After the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a ban Friday by the International Association of Athletics Federations, double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius can compete in the Beijing Olympic Games. What does this mean for the future of track and field?
Pistorius, 21, is a South African athlete who has excelled in Paralympic competition. He holds Paralympic world records in the 100, 200 and 400-meter events. His strongest event is the 400, in which he has a personal-best time of 46.56 seconds.
The Olympic “A” standard in the 400 is 45.55 seconds. After the debate over allowing Pistorius to compete against able-bodied athletes, will he even make the team? If not, he still has a shot at the South African 4×400-meter relay team, which does not require a qualifying time. He also plans to compete at the 2008 Paralympic Games, in Beijing, Sept. 6-17.
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Ethiopian Wins Carlsbad 5000
Terefe Maregu Zewdie of Ethiopia did what Alan Webb was hoping to do. He outkicked everyone to win the 2008 Carlsbad 5000. His winning time was a slow 13:34, one second ahead of Mo Farah. Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot won the women’s race in 15:14.
Read more at: [IHT]
Webb DNFs at Carlsbad Debut
Already hurting just 800m into the race at the 2008 Carlsbad 5000, Alan Webb walked off the course at 2 1/2 for his second straight DNF. These recent performances may have been caused by his more-intense training regimen in 2008. “I’m always trying to push deeper and go harder and get better. I might have dug myself a little hole I’ve got to slowly get out of,” said Webb.
Read more at: [San Diego Union Tribune]
800m Olympic Gold Medalist Critiques Kenyan Selection Process
Paul Ereng, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 800m and now head cross-country coach at UTEP, offers his critique of the Kenyan teem selection process. He has some harsh words for Athletics Kenya, writing that “either [Athletics Kenya] does not understand the facts about training adaptation or they just want to harvest from where they did not sow.”
Read more at: [AllAfrica.com][UTEP]
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2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field: Week 1
The 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field season officially kicks off in fine style this weekend with 38 (count ‘em, 38!) meets throughout the country. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has links to all of them on their website. Schedules like this one are truly a track junkie’s dream come true.
Read more at: [USTFCCCA]
ASU Opens Outdoor Season At Home
ASU, the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champions, will open their outdoor season at home this weekend at the Baldy Castillo Invitational. Both the men’s team and the women’s team won the NCAA national titles last weekend. The meet will be contested on the Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe, AZ.
Read more at: [Sun Devils]
Oregon Host First Meet At Revamped Hayward Field
The University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field has had an $8 Million facelift in preparation for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, and now the Ducks want to show her off to the world. Folks will get their first look at the freshly-reminted stadium by hosting the Oregon Preview on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008. Over 550 athletes from throughout the Northwest will be competing in the meet.
Read more at: [Go Ducks][Hayward Field]
Image courtesy of GoDucks.com.
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In lieu of a cold, harsh indoor season, world and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner will begin his 2008 Olympic-season campaign outdoors in Australia. Although he usually begins racing in March, he is set to begin his season next year in February, a warm summer month in the Southern Hemisphere. He will be joined in Sydney and Melbourne by 100m world-record holder Asafa Powell, his training partner Darold Williamson and his coach Clyde Hart.
The 23-year old Texan said, “I am looking forward to running in Australia in February. I am excited about competing here for the first time as I prepare for the summer Olympics in Beijing.”
Bean Counters Threaten To Close Ottawa’s Only Track
Looking for a potential savings of $125,000, beaureaucrats in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, are threatening to close down the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, the only track in Ottawa. The facility is named after Terry Fox, the Canadian runner who – despite having one leg amputated because of cancer – ran across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Read more at: [Ottawa Citizen][Wikipedia]
College To Honor Larry James, ‘68 U.S. Olympian
Larry James, part of the gold-medal-winning 4×400m relay team at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, will be honored by the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. James has worked at the college as a track coach, athletic director and finally as Dean of Athletics. James, an African-American, came out publicly against the infamous protests at the games by other black athletes. Read more at: [The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ]
Evel Knievel Was A Track Athlete
You might not have known this, but Evel Knievel, who died yesterday at the age of 69, was an outstanding track & field athlete. The death-defying daredevil, an exceptional athlete who played hockey and ski jumped, was also a pole-vaulter on the Army track team. Read more at: [NY Times][Wikipedia]
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X-Man Moves to Gainesville To Train for Beijing
Xavier “X-Man” Carter, history’s 2nd alltime fastest 200m runner, has moved to Gainesville, FL to train with his coach Mike Holloway and to focus on qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Read more at: [Total Sports Management]
Asafa Powell To Begin 2008 Campaign in Australia
Enthused by the Australian track and field fans, 100m world record holder Asafa Powell (JAM) will begin his 2008 track & field season there. He will train in Australia and compete in two meets: the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix on February 16th, 2008 and the IAAF World Athletics Tour meet in Melbourne on February 21st, 2008. Read more at: [IAAF]
Precedents May Favor Marion Jones’ Teammates in Their Bids To Keep Medals
Several precedents may allow the US women’s 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams (other than Marion Jones, of course) to keep their medals. An article in the LA Times pleads their case for them.Read more at: [LA Times]
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An interesting statement was made yesterday by the USATF, the governing body of Track & Field for the United States, in response to the IAAF’s decision to annul all of Marion Jones marks from September 2000 and beyond:
USA Track & Field supports the fight against doping and efforts made to right the wrongs of the past. We understand that the fate of the relay results at the 2000 Olympic Games is a very complex matter, and we appreciate the care and consideration the IAAF has given it. We await the IOC’s decision in the matter.
Written by: Jill Geer
Via: USATF.org
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