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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Injury Forces Ritzenhein Out of Healthy Kidney 10-K

Posted May 8th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Defending champion and event record holder Dathan Ritzenhein has been forced to withdraw from the 4th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K scheduled for Saturday, May 17, in New York City.

“We’re very disappointed not to be able to return to New York for the Healthy Kidney 10-K,” Ritzenhein told reporters on a conference call today hosted by the New York Road Runners, the founders and organizers of the race. “With a whole array of ailments, it hasn’t come together in time for me to take on the great field that’s been assembled for the race. Knowing that it might set back my preparation [for Beijing], it was with regret that we made the decision to withdraw.”

Ritzenhein, 25, of Eugene, Ore., said that the injury to the third metatarsal of his left foot, which he sustained at the USA Cross Country Championships in February, has persisted.
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Deena Kastor Pre-Olympic Trials Teleconference Excerpts

Posted April 18th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

The United States Olympic Committee and USA Track & Field on Friday hosted a media teleconference with 2008 U.S. Olympic Team hopeful Deena Kastor (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) to preview the upcoming 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Marathon in Boston, Mass., April 20.

Kastor has had a storied career as an American distance runner. In 2006, she became the first American woman to run under two hours and 20 minutes which won her the Flora London Marathon. Her time of 2:19:36 smashed her own American Record of 2:21:16, which she set in London in 2003. Kastor’s time made her the fourth fastest woman ever in the marathon. A year earlier, she barely missed her own American record in the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:21:25. With the win, she became the first American to win a major marathon since Kristy Johnson 1994.
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TFS Podcast 136: Drake Relays Teleconference w/ Olympic Gold Medalist Allen Johnson

Posted April 17th, 2008 at 2:30 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today on Episode 136 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, I participated in the USATF-hosted, Drake Relays Media Teleconference which featured 110m hurdler Allen Johnson. In his distinguished career, Johnson has won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games, 4 golds and 1 bronze in the World Outdoor championships and 3 gold and two silvers in the Indoor world championships, including his 2nd place finish this year in Valencia, Spain.

I joined Mike Mahon, the media coordinator for the Drake Relays, Peter Gambaccini from Runner’s World and reporters from the Associated Press, Oakland Tribune and Reuters in the teleconference. We asked Allen questions that covered a wide range of topics, including his career, doping, promotion of track and field, the athletes’ ability to speak out at the Olympics, how much longer he plans to compete, and much, much more.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”

Host: USATF | Guest: Allen Johnson
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 23.6 MB | Length: 00:34:24

Episode Sponsored By: U.S. Army Special Forces

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TFS Podcast 133: Pre-London Marathon Teleconference with Ryan Hall & David Bedford

Posted April 10th, 2008 at 6:35 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 133 of The Final Sprint Podcast features a teleconference interview with Ryan Hall and David Bedford prior to the 2008 Flora London Marathon.

The teleconference was hosted by the London Marathon and was promoted by USA Track and Field (USATF) & the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

In the teleconference Hall and Bedford, the London race director, respond to questions from the international running media and from a select panel that included Race Result Weekly’s David Monti onsite in London.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”

Host: London Marathon | Guest: Ryan Hall
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 21.8 MB | Length: 00:31:50

Episode Sponsored By: U.S. Army Special Forces

If your measure of success goes way beyond the mainstream, if you think limits are something to be pushed, if your greatest motivation is doing the impossible, we may have a career for you.

U.S. Army Special Forces.
Visit goarmy.com/specialforces.

There’s strong and then there’s Army Strong.

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

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Flanagan Enters U.S. XC Championships as Favorite

Posted February 15th, 2008 at 4:21 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field

At last year’s U.S. Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colo., Shalane Flanagan had high hopes for victory. Her main rival, Deena Kastor, was in the midst of heavy training for the Boston Marathon, and Flanagan had been flying on the track, just setting an American indoor record for 3000m: 8:33.25.

But Boulder’s mile-high altitude played to Kastor’s favor (she was one of the few athletes who actually came down from a higher altitude to race in Boulder), and Flanagan was soundly beaten by about about a minute over the 8 km course.

“Boulder was really tough for me,” said Flanagan recalling the race on a teleconference today. “I felt really ill afterwards. Maybe it was altitude or just the effort of the race. There were a couple times on the course when I literally considered throwing myself off the course. I was completely exhausted and it took me a few days to recover.”
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Flanagan, De Reuck Interview Excerpts from USATF Teleconference

Posted February 15th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews

USA Track & Field served as the host to a media teleconference Thursday afternoon featuring two-time USA women’s cross country champions Shalane Flanagan and Colleen De Reuck [Pictured].

Flanagan and DeReuck discussed their preparations for the 2008 USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday, where both open and junior men and women will look to earn a spot on the Team USA squad for the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 30.

The championships in San Diego will feature six races that will determine national champions for masters men and women; junior men and women; and open men and women. The event will be televised in association with the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships February 24, from 5-7 p.m. on ESPN 2.

Excerpts from Thursday’s teleconference with Shalane Flanagan and Colleen De Reuck follow:
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Hall, Ritzenhein Interview Excerpts from USATF Teleconference

Posted February 14th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews

USA Track & Field served as the host to a media teleconference Wednesday afternoon featuring Team USA men’s squad members for the 2008 Olympic Marathon in Beijing, China, Ryan Hall and Dathan Ritzenhein.

Hall and Ritzenhein discussed their preparations for the 2008 USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday, where both open and junior men and women will look to earn a spot on the Team USA squad for the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 30.

The championships in San Diego will feature six races that will determine national champions for masters men and women; junior men and women; and open men and women. The event will be televised in association with the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships February 24, from 5-7 p.m. on ESPN 2.

Excerpts from Wednesday’s teleconference with Ryan Hall and Dathan Ritzenhein follow:
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IOC President Asserts Zero Tolerance Against Doping as Top Priority of His Mandate

Posted November 12th, 2007 at 11:04 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Olympics, Drugs In Sports

Speaking ahead of the World Conference on Doping in Sport that will open in Madrid next week, IOC President Jacques Rogge said that the fight against doping remained at the top of the agenda of the Olympic Movement.

“I would like to reiterate the IOC’s total commitment to the fight against doping,” he said to reporters during a teleconference.

“The IOC has been a pioneer in establishing, back in 1967, the IOC Medical Commission and in rallying International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and governments to the cause. We created WADA in 1999, after the Festina case during the Tour de France clearly indicated that more needed to be done. Since then, the IOC has been wholeheartedly supporting WADA and will continue to do so in the future”.

Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: SummerOlympian.com

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Podcast 102: Post-Olympic Marathon Trials Interview with RYAN HALL

Posted November 4th, 2007 at 1:08 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 102 of The Final Sprint Podcast features a teleconference interview with RYAN HALL after his sensational victory and record-setting performance at today’s U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials in New York.

The teleconference was hosted by USA Track and Field (USATF)and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

In the teleconference, Hall responds to questions from TheFinalSprint.com’s Jimmie Markham and other members of the media regarding his celebration in the last miles of the race, training with the Mammoth Lakes group, the tragic death of Ryan Shay, his racing schedule leading up to the Beijing Olympics, the time Hall expects to be able to run in the marathon, his dream of making the Olympic team, the importance of a fast time vs. a gold medal and what he learned from the Olympic Trials race.

Download the podcast to hear Hall discuss these topics, as well as, a comparison of how he felt after London vs. the Olympic Trials race, what he thought of a criterion-style course, whether or not he will watch the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Hall’s wife Sara’s role in his success and speculation on two Halls going to Beijing.

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Host: USOC, USATF, NYRR | Guest: Ryan Hall
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 13.6 MB | Length: 19:50 MIN

Episode 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.

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Abdirahman, Culpepper, Hall & Teleconference Excerpts

Posted November 1st, 2007 at 9:00 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews

USA Track & Field, the U.S. Olympic Committee and New York Road Runners on Thursday hosted a national media teleconference with two-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman (Tucson, Ariz.), 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials champion Alan Culpepper (Lafayette, Colo.) and American half-marathon record holder Ryan Hall (Palo Alto, Calif.).

All three will compete Saturday in New York for a spot on the 2008 Olympic Team, running in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men’s Marathon.

Below are excerpts from Thursday’s call:

Q: Could you discuss your readiness for Saturday’s race?

RH: I’m just really excited about this opportunity. I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time and it’s exciting to finally have the opportunity to make my first Olympic team. I know whatever team is selected here on Saturday is going to represent well in Beijing.

AC: Like Ryan said, we’re all excited about this event. We’re excited about the build-up and the excitement of making an Olympic team and it being here on the largest stage in New York City. I’m thrilled to be a part of this and thrilled to get out and run on Saturday.

AA: I’m glad to be a part of the USA Olympic men’s marathon trials. My preparation has been going well leading to this race. Everything’s going well, I’m healthy and I’m ready to race. The three men that will be selected Saturday for the U.S. Olympic team will represent our country well at the Beijing Olympics.
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