Prefontaine Classic serves up some upsets, some world leaders and some drama

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The 2011 Prefontaine Classic was an exciting one on many levels, from the Friday Distance Night being added to a few big upsets to some blazing performances. I had a great time watching the Distance Night live on RunnerSpace.com and chatting about the meet with all the distance geeks on Twitter. Then on Saturday I participated in a live webchat during the NBC broadcast. That was a good time, and we hope to do it again for the World Championships. You can check out a "replay" of the webchat at SpikedUpPsychedUp.com, and thanks to Kevin Liao of Spiked Up Psyched Up for organizing the panel.

Some of the most notable performances, in my humble opinion were:

Lashinda Demus running a world-leading 53.31 to win the 400m hurdles. This race was not televised nor is there a video anywhere, which is disappointing, because this is an exciting race and Demus is a US star and fantastic role model. She has twin boys but still manages to dominate the world in her event. Give her a shout on Twitter (@LashindaDemus) and tell her how awesome she is, since she missed some deserved love this weekend. 

Carmelita Jeter (USA) storming to 10.70, the fastest time of 2011, making her the favorite for the World Championships in Daegu later this season. Also of note in the stacked women's 100m was Women Talk Sports member Marshevet Myers, who blazed a personal-best 10.86 for 2nd place:

The Women's 5000m: all of it. If you were up watching the meet on RunnerSpace.com Friday night, you were as mad as I was that we were forced to stare at empty bleachers while the women's 5K was being run on the track in front of those stands. NBC owned the rights and wouldn't allow RunnerSpace to broadcast this race. I don't know why, since they didn't mention the race or show one lap of it during the broadcast the next day. What a waste! If several thousand people will sign on to watch the 75-lap 30K world record attempt, we want to see the women's 5K. In full. And guess what, we'll watch the highlights as well the next day if you include them. Listen to the fans!

Now that I've ranted, let's give some props to the athletes. 2009 5K World Champ Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya ran another fantastic time of 14:33.96, just a couple seconds of her 2011 world leader, in conditions that included some wind and a high pollen count. She was closely followed by countrywomen Linet Masai (2009 10K World Champ) and 20-year-old Mercy Cherono (Junior World Cross-Country Champ). Also impressive was Sally Kipyego, a Kenyan athlete who competed for Texas Tech and now trains with the Oregon Track Club, who ran a PR 14:39.71, showing she should not be ruled out of medal contention at Daegu. American Shalane Flanagan ran a very solid 14:49.68, just under 5 seconds of the American Record (14:44.76, held by Molly Huddle).

Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair ran a perfect race tactically to take the win in the 800m in 1:58.30. In the process, she beat 2009 World Champion Caster Semenya (South Africa), 2007 World Champion Janeth Jepkosgei (Kenya) and a slew of Americans in top form (6 women in the race, including Americans Alysia (Johnson) Montano and Geena Gall, dipped under the 2:00 barrier).

Botswana's Amantle Montsho surprised everyone by upsetting race favorite Allyson Felix in the 400m. Montsho had been on Felix's heals in the previous two Diamond Leagues (Doha and Rome), and Felix may have been a bit shaken by the fact that she was almost disqualified for a false start. Felix flinched before the gun, but the officials decided to let her run even though the recently-instated rule states that once you false-start, you are automatically disqualified. NBC/Universal Sports commentator Ato Boldon has been outspoken from the beginning about his opposition to this rule and pulled no punches reiterating his position on Twitter after this incident in the women's 400m.

Thanks to UniversalSports.com for loading these race videos onto their YouTube Channel for use!

I wish I could talk more about the field events.....but they didn't show them or talk about them on the broadcast! I know it isn't easy to show everything at a track & field meet. It is a complicated sport. But there are people who get it done very well, and in America we should be mimicking those who have figured out how to do it right!

Most of the U.S. athletes will now take a break to rest and prepare for the 2011 USA Track & Field Championships, which take place June 23-36 in Eugene, Oregon. I will be there to catch the action, so follow me on Twitter (@anngaff) and check the site during those days for our coverage. 

In the meantime, check out our latest Radio Show episode, where professional runner Lauren Fleshman and former runner and recovered anorexic Lize Britton discuss eating disorders in female athletes. 

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