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TFS Running Podcast 143:
Jon Rankin Turns the Page, Rekindles Olympic Dreams
Posted September 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Podcasts
After a long, summer hiatus while TheFinalSprint.com helped organize the first annual Running Film Festival and provided LIVE and comprehensive coverage of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and Beijing Olympics … the TFS Podcast is back!
Our first episode of the new season features my interview with Team USA’s 1500m alternate and TFS Elite Athlete Blogger Jon Rankin.
Rankin, fresh off his record setting victory at the Falmouth Mile, speaks about that race, disappointment in Eugene, America’s performance at the Beijing Olympics and turning his focus to the 2012 Olympic Games.
Download the podcast to hear Rankin discuss these topics, as well as, his participation in Team Darfur, the Inaugural Soles4Souls 5K, future racing plans, training under the tutelage of Coach Cruz, and much more!
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Jon Rankin
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 16.4 MB | Length: 00:24:00
Lagat Cautiously Optimistic As Double Ambitions Begin
Posted August 15th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
With the start of his quest to succeed Hicham El Guerrouj as the Olympic 1500 and 500m champion now just a day away, Bernard Lagat believes he is ready and indeed up for the daunting challenge.
“This is the one I’ve been looking forward to,” the reigning world champion over both distances said at a press conference. “My preparation has really been at the top.”
The first round of the men’s 1500m is scheduled for Friday evening, the first five races on the Kenyan-born American’s busy Beijing schedule. Lagat said that both distances will pose their unique challenges, but that it’s the 1500m that may pose the stiffest test.
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2008 Beijing Olympic Preview: Men’s 1500 Meters
Posted August 13th, 2008 at 10:22 PM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Men’s 1500 Meters
The Schedule: heats, Friday Aug 15; semifinals, Sunday Aug 17; finals, Tuesday Aug 19
The Americans: #3 Bernard Lagat, #14 Lopez Lomong, #19 Leonel Manzano
The Contenders: #1 Augustine Choge (KEN) , #5 Abdalaati Iguider (MAR), #6 Asbel Kiprop (KEN), #7 Deresse Mekkonen (ETH), Rashid Ramzi (BRN)
The Stats: Records, 2008 List, 2007 Worlds, 2004 Olympics
The Medal Picks: T&FN - Lagat, Ramzi, Choge; SI - Choge, Lagat, Iguider
The Story: US hopes are strong here, led by double World champ Lagat and US opening ceremonies flag-bearer Lomong. All three are smart and tough and have the kind of tactical abilities that are well rewarded at the Olympic Games. The USA hasn’t had three finalists in this event since 1936, and it could happen again. Lagat in particular is a favorite, being a long-time top runner and breaking through at last year’s Worlds, but his recent loss in London shows that slow tactical affairs can leave even the best of them in the wrong place at the wrong time.
His main competition is expected to be Augustine Choge, the Kenyan trials champion. In previous years he had concentrated on the 3k, 5k and cross country, so three rounds of running is unlikely to take much out of him. On the other hand, his lone championship 1500 experience was the ‘05 Worlds, where he failed to advance out of the heats.
More likely to push Lagat is Ramzi. He has done basically nothing of note this year, but he hadn’t in 2005 when he swept the World Championships 1500 and 800, or last year when he won World silver behind Lagat. Also in the shadows lies Mekonnen, a young Ethiopian who took gold at the World Indoor championships.
Note: Athletes’ rankings refer to TheFinalSprint.com’s World Points Standings, and medal picks come to us from Track & Field News and Sports Illustrated, respectively.
Soboleva Breaks World Record At 1500m
Posted February 10th, 2008 at 9:21 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Agencies are reporting that Yelena Soboleva broke her own world indoor record in the 1500m at the Russian Indoor Championships in Moscow today, clocking 3:58.05.
The 25-year-old, who raced to silver medals over the distance at last summer’s World Championships in Osaka and at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow, knocked 0.23 seconds from the 3:58.28 mark she set in 2006, also in the Russian capital.
Soboleva’s mark came less than 24 hours after her victory in the 800m where she clocked a national record 1:56.49 to become the fourth fastest all-time.
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Who was America's most-valuable male runner in 2008?
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On January 8, 2009
Jimmy said:
Hey nick, im a big fan.. do you do any cross training? and why did you decide to run d3 in college...