Westfield tops Kingston (JAM) in the COA 4x800 with a time of 7:39.73.  Potomac (MD) 4th in the COA 4x100m, first US team! (Photo by Don Rich)

In the much-anticipated USA versus the World competition during the final day of the 118th Penn Relays Carnival, the Americans put on a show for the nearly 50,000 that filled the stands at Franklin Stadium by sweeping all six events. (Photo by Don Rich)

No lead is safe. No lead is safe, at least when it’s Edward Cheserek.  The St. Benedict NJ junior didn’t disappoint the fans gathered at Franklin Stadium Friday night for the 118th Penn Relays Carnival. (Photo by Don Rich)

The first day of the high school competition at the 118th Penn Relays Carnival couldn’t have had a better ending. Tatnall celebrates a Relays record in the DMR. (Photo by Aaron Rich)

Tyson Gay surprises sprinter Levonte Whitfield in person with ‘Golden Ticket’

Jones sprinter Levonte "Kermit" Whitfield received a surprise at his track practice when star Tyson Gay delivered the news that Whitfield would be invited to the prestigious Adidas Dream 100 in New York City.

INDIANAPOLIS - With less than 100 days until the 2012 Olympic Games, a record number of athletes and countries will compete at the 13th edition of USA vs. the World at the 118th Penn Relays in Philadelphia, this Saturday.

To some, winning a Penn Relays Gold Watch is a goal just as, and even sometimes moreso important than winning a national championship.  Watches are awarded only to the overall American winners in Championship of America events at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, kicking off for the 118th time next Thursday at Franklin Field.  In some cases, most notably the sprints, it is harder to win a spot on the top of the medal stand than it is to win a national championship.  This fact is because of the international draw the relays bring to Philly; currently, there are 62 schools registered that are not from the United States, with Jamaica the most represented foreign country with 32 individual schools.  For some, winning a watch means beating the world. While the main events remain the short relays, specifically the 4x100m and 4x400m, the distance relays and open events are available on an invite basis.  And with the the high quality meet comes a high caliber field in each of the 4 invitational distance events.  We broke down the competition to help you see where the action may take place.

To some, winning a Penn Relays Gold Watch is a goal just as, and even sometimes moreso important than winning a national championship.  Watches are awarded only to the overall American winners in Championship of America events at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, kicking off for the 118th time next Thursday at Franklin Field.  In some cases, most notably the sprints, it is harder to win a spot on the top of the medal stand than it is to win a national championship.  This fact is because of the international draw the relays bring to Philly; currently, there are 62 schools registered that are not from the United States, with Jamaica the most represented foreign country with 32 individual schools.  For some, winning a watch means beating the world. While the main events remain the short relays, specifically the 4x100m and 4x400m, the distance relays and open events are available on an invite basis.  And with the the high quality meet comes a high caliber field in each of the 4 invitational distance events.  We broke down the competition to help you see where the action may take place.

  Lacey Dent, St. Paul’s all-around great

PRINCETON — Donn Cabral could be the poster boy for Princeton University athletes. Actually, bubble boy would be more like it. The senior track standout has already qualified for next month’s Olympic Trials in the steeplechase event, and, as a two-time runnerup in the NCAA Nationals, he is leaving nothing to chance.

Drew Magaha is just figuring out this cross country thing. His first goal this year was to break 16. Did it in the first meet. One thing is for sure, when Drew puts his mind to something, he has the tools to make it happen, with both talent and a laser focus.

MileSplit U catches up with one of the upcoming coaches in the nation to discuss the revamping of the track and cross country programs at the Academy of Art University.

  East Kentwood HS Track & Field Team, Michigan state champs the last three years

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with middle-distance standout Alexis Panisse from Benjamin Cardozo HS in New York.  Alexis was the first Foot Locker finalist from NY City and continued her success indoors. (Photo by Don Rich)

Drew Magaha, Sr, Upper Moreland HS, PA; 800 – 1:48.82, Abington Inv, 4/20

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with javelin superstar Haley Crouser from Gresham HS in Oregon.  Haley has big expectations for the 2012 outdoor season, especially with the Olympic Trials coming this summer.  Few could predict, however, that she would come out in her first meet, the Aloha Relays, and launch a HS record toss of 181-02!

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Tianna Valentine is going back to New York.  The Hazelwood East (Mo.) senior earned her golden ticket to the Adidas Dream 100 with a blazing 11.66 Saturday at the KU Relays.

Cayla Hatton went US#7 AT in the 5000m in 16:14.99 while Ajee Wilson won the 800m with a time of 2:05.28. (Photo by Charles Stone)

Day One Recap of the action at the 2012 Kansas Relays.  Ezekiel Elliot won the 300H finals in 38.60. 

Four-time Georgia State XC Champion, Three-time Foot Locker Finalist, Featured in Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd, a Multi-time Gatorade XC Runner of the Year for Georgia and National All-American. Grace Tinkey speaks to the XC Nation. After finishing 6th at the 2011 Foot Locker National Championships the First Presbyterian Day School junior has sights set on becoming the first-ever 5-time State cross country champion in US history. (via XCNation)

  Davis High School, Kaysville, Utah, Track & Field Team

  Fort Collins High School (CO) Track & Field Team

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with multi-athlete Kendell Williams from Kell HS in Georgia.  Kendell recently opened her outdoor season with marks of 5-10 (HJ), 20-6 (LJ) and 13.64 (100H).  Check out her interview below as she tackles her season one meet and one result at a time!

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with sprinter Michael Newton from Sprayberry HS in Georgia.  Michael recently dipped under 47 outdoor for the first time in the 400m.  Watch out for him at the outdoor season progresses toward the New Balance Outdoor Nationals!

Dee Dee Trotter has had a wonderful career. She has notched national and world championships, a professional contract, and an Olympic gold medal as part of the 2004 4x400 Team USA. Since then she has struggled with injuries and overcome obsticles, but off the track she's had an amazing impact through her foundation "Test Me I'm Clean" whose mission is to stamp out the epidemic of performance enhancing drugs.

Running runs rampant in the Perrin household. Zach was born in sunny San Diego, and as  a youngster his family packed up and moved from Minnesota the land of 10,000 lakes, to the beautiful outdoors of Montana.  Zach is one of four children and says his parents introduced him to the running world when he was in the 4th grade.

The 32nd-place finisher at the Olympic Marathon Trials bounces back in a big way. (via Competitor.com)

Texas pole-vaulter Shawn Barber, a senior at Kingwood Park, didn’t become the nation’s best by accident.  The progression to his personal best of 17 feet, 8 inches, set at the beginning of March, was a steady process that first began six years ago on the family’s farm in New Mexico. (Photo by Don Rich)

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with thrower Christine Streisel from Tamaqua HS in Pennsylvania.  Christine recently popped a big 160-11 PR in the javelin at the Tamaqua Blue Raider Invitational, making her US#2 in the event.  Christine is ready to go this season, with the Penn Relays just around the corner it is not a bad time to be throwing so well!

  Haley Crouser, Jr, Gresham HS, OR; Javelin -  181’2”, new USA high school record, Aloha Relays, 4/13

We interupt our district coverage, just to bring you another quick reminder about FloCoach. We partnered with our friends at FloTrack to help them promote their new series of training and technique videos because we believe it is really quality content that can help you improve.

Haley Crouser joins brother Sam and cousin Ryan as National Record holders in track and field with a javelin throw of 181-02!!

April  2012: In New York City, Olympic greats Sanya Richards-Ross (Gold/Bronze Medalist, track & field), Cullen Jones (Gold Medalist, swimming, 2008 Olympics), Christie Rampone (Gold/Silver Medalist, soccer),  Amanda McGrory (Paralympic Gold/Silver/Bronze Medalist, track & field), and Dominique Dawes (Gold/Bronze Medalist, gymnastics), along with Citi CEO Vikram Pandit unveiled the “Every Step of the Way” program to support US Olympics and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls of all ages in communities across America.  

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with distance ace Craig Nowak from Cypress Woods HS in Texas.  Craig recently popped a big breakthrough with an 8:49.12 PR over 3200m at the Arcadia Invitational, placing 3rd.  Craig is in great shape so watch out for him this season!  Check out what he has to say below!

Former FSU standouts Ngoni Makusha, Hannah England, and Ciaran O'Lionaird talk about their time at Florida State, success on the next level, advice for high school runners, and much more.

Universal Sports Network will provide live television and online coverage of the 2012 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. The marathon will air on Universal Sports Network, with live streaming presented free by TIMEX GPS® available on UniversalSports.com and through a link on BAA.org. The television and online coverage will showcase more than 20,000 runners tackling the historic 26.2 mile course, including many of the world’s elite marathoners. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) (via universalsports.com)

North Central High School distance runner Futsum Zeinasellassie has committed to Northern Arizona University, according to coach Rick Stover. (via Indianapolis Star)

  Chandler (AZ) High School Girls Track & Field Team

Year 20!!  Quite a milestone.  It all started with the first “rubber” track at Spring Valley and a commitment by Coach Jones to make it a little bit better each year.  No doubt he does make it better each year.  What a palace Harry Parone stadium has become.  Combine Coach Jones’ desire to put on a meet that athletes will remember at a high school facility that is second to none and you end up with some pretty rich tradition.  

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with NY thrower Rudy Winkler from Averill Park HS in New York.  Rudy recently threw the Hammer a US#4 All-Time distance of 248-5 at the Sam Howell meet in NJ.  Rudy is ready to go this season and lets you know all about it below! (Photo by Jack Labriola)

MileSplit, the nation's leading destination for high school track & field coverage, announced today that they have launched a channel for the Roku device. The Roku is a small three-inch set top box that connects to any modern television, allowing a wide range of video content to be streamed to the big screen via a wireless internet connection.

The Lukas Verzbicas phenomenon is no one-off. It's sky is raining elite prep runners who are triathletes first and runners second. The latest is track speedster Daniel Vertiz, and we had a few words with him. (via Slowtwitch.com)

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with Sophomore Ky Westbrook from Chandler HS in Arizona.  Ky has PR's of 11.65 in the 100m and 24.09 in the 200m.  Judging from what you read below she is ready to go this outdoor season! (Photo by Margot Kelly)

In just a few short years the Spruce Creek track team has ballooned from about 50 kids to 236 athletes this year.

  Kendell Williams, 11, Kell HS, GA; 100H – 13.64, LJ – 20’6”, HJ – 5’10”

After setting 24 records during the indoor season, Bronxville standout Mary Cain has her eye toward a bigger goal: To qualify for this year's U.S. Olympic trials. (via The Journal News | LoHud.com)

You've all seen someone settng the pace in a major race, the rabbit as they call them in the track and field world. In the spirit of the holidays I started thinking how come they never get any love? After all a great rabbit can help a runner to a new personal best, meet record, or even world leading time. Saucony 800 runner Molly Beckwith and former Indiana University teammate and rabbit for this race have a little fun with our Todd Grasley.

Devon Allen won 3 individual events and 2 relays at Arcadia, named performer of the meet! Distance races and relays excite! Much more inside! (File photo by Margot Kelly)

In less than two years, the Wheeling Park, WV multisport star has gone from high jump first-timer to prized recruit of the most decorated collegiate track and field program. And according to his coach, you most likely haven’t seen anything yet. (Photo by Phil Grove)

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with National Record Holder Shelbi Vaughan from Mansfield Legacy HS in Texas.  Shelbi popped a 191-6 in the Discus at the Texas Relays to take down Anna Jelmini's 2009 record of 190-3.  Check out more from Shelbi below!

  Shelbi Vaughan, Mansfield Legacy HS, TX; Discus – 191’6” (new U.S. HS record)

We continue with All-American Thomas Graham from Cary Academy in North Carolina.  Thomas ran in the collegiate 5000m section 2 at the Raleigh Relays and finished 6th with a US#15 All-Time clocking of 14:11.66. (Photo by Don Rich)

After a grueling cross-country season where she won her first state title, placed second at the Foot Locker Nationals and competed in her first race overseas, Erin Finn was ready for a break. The Michigan runner, a junior at West Bloomfield High, just needed some time off from nearly five months of some hardcore training and racing. (Photo by Don Rich)

We know there have been many questions regarding this year's Nike Track Nationals event and wanted to share this note from Nike."We can confirm that there will not be a Nike Track Nationals event this year. We are still committed to youth runners through a variety of programs and events and thank everyone who has participated in NTN."All of the archives will remain viewable at NikeTrackNationals.com 2011 Webcast Replays | Results | Photos2010 Webcast Rep (via RunnerSpace.com)

Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with relative unknown distance sensation Cayla Hatton from Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts.  Cayla ran 33:17.28 for 10k, US#2 All-Time and the fastest by a 17 year old athlete ever! (Photo by Peter Rufo)

A recent study has shown that track & field is has been gaining too much popularity in the United States.  MileSplit has been successful in this enterprise, but feels as though it is no longer a challenge.