Athletes' arena.
 

The athletic season came to an end with Prefontaine Classics in Oregon. Two world records were reported: Male pole vault and women 5000 meters.

I enjoyed the 4-hour sessions that NBC provided for the two-day meet. Props to NBC athletics are not as prominent as they were in the Carl Lewis era.

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/09...taine-classic/

This old joint needs a like button. :cool:

Sheesh, we don't even have smilies anymore... (rolls eyes)

Dang! Who was messin' with the smilies? Even the ascii versions go blank.

Last upgrade at AK left them turned off. I think we're the proverbial red headed step child down here at PoChat. (grin)

Talking about smile. It was heartwarming to see Athing Mu smiling again. I don't know what had happened but she had developed that uncharacteristic sad look.

I988 was an amazing year for women sprinting. It was the year of the outstanding performance of the phenom named Florence Griffith-Joyner.


1988 Olympics 100-meter women's final.
Noticed how far she finished ahead of one of my favorite sprinters - Evelyn Ashford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxR_BcqLYs8

Florence Griffith Joyner's world record for 100 meters still stands.

Women's 100-meter World Record at the 1988 US Track and Field Trials - 10.49secs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CMM2lQDMDI

Wind effect contributed to the controversy surrounding the women's 100 meters record. The nearest time is 10.54 by the Jamaican, Elaine Thopson - Herah.

Florence Griffith was just extraordinary. She was so much faster than the high quality trio of that era, Torrence, Ashford and Deavers.

Watch Evelyn Ashford overtakes her East German rival in the last leg of the 1988 Olympic 100-meter relay final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3XSoIMuVF4

I had to web search since I haven't heard his name since my younger bro was a competitive runner during the Fix/Prefontaine era and ran in some of the same events with them.
Good times, less commercialized then.