AZRunning.com – David Daer's Photo Journal

Click here to view photos from the 2014 Carlsbad 5000

Dejen Gebremeskel, 2012 Olympic silver medalist for 5,000 meters, became the only individual to claim four Carlsbad 5000 titles, by winning his fourth consecutive Carlsbad 5000.

Bernard Lagat, competing in his first Carlsbad 5000, held on for second place. Lagat’s 13:19 finishing time was good enough to break Marc Davis’ 18 year-old American Record (13:24).

Former NAU Lumberjack Diego Estrada, now a U.S. citizen, finished in sixth place. Estrada competed in the 2012 Olympics for Mexico.

Julia Bleasdale from Great Britain dominated the last mile of the women’s elite race, cruising to victory in 15:06.

Betsy Saina, who trains in Flagstaff, placed second in 15:22.

Fourth place finisher Brenda Martinez set a 19 second personal best, and was the first American, in 15:25.

Amy Van Alstine, of the Northern Arizona Elite club, finished fifth in 15:30. Van Alstine is the reigning U.S. Cross Country champion.

Click here to view photos from the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships — Day 2

Click here to view photos from the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships — Day 3

Bernard Lagat prevailed in a highly anticipated showdown with Galen Rupp in the men’s 3,000 meters, to end the second day of competition at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Lagat’s winning time of 7:46.01 is the fastest time run by an American in meet history.

Lagat seized the lead from Ryan Hill with one lap to go…

…and sliced through lapped traffic to claim the victory.

Lagat celebrated the victory with a group of young fans.

Gabriele Grunewald was first across the line in the women’s 3,000 meters.

However, after several protests, the Jury of Appeals disqualified Grunewald for impeding another runner. Shannon Rowbury was declared the winner, with a time of 9:25:49. UPDATE 02-24-14 Grunewald was reinstated as women’s 3,000 meter champion.

Sarah Vaughn placed second in the women’s 3,000 meters, with a time of 9:26.46.

The 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships serves as the selection meet for the members of Team USA. Top finishers in each event will represent the U.S. at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, March 7-9.

Click here to view photos from the 2013 Carlsbad 5000

Dejen Gebremeskel, 2012 Olympic silver medalist for 5,000 meters, scored a three-peat, by winning his third consecutive Carlsbad 5000. Gebremeskel also became the fourth male competitor to win three Carlsbad victories in the race’s history.

Geleta Burka (F2) won the Women’s Elite race in 15:26, one second ahead of Mercy Cherono (F1):

Even the bananas run fast at Carlsbad:

Click here to view photos from the 2013 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships — Day 2

17 year-old Mary Cain captured the hearts of the crowd with her impressive win in the women’s mile.

Mary Cain fans.

Will Leer became a distance double champion, after a thrilling win in the men’s mile.

Dangelo Cherry from Mississippi State won the Men’s 60 meter dash.

Click here to view photos from the 2013 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships — Day 1

The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships returned to Albuquerque, NM for the fourth year in a row. Day 1 competition concluded with a new world indoor record in the women’s pole vault by 2012 Olympic champion Jenn Suhr.

In the penultimate running event, Chelsea Reilly tumbled to the track ahead of Emily Infeld and 2012 Olympian Lisa Uhl, to claim the national title in the women’s 3,000 meters.

Will Leer won the men’s 3,000 meters in far less dramatic fashion. He will return Sunday to compete in the men’s mile.

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson’s shoes.

Click here to view photos from the 2012 Carlsbad 5000

Dejen Gebremeskel and Tirunesh Dibaba, both from Ethiopia, captured the overall titles at the 2012 Carlsbad 5000.

Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba won the Women’s Elite race in 15:01:

Dejen Gebremeskel rounds the last corner ahead of Hagos Gebrhiwet:

Click here to view photos from the 2012 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships — Day 2

Day 2 of the 2012 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships featured a new American Record in the high jump for Chaunte Lowe, and many close finishes on the track. The top two finishers in each event are eligible to compete at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 9 – 11.

Jenny Simpson, the reigning World Outdoor champion for 1,500 meters, held off a last lap challenge from Brenda Martinez to claim her second USA Indoor title of the weekend. Simpson also repeated her USA Indoor 3,000 / 1,500 meter double championship from last year.

The men’s 1,500 meters also featured last lap fireworks. In the final straightaway, Leo Manzano ran down both Matthew Centrowitz, the 2011 World Outdoor 1,500 meter bronze medalist, and Galen Rupp, the 2012 Indoor Visa Series Championship winner for men.

Sanya Richards-Ross celebrated her birthday and wedding anniversary by setting a meet record, en route to winning the USA Indoor title for the women’s 400 meters.

Trell Kimmons won the men’s 60 meters in a world-leading time of 6.45 seconds, the third fastest American time ever.

Colorful track and field fans.

Click here to view photos from the 2012 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships — Day 1

For 2012, the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships returned to Albuquerque, NM for the third year in a row. In the last track event on Day 1, Bernard Lagat raised the roof with a breathtaking 26 second final lap, to defend his title in the men’s 3,000 meters.

Jenny Simpson, the 2011 World Outdoor champion for 1,500 meters, successfully defended her USA Indoor title in the women’s 3,000 meters, and will return on Day 2 to try and defend her title in the 1,500 meters.

Will Claye won his first USA Indoor title in the men’s triple jump, with the third best indoor mark in American history.

Amanda Smock took the lead in the women’s triple jump on her 5th attempt.

AG Kruger won the men’s weight throw.

Crystal Manning placed third in the women’s triple jump, but I think she should receive top marks for her colorful uniform.

Click here to view photos from the 2011 PAC-12 Cross Country Championships

On November 29, 2011 in sunny Litchfield Park, Arizona, the Arizona State University Sun Devils and the Wigwam Resort hosted the first ever PAC-12 Cross Country Championships. The cross country titles for men and women are the first conference titles awarded in any sport during the PAC-12 era. Nine men’s teams and 12 women’s teams competed in the event.

The University of Colorado Buffaloes, PAC-12 newcomers, swept the men’s and women’s team titles.

Lawi Lalang from the University of Arizona won the men’s individual title.

Katie Flood from the University of Washington won the women’s individual title.

Click here to view photos from the 2011 Carlsbad 5000

Dejen Gebremeskel from Ethiopia (left) defeated defending Carlsbad 5000 champion Eliud Kichoge of Kenya in the Men’s Elite race.

Similar to the men, the Women’s Elite race was also decided in the final meters. Aheza Kiros from Ethiopia (right), the 2009 champion, and second last year, held off a spirited challenge from Pauline Korikwiang of Kenya to win her second Carlsbad 5000 title.

Sally Meyerhoff at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships…

Click here to view photos from the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships – Day 2 (Sunday)

Both Jillian Camarena-Williams (shot put) and Jenn Suhr (pole vault) broke American records in their respective events on Day 2 of the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM.

Suhr cleared 15 feet 11.25 inches to claim the AR, as the crowd roared with excitement.

In the last event of the day, Mike Rodgers captured the BMW Men’s 60 meters in a world-leading 6.48 seconds, and the Visa Championship Series title for the best performance of the 2011 indoor season.

Jeff See won a thrilling Men’s mile, after coming off the final turn in third place behind Aaron Braun and Garrett Heath.