Adidas Outdoor Championships 2004

The first thing that I noticed when I got to the track at Texas A&M on Thursday afternoon was the focus of all the athletes that had gathered to work out. Despite the pouring rain - which was an evening staple for the weekend - everywhere I looked college athletes moved with a somber intensity I have not ever encountered at any high school meet.

The premier post season high school/college freshmen track and field meet was held at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, on June 25-27. The following athletes competed at this meet, and has a South Carolina connection.

John Blackburn sent in notable performances from the adidas Outdoor Championship that took place from June 18-19 in Raleigh.

We have posted photos of the West Catholic US Record Sprint Medley, along with most of the Pennsyvania athletes who achieved All-American status at last weekend\'s adidas Outdoor Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina. We have sorted through over 2,000 photos, and will be posting pix of other PA particpants the remainder of the week.

The lightning was nearby (OK, nine seconds for the sound). But it was vivid. Rain was coming. And meet management at the adidas Outdoor Championships suspended competition. So where would you go? I stayed under a big tent. Many headed for buildings. But a few...

\"I was so proud to be from Pennsylvania this weekend.\" Views of a state medalist who spent the weekend as a fan, cheering for fellow Pennsylvania athletes in Raleigh.

Photos of all of Pennsylvania\'s All-Americans at the adidas Outdoor Championships June 18-19 in Raleigh - girls. Congratulations to all who competed.

Photos of most of Pennsylvania\'s All-Americans at the adidas Outdoor Championships June 18-19 in Raleigh - boys. (Sorry, because of event conflicts, I missed Ryan Fritz of Octorara, 4th in the HJ, and Rob Rankin of Upper Saint Clair, 4th in the Shot Put. Fortunately, they are both juniors, so there\'s always next year.) Congratulations to all who competed.

Race photos of the US Record 3:52.22 1600 Sprint Medley Relay run by West Catholic at the adidas Outdoor Championships, June 18 in Raleigh, NC.

West Catholic (anchor Latavia Thomas) gets two relay All-American honors - one a National Record - plus Nicole Leach earns individual All-American status. Manheim Township super soph Craig Miller nearly takes the sophomore Class Mile Record to go with his Freshman Class 1600 National Record. Frances Koons, Allentown Central Catholic, closes out an incredible year and career with a 6th place All-American performance in what was the deepest prep Mile field in history. The Cumberland Valley boys nab All-American honors in two relays, as does Central Dauphin\'s Ryan Whiting in his two individual events. All-American awards are also earned by Easton\'s Lindsay Regan, who was not seriously injured in a nasty fall in the Pole Vault; plus Williamsport\'s Ruby Radocaj, South Park\'s Chad Radgowski, Octorara\'s Ryan Fritz, Upper Saint Clair\'s Rob Rankin, and the Cardinal O\'Hara boys.

Pennsylvania results @ the aoc Outdoor Championships, June 18-19, 2004 @ NC State, Raleigh, NC.

Photos from Day Two by Jason Byrne and Matt Baum of flrunners.

Photos from Day One taken by Jason Byrne and Matt Baum of flrunners.

It was a track fans\' ultimate dream meet. The best high school athletes in the country, packed into two days, pitted elite-vs-elite. And the results were beyond entertainment. I spent most of Fathers\' Day driving back from Raleigh, and have already posted PA results, quotes from West Catholic, Craig Miller and Frances Koons, and more. Tons of pix of many of PA\'s national elite competing in Raleigh are coming Tue and Wed. A special thanks to fellow track fans Dave and Janice Roberts, and their 5:00.04 1600, recently-graduated, Liberty-bound daughter Sarah for making the trip to and from NC seem much shorter, and a ton more enjoyable than it would have been without their presence. First thing Monday, it\'s PA results, some pix, quotes, and pix posted throughout the week. If you missed this meet, you missed something special.

Virginia was well represented at the adidas Outdoor Championships with Lashawn Merritt (200 & 400) and Sarah Bowman (800) winning national titles. A handful of others earned All-American honors including impressive performances by Christo Landry and the Westfield boys\' distance medley relay.

West Catholic (Philadelphia) sets US record in 1600 Sprint Medley of 3:52.22! Kneshia Sheard, Erica Ferguson, Nicole Leach, Latavia Thomas.

The adidas Outdoor Championships is taking place on the campus of North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh from June 18-19. This meet is assumed to be the nation

The performance lists are out for the adidas Outdoor Championships this coming Friday and Saturday in Raleigh, NC. And there are a few match-up you may have wanted to see in PA, but if you\'re making the trip, you can see in Raleigh. And late Sunday, Frances Koons is in the Mile after having second thoughts, and Auston Papay joins the top PA throwers in the Shot Put. A few scratches, but none of the top challengers, except for Tayvon Gray, Coatesville, in the Shot Put and Discus; and Tom Dance in the 110 Hurdles.

Frances Koons, just hours before the extended 6pm deadline for the adidas Outdoor Championships set for this Friday and Saturday in Raleigh, NC, entered the girls Mile. With some of the best high school talent ever assembled in one race, including Kaltenbach, Blood, Chock and others, the race features 11 state champions and 11 girls under 4:49.74.

John Blackburn was the head field judge at the 2004 Taco Bell Track and Field Classic. Blackburn will be the head field judge at the State Championships this weekend. Blackburn is one of 10 people that will serve as International Technical Official (ITO) at the Olympic Games in Athens.