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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Best Early-Season Marks in 2008 (800m - 10000m)

Posted March 26th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Here are the world’s top 10 performances in the middle and long-distance track events so far for 2008, based on the % variance of those marks from the current world record. Six out of ten are in the men’s 800m, led by Cuba’s Yeimer López, who also competes in the 400m, perhaps in emulation of the great Alberto Juantorena (seen here outpacing Rick Wohlhuter and Ivo Van Damme of Belgium in the home stretch of the 1976 Olympic Games 800m final in Montreal).

A quick glance at the times reveals that none of them are bound to hold up as top 10 marks until the end of the season. In the men’s 800m, 23 men ran faster last year, led by Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) who led the world with a time of 1:43.74. In the men’s 5000m, 34 men ran faster in 2007, led by Kenenisa Bekele’s 12:49.53. In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, 18 women ran faster in 2007, led by Russia’s Yekaterina Volkova who ran a time of 9:06.57.
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Top Triple-Threat Sprinters of All Time (Men)

Posted December 1st, 2007 at 8:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

I was curious to know whether or not any single runner has posted world-class times in all of the following events: 100m, 200m, 400m and the 800m. I didn’t expect to find any (I didn’t) but I was shocked to learn that only 4 men have run world class times in the 100m, 200m and 400m.

Here are all of the men who have run world-class times in the 100m, 200m and 400m and their best times in each event:

Robson Caetano da Silva (BRA) 10.02 | 19.96 | 45.06
Xavier Carter (at right) (USA) 10.09 | 19.63 | 44.53
Michael Johnson (USA) 10.09 | 19.32 | 43.18
Michael Marsh (USA) 9.93 | 19.73 | 45.08
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Why you won’t see a world record in the upcoming World Championships or Olympics

Posted August 10th, 2007 at 3:53 PM by Jimson Lee

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns

When was the last time you saw a world record in a World Championship or Olympics Games in a middle distance or long distance event?

Sprinters take advantage of the Championship atmosphere, the multiple rounds, and faster tracks to set their world records.

You have to go back to Alberto Juantorena’s 1.43.50 800 meters at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. If you count Commonwealth Games, then Filbert Bayi’s 3.32.16 1500 meters in 1974 at Christchurch, NZ. (more on that race later)

Unfortunately, we can thank the rabbits for destroying that opportunity.
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