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Lead Stories: Sunday, July 20, 2008

Running Film Festival:
“All My Life” Promo Video

Posted June 18th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Movies

The Running Film Festival (RFF), scheduled for July 3-5 on the University of Oregon campus, is the first film festival ever devoted to the subjects of track & field, road racing, cross country, marathon and ultra endurance running. This inaugural event will coincide with the U.S. Track & Field Trials and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund.

Many of America’s most well known athletes and motivational icons will be featured in the feature films and documentaries screened over the three day event. In addition, today’s brightest stars, accomplished Olympians, and legends of the sport will make guest appearances and participate in Q&A sessions with the audience.

For more information, to view the complete film schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit: RunningFilmFestival.com

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Walker breaks AR, Mutola wins for 16th time at Nike Prefontaine Classic

Posted June 8th, 2008 at 11:34 PM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Meet records fell across all event groups, none bigger than Brad Walker’s American record in the pole vault, and Maria Mutola had a historic exit Sunday at the Nike Prefontaine Classic.

The fourth event of USATF’s Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic drew a meet-record 14,221 fans to Hayward Field, site of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field June 27-July 6. They were treated to a formidable show, including no fewer than eight meet records and Walker’s AR.

The 2007 world champion, Walker looked magnificent throughout the competition. He had just one miss, at his opening height of 5.70m/18-8.25, then passed to 5.90m/19-4.25, which he cleared on his first attempt and which won the competition for him. Walker then elevated the bar to 6.04m/19-9.75. On his very first attempt, he cleared, brushing the bar just a bit, but leaving it up.
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TFS News Briefs: 6/04/2008

Posted June 4th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Columns, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

Sebastian Coe: Real Damage to Track & Field Inflicted By Americans
British Middle-Distance Great Sebastian Coe has written a scathing indictment of America’s role in the doping scandal in track & field and our attitude toward the sport. Perhaps most telling are his words, “American athletes who remain anonymous in their own towns are lauded in the Golden League in Europe.”
More: Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom

Lagat Remains a Student Of the Sport
The Guardian has posted a profile of Beijing 1500m favorite Bernard Lagat who, after all of his experience and success, remains a careful student of the sport who learns something every day.
More: guardian.co.uk, UK

Bolt Undecided About Olympic Double
Having only run five 100m races in his entire life, world-record holder Usain Bolt is still not sure whether or not he will attempt a 100m/200m double in Beijing. He said he would run the 200m “for sure” but that he would leave the decision about the 100m up to his coach, Glen Mills.
More: CBC
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“Running Film Festival” in Eugene Sure to Be An Unforgettable Experience

Posted May 25th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Trail / Ultra, High School

I’m going to this summer’s Olympic Trials—my first-ever Trials trip—and I’m getting pretty excited. Not just about the meet, but everything else as well. It seems like everyone in Tracktown USA is going all-out to make it an unforgettable experience.

The community at large is putting on a massive “Eugene ’08 Festival” complete with a temporary sports bar, music stage, kids’ activities, and excursions to sites like Pre’s Rock and the Nike campus. The whole effect is like the NCAA basketball tournament combined with the Newport Jazz Festival and the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, with the Tribeca Film Festival on top.

In fact, one entry from Tribeca will be shown in Eugene. Without a doubt, the biggest off-track happening during the Trials will be the upcoming Running Film Festival (RFF)– where a percentage of ticket sales will benefit the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund. Entries are still being accepted, but the schedule of feature-length films, documentaries and shorts currently includes the following:
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Film Festival to Complement Olympic Trials in Eugene

Posted May 21st, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, High School, Road Racing

After spending hours at the track watching the 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field in Eugene, Ore., this summer, track fans can retreat to the cool darkness of a movie theatre to take in the inaugural Running Film Festival, presented by Nissan and sponsored by TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times magazine.

“Everyone knows ‘Pre,’ ‘Without Limits,’ and ‘Chariots of Fire,’ but there are dozens of other movies and documentaries that runners will enjoy,” said Adam Jacobs editor-in-chief of TheFinalSprint.com. “We created an event that brings together great films, talented directors, elite athletes, and people who simply love the sport. Movie makers have the chance to screen their films for appreciative audiences with entertainment that fits seamlessly with the spirit of Eugene 08.”

Jacobs said that while the festival would include some world premieres, the core of the festival would be established running films like “The Long Green Line,” “Spirit of the Marathon,” “Run For Your Life,” “Indulgence,” “Run Like Hell,” and “Showdown.” The entire line-up will be posted at http://www.runningfilmfestival.com.
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Quote of the Day: 4/20/08

Posted April 20th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Martha Jones

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Some people create with words, or with music, or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, “I’ve never seen anyone run like that before.” It’s more then just a race, it’s a style. It’s doing something better then anyone else. It’s being creative.”

- Steve Prefontaine

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Quote of the Day: 4/19/08

Posted April 19th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”

- Steve Prefontaine

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Quote of the Day: 4/18/08

Posted April 18th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.”

- Steve Prefontaine

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What To Watch: Running & Track Events on TV, Webcast

Posted April 16th, 2008 at 5:30 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Columns, What To Watch

There’s a lot of track and road running available to watch this weekend, both on TV or the web:

Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
Thursday-Friday-Saturday, ACCSelect.com
(subscription needed)
Florida State is favored to win the men’s title, even without ailing star Walter Dix. Miami and Virginia Tech look to battle it out for the women’s crown.

Big South Conference Championships
Thursday-Friday-Saturday, BigSouthSports.com (subscription needed)
NCAA XC champ Josh McDougal and his Liberty University teammates are clear favorites to win the men’s title, while the women’s is up for grabs.
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All Americans Who Are Worthy Of Inheriting Pre’s Legacy

Posted March 28th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns, Olympics

Let’s face it—even more than three decades after his untimely death—the great Steve Prefontaine is still the Gold Standard by which American distance running is measured and yet may be for decades to come. So how does the current crop of Americans measure up when we compare their PRs to his? They have done pretty well, actually. Out of all the PR’s listed for Pre in his Wikipedia Article (at least the ones in which runners still compete these days) a full complement of twenty eight American distance runners have been able best Pre in at least one of them.

Of course, such was his talent at so many distances that only one runner out of the current crop has been able to beat all of Pre’s PRs. Care to take a guess as to who? You got it: Alan Webb.

And don’t think he’s not acutely aware of this fact, either. I would bet that every one of these guys knows which of their PRs is better than Pre’s. Like I said, he’s the standard, not only by which all elite American runners measure themselves but by which they are measured by others.
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