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USATF Championships - Recap of Final Day

posted by AnnGaff, a Women Talk Sports blogger
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 10:01pm PDT

About AnnGaff:

Chief Technical Officer, Women Talk Sports. I competed in Track & Field and Cross-Country in college at the University of Nebraska and competed professionally in Track & Field (3000m Steeplechase) fr...more

EDITOR'S NOTE: AnnGaff and LesleyHiggins are writing these previews for the USA Track & Field Championships, taking place this weekend in Eugene, OR, based on their firsthand Track & Field experience. Gaffigan and Higgins competed against each other in college, with Gaffigan representing the Nebraska Huskers and Higgins representing the Colorado Buffs. Both women competed last year in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Olympic Trials. This year, the two are spectators-from-afar of the USATF Championships/World Team Trials; Higgins is out with a broken foot and Gaffigan gave birth to a baby girl in May.

The first thing I want to do is congratulate our own Brianna Glenn, who had a career day in the long jump, placing 2nd and qualifying for the US Team for the World Championships in Berlin in August!! Below is an interview Flotrack did with Brianna after her competition:

Full Long Jump Results (Brittney Reese wins)

In the pole vault, Jenn Stuczynski performed as expected, winning with a jump of 4.65m (15'3"). Chelsea Johnson took 2nd and the success story of the event was Stacy Dragila, pole vault pioneer, gold medalist and former World record holder, who placed 3rd to take the final spot on the US Team. Dragila has announced that this will be her final season, and it is great to see her go out having a great season.

Full Pole Vault Results

In the heptathlon, heavy favorite Hyleas Fountain injured herself an was unable to finish the competition. In her absence, Diana Pickler inherited the lead and kept it through the final of the seven events. Sharon Day took the second team spot and will now represent the USA in the high jump AND the heptathlon. Bettie Wade of Michigan was an upset for the third spot on the World Championship team.

Full Heptathlon Results

The much-anticipated dual between Anna Willard and Jenny Barringer was anti-climactic as Barringer led from the gun and increased her all the way to the finish line. Willard took second while the surprise and story of the race came from Penn State's Bridget Franek who finished 3rd and hit the World "A" Standard, securing her spot on the US Team. Franek was only ranked 8th coming into the race but threw a strike on game day and made her first international team.

Full 3000m Steeplechase Results

In the 800m, co-favorite Maggie Vessey was at least 10m behind the rest of the field with a lap to go and spend the final 50m trying to make her way up to the front. She was nearly successful but left too little space to make up too much time. She may have underestimated the talented field. Three-time Olympian Hazel Clark took the win after leading most of the race, with Geena Gall and Clark's training partner Phoebe Wright in second and third. Gall and Wright still need to hit the "A" standard, while Clark already has that out of the way.

In the 100m hurdles, absent of Lolo Jones who hit a hurdle in the semi-final and did not finish, Beijing gold medalist Dawn Harper showed why she is an Olympic champion, skimming every hurdle with precision and powering to a 12.36 and the win. Multiple NCAA Champ Ginnie Powell showed us she's back to her old self, placing a surprise 2nd. Damu Cherry took the 3rd team spot, although the 100m hurdle team for the US will have four members, the fourth being Michelle Perry who gets a bye to the World Champs as the defending champion from 2007.

Harper not only won the hurdles but also the VISA Championship Series and $25,000:

Allyson Felix dominated the 200m, looking focused and composed as always from start to finish. Despite a bad start (according to Ato Bolden the commentator; I actually have no idea what a bad start looks like!), she kept her form and finished strong down the homestretch, winning in 22.02. Rounding out the World 200m team are Muna Lee and Marshevet Hooker.

Congrats to all the athletes at the USATF Championships this weekend!

USATF Championships Schedule, Results & Quotes

USATF Championships Day 1 Recap

USATF Championships Day 2 Recap

USATF Championships Day 3 Recap

USATF Championships Day 4 Recap

More USATF Championships Previews:

Watch the USATF Championships:

On TV:

ESPN, June 26, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET
ESPN, June 27, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. ET
NBC, June 28, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET

Online:

LIVE All Weekend at Flotrack.org

View AnnGaff's Profile

Filed Under:
Track & Field, Sports, Media, Videos

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