Although I was in Spokane, Washington to compete in the 2008 USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships, my racing and travel schedule had enough down time for a little sightseeing. It was my first time to the area. Before this trip, I didn’t realize that Coeur d’Alene, Idaho was so close. Both cities provided many wonderful photo opportunities…

*** Click here to view photos from Spokane, Washington ***

*** Click here to view photos from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho ***

Heceta Head Lightstation near Florence, Oregon is a popular destination for tourists and photographers. During my time in Eugene, a day trip to Florence on the first rest day of the Olympic Trials gave me an opportunity to capture a few colorful images away from Hayward Field…

*** Click here to view photos from Florence, Oregon and Heceta Head Lightstation ***

Jenn Stuczynski captivated the audience, when she set a new American Record for the women’s pole vault, on the final day of competition in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field.

On the track, Lolo Jones benefited from a strong tailwind, to run the 2nd fastest 100 meter hurdles race recorded under any conditions. In the ‘metric mile,’ Shannon Rowbury won in dominant fashion, while 5,000 meter champion Bernard Lagat repeated his 1,500 - 5,000 meter sweep from last year’s World Championships.

*** Click here to view Day 8 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

The final weekend of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field began under overcast skies, with the opening round of the 100 meter hurdles competition.

Much of the day’s action occurred in the field events, with the women’s shot put and hammer throw taking center stage. Two time NCAA champion Jessica Pressley from Arizona State University placed seventh in the shot put, while teammate Sarah Stevens placed 11th. In the final running event of the afternoon, Anthony Famiglietti set out at meet record pace in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, to make his second U.S. Olympic team.

*** Click here to view Day 7 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

Distance events and the women’s high jump comprised the finals on Day 6 of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field.

Former University of Arizona Wildcat Abdi Abdirahman pushed the pace for nearly the entire 25 laps of the men’s 10,000 meter run. Kara Goucher, already an Olympian at 10,000 meters, claimed her first USA title, with a brilliant stretch run on the final lap of the 5,000 meter run. In the women’s 1,500 meter semifinal, high school junior Jordan Hassay established a new high school record, and earned a spot in Sunday afternoon’s final.

*** Click here to view Day 6 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

Athletes and fans returned from two rest days, as competition resumed on Day 5 of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field.

In the last event of the evening, Anna Willard set a new American Record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Sanya Richards and LaShawn Merritt claimed the 400 meter dash titles.

*** Click here to view Day 5 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

Day 4 of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field was highlighted by thrilling distance running events.

Eugene-based athletes swept the men’s 800 meter run, which electrified the home town crowd.

2005 world champion Bryan Clay established a new Olympic Trials decathlon record, with 8,832 points. Both Trey Hardee (2nd, 8,534 points) and Tom Pappas (3rd, 8,511 points) scored higher than 8,500 points, to round out a strong U.S. contingent in the event.

*** Click here to view Day 4 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

Hot weather and hot 100 meter dash times continued on Day 3 of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field.

In the 100 meter dash final, Tyson Gay ran the fastest 100 meter dash ever recorded. The mark will not count as a world record, because of a higher than allowable tailwind.

Former ASU Sun Devil Trevell Quinley won the long jump on his final attempt, to become the second Sun Devil of the meet to earn a trip to Beijing.

*** Click here to view Day 3 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

Day 2 of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field was sultry, both on the track and off. The announced temperature in Eugene was above 90 degrees, which was perfect for fast times in the women’s and men’s 100 meter dashes.

Tyson Gay rebounded from a disappointing first round race to establish a new American Record for the 100 meter dash.

Former ASU Sun Devil Jacquelyn Johnson placed second in the heptathlon, to join Hyleas Fountain and Diana Pickler in Beijing.

*** Click here to view Day 2 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

The first three Olympians of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field were determined during the women’s 10,000 meter run, which was the final event of Day 1 competition.

American Record holder Shalane Flanagan outkicked 2007 World Championships bronze medalist Kara Goucher for the win, while Amy Yoder Begley ran a spirited race for both third place and against the clock to punch her ticket to Beijing.

*** Click here to view Day 1 photos from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field ***

The Arizona State University women and University of Oregon men successfully defended their PAC-10 track and field titles on Saturday night in Tempe, AZ.

The Sun Devil men’s team came within 1.5 points of the team title, after placing first and second in the 200 meter dash, and first in the triple jump. ASU senior Kyle Alcorn added the 5,000 meter title to his 3,000 steeplechase victory from the night before. The Sun Devil 4×400 meter relay team ended the night with a thrilling victory over Oregon. However, the late surge wasn’t enough to overcome Oregon’s depth in the 5,000 meter run, where the Ducks placed five among the top eight finishers.

The Sun Devil women’s team won their third straight team championship, with solid performances in the field, sprints, and distance events.

*** Click here to view Day 2 photos from the PAC-10 Track and Field Championships ***

The Arizona State University women and University of Oregon men lead the PAC-10 Track and Field Championships presented by 76 Gasoline after Day 1 of competition. The Sun Devils claimed four individual titles during the day.

*** Click here to view Day 1 photos from the PAC-10 Track and Field Championships ***

Desert Vista High School hosted the 2008 Arizona Interscholastic Association 5A Division I & II State Track & Field Championships. During the final night of competition, the host school produced new state records in the boys 4×800 and 4×400 meter relays, as they claimed the boys 5A-I team title. Horizon High School claimed the boys 5A-II team title. In the girls 5A-I competition, Larissa Matthews (Chandler) and Jessica Tonn (Xavier College Prep) led their teams to first and second place on the podium. In the girls 5A-II competition, Phoenix South Mountain defended its team title.

Click here to view photos from the 2008 AIA 5A Division I & II Track & Field Championships

2008 AIA 5A Division I & II T&F meet results

Glendale Community College hosted the 2008 edition of the NJCAA Region I Track and Field Championship. Central Arizona College claimed the men’s and women’s team titles.

Click here to view photos from the 2008 NJCAA Region I Track and Field Championship

Meet Results, Day 3 (Tuesday)

Meet Results, Day 4 (Thursday)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the second largest city in the continental U.S. based on geographical size, and hosts the annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in late April.

Oklahoma City has much to offer beyond the Memorial. I just like the way the light illuminates the entryway in the shot below…

Click here to view photos from Oklahoma City 2008

The Sun Angel Track Classic celebrated its 29th edition with several meet records, and a Paralympic World Record in the men’s high jump.

Lopez Lomong led the charge in a scintillating Men’s Invitational 1500 meter run, where the top 11 finishers ran sub-3:43.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 Sun Angel Track Classic ***

The Carlsbad 5000 is billed as the World’s Fastest 5K. The first race of the day produced an age group record in the Men’s 45-49 division, as Dennis Simonaitis outkicked former record holder Peter Magill.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 Carlsbad 5000 ***

The Arizona State University Track and Field program hosted its second meet of the 2008 outdoor season, the ASU Invitational. The meet produced 17 NCAA regional qualifying marks for the Sun Devils. It was also a homecoming of sorts for several former Arizona high school state champions, including Kristin Phillips, Tara Erdmann, and Natalie Johnson, who were competing for their respective out-of-state schools.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 ASU Invitational ***

One week after sweeping the men’s and women’s team titles at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Arizona State University Track and Field teams hosted the Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe, AZ. Jordan Fife of Team Indiana Elite established a new meet and stadium record in the 3,000 meter run; Renee Metivier Baillie established a new meet record in the women’s 3,000 meter run.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 Baldy Castillo Invitational ***

On February 29 at 2:00 PM, twelve runners, two drivers, and two assistant drivers from Quest Club embarked on a 26 hour journey, taking a circuitous 182 mile route from downtown Wickenburg to Mesa Riverview Park as part of the 2008 Myomed Ragnar Relay Del Sol. The team completed the course in 26:05:57, 55th overall, and 3rd among teams in the Mixed Sub Masters division.

Van #1
Helice Agria
Mary Orr
David Daer
Ann Marie Hubbard
Steve Lindstrom
Julie Egea

Driver: Fred Moore
Assistant Driver: Nikki Simmons

Van #2
Jennifer Jensen
Inge Harper
Susan Williams
Patty Beckman
Theresa Tornquist
Lee Williams

Driver: Steve Tornquist
Assistant Driver: Pat O’Donnell

Volunteers
Kay Martin
Lyle Langlois
Keith Orr

*** Click here to view Quest Club photos from the 2008 Myomed Ragnar Relay Del Sol ***