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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

TFS News Briefs: 10/10/07

Posted October 10th, 2007 at 7:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

USOC seeks medals from Jones’ relay-mates
Now that Marion Jones has returned her Olympic medals in the wake of her doping admission, the United States Olympic Committee has also asked Marion Jones’ relay teammates to return their medals and promised a “completely clean” U.S. squad in 2008. The USOC request, Jones’ admission and the IOC’s pending decision on how to redistribute the medals has caused a fury of editorials, objections and controversy.
Here is a sampling of related articles and opinion pieces:
Jones’ relay teammate wants to keep bronze medal — Canadian Press
Time to target coaches, doctors and agents — Guardian (Steve Cram)
Ottey to pick up extra medal — Yahoo! Sports
Jones could’ve broken open sports scam — Seattle Times

Culpepper aims to repeat at U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
Alan Culpepper, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team, is looking to replicate his success at the Nov. 3 Trials in NYC. In regards to the new loop-course, Culpepper said, “I was fairly shocked when I saw the course; it (the hilly Central Park course) is going to be hard. I am doing more race-pace effort on hilly terrain this time.”
Read more at: [Daily Camera]
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New WR Setter Gebrselassie Eyes Dubai Marathon

Posted October 1st, 2007 at 4:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Twenty four world records, and counting. The Haile Gebrselassie road show moves on from the latest addition to that list, a world record 2.04.26 in the real,_Berlin Marathon on Sunday. His next dates with destiny?

The Dubai Marathon on January 18, 2008, then the Olympic marathon in Beijing in August. But hasn´t someone (Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru) recently ´stolen´ the half-marathon world record from him?

“I have plans for that, but this will be a secret,” said Gebrselassie, who can be as entertaining in press conferences as he can be in breaking world records. “I´m discussing it with my manager. It´s one of my aims (to retrieve the record)”.
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World Marathon Majors: Post-Berlin Updated Standings

Posted October 1st, 2007 at 4:05 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Gete Wami fulfilled the first part of her fall marathon mission in Berlin yesterday: winning the real,- Berlin Marathon and scoring 25 points in the World Marathon Majors. She now leads the 2006/2007 season with 65 points, setting up the final showdown with Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka when the two meet at the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. Prokopcuka has 55 points.

“Gete ran a really strong race today, we can look forward to a spectacular finale in the ING New York City Marathon,” said Mark Milde, race director for the real,- Berlin Marathon.

Because the points breakdown for each event is 25-15-10-5-1, Prokopcuka must finish no worse than third in New York to beat Wami in the 2006/2007 series and claim the $500,000 winners check. In the case where they end up tied (Prokopcuka wins New York and Wami finishes second and they both have 80 points), Prokopcuka will be declared the winner because ties are broken by head-to-head results.
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2:04:26 World Record for Gebrselassie in Berlin

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 2:29 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

Nineteen years ago, a skinny 15 year old did what millions of country kids over the centuries have done. Haile Gebrselassie went up to the big city, to seek his fortune. He was only in Addis Ababa a couple of days, just long enough to run a marathon and struggle, half crippled from the effort, back home to his village 175 kilometres away. He would start running again a week later, when the pain subsided, and the dreams of success returned.

But even he could not have dreamed that what began with a 2hrs 48min marathon round the back streets of Addis, admittedly at altitude, would presage a career which, thus far has netted him 24 world records, the latest coming in Berlin on Sunday morning, at that same marathon distance, but his time some 44 minutes faster, in 2.04.26.
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Berlin Marathon 2007:
Haile Sets WR; Wami Wins

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 9:15 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Running in near ideal conditions, Haile Gebrselassie shattered the World record in the marathon, clocking 2:04:26 at the real,-Berlin Marathon today.

Defending his Berlin title, the 34-year-old Ethiopian knocked 29 seconds from the preview record, 2:04:55, set by Kenyan Paul Tergat over the same course in 2003.

Gebrselassie, who had previously broken 23 world records or bests over his career, reached the half way point in 1:02:29.

Kenyans took the next three spots, with Abel Kirui second in 2:06:51, Salim Kipsang (2:07:29) third and Philip Manyim, the 2005 Berlin winner, fourth (2:08:01).

Gete Wami defended her women’s title, winning in 2:23:17, well ahead of Germany’s marathon debutant Irina Mikitenko, who took second in 2:24:49.

Look for additional details later today.

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Berlin Marathon Live
Women’s Race: 30K to Finish

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 5:27 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Unlike the men’s race, in which Haile Gebrselassie set a new world record of 2:04:26, Gete Wami was nowhere near Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25. She was still on track for a 2:23 something. She needed to conserve her energy for the New York City Marathon which was just 35 days away. The 32 year old was vying for the World Marathon Majors title, worth up to $500,000.

German Irina Mikitenko was in 2nd place now, much to the pleasure of the home crowd.

She crossed the line in 2:23:17, crossing herself after she finished.

Mikitenko was 2nd, sprinting to the finish line in 2:24:53.

Helena Kirop, a 29 year old from Kenya, was 3rd 2:26:26.

Irina Timofeyeva, a 37 year old from Russia, was 4th in 2:26:55.

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Berlin Marathon Live
Men’s Race: 30K to Finish

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 5:05 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Gebrselassie, running alone now, passed 33Km in 1:37:35. He was back on pace for a world record. He led by about a minute.

At 34Km, he was on pace for a 2:04:53, tantalizingly close to, but still ahead of, the world record.

Coming up on 35Km, Gebreselassie was looking like he was starting to pick up the pace. His stride was bouncier and he made it through the marker in 1:43:38, a 2:04:56 pace. The gap was now 1:14 between him and the trail pack.

With about 18 minutes to run in the race, he drank some water, making sure to stay hydrated even at this late stage in the race.

Abel Kirui of Kenya, the least heralded runner in the trail pack, began to break away. He was running like a track runner with his heels kicking his backside.

Philip Manyim, an early favorite, was still in contention for one of the top three places.
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Berlin Marathon Live
Women’s Race: 20K to 30K

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 4:36 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

At this point in the race, the weather was as follows:

55°F
Clear
Wind: S at 10 mph
Humidity: 82%

Nine and a half minutes behind Gebrselassie, Gete Wami passed the 25Km mark in 1:23:35, 2:08 ahead of the second group. She was on track for a 2:21:05 marathon.

She passed 30Km in 1:40:45, a 2:21:42 pace, right on pace to equal her PB.

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Berlin Marathon Live
Men’s Race: 20K to 30K

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 4:35 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

The 25Km mark was passed in 1:14:05. Gebrselassie was headed for a 2:05:02 pace. They had slipped just a bit off the pace over the past 5Km.

The trail pack passed 25Km in 1:15:23, 1:17 back. They were still on track for a 2:07:14 marathon.

By 26.5 Km, the pacemakers were down to two. By now the weather was as follows:

55°F
Clear
Wind: S at 10 mph
Humidity: 82%

At 1:21:00, the lead pack ran through a huge crowd of noisy spectators. Drum corps were keeping a samba beat for the runners’ pleasure while cheerleaders shook pom-pons. It was a party atmosphere in Berlin. Gebrselassie was wearing his “dry” racing shoes, with a rubber composite similar to Formula 1 racing tires. He had brought two pair of shoes and had been hoping he wouldn’t have to wear the “wet” pair. He got his wish today.

Gebrselassie and his two pacemakers went through 30Km in 1:28:58. He was on pace for a 2:05:08 marathon. He had some work to do over the last 12Km if he was going to break the world record.

The trail pack passed 30Km in 1:30:00. They had closed slightly on Gebrselassie and were on track for a 2:06:35.

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Berlin Marathon Live
Women’s Race: 10K to 20K

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 4:10 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Five minutes and 43 seconds behind the men’s lead pack, Gete Wami passed the 15Km in 49:58, a 5:21 per mile pace and on track for a 2:20:14 marathon. She was over 1 1/2 minutes ahead of the trail pack.

She passed the 20Km mark in 1:06:41. This time was on pace for a 2:20:41, which would be a PB and a national record.

The halfway mark was passed in 1:10:25, on pace for a 2:20:50 marathon. She was 2:06 ahead of the chase group.

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