Americans looking right at home
EUGENE, Ore. — It’s easy to sense the track world here these days.
The man in line for coffee with an Ethiopia jersey. The woman in the elevator of a nearby hotel with a polo shirt with the Bahamas logo. And the fans of Jamaica, seemingly everywhere. (And with more swagger after a 1-2-3 finish in the women’s 100 on Sunday.)
Still, as the United States hosts the World Athletic Championships for the first time, the opening weekend in “Tracktown USA” has seen a lot of red, white and blue.
There’s a long way to go in the 10-day event and plenty of international stars yet to shine, but the U.S already has 14 medals, including six golds, and has finished 1-2-3 twice — in the men’s 100 meters on Saturday and the men’s shot put on Sunday.
Add in another pair of 1-2 finishes in the men’s 110 hurdles and the women’s pole vault on Sunday and it’s been one for the hosts.
Scenes from the first weekend:
Fond farewell
Allyson Felix didn’t get the fairy tale ending with a title but finished her career with a bronze in the mixed 4x400 relay and then struck what would be a familiar note. “It was very special to be able to run in front of a home crowd for my last race,” she said.
First medal
Many of the headlines on Saturday went to the U.S. sweep of the men’s 100 meters but it was Chase Easley, who won the first gold by taking the women’s shot put.
Easley, who grew up in Los Alamos, N.M. and once won five events — 100, shot put, javelin, 4x100 and 4x200 at the state championship — won her first world title.
She had the best throw on her first attempt (67-2¾) and then sweated out the rest of the competition, including a throw of 66-10 ¾ by China’s Lijao Gong on her fifth attempt.
“It is so surreal,” said Ealey, who competed in college at Oklahoma State. “It feels so amazing especially because I have done it on the home soil. Every throw was absolutely big. With the first throw, I wanted to set the tone and I did so it feels so amazing. I do not think I can describe the atmosphere at the stadium today. But since the moment I walked out I felt this day was so important and the cheering and the support of the fans was unforgettable. It will stay deep in my heart. I felt like I could not control my last throw with these emotions. To do all this at home... I hope this will change my life. To be the world champion, as an athlete, is the thing that everyone wants to do once in a lifetime.”
A fast sweep
The last time the U.S. swept the medals in the men’s 100 at the Worlds was in the 1991 event in Tokyo when Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell and Dennis Mitchell finished 1-2-3 as Lewis set what was then the world record in 9.86.
Coincidentally, Fred Kerley, of Taylor and Texas A&M, ran the same time as Lewis’s 9.86 to edge Marvin Bracy (9.874) and Trayvon Bromell of Baylor (9.876).
“It's amazing to do it on home soil with the home crowd behind us,” Kerley said. “It's a wonderful blessing to get a clean sweep.”
An early start
In Sunday’s day session before the stadium filled, Brooke Anderson and Janee Kassanovoid won gold and bronze in the women’s hammer.
“It hasn't really quite set in yet,” Anderson said. “I was looking out across the field and I thought to myself, I'm a world champion. I will just remember shaking everyone's hand, taking pictures with my supporters.
A strong sweep
The U.S. was favored to win gold, and silver, in the shot put thanks to Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs, but the surprise came from Josh Awotunde who took bronze.
The final order came down to the fifth of sixth rounds. Awotunde, solidified his hold on third with a throw of 73-1¾. Then Kovacs passed Crouser, the Olympic champion, with a throw of 75-1¼. After waiting for the men’s 110 hurdles to be run, Crouser then unleashed a 75-3¼ to set the meet record.
“It was so special to do it
here, my home state, at a shot put ring that before they took it down at Hayward Field,” said Crouser, who competed at the University of Texas. “I remember throwing in this ring when I was 12 years old. Seventeen years later, this is more that I could ever dreamed of. This is such a special night, being part of the USA sweep in the shot put at the first World Championships on home soil.”
The three behomoths made their way across the track to pick up U.S. flags and fake medals (the real ones aren’t awarded until later) to take their victory lap.
A 1-2 punch
Just ahead of the U.S. shot putters on the track, Katie Nageotte and Sandi Morris took their turn with the flags after going 1-2 in the pole vault.
Nageotte, who won gold in Tokyo, took the title with a jump of 15-11. Morris matched that height but took silver because of needing more attempts. The 15-11 was the best in the world this year.
1-2 and DQ
Grant Holloway regained his place atop the world in the 110 hurldes and Trey Cunningham was second, but so much about the final was who didn’t finish.
Devon Allen, the U.S. runner with the fastest time this year, was disqualified for a false start.
The starting blocks are equipped with sensors that measure reaction time to prevent athletes from anticipating the gun.
The allowable reaction time is one-tenth of a second. Allen’s reaction time exceeded that limit by a thousandth of a second, which meant that he was automatically disqualified. As fans filled Hayward Field with boos, even his opponents seemed dismayed.
“We didn’t think he falsestarted,” said Cunningham. “None of the athletes did, and we really wanted him to run.”
The last word
“There’s definitely a sense of momentum,” Crouser said. “Team USA has been competing over the world for so long. To have the first world championships in the U.S., it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase the depth and talent of Team USA.”