Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Cleaning up some post-vacation track and field notes …

Southeastern Conference rivals Alabama and Florida have plucked two assistant coaches from Don Weber’s staff at Kentucky.

Alabama hired throws coach Doug Reynolds in June, and Florida took sprints coach Erin Tucker this month.

Cory Young

While the search is on for Tucker’s replacement, Reynolds’ spot at UK has been taken by Cory Young.

Young, a 2005 University of Indianapolis graduate, was named Division II National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year this season at Grand Valley State. In five seasons with the Lakers, Young’s throwers totaled 33 all-America honors and four national championships.

Doug Reynolds

Erin Tucker

Reynolds spent six seasons at UK, where his throwers set seven school records and won nine SEC titles. A Pac-10 discus champion for Arizona, where he graduated in 1998, Reynolds was named Mideast Region Throws Coach of the Year in his first season at UK.

Tucker returns to his alma mater, where he was a four-time SEC champion and six-time all-American from 1994 through 1999. He spent eight seasons at UK and in 2006 was named Mideast Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. At UK, he coached 27 all-Americans, 26 all-SEC performers, 15 all-region athletes, six SEC champions, four Olympians, three NCAA runner-ups and one NCAA champion (Rondel Sorrillo, 2010, 200 meters).

And the ESPY goes to …

Tyson Gay

In case you missed it, the ESPY Awards included a winner from Lexington: Tyson Gay. The American record-holder in the 100 meters (9.69) and second-fastest ever in the world, the Lafayette High School graduate won the ESPY for Best Track and Field Athlete.

* One of Gay’s biggest rivals from his high school days, Owensboro’s Casey Combest, will be featured Saturday in a 90-minute documentary carried on ESPN Classic. The documentary, Lay It On The Line: The Casey Combest Story, is scheduled to air at 4 a.m. and again at 6:15 p.m.

Combest set national high school indoor records for 60 meters, 100 yards and 100 meters. The documentary follows his comeback in an attempt to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Finalists named for The Bowerman

The Bowerman Advisory Board, in conjunction with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, has named The Bowerman finalists. The award is considered collegiate track and field’s top honor, on par with football’s Heisman Trophy.

Tina Sutej

Kimberlyn Duncan

Jessica Beard

Women’s finalists are Texas A&M senior sprinter Jessica Beard, LSU sophomore sprinter Kimberlyn Duncan and Arkansas junior pole-vaulter Tina Sutej.

Men’s finalists are Washington State senior hurdler Jeshua Anderson, Florida junior jumper Christian Taylor and Florida State junior sprinter/jumper Ngoni Makusha.

Ngoni Makusha

Jeshua Anderson

Christian Taylor

Finalists were chosen by the 10-person Bowerman Advisory Board, based on performances during the 2011 indoor and outdoor collegiate seasons. The award will be presented Dec. 14, during the USTFCCCA convention at San Antonio, Texas.

The winners will be determined by Bowerman Voters, who consist of: Bowerman Advisory Board; media; statisticians; collegiate administrators; and past winners Galen Rupp, Ashton Eaton, Jenny (Barringer) Simpson and Queen Harrison. Also, online voting (Aug. 1-16) by the public will constitute one collective vote, as will online voting by USTFCCCA members.

Male wins its fifth consecutive boys’ team championship with 97 points.

The Bulldogs close the day with a victory in the 4-by-400 relay (3:19.29).

St. Xavier takes second in the standings with 70 points.

Other top 20 teams include Bryan Station in fifth, Henry Clay in seventh, Scott County in a tie for eighth, Lafayette in 18th and Tates Creek in 19th.

* Sacred Heart takes the girls’ 3A title 57-50 over Tates Creek. Male is third with 47, followed by defending champion Campbell County with 45.

Paul Dunbar edges Bryan Station for eighth place, 37 2/3 to 34. Henry Clay takes 15th.

In the final event, Campbell County takes the 4-by-400 relay in 4:00.95.

* With 17 of 18 boys’ events scored, Male holds an insurmountable 87-64 lead over St. Xavier. Ballard is third with 59.

Trinity sophomore James Quick nips 100/400 champion Ronnie Baker of Ballard in the 200, 21.45 to 21.85. Henry Clay’s Brandon Nichols does not start.

Christian County’s Sean Hurd wins the 3,200 (9:38.42).

* With 17 of 18 girls’ events scored Sacred Heart leads Tates Creek 57-48. Male is third with 43.

That’s after the Valkyries add 10 points with Emma Brink’s third win of the day, this one in the 3,200 (11:12.96).

* Bryan Station’s Sariah Edwards edges defending champion Tamyah Pipkin of Tates Creek, 25.07 to 25.26 in the girls’ 200 meters.

But with 16 of 18 events scored, Tates Creek leads Sacred Heart 47-46 in the girls’ standings. Male is third with 43. Bryan Station rank 6-7.

Sacred Heart’s Emma Brink wins the 800 in 2:14.81.

The boys’ 800 goes to Butler’s Tretez Kinnarid in 1:54.27.

With 15 boys’ events score, Male leads Ballard 78-51. Henry Clay is in seventh.

* The 300-meter hurdles winners: Kristen Matula of Sacred Heart for the girls (45.15) and St. Xavier’s Peter McDermott for the boys (39.18). Bryan Station’s Jacob Mclimore edged Scott County’s Dominique Norris for second place, 39.75 to 40.00.

* Through 13 of 18 boys’ events, Male leads Ballard 78-50. Bryan Station is fifth with 25. Henry Clay is tied for seventh with 21.

More boys’ winners: Male, 4-by-200 relay (1:28.25) and 4-by-100 relay (42.06); Isaac Bowling, Oldham County, discus (160-2); Andrew Stewart, North Hardin, 1,600 (4:16.10); Sage Powell, Simon Kenton, long jump (22-2 3/4); Brad Zolke, St. Xavier, pole vault (13-6).

Girls’ winners: Halie Holloway, John Hardin, triple jump (36-4); DeShericka McReynolds, Madisonville, shot put (37-0 1/4); Anna Carrigan, Campbell County, 400 (56.59).

Through 14 events, Tates Creek leads Male 40-38. Then come Sacred Heart with 37 and Paul Dunbar with 33 2/3. Bryan Station is seventh with 24.

* Male’s Ronnie Baker, already with the 100-meter title in hand, stuns two-time defending champion Brandon Nichols of Henry Clay in the boys’ 400, 47.73 to 48.62.

* Tates Creek sweeps the girls’ sprint relays, setting a meet record of 48.18 in the 4-by-100. Male is runner-up (48.83). Bryan Station (49.48) and Dunbar (50.06) run 4-5.

Tates Creek uses the same foursome – Tatiyana Dean, Natavia Barber, Michelle Tichenor and Tamyah Pipkin — to take the 4-by-200 in 1:41.92. Then come Male (1:42.81), Henry Clay (1:43.81) and Bryan Station (1:44.39).

Ballard’s Megan Zimlich sets a state record of 11-9 in the pole vault.

Sacred Heart’s Emma Brink repeats in the 1,600 (5:03.73). Dunbar’s Megan Klein is fourth (5:12.40) and teammate Amanda Hancock takes ninth (5:23.59).

* Ballard’s Ronnie Baker and William Kannamore go 1-2 in the boys’ 100, timed in 10.89 and 11.08. Henry Clay gets a 5-7 placing from Brandon Nichols (11.25) and Bo Brooks (11.29).

* Tates Creek’s Tamyah Pipkin successfully defends her title in the girls’ 100-meter dash, nipping crosstown rival Sariah Edwards of Bryan Station 12.62 to 12.63.

Scott County senior Dominique Norris wins the boys’ 110-meter hurdles by just a bit more, 15.26 to the 15.29 turned in by top-seeded Jeff Huntley of Ryle. Bryan Station gets a 3-8 finish from Jacob Mclimore (15.32) and Malcolm Smith (15.92).

The girls’ 100-meter hurdles go to Male’s Dominique Edmonds (15.62). Barren County’s Sydney Wininger (15.83) and Scott County’s Christiana Harris (15.94) follow.

* The girls’ long jump title goes to Keisha Chiles of Southern at 18-5 1/4. Henry Clay’s Alexis LaPrelle takes fourth (16-3).

Notre Dame’s Kate Hengelbrok is tops in the high jump (5-4), with Woodford County’s Ellen Ward fifth (5-0).

The women’s discus winner is DeShericka McReynolds of Madisonville (124-11).

* Warren Central junior Donovan Halsel won the boys’ high jump by clearing 6-8. He had respectable attempts but could not clear at state-record-equaling 6-11 1/4. Lincoln County’s Zac Hill was runner-up at 6-4, followed by Dunbar’s Lamont Johnson at 6-2.

Oldham County’s Isaac Bowling won the shot put (54-10 1/4) and Male’s Michael Patterson prevailed in the triple jump (47-3 1/4). In the latter event, Bryan Station’s Tre Duncan placed third (45-3).

The final pass in the boys' 4-by-800 relay has North Hardin's Kevin Walker inheriting a large lead. St. Xavier's Thomas Cave and Butler's Tretez were next in line to receive a baton. (Maloney photo)

Tretez Kinnarid at the finish line. (Maloney photo)

Saturday’s Class 3A State Track and Field Meet is underway at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park.

The first thriller on the track goes to Butler, successfully defending its title in the boys’ 4-by-800-meter relay.

Bears anchor Tretez Kinnarid, a sophomore, was a distant third when he took the baton.

He reeled in St. Xavier’s Thomas Cave on the first lap, then set his sites on front-running Kevin Walker of North Hardin.

Kinnarid took over on the final straightaway, bringing his team home in 7:57.05. North Hardin finished in 7:57.47, followed by St. X (8:06.18) and Lafayette (8:06.72 with Clark Grubb, Lee Smith, Jud Weaver and Miles Kilgore). Tates Creek finished seventh (8:18.22 with Adrian Lyttle, Craig Calvert, Ben Hart and Zach Porter).

Kinnarid’s anchor split was reported as fast as 1:51.2. Butler’s time was slightly off its meet-record 7:54.07 of last year. Patrick Gregory led off, passing to Jeff Cutrer, who got the baton to RaShaun Langdon.

Assumption — Ellen Marko, Melanie Strothman, Amanda Vokoun and Caroline McCaslin — took the girls’ relay in 9:24.83. Then came Sacred Heart (9:41.54), Campbell County (9:44.57) and Paul Laurence Dunbar (9:48.71). Amanda Hancock, Maddie Bledsoe, Abbey Smiley and Megan Klein made up PLD’s unit. Tates Creek placed seventh (9:58.28 with Kara Weaver, Lorren Sales, Aaron Lankster and Ashley Whaley).

Several field events are in progress, but the next event on the track isn’t scheduled until 4 p.m.

Dunbar high-jumper Lamont Johnson just misses clearing 6-4. (Maloney photo)

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The start of the boys’ 3,200-meter run, won by Highlands’ John Michael Griffith in lane one, in 10:29.96.

Paul Laurence Dunbar swept the boys’ and girls’ team titles Satuday in its Bulldog/Bearcat Invitational track and field meet.

Dunbar topped Lafayette 125-99 to win the 10-team boys’ competition. Lexington Catholic took third with 93.

Dunbar’s girls piled up 170 points, followed by Highlands with 124 and Scott County with 102.

Amanda Hancock

Dunbar’s Amanda Hancock was the lone individual to win two girls’ events, taking the 800 (2:28.18) and 1,600 (5:27.62).

Other wins for the Lady Bulldogs came from Indya Raglin in the 100 (12.75), Sydney Jones in the 200 (26.34), Kierra Mohammed in the triple jump (33-9), Sierra Guy in the shot put (35-0 1/2) and two relays. Tyria Martin, Aube Linda Jolicoeur, Mohammed and Raglin combined in the 4-by-100 (51.67). Jones, Trina Thomas, Raglin and Jolicoeur ruled in the 4-by-200 (1:49.17).

Dunbar’s boys closed the day with Bart Denham, Myles Pressley, Wade Evans and Lamont Johnson winning the 4-by-400 relay (3:35.27).

The Bulldogs’ other victories came from Pressley in the long jump (20-6 1/2), Johnson in the high jump (6-4) and David Tooley in the shot put (45-9 1/2).

Killian Timoney

“The boys’ team came on really strong late in the day,” said Killian Timoney, coach of the Bulldogs. “Things were going kind of as planned. We had a lot of our workhorses kind of doing their thing, but we had some individual guys kind of focus on their events to do well. We had a lot of bright surprises. Some of our younger kids really stepped up.

Dominique Norris

“Our girls, we were without Megan Klein; she ran in the steeplechase (Friday) night in the Eastern Relays. But Amanda Hancock definitely is more than capable of filling in. And our sprint girls are really getting it done. But the details – Reba Woodall (former Bryan Station coach) told me early in my career that you win state championships with field events — and we’ve got Allison Grewe that scored 21 points and we’ve got Kierra Mohammad that I can put in nine different events and she makes a state contender in every one of them. So it always makes for a fun day to see how they do.”

Scott County senior Dominique Norris was the lone winner of two individual boys’ events – the 110-meter hurdles (15.37) and 300-meter hurdles (41.07). Teammate Chris Montoya captured the 100 (11.23) and ran on the Cardinals’ winning 4-by-100 relay (44.73).

Of course, I’m talking about the indoor track and field season kicking into gear.

The University of Kentucky Invitational is set for Friday and Saturday inside Nutter Field House.

Along with UK, men’s and women’s teams from Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky State, Louisville, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Michigan State, Western Carolina and Alabama will compete. Florida A&M will compete in men’s events only. Central Florida, Marshall and Vanderbilt will send only women’s teams.

Friday’s competition, limited to the weight throws and triple jumps for men and women, plus men’s high jump and women’s pole vault, begins at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule starts at 10:30 a.m. with the women’s high jump and long jump. The first track event, semifinals of the women’s 60-meter hurdles, is set for 12:30 p.m. The final event, the men’s 4-by-400-meter relay, is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

First Bowerman Watch List released

The Bowerman Men’s Watch Committee, in conjunction with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, released its first crop of candidates for collegiate track and field’s most prestigious award. All three of last season’s finalists have graduated.

The list of possible successors includes 2009 finalist German Fernandez and three sophomores. Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson is on the list for a record ninth time.

One, Alabama’s Kirani James, is scheduled to compete at UK this weekend.

The preliminary watch list, in alphabetical order, with athlete, year, school, event(s) and hometown:

Jeshua Anderson, sr., Washington State, hurdles, Woodlands, Calif.
Robby Andrews, soph., Virginia, distance, Englishtown, N.J.
Sam Chelanga, sr., Liberty, distance, Nairobi, Kenya
Charles Clark, sr., Florida State, sprints, Virginia Beach, Va.
Jeff Demps, soph./jr., Florida, sprints, Winter Garden, Fla.
German Fernandez, jr./soph., Oklahoma State, distance, Riverbank, Calif.
Mason Finley, soph., Kansas, throws, Salida, Colo.
Walter Henning, sr., LSU, throws, Kings Park, N.Y.
Kirani James, soph., Alabama, sprints, Gouyave, Grenada
Christian Taylor, jr., Florida, jumps, Fayetteville, Ga.

Kentucky connections on T&FN annual list

Tyson Gay at the Beijing Olympics.

Track & Field News magazine’s annual lists of Top 40 performers in the nation for the 2010 season is loaded with Kentucky connections. In addition to the top 40 nationals, T&FN tacks on a list of foreign collegians.

Event leaders included Lexington’s Tyson Gay in the men’s 100 and former UK competitor Dwight Phillips in the men’s long jump. Gay had six of the 10 fastest times by an American in 2010, including the top three. Phillips had the top 11 best jumps by an American last season, ranging from 27-9 1/4 to 27-2.

Here are the Kentucky connections listed.

WOMEN
100-meter hurdles — 5. Danielle Carruthers (Paducah Tilghman) 12.68.
Mile — (foreign collegian) Janet Jesang (WKU) 4:41.57.
3,000 — (foreign collegian) Janet Jesang (WKU) 9:11.09.
5,000 — 24. Allison Grace (UK) 15:49.10.
10,000 – 11. Allison Grace (UK) 32:54.99.
Half-marathon — 22. Allison Grace (UK) 74:20.
4-by-200 relay — 18. UK 1:35.23.
4-by-400 relay — 32. UK 3:35.14.
Shot put — 8. Ashley Muffet (UK) 57-3 1/2; 17. Jere’ Summers (Lvl.) 55-9 1/4; 36. Chinwe Okoro (Russell, Lvl.) 52-7 1/4.
Discus — 8. Jere’ Summers (Lvl.) 188-1; 13. Ashley Muffet (UK) 181-10; 32. Mary Angell (UK) 173-0; 37. D’Ana McCarty (Lvl.) 171-5.
Hammer throw — 11. Kristin Smith (UK) 212-7; 19. Jere’ Summers (Lvl.) 207-4; 29. D’Ana McCarty (Lvl.) 204-2; 40. Lindsey Cook (Lvl.) 195-9.
Javelin — 10. Dana Pounds Lyon (Lexington) 172-6.
Heptathlon — 22. Precious Nwokey (UK) 5,543.

MEN
100 — 1. Tyson Gay (Lafayette) 9.78; (foreign collegian) Rondel Sorrillo (UK) 10.19 (10.05 wind-aided).
200 — 1. (tie with Walter Dix) Tyson Gay (Lafayette) 20.29; (foreign collegians) Rondel Sorrillo (UK) 20.29; Gavin Smellie (WKU) 20:46.
400 — 7. Tyson Gay (Lafayette) 44.89.
800 — 36. Sharif Webb (UK) 1:47.64.
3,000 — 29. Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier) 7:57.28; (foreign collegian) Soufiani Bouchikhi (EKU) 7:59.20.
5,000 — 10. Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier) 13:18.97.
10,000 — 4. Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier) 27:33.38.
20K walk — 15. Ray Sharp (Ballard) 1:46:24.
50K walk — 4. Ray Sharp (Ballard) 4:31:04
3,000 steeplechase — (foreign collegian) Matt Hughes (Lvl.) 8:34.18.
4-by-100 relay — UK 39.62.
4-by-200 relay — 18. WKU 1:24.36; 21. UK 1:24.72.
4-by-400 relay — 34. WKU 3:06.99.
Triple jump — 19. Andre Black (Lvl.) 53-4 1/4.
Long jump — 1. Dwight Phillips (UK) 27-9 1/4; 23. Wesley Smith (Lvl.) 25-8; 28. Tone Belt (Lvl.) 25-6 1/4; (foreign collegian) Rudon Bastian (Lvl.) 25-10.
Discus — 10. Chase Madison (UK) 201-0; 22. Rashaud Scott (UK) 193-8; 28. Colin Boevers (UK) 192-1.
Shot put — 2. Reese Hoffa (Lvl. native) 72-8 1/2; 11. Jeff Chakouian (UK) 65-11; 29. Steve Hnat (Lvl.) 62-6 3/4.
High jump — 30. Grant Lindsey (UK) 7-2 1/2.

Tyson Gay at a press conference during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Lexington’s Tyson Gay was named Wednesday as USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week.

Gay whipped Olympic gold-medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica in the 100-meter dash at the DN Galan – Samsung Diamond League meet Friday at Stockholm.

Gay, a graduate of Lafayette High School who went on to star at Arkansas, clocked 9.84 seconds to Bolt’s 9.97.

In an interesting twist, Bolt noted that this was his “easy season,” as the World Championships come next year. He dominated the 2009 Worlds.

What Bolt didn’t note was that this is the “easy season” for Gay as well. Gay swept the 100, 200 and 4-by-100 relay golds at the 2007 Worlds.

Also at Stockholm, Chris Solinsky ran the second-fastest 5,000 meters ever by an American, finishing fifth in 12:55.53. Bernard Lagat set the American record of 12:54.12 earlier this year. Solinsky set the U.S. record for 10,000 meters earlier this season, becoming the first American to break the 27-minute barrier.

Best American marks of the week (ending Sunday)

MEN
100 – 9.84, Tyson Gay (adidas), at Stockholm
200 — 20.18, Wallace Spearmon (Saucony), Nottwil, Switzerland
400 – 45.40, LeJerald Betters (Nike), Nottwil
800 — 1:45.32, Nick Symmonds (Nike/Oregon TC), Stockholm
3,000 — 7:54.61, David Torrence (Nike), Nottwil
5,000 — 12:55.53, Chris Solinsky (Nike/Ore. TC), Stockholm
110 hurdles — 13.51, Joel Brown (unattached), Nottwil
400 hurdles — 47.65, Bershawn Jackson (Nike), Stockholm
High jump — 7-3 1/4, James Harris (Alabama H.S.), Norfolk, Va.
Long jump — 25-10, Trevell Quinley (Nike), Rakvere, Finland
Shot put — 72-5 3/4, Christian Cantwell (Nike), Stockholm
Decathlon – 8,090, Joe Detmer (unattached), Marburg, Germany 

WOMEN
100 — 10.99, Marshevet Myers (adidas), Nottwil
200 — 22.41, Alyson Felix (Nike), Stockholm
400 –  50.59, Debbie Dunn (unattached), Stockholm
800 — 1:58.67, Morgan Uceny (Reebok), Nottwil
1,500 — 4:02.72, Morgan Uceny (Reebok), Stockholm
3K steeple — 9:37.98, Lisa Aguilera (Nike), Stockholm
5,000 — 15:50.55, Jen Rhines (adidas), Stockholm
100 hurdles — 12.70, Queen Harrison (unattached), Stockholm,
                   and Lolo Jones (Asics), Stockholm
400 hurdles — 55.28, Sheena Tosta (Nike), Nottwil
High jump — 6-6 3/4, Chaunte Lowe (Nike), Stockholm
Pole vault — 14-5 1/2, Lacy Janson (unattached), Stockholm
Long jump — 22-7 1/4, Hyleas Fountain (Nike), Nottwil
Shot put — 61-5 3/4, Jill Camarena (New York AC), Stockholm
Discus — 205-5, Becky Breisch (Nike), Nottwil
Hammer — 205-7, Shelby Ashe (Georgia H.S.), Marietta, Ga.
Heptathlon — 5,984, Bettie Wade (Nike), Marburg, Germany

From Tom Surber of USA Track & Field …

Tyson Gay

In his first 100m competition of the year, American record-holder Tyson Gay (Lafayette High School) used an impressive finishing burst in passing former world record-holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica in winning the men’s 100 meters Saturday at the Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead, England.

The British Grand Prix is a member of the prestigious new IAAF Samsung Diamond League series consisting of 14 of the greatest invitational track meets in the world. 

Gay trailed Powell for most of the race before passing him with 20 meters to go. In the first battle this season between two of the ‘big three’ of men’s sprinting (Gay, Powell and Usain Bolt) Gay put an end to Powell’s unbeaten season by crossing the finish line first in 9.94 seconds.

Competitors in the 100 dealt with a +1.7 meters per second headwind.

“I felt good,” Gay told the IAAF. “Asafa’s one of my favorite competitors and I managed to get him today. I really had to stretch to the finish line and he didn’t see me coming. The wind maybe affected the time slightly, but not much.”

Powell was the runner-up in 9.96, with Daniel Bailey third in 10.15 and Trell Kimmons fourth in 10.18.

For Surber’s full report, visit:

Tyson Gay wins at Gateshead

Tyson Gay answered questions at a press conference, Aug. 11, 2008, before competing in the Games of the the XXIX Olympiad at Beijing.

A day ahead of the Nike Prefontaine Classic, to be held on the historic Hayward Field track at Eugene, Ore., Tyson Gay appeared at a press conference.

Gay, a graduate of Lafayette High School in Lexington who went on to star for the University of Arkansas, is among 41 Olympic Games or World Championships gold medalists entered in the meet. He’ll be competing in the 200 meters.

NBC will televise the meet live, 4:30-6 p.m. The meet is part of the IAAF Samsung Diamond League series, consisting of 14 elite track meets around the world (www.diamondleague.com).

Gay swept gold medals at 100 and 200 meters, and as part of the 4-by-100 relay, at the 2007 World Championships. His 2008 Olympic bid was significantly hindered when, after setting the American record in the 100 (9.77), he suffered a hamstring injury while competing in the 200 meters during the U.S. Olympic Trials at Eugene. Last year, at Shanghai, he lowered his American record in the 100 to 9.69.

His competition Saturday includes 2008 Olympic bronze-medalist and 2010 U.S. 100-meter champion Walter Dix, as well as 2004 Olympic gold-medalist Shawn Crawford.

Highlights of Gay’s press conference, courtesy of Tom Surber, USA Track & Field media information manager, follow.

Q:  How do you feel?

A:  I feel okay. The hamstring is coming along. It’s still slightly tight, but it’s getting better.

Q: How does it feel to finally be able to step on the track and run one of your events?

A: To run here really feels good. I feel this is an opportunity for me to hopefully redeem myself from 2008. Sometimes when you get injured on a track and you know you can be fast and you don’t have the opportunity to run on it, you know you wish to have that opportunity again.

Q:  Do you think about that when you go out to Hayward Field?

A: Actually I don’t. I thought about it today for the first time, but I really don’t. I haven’t watched that race in a long time, but I just want to take advantage of running on a nice track at a nice stadium.

Q. How’s your health?

A:  It’s coming along. It’s definitely not 100 percent. I think I’m about 85 percent right now. My hamstring is still tight but it’s just a problem that I’ll just have to run with it. It’s not going to tear or anything like that, it’s just tight.

Q: With that hamstring still being tight, will you have to make a more conscientious effort to warm up longer to keep from making it worse?

A: Yes.  It takes me a little longer to warm up, but that’s cool.

Q: Does running the turn in the 200 meters put more stress on your hamstring than just running straight in the 100 meters?

A: I don’t even want to think about it and I haven’t thought about it. Don’t scare me (laughter).

Q: How excited are you about racing against Usain Bolt later this season?

A:  I want to race the best. I’m 85 percent excited because that’s where I’m at right now.

Q: You say you’re at 85 percent right now. Do you have any idea when you’ll approach being 100 percent again?

A: I think after I get this race under my belt and a few 100s under my belt, then I think I’ll be good to go. I need to get race-sharp and get my start sharper and I’ll be good.

Fans attending Eastern Kentucky University’s home basketball games this week are invited to take part in the fifth annual Colonel Holiday Toy Drive.

The drive, operated by the EKU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Salvation Army, opened Monday at the Alumni Coliseum ticket office. Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily through Friday.

Wednesday night, when the EKU men (6-2) play host to Ohio Valley (1-4) at 7 p.m., fans who donate to the Toy Drive will gain free admission.

Friday, when the EKU women (4-4) meet Davis & Elkins at 6 p.m., donations will earn free admission.

Bluegrass tinge to USATF annual meeting

Award winners at the USA Track & Field annual meeting in Indianapolis include several Kentucky connections.

Lexington native Tyson Gay won both the Harrison Dillard and Jesse Owens awards.

Sprinter Tyson Gay (Lafayette High School/Univ. of Arkansas) received both the Jesse Owens and Harrison Dillard awards. World-champion long-jumper Dwight Phillips (Univ. of Kentucky) took the Jim Thorpe Award.

Gay, the World Championships silver medalist at 100 meters, equaled or bettered his own American record three times in 2009. Other finalists for the award were Phillips, Christian Cantwell, Kerron Clement, Trey Hardee, Bernard Lagat and LaShawn Merritt.

USATF’s chairman and president, Stephanie Hightower (Louisville Stuart H.S./Ohio State), commended the board of directors who, over the last 11 months, have developed a ”comprehensive strategic plan.”

Also, five new members were inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame — four-time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs; Olympic long jump gold-medalists Randy Williams and Willie Steele; Olympic gold-medalist 400-meter hurdler Andre Phillips; and one of the all-time coaching greats, Dr. Ken Foreman.

Updating Charley Taylor’s recovery

Charley Taylor

Long-time Lexington Legends pitching coach Charley Taylor’s post-surgery cancer treatment is running ahead of the schedule that was posted on this blog Tuesday.

He already has returned to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for chemotherapy. All indications are that his recovery is going well five weeks after the surgery.

Here’s hoping Charley is back tutoring young pitchers soon on a bullpen mound.

Lyles, Clemens honored by Astros

Jordan Lyles

Koby Clemens

RHP Jordan Lyles, who went 7-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Legends last season, is Pitcher of the Year in the Houston Astros organization.

Lyles, who turned 19 in October, ranked fourth in minor-league baseball and set a Legends record by striking out 167. He fanned 10 or more batters in four games and walked only 38 over 144 2/3 innings. The Astros landed Lyles with a 2008 supplemental first-round draft pick (38th overall).

Former Legend 3B Koby Clemens is Offensive Player of the Year in the Astros organization.

Clemens, now a catcher, hit .345 with 22 homers and 121 RBI for the Lancaster JetHawks of the High-A California League.

Lexington's Tyson Gay

Lexington native Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week for a second time this season.

Gay’s 9.69 ties Bolt’s winning time from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, matching the second-fastest “legal” time ever. Gay’s race Sunday had the maximum allowable wind, 2 meters per second (about 4 1/2 mph).

Former University of Kentucky standout and reigning world champion Dwight Phillips had the best long jump by an American during the week, 27 feet, 5 1/4 inches.

Dwight Phillips

LaShawn Merritt

Allyson Felix

Wurth-Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

Best American marks for the week ending Sept. 20. X — Sunday at Shanghai, China; Y — Tuesday at Szczecin, Poland; Z — Sunday at Talence, France.

MEN

100 — 9.69, Tyson Gay (adidas) X                        American record
200 — 20.21, Tyson Gay (adidas) Y
400 — 45.28, LaShawn Merritt (Nike) X
800 — 1:46.33, Nick Symmonds (Oregon TC Elite) Y
110 hurdles — 13.15, Terrence Trammell (TSA) X
High jump — 7-5 1/4, Andra Manson (Nike) X
Long jump — 27-5 1/4, Dwight Phillips (Nike) X
Shot put — 70-6 1/4, Christian Cantwell (Nike) Y
Decathlon — 8,189, Tom Pappas (Nike) Z

WOMEN

Photos courtesy of USA Track & Field

Ben Revere

Fort Myers Miracle teammates Ben Revere and Chris Cates were among the players named Thursday to play in the Florida State League all-star game. The Miracle will host the game June 20.

Chris Cates

Revere, a center fielder out of Lexington Catholic, leads the league with 65 hits over 50 games. He ranks second with a .342 batting average, third with 22 stolen bases and a .408 on-base percentage, and fourth with 32 runs. A 5-foot-9, 166-pounder, Revere also ranks 12th in total bases (76) and OPS — on-base plus slugging percentages (.808). His RBI total of 20 is 20th in the league. Revere’s slugging percentage of .400 is 23rd, a point behind former Lafayette High School and University of Kentucky third baseman Michael Bertram. Revere has hit one homer.

Cates, a second baseman/shortstop out of the University of Louisville, is 23rd in the FSL with a .276 batting average. He also has 15 RBI, 20 runs and a pair of steals over 45 games. The 5-foot-3, 145-pounder has not homered.