BATC Recap: 2010 USA Track & Field Championships
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
June 24-27
By Tom Kloos
As is the nature of sport, the USA Track & Field Championships turned out a myriad of emotions for BATC athletes, ranging from downright disappointment to the magical moment of elation that only outright victory can bring. After some near misses and one medal for BATC runners, 800 meter runner Alysia Johnson stormed through the finish line to the victory stand to claim the title of America's best. Johhson was the only finisher under 2:00 in the Final, and her time of 1:59.43 in the semi-final ranks in the top-10 in the world.
June 24-27
By Tom Kloos
As is the nature of sport, the USA Track & Field Championships turned out a myriad of emotions for BATC athletes, ranging from downright disappointment to the magical moment of elation that only outright victory can bring. After some near misses and one medal for BATC runners, 800 meter runner Alysia Johnson stormed through the finish line to the victory stand to claim the title of America's best. Johhson was the only finisher under 2:00 in the Final, and her time of 1:59.43 in the semi-final ranks in the top-10 in the world.
Alysia Johnson waves to the crowd after her victory in the 800m
In any other year, when an Olympic or World Championship team berth is on the line, finishing 3rd comes with a high degree of satisfaction; you made the team. In an "off year" such as 2010, with no team to make, the chasm between first and third widens significantly, especially for an athlete such as Shannon Rowbury in the 1500, where the title was hers to defend. In a slow tactical race filled with jostling, Rowbury was "lucky to just stay on my feet,"but could not get her self into position for the final kick, and came up short charging down the final straightaway. "Erin (Donahue) went with about 400 to go, and Anna (Pierce) closed in 59. I got a little stuck couldn't quite make up the difference."
Shannon Rowbury in her 1500m prelim
While disappointed, Shannon gained valuable experience -- preparing for the heat and racing in a very crowded pack -- and is already preparing for her next race, and 800 meter at the Prefontaine Classic next week.
While a top-3 finish was not do-or-die in this championship, 10k runner and Olympic marathoner Blake Russell held her standard there just the same. Blake had a top-3 finish in her sights, while acknowledging the strength of the competition. “There are a lot of veterans, like myself, as well as some very good new runners like (NCAA 5k/10k champion) Lisa Koll.” At the end of 25 tough laps in the Iowa heat and humidity, Blake finished a very respectable 4th, behind 2008 Olympic marathon teammate Desiree Davila (3rd), Lisa Koll (2nd), and Amy Yoder-Begley (6th at the '09 World Championships.)
Blake Russell leading the women's 10000m
Like Blake, 1500 meter runner David Torrence entered the USATF Championships with a top-3 finish on his mind, a focus that will continue through the Olympic Trials in 2012. A win was also not outside of his cross hairs. Before attempting this, however, Torrence had to get a very particular monkey off of his back. In four previous USATF Outdoor Championships, Torrence had failed to advance to the final, each time missing by just one place (by finish position or by time). Torrence was under no such threat this time in the prelim, as he cruised through the final 100 meters in a comfortable (and automatic qualifying) 2nd position, repeatedly glancing over his shoulder to ensure his place.
David Torrence follows Matt Tegenkamp in their 1500m prelim
Recent Cal Berkeley grad and BATC addition, Mark Matusak, did not advance to the finals of the mens 1500 in Des Moines. However his preliminary time was his second-fastest career time. "It was okay, but it just wasn't enough." Mark was in one of the slower, more tactical preliminary heats. Had he been in the faster heat, with BATC teammate David Torrence, Mark felt he would have had a greater chance to make the final.
Joining Torrence in the final was BATC teammate Garrett Heath, a finalist at the Indoor World Championships this year. The early slow pace ensured that everyone was in contention and "it didn't wind up until pretty late." When pre-race favorites Leo Manzano and Lopez Lomong broke to the front in the final 300 meters, it became a mad-dash among the pursuing 10 runners. Torrence may have closed the last 200 meters faster than any of the other competitors, but moving from mid-way in the pack, we was not able to overcome the difference and came up fourth, just behind OTC Elite member Will Leer. Heath finished in 8th, "not having the closing speed yet to finish up where I wanted to be."
As is the case with Rowbury, all three male 1500 meter runners express some optimism as well as disappointment coming out of the 2010 USATF Championships, and are looking forward to much more still in this track season. In a non-championship year, the USATF meet becomes a spring board rather than a finish line. Torrence will join Rowbury in Eugene for the Prefontaine, and eventually all four milers and Alysia Johnson will make their way over to the exciting track circuits in Europe for the summer. Russell turns her full attention to the marathon, and Bolota Asmerom, who did not finish in the mens 5k, will take a long rest after over three years of continual training and racing.
