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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Tola, Masai Win Falmouth Road Race; Keflezighi Finishes 2nd With Strong Performance

Posted August 10th, 2008 at 4:07 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

The first time was a charm for both the men’s and women’s winners of the 2008 CIGNA Falmouth Road Race. In addition, this year marked the first time that a Masters runner topped the women’s field, following her wins in consecutive weekends at the Bix 7-Mile in Davenport, Iowa and the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Edith Masai, age 41, of Kenya crossed the finish line in 37:02 followed by Lyudmila Bitkasheva, age 34, of Russia three seconds later in 37:05.

On the men’s side, Tadese Tola, age 20, finished in 32:01, which broke the nine-year Kenyan winning streak and marked the first win by an Ethiopian. The 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezghi, 33, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. finished second in 32:09. That time bettered his 2007 Falmouth second place finish by four seconds. Boaz Cheboiywo of Kenya placed third in 32:12. Both winning times were off the course records of 31:08 set by Gilbert Okari in 2004 and 35:02 set Lornah Kiplagat in 2000.
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Beach to Beacon 10-K Next Stop on U.S. Roads

Posted July 31st, 2008 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

One of American’s most scenic road races, the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10-K, is also one of its most competitive. The 11th edition of this coastal run in Cape Elizabeth, Me., is scheduled for Saturday and features a very strong, mostly African, elite field.

Kenyan Duncan Kibet, who was the first of 4839 finishers in last year’s race in a swift 27:51.7 personal best, returns to defend his title, organizers reported earlier this week. Once again, it will be his goal to snatch the $10,000 first prize, part of a total $60,000 prize money purse.

His biggest rivals will mostly be from his own nation, including Quad-City Times Bix 7 champion Edward Muge, 2006 Beach to Beacon champion Thomas Nyariki, and three time “B2B” winner Gilbert Okari. The Kenyans will have two very strong Ethiopians to contend with (no Ethiopian man has ever won the B2B), led by 2008 AJC Peachtree Road Race champion Terefe Maregu Zewdie, and 2004 Olympian Dejene Berhanu.
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Russell Hopes for Elusive Olympic Team Berth

Posted April 18th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

Some four years ago on a warmish day in St. Louis, Blake Russell was competing in the biggest race of her life, the 2004 USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon. Right from the gun, she stepped on the gas, motoring through the first 10 km in a snappy 33:33. She quickly built a one minute lead on the field, including pre-race favorite Deena Kastor and eventual winner Colleen De Reuck.

“It was one of those things when I felt I was ready to really run fast,” Russell recalled today ahead of Sunday’s Marathon Trials where she is amongst the favorites for a podium finish and a spot on the U.S. Olympic marathon team in Beijing.
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Registration Begins for 2008 Beach to Beacon 10K

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 9:15 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Earlier today registration officially opened for the 11th TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K. This year’s edition of race in Cape Elizabeth, ME is set for 8AM on August 2..

It should be noted that race organizers decided to eliminate paper applications this year because of financial and environmental concerns; making it the first road race in America to go completely “paperless”.

As a result, all athletes must register online at: http://www.beach2beacon.org/

Founded by U.S. marathon legend and women’s running pioneer Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Beach to Beacon 10K is a fan favorite that attracts runners from all parts of the U.S. and elite athletes from around the world. In 2007, the race featured over 5,000 runners and drew more than 10,000 spectators.

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Samuelson To Give Keynote Address At Napa Valley Marathon

Posted February 20th, 2008 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Athletes participating in the 30th edition of the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon on Sunday, March 2, will be tackling the course after getting advice from 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist, Joan Samuelson, who will give the race’s keynote address the previous afternoon.

Amongst that group, organizers say, will be six to ten women who hope to qualify for the USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon on Sunday, April 20, in Boston. The minimum time to make the Trials is two hours and 47 minutes. According to USA Track & Field, 175 women had officially qualified through January 16, while RRW has noted two more qualifiers since then: Melanie Peters, 2:46:45, Tampa, Feb. 10, and Becki Michael, 2:43:43, Austin, Feb. 17.
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Charity Fundraising by Runners Now $714+ Million

Posted October 30th, 2007 at 8:00 PM by J. R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Marking a trend of continued growth, road runners and walkers raised $714 million for charity in 2006, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Monday. The figure marks a nearly 9 percent increase over 2005 and shows continued, steady increases since USATF began its annual charity survey in 2002.

The Nike Women’s Marathon and Half-Marathon was named the 2006 USATF Charitable Race of the Year, while the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its GREAT STRIDES program was honored as 2006 Charitable Organization of the Year.
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USATF study reveals
charity fundraising by runners, walkers surges
to over $714 million

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 2:45 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Marking a trend of continued growth, road runners and walkers raised $714 million for charity in 2006, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Monday. The figure marks a nearly 9 percent increase over 2005 and shows continued, steady increases since USATF began its annual charity survey in 2002.

The Nike Women’s Marathon and Half-Marathon was named the 2006 USATF Charitable Race of the Year, while the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its GREAT STRIDES program was honored as 2006 Charitable Organization of the Year.

Conducted internally by USATF, the national governing body of track and field, long-distance running and race walking, the study revealed that more than $714 million was raised for charitable causes by runners in 2006.

USATF gathered data from national charitable race series/organizations and a sample of nearly 200 running/walking races, including many of the country’s largest races.

“The continued growth of charity fundraising in the current economic climate shows the dedication of charity runners and walkers to their cause, as well as the strength of road running in this country,” said USATF CEO Craig A. Masback.
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Philadelphia Distance Run Celebrates 30th Edition on Sunday

Posted September 13th, 2007 at 1:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Hugging the banks of the Schuykill River for most of its 21.1 kilometers, the Philadelphia Distance Run has for 30 years been consistently the fastest half-marathon in the United States.

According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, the Distance Run has three times been the scene of the men’s half-marathon world record, and twice the venue for the women’s. The first occasion was in 1982 when Kenyan Michael Musyoki ran 1:01:36. Three years later, American Marc Curp ran 1:00:55 which was until just last January the North American half-marathon record (broke by Ryan Hall). In 1990 Mexican Dionicio Ceron lowered the mark to 1:00:46. On the women’s side, Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist, set third half-marathon world record in Philadelphia with a 1:09:10 clocking in 1983. She followed up the next year with an even better mark of 1:08:34.

But it’s the sheer volume of fast times in Philadelphia which has given this race its well-earned reputation for speed. In the 29 previous editions men have broken 61 minutes five times and 61:30 20 times. On the women’s side, 69 minutes has been broken three times and 70 minutes ten times. The list of previous winners include some of the sport’s best-ever athletes: Deena Kastor (2005), Catherine Ndereba (1996, ‘98, ‘99, 2000, ‘01 and ‘02), Benoit Samuelson (1983, ‘84, and ‘85), Khalid Khannouchi (1997, ‘99, and 2000), Steve Jones (1988), and Rod Dixon (1980, ‘81) to name a few.
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Quote of the Day: 9/2/07

Posted September 2nd, 2007 at 4:00 AM by Martha Jones

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Keep varying the program.
Your body will tell you what to do.”

- Joan Benoit Samuelson, Olympic marathon gold medalist

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Nike encourages women to ‘Run Together’ at 4th annual Nike Women’s Marathon

Posted August 17th, 2007 at 7:45 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

For the past three years, the Nike Women’s Marathon has brought women together in San Francisco for the world’s largest women’s marathon. This year, Nike is adding a new twist to this already distinctive event — the opportunity for women to run together on the same day for the same cause anywhere in the U.S. by registering for the first ever Nike+ Women’s Half Marathon, through Nikeplus.com.

On October 21, 20,000 participants, up from 15,000 last year, from 50 states and more than 18 countries will descend on the Bay Area to run the Nike Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Selling out faster than most races of its size - the half marathon selling out in only 10.5 hours and the full marathon in 3.5 days - the Nike Women’s Marathon has become one of the biggest philanthropic contributors among races.

Via a partnership with Team in Training, the marathon raised more than $40 million in its first three years for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society benefiting cancer research and is expecting to exceed the $24 million raised in 2006 for this year’s event, making it Team in Training’s largest beneficiary race in its history.
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