The April 2010 edition of Japan’s top track and field magazine, Gekkan Rikujyo Kyogi, published three of our photos from the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Thanks guys!

2009 World Outdoor men’s shot put champion Christian Cantwell and 2008 Olympian and former New Mexico resident Amber Campbell won their respective events at the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM. Their marks were also good enough for both to win the respective men’s and women’s 2010 Indoor Visa Championship Series titles, which were awarded at the conclusion of Day 2 of the competition.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships – Day 2 (Sunday) ***

On the track, Nick Symmonds won the second USA Indoor title of his career, by finishing first in the men’s 800 meters.

For the second day in a row, Shannon Rowbury was involved in a come-from-behind photo finish, this time, in the women’s 1,500 meters. Morgan Uceny surged to the lead in the middle of the race, and held on for a 0.02 second victory.

Soon after the starter’s pistol fired in the women’s 3,000 meter run, the final event on Day 1 of the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM, Renee Metivier Baillie opened up a sizable lead. Despite the spirited attempt by Shannon Rowbury and Sara Hall to close the gap on the final lap, Metivier Baillie held on for a narrow win over the hard charging Hall, with Rowbury in third place.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships – Day 1 (Saturday) ***

In a close men’s 3,000 meter final, Bernard Lagat, the recently crowned American Record holder for 5,000 meters indoors sprinted away from Galen Rupp and Chris Solinsky in the final laps to claim the title.

The Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational features the top-20 ranked boys and girls Arizona high school cross country teams, regardless of class level, as well as the top seven individuals from non-invited teams. Due to construction at the traditional Kiwanis Park location, the Conley meet returned to its original location, the Rolling Hills Golf Course in Tempe.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational ***

2009 Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational results

Sarah Schmidt from Mesa Mountain View High School led a 1-2 sweep of the Girls Varsity podium positions. Pinnacle High School won the team competition.

Steve Magnuson from Ironwood Ridge won the Boys Varsity race. Mesa Mountain View won the team competition.

After processing hundreds of track and field images from the USA Outdoor Championships, I looked forward to experimenting with different photographic techniques while shooting the Independence Day celebration at Tempe Town Lake.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 4th of July celebration at Tempe Town Lake ***

The Mill Avenue Bridge and Tempe Town Lake provide a colorful backdrop for Tempe’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

The city lights reflecting off Tempe Town Lake…

Light trail from the light rail…

The 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships for athletes 14 – 19 years old, took place in Eugene concurrent with the USA Outdoor Track and Field championships for open athletes. The meet served as the selection meet for the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, which will be held at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on July 31 – August 2. The top two finishers in each event qualified to compete in the Pan American Championships.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Days 2 and 3 (Friday – Saturday) ***

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 4 (Sunday) ***

Curtis Beach literally ran away with the decathlon, finishing with 7,599 points. It was the best score ever by an American using the junior implements. Beach ended the two-day 10-event competition with a world junior decathlon best 4:07.85 in the 1,500 meters.

2008 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year Jordan Hasay won her third-consecutive junior women’s 1,500m title over 2009 NCAA finalist Morgane Gay of Virginia.

On the final day of competition at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 2008 Olympian Nick Symmonds continued his dominance of the 800 meters at Hayward Field. For his efforts, Symmonds was named the Visa Athlete of the Meet.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 4 (Sunday) ***

Dawn Harper, the 2008 Olympic Gold medalist in the 100 meter hurdles, won her first national championship in 12.36 seconds (wind aided), the fourth-fastest time ever by an American under any conditions.

Day 3 of the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships featured a full schedule of compelling finals. LaShawn Merritt claimed the national title at 400 meters and remained undefeated in 2009.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 3 (Saturday) ***

2004 Olympian and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Lashinda Demus won the 400 meter hurdles in 53.78, the fastest in the world this year and a new Hayward Field record.

Former Arizona State University Sun Devils Dwight Phillips and Kyle Alcorn earned spots on Team USA for the 2009 World Championships by placing on the podium in their respective events. Phillips, the 2004 Olympic champion in the long jump, claimed his fourth outdoor national title. Alcorn, the 2008 NCAA steeplechase champion, earned his first berth to the world championships, after placing 3rd in the 3,000 meter steeplechase final. Former Sun Devils Ryan Warrenburg and Aaron Aguayo also competed in Saturday’s steeplechase final.

2008 Olympic Trials champion and Olympic Games finalist Shannon Rowbury took the lead in the final 100 meters to claim her second 1,500 meter title at Hayward Field.

Carmelita Jeter, the 2007 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist, was declared the winner of the Visa Women’s 100 meters by one-1,000th of a second in a photo finish with 2008 Olympic Trials champion Muna Lee, on Day 2 of the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 2 (Friday) ***

The men’s 100 meters was also a close duel. 2009 USA Indoor 60m champion and two-time NAIA outdoor sprint champion Michael Rodgers held off Beijing Olympic finalist Darvis “Doc” Patton by one-100th of a second, in a wind-aided 9.91 seconds.

2007 World Outdoor Championships fourth-place finisher and 2008 Olympic Games finalist Matt Tegenkamp won his first USA Outdoor title and led an Oregon Track Club sweep of the men’s 5,000 meters over teammates Chris Solinsky and Evan Jager.

2008 Olympian Kara Goucher, who already qualified for the World Championships team in the marathon, claimed her second consecutive national title at 5,000 meters. Goucher is expected to only compete in the marathon in Berlin.

After thrilling the Track Town USA crowd last year in the Olympic Trials with her desperate race against both the clock and her competitors on the track, Amy Yoder Begley returned to Eugene, Oregon and rocked the house. Yoder Begley captured her first USA championship in the 10,000 meter run with an inspired stretch run, to defeat 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan and set a new Hayward Field record.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 1 (Thursday) ***

In the men’s 10,000 meter final, local favorite Galen Rupp captured the title in his last appearance in an Oregon Ducks uniform.

Mesa Community College hosted the 2009 NJCAA Region I Track and Field Championship on May 12 and 14.

Click here to view photos from the 2009 NJCAA Region I Track and Field Championship

Meet Results, Day 3 (Tuesday)

Meet Results, Day 4 (Thursday)

Justin Royer from Mesa Community College won the 10,000 meter run during Tuesday’s competition, and came back to win the 3,000 meter steeplechase on Thursday.

Kierre Beckles from Central Arizona College set a new meet record in the 100 meter hurdles and won the 400 meter hurdles during Thursday’s competition.

For its 2009 edition, organizers of the adidas Track Classic shifted the competition schedule from mid-afternoon to early evening, in order to take advantage of more favorable weather in the Los Angeles area for distance running, while retaining fast conditions for sprint events. The format change was a success, with impressive early season results in both the sprint and distance events.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 adidas Track Classic ***

2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion Anna Willard ran the fastest women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase on American soil.

2008 Olympic 400 meter champion LaShawn Merritt stepped down half a lap to the 200 meters for the adidias Track Classic, and emerged with a convincing victory.

Mardi Gras Marathon weekend at the end of January 2009 gave me an opportunity to visit New Orleans. It was my second time in the city, and first extended visit. In 1859, Mark Twain wrote, “It has been said that a Scotchman has not seen the world until he has seen Edinburgh; and I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he as seen Mardi-Gras in New Orleans.” After more than a century, Twain’s observation still resonates…

*** Click here to view photos from New Orleans 2009 ***

The Saint Louis Cathedral was established in 1720, and overlooks Jackson Square and the French Quarter.

The inaugural Ragnar Relay Los Angeles had its share of first year growing pains. On the day before the start, participants were informed that Leg 4 was canceled due to safety concerns, and Legs 13-18 were canceled due to permitting issues with the City of Malibu. Once the race got underway, I felt that course markings were confusing or ambiguous in some areas. The post-race setup felt rather low-key compared to the Ragnar Relay Del Sol in Arizona… no live band, and a minimal beer garden. The overall experience felt more chaotic than other road relays I’ve done.

On the other hand, it’s hard to beat running on the strand through Venice Beach at midnight. Moreover, the primary reason for running a road relay is to bond with one’s teammates. In those respects, I believe most participants had an amazing experience!

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Ragnar Relay Los Angeles ***

Despite cold and rainy conditions, the Sun Angel Track Classic celebrated its 30th edition in style. Meet honoree, former Sun Devil and 2004 Olympic long jump gold medalist Dwight Phillips participated in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Fireworks punctuated the start of the Premiere (evening) session, and sparkling pyrotechnics lined the runway for Matt Turner’s final long jump. The meet concluded with fans lining the track for the Premiere heat of the men’s 1,500 meter run.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Sun Angel Track Classic ***

The 2009 Carlsbad 5000, also known as the World’s Fastest 5K came down to sprint finishes to decide the winners of both the men’s and women’s elite invitational races.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Carlsbad 5000 ***

U.S. Olympian Anthony Famiglietti missed Marc Davis’ 13-year-old U.S. record (13:24) by four seconds, finishing in sixth place overall in 13:28.

Aheza Kiros (F2) of Ethiopia won the women’s race, edging out 2008 U.S. Olympian Shannon Rowbury (F1) and Lara Tamsett (F3) from Australia.

On March 28, the Arizona State University Track and Field program hosted its second meet of the 2009 outdoor season, the ASU Invitational. The meet produced 17 NCAA regional qualifying marks for the Sun Devils, 120 total NCAA regional qualifying marks, seven meet records, and one stadium record. Kara Patterson, the 2008 US Olympic Trials champion competing for Purdue, established the new stadium record when she tossed the javelin 58.41m to win the women’s competition. Local track fans also had a chance to see former Arizona high school state champions Kristin Phillips and Natalie Johnson compete for their respective out-of-state schools.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 ASU Invitational ***

On March 21, the Arizona State University track and field teams hosted the Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe, AZ. In College Station, Texas on the previous weekend, both teams placed fifth at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The meet is named in honor of former Sun Devil track and field coach Senon “Baldy” Castillo, who passed away on January 31 at the age of 90.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Baldy Castillo Invitational ***

From 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM on February 27, waves of teams departed from Watson Lake Park in Prescott, AZ, as participants in the 2009 Ragnar Relay Del Sol. This year’s route meandered 202 miles from Prescott through Wickenburg, Carefree, and Fountain Hills, before finishing in Mesa Riverview Park.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Ragnar Relay Del Sol ***

As 2008 drew to an end, Quest Club celebrated the holidays with a club trivia challenge and the traditional white elephant gift exchange…

*** Click here for the 2008 Quest Club Holiday Party photo gallery ***