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Preview of Women's Events at 2008 USATF Indoor Nationals
by: LetsRun.com
February 22, 2008


*Start lists
 


Nicole Teter in Her Prime
Women' 800: Can Nicole Teter Return to the Top?
This event is wide open as the US women have not been running very fast in 2008. Nicole Cook is the US leader with a 2:03.11 which doesn't even put her in the top 30 in the world.

The good news for the ladies running is that virtually everyone will have a chance to qualify for World Indoors in Valencia, Spain.

Cook, with the US leader, is obviously one to look out for. She was 2nd at both domestic professional meets that featured the 800, the Reebok Boston Games and the Tyson Invite (where she ran her US leader).

But the women to watch may be Nicole Teter. Teter became a dominant force on the US and world scene in 2002 when she set the American indoor record (1:58.71 at the US Champs in NY) and went on to win the Paris Golden League 1500. Teter hasn't been the same since because of injuries, but the Frank Gagliano Oregon Track Club athlete did dip under 2:00 last year. She's run once this year, a 2:03.80 win on the oversized track in Seattle 3 weeks ago. 2:03.80 is a long way from Teter's 1:58.71 American Record, but it may be good enough to get the job done this year.

Tiffany McWilliams is entered in the 800 and 1500, and has run 2:03.17 this year. However, she was only fifth at Tyson in 2:04.62. Sasha Spencer has done her racing in Europe this summer and has run well. She got the win in Linz Austria in 2:03.82 and was 2nd in Glasgow.

Predictions 1) Spencer 2) Teter 3) Cook

Women's 1500: Christin Wurth-Thomas The Heavy Favorite
This may sound a bit strange, but the race is Christin Wurth-Thomas's to lose. Wurth-Thomas was a multiple time NCAA all-American at Arkansas, but never finished higher than 3rd at NCAAs. She has had steady improvement in the professional ranks and appears to be putting all the pieces of the puzzle together at the right time in this Olympic year.

Wurth-Thomas made the World Championship team last year with her runner-up finish at Nationals. She has followed that up with 2 stellar runs to start the season. First up was the 3000 at the Reebok Boston Games. She was 4th in a 22 second pr of 8:54. In the past, Wurth-Thomas has been more of an 800-mile runner than mile-3k. She showed that to be the case when she ran the mile at the Tyson Invite. She destroyed the field, winning by nearly 5 seconds in 4:27.18 an American Record* (*record by a non convicted drug cheat).

In the field at Tyson was the other breakthrough athlete so far in 2008 in the mile, Jenelle Deatherage. Deatherage got the surprise win at Reebok and was 2nd to Wurth-Thomas at Tyson.

Others to watch are Olympian Carrie Tollefson (way back at Tyson), former NCAA star Tiffany McWilliams, the comeback kid Jen Toomey, Amy Mortimer, Sara Hall (2nd at Millrose), and Lindsey Gallo.

Predictions: Wurth-Thomas dominated at Tyson and no one else has shown they are in the same ballpark so far this year.
1) Wurth-Thomas 2) Deatherage 3) Mortimer


Jen Rhines Now Prefers the Track

Women's 3000m: Jen Rhines Getting Faster With Age
Olympian and former marathoner Jen Rhines, who returned to the shorter distances with a vengeance in 2007, looks to be the favorite in the race. Rhines ran 9:35 for 2 miles at Reebok. Christin Wurth-Thomas has the next fastest time, but we assume she'll just run the mile. Former US 10k champ Katie McGregor had a subpar race in the 2 mile at Boston, running 9:58, but she has to be considered one of the favorites based on her past success and her 4th place finish at US Cross. Amy Hastings, 8th at US Cross, is also in the field as is Shannon Rowbury who has been training with the incredible Shalane Flanagan in Mexico.
Predictions: 1) Jen Rhines 2) Shannon Rowbury 2) Katie McGregor

Other Highlights:
The women's pole vault is a competitive event for perhaps the first time ever in the US. For a while Stacy Dragila dominated and then last year it was Jenn Stuczynski. However, Stuczynski has looked vulnerable this year. She lost to Jillian Schwartz at Millrose and then last week at Tyson, she, Schwartz, and Lacy Janson all went 15' 2" with Stuczynski winning on misses. The vault could be the most exciting event in the field on the women's side.

In the women's 60, Angela Williams has two world indoor silver medals and the 2nd and 3rd best times in the world this year. Indoors is her specialty and she should win but could be challenged by Carmelita Jeter, who got the bronze in the 100 last year outdoors at Worlds. In the high jump, Amy Acuff started the year off with an American record attempt in Tyson and should win but could be challenged by Chaunte Howard, the 2005 World Outdoor champ, who is coming back from maternity leave.

*Start lists
(Tickets still available in Boston. TV 5-7pm Eastern ESPN2)


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