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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

TFS News Briefs: 6/03/2008

Posted June 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Columns, TFS News Briefs

Fleshman’s Feat Overshadowed By Bolt’s Record
The track world is abuzz with talk of Usain Bolt’s sizzling 100m world record of 9.72 at the Reebok Grand Prix, but Lauren Fleshman brought some heat of her own that day, winning the women’s 5000m in 14:58.48, the 8th fastest time ever run by an American.
More: The Register-Guard, OR

Bislett Games to Host Greatest Female Steeplechase Ever?
Oslo, Norway’s Bislett Games have long been known for their premier event, the “Dream Mile.” This year, the “Dream Steeplechase” is loaded with talent and threatens to overshadow it. World-record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina takes on Yekaterina Volkova, Tatyana Petrova and Eunice Jepkorir, who finished 1-2-3 at the Osaka world championships
More: IAAF


Coach: Liu Xiang Not Injured
Although world and Olympic champion and world-record holder Liu Xiang withdrew from the Reebok Grand Prix 110m hurdles this past weekend, his coach Sun Haiping claims that move was precautionary and not due to an injury.
More: Yahoo! Eurosport, UK
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2008 Track & Field
Previews & Predictions:
Women’s Middle-Distance

Posted January 25th, 2008 at 5:25 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Maria Mutola recently announced that she will retire at the end of the 2008 season. That’s a shame because she has been the ambassador of women’s 800m running ever since she broke on the world-class middle-distance running scene in 1991 with a time of 1:57.63. Since then she’s run between 1:55.19 and 1:58.98 a staggering 108 times. The only other woman to come even close to running that many world-class times in the 800m has been the great Cuban runner Ana Quirot, who ran between 1:54.44 and 1:58.95 a total of 72 times between 1986 and 1997. The 800m event will truly be diminished when Mutola retires.
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TFS News Briefs: 11/14/07

Posted November 14th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, TFS News Briefs

Kiplagat to Run in Brussels X-C Meet
Reigning world cross-country champion Lornah Kiplagat will run in the ‘Lotto Iris Crosscup’ cross-country meet in Brussels, Belgium on December 23rd in preparation for the Dubai Marathon on January 18th, 2008. The 33-year-ols world-record holder in the 20k sees the race as ideal for testing both her speed and strength. Read more at: [IAAF]

Focus on European Athletes Who Made IAAF Performance of the Year Shortlist
An article on the EAA website focuses on the 6 European athletes who have made the IAAF’s short list for the IAAF 2007 Performance of the Year. The performances of Roman Sebrle, Yelena Isinbayeva, Lornah Kiplagat, Carolina Klüft, Blanka Vlasic and Yekaterina Volkova are featured. Read more at: [European-Athletics]

Fraudulent “Coaches” Overtake Kenya’s Great Rift Valley
Frauds who are posing as athletes and coaches have invaded the famed Great Rift Valley in Kenya, home to many of the world’s greatest distance runners. The “quacks” have set up unregulated training camps, are over-training young runners and are harassing schoolgirls, in some cases even impregnating them. Read more at: [Standard, Kenya]
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IAAF World Athletics Final: Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

Posted September 22nd, 2007 at 8:30 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) was the clear favorite going into women’s 3000m Steeplechase of the IAAF World Athletics Final with a season and personal best of 9:06.57, which was 7.95 seconds faster than any other woman in the race. She went straight to the front at the gun.

She led at 1000m in a time of 3:16.11, on pace for a time of 9:48.33. All 10 women were still in contention at this point.

Cristina Casandra (ROM) led at 2000m in 6:29.65 (a 1000m split of 3:13.54). They were now on track for a time of 9:44.48. Volkova was 2m back at this point.
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On the Road & Around the Track:
TFS News Briefs 9/20/07

Posted September 20th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, TFS News Briefs

World Athletics Final Middle- and Long-Distance Preview
In the latest WAF preview there are speculations about who will run the middle- and long-distance events this late in the season and why they will do it. Runners to watch (men): Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m), Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (1500m), Craig Mottram (3000m), Paul Kipsiele Koech (3000m SC), Sileshi Sihine (5000m). Women: Janeth Jepkosgei (800m), Maryam Yusuf Jamal and Yelena Soboleva (1500m), Yekaterina Volkova (3000m SC), Meseret Defar (pictured at right, 5000m). Also, an explanation of the WAF points system and the current standings. Read more at: [IAAF WAF2007]

World Marathon Majors Conference Call with Race Directors
Race Directors Dave Bedford (London), Carey Pinkowski (Chicago), Mark Milde (Berlin), Mary Wittenberg (New York City) and Guy Morse (Boston) talk about a range of questions regarding their races and the sport in general. Read the complete transcript at: [Track & Field News]
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Video: Recap of the 2007 IAAF Outdoor Track & Field World Championships in Osaka

Posted September 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

The below video includes a collection of key moments from the 2007 IAAF Track & Field World Championships from Osaka, Japan. Featuring winning performances by: Luke Kibet, Reese Hoffa, Tirunesh Dibaba, Jefferson Perez, Valerie Vili, Tyson Gay, Ivan Tsikhan, Yekaterina Volkova, Nelson Evora, Kenenisa Bekele, Team USA, Meseret Defar, Veronica Campbell, Bernard Lagat, Jeremy Wariner, Brad Walker, Allyson Felix, Liu Xiang, Michelle Perry, Catherine Ndereba, and many more!

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Russians Dominate Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

Posted August 27th, 2007 at 7:06 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

The Russians dominated the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase final. Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) took the lead from the start, passing the first 1000m in world record pace (3:00.35) with Eunice Jepkorir (KEN) on her shoulder. The pace was too fast to maintain, so Galkina slowed and Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) took over. Galkina eventually faded to 7th place. Volkova passed 2000m in 6:05.46 with Tatyana Petrova (RUS) and Jepkorir well behind her. She continued hammering the pace, running the final 1000m in 3:01.11 to finish in 9:06.57, a world championship record and the 2nd fastest time ever run by a woman.

Petrova outdueled Jepkorir to take the silver medal, finishing in 9:09.19, a personal best and the third fastest female steeple of all time. Jepkorir hung on for the bronze medal, finishing in 9:20.09. Ruth Bisibori Nyangau (KEN) ran an outstanding 9:25.25, a world junior record. Sophie Duarte (FRA) placed fifth with a time of 9:27.51, a national record. Here are the top finishers:

1. Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) 9:06.57 CR
2. Tatyana Petrova (RUS) 9:09.19 PB
3. Eunice Jepkorir (KEN) 9:20.09
4. Ruth Bisibori Nyangau (KEN) 9:25.25 WJ
5. Sophie Duarte (FRA) 9:27.51 NR

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