A couple weeks ago, the Denver Post's John Meyer was awarded with TAFWA's highest honor, the Jesse Abramson Award.  After receiving the award at the organization's annual breakfast in Eugene, he returned to Denver after covering the Olympic Trials. 

Fortunately we were able to obtain some of the pieces from his winning entry, and have posted them here.  For the Post, he did a great piece on Jeremy Wariner and Clyde Hart and the unique relationship there in Waco.  The veteran track writer points out in his feature on Jenn Stuczynski that the athlete's story is "too good to be true." 

Everyone was saddened by the loss of Ryan Shay.  John was there to capture the news, and its effect on the American distance running community.  And he was on top of local news in his beat too -- his profile of Denver native David Oliver gave Coloradans a longer piece about how one of their own was competing at the highest level in the 110 meter hurdles.

We would be remiss to not include his Running Times piece from earlier this year that contrasted Eugene and Boulder as the sport's capital cities.  Though that essay is not currently online, we will include a link to the piece that appeared in the May 2008 issue (reporting for the piece was done in 2007) once it is available. 

In that piece, John wrote about Eugene:  "It may be deathly quiet here, but Eugene is buzzing as the renaissance of Track Town USA gathers momentum. Legendary Hayward Field is being refurbished for the 2008 Olympic Trials. People still go there hoping to run a lap while imagining Pre at their side, giving his all rather than sacrificing that gift, but not today. The most hallowed ground in American track and field is a construction site on this day, reserved for hard hats."

And on Boulder:  "The day Boulder rocked American distance running in February 2007 broke frigid, with a dusting of snow on frozen turf soon to turn sloppy. Despite the early-morning chill a throng of spectators estimated in excess of 10,000 gathered for the most memorable U.S. Cross Country Championships in years. Some said the crowd exceeded that of the five previous U.S. cross championships combined."

Congrats again to John Meyer for being at the top of the profession throughout 2007.