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Lead Stories: Monday, October 13, 2008

Former Olympic Marathon Champion Stefano Baldini to Retire

Posted August 26th, 2008 at 1:25 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

According to a report published by SPIKES Magazine, 2004 Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini has decided to end his decorated career as a word class distance runner.

“He’s retiring from international athletics, that’s certain,” a spokesperson for Baldini told the European-based magazine. “The marathon in Beijing was his last appearance for Italy. However, he’s definitely not stopping running. He’ll still do some races here and there, such as some events in Italy with less stress attached.”

Despite being plagued by an upper thigh injury for much of the year, Baldini was able to finish a respectable 12th at last weekend’s fast-paced Olympic marathon in Beijing.

The humble and widely respected Baldini is a national hero and leaves behind a pristine legacy of success and sportsmanship. In addition to edging out American Meb Keflezighi for the gold medal in Athens, Baldini also set the Italian marathon record (2:07:22), won the 2006 World Half-Marathon title and earned bronze medals in the marathon at the 2003 and 2001 IAAF World Championships.

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USATF Comments on the Retirement of Maurice Greene

Posted February 5th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

maurice greene usa olympic gold medalist track and field Three-time World Outdoor 100m champion and 2000 Olympic 100m and 4×100m gold medalist Maurice Greene announced his retirement from track and field Monday in Beijing, China.

Recognized as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, Greene won the 100m, 200m and 4×100m relay gold medals at the 1999 World Outdoor Championships in Seville, Spain. In so doing he became the second sprinter ever to defend the 100m world title and the first to ever to accomplish the 100m/200m sprint double at a World Championships. The 1999 World Indoor champion at 60 meters, Greene owns the world record in that event, and his former world 100m record of 9.79 seconds set June 16, 1999 in Athens, Greece, remains the American record.

The 2000 Olympic Trials 100m winner and Olympic gold medalist, Greene also won the 100m at the 2004 Olympic Trials, and later won the 100m bronze medal at the Games in Athens, where he also won a silver medal in the 4×100m relay.
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Running USA Exec. Director Basil Honikman to Retire

Posted November 16th, 2007 at 5:30 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results

Basil Honikman, one of the founders of Running USA in 1999 and its Executive Director and CEO since 2000, has informed the organization’s Board of Directors that he will retire after the 2008 Running USA Conference in La Jolla, Calif. this February. Running USA is a trade organization representing American road races and related businesses.

basil honikman “I believe that we have made remarkable progress in a relatively short time and although I still feel enthusiastic and energetic, I realize that sooner or later I will have to turn over the leadership of the organization to someone else,” Honikman said through a media release. “Given our achievements and the excellent health of Running USA, I feel this is an appropriate time for change.”
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Algeria’s Said-Guerni Retires

Posted May 15th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results

The IAAF reported last week that the 2000 and 2002 African 800m champion, Djabir Said-Guerni of Algeria, has decided to retire.

“I have no more this motivation to run, he said on March 29. “After repetitive injury I decided enough was enough. I am not able to run 200m.”
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Podcast 13: Interview with Olympian Todd Williams

Posted February 12th, 2007 at 12:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today’s podcast features my interview with 2-time Olympian Todd Williams. Todd was the premier 10,000m U.S. runner in the 90’s and remains the 15k American record holder.

In the interview, Todd reflects on the keys to his own longevity, competing in the ’92 and ’96 Olympic Games, the current “U.S. distance running revival” and his feelings on being a retired athlete.

Download the podcast to hear Todd discuss those topics, his training philosophy, being a coach, the re-launch of PushThePace.com, his opinion of the Webb/Hall/Ritzenhein trio and much more!

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, 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: Todd Williams
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 16.8MB
Length: 00:24:36

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

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Podcast 11: Interview with 3-time Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers

Posted February 9th, 2007 at 3:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today’s podcast features my interview with Gail Devers, a 3-time Olympic gold medalist. Known as the “fastest woman in the world”, Gail has overcome a multitude of obstacles to achieve tremendous success.

At 40 years old, and just 19 months after giving birth to her daughter Karsens, Gail returned to the Millrose Games on February 2nd and won the 60m hurdles; defeating many of the world’s best, including her current protege, Danielle Carruthers.

Download the podcast to hear Gail discuss how “40 is the new 20″, her battle with misdiagnosis and Graves disease, the Gail Devers Foundation, being a coach, her new protégé, the keys to longevity, and her thoughts on trying to compete in the 2008 Olympics.

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, 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: Gail Devers
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 13.5MB
Length: 00:34:20