News and Notes from Des Moines

Not only is it hot in Des Moines, but the wind is strong.  Predictions are for winds up to 20 mph gusting down the track, so the direction of the 100 has been shifted so that the wind will be at the runners' backs.

Photo of Amanda Smock landing in the triple jump is HERE(You have to click through the photo gallery, the Smock photo is the third photo in the gallery).  In the same gallery there is also a photo of Kara Goucher after the finish of the 10K.  It is number 46 out of the 62 photos. Another photo of the early laps of the women's 10K is photo 49.  Kara and her teammate Shalane Flanagan are also in photo 59.

Smock tweeted yesterday: "That was an incredibly frustrating performance. I lost to two great people and jumpers. New fuel to the fire to get back to work."

David Monti's story on the USATF women's 10K is HERE. Monti's story on the other qualifying races is HERE.

Eugene Register Guard story on OTC Elite team that includes Ben Blankenship and Hassan Mead is HERE.