t-and-f: RELEASE: Great American XC Festival Collegiate Preview
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Great American Cross Country Festival Collegiate Preview Collegiate Events -- Friday, September 27 High School Events -- Saturday, September 28 Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte, NC Website: http://greatamericansports.com/ Great American Features Rematch of 2001 Top Three NCAA Women's Squads (Charlotte, NC) -- Although the Great American Cross Country Festival is best known as the nation's premier high school in-season invitational, this year's edition has become the place to race for top-rated collegiate squads. Founded in 1999, the Great American Cross Country Festival quickly gained the reputation as the gathering place for America's top prep squads. This fall Great American is expected to feature the top high school squads from 40 states, as well as teams from Great Britain, Canada, and Mexico. Great American added collegiate sections for the first time in 2000. Thirty-one women's teams and twenty-nine men's teams participated in last fall's edition -- including the eventual top-2 women's teams at the NCAA championships. This year, the collegiate section has expanded to fill six races -- with 52 women's and 46 men's squads currently entered. The men's and women's university seeded races feature many of the top collegiate teams in the country, with 9 of the top 30 women's squads and 7 of the top 30 men's squads in the current edition of the D-1 coaches' polls. On the women's side, the field features a rematch of the top 3 teams from last year's NCAA championships -- Brigham Young University (#1 in the coaches' poll), North Carolina State (#6), and Georgetown (#2) -- contested just down Interstate-29 at Furman University in Greenville, SC. Last year at Furman, BYU's Cougars simply dominated the NCAA finals -- winning by the largest margin in NCAA history. Returning 5 members of the 7 that raced at the NCAA meet, BYU is heavily favored to repeat as NCAA Champions. NCAA fifth-place finisher Michaela Manova, winner of the NCAA steeple title last spring, and seventh-place finisher Jessie Kindschi are expected to lead the Cougars. Lindsey Thompsen (23rd). Nan Kennard (36th), and Amy Bair (45th) also return from their '01 championship squad. Any number of athletes -- including Kassi Anderson, Devra Vierkant, Breanne Sandberg, and Kristen Ogden -- could join this exceptional quintet as part of BYU's seven. North Carolina State and Georgetown, last year's 2nd and 3rd place teams respectively, aren't planning to just give away the first-place trophy to the Cougars without a fight. NC State's Wolfpack downed BYU at last year's Great American Festival before claiming runner-up honors at the NCAA championships. The Wolfpack returns NCAA 10,000 champ Kristen Price, 4th at last fall's harrier championships, and Megan Coombs, 13th at NCAAs, as well as Josi Lauber (173rd) from last fall's NCAA squad, and gain standout frosh Julia Lucas and Villanova transfer Renee Gunning (103rd). The Georgetown Hoyas return all seven runners from the group that placed 3rd at Furman. Jill Laurendeau, and Erin Sicher will lead Georgetown, with US Junior national team member Nicole Lee, Jodee Adams-Moore, and Colleen Kelly also returning. Three more squads that have the talent to challenge the top teams are North Carolina (#35), Arkansas (#7), and Duke (#8). UNC finished 8th last year in Furman and features standout athletes Shalane Flanagan, Carol Henry, and Erin Donohue. Arkansas finished 17th in Furman and returns Christin Wurth, Andriena Byrd, and Londa Bevins, as well 1999 NCAA bronze medallist Lilli Kleinmann. Duke returns 2000 7th-place finisher Sheila Agrawal from redshirt, plus hit paydirt in the recruiting wars with newcomers Caroline Bierbaum, Clara Horowitz, Shannon Rowbury, Sally Meyerhoff, and Laura Stanley among last year's top preps. Northern Arizona (#11) finished 12th at the 2001 NCAAs and returns NCAA steeple runner-up Ida Nilsson, while #26 Virginia finished 9th and #17 Colorado State 20th. Georgia Tech (#36) claimed 26th last fall behind Renee Metivier's surprising NCAA runner-up performance. William Mary (#15) failed to qualify for the 2001 NCAA champs, but is running quite well this fall. The men's collegiate competition features three top-10 rated teams: Northern Arizona (#5), North Carolina State (#7), and Georgetown (#8). The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks finished 4th at last fall's NCAA championships. All-Americans Travis Laird, 10th at last year's NCAA meet, and Henrik Ahnstrom, 25th last year, return to lead the Lumberjacks. Joining them are Tyler Williams (126th) and Seth Watkins (145th), as well as newcomer Nurani Sheikh, 4th at last year's Foot Locker Championships. North Carolina State's Wolfpack finished 9th in Furman and returns Chad Pearson (31st), Devin Swann (95th), David Christian (100th), Andy Smith (147th), and two-time Foot Locker finalist Ricky Brookshire. The Georgetown Hoyas
t-and-f: Constitutional rights and Title IX
Netters: The point has been raised that there is no constituional right to participate in any school activity, including athletics. Well, there is in NJ as enunciated in that Harris case I have previously outlined. The argument against a constituional right is often used by state associations when they try to trample on the rights of student athletes, but it is a false one. Of course, no one has a :right to be on the field when a football game begins or a gun sounds. That privilege is earned by hard work and talent. But there is a right to try out for the team (or a play, or a band) and that is what is being denied. Several court decisions in recent years have backed my argument. In a transfer case involving a foreign student, a Pennsylvania judge told the PIAA that, if it could prove the school had recruited the boy (it hadn't), he might go along with their ineligibility ruling; otherwise, forget it. In a northweestern state, a judge said that the right to partcipate in athletes must be the same as to particopate in any other extra-curricular activity. (If you really want to raise a storm, try to keep a boy of girl musician from trying out for the school band!) Ed Grant .
Re: t-and-f: Constitutional rights and Title IX
While I hate to see this topic raised on the list (it brings up long and only tangentially related subjects to elite track), here's my take on Ed's position. Yes, it is lamentable that administrator's use Title IX as an excuse to cut programs. However, every potential division I athlete does get a tryout. It's four years long. It's called high school. Could they develop? Yes. So could some people who actually get cut in college. There are over 300 Division I schools and probably another 1000 JUCO/NAIA/DivII/DivIII etc schools. If you want to compete, go to a school that wants you. Yes, you've got a right to try out. You don't have a right to try out for whatever team you want. You have to earn that. Jorma - Original Message - Netters: The point has been raised that there is no constituional right to participate in any school activity, including athletics. Well, there is in NJ as enunciated in that Harris case I have previously outlined. The argument against a constituional right is often used by state associations when they try to trample on the rights of student athletes, but it is a false one. Of course, no one has a :right to be on the field when a football game begins or a gun sounds. That privilege is earned by hard work and talent. But there is a right to try out for the team (or a play, or a band) and that is what is being denied. Several court decisions in recent years have backed my argument. In a transfer case involving a foreign student, a Pennsylvania judge told the PIAA that, if it could prove the school had recruited the boy (it hadn't), he might go along with their ineligibility ruling; otherwise, forget it. In a northweestern state, a judge said that the right to partcipate in athletes must be the same as to particopate in any other extra-curricular activity. (If you really want to raise a storm, try to keep a boy of girl musician from trying out for the school band!) Ed Grant .
t-and-f: USATF Release: Jones named Athlete of the Week
Contact:Tom Surber Media Information Manager USA Track Field (317) 261-0500 x317 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.usatf.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 24, 2002 Jones named Athlete of the Week INDIANAPOLIS Five-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones has been named USA Track Fields Athlete of the Week after completing an undefeated season with her 100-meter win Friday at the 2002 IAAF World Cup in Madrid, Spain. A 20-minute downpour before Jones stepped into the blocks left her lane (lane one) with slushy footing and standing water. After three false starts (including one by her) Jones won the race in 10.90 seconds to finish 2002 with her first unbeaten season ever. (She lost long jump competitions in 1998-2000 and lost the 100m World Championship in 2001). Tayna Lawrence of the Americas was second to Jones in 11.06 seconds. Jones ends the 2002 campaign tied for the second-fastest womens 100m time in the world this season (10.84) and she owns seven of the eight fastest times in the world this year. Her 22.11 at 200-meters is the worlds best this season and her 400m win (50.46) at Mt. SAC in April made her the third-fastest American at that distance in 2002. Only Jearl Miles-Clark and Michelle Collins were faster. This marks the second time this season that Jones has been named USATFs Athlete of the Week. She also earned the designation August 27 after defeating reigning world 100m champion Zhanna Pintusevich Block at the Norwich Union Grand Prix on August 23 in London, England. Jones ran away with the race in 10.97 seconds. Pintusevich-Block was a distant second in 11.11. Other U.S. winners at the World Cup in Madrid included Gail Devers, who ended one of her finest seasons in leading the womens 100m hurdles from start to finish and breaking the tape in 12.65 seconds. On the mens side, Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson won the shot put with a throw of 20.80 meters/68 feet, 3 inches, James Carter won the 400m hurdles in 48.27 seconds and 2001 World Championships silver medalist Savante Stringfellow, defeated world and Olympic champion Ivan Pedroso of the Americas with a leap of 8.21m/26-11.75. Team USAs mens 4x100m relay squad of Jon Drummond, Jason Smoots, Kaaron Conwright and Coby Miller ran a World Cup record of 37.95 seconds to easily beat the Americas, who finished second in 38.32. By finishing as the runner-up in the team competition, Team USAs men had their best finish since they won the World Cup in 1989. 2002 USA decathlon champion Tom Pappas also turned in an outstanding performance this past weekend by defeating Czechoslovakias world record holder Roman Sebrle to win the 2002 DecaStar in Talence, France. Pappas grabbed the lead on the first day of competition by winning the high jump with a clearance of 2.12 meters/6 feet-11.5 inches. He held the lead the rest of the way in totaling 8,525 points for the victory. Sebrle was the runner-up with 8,417 points. Also at Talence, 2002 U.S. champion and 2001 World Championships bronze medalist Shelia Burrell finished third in the heptathlon with 6,085 points. Now in its second year, USATFs Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF Web site. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2002 USATF Athlete of the Week winners: January 3, Jim Garcia; January 8, Mary Louise Michelsohn; January 15, Tamara Diles; January 22, Miguel Pate; January 29, Regina Jacobs; February 5, Jeff Hartwig; February 12, Meb Keflezighi; February 19, Curt Clausen; February 26, Jeff Hartwig; March 5, Nicole Teter; March 12, Jeff Hartwig; March 19, Aretha Hill; March 26, Deena Drossin; April 2, Kim Fitchen; April 9, Deena Drossin; April 16, Khalid Khannouchi; April 23, Kenta Bell; April 30, Suzy Powell; May 7, Deena Drossin; May 14, Savante Stringfellow; May 21, Adam Nelson; May 28, Kevin Toth; June 4, Lashinda Demus; June 11, Anna Norgren Mahon; June 18, Molly Huddle; June 25, Sanya Richards; July 2, Savante Stringfellow; July 9, Nicole Teter; July 16, Maurice Greene; July 23, Lashinda Demus; July 30, Kerron Clement; August 6, Nate McDowell; August 13, Phil Raschker; August 20, James Carter; August 27, Marion Jones; September 3, Colleen De Reuck; September 10, Suzy Favor Hamilton; September 17, Tim Montgomery; September 24, Marion Jones. BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING SEPT. 22 (Note - all marks except decathlon/heptathlon are from the World Cup in Madrid, ESP on 9/20-21) MEN 100 - 10.10 Jon Drummond 200 - 20.32 Ramon Clay 400 - 45.46 Alvin Harrison 800 - 1:45.14 David Krummenacker 1500 - 4:05.82 Seneca Lassiter 3000 - 8:10.66 Bolota Asmerom 5000 - 13:33.44 Meb Keflezighi 3000SC - 8:32.72 Anthony Famiglietti 110H - 13.45 Allen Johnson 400H - 48.27 James Carter HJ - 2.10/6-10.75 Nathan Leeper PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Jeff
t-and-f: IAAF Officials Visit ATHOC
Release courtesy ATHOC media relations. Paul Merca Athens, September 24, 2002 DELEGATION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC FEDERATIONS VISITS ATHOC A delegation of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) today completed a two-day visit to the ATHOC headquarters. The delegation was comprised of Istvan Gyulai, the IAAF's General Secretary, Technical Executives Bill Bailey, Cezar Moreno Bravo, Jean Poczobut, Events Manager Sandro Giovannelli, and Planning Manager Rosie Pili. The IAAF officials were briefed in detail on the progress in preparations for the Olympic Athletics competition. The briefings were provided by ATHOC Executive Director Spyros Capralos, General Manager for Sports Makis Asimakopoulos, Competition Manager Yannis Gounaris, Sports Planning Manager Eleni Michopoulou, Sports Services Manager Anita Spring, Sports Sector Manager Evangelos Papapostolou and by other ATHENS 2004 officials. They were briefed on issues of hospitality, the competition programme, ticketing, transport, sports equipment, accreditation, television broadcasting, training sites, and doping. They also discussed the issue of planning the Marathon race course, which involved all its related subjects such as, the time of the race's commencement, transport, etc. The officials visited yesterday the Olympic Village and various hotels scheduled to host the IAAFís Games-time delegation. Mr. Istvan Gyulai expressed his satisfaction over the cooperation with the executives of the Organising Committee. It was one of our regular meetings, as always held within the framework of our constructive cooperation with the Organising Committee. We are very satisfied with the briefing and progress achieved in all sectors. Our cooperation does not stop here, but continues and will be completed when the Games end, said the Mr Gyulai. He added: We are very pleased with what we saw during our visit to the Olympic Village, but also with its convenient distance from the Olympic Stadium, which is no more than 15 to 20 minutes being very important for the athletes. # # #
