World Indoor provides unique and lasting memories

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It was something this crowd had never seen before. On a day of finals that resulted in first-time medal winners, some coming in events the U.S. had never won in before, and the rise of new stars going into an Olympic year, the U.S. put together two relays that matched the level of competition and took their 22 and 23 medals to break the record for most medals of any country at a single World Indoors.

Natasha Hastings burst out of the blocks for U.S.A. to take the lead and never looked back. As they raced around the corner with the crowd cheering, Jamaica's first leg fell, unable to get up. The crowd hushed while the rest of the teams raced on. Medical attention was called over and eventually used a wheelchair to get the injured runner.

From there, the U.S. steadily built on their lead. Natasha Hayes and Courtney Okolo both split 51 seconds for the second and third laps while Ashley Spencer capped off the finish almost five seconds ahead of the field. Their final time of 3 minutes, 26.38 seconds is the world leading time this year and the fastest time run by any team indoors on U.S. soil.

Poland, Romania, and Nigeria battled for the other podium spots switching leads throughout the race. Poland finished second in 3:31.15 and Romania took third in 3:31.51.

To finish the day and the championships, the U.S. men's victory was almost as definitive. Kyle Clemons matched the Bahamas stride for stride on the first leg, but an excellent handoff to Calvin Smith allowed the U.S. to start to separate. Smith handed off to Chris Giesting who was able to gain a few steps ahead of the field. On the final leg, Vernon Norwood took the baton and immediately created a visible gap as the crowd gasped. The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica were left to sort out the rest of the places.

Team U.S.A.'s 3:02.45 leads the world this year and is the third fastest ever run indoors. Bahamas' second place 3:04.75 and Trinidad and Tobago's third place 3:05.51 both set new national indoor records.

As the crowds dispersed, they discussed what they had seen. Tomas Rees' favorite event was the relay and long jump. He came with his dad David. And while he is more of a soccer fan, he said he was impressed. He was even able to take a photo with Mo Farah (did not compete) who also happened to be in the crowd.

They reside in Portland and since David was a runner in high school and college, he is a longtime fan. They planned to attend shortly after tickets went on sale. Others came from Bend, OR, San Francisco, CA, the East Coast, and all over as fans mingled with longtime followers of the sport, Masters athletes, former Olympians, current professionals (particularly those in the Portland training groups like Mo Farah, Shalane Flanagan, Amy Hastings Cragg, and others), and people who had never seen anything like this before.

The organizing committee gave high school relays time during the meet which brought in their coaches and families who had never been to a meet of this scope while there were still people who had attended multiple Olympic Trials and other events throughout the years.

Medal ceremonies were held in Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland and people wandered in and out to see what was going on on one of the first nice weekends Portland experienced all winter. On Saturday afternoon, kids ran up and down on the green turf while their parents enjoyed the sun. And that evening during the medals ceremony, the square was full of track fans who got to high-five athletes on their way up to the medals podium and then hang out with them after as some chose to wander through the crowd while the live band played. As the Portland Timbers game finished, some of those attendees trickled in to see what was going on.

Rees enjoyed the format of the meet. "I thought they staged it particularly well. The meet moved really quickly. The way they engaged the crowd was great," he said. "I really, really liked the way they did the pole vault on Thursday night. I've gone to a lot of track meets and I've watched the pole vault in passing, but to actually have a focus on it made it much more interesting and kind of got to know the jumpers more because you're watching them in sequence and paying more attention to it. I thought that was a stroke of brilliance."

And for him and his son, having been so close to the action will make this summer's Rio Olympics much more relatable. Rees said, "I'll probably root for some of the people I watched here."

Michelle Carter delivers under pressure

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Hungary's Anita Marton had just hurled herself to the lead in the final round of the women's shot put at the IAAF World Indoor Championships after trailing in third for most of the competition, but New Zealand's two-time Olympic gold medalist Valerie Adams and the U.S.A.'s nine-time national champion Michelle Carter, who had led the entire competition, were to follow.

Adams, coming off an abbreviated 2015 season due to shoulder surgery and working to maintain her position as one of the sports premiere throwers, readied herself and stepped into the ring. It came up short.

Carter stepped into the ring after a brief break while Boris Berian of the U.S. stormed to a win in the men's 800 meters bringing the sold-out crowd in the Oregon Convention Center to a roar. Carter crouched and jumped backward, throwing the shot and immediately raising one hand in the air.

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Carter had never placed higher than bronze at an international competition in spite of her senior career extending back to 2005. In head-to-head contests with Adams, she lost 39 straight. But in the last four, Carter has found a breakthrough while Adams struggles to return to her former dominance.

They are a study in contrasts. Adams is tall and comes out of the introduction tunnel with a wave, but bouncing on her toes a bit like a boxer entering the ring. Carter uses both her hands to wave while grinning and twisting from side to side acknowledging the full crowd.

On the field, both are relatively silent. Carter retreats to the track and the infield in between throws to continue practice and often stands staring off with her hands on her hips, but is relatively still. Adams, on the other hand, is usually in some form of slight motion - shifting her weight from side to side, short pacing, and rewrapping her many wraps - both knees, all the fingers of her throwing arm, her back brace, and elbow. While the rest of the field seems a little more ready to make small talk, both Adams and Carter are aloof. They may watch other throwers, but generally don't look to see how far the throw went.

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On the first round of the competition, Adams threw seventh and went straight into the lead. Carter followed with a foul that careened off the net and knocked into the markers. But while Adams' second throw didn't improve, Carter's was able to take the lead. Carter was able to match every increase as she threw last in the order.

And while the rest of the infield was busy getting crowd support, the women's shot putters were stoic. The men's triple jumpers kept motioning to get the crowd clapping as they lined up on the runway. The men's high jumpers would dance with each clearance, performing their versions of touchdown dances. But the women's shot putters would simply slap their hands together or walk up to the railing to talk with their coaches, showing little emotion and biding their time.

On the third attempt, Adams would take the lead at 19.25 only to have Carter improve to 19.31 on the very next throw after which the field was cut to the top eight throwers. Adams intentionally fouled on her fourth throw and Carter fouled her fifth and they cut the field to four as meet organizers tested a new format to allow full attention for the final throws.

Carter's last throw improved Marton's mark (19.33 meters) by nearly a meter. Her 20.21 meters set a new American indoor record. Adams settled for bronze with 18.31 meters, unable to earn her fifth consecutive world title.

As the sold-out crowd gave Carter a standing ovation, Carter's face finally broke into a smile and the competitors loosened up - clapping, cheering and hugging. Carter's U.S.A. teammate Jillian Carmina-Williams, whose record Carter bettered, made a beeline for Carter while Adams managed the throng and soon started to pack up her backpack.

At the medal ceremony, the throwers entered through the crowd at Pioneer Courthouse Square, high-fiving fans on both sides. Carter accepted her first gold and the first American gold in this event. As the flags were raised and anthem played, Carter beamed. When asked afterward what it meant to have the energy of the crowd for her final throw, Carter said, "To have this sort of championship here at home, and to have everybody here with their love and support cheering for me, I really appreciate it." And the crowd drowned out the rest.

Transporting Tracktown

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Eugene, Oregon is known for both its history and knowledge of track and field. This weekend as Portland hosted the US Indoor Championships 100 miles north of Eugene, the organizing committee (also known as TrackTown USA) attempted to infuse some of that Hayward magic to the Oregon Convention Center as a goal to get more of the state involved.

There was plenty of green, including the surface of the new indoor track built just for this event because there wasn't one in the whole state of Oregon. In the early months of 2016, they had it set up in a warehouse in Portland dubbed the "House of Track" and ran Friday night meets featuring the many professional athletes based in Oregon to test it out. Between those meets, community users, and even school events, 10,000 people used the track according to Vin Lannana, president of TrackTown USA.

March 11th and 12th were the first glimpse at the results of their effort. On Friday afternoon 3,816 attended to watch the weight throws, prelims, and most of the men's field events. They were rewarded with world leading marks for 2016, the appearance of many athletes they could be watching in Rio later this summer and consistency from many of the favorites as the top two advanced to next week's IAAF World Indoor Championship.

Colin Dunbar grabbed his first US title in the weight throw after throwing a personal best of 23.96 meters as he defeated three-time Olympian A.G. Kruger. Unlike the hammer throw outdoors, the crowd was able to line the gates all the way down the runway as the throwers competed behind the stands.

Saturday's crowd of 5,244 people saw a pair of women win their first US championships over seasoned veterans: Vashti Cunningham set a new high school and junior record in the high jump in addition to a world-leading jump this year and Sandi Morris set two PRs as she cleared 16 feet for the first (and second) time defeating Jenn Suhr and notching the fourth-highest jump of all time. Both were also coached by their dads. Cunningham is the daughter of Randall Cunningham, former NFL quarterback.

Morris' regular coach, Brian Compton, was coaching at NCAAs (also held this weekend) so her father, Harry Morris, stepped in. "He was a decathlete back in the day so he knows enough about pole vault to help me through so my dad was there for my first 16-foot jump so I'm very happy," said Morris.

On the track, Barbara Pierre won the 60 meters in 7.00 seconds to match the world-lead so far this year. Brenda Martinez won her first U.S. championship with a 4:08.37 in the 1500. Favorites Boris Berian (800 meters) and Vernon Norwood (400 meters) moved through relatively easily.

The athletes mentioned time and again both their enjoyment of the facility, but also the crowd and their knowledge of track and field. Like at Hayward, the jumpers and vaulters were thrilled to be able to get the crowd involved with rhythmic clapping on the runway.

"The fans especially were very supportive and just the track and field knowledge you guys have out here is incredible. It's refreshing," said Morris after the competition.

But the championships also featured races like the 3000 meter race walks and women's Masters mile. And even for those races, the crowd brought the spirit of Hayward.

"The crowd was great. Every time I came around, it was like the wave - they would cheer," said Sonja Friend-Uhl who won the Master's mile in 4:56.87.

As athletes from all over the world begin to arrive in Portland, it will be interesting to see the response. In addition to innovations like a runway and entry tunnel for introducing athletes and the format of the pole vault having its own event, the medals will all be awarded not in the arena, but instead in downtown Portland.

For both the fans and the athletes, it promises to be quite the experience.

Records are made to be broken and they were at day 2 of USATF Indoors

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On day two of the USATF Indoor Championships, eighteen-year-old Vashti Cunningham delivered what many track fans hoped. As she cleared 1.99 meters for a new high school record, the 5,244 people in attendance burst into cheers. The outdoor U.S. Juniors High Jump champion set a new high school record and won her first senior women's U.S. title in what could be the beginning of a journey to Rio later this summer.

Cunningham admitted after to being a little surprised by the attention from the crowd on the apron. "They were excited from the beginning. I'm not really used to people getting that excited about 5'8 or 5'10 so it was good to have them there," said Cunningham.

She jumped cleanly through 1.96 meters when runner-up Elizabeth Patterson was unable to clear. Cunningham decided to go for the next height anyway.

"I've been looking at these girls from out of the country and our U.S. pros and hoping that one day I could be up there with them," said Cunningham.

Cunningham now finds herself among them. None of the U.S. women's high jumpers have the IAAF World championship standard so Cunningham is not an automatic qualifier, however, the IAAF still has the option to extend invitations based on the 2015 outdoor and 2016 indoor results.

Chaunte Lowe, the current U.S. record holder, was excited about what the competition means for the rest of the Olympic year. Lowe said, "It's exciting. . .to have good competition, there's been so many years when I've had to jump by myself so actually to have competition pushing me, it's exactly what I needed."

Sandi Morris joined Jenn Suhr and Demi Payne as U.S. pole vaulters who have topped 4.90 meters this year. After struggling early, Morris was able to make 4.90 for her personal best and then increased to 4.95 for both the victory and another PR with a gain of 15 centimeters in one day.

"Once I made 4.90 today, the pressure was lifted from my chest and I just ran down and did the exact same jump that I did on the previous bar and I made 0.95 as well," said Morris. "I screamed and ran around on the pit and it was a dream come true."

Payne, the defending U.S. indoor champion, finished third and Jenn Suhr, the World record holder finished second. Today's competition was only the second competition to have multiple vaulters go over 16-feet; the last time was last month at the Millrose Games.

In the men's 1500, Robby Andrews repeated his performance from the 2015 U.S. Outdoors when he charged from the pack and overtook the leaders, including Matt Centrowitz temporarily, to finish second and advance to the World Championships. Together, Centrowitz and Andrews charged down the homestretch with Centrowitz finally gaining about a step right before the finish. Andrews split 26.73 seconds for his final lap

Once again, Ben Blankenship led the race through 1300 meters but found himself at the finish on the outside looking in again. Blankenship said, "If you watched U.S. Outdoors, it looked about the same."

After the race Andrews spoke about coming down the homestretch with Centrowitz. "I was in front of him for a little bit, but he had just a little bit saved up. He knows exactly what he's doing and he's a tremendous runner," said Andrews.

Other notable performances:

Brittany Reese won the women's long jump with her first jump of the competition at 6.89 meters, the top distance for an American so far this season.

In the men's 60 meters, Marvin Bracy ran 6.502 to Trayvon Bromell's 6.507 to win and take his third Indoor Championship. Carlin Isles, the USA rugby player, made the final and finished fifth in 6.67.

Ajee' Wilson won the women's 800 in 2:00.87. Laura Roesler was runner-up in 2:02.44 and made her first senior U.S. team.

Transforming the Oregon Convention Center for the 2016 USATF Indoors: Day One

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Inside the Oregon Convention Center is a transformation. Instead of hosting a concert this weekend, it is home to the US Track and field athletes for the Indoor Championships.

Everything is green. The track is green, the seats are green and the bleachers are green. There's a entrance tunnel the athletes run down as they are announced for the finals on their way onto the track and there's even a live DJ. Music throbs as athletes litter the track and infield.

As the runners make their way around the raised track, the thunder of their footsteps follows them around. Many of the favorites advanced through the qualifying rounds to Saturday's finals. Keni (Kendra) Harrison, the current 2015 NCAA champion from University of Kentucky, qualified second in 7.89, second only to Janay DeLoach's 7.88. Vernon Norwood's 45.81 seconds in the 400 meters was a full second faster than the next finisher, Troy Pollard, who was later disqualified for a lane violation.

One of the more interesting characters populating this weekend is Carlin Isles. He is a a Team USA rugby player who is also trying to qualify for this summer's Olympics in track as well. He ran his qualifier just a month ago at a Houston meet while he had a week off from rugby.

Isles explained about his decision to try to double. "The times I'm running so far are the times I ran when I left off so for me I was surprised so when I saw that I didn't get any slower and I feel like I got faster, why not give it a chance?" he said.

Isles qualified for the twelfth, two places behind the Buffalo Bills player Marquise Goodwin, also making a bid for the Olympics in track as a dual-sport athlete. Isles would need to compete in both in Rio though if he qualifies.

The afternoon hosted most of the men's field events finals at the same time. The high jump, long jump, and pole vault rotated through with each going increasingly farther and higher.

"We were all hurting for a little bit of crowd attention because there was so many great jumping events going on" said pole vault champion Sam Kendricks. "We were trying to find a space to really let people really see the vault."

So they got the crowd involved. They even used different claps to differentiate athletes prior to their jumps. Kendricks and one of his college teammates from Ole' Miss who was high jumping at the time both used a triple beat clap as the jumpers all worked together to elevate the competition as the long jump, high jump, and pole vault all entered their finals on the infield.

Kendricks (the 2014 and 2015 Outdoor Champion) and second-place finisher Mike Arnold came into the event with the only two qualifying standards for next weekend's IAAF World Championships. "The fine print says you only have to make a bar, but I said, 'Where's the honor in that? We're all going to compete for our best today," said Kendricks.

His goal was 5.80 meters, but his final jump of 5.90 meters was not only his personal best, but tied for the sixth highest American jump ever and is in the top five jumps in the world this year. He said, "This was the place to put your best on the line right before you go represent your country."

Next week, the pole vaults will compete on Thursday of the World Championships in a pole vault only event and if this serves an any indicator, it should be interesting.

Other performances of note:

Christina Epps won her first USATF Indoor championship in the triple jump with a personal best of 14.05 meters.

Marquis Dendy, the 2015 Outdoor Champion, won the long jump in 8.41 meters.

Michelle Carter, six-time outdoor champion and two-time indoor champion, won the women's shot put with a throw for 19.41.

Erik Kynard, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, won the high jump in 2.29 meters after going five-for-five.