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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

The Week in the Rear View: Racing News June 2 - June 8

Posted June 10th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Columns, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, Week in Rear View

The Week In the Rear View is a weekly column wrapping up the week’s events in running and track & field. I am normally found at PreraceJitters.com, writing about the fast life of track and field.

This was a week that saw records drop. The Prefontaine Classic is one of the hallowed places in the United States to host a track and field meet. The standing ovation for Maria Mutola was griping. The track great won her 16th and final Pre Classic 800. One track expert I spoke with on the phone after the meet summed it up best saying, “The fans at Pre really get it. They really get the sport.”

Jeremy Wariner did more than “bounce back” from the rare loss to LaShawn Merritt in Berlin last week. The Olympic and World Champion ran 43.98 in the IAAF Golden League Meet in Oslo on Friday. Some of the pundits may have forgotten that Michael Johnson lost to Frankie Fredricks in the 200 after the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials and before going on to run 19.32 the Olympics Games.

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The Week in the Rear View: Racing News May 19-25, 2008

Posted May 26th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Columns, Olympics, Week in Rear View

This is my first of what will be many weekly columns wrapping up the goings on in track and field. I am normally found at PreraceJitters.com, writing about the fast life of track and field.

This week the Trevor Graham trial had the full attention of track and field. So far, the trial has been a train wreck. Angela Heredia testified how he gave multiple drugs to Marion Jones before the 2000 Games. Antonio Pettigrew testified under oath that it was EPO and HGH that allowed him to run sub-44 seconds. Consequently, Pettigrew’s testimony puts the 4×400 meter relays teams of the 2000 Olympics and 2001 World Championships in jeopardy of losing their medals. Dennis Mitchell took the stand and testified Graham injected him twice with HGH. Jerome Young also testified that he took banned drugs.

On the track, Liu Xiang flew over the 110 hurdles in 13.13 at the warm up meet held at the Bird Nest in Beijing before the Olympic Games. The time marks Xiang’s fastest of the season, and the second fastest time run overall this year.

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TFS News Briefs Special Edition: London Marathon

Posted April 12th, 2008 at 10:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Near-Perfect Weather Forecast For London Marathon
A quick look at tomorrow’s forecast reveals near-perfect conditions for tomorrow’s Flora London Marathon. According to weather.com, the forecast for Sunday at 9:00am (the start time for the women’s race) is Partly Cloudy, 46°F, 20% chance for precipitation, 77% humidity and winds from SW at 8 mph. Of course, perfect weather means fast times, and tomorrow’s race promises to be one of the fastest.
Read more at: [Weather.com]

The Wacky Side Of London
Big marathons tend to attract the wackier elements of running and London is no exception. A woman running on 4 foot stilts will be competing, as will a man dribbling a basketball, a guy in a robot suit and more.
Read more at: [BBC News, UK]

TFS Success Story Gilbert Tuhabonye To Run In London
Burundi runner Gilbert Tuhabonye, who was awarded The Final Sprint’s Success Story Award in December ‘07, is featured in a BBC Sport article in the build-up to tomorrow’s race. As a teen, Tuhabonye survived a horrifying massacre in his village during a civil war in 1993. He is hoping to run a qualifying time and make it to Beijing in what he calls “tremendous message about forgiveness.”
Read more at: [BBC Sport, UK][TFS Podcast]
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London Marathon 2008: Elite Women’s Race Preview

Posted April 11th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The women’s competition at the 2008 Flora London Marathon promises to be intense despite the absence of perennial favorite and World Record holder Paula Radcliffe, who recently withdrew due to a toe ailment. The race will still include a pair of Ethiopian stars as well as several other first class British marathoners. These women will be racing for one of the most prestigious titles in the marathon world as well as points in the World Marathon Majors contest.

Leading the way for the women will be the inaugural World Marathon Major Champion, Gete Wami of Ethiopia. Wami had a stellar track career before turning to the marathon, and has finished on the podium in numerous world class marathons. She won last fall’s Berlin marathon and finished second at London last year (to China’s Chunxiu Zhou). Her lifetime best of 2:21:34 ranks near the top of the field but is almost a minute slower than that of fellow Ethiopian Berhane Adere, whose 2:20:42 is the fastest in the field. Adere also sports an impressive marathon resume with two Chicago victories and the 2008 Dubai title to her credit. Adere will be looking to avenge a few uncharacteristically poor performances at London as her fourth and eleventh place finishes the last two years are far below her standards.
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London Marathon 2008: Elite Men’s Race Preview

Posted April 11th, 2008 at 2:00 PM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Even with the upcoming Beijing Olympics, the Flora London Marathon stands out as the most competitive distance race of the year. The 2008 edition features a mixture of accomplished marathon veterans and talented newcomers, all vying for spots on the prestigious London podium.

Leading the way will be defending London and New York champ Martin Lel. Lel won both of his titles last year in sprint finishes over Abderrahim Goumri, who will also be back for more. Lel’s London buildup has gone well, as he moved his camp to Namibia to train with 2007 Boston champ Robert Cheruiyot and avoid the recent violence in Kenya. He should once again be the favorite, although Goumri’s track pedigree (12:50 for 5k) will give him a chance if it again comes down to the last quarter mile.
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Tokyo Women’s Marathon To Be Discontinued After 2008

Posted December 18th, 2007 at 9:15 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

One of the world’s most prestigious marathons, the Tokyo International Women’s Marathon, will be discontinued after its 30th edition next November, organizers announced yesterday.

“Yes, Asahi Shimbun, one of the organizers of Tokyo International Women’s Marathon, announced on Dec. 17, that 30th edition… to be held on Nov. 16, 2008, will be the last edition of this marathon,” wrote Wataru Ogushi, the elite athlete coordinator, in an e-mail message to the Race Results Weekly office.
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