Lolo back home to 'fight' to US title

DES MOINES – Expect an intense and focused group of athletes this week at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the blue oval at Drake Stadium.

“This is the only title was have left,” hometown hurdler Lolo Jones said during a press conference Wednesday. “The Americans will come to this city to fight for that national title because it's all we have. You are going to see some really thrilling races.”

Without an Olympics or World Championships to qualify for – the sport's governing body decided against holding one this year – this event is the biggest of bunch stateside.

Competition began Wednesday with the junior heptathlon and decathlon.

NBC and ESPN will provide blocks of television coverage starting Friday night through the meet's conclusion Sunday.

Jones has the world's fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles and is the favorite to win. Her first-round race is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Friday, when she hopes to be feeling much better.

Allergies – she thinks – have had Jones in a haze for the last few days.

“If you saw or introduced yourself to me at the airport I apologize,” she said. “I don't know who I was. I think I'm on the upswing though.”

Jones, a Des Moines native, has faltered in her last two tries here at the Drake Relays.

She severely injured a hamstring and didn't finish the race last April. Earlier this year she was runner-up to rival Damu Cherry. Jones' father, James, thinks he may be partially responsible for the missteps.

“My dad is kind of nervous,” Lolo Jones said. “He said maybe I'll just stay at home and watch. ”

James Jones will be watching from the stands, along with dozens more friends and family members. Aside from her sister, Lolo won't see anyone beforehand.

The distractions are too great.

“They know me so well that they know before a race I get stressed out,” said Jones, a two-time World and three-time U.S. Indoor champion. “Then afterward, good race or bad race, we all meet up… Family time starts the moment my race ends. It's like, ‘Let's go find a double bacon cheeseburger ASAP.'”

Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner might actually need his trademark sunglasses during this visit to Iowa. The former Baylor star and regular at the Drake Relays is used to cold and wet weather.

He expects to post a good time in his event, the 400-meter dash.

Wariner owns the fastest time in the world this year with his June 10 win in Rome in a time of 44.73 seconds.

“This is a change for me to see it in the 80s,” Wariner said. “A warmer track is a faster track.”

Wariner won the 400 a year ago at the Drake Relays.

He's had mixed results here, but always enjoys returning and has become a fan favorite. His first race is at 7 p.m. Friday night with the final Saturday afternoon.

“The atmosphere always is great,” Wariner said. “If we are out here running, they are going to be there whether it's 30 degrees or raining or snowing.”

Sanya Richards-Ross is Wariner's female counterpart in the 400.

Richards-Ross is a five-time USA Outdoor champion and 2008 Olympic medalist in the 400 and 4x400 relay. She's been ranked No. 1 in the world the last five years.

She married New York Giants defensive back Aaron Ross earlier this year.

The two met while competing at the University of Texas.

“I didn't know he was a football player,” Richards-Ross said. “He knew who I was but played it real cool like he didn't know me and our relationship blossomed from there.”