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Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Lel Takes London Record in History-Making Race

Posted April 14th, 2008 at 10:20 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Like a bull at a rodeo, the men’s field at the 28th Flora London Marathon bolted out of the gate with reckless abandon. The athletes who were strong enough to hang on were rewarded with personal and national records, while others were thrown to the street, their hopes of victory incinerated by the fast pace.

But when the dust had settled at the grand finish line on The Mall, race director David Bedford’s bold experiment in aggressive pacemaking yielded –by several measures– the fastest men’s marathon of all-time, with three men cracking 2:06:00, and six men breaking 2:07:00, for the first time ever in a single race. Those times came after a breathtaking 62:12 first half which left some of the world’s best marathoners well off the pace.

“It was crazy,” said last year’s runner-up, Abderrahim Goumri, of the 14:21 (downhill) first 5-K.

But the fast pace, coupled with a cold and drenching rain which fell from the 18th through the 23rd miles, did little to knock defending champion Martin Lel (Pictured above) off of his game.
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Ryan Hall Takes Fifth at 2008 Flora London Marathon

Posted April 14th, 2008 at 5:46 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

U.S. marathon phenom Ryan Hall (Big Bear Lake, Calif.) on Sunday ran 2:06:17 to finish fifth at the Flora London Marathon, the opening race of the 2008 World Marathon Majors series. Martin Lel (KEN) successfully defended his title running a new course record of 2:05:15, American Khalid Khannouchi’s mark by 23 seconds.

Hall’s time makes him the second fastest American all-time for the marathon behind Khannouchi.
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2008 London Marathoners Assault Alltime List

Posted April 13th, 2008 at 7:36 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The 2008 Flora London Marathon produced 5 of the 22 fastest marathon times of all time, including the 5th, 6th and 7th fastest of all time (Martin Lel’s 2:05:15, Samuel Wanjiru’s 2:05:24 and Abderrahim Goumri’s 2:05:30). Not too far back were Emmanuel Mutai and Ryan Hall with the 17th and 23rd fastest times of all time, Mutai running a 2:06:15 and Hall just two seconds back in 2:06:17. Hall’s performance makes him the 2nd fastest American of all time, only 38 seconds behind Khalid Khannouchi’s 2:05:38 and the fastest American born marathoner of all time. Hall also became the 3rd fastest non-African marathoner of all time, behind only Brazil’s Ronaldo da Costa (2:06:05) and Japan’s Toshinari Takaoka’s (2:06:16). Hall also becomes the 17th fastest marathoner of all time. Here are the top marathers off all time:

01. 2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Berlin, 09/30/2007
02. 2:04:53 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Dubai, 01/18/2008
03. 2:04:55 Paul Tergat (KEN) Berlin, 09/28/2003
04. 2:04:56 Sammy Korir (KEN) Berlin, 09/28/2003
05. 2:05:15 Martin Lel (KEN) London, 04/13/2008
06. 2:05:24 Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) London, 04/13/2008
07. 2:05:30 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) London, 04/13/2008
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Kenya’s Lel Smashes Flora London Marathon Course Record

Posted April 13th, 2008 at 7:05 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Kenya’s Martin Lel defended his title and smashed Khalid Khannouchi’s Flora London Marathon course record here today, clocking 2:05:15, a personal best. His compatriot, Samuel Wanjiru, stayed with Lel until the final turns before the finish, but was out-sprinted in the last 400m by the World Marathon Majors points leader. He finished second in 2:05:21, also a personal best. Abderrahim Goumri, last year’s runner-up, finished third in a Moroccan record 2:05:30.

American Ryan Hall, who fell back in the middle stages of the race after the blistering 62:12 first half began to take its toll, rebounded in the second half to finish fifth in 2:06:16 (unofficial), becoming the second-fastest American of all-time behind Khannouchi. Kenyan Emmanual Mutai held off Hall in the final sprint to take fifth in 2:06:14 (unofficial). With Deribe Merga taking sixth in 2:06:39 (unofficial), six men broke 2:07, the first time that has ever happened in marathon running.
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Martin Lel Earns Third London Marathon Title; Ryan Hall Sets PR & Finishes 5th

Posted April 13th, 2008 at 7:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Martin Lel has earned his third Flora London Marathon championship; finishing in 2:05:15. Lel was followed by fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru (2:05:25) and Abderrahim Goumri (2:05:31); marking the first time in history that three runners finished under 2:06.

Lel’s time set a new London Marathon course record; breaking the previous record set by American Khalid Khannouchi.

Although the elite men had been on pace for a new world record, they began to fall off their blistering pace just pass the half-way mark. This early, and almost a historical pace, caused a large divide between the top six finishers and the next large pack of leaders that included Kenya’s Felix Limo.

Ryan Hall, who 2004 Olympic Marathon gold medalist Stefano Baldini dubbed the future of the sport, set another PR with a time of 2:06:17 and finished in fifth place. Hall came in just one second behind fourth place finisher Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya.
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TFS Running Podcast 134:
Peter Gilmore on Hopping the Pond in Search of a P.R.

Posted April 11th, 2008 at 6:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

In Episode 134 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, I am joined by U.S. marathon runner Peter Gilmore. Gilmore, who is sponsored by MarathonGuide.com and Enlyten Sports Strips, will hop the pond to London for the first time this Sunday where he’ll face many of the world’s top marathoners on his quest to break 2:10 and set a new PR.

In the interview Gilmore talks about his goals for Sunday, choosing London over Boston, the world-class competition, Ryan Hall, running one of his first international races, and adjusting to a new course.

Download the podcast to hear Gilmore discuss these topics, as well as, his health since the U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials, whether that race haunts or motivates him, the definition of a “blue collar runner”, why he does not plan to run the 10k at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and much more!

TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”

Host:Adam Jacobs | Guest: Peter Gilmore
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 19.3 MB | Length: 00:28:11

Episode Sponsored By: U.S. Army Special Forces

If your measure of success goes way beyond the mainstream, if you think limits are something to be pushed, if your greatest motivation is doing the impossible, we may have a career for you.

U.S. Army Special Forces.
Visit goarmy.com/specialforces.

There’s strong and then there’s Army Strong.

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

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Nick Symmonds: World Indoor Championships 2008
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #8)

Posted March 11th, 2008 at 4:30 PM by Nick Symmonds

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds

Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Make sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com

I am currently sitting in a cafe in Oviedo, a small city in the north of Spain and I’m thinking I have the best job in the world. I get paid to travel to many foreign places doing what I love to do. Well, usually I love this job, but sometimes it challenges me with the most difficult experiences. I ran into a new challenge this past weekend in Valencia, Spain at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

After passing through the prelims and semi-finals with relative ease, I found myself preparing to race in my first World finals. I was about to compete against five of the fastest people on this planet. The prospect had me excited to say the least and I had no idea what to expect. Though this was my first final on the World level, I have been in many championship races. They are, especially in the 800m, impossible to predict.

I assumed that it would go out at a modest pace and eventually slow down leaving things perfectly set-up for me to unleash a 200m kick that would surely result in a top three finish … No such luck.
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Podcast 87: Australia’s BENITA JOHNSON on the 2007 Chicago Marathon

Posted October 3rd, 2007 at 5:34 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, 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 87 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, features my interview with Australia’s BENITA JOHNSON; the women’s favorite for Sunday’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

In the interview, Benita talks about her decision to return to Chicago, looking for another P.R., the difference between running in Chicago and London (where she lives for parts of the year), bouncing back from a disappointing performance at the London Marathon in April, and how her second place finish behind world champion Catherine Ndereba at the NYC Half-Marathon has helped with her mental preparation for Chicago.

Download the podcast to hear Benita discuss these topics, as well as, her thoughts on fellow Australian Craig Mottram’s struggles in Osaka, going from a talented 18 year old hockey player to a world class runner, who she thinks will win the NYC Marathon, and how a childhood full of barefoot running and constant activity (and almost no TV) has helped make her the runner she is today.

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

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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Benita Johnson
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 16.0 MB | Length: 23:21 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!

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Podcast 86: KATE O’NEIL on making her 26.2 mile debut at Sunday’s Chicago Marathon

Posted October 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, 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 86 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with 2004 Olympian KATE O’NEIL about making her marathon debut at Sunday’s Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

In January, Kate finished second and ran a personal best 1:11:47 at the Aramco Half-Marathon in Houston. She continued her success with third places finishes at the Falmouth Road Race in August and the New Haven 20-K in September (where she also set another PR).

In the interview, Kate talks about her mental and physical preparation for Chicago, plans to run in next April’s U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trails in Boston, and why she chose Chicago over other fall marathons (i.e. - New York) for her debut.

Download the podcast to hear Kate discuss these topics, as well as, how Deena Kastor and the other members of Team Running USA in Mammoth Lakes, CA have helped with her approach to the marathon, her views on the role of pacesetters, how cheering fans have confused her with her twin sister Laura when they ran together at Yale, and much more!

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

[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Kate O’Neil
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 12.0 MB | Length: 17:30 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!

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Double medals for U.S. in men’s 110m hurdles

Posted August 31st, 2007 at 12:09 PM by Martin Kennedy

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

Terrence Trammell (Ellenwood, Ga.) and David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio) capped off a tremendous showing in the men’s 110m hurdles by going 2-3 in Friday’s last event.

Payne got out of the blocks well and was among the first to reach the first hurdle, while Trammell got left in the blocks with the slowest reaction time of .205. A two-time Olympic silver medalist and the 2003 World Outdoor silver medalist, Trammell quickly rallied and was in control of the race by the fifth hurdle.

But world record holder and Olympic champion Liu Xiang of China ran alone in Lane 9, and he began his move late in the race. He took the lead over the penultimate barrier and went on to win in 12.95, with Trammell second in 12.99 and Payne third in a personal-best time of 13.02.

It was a breakthrough performance for Payne, who is apparently immune to the affects of jet lag, having arrived in Osaka on Tuesday night.
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