2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships – Day 1

Soon after the starter’s pistol fired in the women’s 3,000 meter run, the final event on Day 1 of the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM, Renee Metivier Baillie opened up a sizable lead. Despite the spirited attempt by Shannon Rowbury and Sara Hall to close the gap on the final lap, Metivier Baillie held on for a narrow win over the hard charging Hall, with Rowbury in third place.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships – Day 1 (Saturday) ***

Renee Metivier Baillie held off the hard charging Sara Hall in Day 1's last event, the 3,000 meters.

In a close men’s 3,000 meter final, Bernard Lagat, the recently crowned American Record holder for 5,000 meters indoors sprinted away from Galen Rupp and Chris Solinsky in the final laps to claim the title.

Indoor 5,000 meter American Record holder Bernard Lagat sprinted away from Galen Rupp and Chris Solinsky

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2009 Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational

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

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

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

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

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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