In a week which marked the ending of a dominant start to 2015 for Altis, this week’s performance highlights include Personal Records, a National Championships medal and a World Championship win in the Bobsled.
“It’s been a really successful indoor season” said Performance Director Stuart McMillan. “We saw a number of Personal Records and a few of our athletes competed internationally against top-class competition.”
“We are confident that this indoor campaign will give us good positive momentum as we head into the outdoor season. A number of individual performances really stood out, especially those from Akeem Haynes, Muna Lee and our hurdlers – capped off with Aries Merritt running his fastest time since his record breaking season in 2012.”
As the sun sets on the indoor season, the next phase of competition is now dawning on the horizon: “It is now time to put one or two training cycles together before the outdoor season begins” McMillan concluded.
USATF National Championships
The 2015 USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships returned to the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston – beginning Friday, February 27 and running through to Sunday, March 1.
Friday saw Kaylon claim the bronze medal in the Pentathlon, boasting a new PR score of 4317 points. Eppinger’s breakdown saw her run 8.30s in 60m hurdles, jump 1.77m in the high jump, throw 13.07m in the shot put, leap to 5.70m in the long jump, and finish with a time of 2:19.96 in the 800m.
With more to give, just two days later she returned to the start line to run a PR in 60m Hurdles with 8.12s to qualify for the finals, where she placed 5th in a time of 8.16s.
“I had such an amazing experience here at the USATF Indoor National meet” said the University of Alabama Graduate: “I competed my heart out and the hard work was shown. I had a great support system on my back – I can’t thank you all enough.”
Following a run of 6.70s in the prelims, Ryan qualified for the 60m finals, finishing 7th in a time of 6.78s
FIBT World Championships – Winterberg
Altis athlete Elana Meyers Taylor and her team-mate Cherrelle Garrett made history in Winterberg, Germany on Saturday as the first American women to win a bobsled World Championship title. Meyers Taylor also became the first U.S. driver, male or female, in 56 years to win a World Championship gold medal on a non-North American track.
“I am overwhelmed with emotion right now, I am so happy,” Meyers Taylor said. “It all came together thanks to great coaches, teammates and staff. Everybody worked so hard to get this, and I’m just so grateful and thankful.”
Meyers Taylor has been dominant this season, winning six of the eight World Cup races, and is the first U.S. women’s bobsled pilot to capture the overall World Cup title since Jean Prahm took the crown in 2001.
“I don’t think I can really grasp it all yet,” Meyers Taylor said. “I’m always focused on what’s in front of me, and it’s just amazing, I can’t believe it. To have such a strong program and be able to contribute to that history is really amazing. I can’t really put it into words right now, I’m just overwhelmed.”
Malmo Games, Sweden
Wednesday evening at the Malmo arena saw Aries Merritt finish an excruciatingly close 2nd to Cuban Orlando Ortega by 1000ths, running a season’s best of 7.52s in the process.
Muna Lee placed third in a close finish in the 60m, running a time of 7.27s.
With a leap of 6.84m in the final round, Christabel Nettey placed third by 1cm. All three of her final rounds were over 6.80m.
