The track Trials, perhaps the greatest run in sports: every day across 10 days, the dream

The track Trials, perhaps the greatest run in sports: every day across 10 days, the dream

EUGENE, Oregon – The 2024 U.S. track and field Trials came to a close Sunday with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone winning the women’s 400-meter hurdles, and in world record time, 50.65 seconds. “Honestly… when I crossed the line,” she said, “I was, like, oh, snap.”

Sydney is a generational talent. She is so ridiculously good, almost two full seconds ahead of runner-up Anna Cockrell, in 52.64, she might well do in Paris in the 400 hurdles what most world-class female racers can only dream of in the open 400 – run in 49 seconds. Sydney is so good she has run the fastest time in the world this year in the open 400, 48.75 seconds. But she’s not going to run that in Paris. Only the 400 hurdles.

Sydney is so good that her 400 hurdles now is like a men’s 400 hurdles featuring Edwin Moses in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Edwin won 122 in a row. Sydney doesn’t race that often. Not hardly. Still, the point is the same. With respect to Holland’s Femke Bol, until proven otherwise, it’s not who’s going to win. It’s how much by.

Don't laugh: no American in Olympic race walk for first time since 1904. This is a … problem

Don't laugh: no American in Olympic race walk for first time since 1904. This is a … problem

EUGENE, Oregon – As part of the official schedule of the 2024 Trials, USATF, the United States track and field federation, dutifully staged 20-kilometer race walks for both men and women Saturday morning, and three men and three women finished 1-2-3 in each race and none stands much of a chance to go to Paris for the Olympics, and what are we doing here?

The third-place finisher on the women’s side Saturday is 58 years old, Michelle Rohl, mother of five, grandmother of one. She competed in the Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Allen James, who competed in the Games in 1992 and 1996, finished 14th Saturday in the men’s race. He is 60.

The Trials are brutal, the ultimate American exemplar of meritocracy. Keep it that way

The Trials are brutal, the ultimate American exemplar of meritocracy. Keep it that way

EUGENE, Oregon – Track and field is not football, the American kind. But it happens on the track that falls happen. That is, in racing, people fall down. Sometimes at critical moments. Sucks.

The thing is, just as in football, as the timeworn saying goes, it’s not that you fall – it’s how you get back up.

Football coaches will tell you, endlessly, it’s a matter of character.

Which brings us, amid the U.S. Trials for the 2024 Paris Games, to Athing Mu, who fell earlier this week in the women’s 800 meters, and is not going to get the chance to defend the gold medal she won in the event in Tokyo three years ago.

Like pilgrims, they make their way to Pre's Rock, seeking -- what? And why?

Like pilgrims, they make their way to Pre's Rock, seeking -- what? And why?

EUGENE, Oregon – To get to the shrine that is Pre’s Rock, about a mile east of Hayward Field, you must go – drive, sure, but on foot is best, really – up.

The spot where Steve Prefontaine died, 50 years ago next year, is up a steep and winding hill. Do you believe in certain theologies? Up?

On the occasion of a major track meet, like this week’s U.S. Trials, pilgrims wind their way up to the Rock. As they did Thursday. Scott Davis, 53, of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a pastor, referring to Prefontaine: “He’s an inspirational figure. Never quitting.” Michelle Bright, 51, of Bryan, Texas, and Katherine Denena, also 51, of College Station, Texas, Bright saying of Pre, “I’ve always known the name.”

What is it about Steve Prefontaine, dead since late May 1975?

Ready-made focus group: any of you plan to watch Olympics on TV? Absolutely not

Ready-made focus group: any of you plan to watch Olympics on TV? Absolutely not

Michael Phelps will be back to call swimming at the Paris Games, NBC announced Friday, in maybe the least-unexpected pre-Paris Games news ever, and good for Michael.

Disclosure: 16 years ago, after his eight-for-eight at the Beijing Games, I worked with Michael on writing his best-selling book, No Limits. Here is to nothing but success and, more importantly, joy and sweetness for Michael, Nicole and their four boys.

In Tokyo three years ago, I had a perch in the row behind Michael, Dan Hicks, Rowdy Gaines and Elisabeth Beisel, and – department of the obvious – Michael 1/ is a star, 2/ knows swimming and 3/ isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. That’s a recipe for good TV.

Now, to the matter of the moment: is Michael going to draw 18-to-34-year-olds?

How to understand the Chinese swim drama in light of the Erriyon Knighton 'no fault' case

How to understand the Chinese swim drama in light of the Erriyon Knighton 'no fault' case

Erriyon Knighton, second in the men’s 200 meters at last year’s Budapest world championships, had not run since March 30. Odd for an Olympic year. On Wednesday, it was made clear why: he had been provisionally suspended April 12 after testing positive for the steroid trenbolone.

Cattle ranchers use the stuff to make animals bigger, and on Wednesday an arbitrator cleared Knighton of doping, ruling he had ingested contaminated meat. Knighton is now free to run in the 200 at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, the heats beginning next Thursday.

 At first blush, it is tempting to lump Knighton in with a bunch of other American track and field athletes who also got off, and, if you were the Chinese authorities, or for that matter, following the situation from anywhere, looking at what’s what in the United States and saying, WTF – is there one set of rules for 🇺🇸 and another set of rules for everyone else?

Holy hell, but Thomas Bach is really out to get Seb Coe

Holy hell, but Thomas Bach is really out to get Seb Coe

Holy hell, but Thomas Bach really is out to get Seb Coe.

Anywhere and everywhere you go in Olympic circles these days, it’s the talk, and what transpired Friday – calling 911, Bach all but sticking a figurative knife into Coe in broad daylight, anointing Hugh Robertson, head of the British Olympic Association, an individual IOC member – was just the latest as the wheel of IOC presidential succession politics turns.

For months, Bach has sought to downplay the what-comes-next phase for International Olympic Committee leadership. His term, in theory, ends in June 2025. An election is purportedly set for sometime next year. If there is an election.

When four years for an anti-doping rule violation is correct but not -- right

When four years for an anti-doping rule violation is correct but not -- right

U.S. swimmer Kensey McMahon just got four years for an anti-doping rule violation, and it’s not right.

To be clear, under the rules, the four-year ban she got is – correct.

But there can be a difference between correct, and right, and this is one of those times, and perhaps the case of Kensey McMahon can, maybe sooner than later, effect a course correction in the anti-doping rules because this matter underscores the disconnect between the rules as they’re supposed to be and the way they work, when applied, as written, with no wiggle room, in real life.

Her friends say, oh, ‘Legally Blonde’ passed the Bar! It’s British steeplechaser Lizzie Bird

Her friends say, oh, ‘Legally Blonde’ passed the Bar! It’s British steeplechaser Lizzie Bird

ROME – Which is better, running in the Olympics for the British team, or passing the Colorado Bar Exam?

Running in the Olympics for the first time – or the second?

Running in the Olympics with no fans – or having your family there to cheer for you?

All in all, it’s very interesting being 29-year-old Lizzie Bird, who late Sunday night here at the European track and field championships all but assured herself of a second Games when, by a margin of roughly four-plus seconds after 3000 meters – about 1.86 miles – she finished third in the steeplechase, in 9 minutes, 18.39 seconds.

Damn straight this Israeli team raced for the hostages: 'we are here, we are strong'

Damn straight this Israeli team raced for the hostages: 'we are here, we are strong'

ROME – All of the useful idiots who maintain Israelis are colonial oppressors would do well to take a look at the happy impromptu team pictures after the men’s half-marathon here Sunday at the European track and field championships.

The Israelis sent six runners. All six are Ethiopian Jews. Translation: they are black. Complete translation: they are fully, completely, thoroughly Israeli. Three finished in the top 10, led by Budapest 2023 world championship marathon silver medalist Maru Teferi, who on Sunday finished fourth.

That earned Israel the team silver medal in the men’s half. And to the obvious question: yes, the four hostages freed Saturday in Gaza were on their minds and, yes, damn straight they were racing for them.