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Williams, Richards blogs tackle tough issues
Two of Team USA's biggest stars have taken on the toughest news in the sport.
Lauryn Williams, the 2005 world champion, 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2007 World Outdoor silver medalist in the women's 100 meters, has written an expansive blog about the news of Marion Jones admitting to using performance-enhancing substances. Writing about how her "emotions swirled as I listened to [Jones] speak," Williams says she goes "back and forth between [being] sad for her unfortunate situation and angry at the mess she has created and left for current athletes to clean up." She fondly recalls Jones treating her "like a little sister" at the 2004 Olympic Games and Jones calling to wish her a 21st birthday, yet Williams questions "what it must feel like to live a lie so important to all you're telling it to."
2006 IAAF World Athlete of the Year and Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Sanya Richards also lets her voice be heard on the Jones news, writing of the disparity in media coverage of track and field, where negative news about the sport continuously overshadows tremendous accomplishments. She writes of an ESPN round-table: "I heard one of the gentlemen say that it seems to him that all track athletes are cheaters. He said that in order to compete at such a high level, you have to use performance enhancing drugs. NOW THAT'S UNFAIR. Just like everything else, we must keep things in perspective."
Fans can read the full text of Williams' and Richards' blogs at http://wcsnblogs.com/track-and-field/ .
Doherty Memorial Fellowship applicants sought
Applications are currently being accepted for interested parties wishing to apply for the 2007 Kenneth Doherty Memorial Fellowship. The National Track & Field Library Advisory Board will select this year's fellowship recipient.
The Ken Doherty Memorial Fellowship provides researchers with the time and resources to pursue the serious study of track and field, and to honor the man after whom it is named. The fellowship was established to encourage and promote research and publication in the general area of track and field, with emphasis on and preference given to projects that address philosophical, social and historical, or psychological issues.
The fellowship is named for the late Dr. J. Kenneth Doherty - decathlon champion, coach, meet director and writer, who was a major contributor to this collection. Throughout his professional life, Dr. Doherty communicated his concerns about the role of track and field in our educational system, questions about the spirit of competition, and other individual, sociological, and psychological aspects of the sport.
The award is intended to defray the fellow's travel costs to and from Los Angeles to use the National Track & Field Research Collection, plus meals, lodging and transportation costs in Los Angeles. USA Track & Field will make the award. The research trip must be completed no later than December 31, 2008.
The National Track & Field Research Collection is this country's most extensive, publicly accessible collection devoted to all aspects of track and field: historical, current, competitive, biographical, organizational, coaching, training; in books, journals, programs, archives, and films. It is housed at the LA84 Foundation (formerly the Amateur Athletic Foundation) in Los Angeles.
The fellow will be provided workspace at the LA84 Foundation Sports Library; reference assistance; full use of the National Track & Field Research Collection and related library collections; plus computer, Internet, commercial database and photocopier access.
Fellows are expected to publish their research and submit a copy to the National Track and Field Collection, and may be asked to give a public presentation.
Mail or e-mail research proposal of three pages or less, emphasis on subject rather than method, and curriculum vitae to: Wayne Wilson; Vice President, Research; LA84 Foundation; 2141 W. Adams Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90018. Tel. (323) 730-4640. Fax: (323) 730-0546. Email: wwilson@la84foundation.org. Applications must be emailed or postmarked by November 9, 2007.
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