TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.
London Marathon 2008: Elite Men’s Race Preview
Posted April 11th, 2008 at 2:00 PM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Even with the upcoming Beijing Olympics, the Flora London Marathon stands out as the most competitive distance race of the year. The 2008 edition features a mixture of accomplished marathon veterans and talented newcomers, all vying for spots on the prestigious London podium.
Leading the way will be defending London and New York champ Martin Lel. Lel won both of his titles last year in sprint finishes over Abderrahim Goumri, who will also be back for more. Lel’s London buildup has gone well, as he moved his camp to Namibia to train with 2007 Boston champ Robert Cheruiyot and avoid the recent violence in Kenya. He should once again be the favorite, although Goumri’s track pedigree (12:50 for 5k) will give him a chance if it again comes down to the last quarter mile.
Read the rest of this entry »
Carlson and Kastor Win U.S. 15-K Road Running Titles
Posted March 8th, 2008 at 1:59 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
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 to catch Kastor who, along with the other elite women, were given a five minute headstart. Carlson won not only the $12,000 first place prize but an additional $5,000 bonus for winning the gender battle. He crossed the finish line about 25 seconds ahead of Kastor. It was Carlson’s first U.S. title at any distance on any surface, and he waited for Kastor at the finish line and congratulated her with a hug.
Read the rest of this entry »
Lel Leads Stacked Elite Field for 2008 London Marathon
Posted December 12th, 2007 at 10:15 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Martin Lel, the only man to ever win the Flora London and ING New York City Marathons in the same year, headlines London’s field for next April, race director Dave Bedford announced today.
The 29 year-old Lel, who won both the London and New York races in sprint finishes over Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri, also won London in 2005. He has a personal best time of 2:06:41.
“I am very pleased to be able to defend my title.,” Lel commented through a media release. “I am training hard to make sure I am in top shape for my bid to win a third time. I know it will be tough, but I love running in London and am confident I can win again.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Zhou and Lel prevail in balmy 2007 London Marathon
Posted April 23rd, 2007 at 9:07 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
As they mounted the top step of the podium near the finish line of the 26th Flora London Marathon, Zhou Chunxiu and Martin Lel basked in the warm sunshine which conspired with them to defeat two of the best marathon fields ever assembled.
With the mercury hitting 20°C (68°F) by the time the Zhou finished in a world leading 2:20:38, the warm temperatures combined with a cloudless sky had already taken its toll on some of the sport’s top stars.
Haile Gebrselassie, Stefano Baldini, Khalid Khannouchi, Meb Keflezighi, Galina Bogomolova, Ludmila Petrova, Kyoko Shimahara, Kathy Butler, Blake Russell, and Juan Carlos De La Ossa were just some of the athletes who couldn’t finish, while others were forced to jog the final miles to the finish.
Read the rest of this entry »
Kenya’s Lel wins 2007 London Marathon; Hall sets American debut record!
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:49 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
After a dramatic, gutsy finish - Kenya’s Martin Lel has become the 2007 London Marathon Champion in a time of 2:07.42!
Lel, who also won the race back in 2005, was able to out kick Morocco’s Goumri, who was making his debut appearance at the distance, and Felix Limo of Kenya.
Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib, the reigning world champion, South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala and Kenyan world record holder Paul Tergat closed out the top six of this exciting and dramatic race.
American Ryan Hall finished seventh in a time of 2:08:25; setting a new American debut record!
Men take off and speed passed Mile 25
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:49 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
The men are really taking off now and speeding passed the 25 mile mark. Gharib remains in the lead.
It is essentially a track race now as Kenyans Martin Lel and Felix Limo are trying to make a move.
Tergat, Gharib and then Goumri fall to about a yard or two behind the Kenyans. Ramaala is really falling back.
It’s all about speed now as the men approach the last 600 meters …
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Gharib makes a surge and holds solo lead
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:47 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
World champion Gharib looks very strong and is making a big break now that the men have passed the 40k mark and approach Big Ben and Westminster square. Goumri is unable to keep up with his training partner, but joins Lel, Limo and Raamala. Tergat continues to struggle.
This is going to come down to the wire!!!
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Men pass mile 23; Hall and dos Santos fall back as they approach 24
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:37 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Lead male rankings at Mile 23: Hall, Gharib, Lel, Ramaala, Tergat, Gomes dos Santos, Limo and then Goumri.
However, as they appraoch mile 24 - Ryan Hall and dos Santos have drifted back as Moroccans Gharib, the world champion, and Goumri push the pace and take the lead. Lel, Ramaala, and Tergat (who pulled out of last year’s London Marathon) remain a bit behind the Moroccan leaders - but ahead of Hall, dos Santos and then the second men’s pack of Meb, Baldini and others.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
17 miles finished for the men as Hall remains with Limo and other leaders
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:15 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Men have now completed 17 miles in 1:22:32.
Ryan Hall, Gharib, Limo, Terget, Lel and a few others remain up front.
American and former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi has fallen out of the lead pack.
HOWEVER — HAILE GEBRSELASSIE HAS DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE AS THE MEN PASS 30K MARK! Geb appears to be really hit hard by the weather; holding his stomach as he leaves the course.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Weather starting to take its tole on leading men; Meb dropping as Hall picks it up
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:48 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
The top men remain in a close pack - although the weather is clearly having an impact on many of them, especially Ramaala, as they all continue to consume extra water. These leaders still include Limo, Gharib, Khalid, Lel, Geb and Ramaala.
Ryan Hall, who is doing great and starting to pick it up, is now approaching the end of this pack.
The second pack of men is headed by Stefano Baldini. It also includes American Meb Keflezighi (19th). Meb, who is beginning to drop back off the pace, is followed closely by 2006 ING NYC Marathon Champ Gomes dos Santos.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
What is your favorite running movie or documentary?
Recent Comments
Page 2 Articles
- Men’s Pack Closing in On Leaders at 14 Miles
The gloves have come off. The men’s leaders have come through 14 miles in 1:13.07 (4:57 last mile), but are being reeled in by the chase pack.
Ben Maiyo (running more conservatively this year), Robert Cheruiyot (defending champ), Philip Manyim, and Hailu Negussie (2005 champ) are leading the charge which has brought them […] - Men’s Update after 70 minutes
About 70 minutes in, the men’s race is still comprised of a lead pack of two Kenyans and a large chase pack, now only 1:40 back.
Americans Peter Gilmore and Jason Lehmkuhle have about 10 seconds on the rest of the chase pack, so hopefully they continue to run well. Robert Cheruiyot is beginning to […] - Men’s 9 Mile Update
The two leaders are Josephat Ongeri and Jared Nyamboki, and they have just passed 9 miles in 45:02, right around 2:11 pace. They slowed to 5:15 on that mile, but still have about a two minute lead on the field. Pretty much all of the competitors are in the main chase pack including […]
- Men 6 mile update
Through 6 miles the two leaders are at 29:35 - a blistering pace for these conditions and as they now hit mile 7 the time is 34:46 (5:01 split). The rest of the next pack (including all of the main contenders) are running very relaxed at this point (~5:18 pace; quite sluggish for them).
The […] - Men’s Update at 4 Miles
The men’s race has taken an interesting turn- two Kenyans, Josephat Ongeri and Jared Nyamboki (green uniforms) have taken off and through 2 miles have a 50 second (and growing) lead! At the 4 mile mark the time is 19:30 and they ran their last mile in 19:30.
These two are essentially not serious […] - Man Running Without Shirt
Yeah, there is officially a male runner running shirtless.
I guess that is one way to prevent chafing … and get hypothermia!***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 Boston Marathon at:
http://boston.thefinalsprint.com
***** […] - Men’s Race Underway!
The Elite Men’s Race is now also underway under the same cold, rainy, blustery conditions. The common question on days like this is whether the African contingent can handle the unusually awful (for them) weather. Let me tell you, these guys are tough and I expect them to have little trouble with the […]
TFS Media Sites
The Final SprintSite Archives
- September 2008
- August 2008
- 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
- "Be Healthy and Relax" Blog
- Fitness Cure
- Herbalist.com
- Dirt Diva
- Association of Road Running Statisticians
- World Marathon Majors
- Deena Kastor's Official Website
- Savvy
- Phedippidations Podcast by Steve Runner
- U.S. Trail Runner
- BlogsRating.com
- Typepad
- Digg
- Delightful Blogs
- The Extra Mile Podcast
- Best Blogs
- BizJournals.com - Sports Business
- The Sole of Africa
- H-T-REX (Houston Trail Runners EXtreme)
- Light the Torch
© 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 September 6, 2008
Brenda said:
I would like to participate in the 200 mile relay. Brenda