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Track Events That Ought To Exist … the Track Decathlon?
Posted September 8th, 2007 at 6:25 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
There’s an interesting discussion over at the Track & Field News Message Boards about “dream” track events, that is, events that are not currently held but which would be interesting to see. Some, such as the straight-course 200m (world record: 19.4 by Tommie Smith [Pictured], back in 1966), are obsolete events; while others, such as the 100m Dash for shotputters, have never been held in a competition.
My dream event? The track decathlon:
Day One: 100m, 200m, 10000m, 3000m, 1500m.
Day Two: 400m, 1000m, 5000m, 800m, Mile.
What type of runner would win a grueling event like this? A Sprinter? A Middle-Distance runner? A Long-Distance runner?
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Prefontaine Classic: Recap of middle & long distance events
Posted June 11th, 2007 at 1:57 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
If the late Steve Prefontaine was watching this meeting from above his beloved Hayward Field, he surely had a smile on his face as gutsy performances in the middle and long distance events dominated this meeting.
For the second year in a row, the meet was held in cool and sometimes rainy conditions, and that was just perfect for the rollicking two-miler which was won by Australian Craig Mottram in the fastest time every on U.S. soil. John Jefferson and Bernard Kiptum set the early pace, and Tariku Bekele and Mottram were running 1-2 when Kiptum left the track after about 2000 meters.
Bekele led out of turn-2 on the final lap, but Mottram started his long sprint with more 250 meter to go. Bekele just couldn’t answer, and the big Aussie motored to the line in a sparkling 8:03.50, blowing through Eliud Kipchoge’s U.S. all-comer’s best of 8:07.68 set at the same meet in 2005.
“It comes down to the size of your balls, really,” said Mottram on live television after the race.
Bekele ran a personal best 8:04.83, while a hard-charging Matt Tegenkamp broke Alan Webb’s U.S. best of 8:11.48 with a terrific 8:07.07 clocking. Dathan Ritzenhein nearly got under Webb’s mark, finishing in 8:11.74 in fourth place. As for Webb, he finished a disappointing 9th, surely a letdown after his commanding victory over Bernard Lagat in the Reebok Grand Prix last Saturday.
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Webb to run 2-mile instead at Nike Prefontaine Classic
Posted June 7th, 2007 at 1:19 PM by Martin Kennedy
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Despite having recently run one of the fastest miles in the world this year (3 minutes 52.94 seconds), Alan Webb has elected to participate in the two-mile instead of the Bowerman Mile at Sunday’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore.
Webb is a two-time U.S. Outdoor 1,500 meter champion and the 2007 U.S. Indoor champion in the mile, but has decided to pursue the two-mile where he also currently holds the American record. His record time of 8:11.48 was set two years ago at the Prefontaine Classic.
Webb drops out of an event that has been very kind to him in the past. His 3:53.43 in the 2001 Bowerman Mile remains the national high school record. Despite Webb’s scratch, the current record in the Bowerman Mile of 3:49.92 set by Hicham El Guerrouj may be in danger with defending champion Bernard Lagat and 2005 champion and owner of the fastest time in the world this year Alex Kipchirchir remaining in the field.
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Bowerman Mile features fast field at Pre Classic
Posted June 4th, 2007 at 7:30 AM by Martin Kennedy
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Four of the world’s top ten men’s milers will toe the line June 10 at the 2007 Prefontaine Classic at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field in Eugene.
The fourth event of USA Track & Field’s 2007 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the Prefontaine Classic will be televised live on NBC, Sunday, June 10, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The field includes nine runners with lifetime mile bests under 4-minutes, which could jeopardize the Hayward Field and Prefontaine Classic record of 3 minutes 49.92 seconds set six years ago by Hicham El Guerrouj.
Americans leading the way include two-time Olympic medalist and defending Bowerman Mile champion Bernard Lagat, who ended the 2006 season ranked #3 in the world in the 1,500/mile by Track & Field News. Two-time U.S. Outdoor champion and reigning national indoor titlist Alan Webb returns to The Bowerman Mile, where he ran a 3:53.43 at the 2001 Pre Classic to set the national high school record.
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Who was America's most-valuable male runner in 2008?
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On January 8, 2009
Jimmy said:
Hey nick, im a big fan.. do you do any cross training? and why did you decide to run d3 in college...