With a new track, a featured shot put competition in the middle of the football field, American record-holders in the men’s and women’s pole vaults and a BALCO doping pariah on an improbable comeback, Saturday’s Tom Moore Modesto Relays has a little something for everyone.An Olympic year brings out all manner of athletes, from those in the infancy of their careers to those in their prime and those resolutely holding onto the dream.Consider Chryste Gaines one of the latter. Now 37, this Stanford graduate served a two-year doping suspension for her involvement in the BALCO scandal and has not run competitively outdoors since 2004. Her sanction ended in June. She’s entered in the 100 meters Saturday.
Top-shelf athletes coming to Modesto include shot putters Christian Cantwell, Dan Taylor and John Godina, triple jumpers Walter Davis and Kenta Bell, high hurdler Anwar Moore, hurdler-long jumper Jenny Adams and pole vaulters Jenn Stuczynski, Jeff Hartwig, Toby Stevenson, Tim Mack and Nick Hysong.