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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

Team Rankin Asks Supporters to Help Them Raise Funds for Soles4Souls

Posted September 11th, 2008 at 8:55 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Press Release: Nashville-based charity Soles4Souls™ Inc., the global organization dedicated to providing free footwear to people in need all over the world, will host the Inaugural Soles4Souls 5K/10K Walk Run on Saturday, September 13, 2008 and are pleased to announce that, Jon Rankin, the United States Track & Field 2012 Olympic hopeful, along with Jessica Crate and Merhawi Keflezighi will run as Team Rankin to raise awareness and donations for Soles4Souls.

“The support of Jon and Team Rankin is very valuable to our mission and this event will help us provide new shoes for those in need around the world and most recently, those affected by Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. “There are less than 400 American men who have ever been clocked running a mile in under four minutes, so we are excited to have Jon Rankin join us for our first running event,” Elsey said.
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Team Meb to Participate with Conviction in Nike+ Human Race, Support NineMillion.org

Posted August 28th, 2008 at 7:25 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Columns, SPOTLIGHT, Road Racing

Team Meb Nike+ Human Race Logo Press Release: This month the world watched as athletes from nations around the globe united in competitive spirit in one amazing city: Beijing. On August 31, that spirit continues with the Nike+ Human Race, the world’s largest sporting event, which will feature 10K races in 25 cities around the globe.

In Los Angeles, one group of family members, friends and fans of U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Meb Keflezighi, will unite with professional runners, including Nike athletes Khadevis Robinson and Jon Rankin, and Team Running USA member Jacques Sallberg, to run the race and raise money and awareness for NineMillion.org, the United Nation’s program that supports refugee children around the world with access to education and sports.

Team Meb has a unique tie to the noble causes of NineMillion.org. Their team name sake and running inspiration, Meb Keflezighi, who also remains the reigning U.S. record holder in the 10k with an astonishing 27:13:98, not only supports the cause vigorously, but he lived it, as did his brother, Hawi Keflezighi, owner of HAWI Management, which manages both Rankin and Sallberg.
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USA Half-Marathon Titles
Up for Grabs in Houston

Posted January 13th, 2008 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

With deep fields but no clear favorites, Sunday’s USA Half-Marathon Championships hosted by the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon look to be wide open races. Most athletes are only in the base phase of their training cycles, either recovering from, or in the early stages of preparing for, important marathons. Expectations amongst the top entrants are modest, despite the $12,000 winner’s purse.

“I was in the same boat last year at this time,” said defending women’s champion Elva Dryer in a telephone interview last night from Houston. Prior to last year’s championship, Dryer was just restarting her training after running the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October.

This year, she’s had even less recovery time after placing sixth at the ING New York City Marathon last November. However, Houston offers her a good chance to see where her training stands for April’s USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon in Boston. A two-time Olympian at 10,000m, Dryer has an excellent shot of qualifying for her first Olympic marathon.
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Podcast 84: JON RANKIN, third at today’s Fifth Avenue Mile, reflects on his successful summer

Posted September 29th, 2007 at 8:20 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

Episode 84 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to running Podcast in North America, features
my interview with emerging star JON RANKIN.

Rankin, a former UCLA All-American, had a lot of success in 2006 and has really improved since making the decision to work with Joaquim Cruz, the 1984 800m gold medalist, and after recovering from several stress fractures that plagued him in 2006. Earlier today, Rankin capped off the successful season by finishing third behind Alan Webb and Kevin Sullivan at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile.

In the interview, Jon talks about today’s performance, what it’s like to be running in the lead with runners like Webb, highlights of the season and the source of his improvement, and the major focuses and goals in the months ahead.

Download the podcast to hear Jon discuss these topics, as well as, how former American mile record holder Steve scott, Coach Cruz and his agent Merhawi Keflezighi (brother to Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi) serve as a phenomenal support system, their ability to assist with his mental preparation and self-confidence, and much more!

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

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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Jon Rankin
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File Size: 23.7 MB | Length: 34:38 MIN

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!