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Lead Stories: Saturday, May 17, 2008

Dathan Ritzenhein Returns to Action to Defend Title at 2008 Healthy Kidney 10K

Posted April 29th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

U.S Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein will return to the roads of Central Park to defend his title in the Healthy Kidney 10K on Saturday, May 17, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

Ritzenhein will face stiff competition from an international field that includes ING New York City Marathon 2006 champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil and 2007 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships silver medalist Patrick Makau of Kenya.

Race sponsor Embassy of the United Arab Emirates has once again established a prize-money purse of $23,500—$7,500 for the champion—plus a $20,000 bonus for breaking the Central Park 10K record of 28 minutes, 8 seconds, which Ritzenhein set at last year’s race. Ritzenhein donated his 2007 first-place check of $7,500 to the National Kidney Foundation.

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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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More Video Coverage of Central Park Challenge

Posted March 17th, 2008 at 5:08 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

There is additional video coverage (shot with high quality equipment) of last Saturday’s Central Park Challenge shot by RRW sponsor Salmini Films at this link:

http://www.nyrr.org/resources/video/proracing/2008/cpc.asp

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Note on the News: Video Coverage of Central Park Challenge from Flotrack

Posted March 16th, 2008 at 11:37 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Our colleagues at Flocasts.org have robust video coverage of yesterday’s Central Park Challenge, including full video of both the men’s and women’s races plus interviews with several of the athletes.

You can see it all here (high speed internet connection necessary):

http://www.flocasts.org/flotrack/coverage.php?c=213&id=11048

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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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Shalane Flanagan Dominates Field at Women’s Invitational 8K

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 10:15 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

At today’s Central Park Challenge in New York City, Shalane Flanagan continued her early season dominance and won the Women’s Invitational 8K in 25:40.

Katie McGregor finished second in 25:56 and Molly Huddle rounded out the top three (26:07).

Official Results (Top 10 Finishers):

1) Shalane Flanagan - 25:39.7
2) Katie McGrego - 25:55.7
3) Molly Huddle - 26:06.1
4) Amy Rudolph- 26:24.3
5) Carmen Douma-Hussar - 26:27.7
6) Erin Donohue - 26:28.0
7) Firehiwot Tesfaye - 26:31.9
8) Liliya Shobukhova - 26:33.6
9) Aziza Aliyu - 26:43.6
10) Julia Lucas - 26:45.2

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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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Note on the News:
Shalane Flanagan in NY Times

Posted March 13th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

There is an on-line story on Shalane Flanagan at the web site of the New York Times in advance of her participation in Saturday’s Central Park Challenge in New York City.

Flanagan will be looking to continue and build upon her success at the USA Cross Country Championships where she completely dominated the elite women’s field to earn the national title.

To check out the story, please visit the following link:

www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/sports/othersports/13runner.html?ref=sports

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