Track and Field is one of the most incredible, inspiring, exciting and underappreciated sports in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the competition and athletic talents on display, America only seems enamored with the sport during an Olympic year. For those of you who fall into that category, you’re missing out on watching some of the greatest athletes in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Names like Carl Lewis, Florence Griffith Joyner, Edwin Moses, Gail Devers and Michael Johnson helped catapult the sport to greatness in the U.S. Athletes such as Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix maintained that greatness. Even sprinters such as Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin, who both suffered their own harsh yet deserving judgments in the sport, captured the attention of fans across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Internationally, the sport receives much more consistent recognition and appreciation. Jamaican sprinters such as Usain Bolt, Merlene Ottey, Yohan Blake, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce always dazzled fans around the world. This past weekend, 34-year-old Fraser-Pryce did it again when she swept the 100m and 200m at the Jamaica Olympic Track and Field Trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But track and field is more than an athletic competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a home for expression, entertainment, thrills and messaging. And it’s always been that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesse Owens rained all over Hitler’s attempted Aryan parade by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John Carlos and Tommy Smith raised their black-gloved fists in a demonstration of Black Power at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.<\/p>