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In memory of Adam Jacobs, support the Challenged Athletes Foundation
In memory of Adam Jacobs, founder of The Final Sprint, please donate so that someone with dreams as big as Adam can reach their goals too.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MEB KEFLEZIGHI!
Posted November 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 AM by Jodi Jacobs
Section: Announcements
The entire Jacobs Family wants to congratulate Meb Keflezighi who has become the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982! Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, earned his first major marathon title at the NYC Marathon this past Sunday, 11/01/2009. Born in Eritrea, the 34-year-old became a U.S. citizen in 1998. Our son Adam Jacobs, CEO of thefinalsprint.com, was good friends with Meb and his brother Merhawi these past couple of years. He knew Meb’s running goals and would be so happy for him. Adam valued his friendship with the brothers and we know he was running right beside Meb cheering him on. Congratulations again on an amazing victory!!!
Thank You
Posted August 3rd, 2009 at 8:00 AM by thefinalsprint.com
Section: Announcements
We would like to thank everyone in the running community for their support and kind words at the untimely passing of our son and brother, Adam Jacobs. Adam was a very special human being whose love and concern for others went way past the norm. He reached out to all athletes, no matter what their background, celebrating their victories and encouraging them never to give up in face of defeat. Adam was always the defender of the underdog and champion to any good cause that needed a voice. Being a marathon runner himself, he could truly appreciate the discipline and strength required to overcome the pain and exhaustion in order to reach the finish line.
Unfortunately, he lost his own personal battle and as sad and horrific that realization is to those who loved him, we must look past this and celebrate his life. We encourage those who were inspired by his work ethic, intelligence, good nature and accomplishments to realize their dreams as Adam realized his. We would like to thank Ron Bellamy and the Track and Field Writers of America for honoring Adam by memorializing his name with the Adam Jacobs Memorial Award for Excellence in Blogging. We would also like to thank Jimmie Markham, Editor of TheFinalSprint.com, Jane and David Monti of Race Results Weekly, Adam Berger, Doug Berger and Greg Cherniet, best friends, colleagues, and fraternity brothers for their invaluable support during this extremely difficult time. We could not have done it without you.
We are in the process of reloading most of The Final Sprint’s podcasts: exclusive interviews with running legends, today’s superstars and tomorrow’s champions. Stay tuned to the website for the official announcement when they will be available. Though new material will no longer be updated on his sites effective August 1, 2009, we invite everyone to visit his websites to reread a favorite article or search for those they might have missed.
Please visit the website set up in memory of Adam at adamjacobsfoundation.com. Just like Adam, in life, was always looking for the next project, the next cause, the next discovery and was never content with the status quo, our goal is that we continue to raise monies for the Challenged Athletes Foundation in his name year after year with the same spirit of achievement. Donations are always welcome, as his goal will continue to rise every year. Thank you again for all the love and support that you have given to us, his family and his friends.
May his memory be a blessing for all who knew him.
Jodi, Rick and Daniel Jacobs
NYC Half Attracts World Championships Medalists
Posted July 31st, 2009 at 7:30 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
The fourth edition of the New York City Half-Marathon on Sunday, Aug. 16, has attracted some of the world’s best male athletes, including three world championships medalists and four men who have broken the one-hour barrier for the standard 21,097m half-marathon distance.
The defending champion, Tadese Tola of Ethiopia (1:00:58 PB), will have his hands full with the two-time World Half-Marathon Championships silver medalist Patrick Makau, the second-fastest half-marathoner of all time with a 58:52 personal best. Also in the battle for the title should be two-time world marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco (59:56 PB) and two-time IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships silver medalist Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa (59:20 PB). American Ryan Hall, who was previously announced by race organizers, is also in the field (59:43 PB), as is three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman (1:00:29 PB).
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Dog Attack Leaves Elite Kenyan Scarred & Shaken
Posted July 31st, 2009 at 6:08 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
What was supposed to be a routine 25 minute tempo run on a familiar dirt road became a frightening nightmare for elite road racer Haron Lagat. Just a mile and a half into the run a week ago Thursday in Lubbock, Tex., the tall Kenyan was attacked so viciously by two pit bulls that he was bitten in four places and all of his clothes were ripped off.
“I ended up going to the emergency room,” said Lagat as he calmly recounted the incident after today’s pre-race press conference here for the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10-K. “I was naked.”
Lagat, who was running alone in a rural area near Texas Tech where he competed in the NCAA ranks and now coaches, said that the two dogs rushed him from a farm property he had run past many times without incident. Using an embankment to keep the dogs in front of him, Lagat slipped and fell backwards on the rain-soaked ground allowing the dogs to get on top of him. He estimated that he fought them for about ten minutes after which he became completely exhausted and was unable to fight any longer.
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After Two Year Suspension, Ceplak Makes Modest Return
Posted July 29th, 2009 at 2:56 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
It may not have been the kind of performance she had become used to, but world indoor 800m record holder Jolanda Ceplak was nonetheless content with her first outing after a two-year drug suspension.
The 32-year-old Slovenian, who received a two-year ban from the sport after testing positive for EPO in 2007, returned to competition in a Slovenian Grand Prix meet in this northeastern city on Tuesday evening, winning a low-key 800 in 2:07.13.
“I was nervous,” said Ceplak, who was welcomed with polite applause by the largest crowd to ever gather at the city’s municipal athletics stadium. “It wasn’t easy racing again after two years.”
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Fairytale Race for Vessey in Monaco
Posted July 28th, 2009 at 5:59 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
In a stunning 800m victory at the Herculis meeting in Monaco today, American Maggie Vessey ran close to a world leading time and all but clinched a spot on her national team for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics next month in Berlin.
“Yes, yes!” Vessey chanted after crossing the finish line in a personal best 1:57.84, about half a second up on Russian Mariya Savinova.
Vessey, 27, had finished fourth at the USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., last month. Under USA Track & Field rules, she had the right to chase the IAAF “A” standard of 2:00-flat because only one of the top-3 finishers, Hazel Clark, had the “A” standard at the time of those championships. (Second place Gina Gall, who had the “B” standard, was also named to the team with Clark because a second place “B” finisher behind an “A” standard holder was also guaranteed a team spot). Third place Phoebe Wright of the University of Tennessee, and Vessey, were left to battle for the final spot which required an “A” standard performance by July 31. Wright, like Vessey, had come close in several attempts, but now appears to be out of contention for the team. Wright would have to run at least 2:00.00 in the next three days.
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Keflezighi and Huddle Win USA 7 Mile Titles
Posted July 25th, 2009 at 6:06 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
Meb Keflezighi and Molly Huddle won today’s USA 7 mile road racing titles at the Quad City Times Bix 7 in Davenport, Ia. Both athletes picked up $10,000 each for their victories.
For Keflezighi, 34, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., it was his third USA title of the year and his second national 7-mile title. Opening the race with a grinding 5:01 uphill mile on Brady Street, the former UCAL Bruin scorched the downhill second mile in 4:08, opening an insurmountable lead over his key rivals, Anthony Famiglietti of Knoxville, Tenn., and James Carney of Boulder, Colo. Keflezighi rolled to the finish line in 32:25, 31 seconds up on Famiglietti. Carney got third in 33:17.
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Top Americans To Compete at Bix 7 Tomorrow
Posted July 24th, 2009 at 9:28 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
It may be an odd distance, but it is undoubtedly one terrific race.
For the 35th time, the Quad-City Times Bix 7 Mile will be held tomorrow in Davenport, Ia., and for the second time the event will hold a USA road racing championship for the seven mile distance, just .728 kilometers short of 12 km. USA titles will be awarded to both men and women, and a $45,000 prize money purse will be distributed.
“This is just what we needed to help us celebrate our 35th anniversary,” said race director Ed Froehlich when the championship was announced back in January. “We will strive to get all of the top American runners to come and compete.”
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In Video Message Hall Confirms ING New York City Marathon Run
Posted July 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Ryan Hall, the 2008 USA Olympic Marathon Trials champion and national half-marathon record holder, has confirmed his participation in the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 1. It will be Hall’s first attempt competing in the world’s largest marathon which will be celebrating its 40th edition this year.
“It’s a dream come true for me to get to run the marathon that I’ve watched over and over again, and it’s the marathon I first saw live in person that first caught my attention,” Hall explained in a video recorded in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., where he trains and posted at the marathon’s website. “It caught my heart, and drew me into the marathon. I’m real excited to get to go back there and compete against the best field in the world and against the best U.S. racers.”
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LA Marathon To Return to March for 2010
Posted July 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
A 12-0 unanimous vote by the Los Angeles City Council yesterday paved the way for the Los Angeles Marathon to move back to March for the 2010 edition, event organizers announced late yesterday.
Under new ownership this year after the event had been sold by financially strapped Devine Sports, organizers had moved the event from its traditional date on the first Sunday in March to Memorial Day Monday on May 25. The date change was poorly received by the Los Angeles running community, mostly over fears of hot weather. Although temperatures remained reasonable on race day when a marine layer of clouds hung over the city, race participation was way off from the prior year. Marathon finishers dropped from 17,311 in 2008 to 14,128 this year.
The City Council also approved a new course for the race which organizers have dubbed “Stadium to the Sea.”
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Who had the more impressive Boston Marathon debut?
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The men’s 1500m was a fascinating race. Throwing up a stream of water […] - Athlete Disqualified At Peachtree Road Race
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The Final Sprint
On February 6, 2010
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I saw a documentary of Kenyan marathoners, it was hard to believe someone running daily...