Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Five served by picapp.com
The much-anticipated U.S. Olympic Trials men’s 1500 meters finally started today with three action-packed qualifying races.
Jordan McNamara of the University of Oregon led the first heat, with Steve Sherer close behind. McNamara stumbled in the third lap, but reacted quickly to hold his front position. However, he did not have enough gas left in the end as he ended up last. Sherer finished strongly in second-place (3:44.71) after Gabe Jennings‘ outstanding kick for first (3:44.39).
The second heat had Lopez Lomong (3:43.38) and Leonel Manzano (3:48.41), who finished first and second. The most exciting moment was Andrew Acosta’s fall. He fell hard, did a back flip and got back up to finish the last laps despite having no chance to catch the rest of the field.
In case you were worried, Webb is back. Alan Webb had a lot to prove after recent performances, but he did well tonight with a 3:41.27, the fastest time of the quarterfinals. Behind Webb were Said Ahmed (3:41.92) and Christopher Lukezic (3:42.10). Bernard Lagat, who already made the Olympic team in the 5000 meters, looked relaxed in the back for most of the race, but eventually finished fourth (3:42.11).
Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com
Ive always tried to keep my mind focused on my most immediate competition and generally to keep it from drifting towards thoughts of other upcoming races. I find that if I get caught up in thinking about the Trials or the Olympics or any other race, I’m distracted from the
nearest challenge and the valuable opportunities it may present to learn and grow as an athlete.
So now, with my last race before the trails out of the way, I am finally free to let my mind focus on what I need to do in the prelims. At this point there is not a whole lot more I can do to build my strength and only a little more sharpening to do on the speed side. Really, I am just going to try and get as much rest as I can and make sure that on June 27th my legs are as fresh as possible. I know now that the most important thing I can do to be prepared is to just take care of my body and do my best to ensure that nothing tragic happens.
Read the rest of this entry »
Yesterday I posted the first edition of my World Points Standings, the men’s sprints. Today I continue with the men’s distance events.
800 meters
1. Abuber Kaki Khamis, 75
2. David Lekuta Rudisha, 63
3. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, 59
4. Abraham Chepkirwok, 53
5. Yusuf Saad Kamel, 46
5. Alfred Kirwa Yego, 46
7. Dmitrijs Milkevics, 35
8. Khadevis Robinson, 32
9. Richard Kiplagat, 30
10. Dmitriy Bogdanov, 29
Our two great newcomers, Kaki and Rudisha, are head and shoulders above the rest.
Read the rest of this entry »
Episode 141 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features University of Texas senior Leo Manzano, who just won an unprecedented 4th NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in the 1500m. Now Manzano is headed to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the NCAA National Championships from June 11th through June 14th, 2008, where he is hoping to win his 3rd NCAA National title in the 1500m run.
In the interview Leo talks about his experience at the 2007 Osaka World Championships and how the timing of that experience couldn’t have been better. He also discusses his upcoming race at the US Olympic Trials, whether or not he will turn pro and how the 90 degree heat he’s experienced all spring while training will help him.
Download the podcast to listen to Leo talk about his long-term goals, both running and otherwise, the favorite race of his distinguished career and his advice to young runners.
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: Jimmie Markham | Guest: Leo Manzano
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 9.15 MB | Length: 00:13:20
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Sebastian Coe: Real Damage to Track & Field Inflicted By Americans
British Middle-Distance Great Sebastian Coe has written a scathing indictment of America’s role in the doping scandal in track & field and our attitude toward the sport. Perhaps most telling are his words, “American athletes who remain anonymous in their own towns are lauded in the Golden League in Europe.”
More: Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom
Lagat Remains a Student Of the Sport
The Guardian has posted a profile of Beijing 1500m favorite Bernard Lagat who, after all of his experience and success, remains a careful student of the sport who learns something every day.
More: guardian.co.uk, UK
Bolt Undecided About Olympic Double
Having only run five 100m races in his entire life, world-record holder Usain Bolt is still not sure whether or not he will attempt a 100m/200m double in Beijing. He said he would run the 200m “for sure” but that he would leave the decision about the 100m up to his coach, Glen Mills.
More: CBC
Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com
With the state of my physical and mental well being left to much interpretation in my last blog, I thought I would take this opportunity to update everyone on how things are going here in Eugene, Oregon. After getting my knee sliced open at the Adidas Track Classic I returned home panicked and not totally sure what was going to happen to my season. I slept very poorly that night, woke up, and throwing all rational thought aside, decided to run 8 miles on my freshly sewed up knee. Crazy thing was, I felt great. My knee felt numb but did not bother me on this jog and I thought things were going to be just fine. However, once I got back home my knee began to swell and ache and ooze due to all the stress I had put on it.
Read the rest of this entry »
Carrie Tollefson traveled a rough road to make the USA Olympic team for the 2004 Games in Athens, and it looks like her path to this year’s Beijing Olympics won’t be any smoother.
Tollefson, 31, made it to the 2004 Games in the 1500m when she won a four-way sprint at the USA Olympic Trials over Jen Toomey, Amy Rudolph and Jenelle Deatherage. Just 39/100ths of a second separated the top four women in a race Tollefson was essentially forced to run after finishing only sixth in the 5000m final, her primary event.
But things got even weirder after that. Not a single finisher in that 1500m final had achieved the Olympic Games “A” standard of 4:05.80. Suzy Favor Hamilton had the time and ran in the prelims, but a hamstring injury forced her to scratch from the final. That meant that Tollefson had to achieve at least the “B” standard of 4:08.20 to get herself on the team, and if she achieved the “A” standard she would bring Favor Hamilton along with her (for two or more athletes to compete in an Olympic Games discipline both must have the “A” standard; only one can compete with the “B” standard).
Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com
As I was hanging out with a few of my teammates this week we got to talking about dropping out in the middle of a race and how often it seems to happen in professional track and field. “You, know I have never DNF’ed (Did Not Finish) a race before,” I said to them proudly.
In hindsight, I was maybe setting myself up for something terrible to happen. I always felt that if you start a race you should finish it no matter how miserable you feel.
Up until this weekend I had stayed true to this belief, but it seemed that it wasn’t meant to be today at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. I went into this race frustrated with my most recent performance in the 1500m and was determined to crack 3:40 and take some major scalps. Despite the 95 degree weather I was pretty confident I could keep my cool (uh, huh….major pun) and position myself well for a lethal final lap.
Read the rest of this entry »
Politics Rears Its Ugly Head
Political friction between Qatar and Ethioipia has resulted in a boycott by the Ethiopian federation of the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix meet. Indoor world champions Deresse Mekonnen (1500m) and Tariku Bekele (3000m) had been scheduled to run.
More: PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria
Instead…
of the Ethiopians, look for some superstars at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix meet. Jeremy Wariner will run the 200m, Allyson Felix will run the 400m and Blanca Vlasic will compete in the heptathlon. Just kidding, she’s sticking to what she knows - the high jump (with Wariner and Felix branching out from their usual events, I couldn’t resist!).
More: IHT
Where In The World Is…
Tuvalu? It’s a tiny island nation in Oceania located northeast of Australia. It boasts a population of 11,992 and a land area of 10 square miles. “So what?” you ask. Well, it is the newest member country of the IAAF, the world’s governing body of track & field, which now has a membership of 213.
More: Afrique en ligne, France
Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com
I freaking love the outdoor season. After a long, cold, and wet winter / early spring comprised of boring days filled almost entirely with training, the track season comes and we get to finally see our hard work pay off. I got to see a bit of this over the last two weeks as I opened up my outdoor season in Philadelphia and Palo Alto.
Going out to the Penn Relays wasn’t originally in the plans but Coach Gags and I thought it would be a good idea to get a nice effort in before my first 1500m. Also, Penn is the most exciting place to race and nothing like it will get you as pumped up for an upcoming season. I ran a 1200m in a U.S. DMR [Distance Medley Relay] and was very pleased with my performance. I basically decided to treat it as a workout and just ran it as hard as i could. In doing this I split 2:51.1 and found out that I am really really strong right now! I was able to give my USA team a good lead but we were unable to finish that way and the Kenyans won (yet again!).
Read the rest of this entry »
Reuters French language service is reporting that Hicham El Guerrouj plans to participate in the Prom’ Classique 10-K road race in Nice next January 6. But don’t expect too much. The world record holder for both the 1500m and the mile says he’s only running 12 to 14 kilometers per week and expects […]
Canadian Olympic Medals Suddenly Worth More Money
The Canadian Olympic Committee has joined other countries like Australia, China, Japan, Lithuania and the U.S. in financially rewarding their Olympic medalists. Canadian who make it to the podium in Beijing will earn $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. Read more at: [Canada.com]
Army Captain Runs […]
Craig Masback on Ryan Shay: What More Can We Do?
In a USA Today article Christine Brennan asks USATF CEO Craig Masback the question: What responsibilities, if any, do sports governing bodies have in preventing tragedies such as this? And now that this has happened, a death in the Olympic marathon trials, should anything change?
Masback answers: […]
Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
Episode 84 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to running Podcast in North America, features
my interview with emerging star JON RANKIN. […]
A handful of the stars who competed in Shanghai will travel to Japan to compete in the Seiko Super Track and Field meet on Sunday, September 30 in Yokohama.
Three-time gold medalist at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships Tyson Gay is back in the men’s 100 meters, looking to avenge his loss from Shanghai. Anwar Moore […]
Huge Names to Run in Shanghai This Friday
Tyson Gay and Veronica Campbell (100m), Asafa Powell (200m), Jeremy Wariner (400m) and Kenenisa Bekele (1500m) are all set to run this Friday in Shanghai, China in the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix at the University Town Stadium. For most of the athletes, it will be the last meet […]
The men’s 1500m Run of the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany was – as is too often the case in a competition involving prize money – an 1100m jog followed by a 400m sprint. Shedrack Kibet Korir (KEN) and Mohamed Moustaoui (MAR) were the early leaders, with Korir going through 400m in 1:00.17 […]
Yet another dominating display in the 1500m by Maryam Yusuf Jamal was the highlight of the first day of action at the 5th IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final.
Running in unseasonably warm and pleasant conditions, Jamal proved for the fourth consecutive race since taking the world title in Osaka late last month that at the […]
Ethiopian-born Maryam Yusuf Jamal, living in Switzerland but representing Bahrain, won the women’s 1500m at the IAAF World Athletics Final in a time of 4:01.23. She ran the last 300m in a dazzling 46.17. Agnes Samaria (NAM) stepped up from her usual 800m to set a national record of 4:05.44. Here are the final […]
World Athletics Final Middle- and Long-Distance Preview
In the latest WAF preview there are speculations about who will run the middle- and long-distance events this late in the season and why they will do it. Runners to watch (men): Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m), Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (1500m), Craig Mottram (3000m), Paul Kipsiele Koech (3000m SC), Sileshi Sihine […]
© 2006-2008 The Final Sprint, LLC | Privacy Policy | Design by The Blog Studio
The Final Sprint, LLC is owned and operated by Adam Jacobs
The Final Sprint