It’s hard to beat the great weather, intimate stadiums and casual atmosphere of Cactus League Spring Training in the Valley of the Sun.
Click here to view photos from the Diamondbacks at Angels, March 6, 2011
Click here to view photos from the Rockies at Athletics, March 13, 2011
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.
Click here to view photos from the 2011 Junior Carlsbad
One of my favorite events to watch each year is the Junior Carlsbad a running event for kids 12 and under. The looks of determination and joy on the kids’ faces are so genuine and inspiring.
Competitors in the Age 10 race:
My nephew Alex set a new PR for the mile. Way to go Alex!
My younger nephew Nick competed in the Age 10 race. Good run, Nick!
Samantha with excellent knee lift as she approaches the final turn.
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.
Click here to view photos from the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships – Day 1 (Saturday)
The compact venue and open schedule provided an opportunity for me to capture images from events I don’t normally cover, on Day 1 of the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM. Here is a cool Wonder Woman-themed uniform that Loree Smith wore for the Women’s Weight Throw:
Similar to last year, both the men’s and women’s 3,000 meter finals were decided during the bell lap, and featured three of last year’s four protagonists. Bernard Lagat, who recently lost his indoor American Record for 5,000 meters to Galen Rupp, sprinted away from Rupp and Aaron Braun with 1 1/2 laps to go, to repeat as Indoor National Champion.
Sara Hall, who narrowly lost to Renee Metivier Baillie in the women’s 3,000 meters last year, was defeated for the second year in a row by a Colorado alum, as Jenny (Barringer) Simpson held off Hall’s last lap challenge.
