News

Aries Merritt - Athlete of the Year, Best of 2012

Aries Merritt’s season is the best season of all-time.

Dec 31, 2012

The Oregon Women - Team of the Year, Best of 2012

Familial structures are a constant debate among all cultures. Some love one another, some may bicker, and some are known for winning NCAA titles. The Oregon women aren’t just dominant, they’re a tightly knit family.

Dec 30, 2012

Alberto Salazar - Coach of the Year, Best of 2012

The 80,000 screaming fans in the Olympic stadium nearly drowned out the broadcast for the men’s 10,000m final. “Can it be a one-two for the Salazar group? It looks like it! Mo Farah takes gold for Great Britain, Galen Rupp takes second...”   In those last few meters, there was no one cheering louder than coach Alberto Salazar. The leader of the famed Nike Oregon Project is our 2012 Coach of the Year.   Salazar’s long-term development program brought three Olympic medals (two golds, one silver), the third fastest American marathoner of all-time, and some new faces that bring a lot of promise.   From the 1500m to the marathon, Salazar’s group reigned supreme in 2012.   "I don't consider it work,” Salazar told Flotrack. “I never think about it as work. Obviously you have to give it a description. It's so much fun for me going to Nike everyday.”   It wasn’t just their dominance this summer that made the Oregon Project so fun for Salazar, but their improvement from the prior year.   Rupp had set the American Record in the 10,000m, but finished 7th in the World Championship 10,000m. Farah had won gold in the 5,000m, but was out kicked in the 10,000m and had to settle for silver. Dathan Ritzenhein had picked up an achilles injury in December that was followed by a first surgery, then infection, and then a second surgery.   For some, there was little room for improvement, but the gap was still there. For others, this year was a test of elasticity both physically and metaphorically.   The patience, high-tech gadgets, and commitment to the goal lead this past year to be the breakout season for Salazar’s athletes.

Dec 30, 2012

David "The best 800m race, ever" Rudisha - Performance of the Year, Best of 2012

It wasn’t just the best race of the Olympic Games, but it was the best middle-distance race of all-time.   David Rudisha’s world record and gold medal winning time of 1:40.91 was an easy choice for the Performance of 2012.

Dec 29, 2012

Ashton Eaton - Record Breaker of the Year, Best of 2012

He kind of looks at me and smiles and says, “Not the American record Ashton, the world record.”   It’s not every year that we get to nominate or even award an athlete for Record Breaker of the Year. Even though we’ve seen so many unbreakable marks shattered in the past few seasons, the mystique of being better than all of those who have come before still remains.   Ashton Eaton’s decathlon world record of 9,039 points at the U.S. Olympic Trials takes this year’s prize. Even though there were two other qualified performances, we played a little musical chairs with the categories and everything seems to have worked out.   When the annual discussion for Athlete of Year arises, there’s always a case to be made for the multi-event athletes. If this were a matter of diction, Eaton is the world’s best athlete. Ten events over two days isn’t only a grueling physical endeavor, but the range of events requires someone of Herculean strength and form of the Diskobolus of Myron.   A modern day Greek demi-god with Hayward Field as his Pantheon, Ashton Eaton gave track and field fans two unforgettable days last summer.   If you want to relive, or vicariously experience the moments firsthand, then Brady Fritz is the man you seek. Fritz, now an Athletic Compliance Graduate Assistant at the University of Northern Iowa, had a great view on the backstretch at the U.S. Olympic Trials and put together a montage of each of Eaton’s events.

Dec 27, 2012

Cam Levins - Breakthrough of the Year, Best of 2012

“Last year showed me that as long as you don't set limits on how hard you can train, then the same can be said for races. I have continued to improve each year because there was never any doubt in my mind that I wouldn't as long as I put in the work to deserve it.”   He’s humble when he speaks, he’s all business on the track. The Mileage Machine, the CAMadian Wonder, Mr. Fantastic ‘Fro himself, Cameron Levins is our 2012 Breakthrough of the Year.   It’s pretty apt that when we talked to Levins before the Bowerman Awards, his interview was entitled “Cam Levins reflects on breakthrough season before 2012 Bowerman Awards.”

Dec 26, 2012

Tyreek "Never Heard of Me" Hill - Newcomer of the Year, Best of 2012

Newcomer of the Year - Tyreek Hill

Dec 26, 2012

Duane "Bet you didn't see me coming" Solomon- Surprise of the Year, Best of 2012

Surprise of the Year - Duane Solomon

Dec 26, 2012

Andrew Wheating - Funniest Athlete of the Year, Best of 2012

Funniest Athlete of the Year - Best of 2012

Dec 24, 2012

Twas the morning of Christmas and it was time for some fun...

Twas the morning of Christmas and it was time for some fun,

Dec 24, 2012