TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Men’s Olympic Middle & Long- Distance In the Modern Era

Posted March 27th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics

The Modern Olympic Era

Of the 336 medals that have been awarded thus far in the men’s middle and long-distance track events during the Modern Olympic Era (1896-2004) here are some interesting statistics:

· A total of 42 Countries have won medals in these events.*
· Kenya (no surprise) has won the most medals, having won 43.
· USA is a close 2nd with 42.
· Finland (yes, Finland) is 3rd with 41.
· Great Britain is 4th, having won 35.
· Ethiopia rounds out the top 5 with 15 medals.**

· Finland can claim the most gold medals with 21. Kenya is 2nd with 15, followed closely by the USA and Great Britain with 13 each.
· In the silver-medal count, it’s Kenya (17), then United States (13), then Great Britain (12), then Finland (11). France rounds out the top 5 with a total of 9 medals.
· The top 5 in the bronze-medal count are: United States (16), Kenya (11), Great Britain (10), Finland (9) and Sweden (7).
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

TFS News Briefs: 10/27/07

Posted October 27th, 2007 at 2:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs, Trail / Ultra

Kenyan Steeplechaser Has Eye Marathon World Record
Boit Kipketer, a 35-year-old Kenyan who is one of just eight men to have finished a 3000m Steeplechase in under 8:00, now has eyes for Haile Gebrselassie’s marathon world-record time of 2:04:26. Read more at: [IAAF]

USOC Chair Ueberroth: Hayward Field Like Wrigley Field
United States Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth visited Eugene, OR, the location of next year’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, and made the storied Hayward Field his “first stop.” He compared Hayward Field to Wrigley Field, saying, “this community, with its heritage, with its magical facility, it’s kind of like Wrigley Field. That magical experience can provide a rebirth (and a) regeneration in track and field. I think it really is going to be wonderful.” Ueberroth also apologized to the whole world for Marion Jones’ actions, saying, “we damaged the Olympics. When you do something that hurts the organization, you better stand up and own up to it.” Read more at: [The Oregonian - OregonLive.com, OR]

Chariots of Fire, IRL
Sam Dobin, a 19-year-old economics student at Cambridge, has stolen a memorable scene from the movie Chariots of Fire and made it his own, in real life. You might recall the memorable scene in which Harold Abrahams, a central character in the movie, attempts to run all the way around Trinity College’s Great Court (pictured at right) before the clock finishes striking noon. Well, Dobin has done it, and he has done so in record time, and has been inspired to make a run at the 800m and 1500m runs in the 2012 Olympic Games. Read more at: [Daily Mail]
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

IAAF World Athletics Final: Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

Posted September 23rd, 2007 at 8:55 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Paul Kipsiele Koech, the only man to break eight minutes for the 3000m Steeplechase in 2007, was going to have to treat the 3000m steeplechase at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final as his championships, having failed to make the Kenyan Osaka team. going into the race in Stuttgart, Germany Koech had the three fastest times and four of the 13th fastest times in the world in 2007.

He took the lead from the gun and went through 1000m in 2:42.30, on pace for a 8:06.90 time. He ratcheted up the pace a bit and opened up a lead. going through 2000m in 5:22.54 (1000m split: 2:40.24). Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

On the Road & Around the Track:
TFS News Briefs 9/20/07

Posted September 20th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, TFS News Briefs

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 (5000m). Women: Janeth Jepkosgei (800m), Maryam Yusuf Jamal and Yelena Soboleva (1500m), Yekaterina Volkova (3000m SC), Meseret Defar (pictured at right, 5000m). Also, an explanation of the WAF points system and the current standings. Read more at: [IAAF WAF2007]

World Marathon Majors Conference Call with Race Directors
Race Directors Dave Bedford (London), Carey Pinkowski (Chicago), Mark Milde (Berlin), Mary Wittenberg (New York City) and Guy Morse (Boston) talk about a range of questions regarding their races and the sport in general. Read the complete transcript at: [Track & Field News]
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink