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Bekele and Dibaba to Double at Beijing Olympics
Posted July 15th, 2008 at 9:07 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics
Bernard Lagat’s ambitious goal to succeed Hicham El Guerrouj as the Olympic 1500m and 5000m champion might have gotten even more difficult with today’s team announcement by the Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC). Despite earlier indications that he would only defend his 10,000m Olympic title in Beijing, the EOC included Kenenisa Bekele on its 5000m roster as well.
Less than two months ago, Bekele told reporters in Hengelo, The Netherlands, that a double was out of the question.
“It’s very tough to run a double at the Olympics,” he said. “I ran many kilometers in a few days in Athens, and I lost a lot of power.”
Apparently Bekele has had a change of heart. The world record holder at both events and widely acknowledged as the finest distance runner of his generation, Bekele will be aiming to improve upon his showing over the shorter distance in Athens four years ago, where he finished runner-up to El Guerrouj.
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Lagat Wins 1500m Final; Webb Misses Out on Beijing
Posted July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Eight served by picapp.com
The Men’s 1500m at the 2008 US Olympic Trials was billed as a showdown of America’s finest milers and certainly didn’t disappoint. Much of the attention leading up to the race was given to reigning World Champion Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb (the American Record holder in the mile), and former national champion Gabe Jennings. Five runners (Webb, Lagat, Leonel Manzano, Lopez Lomong, and Jon Rankin) achieved the Olympic A standard in previous races, while the rest of the field needed it in this meet to get to Beijing. The US team in each event is made up of the top three Trials finishers who have attained the A standard in the Trials or in a previous race, meaning that the five runners mentioned above could focus on place while the rest of the field needed to watch the clock as well.
The race got out to a fast start in the first 100m with double World Champion Bernard Lagat reaching the pole first. Lagat immediately slowed the pace, bunching up the field and causing a lot of pushing and jostling right behind him. With the A standard already slipping away, Gabe Jennings took the lead at the 300m mark (reached in 47s) and picked up the pace. The field reached the 400m mark in 1:01 and the 800m mark in 2:00.70 as Jennings continued to lead but wasn’t able to make up time on the standard.
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Willard Wins Trials Steeple in American Record
Posted July 4th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Anna Willard, the 2007 NCAA steeplechase champion who had to contest last year’s AT&T U.S. Outdoor Championships on an injured ankle, ran the fastest ever 3000m steeplechase by an American woman here last night as the U.S. Olympic Trials resumed after a two-day break. Her winning time of 9:27.59 was also the fastest-ever women’s steeplechase performance on U.S. soil.
“I just felt so fantastic,” an enthusiastic Willard told reporters after the race.
Willard, her short blonde hair accented with a bright red streak she had dyed-in just for the Trials, followed the early lead of reigning NCAA champion, Jenny Barringer of the University of Colorado, her chief rival for last night’s title. They were joined by Lindsey Anderson and Nicole Bush of Michigan State University, and the pace was strong.
“I wanted it to go out fast like it did,” said Anderson who is coached by former City of Los Angeles Marathon champion Paul Pilkington. “That is what we were planning on and I knew if I could stay right with Jenny and Anna that I would be there at the end and be able to finish strong and make the team.”
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Webb is Back, Back Again
Posted July 4th, 2008 at 12:31 AM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Five served by picapp.com
The much-anticipated U.S. Olympic Trials men’s 1500 meters finally started today with three action-packed qualifying races.
Jordan McNamara of the University of Oregon led the first heat, with Steve Sherer close behind. McNamara stumbled in the third lap, but reacted quickly to hold his front position. However, he did not have enough gas left in the end as he ended up last. Sherer finished strongly in second-place (3:44.71) after Gabe Jennings‘ outstanding kick for first (3:44.39).
The second heat had Lopez Lomong (3:43.38) and Leonel Manzano (3:48.41), who finished first and second. The most exciting moment was Andrew Acosta’s fall. He fell hard, did a back flip and got back up to finish the last laps despite having no chance to catch the rest of the field.
In case you were worried, Webb is back. Alan Webb had a lot to prove after recent performances, but he did well tonight with a 3:41.27, the fastest time of the quarterfinals. Behind Webb were Said Ahmed (3:41.92) and Christopher Lukezic (3:42.10). Bernard Lagat, who already made the Olympic team in the 5000 meters, looked relaxed in the back for most of the race, but eventually finished fourth (3:42.11).
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Lagat Victorious in 5000m;
Teg, Dobson Round Out Team
Posted July 1st, 2008 at 2:09 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Four served by picapp.com
Double World Champion Bernard Lagat used a magnificent finish to cruise away from the field and win the 5000m at the 2008 US Olympic Trials. Matt Tegenkamp and Ian Dobson also used strong kicks to book their tickets to Beijing in what turned out to be a battle between five men for three Olympic spots.
The field assembled for the 5000m finals at this year’s Olympic Trials was billed as one of the deepest ever to lineup for a US championship. Seven athletes in the field (Tegenkamp, Solinsky, Asmeron, Lagat, Vaughn, Dobson, and Riley) had achieved the A standard of 13:21.50 within the qualifying window and several others were considered capable of reaching the standard in this race. The team would be comprised of the top three finishers with the A standard, either from this race or a previous one. This rule forced those without the standard to worry about keeping the pace honest while allowing those with the standard to relax and focus on their opponents.
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Faces in Races: Lagat, Teg, Solinsky and Curtis Look to Dominate Men’s 5000m
Posted June 30th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
The men’s 5000m features several potential Beijing medalists and is one of the most wide-open events of the 2008 US Olympic Trials. Again the A standard will be in play, as seven finalists have run 13:21.50 or better (Tegenkamp, Solinsky, Asmeron, Lagat, Vaughn, Dobson, Riley) in the qualifying window. The US Olympic team will be comprised of the top three finishers who have attained the A standard, either in the final or in a previous race. This sets up a dynamic where the aforementioned men can run for place while the rest of the field needs to ensure an honest pace. With several studs who have not yet achieved the A standard and the impressive list of those who have, the men’s 5000m final promises to be one of the most exciting races of the 2008 US Olympic Trials.
Velow we take a closer look at four of the favorites in this race: Bernard Lagat, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, and Bobby Curtis. To reward readers who get to the end of this article there will be some poorly thought out, undoubtedly biased, and completely unofficial picks for this showdown.
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Pile-Up in Women’s 800m Sends 12 Athletes To Final
Posted June 29th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Image details: AT&T USA Outdoor Track And Field Championships - Day 2 served by picapp.com
On a blazing hot day here, a pile-up about 250 meters into yesterday’s first heat of the women’s 800m semi-finals at these U.S. Olympic Trials sent four women tumbling to the track, splitting the field, and initially crushing some long-held Olympic dreams.
“I remember getting grabbed then getting physical with someone,” said Nikeya Green who finished third in a race where only the top-4 finishers would qualify for the final. “I don’t know. It wasn’t my fault, but it just kind of happened.”
Just behind Green, Kameisha Bennett, Latavia Thomas and Becky Horn fell hard. Nicole Teter (Pictured above) then went down as she tried to jump over the pile-up.
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Tegenkamp Takes 1st Heat, Rupp Shocks Crowd in 2nd to Advance in 5,000m Semis
Posted June 28th, 2008 at 12:25 AM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Hayward Field was made for the 5000 meters. The men’s preliminary race was highly anticipated Friday night.
In the first heat, Thomas Morgan led most of the race by a large margin. Eventually the gap was closed by Matt Tegenkamp (Pictured)(13:54.62), Jonathon Riley (13:54.69) and Bernard Lagat (13:54.93).
The pressure was on for University of Oregon star Galen Rupp in the second heat. He lived up to the hype by winning in 13:59.14. Rupp is a favorite in the 10000 meters, so he is still unsure if he will compete in both finals. The pack stayed tight throughout the entire race, with Chris Solinsky (13:59.85) and Robert Curtis (14:00.00) finishing the top three.
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U.S. Olympic Trials Kick Off Today in Eugene
Posted June 27th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Announcements, Track & Field, Olympics
For the next 10 days, the focus of the athletics world will shift to Eugene, Oregon, host to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field. With its unforgiving ‘top three past the post’ qualifying nature, the U.S. trials have been dubbed the most exciting track meet in the world. Upwards of 500 written press journalists, along with a few hundred broadcast and photojournalists will converge on the American track capital, putting a huge quadrennial spotlight on the sport in the U.S.
The only final on the program of the opening day is the women’s 10,000m. The event features a pair of potential Olympic medal threats, the first in the recent history of U.S. distance running on the track.
Shalane Flanagan, already the national record holder in the 5000m, lowered the U.S. record in the 10,000 to 30:34.49 in April, the fastest in the world thus far this year. She’ll face Kara Goucher, the surprise bronze medallist at last year’s world championships. Goucher tuned up for the trials with a 31:26.48 run a month ago in Portland while Flanagan makes her first track appearance since her record run. She is also expected to compete in the 5000.
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World Points Standings: Men’s Middle and Long Distance
Posted June 12th, 2008 at 10:23 AM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Rankings, World Standings
Yesterday I posted the first edition of my World Points Standings, the men’s sprints. Today I continue with the men’s distance events.
800 meters
1. Abuber Kaki Khamis, 75
2. David Lekuta Rudisha, 63
3. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, 59
4. Abraham Chepkirwok, 53
5. Yusuf Saad Kamel, 46
5. Alfred Kirwa Yego, 46
7. Dmitrijs Milkevics, 35
8. Khadevis Robinson, 32
9. Richard Kiplagat, 30
10. Dmitriy Bogdanov, 29
Our two great newcomers, Kaki and Rudisha, are head and shoulders above the rest.
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On July 20, 2008
Jared Bierbaum said:
I was just wondering which Asics shoes you typically run in. I am in love with the Asics 2120s,...