2009 Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational

Posted on October 13, 2009 by AZRunning.com

The Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational features the top-20 ranked boys and girls Arizona high school cross country teams, regardless of class level, as well as the top seven individuals from non-invited teams. Due to construction at the traditional Kiwanis Park location, the Conley meet returned to its original location, the Rolling Hills Golf Course in Tempe.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational ***

2009 Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational results

Sarah Schmidt from Mesa Mountain View High School led a 1-2 sweep of the Girls Varsity podium positions. Pinnacle High School won the team competition.

Sarah Schmidt from Mesa Mountain View High School led a 1-2 sweep of the Girls Varsity race

Steve Magnuson from Ironwood Ridge won the Boys Varsity race. Mesa Mountain View won the team competition.

Steve Magnuson from Ironwood Ridge won the Boys Varsity race

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2009 4th of July Celebration at Tempe Town Lake

Posted on July 8, 2009 by AZRunning.com

After processing hundreds of track and field images from the USA Outdoor Championships, I looked forward to experimenting with different photographic techniques while shooting the Independence Day celebration at Tempe Town Lake.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 4th of July celebration at Tempe Town Lake ***

The Mill Avenue Bridge and Tempe Town Lake provide a colorful backdrop for Tempe’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

The Mill Avenue Bridge and Tempe Town Lake provide a colorful backdrop for Tempe's annual Independence Day fireworks display

The city lights reflecting off Tempe Town Lake…

Lights reflecting off Tempe Town Lake

Light trail from the light rail…

Light trails from the light rail

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2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Posted on July 7, 2009 by AZRunning.com

The 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships for athletes 14 – 19 years old, took place in Eugene concurrent with the USA Outdoor Track and Field championships for open athletes. The meet served as the selection meet for the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, which will be held at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on July 31 – August 2. The top two finishers in each event qualified to compete in the Pan American Championships.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Days 2 and 3 (Friday – Saturday) ***

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 4 (Sunday) ***

Curtis Beach literally ran away with the decathlon, finishing with 7,599 points. It was the best score ever by an American using the junior implements. Beach ended the two-day 10-event competition with a world junior decathlon best 4:07.85 in the 1,500 meters.

Curtis Beach ran away with the decathlon, finishing with 7,599 points. It was the best score ever by an American using the junior implements.

2008 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year Jordan Hasay won her third-consecutive junior women’s 1,500m title over 2009 NCAA finalist Morgane Gay of Virginia.

2008 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year Jordan Hasay won her third-consecutive junior women's 1,500m title over 2009 NCAA finalist Morgane Gay of Virginia

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2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 4

Posted on June 29, 2009 by AZRunning.com

On the final day of competition at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 2008 Olympian Nick Symmonds continued his dominance of the 800 meters at Hayward Field. For his efforts, Symmonds was named the Visa Athlete of the Meet.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 4 (Sunday) ***

For his dramatic win over Khadevis Robinson in the Men's 800 meter run, Nick Symmonds was named Visa Athlete of the Meet

Dawn Harper, the 2008 Olympic Gold medalist in the 100 meter hurdles, won her first national championship in 12.36 seconds (wind aided), the fourth-fastest time ever by an American under any conditions.

Dawn Harper won the 100 meter hurdles final in 12.36 seconds

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2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 3

Posted on June 29, 2009 by AZRunning.com

Day 3 of the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships featured a full schedule of compelling finals. LaShawn Merritt claimed the national title at 400 meters and remained undefeated in 2009.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 3 (Saturday) ***

LaShawn Merritt claimed the national title at 400 meters and remained undefeated in 2009

2004 Olympian and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Lashinda Demus won the 400 meter hurdles in 53.78, the fastest in the world this year and a new Hayward Field record.

2004 Olympian and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Lashinda Demus won the 400 meter hurdles in 53.78, the fastest in the world this year and a new Hayward Field record

Former Arizona State University Sun Devils Dwight Phillips and Kyle Alcorn earned spots on Team USA for the 2009 World Championships by placing on the podium in their respective events. Phillips, the 2004 Olympic champion in the long jump, claimed his fourth outdoor national title. Alcorn, the 2008 NCAA steeplechase champion, earned his first berth to the world championships, after placing 3rd in the 3,000 meter steeplechase final. Former Sun Devils Ryan Warrenburg and Aaron Aguayo also competed in Saturday’s steeplechase final.

2008 NCAA steeplechase champion Kyle Alcorn placed third in Saturday's 3,000 meter steeplechase final

Former Sun Devils Aaron Aguayo and Ryan Warrenburg

2008 Olympic Trials champion and Olympic Games finalist Shannon Rowbury took the lead in the final 100 meters to claim her second 1,500 meter title at Hayward Field.

Shannon Rowbury

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2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 2

Posted on June 28, 2009 by AZRunning.com

Carmelita Jeter, the 2007 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist, was declared the winner of the Visa Women’s 100 meters by one-1,000th of a second in a photo finish with 2008 Olympic Trials champion Muna Lee, on Day 2 of the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 2 (Friday) ***

Carmelita Jeter was declared the winner of the 100 meters by one-1,000th of a second over Muna Lee

The men’s 100 meters was also a close duel. 2009 USA Indoor 60m champion and two-time NAIA outdoor sprint champion Michael Rodgers held off Beijing Olympic finalist Darvis “Doc” Patton by one-100th of a second, in a wind-aided 9.91 seconds.

Michael Rodgers won the 100 meters in 9.91 seconds

2007 World Outdoor Championships fourth-place finisher and 2008 Olympic Games finalist Matt Tegenkamp won his first USA Outdoor title and led an Oregon Track Club sweep of the men’s 5,000 meters over teammates Chris Solinsky and Evan Jager.

Matt Tegenkamp led an Oregon sweep of the men's 5,000 meters

2008 Olympian Kara Goucher, who already qualified for the World Championships team in the marathon, claimed her second consecutive national title at 5,000 meters. Goucher is expected to only compete in the marathon in Berlin.

For the second year in a row, Kara Goucher won the national title at 5,000 meters over Jen Rhines

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