¶wSteeple: Anna Willard 9:27.59 AR

[James Fields]

Wiilard's speed

Half Miler wrote, concerning Wiilard, that "She sez she's in 4:15-4:20 shape right now"

If 4:15-4:20 refers to a 1500m run, that suggests an error in current IAAF website statistics:
4:06.26 -- Anna Willard, USA, 1-Indianapolis, 14 June 2008

[Half Miler]

Thanks. Just made the correction: 9:15 - 9:20!

[James Fields]

bad hammy commented on posed post-race photos of top three women steeplers, with their just-acquired USA Olympic team jackets removed, sitting in the water pit. Those photos are on this website; here's one:

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/gallery/2008OT_D5_PR/W_SteepleSplash_USOlyT08

One of that set has the top three lady steeplers holding the USA flags while sitting in the water pit.

Our Olympians should learn that they don't have to obey photographers (whose absurdly staged pictures seem to emphasize female athletes). I've always winced at those of photos of winners biting their medals.

[tandfman]

I dunno, Ken. Most of those pictures show the steeplers sitting in the water pit without flags, apparently laughing and having a good time. I didn't see anything objectionable there. In fact, those pictures seemed more natural and less posed than many that I've seen.

[James Fields]

Delilah DiCrescenzo

During the whole race, everyone in my section could only talk about Delilah! She has gotten so much more attention that anyone else in the race and now this last place finish. I can't help but think the media attention did not help her and the pressure of being 'America's musical darling' was too much.
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I do not know the reason for Delilah trailing in USOT Final. She came to this meet with two good races faster than the Olympic Games "A" standard -- both outside North America in May.

But then, like many USA women steeplers who are no longer affiliated with college teams, she lacked further quality races leading up to USOT. During that period the crowd-pleasing women's steeple is not included in any of the Grand Prix-type meets held in the USA. Meanwhile, top collegians like Jennifer Barringer run NCAA Regionals and Finals. And the amazing Anna Willard ran 1500m fast enough in June to have been a contender in that USOT event.
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I'm sorry to be adding to this thread so late. My schedule does not make me as available as some other T&FN forum participants.

[tandfman]

Re: Delilah DiCrescenzo

I do not know the reason for Delilah trailing in USOT Final. She came to this meet with two good races faster than the Olympic Games "A" standard -- both outside North America in May.

But then, like many USA women steeplers who are no longer affiliated with college teams, she lacked further quality races leading up to USOT. During that period the crowd-pleasing women's steeple is not included in any of the Grand Prix-type meets held in the USA. Meanwhile, top collegians like Jennifer Barringer run NCAA Regionals and Finals.

Before Eugene, Delilah had run steeples in four meets this year--Barringer ran steeples in only three meets.