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Lead Stories: Friday, May 16, 2008

Marathon Ace Goumri Added to Healthy Kidney 10-K

Posted May 12th, 2008 at 6:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

One of the world’s top marathon runners, Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco, has been added to the field of next Saturday’s Healthy Kidney 10-K, the New York Road Runners announced today. Goumri, who turns 32 on May 21, was the #2 ranked marathoner in the world last year according to Race Results Weekly, finishing second at both the Flora London and ING New York City Marathons.

“Abderrahim returns to New York and the center stage against this formidable field for another step in a career that has been steadily on the rise the past few years,” said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg through a prepared statement.

Goumri was added to the field in the wake of defending champion Dathan Ritzenhein’s withdrawal due to injury. The speedy Moroccan hold’s his nation’s record for the marathon which he set last April when he finished third at the Flora London Marathon in 2:05:30. He’s no slouch at the 10 km distance, either, also holding his nation’s 10,000m record of 27:02.62. He’s also run 28:34 on the road.
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Injury Forces Ritzenhein Out of Healthy Kidney 10-K

Posted May 8th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Defending champion and event record holder Dathan Ritzenhein has been forced to withdraw from the 4th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K scheduled for Saturday, May 17, in New York City.

“We’re very disappointed not to be able to return to New York for the Healthy Kidney 10-K,” Ritzenhein told reporters on a conference call today hosted by the New York Road Runners, the founders and organizers of the race. “With a whole array of ailments, it hasn’t come together in time for me to take on the great field that’s been assembled for the race. Knowing that it might set back my preparation [for Beijing], it was with regret that we made the decision to withdraw.”

Ritzenhein, 25, of Eugene, Ore., said that the injury to the third metatarsal of his left foot, which he sustained at the USA Cross Country Championships in February, has persisted.
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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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Torres, Flanagan Victorious at Central Park Challenge

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 12:50 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

At the inaugural Central Park Challenge here today, which incorporated the U.S. Men’s 8-K Championship, Jorge Torres (Pictured) and Shalane Flanagan won their respective races convincingly. But the paths taken to their titles were completely different.

In the men’s race, all eyes were on U.S. mile record holder, Alan Webb, running in only his fourth professional road race and his first race of 2008. Webb was on the lead with Christian Hesch at the first mile (4:36), and was right behind Andrew Carlson at the two mile mark (9:05). Carlson began to push the pace in the third mile (13:37), but Webb and Christian Hesch surged through the 5-K mark (14:10) where primes were awarded for the top-3 men (Webb was first with Hesch just behind).
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Jorge Torres Edges Andrew Carlson for USA Men’s 8K Championship

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

Building on a strong, second-place performance at the USA Cross Country Championship, Jorge Torres outlasted Andrew Carlson to win today’s USA 8K Championship in Central Park.

Torres earned the 8K national title with a time of 22:41.2, finishing 0.7 seconds ahead of Team USA Minnesota’s Andrew Carlson (22:41.9). Jason Hartmann (22:48), James Carney (22:52.5), and Fasil Bizuneh (23:02.1) completed the top five.

Alan Webb (23:31.3) finished a disappointing 16th in what was only his fourth professional road race and 2008 racing debut. However, David Monti reports that Webb was sick on Thursday night, probably the result of food poisoning. He and his coach, Scott Raczko, considered scratching him from the race, but Alan decided to start. There is little doubt that it affected his performance today.
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Overcast Skies, Chance of Rain for U.S. 8k Champs in NYC

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results

Weather.com is forecasting cloudy skies, temperatures around 43 degrees Fahrenheit, and 15mph winds for this morning’s 9am start time of the Central Park Challenge in New York City.

Hosted by the New York Road Runners (NYRR’s), the event includes the U.S. Men’s 8k Championship and a separate Invitational Women’s Race.

The top entrants in the men’s national championship are Alan Webb, who will be making his season debut, Jorge Torres, James Carney, Andrew Carlson, and Fasil Bizuneh. Shalane Flanagan comes in as the favorite for the women’s contest, but will face challenges from notables such as Team USA Minnesota’s Katie McGregor and Carrie Tollefson.

A total prize purse of $70,000 will be on the line, with $10,000 going to each race winner.

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Torres, Webb lead field for USA Men’s 8 km Champs

Posted March 14th, 2008 at 12:30 PM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results

2005 8 km champion Jorge Torres (Boulder, Colo.) and American Record holder for the mile Alan Webb [Pictured] (Reston, Va.) lead the field for the USA Men’s 8 km Championship in New York’s Central Park this Saturday. This year’s championships, hosted by the New York Road Runners (NYRR) as part of the Central Park Challenge, will see a field of more than 50 U.S. men.

Torres, the 2006 champion at 10,000 meters, will use the 8 km as a final tune-up for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships two weeks later in Edinburgh, Scotland. While Webb will use his second “serious” road-race longer than a mile as he finalizes his base training phase in preparation to make the U.S. Olympic squad for 1,500 meters in Beijing this August.
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Carlson and Kastor Win U.S. 15-K Road Running Titles

Posted March 8th, 2008 at 1:59 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

In conditions so windy that water was blowing onto the course between the 5 km and 6 km marks, Andrew Carlson and Deena Kastor (Pictured) captured the U.S. 15-K road running titles this morning in Jacksonville, Fla., at the 31st Gate River Run.

Carlson was the big winner as he and three other men were able to catch Kastor who, along with the other elite women, were given a five minute headstart. Carlson won not only the $12,000 first place prize but an additional $5,000 bonus for winning the gender battle. He crossed the finish line about 25 seconds ahead of Kastor. It was Carlson’s first U.S. title at any distance on any surface, and he waited for Kastor at the finish line and congratulated her with a hug.
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Kastor Could See Sizeable Payday in Jacksonville Tomorrow

Posted March 7th, 2008 at 1:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Deena Kastor could see a sizeable payday at tomorrow’s Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Fla., which serves as the U.S. 15-K championships for both men and women.

Already the U.S. record holder for 15-K (47:15), Kastor will be looking for her sixth title in Jacksonville, worth $12,000. However, she may pick up an additional $5000 should she finish ahead of the first man (the elite women are given a five minute headstart). That seems likely given that the men’s field is not as strong as in previous years.
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Course Records for Carlson and Douma-Hussar at Midnight Run in NYC

Posted January 1st, 2008 at 11:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Andrew Carlson and Carmen Douma-Hussar made their first appearances at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run memorable, shattering the event’s course records in their respective divsions.

Leading a field of about 5000 athletes at the stroke of midnight, Carlson, 25, who runs for Team USA Minnesota/adidas, scorched the hilly four mile course in 18 minutes and 12 seconds, well under Christian Hesch’s event record of 18:28 set in 2004. Well behind was Macharia Yuot of Philadelphia in second place (18:33), and Demesse Tefera of Ethiopia and the Westchester Track Club in third (18:35). The first eight men broke 19 minutes, a record for this race.
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