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Lead Stories: Sunday, November 23, 2008

James Li named Nike
Coach of the Year

Posted November 28th, 2007 at 3:11 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

James Li, who guided Bernard Lagat to a history-making performance at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, and an American record indoors, has been named the 2007 Nike Coach of the Year by USA Track & Field.

He will receive his award Saturday, December 1, at the 2007 Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, held in conjunction with the USATF Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The American record holder over 1,500m, Lagat became the first man to win the 1,500/5,000m double at World Outdoors, and the first American ever to medal in the 5,000 at Worlds. Earlier in the 2007 season, Lagat broke the American record indoors at 3,000 meters.
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Lagat Breaks 99 Year Gold Medal Drought for USA

Posted August 29th, 2007 at 1:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Competing in his first IAAF World Championships in Athletics for the United States, Bernard Lagat of Tucson, Ariz., brought home a gold medal in the 1500m, breaking a 99-year middle distance gold medal drought for his adopted nation. Not since Mel Sheppard won the Olympic title in London in 1908 has an American man won a world or Olympic 1500m title.

“This is the most important moment of my life today,” Lagat told the media at the post-race press conference while balancing his 19 month-old son, Mikka, on his knee. He added later, “This was a great win for me.”

Lagat, who already has Olympic silver and bronze medals to his name, executed the race plan coach James Li gave him to perfection. Coach Li had come to Lagat’s hotel room this morning with a video of his semi-final, and pointed out where the 32 year-old athlete had made mistakes during the race. Lagat said he listened carefully to his long-time coach, and kept the race plan he was given for tonight clearly in mind.

“He showed me the plan. I followed it and at the end, I was the winner,” Lagat summarized.
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Thornton, Bolden slated to head 2008 Olympic T&F Teams

Posted March 16th, 2007 at 10:15 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

University of Texas men’s head coach Bubba Thornton and UCLA women’s head coach Jeanette Bolden have been nominated to serve as the men’s and women’s head coaches, respectively, for Team USA’s track and field squads for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, USA Track & Field announced Thursday. James Li and Rich Torrellas are nominated as head managers.
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