Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Keep track, and in swim, of Olympic Trials

Here’s how Kentucky connections have fared so far in the U.S. Olympic Trials, Track and Field … and in the U.S. Olympic Trials, Swimming.

Check back here for updates as the Trials continue. (q = qualify; dnq = did not qualify; OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS IN CAPS)

Bonus coverage from Canada, Trinidad

Jenna Martin

Friday, June 29, at the Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials, JENNA MARTIN (Kentucky) repeats as champion in the women’s 400 meters, and does so in Olympic “A” standard qualifying time, 51.53. … GAVIN SMELLIE (Western Kentucky) makes the Canadian team in the 4-by-100 relay. … Earlier this month, UK alums MIKEL THOMAS and RONDEL SORRILLO qualified for their second straight Olympic Games, representing Trinidad and Tobabo. Thomas placed third in the T&T 100-meter hurdles finals. Sorrillo won the 200 meters and placed third in the 100.

Track and field

Sunday, July 1

Women’s javelin finals – Dana Pounds-Lyon (Lexington) 180-11 (6th).

Friday, June 29

Mikel Thomas

Women’s 200-meter semifinals – Alexis Love (Murray State) 23.10 (dnq, 16th).

Women’s javelin prelims — Dana Pounds-Lyon (Lexington) 170-0 (q, 10th).

Thursday, June 28

Women’s shot put prelims — Ashley Muffet-Duncan  (Kentucky) 5-11 (dnq, 19th).

Men’s discus finals — Chase Madison (Kentucky) 178-9 (12th).

Women’s 200-meter prelims — Alexis Love (Murray State) 23.15 (q, 18th).

Rondel Sorrillo

Monday, June 25

Men’s discus prelims — Chase Madison (Kentucky) 195-4 (q, 10th).

Sunday, June 24

Men’s 100 meters semifinals — Tyson Gay (Lexington/Lafayette) 10.04 (q, 2nd).

Women’s discus finals – Jere’ Summers (U of L) 183-4 (10th); Mary Angell (Kentucky) 174-4 (11th).

Reese Hoffa

Men’s shot put finals — REESE HOFFA (Louisville) 72-2 1/4 (1st).

Men’s 100 meters finals — TYSON GAY (Lexington/Lafayette) 9.86 (2nd).

Saturday, June 23

Men’s shot put prelims — Reese Hoffa (Louisville) 69-7 1/2 (q, 1st)

Women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinals — Danielle Carruthers (Paducah Tilghman) 13.09 (dnq, 16th).

Tyson Gay

Women’s 100 meters semifinals — Alexis Love (Murray State) 11.88 (dnq, 21st).

Men’s 100 meters prelims — Tyson Gay (Lexington/Lafayette) 10.00 (q, 2nd).

Friday, June 22

Women’s discus prelims — Jere’ Summers (U of L) 178-8 (q, 9th); Mary Angell (Kentucky) 176-11 (q, 12th).

Women’s 100-meter hurdles prelims — Danielle Carruthers (Paducah Tilghman) 12.88 (q, 4th).

Women’s 100 meters prelims — Alexis Love (Murray State) 11.49 (q, 21st).

Men’s 10,000-meter finals — Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier) 27:58.48 (10th).

Thursday, June 21

Women’s hammer throw prelims, finals — Kristin Smith (Kentucky) 215-2 (12th).

Men’s hammer throw prelims, finals — Andy Fryman (Mason County/Kentucky) 238-3 (6th).

Swimming

Sunday, July 1

Women’s 50 freestyle heats – Jennifer Bradford (Wildcat Aquatics) 25.65 (dnq, 22nd); Kristen Wilson (Wildcat Aquatics) 26.53 (dnq, tie 96th); Megan Eppler (Wildcat Aquatics) 26.68 (dnq, tie 120th); Aileen Cole (U of L) 26.86 (dnq, 132nd).

Saturday, June 30

Men’s 50 freestyle heats — Wyatt Ubellocker (unattached/Nebraska/Scott County H.S) 22.78 (dnq, 21st); Tyler Reed (Southern Ky./UK) 22.91 (dnq, tie 31st); Eric Bruck (Lexington/Dunbar H.S.) 23.23 (dnq, tie 58th); Matthew Schlytter (U of L) 24.04 (dnq, 159th); Colin Faris (Lexington/Beaumont YMCA/Henry Clay H.S. coach) 24.32 (dnq, 165th).

Women’s 800 freestyle semifinals — Emily Brunemann (Notre Dame Academy) 8:38.70 (dnq, 11th);  Leah Stevens (Lakeside Swim Club) 8:44.24 (dnq, 20th).

Men’s 100 butterfly heats — Maclin Simpson (Wildcat Aquatics) 55.44 (dnq, 96th).

Women’s 200 backstroke heats — Alexandrea Van Oost (Western Kentucky) 2:17.36 (dnq, 67th); Heidi Hatteberg (Lakeside Swim Club) 2:17.46 (dnq, 71st); Chatham Penrod (Wildcat Aquatics) 2:17.60 (dnq, 78th); Caitlyn Forman (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:19.42 (dnq, tie 124th); Hilary Mishler (Western Kentucky) 2:23.43 (dnq, 182nd).

Friday, June 29

Women’s 100 freestyle heats — Kristen Wilson  (Wildcats Aquatics/Dunbar) 57.48 (dnq, 97th); Megan Eppler (Wildcat Aquatics) 57.75 (dnq, 110th).

Men’s 200 backstroke heats – David Duggans (Wildcat Aquatics) 2:09.05 (dnq, 102nd).

Women’s 200 breaststroke heats — Gisselle Kohoyda (U of L) 2:30.28 (dnq, tie 17th); Stephanie Martin (Western Kentucky) 2:37.46 (dnq, tie 78th). In swim-off to determine 17th place as top alternate to semifinals, Kohoyda finishes second in 2:30.72, behind Allie Szekely’s 2:30.03.

Clark Burckle

Men’s 200 individual medley heats — Michael Pryor (U of L) 2:04.59 (dnq, 33rd); Max Williamson (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:07.62 (dnq, 93rd); Alex Burtch (U of L) 2:07.87 (dnq, 97th).

Men’s 200 breaststroke finals — CLARK BURCKLE (St. Xavier) 2:09.97 (2nd).

Women’s 200 butterly finals — Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 2:10.52 (8th)

Thursday, June 28

Men’s 100 freestyle heats – Tyler Reed  (Southern Ky./Kentucky) 49.90 (dnq, 19th); Wyatt Ubellacker (unattached/Nebraska/Scott County) 51.39 (dnq, 102nd); Eric Bruck (Clemson Aquatics/Lexington/Dunbar) 52.19 (dnq, 151st).

Women’s 200 butterfly heats — Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 2:09.02 (q, 3rd); Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 2:12.85 (dnq, 17th); Claire Donahue (Western Kentucky) 2:13.01 (dnq, 19th); Sharlene Brady (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:18.22 (dnq, 83rd).

Men’s 200 breaststroke heats — Clark Burckle (Tucson Ford/St. Xavier) 2:10.30 (q, 1st); Addison Bray (U of L) 2:17.19 (dnq, tie 40th); Max Williamson (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:18.55 (dnq, 55th); Kameron Chastain (U of L) 2:21.30 (dnq, 92nd).

Women’s 200 butterfly semifinals – Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 2:09.82 (q, 5th).

Men’s 200 breaststroke semifinals — Clark Burckle (Tucson Ford/St. Xavier) 2:10.01 (q, 1st).

Wednesday, June 27

Women’s 200 freestyle heats – Kelsey Floyd  (Lexington/Tates Creek) did not start.

Men’s 200 butterfly heats — Riley Martin (U of L) 2:02.55 (dnq, 58th); Maclin Simpson (Wildcat Aquatics) 2:05.41 (dnq, 110th); Kevin Bandy (U of L) 2:05.93 (dnq, 116th).

Women’s 200 individual medley heats — Hannah Runyon-Hass (Western Kentucky) 2:18.38 (dnq, 42nd); Abigail Chin (U of L) 2:21.22 (dnq, 84th).

Tuesday, June 26

Women’s 100 backstroke heats – Caitlyn Forman (Northern Kentucky Clippers) 1:03.84 (dnq, 72nd); Chatham Penrod (Wildcat Aquatics) 1:04.03 (dnq, 83rd); Heidi Hatteberg (Lakeside) 1:04.28 (dnq, 96th); Hilary Mishler (Western Kentucky) 1:04.39 (dnq, 100th); Kirsten Nitz (Thorobred Nautic) 1:05.54 (dnq, 144th); Kristina Brandenburg (U of L) 1:05.62 (dnq, 148th).

Men’s 200 freestyle heats — Tyler Reed (Southern Ky./Kentucky) 1:51.86 (dnq, 59th); Riley Martin (U of L) 1:56.62 (dnq, 124th).

Women’s 100 breaststroke heats — Gisselle Kohoyda (U of L) 1:11.58 (dnq, 58th); Kaylin Burchell (Madison Central) 11:11.73 (dnq, 63rd).

Men’s 100 backstroke heats — Lee Duggans (Wildcat Aquatics) 58.08 (dnq, 99th).

Claire Donahue

Women’s 400 freestyle heats — Leah Stevens (Lakeside) 4:15.44 (dnq, 29th); Emily Brunemann (Notre Dame Academy) 4:16.38 (dnq, 37th).

Women’s  100 butterfly finals — CLAIRE DONAHUE  (Western Kentucky) :57.57 (2nd); Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 58.22 (4th); Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 58.43 (5th).

Men’s 100 breaststroke finals — Clark Burckle (St. Xavier) 1:00.81 (7th).

Monday, June 25

Men’s 400 individual medley heats — Max Williamson (Northern Kentucky Clippers) 4:30.64 (dnq, 66th).

Women’s 100 butterfly heats — Claire Donahue (Western Kentucky) 57.82 (q, 2nd); Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 58.38 (q, 3rd);  Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 58.67 (q, 6th); Emily Conway (U of L)1:03.10  (dnq, 139); Kirsten Nitz (Thorobred Nautic) 1:03.47 (dnq, 147) .

Men’s 400 freestyle heats — Riley Martin (U of L) 4:02.39 (dnq, 83rd).

400 individual medley heats – Emily Brunemann (Notre Dame Academy) 4:50.03 (dnq, 20th); Hannah Runyon-Hass (Western Kentucky) 4:52.01 (dnq, 37th); Leah Stevens (Lakeside Swim Team) 4:53.28 (dnq, 42nd); Sharlene Brady (Northern Kentucky Clippers) 4:57.23 (dnq, 73rd); Abigail Chin (U of L) 5:01.15 (dnq, 104th).

Men’s 100 breaststroke heats — Clark Burckle (St. Xavier) 1:01.23 (q, 8th); Kameron Chastain (U of L) 1:03.30 (dnq, 42nd); Addison Bray (U of L) 1:04.32 (dnq, 75th); Luke Musser (Western Kentucky) 1:04.60 (dnq, 85th); Kenneth Crapse (Cardinal Aquatics/U of L) 10:4.74 (dnq, 89th); Michael Haefner (U of L) 1:05.73 (dnq, 125th).

Women’s 100 butterfly semifinals — Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 58.18 (q, 2nd); Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 58.53 (q, tie 6th); Claire Donahue (Western Kentucky) 58.53 (q, tie 6th).

Men’s 100 breaststroke semifinals — Clark Burckle (St. Xavier) 1:00.83 (q, 8th).

From the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Assocation (USTFCCCA): The men of Florida and the women of Oregon will begin the 2012 outdoor track & field season as the top teams in the country according to the National Team Computer Rankings posted Thursday by the USTFCCCA. Both squads are coming off the indoor season where they claimed respective NCAA Championships for the third straight year.

Florida is the pre-season men’s outdoor favorite for the third straight year.  Oregon is the outdoor favorite for the first time in the five years in which pre-season computer rankings have been used. The women’s pre-season No. 1 has went on to win the last four national titles.

Texas A&M is the three-time defending championship team on both the men’s and women’s sides. The Aggies open at No. 6 and No. 7 in the men’s and women’s rankings, respectively.

Pre-season national team rankings are calculated using data from previous seasons as a base of evaluation. Marks gained in the early part of this season will supersede previous-year marks if they are superior.

Florida’s men finished third at the 2011 outdoor championships with 53 points,  two behind Texas A&M (55) and one behind runner-up and Florida State (54). The Gators lost jumping extraordinaire Christian Taylor and Will Claye to the professional ranks, but return several national scorers including quarter-miler Tony McQuay, sprinter Jeff Demps, decathlete Gray Horn and national indoor triple jump champ Omar Craddock.

No. 2 Florida State lost 2011 winner of The Bowerman Ngoni Makusha to the pros, but keep Maurice Mitchell for the 2012 campaign. Mitchell won the 200 meters at last year’s outdoor championship and was third in the 100.

On the women’s side, Oregon placed second at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championship with 45 points, four behind Texas A&M’s 49.

The Ducks return three-time indoor pentathlon champion Brianne Theisen for her senior campaign and will also lean heavily on distance standouts Jordan Hasay, Anne Kesselring and Becky Friday. Oregon also has been effective in the sprints as English Gardner won the indoor 60-meter crown.

LSU is  second in the women’s rankings and third on the men’s side. The Tiger women will have several in the mix in the sprints, hurdles and relays.

Among conferences, the SEC leads with 1,287.71 ranking points and seven teams in the nation’s top 25. The Big 12 isthe top women’s conference with 1,261.75 ranking points and also seven teams in the top 25.

The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa, and hosted by Drake University. Preliminary rounds will be conducted May 24-26 in Austin, Texas (West site) and Jacksonville, Fla. (East site).

Outdoor Pre-season Rankings in Past Years:

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

Walter Dix, who edged Lexington’s Tyson Gay in last weekend’s Prefontaine Invitational 200-meter dash, added another speedy win Thursday in the 2010 Athletissima at Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dix’s time of 19.86 seconds matches the fourth-fastest time in the world this season — first set by Dix on June 6 at Rome.

Other U.S. winners at Lausanne included Jeremy Wariner, Bershawn Jackson, Carmelita Jeter, Debbie Dunn and Brittney Reese.

Check out Tom Surber’s report for USA Track & Field at:
http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?duid=USATF_2010_07_08_15_57_05

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.

Former University of Louisville star Angel McCoughtry is among 12 players added Wednesday to the 2010-12 USA Basketball Women’s National Team roster.

The 12 additions brings to 20 the player pool from which this year’s World Championships team and 2012 Summer Olympics teams will be chosen. Team USA first must qualify for the latter tournament.

McCoughtry, reigning Rookie of the Year in the WNBA, plays for the Atlanta Dream. She also was part of Team USA’s gold-medal squad at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Others added to the roster by the five-member Player Selection Committee are: Alana Beard (Washington Mystics), Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Tina Charles (University of Connecticut), Shameka Christon (New York Liberty), Candice Dupree (Chicago Sky), Lindsey Harding (Washington Mystics), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (University of Connecticut), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx).

UConn’s Geno Auriemma is head coach.

Players previously named the team are: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury).

Monkey business

By the way, you may have noticed that I’m baaaccckk.

Back from the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, a working vacation. For details, see my personal blog:
www.monkeyalarm.com

SEC has most track teams nationally ranked

The Southeastern Conference dominates the latest Indoor Track & Field national rankings of NCAA Division I teams, compiled by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The SEC has seven men’s teams among the top 25 and six women’s teams. The Big 12 is second in both categories with six men’s teams and five women’s squads.

Louisville is the lone in-state representative, with the 13th-ranked women’s program.

The top seven men’s rankings in the Southeast Region, in order: Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Louisville, South Carolina, Clemson, Kentucky and Virginia.

The Southeast Region top seven women’s teams: Clemson, South Carolina, Louisville, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke and Virginia.

Men’s rankings
Rank  Team (Points)                 Previous rank
 1. Texas A&M (141.69)                           1
 2. Florida (136.89)                                   4
 3. Oregon (134.27)                                  2
 4. LSU (109.18)                                        3
 5. Arizona State (107.75)                        5
 6. Arkansas (91.80)                                 6
 7. Texas Tech (91.19)                             9
 8. Virginia Tech (80.81)                        15
 9. Oklahoma (75.10)                             12
10. Indiana (71.67)                                   7
11. Nebraska (69.31)                              8
12. Minnesota (65.06)                            17
13. Penn State (64.53)                           11
14. Florida State (63.65)                        13
15. Stanford (62.08)                                14
16. California (55.78)                              24
17. Northern Arizona (53.64)                 19
18. Auburn (50.94)                                  16
19. Baylor (50.91)                                    10
20. South Carolina (46.02)                     –
21. Arizona (45.76)                                  18
22. New Mexico (44.69)                          22
23. Mississippi (44.02)                            –
24. Georgia (44.00)                                 25
25. Texas (43.78)                                      –

Women’s rankings
Rank  Team (Points)                 Previous rank
 1. Oregon (185.55)                                 1
 2. Texas A&M (158.94)                           2
 3. Florida (113.51)                                  3
 4. Clemson (108.53)                              7
 5. Tennessee (108.03)                          4
 6. LSU (102.35)                                       5
 7. Penn State (99.38)                           10
 8. Arkansas (97.84)                                6
 9. Villanova (79.07)                                 8
10. Texas-El Paso (78.12)                   17
11. Auburn (72.23)                                   9
12. Southern Illinois (59.52)                12
13. Louisville (59.11)                            13
14. Arizona (58.62)                                16
15. Brigham Young (58.15)                 11
16. Indiana State (57.93)                      18
17. Florida State (56.64)                       20
18. Nebraska (56.02)                            14
19. Oklahoma (53.27)                           15
20. Indiana (49.90)                                19
21. Iowa State (49.57)                            –
22. Virginia Tech (49.04)                      21
23. South Carolina (46.35)                    –
24. Texas Tech (42.52)                          –
25. Miami (Fla.) (38.98)                          –

Louisville 1-2 in women’s weight throw

D'Ana McCarty

Highlighting individual rankings is the women’s weight throw, where Louisville’s D’Ana McCarty (74-0 1/4) and Jere’ Summers (73-4) are 1-2 and UK’s Kristin Smith (67-6) is No. 8.

Event-by-event leaders, plus in-state representatives among the top 25, follow.

Men
60 meters — Jeff Demps (Fla.) 6.59; tie 2. Rondel Sorrillo (Ky.) 6.60; tie 20. Justin Austin (Ky.) 6.69.
200 — (tie) Calvin Smith (Fla.) and Charles Clark (Fla. St.) 20.67; 5. Rondel Sorrillo (Ky.) 20.77.
400 — Torrin Lawrence (Ga.) 45.03.
800 — Andrew Wheating (Ore.) 1:46.3.
Mile — Lee Emanuel (N.M.) 3:57.62.
3,000 — David McNeill (Northern Ariz.) 7:47.52.
5,000 — David McNeill (Northern Ariz.) 13:39.32.
60 hurdles — Ronnie Ash (Okla.) 7.59.
4×400 relay — Texas A&M 3:04.86.
Distance medley relay — Oregon 9:29.82.
High jump — (tie) Paul Hamilton (Neb.) and Derek Drouin (Ind.) 7-5; tie 12. Tone Belt (U of L) 7-2 1/4.
Pole vault — Scott Roth (Wash.) 18-9 1/4.
Long jump — Alain Bailey (Ark.) 26-9 3/4; tie 7. Rudon Bastion (U of L) 25-10; tie 13. Tone Belt (U of L) 25-6 1/4; 16. Wesley Smith (U of L) 25-4 1/2.
Triple jump — Christian Taylor (Fla.) 55-2 3/4; 14. Andre Black (U of L) 52-7 1/4.
Shot put — Ryan Whiting (Ariz. St.) 70-7 1/4.
Weight throw — Walter Henning (LSU) 78-1.
Heptathlon — Ashton Eaton (Ore.) 6,256.

Women
60 — (tie) Blessing Okagbare (Texas-El Paso) and Layka Brookins (S.C.) 7.18.
200 — Shavon Greaves (Penn St.) 22.98.
400 — Jessica Beard (Texas A&M) 51.15; 25. Jenna Martin (Ky.) 53.76.
800 — Phoebe Wright (Tenn.) 2:01.47.
Mile — Charlotte Browning (Fla.) 4:31.24; 17. Janet Jesang (Western Ky.) 4:41.57.
3,000 — Lisa Koll (Iowa St.) 8:56.09; 8. Janet Jesang (Western Ky.) 9:11.09.
5,000 — Lisa Koll (Iowa St.) 15:29.65; 13. Janet Jesang (Western Ky.) 16:04.48.
60 hurdles — Queen Quedith (Va. Tech) 7.94.
4×400 relay — Arkansas 3:32.87; 15. Kentucky 3:37.90.
Distance medley relay — Oregon 10:59.64.
High jump — (tie) Elizabeth Patterson (Ariz. St.) and Amber Kaufman (Hawaii) 6-3 1/2; tie 25. Rachel Gehret (U of L) 5-10 3/4.
Pole vault — Kylie Hutson (Ind. St.) 14-8 1/4.
Long jump — Blessing Okagbare (Texas-El Paso) 21-11 3/4.
Triple jump — Kimberly Williams (Fla. St.) 46-8 1/4.
Shot put — Mariam Kevkhishvilli (Fla.) 60-10 3/4; 6. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 55-9 1/4; tie 14. Ashley Muffet (Ky.) 53-9 1/4; 21. Chinwe Okoro (U of L) 52-7 1/4.
Weight throw — D’Ana McCarty (U of L) 74-0 1/4; 2. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 73-4; 8. Kristin Smith (Ky.) 67-6.
Pentathlon — Liane Weber (Clemson) 4,262; 16. Precious Nwokey (Ky.) 3,967.

Three new names on The Bowerman watch list’s top 10

The men’s ”watch list” for the USTFCCA’s Bowerman Award has three new names among the top 10 this week: LSU’s Walter Henning, Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence and Northern Arizona’s David McNeill. The Bowerman is college track and field’s version of the Heisman Trophy in football. For more information, see www.TheBowerman.org

The Bowerman Watch List top 10 through March 3, in alphabetical order:

Name (school, class) event, hometown
Jeshua Anderson (Wash. St., jr.) hurdles, Woodland Hills, Calif.
Ronnie Ash (Okla., jr.) hurdles, Raleigh, N.C.
Sam Chelanga (Liberty, jr.) distances, Nairobi, Kenya
Ashton Eaton (Ore., sr.) combined events, Bend, Ore.
German Fernandez (Okla. St., so.) distances, Riverbank, Calif.
Walter Henning (LSU, jr.) throws, Kings Park, N.Y.
Torrin Lawrence (Ga., so.) sprints, Jacksonville, Fla.
David McNeill (Northern Ariz., sr.) distances, Melbourne, Australia
Andrew Wheating (Ore., sr.) distances, Norwich, Vt.
Ryan Whiting (Ariz. St., sr.) throws, Harrisburg, Pa.

Also receiving mention — Aaron Braun (Adams St.); Charles Clark (Fla. St.); Will Claye (Okla.); Jason Colwick (Rice); Lee Emanuel (N.M.); Ricky Flynn (Lynchburg); Ryan Foster (Penn St.); Ramon Gittens (St. Augustine’s); Tabarie Henry (Texas A&M); Trindon Holliday (LSU); Bryce Lamb (Texas Tech); Ngonidzashe Makusha (Fla. St.); Scott Roth (Wash.); Ramon Sparks (Abilene Christian).

Campbell is Athlete of the Week

Amber Campbell is USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week, having won the women’s weight throw with a season world-leading and a meet-record mark of 81 feet, one-half inch at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships at Albuquerque, N.M.

Campbell, a 2008 Olympian, won here fourth consecutive national title with the third-best throw ever. She earned 1,213 points to earn the title of Visa Champion by one point over sprinter Carmelita Jeter, worth $30,000.

The best performances by American in the week ending Feb. 28 follow. AL = American leader; OT = oversized track; WL = world leader.

MEN
60 — Ivory Williams (Nike) at Albuquerque, 6.49 WL; 200 — Charles Clark (Fla. St.), Blacksburg, Va., and Calvin Smith (Fla.), Fayetteville, Ark., 20.67 WL; 400 — Torrin Lawrence (Ga.), Fayetteville, 45.10; 800 — Nick Symmonds (Nike/Ore. TC Elite), Albuquerque, 1:47.59; Mile — Andrew Wheating (Ore.), Seattle, 3:58.20 OT; 3,000 — Mark Matusak (Calif.), Seattle, 7:59.67 OT; 5,000 — Elliott Heath (Stanford), Seattle, 13:47; 5K walk — Tim Seaman (NYAC), Albuquerque, 20:57.47; 60 hurdles — Terrence Trammell (Trackstar Appeal), Albuquerque, 7.41 WL; High jump — Jesse Williams (Nike), Albuquerque, 7-8; Pole vault — Scott Roth (Wash.), Seattle, 18-9 1/4; Long jump — Bryce Lamb (Texas Tech), Ames, Iowa, 26-8 1/2); Triple jump — Lawrence Willis (unattached), Albuquerque, 55-3 3/4; Shot put — Christian Cantwell (Nike), Albuquerque, 69-4; Weight throw — A.G. Kruger (Nike), Albuquerque, 82-0 WL; Heptathlon — Nick Adcock (Mo.), Ames, Iowa, 5,938.

WOMEN
60 — Carmelita Jeter (Nike), Albuquerque, 7.02 AL; 200 — Shavon Greaves (Penn St.), State College, Pa., 22.98 WL; 400 — Debbie Dunn (unatt.), Albuquerque, 50.86 WL; 800 — Anna Pierce (Nike), Albuquerque, 2:00.84 AL; 1,500 — Morgan Uceny (Reebok), Albuquerque, 4:19.46; Mile — Jordan Hasay (Ore.), Seattle, 4:35.01 OT; 3,000 — Lisa Koll (Iowa St.), Ames, Iowa, 8:56.09 OT; 5,000 — Lisa Koll (Iowa St.), Ames, Iowa, 15:41.57 OT; 3K walk — Maria Michta (Walk USA), Albuquerque, 13:51.33; 60 hurdles — Ginnie Powell (Nike), Albuquerque, 7.87; High jump — Chaunte Lowe (Nike) Albuquerque, 6-6 AL; Pole vault — Lacy Janson (unatt.), Albuquerque, 15-3; Long jump — Brittney Reese (Nike) Albuquerque, 22-7 1/4 WL; Triple jump – Erica McLain (Nike) Albuquerque, 46-1 1/2 AL; Shot put — Jill Camarena (Nike/NYAC), Albuquerque, 61-1 1/2; Weight throw — Amber Campbell (Nike), Albuquerque, 81-0 1/2 WL; Pentathlon — Chantae McMillan (Neb.), Ames, Iowa, 4,151. 

Bernard Lagat

Bernard Lagat is USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week.

A two-time Olympic medalist and the 2007 double Worlds champion, Lagat won an unprecedented eighth Wannamaker Mile title Friday night in New York’s Madison Square Garden, site of the 103rd Millrose Games.

Lagat, timed in 3:56.34, came into the meet sharing the lead in Wanamaker titles with Irishman Eamonn Coghlin.

Best American marks for the week ending Jan. 31, compiled by USATF.

MEN
60 meters — 6.59   Casey LaCour (unattached), Houston, Jan. 30
200 — 20.69 Curtis Mitchell (Texas A&M), College Station, TX, Jan. 30
400 – 46.48     Calvin Smith (Florida), College Station, Texas, Jan. 30
800 — 1:47.98  Cas Loxsom (Penn State), State College, Pa., Jan. 30
Mile — 3:55.75*o Chris Solinsky (Nike), Seattle, Jan. 30
3,000 — 7:51.48*o Galen Rupp (Nike), Seattle, Jan. 30
5,000 — 13:40.79  David Jankowski (Zap Fitness) Boston, Jan. 30
60 hurdles–7.49 Terrence Trammell (Trackstar Appeal), N.Y., Jan. 29
High jump — 7-7 1/4  Dusty Jonas (Nike), Trinec, Czech Rep., Jan. 26
Pole vault–18-4 1/2 Mark Hollis (ua), Derek Miles (Nike), NY, Jan. 29
Long jump–26-2 3/4 Trevell Quinley (HPC Elite) Albuquerque, Jan. 30
Triple jump–53-2 1/4 Brandon Roulhac (HPC E) Glasgow, Scot., Jan. 30
Shot put — 72-0 1/4  Christian Cantwell (Nike), New York, Jan. 29
Weight throw — 77-4  Jake Freeman (IBAC), New York, Jan. 29
Heptathlon — 6,256  Ashton Eaton (Ore.), College Station, Jan. 30 COLLEGIATE RECORD
*o — denotes oversized track.

WOMEN
60 — 7.19  Carmelita Jeter (Nike), Glasgow, Scotland, Jan. 30
200 — 23.16  Shavon Greaves (Penn St.), State College, Pa., Jan. 30
400 — 52.05  Allyson Felix (adidas), Albuquerque, Jan. 30
500–1:08.70 Shana Cox (adidas), State College, Jan. 30 U.S. RECORD
800 — 2:03.77  Erin Donohue (Nike), Boston, Jan. 30
Mile — 4:31.50  Sara Hall (Asics), New York, Jan. 29
3,000 — 8:58.45*o  Amy Hastings (adidas), Seattle, Jan. 30
5,000 – 15:20.05  Molly Huddle (Saucony), Seattle, Jan. 29
60 hurdles — 7.90  Lolo Jones (Asics), Karlsruhe, Germany, Jan. 31
High jump — 6-4 1/4  Chaunte Howard (Nike), Glasgow, Scot., Jan. 30
Pole vault — 14-9 1/2  Chelsea Johnson (Nike), New York, Jan. 29
Long jump — 21-11  Hyleas Fountain (Nike), State College, Jan. 29
Triple jump – 44-10 3/4  Amanda Smock (unatt.), Mankato, MN, Jan. 30
Shot put — 57-0  Sarah Stevens (unattached), Flagstaff, Ariz., Jan. 30
Weight throw — 79-4 3/4  Amber Campbell (Nike), New York, Jan. 29
Pentathlon — 4,731  Hyleas Fountain (Nike), State College, Jan. 29

For more information on USATF, visit usatf.org

Tracking Team USA at the Winter Olympic Games

Opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games at Vancouver are little more than a week away, Feb. 12.

A couple of tips on where, in addition to kentucky.com, to look for the latest news.

1. Register on Teamusa.org to access late-breaking news and updates involving Team USA, courtesy of the United States Olympic Committee.

2. If you’ve grown accustomed to reading my reports, well … my 11th Olympics will mark my first as a freelance writer. I’ll be taking vacation time from this web site. However, you can still follow me on my newly launched personal web site: www.site.monkeyalarm.com.

Even though Kentucky isn’t often associated with the Winter Olympics, there will be plenty of Bluegrass connections in Vancouver. (More on that topic later.)

Reed writes again: Celebrating Freedom Hall

Billy Reed's latest work.

Former Herald-Leader sports columnist Billy Reed is the author of a new book: Celebrating 54 Years at Freedom Hall.

Published by Butler Books of Louisville, the work retails for $29.95. Reed will be on hand to sign copies of the book at every University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball game for the rest of the season.

Reed says the book is heavy on basketball, including chapters on U of L, Kentucky, six NCAA Final Fours, the Kentucky Colonels, high school all-star games and the State High School Sweet Sixteen. Other topics include the World Championship Horse Show, National Tractor Pull, boxing (Muhammad Ali’s first fights), concerts, the Mason-Dixon (track and field) Games and family entertainment.

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.