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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Billy Mills to Welcome Youth Athletes at Junior Olympics

Posted November 16th, 2007 at 3:28 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics

Billy_mills_gold_medal Olympic legend and National Track & Field Hall of Famer Bill Mills will be the special guest of honor at the 2007 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, USATF announced Friday. More than 3,000 athletes will compete at the event, to be held December 8 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.

The 1964 Olympic 10,000-meter champion and University of Kansas graduate, Mills will provide the young athletes attending the Junior Olympic Championships with an inspirational talk during the opening ceremonies. Mills will sign autographs and will be on-hand race day to support USATF’s young athletes.

“We are truly honored to have Mr. Mills attending the Junior Olympics and hope the young athletes can learn from his wonderful life story,” said USATF Missouri Valley President Gilbert Castillo, whose Association is hosting the Championships. “He’s not just a national hero, he is a local legend who is greatly admired by a wide range of people.”
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Ayalew, Henehan Win 32nd Marine Corps Marathon

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 9:00 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

It has been since the mid-1990s since Tamrat Ayalew ran a 2:12 marathon, the Hoffa International Marathon.

Now 33, Ayalew has slowed considerably over the years but he was fast enough Sunday to earn the Middendorf Trophy, the top prize for winning the 32nd Marine Corps Marathon. He crossed the finish line ahead of 21,226 starters and over 20,600 finishers in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 20 seconds, exactly two minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, two-time defending champion Ruben Garcia of Mexico City.

Ayalew has been racing the roads of America for the past two years as a member of the Foot Solutions Racing Team out of Atlanta as he seeks political asylum from his native Ethiopia. His ultimate goal is to become an American citizen; Sunday’s goal was to be triumphant in the nation’s fourth-largest 26.2-mile race.

“I didn’t do well last year,” said Alayew, who ended up eighth here last year and became only the second Ethiopian to capture Marine Corps. “I decided after that race that I wanted to win.”

Kristen Henehan of Silver Spring, Md., meanwhile, approached Marine Corps as more of a fun run. She did turn serious, however, with a half-mile remaining, pulling away from her nearest competitor and friend Lisa Thomas for a 2:51:14 in her marathon debut. Thomas, who said she was “very disappointed,” followed her across the line just 26 seconds later in a personal-best performance by more than three minutes.
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Billy Mills’ Team Running Strong returns to the Marine Corps Marathon

Posted April 12th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Billy Mills and a 2006 Team Running Strong runner at the Marine Corps Marathon It’s time to put on your running shoes! The charity marathon team, Team Running Strong has opened its registration for a limited number of guaranteed spots in the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon™.

Runners (and walkers!) who plan to participate in this year’s marathon are competing just to register. There are fewer general marathon spots available which makes joining the 4th Annual Team Running Strong a great option for an entrant to consider.

Team Running Strong is the only charity team raising funds and awareness for the future of American Indian youth. Running with the support of Olympic champion Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota), participants receive training support, an official race day singlet and other perks.

Billy Mills, National Spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, said:

“Running with Team Running Strong is the chance to help America’s forgotten children. Together we will help American Indian families meet their immediate survival needs – food, water, and shelter.”

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Podcast 14: Interview with legendary Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills

Posted February 14th, 2007 at 3:45 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

In today’s podcast, I am joined by Billy Mills - a true hero of running and a compassionate warrior.

At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Billy set an Olympic record and won a gold medal in the 10,000m; becoming the first and still the last American to win a gold in the event.

After his successful running career, Billy has channeled his love for running into a passion for fighting against poverty and discrimination as the national spokesperson of Running Strong for Native American Youth. He is also the subject of the 1983 movie “Running Brave”.

Download the podcast to hear Billy to discuss what has been called the “biggest upset in Olympic history”, running in borrowed shoes, how he has felt and been treated as a Native American athlete, teaching younger generations the importance of “Global Unity Through Global Diversity”, the possibility of him entering the 2007 Marine Core Marathon and much more!

Listen In
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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Billy Mills
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 24.0MB
Length: 00:35:04

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

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BILLY MILLS
The Olympic Legend

Posted December 14th, 2006 at 9:19 AM by Jenna Sumara

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Columns, Olympics, SPOTLIGHT

This is part two of the 5-part series: “BILLY MILLS: Overlooked Hero of Running” (Links to the other installments in this series are located at the conclusion of this article).

Billy Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota on June 30, 1938 in the Oglala Sioux Indian reservation. Billy’s Lakota name is Makata Taka Hela meaning “love your country” or more traditionally translated, “respects the earth”.

After losing his parents when he was only 12-yrs old, Mills became involved with running at the Haskell Institute; an Indian school located in Lawrence, Kansas. In the late 1950’s, Mills attended the University of Kansas on an athletic scholarship.

At Kansas his hard work and natural abilities on the track continued to flourish. In 1958 and 1959 he was All-American in cross country. In the 1960 Big Eight Conference, Mills won an individual title in cross country. The following year, Mills again became the conference champion in the two mile race; coming in with a time of a little over nine minutes.
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