TheFinalSprint.com | Premier Running Destination for Marathons, Track and Field, Race News, Podcasts, Training Advice and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Running Destination for Marathons, Track and Field, Race News, Podcasts, Training Advice and More!
Dutchwoman Kibet Is First at 37th New York Mini 10-K
Posted June 7th, 2008 at 1:20 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
In hot and sticky conditions, the Netherlands’ Hilda Kibet won the 37th edition of the NYRR New York Mini 10-K, adding her name to the list of stars who have won what is the oldest and most famous all-women’s road race in the world.
Kibet, who just qualified for the Dutch 10,000m team for the Beijing Olympics at a race in Utrecht last Saturday, was in a group of four women through the half-way mark on the winding and hilly course in Central Park (16:12). Kenya’s Everlyne Lagat was the first to fall back from this group, then a little injection of pace in the seventh kilometer put USA marathon record holder Deena Kastor a few steps 
behind.
Kibet was then left to battle with Mexico’s Madai Perez for the last two kilometers. With 800m to go Kibet pushed one more time, and it was enough to secure her second New York City road racing victory in her last two starts (she won the NYC Half-Marathon presented by NIKE last August).
Read the rest of this entry »
Note on the News: Runner and Coach Overcome Adversity
Posted June 7th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
A very nice profile of Blake Russell and her coach Bob Sevene by journalist Liz Robbins is posted on the website of the New York Times. Russell is in New York to run tomorrow’s NYRR New York Mini 10-K along with the other two USA Olympic women’s marathon team members, Deena Kastor and Magdalena Lewy Boulet.
You can read Liz’s story at this link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/sports/othersports/07runner.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
Read the rest of this entry »
Race Preview: NYRR New York Mini 10k
Posted June 6th, 2008 at 1:30 PM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Olympics, Road Racing
In preparation for the August 17 Beijing Olympic Marathon, all three members of the United States women’s team, Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet and Blake Russell, will race in the NYRR New York Mini 10k. The New York Road Runners event starts in Central Park this Saturday, June 7, at 9:00 a.m. Kastor, Lewy-Boulet and Russell will be joined by some of the world’s top female distance runners, including Aziza Aliyu of Ethiopia, Madaí Pérez of Mexico and Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands.
The New York Mini 10k is exclusively for women and offers prize money ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 for the top five finishers. The race also offers prize money to the top five U.S. athletes ($500 to $5,000) and allows double dipping, which means if an American wins, she will receive $15,000.
Without five-time champion Lornah Kiplagat in the field, Kastor, 35, who won in 2004, will have the odds in her favor for reclaiming the title. However, Kibet, 27, has been training with Kiplagat, her cousin, and recently ran 10000-meter times of 31:01 and 30:55.61.
Read the rest of this entry »
USA Olympic Marathon Team to Run New York Mini 10-K
Posted May 28th, 2008 at 2:35 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Road Racing
They finished 1-2-3 in Boston at the USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon last month, and now Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell will be teaming-up again to compete in the 37th edition of the NYRR New York Mini 10-K. Slated for Saturday, June 7, the “Mini” is the oldest all-women’s road race in the world, founded by Fred Lebow and the New York Road Runners in 1972.
“This is a formidable and very experienced squad with legitimate Olympic medal hopes that all of America should be very proud of,” commented Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of the New York Road Runners. “Having them all here for the Mini reflects our commitment to America’s top athletes and demonstrates that the road to Beijing continues to run through Central Park for America’s Olympians.”
Read the rest of this entry »
American Record for Flanagan At Cardinal Invitational
Posted May 5th, 2008 at 12:30 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
She’d never run a 10,000m race before, but Shalane Flanagan can safely say that she’s already mastered the distance on only her first try at Sunday’s Peyton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. Helped by excellent pacemaking provided by Kenya’s Rose Kosgei and a spirited battle with New Zealand’s Kim Smith which went right to homestretch, the 26 year-old Olympian toppled Deena Kastor’s American record with a sparkling 30:34.49 clocking.
“Thanks to the New York Road Runners, they set me up with a rabbit and that gave me a cushion,” Flanagan told a clutch of reporters after the race. “It really worked out very well.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Star-Studded Meet At Stanford Tomorrow Night
Posted May 4th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Just 18 miles north of this San Jose suburb, one of the most important meets for distance runners held in the United States will take place at Stanford University. Packed with talent, the Peyton Jordan Cardinal Invitational turns the running industry on its head: top stars actually pay entry fees to compete and there are no appearance fees or cash prizes.
So what’s the draw? Perfect weather for achieving all-important Olympic Games qualifying times. When the sun sets at this time of year in Palo Alto, the winds calm down and the temperature drops, becoming comfortably cool. There is already very low humidity.
The key races are the top sections of the men’s and women’s 5000m and 10,000m, led by double world champion Bernard Lagat. Although he won the world titles last summer at both the 1500m and the 5000m, he doesn’t have an Olympic Games “A” standard time in the longer distance: 13:21.50. Working with other coaches, managers and the New York Road Runners, the men’s 5-K will be set-up by pacemaker Christian Hesch for a 13:10 to 13:20 finish time.
Read the rest of this entry »
Kate O’Neill: Make Way for Ducklings and Runners
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #7)
Posted April 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 PM by Kate O'Neill
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Elite Athlete Blogs, Kate O'Neill
Hi, this is my blog in TFS’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Bookmark kateoneill.thefinalsprint.com and check back every other Monday for my latest entry as I strive for the 2008 Summer Olympics!
For the first time in my life, I dropped out of a race yesterday. I had been eagerly anticipating the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials since October 8th. That was the day after the Chicago Marathon. For the first 24 hours after the race, I was too exhausted to even contemplate running another marathon, but once I had had a full day to recover, I began dreaming of the possibilities and felt eager to test myself over the 26.2 mile distance again. The thought of racing at the Trials in my hometown in front of my family and friends made me even more excited. I struggled for the first few months of training after Chicago, but by Christmas time training was on an upswing and I could see improvements every week.
Read the rest of this entry »
Negative and Even Splitters in Olympic Trials Marathon Deserve “Runner Know Thyself” Award
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 5:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, SoundOFF, Columns
Of the 124 women who finished the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Women’s Marathon, only 4 had negative splits. The most notable one, of course, was Deena Kastor who ran the second half of her race 2.28% faster than the first half. The other three were Megan Hepp (-0.48%), Casey Smith (-0.24%) and third place finisher Blake Russell (-0.22%). Since two of the three women who made the Olympic team had negative splits, this would seem to be the wisest strategy to have had going into the race. Another twenty women, including the now-famous trail blazer Magdalena Lewy Boulet (+0.70%), ran “even” splits, meaning the 2nd half was no more than 1% slower than the first half. The incomparable Joan Samuelson ran her 2nd half just 0.63% slower than her first half.
Read the rest of this entry »
Boston Marathon 2008:
Elite Women’s Preview
Posted April 20th, 2008 at 7:15 PM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The Women’s race at the 2008 Boston Marathon will feature two former champions and a host of strong challengers. Both 2006 champion Rita Jeptoo (Kenya), and 2007 champion Lidiya Grigoryeva (Russia) will be back shooting for their second Boston title. They will be challenged by two-time New York winner and Boston runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) for both the Boston Marathon championship and points in the World Marathon Majors standings.
Last year’s race provided an interesting preview for the 2008 edition, as Grigoryeva prevailed over Jeptoo, Prokopcuka, and American record holder Deena Kastor in brutally windy and rainy conditions to take her first major title. Grigoryeva and Prokopcuka were clearly the strongest runners on that day, with Grigoryeva capitalizing on Prokopcuka’s aggressive early pace and willingness to take the wind throughout. These two seem destined for a rematch, with Jeptoo clearly a factor as well.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Fan’s Perspective on the USA Olympic Women’s Trials Marathon
Posted April 20th, 2008 at 6:15 PM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Marathons, SoundOFF, Columns
I’m a new contributor to The Final Sprint. Most of my writing has been at my blog under the moniker of “The Track & Field Superfan”, and that’s the perspective I’ll bring to TFS Media Network. So here are my thoughts on this morning’s Trials race…
#1. Put It On (Live) TV
I’m part of a relatively narrow age group that always saw marathons on TV. Not just the races in the Olympics and the Olympic Trials, but also ABC’s annual live coverage of the New York City race. I’d have to say it had a great influence on who I became; seeing thousands of people run through the streets of New York made distance running seem right at home in the gritty urban environment where I grew up. And for years, whenever it was a cool rainy day and I was running in the local city park, I imagined I was Rod Dixon chasing down Greg Meyer. In fact, I have to admit I still do that.
There are thousands of young American girls who could have been inspired by today’s race, and likewise pretended to be Deena Kastor chasing down an imaginary Magdalena Lewy-Boulet…if only they had seen it on television.
Read the rest of this entry »
What is your favorite running movie or documentary?
Recent Comments
Page 2 Articles
- Olympic Marathon Trials ‘08:
Elite Athlete Profile:
DEENA KASTORAs Deena Drossin she first attracted attention as a high school freshman when she finished 11th in the Kinney National Cross Country Championships. Her extensive performance portfolio now includes 24 U.S. national titles in cross country, track, and on the roads. She set a U.S. record for 10,000m (30:50.32) in 2002 and has […]
- Olympic Marathon Trials ‘08:
Elite Athlete Profile:
KATE O’NEILKate O’Neill was a seven-time NCAA All-American at Yale University, and was runner-up in the 10,000m at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track Championships. She graduated from Yale holding school records in the 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m.
In 2004 she placed third at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 10,000m, and went on to become the […] - Olympic Marathon Trials ‘08:
Elite Athlete Profile:
ELVA DRYERA two-time U.S. Olympian, Elva Dryer has developed her athleticism since high school with patience and hard work. She first began to train seriously at Western State College in Colorado, refining her skills for a promising career on and off the track. She was a 16-time NCAA Division II All-American and a seven-time national champion […]
- TFS News Briefs: 4/02/08
Team USA Secret Weapons Revealed
Cooling vests used by Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi at the 2004 Olympics gave them the edge in the heat of the Athens marathons. What are USOC’s scientists doing now to prepare US athletes for Beijing? This Washington Post article reveals a Manhattan Project-like effort.
Read more at: [Washington Post]
Transitional Year For […] - Carlson and Kastor Win U.S. 15-K Road Running Titles
In conditions so windy that water was blowing onto the course between the 5 km and 6 km marks, Andrew Carlson and Deena Kastor (Pictured) captured the U.S. 15-K road running titles this morning in Jacksonville, Fla., at the 31st Gate River Run.
Carlson was the big winner as he and three other men were able […] - Kastor Could See Sizeable Payday in Jacksonville Tomorrow
Deena Kastor could see a sizeable payday at tomorrow’s Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Fla., which serves as the U.S. 15-K championships for both men and women.
Already the U.S. record holder for 15-K (47:15), Kastor will be looking for her sixth title in Jacksonville, worth $12,000. However, she may pick up an additional $5000 […] - TFS News Briefs: 3/05/08
101-Year-Old Set To Become World’s Oldest Marathoner
Buster Martin is set to become the world’s oldest marathoner next month when he toes the line for the Flora London Marathon at age 101. He is also a singer in a rock band.
Read more at: [ABC News]
US 15K Championships Set For Saturday
Deena Kastor tries for a 6th win […] - Flanagan Enters U.S. XC Championships as Favorite
At last year’s U.S. Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colo., Shalane Flanagan had high hopes for victory. Her main rival, Deena Kastor, was in the midst of heavy training for the Boston Marathon, and Flanagan had been flying on the track, just setting an American indoor record for 3000m: 8:33.25.
But Boulder’s mile-high altitude played […] - Asics to Host Distance Summit at USA Cross Country Champs
Asics announced today that they would hold a distance summit prior to the USA Cross Country Championships later this month in San Diego. The summit is free and open to the public.
Scheduled for Friday, February 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Mission Valley, the summit will feature three prominent figures in the annals […] - Alan Webb to Open Olympic Year at Central Park Challenge
American mile record-holder Alan Webb will make a rare appearance on the roads, opening his Olympic-year campaign at the Central Park Challenge on Saturday, March 15, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg at the New York Track Writers weekly luncheon. The race will serve as the USA […]
TFS Media Sites
The Final SprintSite Archives
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
Links from our blogroll
- Run More Talk Less
- Track Lap Calculator
- BuzzFeed.com - Sports
- The Marathon Minute
- Eugene 08 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials
- Quick Blog Directory
- The Heart In Reverse
- Collegiate Running
- Hill Runner
- The Sole of Africa
- Sports Biz NewsBlog
- Digg
- Ultrawiki
- run50miles.org
- Sports Fitness Advisor
- Warrior Women
- StumbleUpon
- Team Cross Runs
- Active.com - Running
- Training for Ultras
© 2006-2008 The Final Sprint, LLC | Privacy Policy | Design by The Blog Studio
The Final Sprint, LLC is owned and operated by Adam Jacobs
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,...