2016 Outdoor Track Season

[Texas Flash]

Figured it was time to create a post for the 2016 Season. Being an Olympic year hopes will be high and there are some really good white athletes out there across a lot of disciplines to be rooting for, and hopefully many more that we will discover throughout the year.

This is actually my first time to ever post to this site, though I've been following it for probably 9 years or so. My thanks to all those who contribute to it. Its always encouraging to see that there are others out there that realize that the myth of the African's superior athleticism is just that - a myth.

While this might not be the best recommended way to ingratiate myself on this site with my first post I would like at this time to offer a bit of constructive criticism for the whole board. My hope however is that the intent of my message will not fall on deaf ears and, given its eventual positive message to all here, will be well received. I'm also posting this message now so that it may be heard before the season gets to far on down the road and, to what appears to me to be a bad repeating trend, continues once again this year.

Hear is my message in a nut shell: The expectations of white track athletes on this board is abysmal. Absolutely abysmal. The sad part is that most the people posting on this site I know really really want to see the white athletes they cheer for succeed, and yet the bar they set for them, at least in their own minds and what they post on this site, is so low. why is that?? Maybe after being face down in the mud for so long all one can comprehend is the possibility of getting a clean breath of air and the idea of ever walking again on one's own two feet has escaped all memory? i dont know.

I do know that White Lightning puts a lot of effort into this board, is really into track, and is very encouraging, patient and understanding of all the young sprinters that have come up over the years. But, and I'm going to respectfully call you out here a bit WL, every year you get all excited about your favorite 100m sprinters and the prospects of them running a few hundredths of a second faster. WTF??!!!! Not hundredths. Tenths! Tenths are what the expectations need to be. Why is that so incomprehensible or impossible to believe and expect?!

Look at black 100m sprinters. Every year at least several make a big jump from mid 10.1s to 9.9s and 9.9s to 9.8s or faster. Yes some are on drugs, but not all. Big jumps are suppose to occur from teens to 20s or within one's 20s. Yet nobody, and I mean NOBODY, on this board ever expresses their desire to see one of their favorite white 100m sprinters have a 0.1 to 0.2 improvement over the course of just one year. Why? It happens outside of the white race. The expectation for this needs to be there if the situation is ever to change. And as far as drugs are concerned who cares. In this sport some will be on it and some wont. We dont need one athlete breaking the 10 second barrier we need lots of them. And in the aggregate some will be doped and some will not, but if there are lots they will all help to break the perception.

Christophe Lemaitre. If he stays healthy, improves his starts a bit, gets a little stronger, or just gets a smidge more confident then there is no reason why he shouldn't run 9.82 or faster. Period. That should be the expectation. Not hope but expectation. John Teeters. If he had stayed healthy the past two seasons and had had allowable winds at his big meets then he would have already broken 10 seconds on multiple occasions by now. If that's his baseline then this year, and he's added yoga to his routine, he should jump to the 9.8s. Julian Reus, Richard Kilty, Guliyev and Josh Clarke should all go under 10 this year and on multiple occasions. I know some of you will disagree with my 'expectations" for the above runners. That they just dont have that ability in them. Well ask yourself - did you say that about all the 10.1 black sprinters from last year that are now going to run 9.9s and 9.8s this year? What's the difference? And if not the white athletes I mentioned above then why not others that are out there?

I figure a number of people who post on this site coach or instruct athletes. If you hold low expectations on the world's best white athletes i wonder how that rubs off on them?? Or all the people, such as myself previously, who read this site but never post. What's the effect on them? What's the effect on the world??

If you shoot for the moon you might possibly end up outside of the atmosphere, but you probably wont end up on the moon. You sure as **** wont end up in the stars.... Here's a challenge to everyone on this site. Consider it a social experiment: Raise your expectations across the board for all the white athletes you follow and then believe in those expectations. When you post here post from that core belief and understanding. Lets see what happens.

One last thing before I get off my soap box. RCSMAN you take a lot of **** on this site. You of course are entitled to your opinion and I dont really care to challenge your beliefs. But for the love of God please stop professing your opinion all the time and in the same message that Lemaitre will not run faster than 10.00, that if he does run 10.00 that that will be good for him, and that if he does run 10.00 it will not be a regression in any way from his previous self or his potential. Added up all together your sentiments seem very undermining and even trollish. Certainly not supportive.

Cheers to the 2016 Track Season!!!

 

[white lightning]

I agree with some of what you said. Nothing wrong with aiming for the stars but at the end of the day you have to set mini
goals in life first. For any of these guys to go sub 10 is a huge start. Still an incredible milestone. In business just like in sports you have to set realistic goals. That doesn't mean some of these guys can't run in the 9.80's. I and many of us here just want to start with a couple of sub 10's and then aim for much higher goals.

As far as Lemaitre goes, I'm so disgusted by the lack of progress over the last 4 to 5 years. To not put any blame on the coach makes no sense. The coach and Lemaitre also are both to blame. He needs to switch it up but he is an introverted kid that is happy where he is at. Unfortunately he may never run faster again. Is he capable. Of course he is. Will he do it in the current environment. Possibly but it's getting more doubtful by the year. If he would have had Shirvos confidence & swagger he would have been running in the 9,70's to 9.80's for several years now.

I do think this is going to be a huge year for our male & female sprinters. I am excited to see some fireworks on the tracks.

Welcome about brother. Hope to see alot more posts from you!

 

[jacknyc]

The collegiate season is under way.
Devon Allen is the leading 110m hurdler at this stage with a time of 13.40.
He is coming back from injury last year after having won the NCAA and US 110m hurdles champion as a freshman in 2014.
He has also run a 10.36 100m this year.
Interestingly, his high school teammate Robert Grant, has the 3rd leading collegiate time in the 400m hurdles - 49.73.
Both were HS Champions in Arizona. Robert was a year behind Devon.

Another name to add the women's sprinters watch list is Katie Stone of Georgia. She is a sophomore and ran a personal best of 11.44.

 

[jacknyc]

Jenna Prandini and Hannah Cunliffe just finished #1 and #2 at the Mt Sac Relays.
And both of them ran sub-11! 10.95 and 10.99. The 1st and only sub-11 races of the year!
Man, I would have loved to have seen these 2 white girls going 1-2 in this race!

 

[white lightning]

Jenna Prandini and Hannah Cunliffe just finished #1 and #2 at the Mt Sac Relays.
And both of them ran sub-11! 10.95 and 10.99. The 1st and only sub-11 races of the year!
Man, I would have loved to have seen these 2 white girls going 1-2 in this race!

Absolutely Incredible. Such exciting news. The U.S. has two future Olympic Sprinters in the making
and they are both white girls. Who would have ever thought that? Not since the 1950s to 1960s have
we seen such exciting times from our men and women in track. As I've always said, there is nothing
in the world that keeps whites from competing in the sprints. The whites around the globe are proving
this and now the Asians are catching on too. It's a great time to be a track & field fan.

 

[jacknyc]

more news from today . . .

Hannah Cunliffe also finished 2nd in the 200m, in 22.71.
Ella Nelson of Australia was 3rd in 22.72.
Jonathan Cabral, ex-Oregon, won the 110m Hurdles in 13.35. I believe this is a World Leading time.
Jose Carlos Herrera of Mexico was 2nd in the 200m in 20.17.

In another meet, Olympic and World Champion, Greg Rutherford, jumped 8.30 meters, which is something like 27ft and 2-3/4 inches.
And in Oregon, Devon Allen won the hurdles in 13.48 and the 200m in 20.68.

But really the big news is Prandini and Cunliffe running the 2 fastest 100m times of the year, here in the US, and just blowing away the myth of slow white sprinters!
Hopefully we can get video of this great race.

 

[jacknyc]

The Prandini/Cunliffe race is embedded in this recap of the track meet.
You can expand it to full screen for a better view.
http://www.addictedtoquack.com/2016...kend-for-ducks-at-oregon-relays-mt-sac-relays

 

[trackster]

If only Prandini and Cunliffe could have been teammates. Maybe for the Olympics? Even on that little video, it's interesting to see how different their styles are. Prandini is lithe and slender and bounces down the track. Cunliffe ("the body"--her photos in tight dresses will make your jaw drop) is pure power. Cunliffe blasts out into the lead, but can't hold it as the spritely Prandini passes her. With luck, we'll be treated to these two ladies for years.

In other news...

Devon Allen is back. He won 7 events in two days. Story here: http://registerguard.com/rg/sports/34268370-81/sc04-3-headly-hereyyyy.html.csp

Former Duck Laura Roesler crushed a packed field in the 800 at Mt. Sac. She's looking like an Olympic contender coming off her injury year. Unfortunately, she has no chance of winning gold. Neither does any other woman. The IAAF, in its infinite wisdom, has declared that women with testicles can compete with real women. Consequently, Caster Semenya ran one of the most absurd 400/800 doubles in track history the other day. CS could easily triple and win gold in the 400, 800, and 1500 if she has a mind to. She's a man running against women.

 

[jacknyc]

I saw Caster at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
During introductions for the 800m race, her face came up on the stadium's electronic screen, and I said (out loud), 'that's a man!'

 

[jacknyc]

Prandini and Cunliffe would have been teammates at Oregon this year if Prandini hadn't gone pro for her season season.
Plus they also have Mary Beth Sant, although I haven't heard anything from her lately.
Would have been cool to see the 3 of them on the Oregon 4x100m relay team.
I must say, Oregon has done a great job with its white sprinters.

 

[jacknyc]

As of right now, Prandini and Cunliffe have the 2 fastest 100m times in the world.
That's 2 white American girls. I would have never believed it!

1 10.95 +1.7 Jenna PRANDINI 20 NOV 1992

USA
2 10.99 +1.7 Hannah CUNLIFFE 9 JAN 1996

USA

 

[jacknyc]

Additionally, Ella Nelson of Australia has the fastest 200m time in the world.
Laura Roesler, the fastest 800m time, except for the hermaphrodite Caster.
Wenda Nel - South Africa, the fastest 400m Hurdles time.
Brooke Stratton - Australia, the best Long Jump

On the men's side Jonathan Cabral has the fastest time in the world in the 110m Hurdles. (Devon Allen is 4th)
Alberto Alvarez - Mexico, has the longest Triple Jump in the world.
Greg Rutherford has the 2nd best jump in the world in the Long Jump.
Jose Carlos Herrera of Mexico has the 3rd fastest time in the 200m.

 

[jacknyc]

http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/world-leads-for-cabral-and-prandini-at-mt-sac

 

[white lightning]

Does anyone know the health status of Teeters? Hoping to see him race again soon. He needs that sub 10!

 

[Texas Flash]

Teeters does need that sub 10! I dont think he's injured, rather I think they're just being cautious with him with the intention being that he makes it through the whole season and hopefully post NCAA season.

WL - to add a bit of clarity to my last post: Yes I would agree with you that in athletics, as with in all aspects of life, achieving success requires setting realistic and mini goals along the journey. Running a sub 10 for any athlete is a major, major accomplishment. However, as seen for the collective white athlete, it doesnt have the appearance of being a high reaching goal, but rather as an unbreakable barrier. And that's the problem. If you're truly of the opinion that the lack of sprinting success by white athletes is not due to their lack of innate physical prowess then what is it? Collectively speaking its certainly not due to lack of money or opportunity. Greater chances of success in non-sport fields? Sure, to some extent. Or is it that it has simply become a mental barrier?

You mention that you and a few others on here just want to get a few sub 10s and then aim for higher. I understand. I would love to see a few sub 10s as well and that would be progress. But until that actually happens to make those statements is just further reinforcing the perception that it is something not to be really expected. Those that 'Hope' generally fail. Those that have 'Faith' and 'Know' that what they are doing will bring them success generally succeed. If the problem is perception then that's what needs to be changed. That's what needs to be worked on. And I for one believe that starts with changing the perception of what is to be expected from white sprinters collectively. Its starts with how we talk about the sport and white athletes. Its how we talk to our white athletes and how we encourage them. Its the goals and expectations we layout before them. Its about changing the attitude and culture surrounding the white track athlete. And most of all I think its about getting away from a position of 'hope' to one of 'knowing faith'. Then there is no problem - then you simply train, you recover, you perform, you reassess, you train again and again and you get faster and then you have 4 white athletes in the Olympic 100m final.

 

[Texas Flash]

Just a little more:
If the perception wasn't there not only would you have 20 more Lemaitres, Teeters and Reuses but those athletes would never be plagued by second guessing themselves on whether or not they truely belonged. And they would perform better.

 

[white lightning]

We have seen 3 different white female sprinters go sub 11 in the last year alone. The girl from Poland might be next but she is only 18 so I will be patient. The euro women sprinters are competeing with the best in the world.

Now it's time for our men to step up their game. I expect a big summer with sub 10's from some new guys we talk about as well as Lemaitre returning to form.

 

[greyghost]

greetings to all ..greyghost is back ...,teeters is ready to rock ...after last year ...a later stArt........great start by prandini and Cunliffe ...very early in the season though ...so I reckon come June .late June ..that's the time for the u.s athletes ....

 

[greyghost]

Note take doped athletes out of the equation and we definitely would see 4 white athletes in the 100 Olympic final .....usada and usatf are still a bunch of idiots .....interestingly I reckon ...guliyev or lemaitre will medal over 200 ....in rio ...and reus needs to consistently compete outside of Germany to develope confidence against Caribbean and u.s .athletes ....even against British athletes .....lets see how these 3 fare in the euros ....and I reckon kilty is ready to break 10 ....and Gemili to make an Olympic final .....

 

[greyghost]

And I guarantee that John teeters will break 10 ...this guy is a real real threat to any of the other sprinters in the us ....in fact I feel he will make a relay team at the very least ........note it was very refreshing to see geisting and feeney in the 4 by 400 wic ....

 

[greyghost]

Also have to say that Zach bilderback is a superb athlete who I think has an exceptionally bright future .....the next " Wariner " .....when the original hangs his spikes up ......

 

[jacknyc]

Bilderback had a great indoor season. I'm hoping he can take it to the next level in the outdoor season.
He's a senior now, so if he's going to 'make it', this will probably be his last chance.
Otherwise, like many white collegiate athletes, he'll probably opt for a more traditional career after graduation.
As for being the next Wariner.....Jeremy already had a Olympic gold medal at this same point in his career.

 

[white lightning]

Bilderback is good but no where near Wariners level yet. Don't know if he can ever get to that level. It's possible but your talking about one of the greatest 400 meter runners ever.

 

[jacknyc]

Here's Bilderback, John Teeters, and Sam Watts of GB competing at the Big 12 Indoor Championships this year. Go to 8:48 in this recap to see the race.

 

[greyghost]

Absolutely right white lightning ....maybe I should qualify my comment as ....hoping that bilderback can reach " near" the same heights as Wariner .......your right though ....more I think about it the more amazing wariners career looks ...and he is still not finished .........also recently outside of maslak no top end central / Eastern European sprinters .....all gone playing pro soccer ? .....although the pole olzewski is talented ,,needs a little more time .....