TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Dutchwoman Kibet Is First at 37th New York Mini 10-K

Posted June 7th, 2008 at 1:20 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

In hot and sticky conditions, the Netherlands’ Hilda Kibet won the 37th edition of the NYRR New York Mini 10-K, adding her name to the list of stars who have won what is the oldest and most famous all-women’s road race in the world.

Kibet, who just qualified for the Dutch 10,000m team for the Beijing Olympics at a race in Utrecht last Saturday, was in a group of four women through the half-way mark on the winding and hilly course in Central Park (16:12). Kenya’s Everlyne Lagat was the first to fall back from this group, then a little injection of pace in the seventh kilometer put USA marathon record holder Deena Kastor a few steps behind.

Kibet was then left to battle with Mexico’s Madai Perez for the last two kilometers. With 800m to go Kibet pushed one more time, and it was enough to secure her second New York City road racing victory in her last two starts (she won the NYC Half-Marathon presented by NIKE last August).
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

USA Olympic Marathon Team to Run New York Mini 10-K

Posted May 28th, 2008 at 2:35 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Road Racing

They finished 1-2-3 in Boston at the USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon last month, and now Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell will be teaming-up again to compete in the 37th edition of the NYRR New York Mini 10-K. Slated for Saturday, June 7, the “Mini” is the oldest all-women’s road race in the world, founded by Fred Lebow and the New York Road Runners in 1972.

“This is a formidable and very experienced squad with legitimate Olympic medal hopes that all of America should be very proud of,” commented Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of the New York Road Runners. “Having them all here for the Mini reflects our commitment to America’s top athletes and demonstrates that the road to Beijing continues to run through Central Park for America’s Olympians.”
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

Sunday’s Weather Forecast for New York City Marathon

Posted November 3rd, 2007 at 6:28 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Conditions: Mostly Sunny
High: 59°F
Precipitation: 0%
Wind: WNW 15 mph
Max. Humidity: 54%
UV Index: 3 Moderate
Sunrise: 6:29 AM ET
Avg. High: 58°F
Record High: 78°F (1975)

While these aren’t ideal conditions for a marathon (which would be 47-49°F, overcast, no wind, slight drizzle) they are certainly more than adequate for a good race tomorrow.

To see the complete forecast for tomorrow’s race: [The Weather Channel]

Event Coverage Sponsored By:
Camelbak - the originator and leader in hands-free hydration.

To learn more Camelbak Elixir, their effective, easy-to-use and portable electrolyte beverage, as well as Camelbak’s running specific hydration systems, please visit www.camelbak.com.

Comment on this post | Permalink

New York City Marathon 07:
Elite Women’s Preview

Posted November 1st, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The women’s race at the 2007 ING New York Marathon can best be described as a clash of the titans. Arguably the strongest women’s field ever assembled for this race, this contest should not be short on drama, especially with the inaugural World Marathon Majors Championship still in doubt.

The battle for the first World Marathon Majors title has been narrowed to two runners, Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka and Ethiopia’s Gete Wami. Prokopcuka is looking to win her third straight New York Marathon, but only boasts a 2:22.56 PB (Osaka WC, 2003). Wami, on the other hand, has a PB of 2:21:34 and has won the Berlin Marathon twice. Wami has defied conventional marathon wisdom by even attempting this race; her most recent victory at Berlin came only five weeks before New York. Can she maintain her peak to become the World Marathon Majors champion or will Jelena Prokopcuka’s Big Apple dominance be too much to overcome?

Complicating matters for Prokopcuka and Wami will be the world’s two fastest women’s marathoners- Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and Kenya’s Catherine Ndereba.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

On Eve of Title Defense, Kiplagat in “Right Mood”

Posted October 13th, 2007 at 4:45 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results

When she sets out to defend her World Road Running title on Sunday, Lornah Kiplagat will be also be aiming to join some fine company.

Counting the now discontinued World Half Marathon Championships, only Kenyan Tegla Loroupe and Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, both three-time winners, have managed to defend their road running titles. And the Kenyan-born Dutchwoman, all around one of the finest road runners ever, is optimistic about joining that illustrious pair.

“Everything is going normally and everything is going well,” said Kiplagat, who last year lowered the world record in the 20km to 1:03:21 with her victory in the first edition of the reconstituted championships in Debrecen, Hungary. “I’m in the right mood going into the race. I’ve spent the last week in Italy, so it could be a good result.”

Kiplagat followed up with an overwhelming victory at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa last March, and is now on the rebound from a minor calf injury that sidelined her from the World Championships on the track in Osaka in August.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

On the Road & Around the Track: TFS News Briefs September 18, 2007

Posted September 18th, 2007 at 3:32 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, TFS News Briefs

New York City Marathon: Women’s Competition Intensifies
As if a New York City Marathon field that included returning top three Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, Tatiana Hladyr of Ukraine and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya wasn’t enough, now Gete Wami of Ethiopia, Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia, and Tegla Loroupe of Kenya have announced that they will be competing on November 4th. They will be competing for a prize of $130,000 plus a Toyota Prius. Read more at: [IAAF] [ING NYC Marathon]

Steve Cram Calls IAAF World Athletics Final “Pointless and Bemusing”
In a Guardian Unlimited article critical of the IAAF’s current race structure, British miling legend Steve Cram is calling for a makeover of not only the World Athletics Final, but also the Golden League and even the World Championships. Read more at: [Guardian Unlimited]

World Athletics Final Previews: Throws and Jumps
Previews of the Jumps and the Throws at the World Athletics Final this weekend in Stuttgart, Germany are available on the IAAF World Athletics Final website. Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell, Stefan Holm, Blanka Vlasic and Yelena Isinbayeva are some of the key field-event athletes going into the meet. Read more at: [IAAF WAF07]
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Defar Leads Top Women’s Field in London 5-K

Posted September 11th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Reigning Olympic and world 5000m champion, Meseret Defar, leads a top-notch field at Sunday’s Hydro Active Women’s Challenge in London’s Hyde Park, a 5 km road race. The 23 year-old Ethiopian is also the world record holder for both 5000m on the track (14:16.63) and 5 km on the road (14:46).

“Naturally we are very pleased to have the world and Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar, fresh from her victory in Osaka heading up our elite field in London, the UK’s premier 5-k women’s road running event,” said Dave Bedford who directs the race. Bedford is also the race director of the Flora London Marathon.

Bedford has also invited a strong group of challengers to face Defar, led by Australia’s Benita Johnson, America’s Lauren Fleshman, Russia’s Inge Abitova, and Britain’s Jo Pavey and Liz Yelling.

This will be the tenth edition of the Challenge which organizers said had 20,000 entrants last year. The course record of 14:51 was set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink