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Lead Stories: Monday, September 8, 2008

Bekele Completes Distance Double

Posted August 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 AM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele has won the Olympic 5000 m, pulling away late to earn his second gold medal of these Games. Bekele clocked 12:57.82 for the distance, an Olympic Record and a remarkable feat considering the tactical nature of this race. Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Edwin Soi took silver and bronze in 13:02.80 and 13:06.22, respectively. Americans Bernard Lagat and Matt Tegenkamp finished in ninth and thirteenth, well out of medal contention.

The buildup for this race was not lacking in drama, as remarks made by Kenyan coach Julius Kirwa revealed the team tactics that his nation planned to employ. The Kenyan plan was focused on neutralizing reigning World Champion Bernard Lagat, a miler by trade who used his blistering kick to win off a slow pace last summer in Osaka. Of course the Kenyans must also have been concerned about their archrival Ethiopia, whose team of the Bekele brothers (Kenenisa and Tariku) along with Abreham Cherkos would prove formidable. Kenenisa Bekele owns the World Record in the 5000 m but had thus far failed to win a championship 5000m, due mainly to the physical toll of his dominance in the 10000 m.
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TFS News Briefs: 11/11/07

Posted November 11th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

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

Rupp, Ducks Win NCAA West Regional X-C Championships
The #1-ranked Oregon Ducks won the 2007 NCAA West Regional Cross-Country Championships on the strength of Galen Rupp’s 1st-place 29:35:45 finish in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks scored 47 points to 2nd-place Stanford’s 76 points. The Oregon women’s team finished 2nd with 72 points to Stanford’s 1st place 33 points. Stanford’s Teresa McWalters won the 6K race in 19:57:30, eight seconds ahead of Oregon’s Nicole Blood. Read more at: [GoDucks.com]

Michigan Ties 4th-Ranked UW Badgers In Great Lakes Regional X-C Championships
Led by Junior Lex Williams, the #23rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines men’s cross-country team tied the 4th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in the Great Lakes Regional Cross-Country Championships on Saturday, November 10th, 2007. Both teams scored 68 points. The women’s team finished 2nd to Michigan State, scoring 63 to the Spartans’ 60 points.Read more at: [MGoBlue.com]

Scottish 1st Minister: 2014 Games “Best in History”
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond pledged to make the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, “the greatest sporting event our country has ever seen… It’s up to us all now to keep building the buzz to make sure we put on an electrifying Games and to make sure that we make the most of this wonderful opportunity.” Read more at: [ic Wales, United Kingdom]
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