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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Lagat Cautiously Optimistic As Double Ambitions Begin

Posted August 15th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

With the start of his quest to succeed Hicham El Guerrouj as the Olympic 1500 and 500m champion now just a day away, Bernard Lagat believes he is ready and indeed up for the daunting challenge.

“This is the one I’ve been looking forward to,” the reigning world champion over both distances said at a press conference. “My preparation has really been at the top.”

The first round of the men’s 1500m is scheduled for Friday evening, the first five races on the Kenyan-born American’s busy Beijing schedule. Lagat said that both distances will pose their unique challenges, but that it’s the 1500m that may pose the stiffest test.
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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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In Quest for Double Olympic Gold, Lagat has El Guerrouj on His Side

Posted April 19th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

As he sets out on his quest for double Olympic gold this summer, Bernard Lagat will have plenty of supporters. Among them is the man whose achievement he’ll be hoping to emulate in Beijing: world record holder and reigning double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj.

“Bernard proved in Osaka, thanks to determination and passion, that he can do it,” El Guerrouj, the finest middle distance runner of his generation, said of his long-time rival, last fall.
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Who Is the Greatest Male Runner Of All Time?

Posted April 16th, 2008 at 9:45 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns

Who is the greatest male runner of all time? If you ask ten different track aficionados, you’ll probably get ten different answers, but I thought I’d take a look at some statistics to try and arrive at my own conclusion. I based my analysis on the fastest 50 performances of all time in every Olympic running event from 100 meters all the way up to the marathon. I tallied the number of times each name appeared in any of the events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m, Marathon, 110mH, 400mH, 3000mSC) and then added the totals if any athlete had top 50 performances in more than one event. Most of the athletes who had 10 or more top-50-alltime performances have done so in more than one event.

Of all the runners who had 10 or more top-50 performances, which nations were most represented? Not surprisingly, the United States was represented by the most with 6 athletes, followed by Ethiopia with 2 and then 6 countries with 1 athlete each: Denmark, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Qatar, and Trinidad. Based on that information alone, you can probably guess some of the names on the list.
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Barleycorn, Bannister, Barriers and Beyond

Posted March 29th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Or, How I learned To Live Without New Mile World Records

Between July 17th, 1945 and May 6th, 1954 a period of 3,215 days or 8 years, 9 months, 20 days passed. What’s so significant about that time period? Well, the track historians among you might recognize the latter date as one of considerable historical significance for our sport, for humanity, really. That was the date on which Great Britain’s Roger Bannister ran himself into immortality by becoming the first man to break four minutes for the mile run. Bannister ran 3:59.6 that day, surpassing the world record of 4:01.3 that had stood for nearly a decade and was owned by Sweden’s Gunder Hägg.

That time period of 3,215 days is the longest passage of time between world records in the mile since the IAAF era began in 1912. That dubious record is about to be broken. That’s right, folks – on April 25th, 2008, 3,216 days will have passed since Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco set the current world record of 3:43.13 for the mile run on July 7th, 1999. Those of you who consider yourselves to be track historians realize the significance of this fact. Before Bannister was able to break through that four-minute barrier, track pundits had been postulating that man had reached the limits of his abilities, that the four-minute barrier was impenetrable. They argued that so much time had passed since the world record had been broken, it was obvious that it would never again be broken; in fact, some argued that those foolhardy enough to try would die in the process. (A great account of the lead-up to Bannister’s historic achievement can be read in Neal Bascomb’s terrific book entitled The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It.)
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Note on the News: El Guerrouj To Run French Road Race

Posted December 18th, 2007 at 4:58 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Reuters French language service is reporting that Hicham El Guerrouj plans to participate in the Prom’ Classique 10-K road race in Nice next January 6. But don’t expect too much. The world record holder for both the 1500m and the mile says he’s only running 12 to 14 kilometers per week and expects a middle-of-the-pack finish.

You can read the story here
(in French):

http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/071218/26/phic.html

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Top Ten Moments for U.S. Distance Running in 2007

Posted December 18th, 2007 at 10:50 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics

What a difference 7 years can make. Back in the “Dark Ages” of U.S. distance running circa 2000, there wasn’t a lot to cheer about or acknowledge, or put simply, U.S. distance running was in a funk.

And now, in 7 short years, due mainly to training groups, dedicated athletes and coaches, increased financial support, more promotion and success (think Meb & Deena) begetting more success (see the below), the United States has dramatically more to cheer about and moreover, has inspiration and a foundation for current and future stars. From a shortage of best moments 7 years ago to a surfeit of best moments, here are the best of 2007 for U.S. distance running:
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TFS News Briefs: 10/10/07

Posted October 10th, 2007 at 7:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

USOC seeks medals from Jones’ relay-mates
Now that Marion Jones has returned her Olympic medals in the wake of her doping admission, the United States Olympic Committee has also asked Marion Jones’ relay teammates to return their medals and promised a “completely clean” U.S. squad in 2008. The USOC request, Jones’ admission and the IOC’s pending decision on how to redistribute the medals has caused a fury of editorials, objections and controversy.
Here is a sampling of related articles and opinion pieces:
Jones’ relay teammate wants to keep bronze medal — Canadian Press
Time to target coaches, doctors and agents — Guardian (Steve Cram)
Ottey to pick up extra medal — Yahoo! Sports
Jones could’ve broken open sports scam — Seattle Times

Culpepper aims to repeat at U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
Alan Culpepper, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team, is looking to replicate his success at the Nov. 3 Trials in NYC. In regards to the new loop-course, Culpepper said, “I was fairly shocked when I saw the course; it (the hilly Central Park course) is going to be hard. I am doing more race-pace effort on hilly terrain this time.”
Read more at: [Daily Camera]
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Nixing Pacemakers and Increasing Prize pot, Zurich Introduces new one-day Meet Approach

Posted September 6th, 2007 at 4:39 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

When the IAAF Golden Series resumes on Friday night, Zurich’s rebuilt state-of-the-art Letzigrund Stadium won’t be the only new development at one of the world’s richest single-day meetings. For the first time in the sport’s professional era, the annual Weltklasse competition will not employ the services of pacemakers.

And that suits Bernard Lagat, the recently minted world champion at 1500 and 5000 meters, just fine.

“It’s fantastic,” said Lagat, who will contest the 3000 on Friday. “People always run fast and they get personal bests with pacemakers, but then again it’s so important that the race becomes tactical.”
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Why you won’t see a world record in the upcoming World Championships or Olympics

Posted August 10th, 2007 at 3:53 PM by Jimson Lee

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns

When was the last time you saw a world record in a World Championship or Olympics Games in a middle distance or long distance event?

Sprinters take advantage of the Championship atmosphere, the multiple rounds, and faster tracks to set their world records.

You have to go back to Alberto Juantorena’s 1.43.50 800 meters at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. If you count Commonwealth Games, then Filbert Bayi’s 3.32.16 1500 meters in 1974 at Christchurch, NZ. (more on that race later)

Unfortunately, we can thank the rabbits for destroying that opportunity.
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