EUGENE, OREGON – What’s wrong with this picture?

Notice something missing?

For the first time since at least 1976 (still doing research), there won’t be a Black male on the 800 meters team.

Johnny Gray must be scratching his head somewhere.

Let’s not take away from the top three finishers, Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating and Christian Smith, all local products from Oregon.

The crowd at Hayward Field was the loudest it has been during the Trials when the trio crossed the finish line, capped off by a dive from Smith to secure third place.

But seriously …

Not even a Khadevis or a Duane?

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON – It wouldn’t be the Olympics if Nike wasn’t involved somehow.

Along with designing the track and field uniforms (which Nike will be rolling out later tonight), they also provide arguably the best footwear to its athletes.

You all remember the golden spikes that Michael Johnson had on in 1996 when he ran a world record 19.32 in the 200 meters.

Well, this year, Nike has rolled out their lightest shoe to date in the Nike Zoom Victory.

Thanks to a technique called “flywire,” which reduces on the threading and materials, the Zoom Victory weighs in at just 93 grams.

That’s 3.28 ounces for all you public school kids.

There have been athletes this offseason who have been caught with more than 3.2 ounces of an illegal substance.

That’s how light we are talking.

For all you runners, the shoe will be in stores in October and retail for $110.

EUGENE, OREGON – He’s known simply as “Pre.”

Steve Prefontaine is a God-like figure here in Eugene.

Nicknamed “Pre,” Prefontaine is arguably one of the greatest inspirational runners of all time.

Best known for being an aggressive runner, Prefontaine dominated the track scene in the ’70s while at the University of Oregon.

At the height of his career, “Pre” held the American records in five long distance events all while preparing for the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Unfortunately, Prefontaine never made it to Montreal.

Returning home from a party on May 30, 1975, Prefontaine swerved to avoid an oncoming car and hit a rock along the side of the road.

He was pinned underneath an overturned car and died at the age of 24, on the same street, Skyline Blvd., which he had run three times a week since moving to Eugene.

At the scene of the crash is a memorial for Prefontaine known as “Pre’s Rock.” Runners from across the world have left racing memorabilia at the memorial and is a popular spot for runners to pay tribute before a big race.

His spirit lives on in Eugene.

You can’t go 30 feet without seeing a “Pre” Nike t-shirt on folks who never had the opportunity to see him race in person.

Each year, the Prefontaine Classic, in honor of Steve, is one of the prestigious track and field events in the United States.

Long live Pre.

EUGENE, OREGON – Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell have officially been put on notice.

Tyson Gay is the man to beat heading into the 100 meters at Beijing.

Aided by some serious wind, Gay ran a 9.68 in the finals of the 100 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, setting a record for the fastest time under any conditions.

The previous record was held by Obadele Thompson of Barbados, who ran a 9.69 (>+5) in 1996.

Gay’s 9.68 is not a new world record because it was run with the help of a wind blowing at 4.1 meters per second.

Anything above 2.0 is not allowed.

Wind or no wind, Gay has sent a message to the rest of the track world with his performance here in Eugene.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON – Tyson Gay, 24 hours after setting a new American record in the 100 meters, advanced to the finals on Sunday afternoon with a time of 9.85.

Gay has now run back-to-back solid races following Saturday’s blunder, in which the 25-year-old eased up after 90 meters, nearly costing him a bid in the Olympics.

Florida State’s Walter Dix finished second in the first semifinal heat with a time of 9.93.

In both semifinal heats, two runners were eliminated by 1/1000 of a second as Xavier Carter (10.086) edged Ivory Williams (10.087) and Michael Rodgers (10.178) clipped Wallace Spearmon (10.179)

The unusually warm weather in the Northwest (90 degrees+ all weekend) has aided the runners, with 12 of the 16 qualifiers in the 100 meters running personal bests on Saturday.

Gay and Dix will look to finish 1-2 as the finals of the 100 meters is scheduled for 4:49pm Pacific this afternoon.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON – Allyson Felix failed to qualify in the 100 meters on Saturday, finishing fifth with a time of 10.96.

Muna Lee (10.85), Torri Edwards (10.89), and Lauryn Williams (10.89) took the top three spots and will be representing the United States in Beijing.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” Felix said. “I can’t get too down; I’ve still got the 200 to go. My 100 has come a long way.”

Felix’s specialty is the 200 meters, where she earned a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics at the age of 18.

Originally, Felix has plans of running the 200 and 400 meters in the Olympics but had to switch to the 100 because of scheduling conflicts.

 (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON – Now, that’s more like it, Tyson.

In the quarterfinals for the 100 meters, Tyson Gay decided to run the entire 100 meters, setting a new American record in the process with a time of 9.77.

Or did he?

“I eased up a little bit, but I’m not worried about the record. I thank God that I was able to run a PR, but that’s what I want to do in the finals.”

If Gay did ease up, it was with one meter to go.

The previous American record was held by Maurice Greene with a 9.79 at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Usain Bolt holds the world record at 9.72, a feet the Jamaican prodigy set last month in New York.

As for Gay, he easily qualifies for Sunday’s semifinals and makes up for his earlier blunder in the prelims, which could have cost him his chance at going to Beijing.

Jeffery Demps, an 18-year-old stud from Florida, ran a 10.01, breaking the United States high school record in the 100 meters.

Demps is heading to the University of Florida in the fall and will play running back for and the Gators.

Good luck trying to catch him all you Southeastern Conference defensive backs.

The men’s semifinals in the 100 meters is Sunday at 2:30pm Pacific.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON – Tyson Gay ran an excellent 90 meter race.

Too bad he was competing in the 100 meters.

The athlete with the best shot of taking home gold for the United States in the 100 meters this summer almost didn’t qualify after accidentally easing up during the prelims.

His excuse?

“I’m OK,” he said. “I just misjudged the white line.”

“Misjudged.”

Suuuuure.

Gay finished tied for fourth in his heat with a time of 10.14 and qualified for Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Walter Dix from Florida State ran he fastest qualifying time with a 9.96 and was the only runner with a sub-10.00 time.

For America’s sake, let’s hope Gay doesn’t “misjudge” the white line in the quarterfinals.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON – The 2008 Summer Olympics has been marred by controversy and protests long before the athletes even start to arrive in Beijing.

The Chinese government has come under fire for it’s human rights record and the treatment of residents in Tibet, leading to a number of protests leading up to the Summer Olympics.

A handful of protesters have made their way to the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene to voice their concern against the government of China.

A Chinese woman from Portland, who wished not to give her name, was handing out flyers advertising the Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that seeks to improve body, mind and spirit.

3,159 followers of Falun Gong has been reportedly killed by the Chinese Communist party – - which banned the group in 1999 and is doing their best to wipe out the group.

Poor air quality, humidity, communism – sign me up for a vacation in Beijing.

EUGENE, OREGON – For the first time ever at the U.S. Track and Field trials, athletes will be subject to blood testing for banned substances.

Random athletes along with the top three finishers will be tested by the  in conjunction with the rules set by the International Association of Athletics Federation.

The U.S. Olympic swimming trials, which begin Sunday, in Omaha, Neb., will also undergo blood testing as well.

Blood testing is able to detect performance-enhancing drugs such as human growth hormone, a substance that would go underdiscovered through urinalysis.

Athletes were notified prior to the start of the Trials in Eugene via e-mail on Tuesday that they would be subjected to a two-part blood test during the competition.

It sucks for the athletes who are afraid of needles but it’s great for the sport of track and field, who’se image has taken a major hit in the past five years.

Any guesses as to the first athlete to test positive for a banned substance?

And no, you can’t guess Justin Gatlin, he’s not here.