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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

Nixing Pacemakers and Increasing Prize pot, Zurich Introduces new one-day Meet Approach

Posted September 6th, 2007 at 4:39 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

When the IAAF Golden Series resumes on Friday night, Zurich’s rebuilt state-of-the-art Letzigrund Stadium won’t be the only new development at one of the world’s richest single-day meetings. For the first time in the sport’s professional era, the annual Weltklasse competition will not employ the services of pacemakers.

And that suits Bernard Lagat, the recently minted world champion at 1500 and 5000 meters, just fine.

“It’s fantastic,” said Lagat, who will contest the 3000 on Friday. “People always run fast and they get personal bests with pacemakers, but then again it’s so important that the race becomes tactical.”
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Remaining finals packed
with Americans

Posted August 30th, 2007 at 8:03 PM by Jamal Walker

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

In qualifying action, Americans once again advanced multiple athletes to several finals.

Team USA uniforms will fill half the lanes in Friday’s women’s 200m final. Coming off the curve strong, defending gold medalist Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.) looked easy in winning Thursday’s first semifinal, running 22.21 to Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell’s 22.44. 2003 World Outdoor silver medalist Torri Edwards (Corona, Calif.) was third in 22.51 to advance as well. Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas) won Heat 2 in 22.50, with LaShaunte’a Moore (Akron, Ohio) fourth in 22.73 to advance.

Team USA’s distance runners continued to achieve more “firsts,” with three Americans qualifying for the men’s 5,000m final for the first time in World Championships history. Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.) showed no fatigue from his gold-medal performance in Wednesday night’s 1,500m final, easily advancing by placing third in Heat 1 of the 5 km semifinals in 13:46.57. In Heat 2, Matt Tegenkamp was third in 13:35.05 to automatically qualify, and Adam Goucher made in on time, placing eighth in 13:41.65.

A pair of Americans will be in Friday night’s final of the men’s 110m hurdles. Having arrived in Osaka Tuesday night as a last-minute replacement, David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio) continued to amaze. The fourth-place finisher at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships won the first of three men’s 110m hurdles semifinals in 13.19, earning a prime lane in Friday’s final. Leading from the gun, national champion Terrence Trammell (pictured) easily won Heat 2 in 13.23. David Oliver (Orlando, Fla.) was fourth in Heat 3 in 13.42 and did not make the final.
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