Sunday, January 26, 2014

ALL OVER THE MAP

All Over the Map

The OTC-CV group was literally all over the map this past weekend. Long jumper Ronnie Taylor traveled to the Glasgow International meeting in Glasgow, UK to represent the USA in the four country team meeting. He finished second jumping 7.79 meters and pulled double duty running a leg on the 4 x 400m team that ran 3 minutes 10 seconds. 

Triple jumpers Bryce Lamb, Will Claye, Chris Benard, and Troy Doris travelled tot he Big Apple and competed at the New Balance Invitational at the New York Armory. All four jumpers using shortened approaches, began their season in style, Will Claye won in a world leading and facility record breaking jump of 17.04 meters. Troy Doris jumped a personal best and the second furthest jump in the world of 16.81 meters to finish second. Finishing third also in a lifetime personal record of 16.76 meters and establishing the third furthest jump in the world was Chris Benard. Finishing fifth was Bryce Lamb.

The rest of the OTC-CV group traveled to the Take Notice Invitational in Naperville, IL. Stealing the spotlight was Tori Bowie. In establishing a meeting record and lifetime best she covered a distance of 6.95 meters in the long jump. It is the second best mark in the world and #1 mark by an American. In the men's long jump Tyron Stewart jumped a seasonal best of 7.99 meters which is a lifetime  indoor best and the third furthest jump in the world and top by an American. Shana Woods jumped 6.08 meters as she prepares for her first pentathlon of the year. In the high jump Maya Pressley won jumping 1.78 meters.

The group is in action this weekend at the Ed Jacoby multis in Boise, Idaho. It will be the first multi-event for Shana Woods, Jesscia Flax, and Gunnar Nixon as they look to get the world standard and a birth on the indoor world team. The weight group and jumpers will travel to Seattle, Washington for the Washington Indoor. It will be the season opener for Olympians Will Claye in the long jump and Tia Brooks in the shot put. 

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Road to Sopot has Started

The Chula Vista Olympic Training center athletes competed in their first meet of the young 2014 indoor season. The group traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico; the site of the 2014 indoor USATF championships hat will be hold in late February and serve as the indoor qualification for the World Indoor IAAF Championships to be held in Sopot, Poland. 

On the men's side new resident athlete Jeff Henderson ran the 4th fastest time in the 60 meters running 6.59 seconds. In the heats defending world indoor champion in the triple jump Will Claye ran 6.88 and Troy Doris competing in his first meet in nearly a year ran 6.85 seconds.
The resident shot athletes Eric Werskey and Joe Kovacs threw 19.71 meters and 19.66 meters which was an indoor personal best for Eric and are the 7th and 9th furthest throws in the world. 
In the long jump the Chula Vista resident athletes swept the top spots despite using shortened approaches. Winning was Ronald Taylor jumping 7.92, followed by Michael Hartfield jumping 7.87, Tyron Stewart jumping 7.76, Jeff Henderson jumping 7.71, Chris Benard jumping 7.65, and Bryce Lamb jumping 7.34 meters. The top 4 marks are the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 10th furthest jumps in the world. 

On the women's side Tori Bowie was the star of the weekend. She ran a personal best of 7.28 seconds in the 60 meters which is the 8th fastest times in the world and a personal best. Ashley Whitney won the shot put throwing 16.43 which is the 20th best throw in the world. Maya Pressley high jumped 1.77 meters and had company with multi-event athletes Shana Woods and Jessica Flax who jumped 1.65 and 1.60 as they prepare for their first pentathlon. They also ran the 60 hurdles and ran 8.44 seconds and 8.66 seconds. For Shana Woods it was a life time best in the indoor hurdles. April Sinkler long jumped and jumped 5.80 meters to open up her season. 

The Chula Vista group is scattered across the world and country for the January 25-26th weekend. Ronald Taylor will travel to Scotland and represent the USA in the Glasgow British International Meet. Michael Hartfield travels to Europe for two long jump competitions. Triple jumpers Will Claye, Bryce Lamb, Troy Doris, and Chris Benard travel to New York for the New Balance Invitational. April Sinkler, Tyron Stewart, Tori Bowie, Jessica Flax, Maya Pressley, and Shana Woods travel to Chicago for the Take-Notice Invitational.