USA Track & Field Championships

This past weekend I had the exciting opportunity to attend the USA Track & Field Championships held in Des Moines at Drake stadium.  It was such a thrilling experience to see so many of the athletes I admire and follow compete right in my own backyard.  If you weren’t able to attend you really missed out on some great action (including three new American records!).  I took several photos, trying to capture the moments before, during and after the events.  Several of the highlights are below.  It was a great motivator to see these athletes compete!

Hometown favorite Lolo Jones had great semi heats but
came up short in the final, placing 5th. 

Sonya Richards Ross warms up
for the 200.  She had to wear a special
shoe as she's still healing from a foot
surgery.  She did not finish in the top three.

Near the finish line of the 400m hurdles
where Michael Tinsley 1st; Kerron
Clement 2nd and Bershawn "Batman"
Jackson 3rd.

Bershawn "Batman" Jackson takes his
victory lap after making the World
qualifying team in 400 hurdles.

The mass hysteria of "Cainsainty" took over in the 1500m
final.  Mary Cain (in the middle/front with long leg extended
straight out) finished 2nd and qualified for the World team
at 17 years old.

Matthew Centrowitz (in second in this photo) took home
the win in the 1500m final.

Allyson Felix won her heat (she's in the
lead)and took home a 2nd place final
finish in the 200m final.  

Kimberlyn Duncan took home 1st
place in her (leading in this photo)
and took home the win in the 200m
final, edging out Allyson Felix in a
great last 50 meter dash.

Kimberlyn Duncan (pink jacket) and Allyson Felix (brown
jacket) arrive to the women's 200m final.

Nick Symmonds celebrates his 2nd
place 800m finish by taking a victory
lap and signing autographs.

Tyson Gay easily wins his heat in the 200.  He also went
on to claim victory in the 200m final. 

Iowa native, Jenny Simpson who is fourth in this photo,
finished 1st in the 5000m final.  She has won a variety
of races for distance running and steeplechase competition.

Jenny Simpson has a very powerful
kick at the finish of the 5000m final.  

The top 110m hurdles line up for the final event on the final
day of the USA Track & Field Championships.

The 110m hurdles come firing out of the blocks.  Ryan
Wilson won, followed by David Oliver and Aries Merritt.