Greene May Have Landed Himself In Hot Water
The IAAF is seeking a written explanation from Maurice Greene after some comments he made in reaction to recent accusations by Mexican discus thrower Angel Guillermo Heredia who claims he supplied steroids to Greene. What were the suspicious words? “Our group was very close and things always came up. I would pay for stuff and not care what it was. I’ve paid for things for other people.”
Read more at: [NY Times]
Historic Finnish Track Meet Back In Action
The Helsinki Games, dormant last year for the third time in 2 decades, is now retooled and ready to go again in 2008 as part of a four-meet circuit in Finland dubbed “4Athletics GP.” Thanks to a string of legendary athletes like Paavo Nurmi, Ville Ritola, Volmari Iso-Hollo and Lasse Viren as well as champion javelin throwers like Tina Lillak, Finns are some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable track fans in the world.
Read more at: [IAAF]
Bekele, Dibaba To Run In Nairobi, Kenya Meet
Along with 45 other international athletes, World Cross-Country champions Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba are expected to compete at the Tusker Athletics International in Nairobi, Kenya on May 11th, 2008. The meet will also be loaded with Kenyan athletes, including Janeth Jepkosgei, Lukas Kibet and Wilfred Bunge.
Read more at: [Afrik.com]
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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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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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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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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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Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry at http://ryanhall.thefinalsprint.com/
I consider myself blessed to be able to look back on my marathon debut at the 2007 Flora London Marathon with fond memories. This time last year, to say the least, I was a little timid of the new and daunting distance I would be racing. I think every marathoner can probably look back on their first experience and recall their nerves. I remember very well being quite nervous as we ate our pre-race pasta dinner. I sat with my Mom and wife, my eyes drifted to the 2006 ING New York City Marathon champ, Gomez de Santos, who was finishing his meal quietly. One table over sat another ING New York City marathon Champ, Hendrick Ramaala, laughing as they chatted casually. It amazed me how relaxed and composed everyone seemed to be with less than 24 hours to go before gun time. As for me, I had to get out of that room if I was going to keep my composure, so my wife and I headed up to our room. On the way up we shared a memorable elevator ride with then-world-record-holder, Paul Tergat. To break the awkward silence Sara asked him what he was up to, but he misunderstood and responded, “Tomorrow is going to be fast, very fast.” Now I was really getting nervous.
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The new era in long distance running continues with a galaxy of the sport’s brightest stars back in action this month as the World Marathon Majors series resumes at the Flora London Marathon and the 112th running of the Boston Marathon.
More than $850,000 in prize money, prestige and all important points in the race to crown the 2007-2008 WMM champions will be on the line in the British capital on Sunday, April 13 followed eight days later at the celebrated Hopkinton to Boston course on Monday, April 21.
Reigning women’s WMM champion Gete Wami of Ethopia leads the field in London while the WMM men’s champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya tops the field in Boston.
In London, United States sensation Ryan Hall makes his first start since winning the US Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon race last fall in New York. It will be his second consecutive appearance in London, following his breakthrough seventh place finish last year in his 26.2-mile debut.
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Peter Gilmore [MarathonGuide.com] of San Mateo, CA started his year and preparation for April’s Flora London Marathon with a victory at the Surf City USA Half Marathon on Sunday.
Gilmore edged Russia’s Dmitry Safronov by 11 seconds and set a new course record despite the poor weather conditions with a time of 1:03:53.
Although the race was largely a tune-up for London, Gilmore’s record-setting time and first place finish were welcome successes after being forced to drop out of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials last November due to illness.
With a win and successful 2008 debut under his belt, Gilmore now faces the arduous task of going up against an extremely competitive elite men’s field in London that includes reigning World and Olympic marathon champions Luke Kibet and Stefano Baldini, former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat, defending London and 2005 champion Martin Lel, world half-marathon record holder Sammy Wanjiru, former double World Champion Jaouad Gharib, and fellow Americans Ryan Hall and Olympic silver medalistMeb Keflezighi.
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The marathon promises to be one of the most exciting events in the track and field world this coming year. From marquee matchups to record attempts, the Olympic Games to another Marathon Major Contest, 2008 should be another fantastic year for this historic distance. In the following paragraphs I will outline the cast of characters who will seek to etch their names in the history books in 2008. I will also offer one journalist’s thoughts on what could happen in the big races. It has been said that marathons are tremendously difficult to forecast, but rest assured that this former mediocre DIII runner has all the answers.
The first major (at least in the financial sense) marathon of 2008 was the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, held this past Sunday. The big news from this race was the world record attempt by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie. Fresh off his 2:04:26 world record in Berlin this past fall, “The Emperor” struck back with a 2:04:52, the second fastest time ever. Gebrselassie’s only fault was a blistering first half that left him a bit overextended and unable to hang on for the record. His time did serve notice, in case anyone wasn’t already convinced, that Geb will be a force to be reckoned with in this Olympic year as long as he can overcome the interaction of Beijing pollution and his severe allergies.
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The European Athletics Association has posted a fun, rapid-fire interview with reigning Olympic Marathon gold medalist, Stefano Baldini. Amongst the questions and answers:
Q: What rules would you change to make athletics/your event more exiting?
A: No more pacemakers.
Q: Tatoos or piercings?
A: Neither
You can see the whole interview here:
http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5943&Itemid=269
By the way, Baldini is in Namibia at his altitude training camp preparing for the Flora London Marathon.
As the Olympic and world champions respectively, Stefano Baldini and Jaouad Gharib hold two of the most prized crowns in the whole of athletics.
They are known as two of the most astute distance racers around and, with 15 appearances in World Marathon Majors between them, are among the most experienced marathon runners in the world.
But […]
Italian marathon champion Stefano Baldini may never be able to top his 2004 season (when he won the Olympic gold in the marathon), but 2006 was certainly a successful season. Baldini won the European marathon title in Sweden, finished sixth at the ING New York City Marathon (2:11:33) and improved his own national record […]
Race Results Weekly (RRW), the wire service of distance running, also announced today that Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot has been chosen as the year’s top-ranked male marathon runner.
Cheruiyot, 28, who won both the BAA Boston and LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathons, got the #1 ranking over Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie because, according to RRW, “The fields he […]
This year’s ING New York City Marathon once again features a very competitive field; one where rematches and past rivalries are of overwhelming prevalence.
Three past men’s champions, another three former runner ups and several Olympic medalists highlight this very deep and talented men’s field;
There is the rematch between 2005 winner Paul Tergat of […]
PRESS RELEASE: Robert K. Cheruiyot’s dramatic victory in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon today not only secured him $140,000 in prize and bonus money, it also moved him into a commanding lead in the chase for the $500,000 that is awaiting the winner of the World Marathon Majors Series in 2007.
The Chicago race was […]
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