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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

London Marathon Champions Return for BUPA London 10,000

Posted May 7th, 2008 at 10:28 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Britain’s two leading organizers of road races have joined forces to launch a new event slated for Monday, May 26. Dubbed the BUPA London 10,000, the event will be jointly produced by the Flora London Marathon and Nova International and will feature Martin Lel (Pictured) and Irina Mikitenko, the 2008 Flora London Marathon champions.

“We are delighted to have such strong elite fields for the first ever BUPA London 10,000,” said David Bedford, race director of the Flora London Marathon. “To have our current Flora London Marathon champions on the start line is a great boost for us in our first year.”
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American Record for Flanagan At Cardinal Invitational

Posted May 5th, 2008 at 12:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

She’d never run a 10,000m race before, but Shalane Flanagan can safely say that she’s already mastered the distance on only her first try at Sunday’s Peyton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. Helped by excellent pacemaking provided by Kenya’s Rose Kosgei and a spirited battle with New Zealand’s Kim Smith which went right to homestretch, the 26 year-old Olympian toppled Deena Kastor’s American record with a sparkling 30:34.49 clocking.

“Thanks to the New York Road Runners, they set me up with a rabbit and that gave me a cushion,” Flanagan told a clutch of reporters after the race. “It really worked out very well.”
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Star-Studded Meet At Stanford Tomorrow Night

Posted May 4th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Just 18 miles north of this San Jose suburb, one of the most important meets for distance runners held in the United States will take place at Stanford University. Packed with talent, the Peyton Jordan Cardinal Invitational turns the running industry on its head: top stars actually pay entry fees to compete and there are no appearance fees or cash prizes.

So what’s the draw? Perfect weather for achieving all-important Olympic Games qualifying times. When the sun sets at this time of year in Palo Alto, the winds calm down and the temperature drops, becoming comfortably cool. There is already very low humidity.

The key races are the top sections of the men’s and women’s 5000m and 10,000m, led by double world champion Bernard Lagat. Although he won the world titles last summer at both the 1500m and the 5000m, he doesn’t have an Olympic Games “A” standard time in the longer distance: 13:21.50. Working with other coaches, managers and the New York Road Runners, the men’s 5-K will be set-up by pacemaker Christian Hesch for a 13:10 to 13:20 finish time.
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TFS News Briefs: 4/07/08

Posted April 7th, 2008 at 4:37 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

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

Ethiopian Wins Carlsbad 5000
Terefe Maregu Zewdie of Ethiopia did what Alan Webb was hoping to do. He outkicked everyone to win the 2008 Carlsbad 5000. His winning time was a slow 13:34, one second ahead of Mo Farah. Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot won the women’s race in 15:14.
Read more at: [IHT]

Webb DNFs at Carlsbad Debut
Already hurting just 800m into the race at the 2008 Carlsbad 5000, Alan Webb walked off the course at 2 1/2 for his second straight DNF. These recent performances may have been caused by his more-intense training regimen in 2008. “I’m always trying to push deeper and go harder and get better. I might have dug myself a little hole I’ve got to slowly get out of,” said Webb.
Read more at: [San Diego Union Tribune]

800m Olympic Gold Medalist Critiques Kenyan Selection Process
Paul Ereng, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 800m and now head cross-country coach at UTEP, offers his critique of the Kenyan teem selection process. He has some harsh words for Athletics Kenya, writing that “either [Athletics Kenya] does not understand the facts about training adaptation or they just want to harvest from where they did not sow.”
Read more at: [AllAfrica.com][UTEP]
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Farah will defend title in Toro

Posted October 16th, 2007 at 1:20 PM by Danielle Correa

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

Mo Farah has been pre-selected to defend his SPAR European Cross-Country title in Toro on December 9. The British Cross Country star famous for his un-matching socks, as well as for being European Cross Country Champion and 5000m silver medallist, has had a year of solid performances consolidated his status as a world-class performer and boding well for his title defence in Toro.

The 24-year-old Londoner is about to leave for a warm weather and high altitude training camp in South Africa to prepare for the annual championships.

Farah’s British team-mates, Kate Reed and Emily Pidgeon have also been selected to compete at the European Cross-Country Championships, along with 18-year-old European Junior Champion, Steph Twell, who after a summer of impressive performances is looking forward to the challenge of defending her title in Toro.
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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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Britain Makes First World Champs Team Selections

Posted July 31st, 2007 at 2:59 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field

UK Athletics released their first team selections this morning for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics which commences in Osaka, Japan, on August 25.

The first selections to the team are as follows (data courtesy of Tilastopaja Oy):

MEN -
800m: Michael Rimmer (Liverpool, Pembroke & Sefton), 03-Feb-1986, 1:45.23 PB.
1500m: Andy Baddeley (Harrow), 20-Jun-1982, 3:34.74.
5000m: Mo Farah (Newham & Essex), 13-Mar-1983, 13:09.40.
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Big Men’s 3000m at British Grand Prix in Sheffield Today

Posted July 15th, 2007 at 9:40 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Today’s Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield, England, features a tremendous men’s 3000m, a rematch between Kenenisa Bekele and Craig Mottram from last year’s World Cup. In that race Mottram prevailed 7:32.19 to 7:36.25.

Today’s race is by no means a two-man show. Britain’s #1 distance runner, Mo Farah, is also in the field along with American Dathan Ritzenhein. Here is the complete field with personal bests:

1 Ian DOBSON USA 7:52.62
2 Jermaine MAYS GBR 7:55.98
3 Dathan RITZENHEIN USA 7:43.95
4 Mo FARAH GBR 7:38.15
5 Chris SOLINSKY USA 7:51.69i
6 Abraham CHEBII KEN 7:33.42
7 Craig MOTTRAM AUS 7:32.19
8 Seth SUMMERSIDE USA 7:43.82
9 Steve SLATTERY USA 7:50.76
10 Kenenisa BEKELE ETH 7:30.51
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Chojecka poised for historic double at Euro Champs

Posted March 3rd, 2007 at 9:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

With her convincing victory in today’s 1500m final at the 29th European Indoor Championships here, Poland’s Lidia Chojecka is poised to complete a historic double victory should she also win the gold medal in tomorrow’s 3000m. She is the defending champion in that event, winning gold in Madrid in 2005, and is definitely the favorite again this year for gold.

In today’s race, Chojecka (who pronounces her name Hoy-ET-ska), bided her time while Britain’s Helen Clitheroe set the pace for most of the race.

Indeed, Clitheroe led for the first five laps and ensured a relatively quick pace, passing the 1000m point in 2:46.02.
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Rugged racing marks first day of European Championships

Posted March 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 PM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Mo Farah’s fall in this morning’s 3000m qualifying foreshadowed more rough racing later in the day as the 29th European Indoor Championships continued at the National Indoor Arena here. In one particular case, the consequences were severe.

After Oksana Zbrozhek of Russian won the first of four heats in the women’s 800m in 2:03.67, things turned ugly in the second heat. Just past the 400m mark, Karen Harewood of Great Britain was tripped from behind by Mariya Shapayeva of Russia. The Briton fell hard to the track, clutching her left knee, screaming in pain. Her fall set off a chain reaction which saw Maria Carmo Tavares of Portugal and Eléni Filándra of Greece, also fall to the track.

The Portuguese and the Greek were also hurt, but less severely than Harewood who, according to a British team official, had a “suspected broken leg.” Harewood had to be removed from the floor on a stretcher, wearing an oxygen mask and tethered to an IV line in her arm.
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