News07 May 2006


Wariner convincing 44.84 win in Modesto

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Jeremy Wariner wins the 400m in 44.84 - 65th Modesto Relays (© Kirby Lee)

Modesto, California, USAJeremy Wariner had been heavily promoted as the marquee athlete for the 65th running of the Modesto Relays, and the World and Olympic 400m champion did what was expected of him. He dominated the tight curved track with a splendid 44.84 winning performance on a warm but breezy day in California’s Central Valley. 

Williamson's running the measure for Wariner

It was a most convincing victory for the lean Texan as he strode away from his training partner, Darrold Williamson, on the final straight to win by ten metres. 

After the field had been held in the “set” position an inordinately long time at the start, Wariner was not able to move away from the blocks in his customary manner, instead he had to come away almost in a standing position to maintain his balance.  That bit of time-robbing nuisance aside, within one or two strides he began his trademark smooth acceleration, and by 150 metres, he had drawn even with Williamson, who was running on his immediate outside.

The sharp curves of the Modesto Junior College track clearly kept Wariner from being able to power through the turn to the extent he usually does.   But the others were under the same handicap and seemed to handle it less well than Wariner, who appeared to increase his lead at the end as he slowed only with his final strides.

Williamson followed with a 45.91, as Mitch Potter (46.26) held off Wallace Spearmon (46.33) for third. 

“I really ran up on Darrold (on the back stretch),” Wariner remarked afterwards.  “And I worked the turn like I was supposed to.  It felt good coming home.” 

Having Williamson on his outside was a useful indicator.  “I use him as a key on how I’m running the race.” 

Training is ‘ahead of last year’

On dealing with the dimensions of the MJC oval, which is constructed around an American football field with long straights and a small curve radius, Wariner added, “I’m a curve runner, and it’s difficult with this tight arrangement.  On the whole, however, I’m pleased.” 

With a view to the rest of the season, Wariner offered that his training was “ahead of where it was at this time last year.”   But he admitted that he was focusing on one race at a time this season.  So intent was his focus today that he had to confer with his manager to confirm that his next appearance would be in a 200m at the Adidas Track Classic in Carson in two weeks. 

Wariner’s coach, Clyde Hart, reiterated the need for his protégé to not look past any race.  “It’s different when everyone is coming after you, as is the case after winning the Olympics,” Hart said.  “Last year, he (Wariner) wasn’t as motivated in some of his race as he should have been.  This year, he’s ready to show some good times.” 

“Today he ran 21.6, a little slower than what we wanted,” Hart continued, “but this was still an exceptional time for this track and the wind they had to contend with.”

‘No timetable’ for Beijing double

The subject of a possible 200-400 double at the Beijing Olympics came into the discussion, and Hart did his best to deflect comparisons with his most recent pupil, Michael Johnson, who twice managed this feat at the world level.  “We’re using Jeremy’s 200 to help his 400,” Hart maintained, unswerving in his belief that a fast 200 is the indispensable key to success in the 400.   “We’re not thinking about this double.  After all, there’s no reason to do it unless you think you can win both.  Michael was 27 when he first tried it, and Jeremy’s only 22.  That’s a big five-year difference.  We’re not going to make a time table for this.”

“We’re not quite where we want to be with his 200.  We’re trying to get that a little faster.  His 20.37 this year, plus the 20.60 he ran last weekend in the wind and rain at Drake show that he has the potential to go much faster,” Hart said. 

Wariner’s next 400m outing will come in four weeks’ time in Oslo, as he starts his quest for the Jackpot in the IAAF Golden League series. 

Waltz spectacular series brings 67.85m PB

Modesto has long been a favourite locale for throwers, and Ian Waltz used the dry valley winds to his advantage for a PB 67.85m to win the men’s Discus Throw by almost six metres over Sweden’s Niklas Arrhenius (61.97). 

Waltz, the fifth-placer in the Helsinki World Championships, had a spectacular series of four throws over sixty-six metres, which included his first-ever efforts over sixty-seven (67.85 and 67.21). 

“And I chose this day to throw the Shot,” sighed Jarred Rome, himself a Helsinki discus finalist (7th), as he watched Waltz float throw after throw. 

Still, it was not a bad day for Rome and the steel ball, as his leadoff 20.38m was only two centimetres off his PB.  Rome held the lead until world leader Christian Cantwell’s final round 20.93, as Jamie Beyer finished third at 20.04. 

Like Waltz, Aretha Thurmond was highly successful in the women’s Discus Throw as her 64.41m winning effort lifted her to the number-two spot on the world list for the season. 

Jill Camarena won the women’s Shot Put with an outdoor PB 18.69 over the 18.09 of Kristin Heaston. 

Third consecutive victory for Stevenson

Winds also play an important role in the Pole Vault, but today, the tailwinds of the early afternoon turned into cross winds by the starting time of the men’s invitational section.  Athens silver medallist Toby Stevenson, who earned a permanent invitation to the Modesto meeting with his 6.00 jump two years ago, won his third consectutive Modesto title with 5.75. 

“The wind was really shifty today,” he noted, “but I knew if I waited I’d get a good one.” 

But the helmeted vaulter wasn’t totally satisfied, joking that “each year I still win but I jump lower than in the previous year.  Next season, perhaps they’ll have to put me in the women’s division.” 

Finishing behind Stevenson and tying for second at 5.65 were the two vaulting Tims:  Lobinger of Germany and Olympic champion Mack of the US.   

Sprinters also have had a love affair with the hard, speedy Modesto surface.  Jenny Adams was the first to demonstrate what the track could produce, as she fended off Canada’s 2003 World champion Perdita Felicien to win the women’s 100m Hurdles in 12.68, only 0.03 behind this season’s world leading time and 0.05 off her PB from the Edmonton World Championships five years ago. 

Felicien ran 12.80 for second, ahead of the 12.92 of Gigi Johnson. 

Smoots surprise 100m PB too good for Phillips

Jason Smoots surprised even himself with a PB 10.04 in winning the men’s 100m metres over World Long Jump champion Dwight Phillips, who at 10.14 was himself only 0.01 off his PB.  “That excites me,” said Smoots, “especially after the leg problem I got in the relay earlier today.”    

Smoots gave a supreme effort to bring his USA-Blue quartet across the line in the 4x100m in 39.00, as Maurice Greene chased him home but finished second with 39.77 for the USA-White squad.

Former Fresno State sprinter Chris Berrian won the men’s 200 metres in 20.55, just ahead of World Indoor 60 metres champion Leonard Scott at 20.57, the second time in the past three weeks Berrian has defeated Scott in the half-lap race. 

Scott didn’t seem concerned about the outcome, saying that “we’re using the ‘deuce’ as preparation for the 100 this year.” 

Crystal Cox scored an impressive win in the women’s 200 metres with a 22.89 to defeat Angela Daigle and Nicole Ireland, both of whom were timed in 23.40. 

Khadevis Robinson ran the men’s 800 metres the only way he seems to know -from the front all the way.  It resulted in yet another win, this time in 1:46.30, as Sherridan Kirk of Trinidad was next across the line in 1:47.57. 

Pate – 8.26m windy

Miguel Pate’s best effort of the 2006 season in the men’s Long Jump was 8.26m, but it was slightly wind-aided (2.1).  Still, it was enough to win over the two eight-metre efforts (8.00w and 8.01w) of Bashir Ramzy. Grace Upshaw’s opening 6.53 held up as the winner in the women’s event, ahead of the 6.47 of Ukraine’s Viktoriya Rybalko.

Ed Gordon for the IAAF

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