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Switching Roles, Kiprop & Kamel Prevail in Lausanne
Posted September 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Trying their hands at alternate distances, Olympic 1500m silver medalist Asbel Kiprop and 800m finalist Yusuf Saad Kamel traded places to take impressive victories at the Athletissima Super Grand Prix here tonight.
For Kiprop, the tall Kenyan who chased Rashid Ramzi to the line in Beijing, it wasn’t so much a case of moving down in distance, but more of a move back to where the 19-year-old began his breakout season. Battling with Olympic champion Wilfred Bungei heading off the final turn, he passed his compatriot with about 50 meters to go to take a convincing victory in 1:44.71, a personal best.
Just behind Kiprop, Alfred Kirwa Yego (1:44.77) and then Ugandan Abraham Chepkirwok (1:45.00) overtook Bungei, who faded badly down the homestretch to finish fourth (1:45.31).
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Ramzi Defeats Kiprop to Win First-Ever Olympic Gold for Bahrain; Willis Surprises with Bronze
Posted August 19th, 2008 at 3:58 PM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Thanks to Rashid Ramzi, Bahrain has its first-ever Olympic gold medal. The former Moroccan won the men’s 1500 meters Tuesday night in Beijing. With a relentless 51-second final lap, Ramzi, the 2005 world champion, finished in 3:32.94 ahead of Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop (3:33.11). Nick Willis of New Zealand was third in 3:34.16.
“I didn’t expect this in my wildest dreams. This didn’t come from nothing, I had to work hard, now I can be very proud,” Ramzi said.
The race started with Kiprop and Kenyan teammate Augustine Choge in the lead. Kiprop led the pack through the first 400 meters in 56.48 seconds. Then Choge took over for a 1:56.06 800-meter split.
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Lagat Breaks 99 Year Gold Medal Drought for USA
Posted August 29th, 2007 at 1:30 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Competing in his first IAAF World Championships in Athletics for the United States, Bernard Lagat of Tucson, Ariz., brought home a gold medal in the 1500m, breaking a 99-year middle distance gold medal drought for his adopted nation. Not since Mel Sheppard won the Olympic title in London in 1908 has an American man won a world or Olympic 1500m title.
“This is the most important moment of my life today,” Lagat told the media at the post-race press conference while balancing his 19 month-old son, Mikka, on his knee. He added later, “This was a great win for me.”
Lagat, who already has Olympic silver and bronze medals to his name, executed the race plan coach James Li gave him to perfection. Coach Li had come to Lagat’s hotel room this morning with a video of his semi-final, and pointed out where the 32 year-old athlete had made mistakes during the race. Lagat said he listened carefully to his long-time coach, and kept the race plan he was given for tonight clearly in mind.
“He showed me the plan. I followed it and at the end, I was the winner,” Lagat summarized.
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Despite attempted coup Bekele retains 10,000m throne
Posted August 27th, 2007 at 8:57 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
The prince saw an opportunity to take the throne, but in the end the king’s reign would continue, at least for another two years.
That was the basic scenario which played out in tonight’s much-anticipated men’s 10,000m final which capped an exciting evening of middle and long distance running at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics at Nagai Stadium.
Sileshi Sihine, the Ethiopian who took the silver medal behind compatriot Kenenisa Bekele at both the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2005 World Championships, saw a chance to move up to the top step of the podium when Bekele fell to third place late in the race and appeared to be struggling.
A fast pace set by world cross country champion Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea followed by an attack with three laps to go by Kenyan Martin Irungu Mathathi, set the stage for Sihine’s bid for victory. He shot ahead, opening a big gap and it looked like a gold medal move.
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Who was America's most-valuable male runner in 2008?
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Joe said:
Hey Nick, First of all I want to tell you what an inspiration you are to me. I am an "old timer" (just...