Run to Win

Jenn Stuczynski set the American Indoor Pole Vault Record at the Boston Indoor Games last night at 15′ 9.75″ and then attempted to set a new world record. Here is the result of each of her jump from the video I shot at the meet:

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Tomorrow evening is the Boston Indoor Games, a great event put on down at the Reggie Lewis Center every year. If you are planning on being there, then keep an eye out for me as I’ll be there with both my still and my video camera!

The Games will not be televised live, but will be on ESPN on Sunday from 4:00-6:00. If you haven’t made your picks yet, you have until 4:55 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday to choose who you think is going to score in tomorrow’s meet.

I am very excited about the meet. When making my picks, I saw that Kevin Sullivan is racing in the mile, so I had to make that pick despite thinking that he probably isn’t going to be able to beat Alan Webb.

Kara Goucher should put in a good 3000m as she gets herself into shape for the Boston Marathon, her goal race for 2009 and which has not been won by an American (man or woman) since 1985.

I’m also looking forward to watching Shalane Flanagan in the 5k and Galen Rupp in the 3k.

I also noticed today that the USATF Indoor Championships are also in Boston this year, so I am going to have to see if I can arrange my schedule to let me get down there again at the end of the month.

See you there!

Spectators at this year’s Boston Indoor Games got to see some more records set, continuing last year’s trend. Meseret Defar took the spotlight, leading Kim Smith into a world record pace in the 2 mile with a time of 9:13.94. The former indoor world record of 9:23.8 was set at the 2002 Boston Indoor Games, and Smith watched Defar cross the line in 9:10.5. “It’s nice to beat a World record (best),” said Smith, “it’s only too bad that Meseret was there first.”

Craig Mottram also had a good day. He broke the American soil record in the 3000 meter by almost a second after he ran 7:34.5, which also lowered the Australian national record. “It was a good time, and I’m happy with it. I’m running as well as I’ve ever done, in about the same shape as I was this time last year. I just need to keep a lid on things, keep turning the screws, and keep getting ready for Beijing.”

Local runners Dan Franek and Pete Bottomley competed in the Masters’ Mile to open the meet up. Both men run for my team, Dirigo Running Club. Dan Franek came in 2^nd place with a time of 4:31.37, and Pete Bottomley was 8^th with a time of 4:40.81.

The Boston Indoor Games is the second of five meets in the indoor Visa Championship Series.

(Sources: 2008 Results – USATF – IAAF)

I went to watch the Boston Indoor Games this evening, and it was great. There was a lot of really good competition, and we got to see numerous meet and national records, as well as a world record 5k.

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopa absolutely crushed her old mark of 14:32.93 set two years ago. She ran over 5 seconds faster in 14:27.42! It was a great race. The rabbits, Bridget Binning and Marina Muncan led through the first two kilometers right on pace, and Tiru finished strong to absolutely demolish her own time. We kept watching to see if she would implode; it was very exciting.
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