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Lead Stories: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Team USA: Day 3 Track Recap

Posted August 17th, 2008 at 3:36 PM by Cheryl Lowe

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

The days of the 2008 Olympic Games are flying by in Beijing, and Team USA is yet to earn a track and field gold medal.

BARRINGER EARNS ANOTHER AMERICAN RECORD, BUT NO MEDAL

In the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase final, Americans Jenny Barringer and Anna Willard competed but did not earn a medal. Barringer, who finished the race in 9:22.26, good for a new American record in the event and 9th place overall. Willard finished behind Barringer in 9:25.63, good for 10th place.

Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) won the event in 8:58.81, a new World Record. Eunice Jepkorir of Kenya (2nd place) and Yekaterina Volkova of Russia (3rd place) finished in 9:07.41 and 9:07.64 respectively.

LAGAT DOES NOT ADVANCE TO MEN’S 1500M FINALS

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the day, Team USA’s Bernard Lagat failed to advance in the men’s 1500-meter semifinal. Lagat, formerly of Kenya, is competing for the United States this year. Lagat was the first American to finish the race (6th place in heat 2, 3:37.79) but did not qualify for the final.
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Lagat Wins 1500m Final; Webb Misses Out on Beijing

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Eight served by picapp.com

The Men’s 1500m at the 2008 US Olympic Trials was billed as a showdown of America’s finest milers and certainly didn’t disappoint. Much of the attention leading up to the race was given to reigning World Champion Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb (the American Record holder in the mile), and former national champion Gabe Jennings. Five runners (Webb, Lagat, Leonel Manzano, Lopez Lomong, and Jon Rankin) achieved the Olympic A standard in previous races, while the rest of the field needed it in this meet to get to Beijing. The US team in each event is made up of the top three Trials finishers who have attained the A standard in the Trials or in a previous race, meaning that the five runners mentioned above could focus on place while the rest of the field needed to watch the clock as well.

The race got out to a fast start in the first 100m with double World Champion Bernard Lagat reaching the pole first. Lagat immediately slowed the pace, bunching up the field and causing a lot of pushing and jostling right behind him. With the A standard already slipping away, Gabe Jennings took the lead at the 300m mark (reached in 47s) and picked up the pace. The field reached the 400m mark in 1:01 and the 800m mark in 2:00.70 as Jennings continued to lead but wasn’t able to make up time on the standard.
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Webb is Back, Back Again

Posted July 4th, 2008 at 12:31 AM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Five served by picapp.com

The much-anticipated U.S. Olympic Trials men’s 1500 meters finally started today with three action-packed qualifying races.

Jordan McNamara of the University of Oregon led the first heat, with Steve Sherer close behind. McNamara stumbled in the third lap, but reacted quickly to hold his front position. However, he did not have enough gas left in the end as he ended up last. Sherer finished strongly in second-place (3:44.71) after Gabe Jennings‘ outstanding kick for first (3:44.39).

The second heat had Lopez Lomong (3:43.38) and Leonel Manzano (3:48.41), who finished first and second. The most exciting moment was Andrew Acosta’s fall. He fell hard, did a back flip and got back up to finish the last laps despite having no chance to catch the rest of the field.

In case you were worried, Webb is back. Alan Webb had a lot to prove after recent performances, but he did well tonight with a 3:41.27, the fastest time of the quarterfinals. Behind Webb were Said Ahmed (3:41.92) and Christopher Lukezic (3:42.10). Bernard Lagat, who already made the Olympic team in the 5000 meters, looked relaxed in the back for most of the race, but eventually finished fourth (3:42.11).
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TFS Podcast 141: Leo Manzano Ready for Des Moines, Drake and Beyond!

Posted June 5th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, College

Episode 141 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features University of Texas senior Leo Manzano, who just won an unprecedented 4th NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in the 1500m. Now Manzano is headed to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the NCAA National Championships from June 11th through June 14th, 2008, where he is hoping to win his 3rd NCAA National title in the 1500m run.

In the interview Leo talks about his experience at the 2007 Osaka World Championships and how the timing of that experience couldn’t have been better. He also discusses his upcoming race at the US Olympic Trials, whether or not he will turn pro and how the 90 degree heat he’s experienced all spring while training will help him.

Download the podcast to listen to Leo talk about his long-term goals, both running and otherwise, the favorite race of his distinguished career and his advice to young runners.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”

Host: Jimmie Markham | Guest: Leo Manzano
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 9.15 MB | Length: 00:13:20

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

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TFS News Briefs: 3/21/08
Special NCAA Track & Field Edition

Posted March 21st, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, TFS News Briefs

TFS News Briefs
2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field: Week 1
The 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field season officially kicks off in fine style this weekend with 38 (count ‘em, 38!) meets throughout the country. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has links to all of them on their website. Schedules like this one are truly a track junkie’s dream come true.
Read more at: [USTFCCCA]

ASU Opens Outdoor Season At Home
ASU, the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champions, will open their outdoor season at home this weekend at the Baldy Castillo Invitational. Both the men’s team and the women’s team won the NCAA national titles last weekend. The meet will be contested on the Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe, AZ.
Read more at: [Sun Devils]

Oregon Host First Meet At Revamped Hayward Field
The University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field has had an $8 Million facelift in preparation for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, and now the Ducks want to show her off to the world. Folks will get their first look at the freshly-reminted stadium by hosting the Oregon Preview on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008. Over 550 athletes from throughout the Northwest will be competing in the meet.
Read more at: [Go Ducks][Hayward Field]
Image courtesy of GoDucks.com.
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