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Lead Stories: Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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).
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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.
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TFS Podcast 121: Jon Dunham Director and Producer of “Spirit of the Marathon”

Posted January 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Motivation, Movies, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

In Episode 121 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast I had the pleasure of being joined by Jon Dunham; Director/Producer of the running documentary “Spirit of the Marathon”.

The feature-length film, which will be shown at select theatres around the country tomorrow evening, January 24 at 7:30pm, is the first ever non-fiction feature film to capture the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile running event. Filmed on four continents, the movie brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries. The past and present running legends showcased in the film include: Paula Radcliffe, Bill Rodgers, Grete Waitz, Frank Shorter, Deena Kastor and Kathrine Switzer.

Download the podcast to hear Jon discuss the concept and purpose behind the film, his personal love and admiration for running and specially the marathon, what it was like to work with some of the sport’s greatest heroes, the potential for a related, spin-off documentary about the history of the marathon, and much more!

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)

[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Jon Dunham
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 13.2 MB | Length: 19:18 MIN

Episode Sponsored By: Nike +

Long Live Running!
Nike Plus will improve the way you run. Get feedback from your iPod on pace, time, distance and calories burned.

Log into Nikeplus.com to track your progress,
set goals and challenge friends.

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Marathon Comes to Big Screen, But For Only One Night

Posted January 7th, 2008 at 10:07 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Motivation, Movies

In an unusual arrangement, a full-length feature documentary film on marathon running will be shown in USA theaters, but only for one night: Thursday, January 24.

The film, “Spirit of the Marathon,” presents the stories of six runners who competed in the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, from from first timers to elite runners like Deena Kastor and Daniel Njenga. The film explores how recreational runners use the marathon as a device to confront other issues in their lives –like divorce– and how elite runners are in it for equal amounts of glory and cash.

“The normal person, they want to make their body slim,” Njenga says over shots of him warming up before the race. “But for us, we want to make money. This is like a job and I love my job.”

Filmed on four continents, the two-hour movie chronicles the training of these athletes, interspersed with interviews from well-known marathon runners and experts, like Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Amby Burfoot, Dick Beardsley, Joe Henderson, Roger Robinson, and Kathrine Switzer. Shot in hi-def video, the footage of the Chicago Marathon is both varied and majestic; the producers had a crew of 62 on the scene and used 15 camera operators. There is also a rousing score.
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NYRR Announces Top-Rate Broadcast and Web Coverage for U.S. Olympic Team Trials & ING New York City Marathon

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 10:03 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

New York Road Runners today announced an unprecedented level of broadcast and webstreaming coverage for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon on November 3 and the ING New York City Marathon 2007 on November 4. The two events will be broadcast and streamed around the world via NBC, WNBC-4HD, NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com and WCSN.com.

“We are pleased to have such extensive coverage of this unprecedented weekend of marathon running,” said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners and race director of both events. “By providing local, national and international options on both television and broadband of each race, we are better serving our sport’s fan base worldwide. Expanding broadcast options is a continued priority for New York Road Runners.”

On Saturday, November 3, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon will be streamed worldwide for free on NBCsports.com, the first time an Olympic Trials event has been streamed live online. NBC’s “TODAY” will cut in live to broadcast the start of the race nationally at 7:35 a.m. EDT, and NBC will air a national half-hour highlights show from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m.
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The Final Sprint Podcast Highlighted by Running Times

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 9:07 AM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Resources, Olympics, Special Features, Podcasts, Trail / Ultra

The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, continues to capture audiences and receive praise from athletes, coaches, journalists, industry leaders and running fans from around the world.

Most recently, Running Times Magazine chose to highlight The Final Sprint Podcast along with Flocasts/Flotrack and the World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) in their October 2007 issue.

The Final Sprint Podcast, launched in January 2007, features three to five audio interviews each week and is hosted by TheFinalSprint.com Editor-in-Chief Adam Jacobs.

Jacobs has proudly welcomed a dynamic and eclectic list of guests, including track & field superstars (Sanya Richards, Ryan Hall, Alan Webb), Olympic marathon medalists (Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi), ultra-elite champions (Dean Karnazes, Scott Jurek), coaching icons (Dr. Jack Daniels, Jeff Galloway), courageous heroes (Jim MacLaren, Kathrine Switzer, Billy Mills) and running legends from years past (Gail Devers, Jim Ryun, Grete Waitz).

To listen in, subscribe to the podcast feed, or even download recent episodes right to your mp3 player, please visit: TheFinalSprint.com.

The podcast is also available at no charge in iTunes.

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Podcast 66: Female running pioneer and Lydiard protégé LORRAINE MOLLER -Part 2/2

Posted July 20th, 2007 at 9:51 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 66 of The Final Sprint Podcast features the second and final installment of a two-part, in-depth interview with the legendary female running pioneer and passionate Lydiard protégé LORRAINE MOLLER. (Click here to listen to part 1 of this interview featured in Episode 65).

Lorraine began an unprecedented, 28-year international career by running barefoot in her native New Zealand. At the age of 41, she concluded her running her career with her fourth Olympic marathon, becoming the only woman in the world to have completed each of the first four Olympic marathons for women. Her multitude of other accomplishments include the longest debut winning marathon streak in history, a Boston Marathon title, and an Olympic bronze medal.

In part 2 of the interview, Lorraine talks about her upcoming autobiography “On the Wings of Mercury”, her decision to retire and her life since, coaching, the advent of the women’s marathon and the special relationship between herself and fellow women’s running pioneers: Kathrine Switzer, Grete Waitz, and Joan Benoit Samuelson.

Download the podcast to hear Lorraine discuss these topics, as well as, helping to create the Arthur Lydiard Foundation, her charity efforts and much more!

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)

[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Lorraine Moller
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 13.9 MB
Length: 20:16

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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Kiplagat dominates Mini 10-k

Posted June 9th, 2007 at 11:39 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat dominated the 36th annual NYRR New York Women’s Mini 10-K here today, winning for the third consecutive time and her fourth time overall. The “Mini” is the world’s oldest all women’s road race founded by the New York Road Runners in 1972.

Breaking away from the field in the first kilometer, Kiplagat passed the half-way point in 15:39, 25 seconds ahead of the chase pack which included Kim Smith, Mara Yamauchi, Benita Johnson, Hilda Kibet, Silvia Skvortsova, Jelena Prokopcuka and Lydiya Grigoryeva. Although she was slowed by the warm and humid conditions, Kiplagat still finished eight seconds clear of the field in 32:10. She allowed herself to enjoy the victory, slowing to “high-five” spectators in the finish straight.
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Donate your old running shoes and help support the Shoe4Africa Foundation!

Posted June 7th, 2007 at 5:02 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Announcements, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Have an extra or old pair of shoes lying around?
Want to support a worthy cause and do something to better the lives of those who need your help the most?

If so, then please consider joining 2007 World XC Champion Lornah Kiplagat, female running pioneer Kathrine Switzer, actor Anthony Edwards, two-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel, supermodel runner Kim Alexis and a host of other running icons and celebrities in supporting the Shoe4Africa Foundation; a non-profit organization committed to supporting programs, individuals, and events that create opportunity, enhance self-esteem, and increase health awareness in East Africa.

For more information and to make a contribution, check out the following video and please visit: www.shoe4africa.org

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Watch:Last year’s champ Jeptoo and top American Kastor express their disappointment

Posted April 16th, 2007 at 5:29 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Watch 2006 champ Rita Jeptoo and top American runner Deena Kastor discuss this year’s race.

In the press conference, Rita expresses disappointment over her performance and the challenges of the weather. Kastor attributes her own disappointing performance to stomach problems, comments on the all women’s start, Kathrine Switzer and much more!

Click on the image to begin the video highlight reel:

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