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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Meet Preview: Zurich Golden League

Posted August 28th, 2008 at 1:46 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Tommorrow the IAAF’s Golden League comes to Zurich for the Weltklasse meet, the fifth out of six competitions in the series.

• IAAf Preview
• EAA Preview
• Meet Website

TV / Web coverage:

• ESPN Classic, 4-6 p.m. Friday (replays Saturday at 7 a.m.)
• CBC, 4-6 p.m. Saturday (replays Monday at 12:30 a.m.)
• Trackshark.com, 2 p.m. (live)

Still in the hunt for the $1 million jackpot are Kenya’s Pamela Jelimo in the 800 meters and Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic in the high jump.

Other superstars among the 41 Olympic medalists slated to compete are Usain Bolt, Kenenisa Bekele, Dayron Robles, and Yelena Isinbayeva. Great matchups are the sixth faceoff of the year between Jeremy Wariner and Kerron Clement, a rematch between Vlasic and her Olympic spoiler Tia Hellebaut, and a men’s 4×100 relay featuring the USA and Jamaica.

A deeper listing of top entrants can be found at The Track & Field Superblog.

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Watch Zürich Golden League at TrackShark.com

Posted August 28th, 2008 at 9:45 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Athletics fans in the United States will be able to watch the 4 meeting from Zürich, the next stop in the IAAF Golden League circuit, at TrackShark.com. The live coverage will begin at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 29. There is no charge to watch the webcast, however it is only available to viewers in the United States.

To access the coverage, go to http://www.trackshark.com/ and click the link on the front page.

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Encore Performances by Lagat, Jepkosgei and Jamal in Zurich

Posted September 8th, 2007 at 10:18 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

A trio of recently-minted world champions turned in impressive encore performances at Zurich’s Weltklasse, as the IAAF Golden League series resumed here tonight.

Competing in unseasonably chilly conditions before an energetic capacity crowd of 26,500 at the rebuilt Letzigrund stadium, Bernard Lagat, Janeth Jepkosgei and Maryam Yusef Jamal produced victories quite similar to those which brought them their respective world titles in the 5000, 800 and 1500 meters, respectively, in Osaka last week.

Contesting the 3000 just five days after completing his 1500/5000 double at the world championships, it was no contest from the moment Lagat took the lead for good coming off the final bend. Passing Kenyan Edwin Soi, the American crossed the line unchallenged in 7:38.77.
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Despite Unprecedented World Double, Some Unfinished Business for Lagat

Posted September 7th, 2007 at 10:27 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Bernard Lagat readily admits that the physical and psychological efforts of his five race visit to Osaka, and an unprecedented 1500/5000m double, have taken their toll. That doesn’t mean though, that the 32-year-old still doesn’t have a few goals remaining for this season.

“I’ve achieved so much in those nine days,” Lagat said of his historical double victory at the World Championships, one which ended a 99-year American gold medal drought in the middle distances. “In nine days running those five events took a lot out of me. I just wanted to conserve my energy for a few more races.”

Most immediately on his calendar is the 3000 tonight at Zurich’s Weltklasse, where he’ll compete for the ninth consecutive year. Although his race, like all other middle and long distance events, won’t be paced, Lagat doesn’t think that precludes fast performances.

“I’m really willing to run fast,” he said. “I really respect the Weltklasse. I’ve run here non-stop since 1999. And I feel like a have a duty here, and really want to make the 3000 meters here the most exciting race to watch.”
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Nixing Pacemakers and Increasing Prize pot, Zurich Introduces new one-day Meet Approach

Posted September 6th, 2007 at 4:39 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

When the IAAF Golden Series resumes on Friday night, Zurich’s rebuilt state-of-the-art Letzigrund Stadium won’t be the only new development at one of the world’s richest single-day meetings. For the first time in the sport’s professional era, the annual Weltklasse competition will not employ the services of pacemakers.

And that suits Bernard Lagat, the recently minted world champion at 1500 and 5000 meters, just fine.

“It’s fantastic,” said Lagat, who will contest the 3000 on Friday. “People always run fast and they get personal bests with pacemakers, but then again it’s so important that the race becomes tactical.”
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Four alive in $1 million Golden League Jackpot chase

Posted July 9th, 2007 at 10:15 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Following their victories in Paris on Friday night, four athletes remained alive in the chase for the $1 million IAAF Golden League Jackpot.

Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, Americans Sanya Richards (400m) and Michelle Perry (100m hurdles) and javelin thrower Tero Pitkamaki of Finland are still in the hunt for a share of the $1 million prize pot, with continues on Friday night at the Golden Gala Kinder+Sport meeting in Rome.
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