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Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

Billy Mills to Welcome Youth Athletes at Junior Olympics

Posted November 16th, 2007 at 3:28 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics

Olympic legend and National Track & Field Hall of Famer Bill Mills will be the special guest of honor at the 2007 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, USATF announced Friday. More than 3,000 athletes will compete at the event, to be held December 8 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.

The 1964 Olympic 10,000-meter champion and University of Kansas graduate, Mills will provide the young athletes attending the Junior Olympic Championships with an inspirational talk during the opening ceremonies. Mills will sign autographs and will be on-hand race day to support USATF’s young athletes.

“We are truly honored to have Mr. Mills attending the Junior Olympics and hope the young athletes can learn from his wonderful life story,” said USATF Missouri Valley President Gilbert Castillo, whose Association is hosting the Championships. “He’s not just a national hero, he is a local legend who is greatly admired by a wide range of people.”
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The Final Sprint Podcast Highlighted by Running Times

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 9:07 AM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Resources, Olympics, Special Features, Podcasts, Trail / Ultra

The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, continues to capture audiences and receive praise from athletes, coaches, journalists, industry leaders and running fans from around the world.

Most recently, Running Times Magazine chose to highlight The Final Sprint Podcast along with Flocasts/Flotrack and the World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) in their October 2007 issue.

The Final Sprint Podcast, launched in January 2007, features three to five audio interviews each week and is hosted by TheFinalSprint.com Editor-in-Chief Adam Jacobs.

Jacobs has proudly welcomed a dynamic and eclectic list of guests, including track & field superstars (Sanya Richards, Ryan Hall, Alan Webb), Olympic marathon medalists (Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi), ultra-elite champions (Dean Karnazes, Scott Jurek), coaching icons (Dr. Jack Daniels, Jeff Galloway), courageous heroes (Jim MacLaren, Kathrine Switzer, Billy Mills) and running legends from years past (Gail Devers, Jim Ryun, Grete Waitz).

To listen in, subscribe to the podcast feed, or even download recent episodes right to your mp3 player, please visit: TheFinalSprint.com.

The podcast is also available at no charge in iTunes.

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Quote of the Day: 10/01/07

Posted October 1st, 2007 at 6:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

Coming off the last turn, my thoughts changed from: “One more try, one more try, one more try”, to: “I can win! I can win! I can win!”

- Billy Mills, first and only American to win a 10,000m Olympic medal

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FINISH STRONG with TFS’s collection of famous quotes!

Posted September 14th, 2007 at 7:06 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes, Special Features, Famous Quotes

From Jesse Owens to Dr. George Sheehan … from Steve Prefontaine to Sir Roger Banister … from ancient philosophers to runners just like you …

The Final Sprint has accumulated the most comprehensive anthology of motivational quotes to help you FINISH STRONG!

Pick out your favorites and read them before a big race or even choose one as your training credo!

Have one you want us to add?

No problem; just send an email to thefinalsprint@gmail.com!

Start Here . . . Finish Strong!
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Quote of the Day: 9/10/07

Posted September 10th, 2007 at 6:00 AM by Allyson Rosen

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Every passion has it’s destiny.”

- Billy Mills, first American to win a 10,000m Olympic medal

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Podcast 69: ABDI ABDIRAHMAN on the NYC Half, Osaka & beyond

Posted August 7th, 2007 at 4:59 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Podcasts

Episode 69 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features my interview with American Olympic distance-runner Abdi Abdirahman.

Abdi, who earlier this summer won his second consecutive 10,000m National Championship, finished second behind the legendary Haile Gebrselassie at last Sunday’s NYC Half-Marathon

In the interview Abdi discusses his performance at the NYC Half, the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Osaka, and his preparation for and the field of competitors running in November’s U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials.

Download the podcast to hear Abdi discuss these topics, as well as, why he believes the U.S. will earn the more medals than ever before at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, looking up to Billy Mills and Bob Kennedy, the special and important place in his heart for his native Somalia, and his deep, heart felt love for being an American.

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)

[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Abdi Abdirahman
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 9.9 MB
Length: 13:23

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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Billy Mills’ Team Running Strong returns to the Marine Corps Marathon

Posted April 12th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Marathons

It’s time to put on your running shoes! The charity marathon team, Team Running Strong has opened its registration for a limited number of guaranteed spots in the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon™.

Runners (and walkers!) who plan to participate in this year’s marathon are competing just to register. There are fewer general marathon spots available which makes joining the 4th Annual Team Running Strong a great option for an entrant to consider.

Team Running Strong is the only charity team raising funds and awareness for the future of American Indian youth. Running with the support of Olympic champion Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota), participants receive training support, an official race day singlet and other perks.

Billy Mills, National Spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, said:

“Running with Team Running Strong is the chance to help America’s forgotten children. Together we will help American Indian families meet their immediate survival needs – food, water, and shelter.”

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Podcast 14: Interview with legendary Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills

Posted February 14th, 2007 at 3:45 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

In today’s podcast, I am joined by Billy Mills - a true hero of running and a compassionate warrior.

At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Billy set an Olympic record and won a gold medal in the 10,000m; becoming the first and still the last American to win a gold in the event.

After his successful running career, Billy has channeled his love for running into a passion for fighting against poverty and discrimination as the national spokesperson of Running Strong for Native American Youth. He is also the subject of the 1983 movie “Running Brave”.

Download the podcast to hear Billy to discuss what has been called the “biggest upset in Olympic history”, running in borrowed shoes, how he has felt and been treated as a Native American athlete, teaching younger generations the importance of “Global Unity Through Global Diversity”, the possibility of him entering the 2007 Marine Core Marathon and much more!

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select “save as”).
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Billy Mills
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 24.0MB
Length: 00:35:04

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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Quote of the Day: 1/28/07

Posted January 28th, 2007 at 6:00 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Coming off the last turn, my thoughts changed from: “One more try, one more try, one more try”, to: “I can win! I can win! I can win!”"

- Billy Mills, first and only American to win a 10,000m Olympic medal

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Running Brave: Classic running movie about Billy Mills & the heart of a warrior

Posted December 28th, 2006 at 11:27 AM by Kathryn Magro

Section: Motivation, Movies, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

This is part four of the 5-part series: “BILLY MILLS: Overlooked Hero of Running” (Links to the other installments in this series are located at the conclusion of this article).

Running serves a different purpose for everyone. For some, it is solely a method of exercise; others find it to be a means of escape. In Running Brave, a 1983 film showcasing the life and career of Billy Mills, we find that running can also be a way of life. it certainly is for Mills, who states: “Running has been my freedom; my happiness.”

The struggles that Mills (played by Robby Benson) endures throughout the film revolve around his life as an American Sioux-Indian and his use of running to both fit in and remain sane in a seemingly uncontrollable world.
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