talk Sports contributing editor Lesley Higgins will be live-blogging from the Reebok Grand Prix in NY.

I will be live-blogging (below) from the Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, NY, on Saturday, May 30, starting at 4:30pm Eastern!

Here are just a handful of highlights from the meet, which has attracted the world’s top Track & Field athletes:

Discus: Beijing Olympic Champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton will take on American record holder Suzy Powell-Roos and 3-time Olympian Aretha Thurmond.

Pole Vault: Former World Record holder, 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist and Pole Vault Pioneer Stacy Dragila will challenge 2008 Olympic Silver Medallist and current American Record Holder Jenn Stuczynski.

100m: This loaded field includes:

• 2004 and 2008 200m Olympic champ Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM)
• 2008 US Olympian Marshevet Hooker (200m)
• 2005 World Champ Lauryn Williams (USA)
• 2008 US Olympic Trials Champ Muna Lee
• 2003 World Champ and 2008 Olympian Torri Edwards (USA)
• 2007 World Bronze Medallist Carmelita Jeter (USA)

1500m: 3-time US Champ Treniere Clement (@supachica) will run her first 1500m of the 2009 season. Other top talent includes Lindsey Gallo (@runlinz), who is having a great season under a new coach, Beijing Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas, nine-time NCAA Champ Sally Kipyego, and Ethiopia’s Mestawot Tadesse.

400m: Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix) headlines the field but may have her hands full with Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills, who beat Sanya Richards in the 400m at Kingston in April. Also in the field is Natasha Hastings (@natashahastings), who dominated the field at the Adidas Track Classic a couple weeks ago.

5000m: Olympic Champ and World Record Holder Tirunesh Dibaba will be hard to beat. Kim Smith of New Zealand ran a PR of 14:39 indoors this season (although Dibaba has run 14:11) and Kenya’s Linet Masai was 2nd in the 2009 World Cross-Country Championships.

Tune in and watch my live updates below starting at 4:30pm ET! I will be letting you know all about the action on the track and in the stands as the meet goes on. You can also catch the live TV coverage of the meet from 4:30pm-6pm ET on NBC. You can find the meet schedule HERE.

Live Blogging from the adidas Track Classic Saturday, May 16 4pm-7pm PT

(Ed. Note: WomenTalkSports.com co-founder and steeplechaser Ann Gaffigan will be at the Home Depot Center today using some cool new technology to live blog from the adidas Track Classic.  Followers can comment, interact, and get lots of behind-the-scenes commentary so if you’re a T&F fan, don’t miss this coverage).

I will be live-blogging (below) from the adidas Track Classic at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, TODAY (Saturday, May 16) from 4pm-7pm Pacific!

This meet is stuffed full with great competition.

There are three women’s American Records that have a good chance of getting broken:

1) Beijing Silver Medalist Jenn Stucynski’s 4.92m (16′ 1 3/4″) AR in the Pole Vault, which she may break herself.

2) Beijing Bronze Medalist (10,000m) Shalane Flanagan’s 14:44.80 AR in the 5000m, which she could break herself, provided it is not too hot in Carson at race time (6:32 PM).

3) Colorado Senior Jenny Barringer’s 9:22.26 AR in the 3000m Steeplechase, which Anna Willard could threaten if she is pushed by Lindsey Anderson.

No less exciting than the possibility of records being broken is the head-to-head competition between star athletes:

1) Allyson Felix vs. Sanya Richards in the 200m: Watch Olympian Dee Dee Trotter preview this “hot event” and talk about the competitive rivalry between these two world-class athletes: http://vimeo.com/4654474

2) The 100m: This race is stocked with Olympians. Beijing 4th, 5th and 8th-placers Lauryn Williams, Muna Lee and Torri Edwards, respectively will be joined by Carmelita Jeter, who has run 10.96 this year, ranking her #2 in the world this year behind only Kerron Stewart of Jamaica. Look for Williams to avenge her disappointment at the Olympics and challenge Jeter, with possible surprises from Lee, Edwards and Marshevet Hooker.

3) The Steeplechase: Anna Willard has been dominating 1-mile races so far this season, defeating Shalane Flanagan in the B.A.A. Mile last month. Unlike Anderson, who has steepled twice this season (her best time so far being 9:35.30 at Mt. SAC in April), Willard will be debuting today. Both athletes have been looking very strong, so this will be one of the most exciting races to watch and the winner may threaten the American Record (see #3 above).

Tune in and watch my live updates below starting at 4pm PT! I will be posting polls and letting you all about the action on the track and in the stands as the meet goes on. You can also catch two hours of live coverage of the meet from 5pm-7pm PST on ESPN2. See the meet schedule below the live blog window below.

Meet Schedule: (all times PST)

Gender	Event	Time
Men’s	Discus	3:45pm
Women’s	100m (B Race)	4:20pm
Men’s	100m (B Race)	4:30pm
Women’s	800m	4:45pm
Men’s	400m Hurdles	5:02pm
Men’s	Long Jump	5:05pm
Women’s	400m	5:10pm
Women’s	1500m	5:15pm
Women’s	100m Hurdles	5:25pm
Men’s	110m Hurdles	5:38pm
Women’s	Pole Vault	5:45pm
Women’s	100m	5:50pm
	Fastest 5-yr-olds	5:55pm
Women’s	Triple Jump	6:00pm
Men’s	100m	6:00pm
Men’s	1500m	6:10pm
Men’s	200m	6:20pm
Women’s	200m	6:25pm
Women’s	5000m	6:32pm
Men’s	400m	6:53pm
Women’s	3000m Steeplechase	7:10pm
Men’s	5000m	7:25pm

Track & Field Weekend Recap (May 8-10, 2009)

We are getting into the thick of the track & field season here in the month of May, and this weekend was proof.

At the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar, 13 world-leading marks were set. Blanka Vlasic of Croatia leaped 2.05m in the air to win the high jump. That’s 6 feet, 8 3/4 inches, or about the height of your average doorway…!!

Allyson Felix of the USA won the 400m in 50.75 seconds, beating Beijing silver medalist Shericka Williams of Jamaica and made it look easy.

Ruth Bisibori Nyangau of Kenya took over after a painfully slow early pace in the steeplechase to run a world-leading 9:32.68, with her last 1000m taking only about 3 minutes, 2 seconds.

Beijing bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada dominated the field in the 100m hurdles, sharply clearing each hurdle with perfection to win in 12.52 seconds.

Over in Osaka, Japan, Sheena Tosta (USA) won the 400m hurdles by nearly a second in 54.64 and afterward noted, “I had two goals at this race – sub 55 seconds and a win,” Tosta said. “I accomplished both and I am very happy to make it. I also noted that my step pattern (15 steps to eighth hurdle and 16 steps after that) works well.”

Brianna Glenn, also of the USA, won the long jump, and guess what? She is the Women Talk Sports Network’s newest member! Check out her recap of the meet here (from her blog, My So-Called FABULOUS Life). Brianna is also on Twitter: @briannaglenn

In high school action, where the State Championships are starting to be contested, Miami Jackson freshman Robin Reynolds won FOUR Class 3A Florida State Track & Field titles this weekend (RESULTS). She says her biggest victory was the 100m because “I’m really not a sprinter.” I’m pretty sure she’s a darn good sprinter. Reynolds won the 100m (11.56), the 200m (23.67), the 400m (54.95) and the long jump (19′ 4.75″). Her 40 points helped lead her team to the State title as well.

The charismatic, polite-but-confident Reynolds mentioned Allyson Felix, Tiffany Ross-Williams, Bershawn Jackson and her dad as her heroes but did not shy away from proclaiming, “You will see me in the Olympics 2012 when I’m 18.”

We have no doubt, Robin! Check out the full interview, courtesy of FloTrack:

Stay tuned for more great Track & Field next weekend! It’s Conference Weekend in the NCAA. Also, the adidas Track Classic will host world-class fields at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Another Exciting Weekend in Track & Field

Another exciting weekend in Track & Field! Last night’s Guadelupe meet kicked it off with USA’s Lashinda Demus (great article on Demus raising twins while training to make the 2008 US Olympic team here) running a world-leading time of 54.17 to win the 400m hurdles. The US women swept the top 3 places in the 100m Hurdles, and Cuba took home victory in the 400m dash and the long jump. (Full Results)

At the Jamaica International meet this evening, Sanya Richards will take on a slew of Jamaican women in the 400m, including Olympic 400m hurdles champ Melaine Walker and multiple national champion Novlene Williams-Mills. The 100m will be fast and furious, as Beijing silver medalist Kerron Stewart of Jamaica will take on countrywoman and Beijing gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser. Marshavet Hooker of the US is having a strong season and looks to challenge Stewart and Fraser. The meet starts this evening at 6:30pm CST in Kingston at the National Stadium. Look for results here.

While the sprints are the focus of the Jamaica International, the distance races will star at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford this evening. You can watch the meet live thanks to Flotrack starting at 5:15pm PST here: http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view/234940/live (also check out this link for the meet schedule and heat sheets)

We should finally see a very competitive and fast steeplechase, with world-leader and US Olympian Lindsey Anderson taking on former UK record holder Barbara Parker, current NCAA-leader Bridget Franek of Penn State and US Olympic Trials 4th-place finisher Nicole Bush of Michigan State. As long as the weather cooperates, this race could see a handful of women under the 9:50 mark, and possible the 9:40 mark. Anderson’s current world-leading time is 9:46.56. For the top 20 lists in the world so far this season, click here.

The US’s top two steeplechasers are competing at the Payton Jordan, but not in the steeple. Colorado’s Jenny Barringer, who is having quite the year, setting indoor 3000m and mile records, is entered in the 5000m. Barringer ran a 15:01 5000m indoors with virtually no competition, so look for her to break the 15-minute barrier tonight and possibly be pushed by Beijing 10K Olympian Amy Begley.

Anna Willard is proving that her recent coaching and residence change has gone smoothly, as she won the indoor US 1500m title and the recent Boston Athletic Association Mile against 10K Olympic Bronze Medalist Shalane Flanagan. She is entered in the 1500m tonight and will go head-to-head with former NCAA superstar Sally Kipyego of Kenya, US Olympian Jen Rhines, and current NCAA star Susan Kuijken of Florida State. This should be one of the night’s most exciting races, with the top runners possibly dipping under the World Championships “A” standard of 4:06.50. And let’s not forget that high school superstar and University of Oregon-bound Jordan Hasay is entered in the race. While Hasay may be in a little over her head in terms of the front runners on the heat sheet, she is well-deserving of a spot on the starting line, with a solid PR of 4:14. Check out this Flotrack interview with Hasay as she discusses tonight’s race, dealing with some setbacks this season, competing against her idols, and her plans for the rest of the spring and summer:

A Journey from One Uniform to Another

I grew up a soccer player. The baggier the uniform, the better. My teammates and I were always coming up with new and creative ways to make a baggy uniform look cool…tie the sleeves up with pre-wrap, roll the shorts, tuck in only the front of the shirt and let the back hang out, etc.

It never occurred to us to ask for a smaller size. Not that we could actually acquire uniforms that fit. Everything always came in men’s sizes, and even a men’s small is too big for a 12-year-old girl. Instead of taking the smallest uniform we could get and still have it be too big, we took the men’s size large and found ways to make it look “cool”.

Among me and my soccer friends, tiny shorts and short dresses were for girly-girls. We spent hours putting our hair in tiny braids in order to look fierce, instead of spending hours using a curling iron to look pretty.

When I got to college, I still had that soccer swagger. But I was running cross-country and track now; no more soccer for me. And in cross-country and track in college, you wear these things they call “buns”, a sneaky way of saying “bikini bottom”. And your uniform top is not an oversized jersey or even a loose singlet (if you’re female); it’s an elongated sports bra. You get in trouble by the officials if this elongated sports bra doesn’t touch the top of your buns when you stand still on the starting line. (Apparently, they are OK with the entire leg and usually part of the rear end showing, but not the navel.)

The question from my college teammates was “why don’t you want to wear the buns?” when I thought the question should be “who in their right mind would want to wear the buns?” According to them, the buns made them feel fast and look sharp. Of course, most of these women were much smaller than me and they looked great in the buns and glorified sports bra. I’ve always been the bigger one of the group if the group is a bunch of distance runners. I fit right in with soccer players with my big quad muscles and wider shoulders. But as a distance runner, I’m on the large side.

So while I hated to admit it, my aversion to the tight outfit was largely due to body image issues, another thing my baggy soccer uniform had hid (in addition to my body). Not only does a camera add 10 pounds, but try getting a picture taken when you are running in a tight outfit and every loose piece of skin or fat is flapping in the wind and every muscle is flexed. It’s not a “pretty” picture. Especially when you look at your teammates’ and competitors’ pictures and they make it look good.

I got away with wearing a loose singlet and shorts for most of my collegiate career because the equipment room did offer a few such outfits, and I was always quick to grab them first. I only had to wear the buns and tight top when I was running on a relay and we all needed to match and I was outnumbered 3-1. I would spend the evening before examining and re-examining myself, having to get more pumped up to wear that outfit than to run the race.

But after I graduated and eventually signed with New Balance, I realized that in the professional track & field world, buns and a crop top (a sports bra that is NOT elongated much if at all) were considered “professional” attire. Shorts and singlet had a connotation of “sloppy” and “unprofessional”. No one told me that to my face, but it was obvious.

As I wrestled with having to come to terms with my hesitations (OK, fears) about running around in plain view in so little clothing, I decided to look at other female athletes competing in track & field in these outfits and view them as critically as I view myself. What I learned was that you can almost always find a flaw somewhere. Where I had seen only perfection before, I now found flaws simply because I was watching from a different perspective.

Then I observed how these women carried themselves. I think it is fair to say that the biggest stars of our sport are the sprinters. They are beautiful and strong and fast. They carry themselves with pride, heads held high. And yet in mainstream society’s view, their muscular quads and shoulders would be considered less than ideal and grounds for backing off on the weights or at least covering themselves up. But is that what happens? No!!

It all started to make sense: these women were proud of the bodies they’d worked so hard for. Their legs carried them down the track at record speeds. Their 6-packs were the result of years of ab work that was done not to look “pretty” but to perform at their highest level. They didn’t look at themselves through the lens society uses; they used their own lens and guess what the result was? Other people began to use that lens too. Confidence is a powerful asset.

Taking another look at my fellow distance runners, I realized that I wasn’t the only “bigger” one. We actually came in all shapes and sizes. Yes, many distance runners have a small bone structure and are very lean. But there are also those of us with more muscular thighs or wider shoulders or a thicker torso. Your body is your body; if you’ve taken care of it and trained hard, it’s going to be what it is. I needed to be proud of my body for what it could do, not for what it looked like.

Now don’t think for one second that this was an overnight transformation. Body image is a tough monster and it takes time to get it under control after a lifetime of letting it control you. But finally, three years after exhausting my collegiate eligibility and turning professional, something clicked. After a terribly disappointing 2007 season, I realized I was beating myself up once again, blaming everything from my training to my weight for my failures. And I wanted it to stop, once and for all. So I went and got my belly button pierced. If you have your navel pierced, you can’t keep it under a shirt all the time, right? You have to be proud enough of your body to show it off a little.

This little “rebellious” action was more liberating than I had imagined and 12 months later, I found myself giddy with excitement as the New Balance crew handed me a brand new bright pink pair of buns and crop top to wear just for the Women’s Steeplechase Final at the Olympic Trials. I was excited to wear it, excited to show what I could do, proud of my body and proud of myself for all the hard work that had been put in, year after year. Proud that I hadn’t quit the year before, despite the fact that I had felt so far from reaching my dream of going to the Olympics. I didn’t make the Olympic Team last summer. But by training for that goal and overcoming much disappointment and self-doubt along the way, I had grown more than I had ever anticipated. And I’m never looking back.

Let the quads flex!

An Interview with Steeplechic Lisa Galaviz

Lisa Galaviz came into the 2008 Olympic Trials as the American Record holder in the 3000m Steeplechase. In the final, she placed 5th-out of the Team spots-as winner Anna Willard took down her record. Frustrated, Galaviz decided she needed a change. She is now working with Wynn Gmitroski and doing some altitude training for the first time. Here, she discusses how and why she made her decision to change her training and coaching situation, and how things have been working out so far. She also gives her opinion on the new IAAF Diamond League and the WADA one-hour rule and explains how she balances training and a day job.

Interview by Ann Gaffigan
Conducted on March 16, 2009
Posted on March 17, 2009

(Photo courtesy of PHOTORUN)

Can you tell us why you decided to change coaches and how you found anew coach? This is not something that is easy to do–find a new personyou can trust that (hopefully) is located near you. Describe theprocess, from deciding to switch coaches to finding the one you’reworking with now.

After the Olympic Trials, I decided that I needed a change. I thinkit’s very hard for colleges coaches to give the attention needed toprofessional athletes (Lisa had previously been working with Louie Quintana, coach at Arizona State). The two main things I was looking for in a newcoach was someone who coached only a few athletes and someone who hadsuccess on the world level. I was in Belgium this past summer racing,stressed about finding a new coach. I went on a morning shake-out runand ran into a friend, Gary Reed who I had met a couple years earlierand hadn’t talked to since. We were just catching up, and he mentionedthat he trained in Scottsdale, Arizona over the winter (at this point,he didn’t even know I lived in Arizona). Two hours later he introducedme to his coach, Wynn Gmitroski and we talked for a good hour. I reallyliked Wynn and fortunately he was interested in coaching me. So,everything just kind of just fell into place and I found someone who’d hadsuccess at the world level, coaches a handful of athletes, and livedpart-time in Arizona.

Describe how the depth in the steeple in the US has changed since youwere first steepling in college. Are the types of athletes doing itdifferent? Is it easier to find competitive races? Are more athletesdoing it now or just better athletes?

The steeplechase is much more competitive now and I think more womenare doing it because it’s a World Championship and Olympic event. Idon’t know if I’d say it’s easier to find competitive races, since theGrand Prix meets in the US still don’t have women’s steeplechase, buthopefully this will change with theIAAF Diamond League…

Have you heard about the IAAF Diamond League, to start in 2010? Finally, they are structuring it so that events get equalopportunity: 16 events each for men and women (32 total) will befeatured equally throughout the Diamond League Series, and thecompetitors will be awarded the same prize structure for each event, asopposed to valuing some events higher than others. The PrefontaineClassic and Reebok Grand Prix are part of this new League, meaning it islikely at least one of them will include the women’s steeple, which hasnot been the case thus far. How does this affect the women’s steeple inthe United States and worldwide? How will it affect planning yourseason?

I think the IAAF Diamond League is a great idea! It should increasethe popularity of the sport by forcing more head-to-head competitionsamong top athletes. Featuring the events equally among the series willgive women steepler’s more opportunities to race than before. Hopefullythe Prefontaine Classic or Reebok Grand Prix will have the women’ssteeple and this will create more interest in the event in the U.S. Ilost count of how many people at my work ask me if I ride horses!

What do you think about the new WADA regulations (the one-hour windowrule)? How different is it than what they required before?

I like the new WADA one-hour rule. I find it much easier to give onehour every day that I’ll be home, rather than trying to designate whereI am all the time. Although, in the past, USADA used to call ouremergency contact when weren’t home to find out where we were. This isno longer allowed as it gave athletes a ‘heads-up’ that they were goingto be tested.

You’re in Flagstaff right now, training at altitude, correct? Have youever done altitude training before? What do you think about it?

I was in Flagstaff for two weeks training at altitude, but I’m homenow. We’re going back for another three weeks at the end of April.This was my first time training at altitude and I really enjoyed it.The purpose of every day was running, and there were no distractions.It was very intense and focused. There is a large distance runningcommunity in Flagstaff. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but NAU shut downtheir High Altitude Training Center. Right now, there’s a bit of chaosas to what is going to happen with it. I hope this doesn’t hurt all theathletes training up there, during the interim.

Tell us a little bit about your non-running day job? What do you do?How much are you working? Are they flexible when you need to leave tocompete or train at altitude? Do you sometimes work from thoselocations when you’re gone?

I work as a computer engineer at General Dynamics 20 hours a week. Theyare very flexible and I’m able to work remotely from anywhere as long asI have an internet connection. While training in Flagstaff, I was ableto work my full 20 hours per week.

Galaviz Stat Sheet:
Born:	November 30, 1979 (Phoenix, AZ)
Coach:	Wynn Gmitroski
Agent:	Chris Layne (Total Sports Management)
Sponsor:	Nike
High School:	Centennial High School (AZ), Class of 1998
College:	Arizona State University, Class of 2003
3000m Steeple PR:	9:28.75 (2007, then-American Record)
Accolades:	5th at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials 3000m Steeplechase 2007-2008 American Record Holder, 3000m Steeplechase (9:28.75) 4th at 2007 USA Outdoor Championships Steeplechase 2006 U.S. Steeplechase Champion Ranked #2 in U.S. in 2006 by Track & Field News 2005 U.S. Steeplechase Runner-Up 2005 U.S. World Championships Team Member 6th at 2004 Olympic Trials Steeplechase 4th at 2003 USA Outdoor Championships Steeplechase 3rd at 2002 USA Outdoor Championships Steeplechase 2-Time Pac 10 Steeplechase Champion (2002, 2003) 2-Time NCAA Steeplechase All-American (2002, 2003)

Barringer Wins Big 12 Mile, Shattering Records and Barriers

Photo by Kirby Lee: Sally Kipyego and Jenny Barringer go 1-2 at the 2007 NCAA Cross-Country Championships

Jenny Barringer, University of Colorado junior, won her first indoor Big 12 Conference title yesterday, and she won it in style. Not only did it earn her team ten points, but it marked the first time EVER that she beat Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego, one of the best distance runners the NCAA has ever seen. Both runners had to break the current NCAA record and run faster than anyone in the world has yet this season in order to go after the win in the Mile, but only one runner could come away with the title, and this time, it was Barringer. Barringer pointed out the high level of competition in the Big 12 after the race.

“A Big 12 title is such a big deal to me,” Jenny Barringer explaine. “I think it is such a tribute to the Big 12 that I am an Olympian and I only have two titles. This is a very special and very treasured thing that I have achieved.”

Many Olympians have come out of the Big 12 Conference. Olympic gold medalists Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards used to thrill the Big 12 crowd with world-leading times every season. And a woman like Barringer, a 2008 Olympian in the 3000m Steeplechase and current American Record holder in the event, had yet to win an indoor Big 12 title until yesterday.

Barringer’s winning time of 4 minutes, 25.91 seconds, in addition to being the best in the world this year and a collegiate record, was also a Big 12 record, Gilliam Track & Field Stadium and University of Colorado record. The former collegiate best mark was 4:28.31, run by Vicki Huber (Villanova) on Feb. 5, 1988.

Her coach Mark Wetmore sounded like am coach who had planned this race with his athlete and fully believed in her capabilities to do what she did; he was not surprised at her performance, just very proud.

“She ran those splits for a reason today,” CU head coach Mark Wetmore said. “The fact that Sally was in the race complicated it some because Sally is a formidable opponent and Jenny had never beaten her before. But she executed the plan excellently and it was a beautiful race in the literal sense of the word. So many people came up to me afterwards, seasoned people who have seen a lot of track meets, and said just that. We are thrilled with it and she will enjoy it for another day before we get back to work.”

The race is another testament to Barringer’s excellent mental approach to competition. She is known for her ability to peak at the perfect times in the season and for coming back from a mediocre race to perform better than ever at her next, quelling any doubt that she may be “done for the season” or “at her limit”. In listening to her post-race interviews, one cannot help but notice her calculated approach to training and racing, keeping any excitement or disappointment about her performance separate from her objective analysis of the race, including it’s splits, the competitors, the weather, where she is in her current phase of training, and how her body is feeling.

It is obvious that this objective view of training and competition fits well with Wetmore’s program. The coach is known for keeping his athletes out of early-season races, allowing them to train uninterrupted until they perform in the meets that really count. On Saturday, Barringer had been entered in the 3000m as well, which would have taken place just hours after the mile. Despite the excitement about her proven fitness level, Wetmore scratched her from the second race.

“Obviously she would have done well in there and either she or Sally would have won the race, which would have been eight or 10 more points for the team,” Wetmore said. “But she is right at the end of a case of bronchitis which has been a season killer for her in the past. Coach (Heather) Burroughs and I took a deep breath and said that we need to get her 100% healthy for NCAAs. She has a long way to go and may have nine or 10 more months to go.”

Sounds like one of the world’s best distance runners is in good hands.

Gender Equality in 2012?

I’ve seen the recent articles pop up about Britain’s Olympic minister Tessa Jowell calling for gender equality if London wins the bid for the 2012 Games. Did you know that 40 more events are offered for the men than the women at the Olympics? That’s 120 medals the women are not allowed to chase. This issue is of obvious interest to me, as it was only in 2008 that my event, the 3000m steeplechase, was added to the list of events for women. Guess who won the Trials in 2004 but couldn’t go because there was no steeple at Athens?

I’m not the only one affected by this. Women have been steepling since the 80’s with no final goal of making the Olympic Team being an option. The columnist at the link below echoes my exact sentiments on this issue, so I see no need to elaborate other than to say, to those who think, “How many women are going to want to wrestle at the Olympics anyway?” think again. If you build it, they will come. If you offer an event, they will train and they will focus and they will surprise you. They will chase that gold just like anyone else if you create the opportunity. Just ask the best steeplechasers in the world, who used to run the 5K or the 1500m or who used to not run at all. Ask Jenny Barringer, the second fastest indoor 5000m runner the U.S. has ever seen, and also the American Record holder in the steeplechase.

If you are still uncertain, then I have a question: “Why not?” Why can’t we offer the same events for women as men? Is there any reason other than that’s the way it’s always been?

Please read the below column by Barney Ronay of the UK’s The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/17/olympics-2012-sexism-tessa-jowell

Barringer Sets Indoor 5000m NCAA Record

“I think I’m gonna cry! I’ve been training so hard and my team has been so supportive. I wanna dedicate this on Valentine’s Day, my love to my team…for putting up with me!”

Jenny Barringer was beside herself after set her second NCAA record Saturday evening at the Husky Invite on the 300m University of Washington indoor track. Her time of 15:01.70 for 5000m not only demolished the old NCAA record of 15:14.18 held by Kim Smith of Providence but also would have been an American Record before last week, when Shalane Flanagan lowered that mark from 15:07.33 to 14:47.52 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Steeplechic Olympian Barringer also holds the NCAA record in the 3000m Steeplechase, in 9:29.20.

“We had discussed going 15:20 and hopefully being able to kick hard to 15:14 to challenge the collegiate record,” Barringer explained. “It was fun and exciting to do and took me overruling some of the splits. It was for the best since I was able to hang on and run a good time. This was a mark we would have had our eyes on in a few years and to get it now says a lot about the decision to sit out and redshirt the cross country season. I really needed some time to put in some miles and we’re seeing the pay off now.”

Barringer red-shirted this fall’s cross-country season after returning home from Beijing, where she had made the final and placed 9th in the 3000m Steeplechase, setting a new American Record in the event in 9:22.26. It had been a long season and a long year, starting with the NCAA cross-country season in the fall of 2007, continuing with indoor and outdoor NCAA track seasons in the winter and spring, and finishing with the summer, which included the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, a race or two in Europe and finally, the Olympic Games.

Barringer is an impressive athlete for many reasons, but one that stands out is her strength. Few athletes could complete the year she had with a PR performance at the final competition. This is a testament to excellent coaching and support, a resilient body and a mature person. Stepping back from competition this fall was a well-deserved break, but it is quite obvious she did not spend it sitting on her laurels and basking in the great success she has achieved before even graduating from college. She is back on the track and more ready than ever to continue her steady improvement towards the top, where we will soon see her challenge the very best in the world.

Watch Barringer’s Interview Post-Race at UW:

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