Hooker is flying – US Olympic Trials, Day 1

The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials got off with a bang yesterday (27), and the explosives were supplied by Marshevet Hooker.

The tall Texan from San Antonio posted the fastest time in the first-round heats of the women's 100 metres, 10.94 (+2.2), then came back two hours later to win her quarter-final in 10.76 (+3.4), the fastest any woman has covered 100 metres in this century. Only four others have run faster ever, under any conditions.

Behind Hooker in that first quarter-final were 2007 World silver medallist Lauren Williams (10.86), Mechelle Lewis (10.95) and Alexandria Anderson (10.98). The second quarter-final (wind-legal at +0.7), was won by Osaka bronze medallist Carmelita Jeter in 10.97, edging Allyson Felix' 10.98, with Angela Williams third in 11.06 and Bianca Knight in 11.07, which makes Knight the second-fastest American and fifth-fastest world junior performer ever over 100m.

The third and last quarter was of equal quality. Torri Edwards, fourth in Osaka, won in 10.85 (+2.3), followed by Muna Lee (10.89), Gloria Asumnu, 11.02, and Ashaunte'a Moore, 11.04.

Both Hooker and Edwards showed impressive mid-race bursts to establish their winning margins. The semis and final will be held Saturday (28) afternoon.

In the evening's only final, the women's 10,000 metres, the winner was American record holder Shalane Flanagan, who outkicked Osaka bronze medallist Kara Goucher, 31:34.81 to 31:37.72. Third was taken by Amy Begley, who, needing a final 800m in 2:20 to achieve the Olympic "A" standard of 31:45, gutted out a 67.6 last 400 to hit the finish line in 31:43.60. As one observer said, "That really was an Olympic Trials Moment." So the U.S. will take three women to contest the Beijing 10,000m.

In the Heptathlon, Hyleas Fountain opened the day with a 12.61 100-metre hurdles and closed it with a 23.31 200m to end the day with 3989, 239 points up on Diana Pickler's 3750, with NCAA champion Jacquelyn lying third at 3717. There's a good chance they will end up in the same positions tomorrow (28).

Good qualifying marks included Miguel Pate, with an 8.24 Long Jump (+1.2); the dominant men's Shot Put trio of Adam Nelson (21.03m), Reese Hoffa (20.99), and Christian Cantwell (20.82); and Stephanie Trafton's 63.61 in the women's Discus Throw.

Notable non-qualifiers included American women's Triple Jump record holder Tiombe Hurd, who could produce only a windy 13.36m; 48.02 man Michael Tinsley and 48.15 man Kenneth Ferguson, both of whom failed to advance in the men's 400m Hurdles; and Alyssia Johnson, 2007 NCAA 800m hampion with a best of 2:00.57, who could manage only 2:06.43.