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.
Defar’s Distance Double Caps World Athletics Final in Stuttgart
Posted September 14th, 2008 at 7:55 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Bouncing back from personal disappointment at the Olympics Games, Meseret Defar capped her season with a double victory to highlight the second and final day of the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on Sunday.
For the second straight day, Defar outkicked Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, this time in the 3000m, winning in 8:43.60 to win her fifth straight WAF title over the distance. Cheruiyot, who was fifth in the Olympic Games 5000 and beat Defar in the Brussels 5000 last weekend, led for much of the race until Defar kicked past her with 250 meters to go. Cheruiyot clocked 8:44:64.
In 2008, Defar, 24, last year’s IAAF Athlete of the Year, saw both her world record in the 5000 and her Olympic title in the event fall to her Ethiopian compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba, who did not compete this weekend. This was the second season-capping double for Defar, who also won both events in 2005 in Monaco.
Read the rest of this entry »
Dibaba Golden Again!
Posted August 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 AM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba has completed a rare distance double, winning the Women’s Olympic 5000m title tonight to add to the 10000m title she won last Friday. Dibaba stayed near the front throughout and used a punishing final kilometer to hold off 10000m silver medalist Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey and fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar, who took silver and bronze respectively. Kara Goucher was the top American in 9th place and was closely followed by 10000m bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan in 10th.
Few races in these Games have been surrounded with as much intrigue as this one. There was the great individual matchup between Dibaba and Defar, two rivals who have traded the World Record in recent years (Dibaba currently owns it at 14:11.15 but Defar has run 14:12.88).
Read the rest of this entry »
Bolt Amazes with 9.69 100m World Record in Beijing
Posted August 16th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Underscoring the world record performance that thrust him into the sprint spotlight late last spring, Usain Bolt did himself even one better in Beijing, cruising to a 9.69 world record to demolish the field in the final of the men’s 100 meters on the second day of action at the National Stadium.
“My aim was just to be the Olympic champion,” said Bolt, who lowered the 9.72 mark he set in New York City on May 31. “I wasn’t thinking about a world record.”
With a performance that defied the imagination, Bolt’s assessment seemed to be quite on target. Clearly ahead of Trinidad’s Richard Thompson 40 meters into the race, he then forged onward to build a lead so massive that some 75 meters into the race, he began to look side to side, dropping his arms and gesturing as if to ask, ‘Where is everybody?’
Read the rest of this entry »
Shalane Flanagan Wins 10,000m Bronze Medal
Posted August 15th, 2008 at 4:43 PM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Shalane Flanagan won an Olympic bronze medal in the 10,000 meters Friday night in Beijing. She broke her own American record by 12 seconds with a time of 30:22.22. It was only the second time in history that a U.S. woman has medaled in the event.
Flanagan fell ill Tuesday night and suffered from stomach issues that caused dehydration and sleep loss. With competition that included Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, Flanagan had almost no room for error and some suggested that she should skip the race to focus and prepare for the 5000m. However, after resting for the past few days Flanagan was able to persevere and had an outstanding race.
Her plan was to start conservatively, but keep the leaders within striking distance until near the end when she would kick.
“I was in such a zone. My coach said to fall asleep for a couple laps and then give it go,” Flanagan said, “I ran my hardest and tried to give it my best. I was just running so within myself trying to stay calm.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Excellent Weather for Women’s 10-K Could Mean Fast Times, New Record
Posted August 15th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Nine straight days of bad weather finally lifted here today giving rise to the possibility of fast times in tonight’s women’s 10,000m, the first final on the track of these Olympic Games.
At 22:00 local time, the temperature was 26°C (79°F) with 51% humidity, far better conditions than were anticipated by most of the 32 competitors from 18 nations who are on the start list.
The Olympic Games record is 30:17.49 set by Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia in Sydney in 2000. With athletes like two-time world 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba and multiple world road running record holder Lornah Kiplagat (Pictured) in the field, that record could go. The field is loaded with talent; 13 women have personal best times under 31 minutes.
Read the rest of this entry »
2008 Beijing Olympic Preview: Women’s 10,000 Meters
Posted August 14th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Women’s 10,000 Meters
The Schedule: Friday, Aug 15
(live on NBC)
The Americans:
#5 Shalane Flanagan,
#8 Kara Goucher, Amy Begley
The Contenders: #1 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH), #2 Lucy Kabuu Wangui (KEN), #10 Grace Kwamboka Momanyi (KEN) #12 Ejegayehu Dibaba (ETH), #13 Kim Smith (NZL), #16 Linet Chepkwemoi Masai (KEN), #21 Mestawet Tufa (ETH), Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR)
The Stats: Records, 2008 List, 2007 Worlds, 2004 Olympics
The Medal Picks: T&FN - T Dibaba, E Dibaba, Abeylegesse;
SI - Tufa, Jepleting, Kabuu
The Story: Six runners automatically get respect simply from their uniform: the trios from Ethiopia and Kenya. The northernmost of the two African neighbors has had significantly better results at international championships, winning five of the last nine major medals to Kenya’s none. One of those Ethiopians gets more respect than the other two combined, however: two-time World champ Dibaba, who also holds the 5k world record.
Read the rest of this entry »
2008 Beijing Olympic Preview: Women’s 5000 Meters
Posted August 12th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Women’s 5000 Meters
The Schedule: heats, Tuesday Aug 19; finals, Friday, Aug 22
The Americans: #6 Shalane Flanagan, #7 Kara Goucher, #12 Jen Rhines
The Contenders: #1 Meseret Defar (ETH), #2 Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) #3 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH), #4 Meselech Melkamu (ETH) #5 Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet (KEN), #8 Penina Chepchumba (KEN), #22 Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)
The Stats: Records, 2008 List, 2007 Worlds, 2004 Olympics
The Medal Picks: T&FN - Defar, T Dibaba, Melkamu; SI - T Dibaba, Defar, Jepleting
The Story: While everyone knows the men’s 100 and high hurdles will be great showdowns, this race has been getting short shrift. Too bad, because it’s going to be a great race.
Teammates Dibaba and Defar have owned the long distances for several years. They have not raced each other head-to-head this year, but did appear in separate 3k and 2-mile races in the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Dibaba broke the 5k World Record in Oslo’s Bislett Games, running 14:11.15; later in the summer, Defar ran 14:12.88 in Stockholm. Both are strong and have withering kicks. It will be a war.
Read the rest of this entry »
Bekele and Dibaba to Double at Beijing Olympics
Posted July 15th, 2008 at 9:07 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics
Bernard Lagat’s ambitious goal to succeed Hicham El Guerrouj as the Olympic 1500m and 5000m champion might have gotten even more difficult with today’s team announcement by the Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC). Despite earlier indications that he would only defend his 10,000m Olympic title in Beijing, the EOC included Kenenisa Bekele on its 5000m roster as well.
Less than two months ago, Bekele told reporters in Hengelo, The Netherlands, that a double was out of the question.
“It’s very tough to run a double at the Olympics,” he said. “I ran many kilometers in a few days in Athens, and I lost a lot of power.”
Apparently Bekele has had a change of heart. The world record holder at both events and widely acknowledged as the finest distance runner of his generation, Bekele will be aiming to improve upon his showing over the shorter distance in Athens four years ago, where he finished runner-up to El Guerrouj.
Read the rest of this entry »
World Points Standings:
Women’s Long Distance
Posted June 17th, 2008 at 10:00 AM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Rankings, World Standings
3000 meters
(includes no-pacemaker championship-type 5k races)
1. Meseret Defar, 68
2. Meselech Melkamu, 42
3. Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet, 38
4. Tirunesh Dibaba, 38
5. Gelete Burka, 35
6. Ejegayehu Dibaba, 32
7. Kim Smith, 28
8. Olga Komiagina, 26
9. Ruth Bisibori Nyangau, 26
10. Grace Momanyi, 21
World Indoor champion Defar is still the best at this distance, but hasn’t yet run against her rival, 5k world-record-breaker Tirunesh Dibaba.
5000 & 10,000 meters
1. Tirunesh Dibaba, 74
2. Gelete Burka, 50
Read the rest of this entry »
Dibaba Smashes 5000m
World Record in Oslo
Posted June 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Announcements, Track & Field
Tirunesh Dibaba made her first outing of the summer a memorable one after breaking the world record in the 5000m at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in the Norwegian capital.
For the second straight year, the Oslo meet played host to a new women’s standard in the event. This time around, it was Dibaba smashing the record that her compatriot Meseret Defar smashed last year.
This is a very joyous day for me today,” said Dibaba after her stunning 14:11.15 performance which eclipsed Defar’s performance by more than five-and-a-half seconds. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and this is a very special day for me.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Which currently declared candidate would most improve USATF if elected as President of the Board of Directors?
Recent Comments
Page 2 Articles
- Tirunesh Dibaba Outclasses Field in Tactical 10,000m
In the women’s 10,000m Run, Belgian Nathalie De Vos took the early lead, taking the field through the first 3000m in 9:54.28 (3:27.75, 3:15.07, 3:11.46), on track for a 33:00 10,000m time. Kenya’s Evelyne Wambui Nganga took the field through 4000m in 13:10.58 (1000m split: 3:16.30), on pace for a 32:56 10,000m. De Vos […]
- Webb’s 1500m win the Highlight in Paris
With a brilliant display of assertive racing, Alan Webb powered to a 3:30.54 victory in the 1500 this weekend to highlight the Meeting Gaz de France Paris-St. Denis; the second stop on the six-meet IAAF Golden League series.
Running aggressively from the outset, the 24-year-old three-time American champion never lost control of the race, despite the […] - Men’s 1500 the key attraction as IAAF Golden League resumes in Paris
For the crowd of 65,000 that is expected to turn out for tonight’s Meeting Gaz de France, one event will stand head and shoulders above the rest –the men’s 1500, which features French star Mehdi Baala squaring off against American Bernard Lagat.
Baala, the world leader after his solo 3:31.05 in Strasbourg last week, apparently doesn’t […] - Full house watches Webb win mile at Reebok Grand Prix
With a boisterous crowd of 5,000 filling the grandstand at Ichan Stadium, Alan Webb won the first significant mile of the season with an overwhelming kick, handing both Bernard Lagat and Craig Mottram with rare defeats at the third annual Reebok Grand Prix on Manhattan’s Randall’s Island.
The win provided Webb, 24, with much-needed dose of […] - Stuczynski clears 16 feet, Gay flirts with WR at Reebok Grand Prix
Jenn Stuczynski became the #2 woman on the all-time list in the women’s pole vault, while Tyson Gay came within a slight breeze of breaking a world record Saturday night at the Reebok Grand Prix. A sell-out Icahn Stadium crowd of 4,990 fans from around New York and the world cheered performances in warm, muggy […]
- Dibaba has sights set on Defar’s record
Tirunesh Dibaba, the double world champion at 5000m and 10,000m in Helsinki two summers ago, is looking to take a bite out of the Big Apple by attacking Meseret Defar’s world 5000m record at Saturday’s Reebok Grand Prix on Randall’s Island.
At last year’s meet with the track still puddled from heavy rains, Defar mustered a […] - Track & Field to take center stage Saturday in New York
The shining stars of track & field will make the lights of Times Square seem dim in comparison Saturday when many of the world’s finest athletes compete in New York City at the 2007 Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island.
Tyson Gay, Lauryn Williams, Dwight Phillips, Rachelle Smith, Shawn Crawford, Wallace Spearmon, Allyson […] - Live @ Millrose: Tirunesh Dibaba wins 3000m; spoils great effort by Sarah Hall
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, put on quite the show; dominating the women’s 3,000m and winning in a time of 8:46:58.
Dibaba, the cousin of two-time Olympic runner Derartu Tulu, was challenged by Sarah Hall (formerly Sarah Bei and wife of Ryan Hall) until the eight minute mark when Dibaba entered her kick. […] - Defar, Hayes on tap for Reebok Boston Indoor Games
Reigning Olympic gold medalists Meseret Defar and Joanna Hayes have been added to a star-studded lineup for the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Jan. 27 that already includes Tirunesh Dibaba, the double World Champion; Australian Steve Hooker, the world’s top pole vaulter; and American miler Alan Webb.
Hometown favorite Shalane Flanagan, a 2004 Olympian and the […] - Craig Mottram and Meseret Defar Set 3km Road Race World Records
Australia’s Craig Mottram and Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar probably thought their year couldn’t - even possibly - get any better. However, it looks like they were wrong - very wrong.
The pair of dominating runners set new road race world records at the Newcastle/Gateshead Great North 3Km. As a matter of fact, they didn’t just […]
TFS Media Sites
The Final SprintSite Archives
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
Links from our blogroll
- Timex Expedition: Return to the Outdoors
- The Zen Runner
- How To Recover From An Ultra
- Ultraoz.com
- Best Blogs
- jeff christian's ultra page
- Twin Cities Marathon
- Sweeps Advantage
- Yahoo! Picks
- Nissan's New Running Campaign
- Down the Back Stretch
- Five Thousand Meters
- Deena Kastor's Official Website
- Bigger Blogger
- Marathon & Beyond
- The Track & Field Superblog
- The Oregonian's Track & Field News Section
- SportMedBC
- Run on Earth
- Blog Street
© 2006-2008 The Final Sprint, LLC | Privacy Policy | Design by The Blog Studio
The Final Sprint, LLC is owned and operated by Adam Jacobs
On October 14, 2008
Diane said:
Do you know when registration will be up for 2009? Do you know if it will be a lottery again?