Lead Stories: Sunday, July 6, 2008
Posted May 7th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Vlasic Aims For Gold, Record At Beijing Olympics
World champion high jumper Blanca Vlasic from Croatia , whose aim is to win the gold medal in the Beijing Olympics high jump, also has her sights on another goal, saying, “I would say it is possible that I could win the gold in Beijing with a world record.”
Read more at: [Reuters]
Michael Johnson “Shocked” By Bolt’s 100m Time
After Jamaica’s fabulous early-season time of 9.76 seconds in the 100m dash at the Jamaica International Invitational, legendary sprinter Michael Johnson said, “Usain said he was shocked. I’m shocked too.” Even so, he advised Bolt “not to get too carried away with the performance.”
Read more at: [Caribbean Net News, Cayman Islands]
Great News From Ann Gaffigan’s Training Camp
Ann Gaffigan, the former American-record holder in the 3000m steeplechase, has published a new blog post that ha some great news for the runner who has had her share of bad news over the past year or two. Despite having a bad race lately (she trained through it) she writes that “my workouts have been better than ever before, yes I felt like my old self at the Mt. SAC Relays, yes my iron levels are high, my heart rate is low, my speed is good and my strength even better.”
Read more at: [Steeplechics]
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Posted February 11th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Shocker! Big Brother Backs Gag Order
Who would have thought it? The Beijing Olympic organizing committee agrees with the British Olympic Committee’s zero-tolerance gag order on political protests. Free speech bad. Big Brother good.
Read more at: [Citizen, South Africa]
Dwain Chambers Controversy Intensifies
British sprinter Dwain Chambers, banned for 2 years for doping but now trying for a comeback, is at the center of a controversy that is forcing UK Athletics (the British governing body for track and field) to make some tough decisions. Should he be allowed back on Team Britain?
Read more at: [Google News]
Team USA Bringing Their Own Food To Beijing
The US Olympic Team, trying to avoid tainted and steroid-laden food frequently found in China, is brining its own caterer with it to Beijing.
Read more at: [NY Times]
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Posted October 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 PM by Adam Jacobs
Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
Episode 86 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with 2004 Olympian KATE O’NEIL about making her marathon debut at Sunday’s Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon.
In January, Kate finished second and ran a personal best 1:11:47 at the Aramco Half-Marathon in Houston. She continued her success with third places finishes at the Falmouth Road Race in August and the New Haven 20-K in September (where she also set another PR).
In the interview, Kate talks about her mental and physical preparation for Chicago, plans to run in next April’s U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trails in Boston, and why she chose Chicago over other fall marathons (i.e. - New York) for her debut.
Download the podcast to hear Kate discuss these topics, as well as, how Deena Kastor and the other members of Team Running USA in Mammoth Lakes, CA have helped with her approach to the marathon, her views on the role of pacesetters, how cheering fans have confused her with her twin sister Laura when they ran together at Yale, and much more!
Listen In
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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Kate O’Neil
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 12.0 MB | Length: 17:30 MIN
Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
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Posted September 10th, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Adam Jacobs
Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
Episode 77 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with DAN BROWNE, a 2004 Olympian, on earning his third 20km U.S. title.
In the interview, Dan discusses his championship performance, why experience will be key at the Nov. 3rd U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials, and his recent decision to leave Alberto Salazar to run in Mammouth Lakes with Coach Larsen, Deena, Ryan, Meb and the rest of Team Running USA
Download the podcast to hear Dan discuss
these topics, as well as, the role of faith in his athletic career, his thoughts on triple-jump superstar Jonathan Edward’s renunciation of faith, why an “attitude change” has been the most significant factor in the U.S. distance running revival, and how being a member of the U.S. military affects his opinion of Oscar Pistorius and amputee runners competing against able-bodied athletes.
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you



Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Dan Browne
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File Size: 10.1 MB | Length: 14:45 MIN
Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
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Posted August 9th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by David Monti
Two of my favorite people in the sport, David Katz and Hugh Jones, are featured in an article in today’s New York Times.
This pair of internationally recognized course measurers spent two hot and sticky nights this week measuring the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men’s Marathon course in New York City. It’s a rare look at the painstaking work of course measurement, so critical to ensuring that competion results in road races are meaningful.
You can read the story at this link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/sports/othersports/09measure.html
Posted March 16th, 2007 at 10:15 AM by Martin Kennedy
University of Texas men’s head coach Bubba Thornton and UCLA women’s head coach Jeanette Bolden have been nominated to serve as the men’s and women’s head coaches, respectively, for Team USA’s track and field squads for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, USA Track & Field announced Thursday. James Li and Rich Torrellas are nominated as head managers.
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