Ralph LIndeman Reports From Osaka (#4)
9/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Aug. 29, 2007
Air Force track and field head coach Ralph Lindeman is currently in Osaka, Japan, serving as the Head Manager for the United States' men's track and field team at the 11th-Annual International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Outdoor Championships for Athletics. Lindeman took time out of his schedule with Team USA to let Air Force fans know what he has been up to.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29
Day Five was a great day for Team USA, not so great for Dana (Pounds). She threw in the qualifying round of women's javelin this morning and threw around 4 meters (13-feet) under her personal-best and did not advance to Friday's finals ... she had a difficult week physically, but will make no excuses herself. I was able to take off my duties at the warm-up track and "call room" to go into the stadium and watch her. She also had a sizable group of her teammates who made the long bus ride to the stadium just to watch her -- evidence of her popularity amongst the USA team. I snapped several photos of her in competition, but unfortunately they're not digital so will not be able to show them until my return.
I was really proud of Dana's effort, as should be all Falcon fans. One's first experience competing at a global championship like this one is always a learning experience, just as one who first qualifies for and competes at the NCAA Championships. I'm confident her experience here will stand her well come next summer in Beijing.
Later last night I watched one of the most stirring races of the Championships so far for the USA. Two Americans, Alan Webb and Bernard "Kip" Lagat were in the finals of the men's 1500-meters, unprecedented in recent U.S. track history. Alan Webb led much of the race but Kip kept himself no further back than third throughout the race and then had a brilliant kick to earn a smashing victory. I've gotten to know Bernard and his family -- wife and two-year old son -- quite well over the past two weeks, and he, like Dana, is one of the most popular athletes on the team. He has a marvelously positive attitude and upbeat and engaging personality. His coach, James Li, is a longtime friend and we've worked together on USA teams before. Kip has lived in the US for the past 11 years since starting college at Washington State, and became a naturalized citizen in 2004 -- this was his first time representing the U.S. in a World Championships competition and he was so proud to represent his new country. On his victory lap he grabbed a U.S. flag from a spectator and waved it as he strode around the track. He was momentarily stopped while they had a victory ceremony (for women's 100-meter hurdle champion, Michelle Perry), and during the playing of the national anthem, he broke down in tears for everyone in the stadium and all over the world to see on television. What a guy and what a country!
