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In Quest for Double Olympic Gold, Lagat has El Guerrouj on His Side
Posted April 19th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
As he sets out on his quest for double Olympic gold this summer, Bernard Lagat will have plenty of supporters. Among them is the man whose achievement he’ll be hoping to emulate in Beijing: world record holder and reigning double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj.
“Bernard proved in Osaka, thanks to determination and passion, that he can do it,” El Guerrouj, the finest middle distance runner of his generation, said of his long-time rival, last fall.
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TFS News Briefs: 4/16/08
Posted April 16th, 2008 at 2:50 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, TFS News Briefs
Liu Campbell and Williams to Headline Reebok Grand Prix
Lauren Williams will square off against Veronica Campbell-Brown and Liu Xiang will defend his hurdles title at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 31st, 2008 at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York. All three are expected to contend for gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Read more at: [Reebok Grand Prix]
Ryan Hall Earns USA TODAY Olympic Athlete of the Week Award
Ryan Hall seems to have won the hearts and minds of the mainstream media after his dazzling 2:06:17 PR at the London Marathon this past weekend. Hall won out over “soccer player Natasha Kai, swimmer Ryan Lochte and beach volleyball tandem Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.”
Read more at: [USA Today]
New Zealand Selects Lean & Mean Beijing Track Team
Two Kiwi marathoners who have met the Olympic “A” standard have not been selected for the New Zealand Olympic team. Athletics New Zealand secretary-general Barry Maister defended the decision, saying that they “would only select athletes who made the A standard and not only that but meet it consistently and in major events.”
Read more at: [New Zealand Herald]
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TFS News Briefs: 4/07/08
Posted April 7th, 2008 at 4:37 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, TFS News Briefs
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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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).
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“Best” American Records: 800m - 10000m
Posted March 26th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns
With the 2008 outdoor track & field season upon us, and all of the recent hoopla about the resurgence of American distance running, it’s time to analyze the current middle and long-distance American records, some of which are in jeopardy of falling this Olympic season. Some of them, on the other hand, are almost assuredly safe.
I calculated the variances between the American and World records in all of the “official” middle and long-distance events: 800m, 1000m, 1500m, Mile, 2000m, 3000m, 3000m Steeplechase, 5000m and 10000m runs. So which American record is the “best” according to this calculation?
Rick Wohlhuter’s American record of 2:13.90 in the 1000m, a mark he set way back on 07/20/74, is the “best” American record when compared to its % variance to the world record. The current world record in the 1000m was set by Kenya’s Noah Ngeny back on 9/05/1999. His time was 2:11.96. Wohlhuter’s mark is just 1.470% off Ngeny’s mark.
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Gerry Lindgren: The Self-Proclaimed “Wimp” Who Revolutionized Running
Posted March 25th, 2008 at 1:34 PM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Motivation, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, College, High School
Despite protests of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, President George W. Bush recently stated that there will not be a boycott from the United States. According to CNN, Bush believes the Olympics “should be about the athletes and not necessarily about politics.”
Former U.S. Olympian Gerry Lindgren, 62, agrees. He thinks China will benefit from hosting the Games.
“I think they need to leave politics out of it,” he said. “China has made some great strides forward in the last few years.”
Lindgren recalls backlash of the 1980 U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics. He did not plan to compete in Moscow, but he knew how disappointed the U.S. team was to miss out on the Olympic experience. Lindgren said he was upset with former President Jimmy Carter’s decision and said the Olympics should have been “the only avenue in the world that wasn’t political.”
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TFS Running Podcast 131:
Andrew Carlson
Posted March 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Today on Episode 131 of The Final Sprint Running Podcast I am joined by Andrew Carlson, the 2008 15k US National Champion who runs for Team USA Minnesota. Andrew has embarked on a career-defining season in 2008, kicking it off on New Year’s Eve with a course record in the New York Midnight 4-mile Run, then winning his 1st national championship in the Gate River Run 15k, then placing second in the 8k national championship in the Central Park Challenge.
In the interview, Andrew talks about his expectations for the 2008 season and his place within the resurgence in American distance running. He discusses his favorite events and what his plans are for the rest of the season. He also talks about Team USA Minnesota and the types of community outreach activities he does with them, what he meant when he said he revamped his training in 2008, how he got his start in running, when he plans to tackle his first marathon and much, much more!
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Host: Jimmie Markham
Guest: Andrew Carlson
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 15.0 MB | Length: 00:21:55
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TFS News Briefs: 3/21/08
Special NCAA Track & Field Edition
Posted March 21st, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, TFS News Briefs
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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Quote of the Day: 3/20/08
Posted March 20th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Martha Jones
Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes
“A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. Nobody is going to win a 5,000 meter race after running an easy 2 miles. Not with me. If I loose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself.”
- Steve Prefontaine
TFS Running Podcast 130:
Matt Tegenkamp
Posted March 11th, 2008 at 1:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Today on Episode 130 of The Final Sprint Podcast, I had a chance to speak with Matt Tegenkamp, the American record holder in the two-mile run and two-time US Indoor champion in the 3000m who competes for Nike and KIMbia Athletics.
In the interview, Matt talks about his repeat victory in the 2008 US Indoor Championships 3000 meters, why he’s staying home while his KIMbia Athletics teammates Chris Solinsky and Jonathon Riley (who finished 2nd and 3rd) are heading to Valencia for the world championships while he’s staying home. He also talks about what’s in store for him in 2008 leading up to the Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR and the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Download the podcast to hear Matt discuss about his plan to assault the American record in the 5000m, his long-term goals for running and beyond, and much, much more!
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click and select “save as”
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you
Host: Jimmie Markham
Guest: Matt Tegenkamp
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 13.2MB
Length: 00:19:17
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
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- TFS News Briefs: 11/01/07
John Woodruff, 800m Olympic Gold Medalist, Dies at 92
John Woodruff, the 800m Gold Medalist at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany and the final survivor of the 12-man American Track & Field contingent that dashed the madman Hitler’s dreams for an Aryan Olympics, died Tuesday in Fountain Hills, AZ at age 92. Read […] - Quote of the Day: 10/28/07
I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out of me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known.
- Emil Zatopek’s description of the Olympic Marathon win in Helsinki - Podcast 86: KATE O’NEIL on making her 26.2 mile debut at Sunday’s Chicago Marathon
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 86 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with 2004 Olympian KATE O’NEIL about making her marathon debut at […] - Robles’ 12.92 Caps Stellar Day Two in Stuttgart
A slew of sensational performances, topped by Dayron Robles’ 12.92 victory in the 110m hurdles, highlighted a thoroughly entertaining second and final day of the 5th IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart this afternoon.
Continuing his impressive late season campaign, the 20-year-old Cuban slashed the year-old meet record set by Liu Xiang, leaving thoughts of […] - IAAF World Athletics Final: Men’s 5000m
With many of the same actors, the men’s 5000m of the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany seemed like a sequel to the 3000m run that was held the previous day. Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) the winner of the 7.5 lap race (winning time: 7:49.70), was also in the 12.5 lapper, as were Joseph […]
- IAAF World Athletics Final: Women’s 5000m
With Meseret Defar of Ethiopia withdrawing from the race, having decided to hang up her spikes after an outstanding world-record-setting season, it was a six-woman 5000m race at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany. Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot, second fastest of all time with a 14:22.51 run in Oslo this past June, was the […]
- Ed Moran Sets New Goals of Top 5 in US 5000m and 10000m
Flat Hat, the Student Newspaper of the College of William and Mary since 1911, has posted an article about rising long-distance star and William & Mary alumnus Ed Moran. In the article, Moran discusses the way he adjusts his mindset the night before a race:
“I have the tendency the night before to kind of have […] - On the Road & Around the Track:
TFS News Briefs 9/20/07World 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 […] - Kenyans and Ethiopians Continue Dominance of Long-Distance Running
Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, although he missed his goal of setting a new world record, still ran the fastest 10000m of the 2007 season at the Memorial Van Damme meet in Brussels, Belgium. His time of 26:46.19 is the 21st fastest time ever run. Kenya’s Moses Masai, nearly sneaking up on Bekele at the […]
- Despite Unprecedented World Double, Some Unfinished Business for Lagat
Bernard Lagat readily admits that the physical and psychological efforts of his five race visit to Osaka, and an unprecedented 1500/5000m double, have taken their toll. That doesn’t mean though, that the 32-year-old still doesn’t have a few goals remaining for this season.
“I’ve achieved so much in those nine days,” Lagat said of his historical […]
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On May 17, 2008
Alessandro machi said:
Congratulations Mr. Pistorius on being accepted to run in the Olympics. If it is true that your...