Publication Date: Wednesday Jul 5, 2000

TRACK & FIELD: Quickly becoming a big shot

Menlo Park resident Adam Nelson doesn't consider himself among the favorites to win a spot on the U.S. Olympic track and field team as a shot putter. After his performance on Saturday at the GMC Envoy Open at Stanford's Cobb Track and Angell Field, however, he might have to reconsider.

For the second time this season, Nelson surpassed the 70-foot barrier-- this time recording a throw of 71 feet, 2 1/2 inches. While winning the event, Nelson recorded the third-longest throw in the world this year and moved into the No. 2 position on the world performer list behind fellow American C.J. Hunter, who has throws of 71-8 3/4 and 71-4 this year.

"I still think of myself as the underdog," said Nelson, a 1997 Dartmouth grad who moved to Menlo park in the spring of 1998. "I have yet to prove myself in large meets. I still have lots to prove."

Nelson has, however, proven his consistency. Nelson had a career best of 67-10 3/4 before breaking the 70-foot mark for the first time ever at a meet in North Carolina (70-2 1/2) earlier this year. On Saturday, Nelson's series of throws went 68-8 3/4, foul, 68-4 1/4, 69-4 3/4 and 68-6 1/2 before finishing off with his mammoth career best.

"I'm finally healthy," said Nelson. "I'm feeling very confident. Things are falling into place."

Nelson has been bothered by back, hamstring and stomach problems for a while, but has worked to return to action at just the right time. The Olympic trials are next on the docket, July 14-23, in Sacramento.

"I have as much of a chance as anyone," said Nelson. "Once I hit that 70-foot mark, that takes the monkey off my back. Now the sky is the limit."

Nelson got off his winning throw on his final attempt. Actually, any of his attempts outside the foul on his second try would have been enough to win the event. Runnerup John Davis went 65 feet.

"My big thing this year was just to get healthy," Nelson said. "I'm doing more specific training. Most of the guys know who I am, and they know I'm capable of these distances. I don't see myself as the guy everybody is gunning for. I'll just take this in stride and go on."

Nelson was one of 11 athletes to establish stadium records at Stanford on Saturday, clearly making the USAT&F-sponsored Golden Spike Tour event one of the premier events ever held at Stanford. It showed in the attendance, as the meet, which offered $99,000 in prize money, attracted a record 4,082 fans.

The women's pole vault provided some excitement as both world recordholder Stacy Draglia and Kellie Suttle went for a world record. Both missed, but it showed how far the event has come in such a short time. Both vaulters cleared 14-10 1/4 to establish stadium marks. For Suttle, the clearance was a personal record.

Stanford grad Regina Jacobs won the women's 800 meters in 2:00.39, about one second slower than her own track record set two years ago.

"I'm finally at the point where I can run the way I've always dreamed of running," said Jacobs, a three-time Olympian who's favored to make her fourth team later this month.

Stanford's Lindsay Hyatt placed 10th in the women's 800 meters at 2:08.55, and Kathleen Donoghue was ninth in the pole vault at 12-3/4. Stanford's Sally Glynn finished fifth in the women's 1,500 meters at 4:12.56, a personal best.

In other events that saw stadium records set:

Two-time Olympian Carlette Guidry ran wind-aided 11.06 to win the women's 100 meters; Australia's Margaret Crowley went 4:09.10 in the women's 1,500 meters; Yvonne Harrison captured the 400-meter hurdles in 55.30; Maureen Griffin went 204-5 in the women's hammer; John Capel won the men's 100 in 10.14; Khadevis Robinson went 1:46.06 in the men's 800 meters; Mark Crear won the men's 110 high hurdles in 13.20; Pascal Dobert captured the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:25.13; and NCAA champion Savante Stringfellow won the long jump at 26-10.

"A lot of people are saying the long jump is down," said Stringfellow. "But there are a lot of good young jumpers who are willing to meet whatever challenge is presented to them."

Crear's mark in the 110 hurdles was the third-fastest in the world this year, trailing Cuba's Anier Garcia (13.06) and American Allen Johnson (13.19). That makes Crear's time all the more remarkable because he hasn't been able to run in several weeks due to a groin strain.

"I had to dig down to carry it through," said Crear, ranked No. 1 in the world last season by Track & Field News.

Stanford's Michael Stember, who finished second to Jason Pyrah (3:38.22) in the men's 1,500 meters, is still looking to achieve the Olympic A qualifying standard in the event. He went a personal-record 3:39.06 on Saturday, but needs to reach 3:36.80 by Sept. 9.

"It's not very disappointing. I haven't raced in almost 30 days. This was a great warmup," said Stember. "I'm in a perfect position right now, better than I want to be."

Also in perfect position are Stanford teammates Jonathon Riley and Andy Powell, both of whom competed in the Olympic Development 1500. Riley clocked a personal record of 3:38.90 to win, while Powell did likewise to finish second in 3:40.65.

Stanford now has three runners among the top six in the nation in the 1,500 meters. Gabe Jennings, who pulled out of the meet with a tight hamstring, ranks No. 2 in the U.S. this season at 3:37.33. Riley's PR puts him No. 5 while Stember's personal record Saturday ranks him No. 6 among Americans this season.

Elsewhere Saturday, Stanford's Jason Balkman was second in the 5,000 meters in 13:46.27 and Toby Stevenson was second in the pole vault at 17-6 1/2.



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