AZRunning.com – David Daer's Photo Journal

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.