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.

Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

America’s best to compete at U.S. Olympic Team Trials:
50 km Race Walk

Posted February 8th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Kevin Eastler, Curt Clausen, Philip Dunn, Matt Boyles and Ray Sharp headline the field Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - 50 km Race Walk at the Miami-Dade County village of Palmetto Bay in Florida, where U.S. Olympic Team berths will be at stake.

A purse of over $55,000 awaits the top finishers of the 50 kilometer (31 mile) walk, the longest track and field event at the Olympic Games. First place will be worth more than $15,000 with the top eight finishers guaranteed prize money.

The local organizing committee is led by event director Robin Beamon from the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department. ING Miami Marathon race director Robert Pozo will be the technical director of the race.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Eastler, Vaill win
Ron Zinn Awards

Posted November 24th, 2007 at 3:45 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results

USA Track & Field has announced that Kevin Eastler and Teresa Vaill are the winners of the 2007 Captain Ron Zinn Awards that honor the outstanding U.S. male and female race walkers of the year. Formal presentation of the awards will take place December 1 in ceremonies held in conjunction with USATF’s Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The annual awards commemorate the achievements of Captain Ronald Zinn, who lost his life in combat during the Vietnam War. Zinn was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His sixth-place finish in the 20 km race walk is one of America’s all-time top international race walking performances.
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

Team USA women’s 4×100m quartet qualifies for final

Posted September 1st, 2007 at 3:00 AM by Jamal Walker

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

Team USA’s women’s 4×100m relay squad looked solid during Saturday morning’s qualifying round at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Nagai Stadium.

Women’s 100m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (Long Beach, Calif.) ran a strong lead leg for Team USA before handing the baton to 2007 Pan Am Games 100m and 4×100m relay silver medalist Mechelle Lewis (Columbia, S.C.), who kept the Americans in the lead.

2007 Pan Am Games 100m gold medalist Miki Barber (Raleigh, N.C.) ran a masterful third leg that gave Team USA a commanding lead before handing the baton to 2005 World 100m champion Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.) [Pictured], who sped to the finish, crossing the line in the fastest time in the world this year of 42.24 seconds.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Relay finals begin; Decathlon and women’s 5000m finals set for Saturday in Osaka

Posted August 31st, 2007 at 12:32 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

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

World Outdoor silver medalist Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) competes in the men’s pole vault and Team USA’s 4×100m relays go for the medal podium in Saturday competition at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Nagai Stadium.

Competition in the men’s decathlon comes to a close, with 2003 World Outdoor Champion Tom Pappas (Knoxville, Tenn.) in fifth place after Day 1. American record holder Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.) [Pictured] and two-time Olympian Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) contest the women’s 5,000m final, and Kevin Eastler (Aurora, Colo.) opens the day by competing in the men’s 50 km race walk.

In addition to the sprint relay finals, the men’s and women’s 4×400m relays compete in first-round action.

Below is a complete listing of USATF entrants for Saturday competition:
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

AT&T USA Outdoor T&F Champs: Saturday event previews

Posted June 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

HEPTATHLON, Day Two

Key Athletes: GiGi Johnson, Hyleas Fountain, Diana Pickler, Jacquelyn Johnson

The past two USATF champions are in the field with GiGi Johnson (2006) and Fountain (2005), but it is US list leader Pickler who topped the standings with 3,636 points after the first day. Fountain is 18 points adrift, with Johnson two more behind her. NCAA champ Johnson is fifth at 3,495.

DECATHLON, Day Two

Key Athletes: Tom Pappas, Paul Terek, Jake Arnold

Four-time U.S. winner Pappas, who leads with 4,394 points, is the defending champion and could tie Bill Toomey and Dan O’Brien for most U.S. titles in the event after the withdrawal of ‘05 world champion Bryan Clay. Arnold recently claimed his second NCAA title, scoring 8,215 for the victory, and is sxth after five events. Terek scored 8,134 to win at Desenzano on May 6 and is seeking his third Worlds team berth.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink