Ashton Eaton sets decathlon world record
When a hometown hero breaks a world record in one of the most storied events in Olympic history, people tend to notice. Such was the case Saturday night, when former University of Oregon Duck Ashton Eaton capped his decathlon with an inspired effort in the 1,500 meters.
He had Hayward Field buzzing for two days straight after beginning his weekend with decathlon world records in the long jump and 100 meters on Friday. He didn’t shine in the shot put, but he did string together solid marks in the high jump and 400 meters to finish that night. On Saturday, he continued his assault with relatively strong marks in the discus, pole vault and javelin before etching his name in Hayward Field lore with a grueling final push in the 1,500.
“With 600 meters to go, I became a firm believer that the Hayward magic does exist,” Eaton said after the race. “I felt it for 600 meters … I knew there was no way I was not going to get the world record.”
Galen Rupp claim men’s 10,000-meter title
Rupp enjoyed an illustrious collegiate career at Oregon, becoming the first person ever to win six NCAA distance races during the same calendar year when he captured the 2008 NCAA Cross Country crown, the 2009 NCAA Indoor 3,000-meter, 5,000-meter and distance-medley titles as well as the 2009 NCAA Outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
At the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, he continued to add to his accomplishments with a 13th-place finish in the 10,000 — but will be looking for more in 2012. Friday afternoon, he bided his time early before bursting away from the pack and cruising across the finish line in 27:25.33, well ahead of the field. He already owned the American record in the event but added another chapter to University of Oregon’s long-distance lore by becoming one of three in-state residents to sweep the podium.
“I always feel really lucky to be able to run here, basically on my home track,” Rupp said. “Especially for such a big event like the Olympic Trials. I don’t think this could have gone much better for me.”
Justin Gatlin forges path to redemption, punches ticket to London
Six years ago, Justin Gatlin — who won gold in the 100 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics  — was eschewed from track and field after testing positive for a testosterone precursor. He was eventually banned from competition for four years. Gatlin, now 30 years old, had been steadily working his way back to elite status before a breakout performance this weekend.
He won the 100 in a blistering 9.80 on Sunday night. He out-dueled heavily favored Tyson Gay, who looked less than thrilled during post-race media availability. Gatlin’s race was the fastest 100 run by a 30-year-old in history. Typically, sprinters peak in their early 20s before fading into the limelight. Can Gatlin buck that trend by recapturing glory eight years after claiming gold in Athens? Only time will tell. Either way, hiss rise from the ashes has captivated track supporters around the world.
Women’s 100 meter-final: I’m going to London…right!?
One of the most satisfying aspects of the 100-meter dash is its brutal finality. As a sprinter, either you leave the blocks in time or you don’t. Yet on Saturday, a combination of coincidence and poor fortune turned the event into a question mark. Two things that can’t be disputed: Carmelita Jeter won in 10.92, and Tianna Madison finished second in 10.96 seconds. Third place is where things got complicated.
Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh, two Nike athletes, tied for third in 11.07. Even high-tech detectors and post-race photos couldn’t settle the dead heat. After over 24 hours of uncertainty, USA Track & Field finally presented its final ruling on the situation Sunday — and even that was confusing. Depending on the preferences of Felix and Tarmoh, the tie could be settled by coin flip, run-off or concession. While no official announcement has yet surfaced, all signs point to a run-off. The third 100-meter Olympian for the U.S. is still up in the air, and the drawn-out drama of the event at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials may stand as unrivaled in recent history.