About.com Track & Field

American Meb Keflezighi Wins New York Marathon

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:52:04 +0000

Meb Keflezighi's victory in the New York marathon Sunday (Nov. 1) was the biggest men's marathon triumph by an American in at least seven years. Born in Eritrea, Keflezighi came to the U.S. with his family when he was 12. He surpassed another naturalized American, Moroccan-born Khalid Khannouchi, as the top U.S. men's marathon runner in 2004, when Keflezighi earned the Olympic silver medal in Athens.

But Americans have won few major marathons recently, even on native soil. Among the three major U.S. marathon events -- Boston, New York and Chicago -- Keflezighi's victory was only the fourth by a U.S. runner since 2000. Deena Kastor won in Chicago in 2005, while Khannouchi, the former men's world record-holder, was the Chicago winner in 2000 and 2002.

The 1990s were even worse, as no Americans won in either New York or Boston, while only Kristy Johnston (1994) and Linda Somers (1992) triumphed in Chicago. Keflezighi was the first American man to win in New York since Alberto Salazar in 1982. No woman has won the New York Marathon since Miki Gorman in 1977. The last U.S. victories in Boston came in 1985 (Lisa Larsen Weidenbach) and 1983 (Greg Meyer).

The Olympics and World Championships tell a similar story. Frank Shorter (1972) is the only American man to win an Olympic marathon gold medal since 1908. Keflezighi's silver medal in 2004 was the first U.S. Olympic marathon medal of any kind since Shorter's runner-up finish in 1976. American Joan Benoit won the first Olympic women's marathon in 1984, but Kastor's 2004 bronze is the only U.S. women's medal since. Marianne Dickerson, who took the silver in 1983, is the only American woman to win a World Championship marathon medal, while the men possess just two: Mark Plaatjes' gold in 1993 and Steve Spence's bronze in 1991.

Will the next ten years be any brighter for U.S. marathon runners? At the moment, the 34-year-old Keflezighi remains the top American hope. American runners haven't been close to medals at either the Olympics or World Championships the past two years, although Keflezighi missed the Beijing Games due to injury. Other U.S. hopes include Ryan Hall, who was tenth in Beijing, third in Boston this year and fourth in New York Sunday, and Dathan Ritzenhein, who finished ninth in the 2008 Olympics and an impressive third at the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships. On the women's side, Kara Goucher was third in both New York in 2008 and in Boston this year before placing tenth in the World Championships, just ahead of fellow American Desiree Davila in 11th.

Meb Keflezighi Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images

American Meb Keflezighi Wins New York Marathon originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 11:52:04.

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Will Africa Play Host to 2020 Olympics?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:34:20 +0000

As soon as Rio de Janeiro was selected as the first South American host for an Olympic Games, in 2016, speculation began - in this blog and elsewhere - that an African nation could be in line to play host to the 2020 Olympics. Four years before the 2020 host is selected, several African countries are already gearing up to become the first nation on that continent to hold an Olympic Games. Rabat, Morocco will definitely make a bid for the 2020 Games. It's been reported that Egypt will also apply. But the very, very early African front-runner is South Africa.

Once a pariah country during its apartheid era, South African athletes were banned from several Olympic Games. A free South Africa, however, is very much a part of the family of athletic nations.

During the past 15 years, South Africa has played host to major world events in sports such as cricket and rugby. Next year the nation will play host to the FIFA World Cup, the world's biggest football (that's soccer, to us Americans) event.

Significantly, the International Olympic Committee will hold its 2011 general congress in Durban, South Africa. This will be a significant congress, in which the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be announced. This will provide South Africa with plenty of exposure on the world stage, and give that country's officials an excellent opportunity to give IOC delegates a first-hand look at what South Africa has to offer.

These and perhaps other African nations will have to compete with many other countries for the 2020 Games - the U.S., certainly, will make a bid, after failing to land the 2016 Games - but the IOC will no doubt feel great pressure to hold the Olympics on a continent which has provided track and field, and other sports, with many outstanding champions.

Will Africa Play Host to 2020 Olympics? originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 10:34:20.

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Liu Xiang Wins at China National Games

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:06:15 +0000

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang continued his comeback this week by winning the Chinese National Games championship.

Major track meets worldwide are generally scarce each year following the aptly-titled World Athletics Final. But this year, the National Games are an exception. An Olympic-style event in which track and field is just one of 33 sports, China currently holds these Games every four years. This 11^th version of the event concludes tomorrow (Oct. 28).

Liu, the former Olympic champion and world record holder, previously won China's 110-meter hurdles championships in 2001 and 2005. He won his third straight title on Sunday in a time of 13.34 seconds, running into a 0.9 meters-per-second headwind. This was Liu's second event of the season after missing more than a year due to injury. Liu ran 13.15 and finished a close second to Terrence Trammell in a Shanghai meet last month.

In another interesting result from the Chinese Games, 30-year-old Li Yanfeng (shown above) won the women's discus last Thursday with a 2009 world-leading toss of 66.40 meters (217 feet, 10 inches). Li is a solid thrower who's competed in two Olympic finals - placing seventh in 2008 - but with a previous personal best of 64.34/211-1, her effort last week was surprising. There is a history of throwers reaching their peak well past age 30 - four-time Olympic discus gold medalist Al Oerter set his personal best at age 43 - so it'll be interesting to see if Li's performance was a one-day exception, or if she continues to throw in the 66-meter range next year.

It'll also be interesting to see if Liu Xiang regains the form that put him on top of the 110 hurdles world and made him China's most popular athlete. Next year is the one year in every four without a major outdoor event (i.e., either an Olympics or a World Outdoor Championship), but the World Indoor Championships in March could provide him with a chance to regain international glory. Liu is the defending World Indoor 60-meter hurdles champ.

Photo: Li Yanfeng threw a 2009 world-best 66.40 meters to win the discus throw at the 2009 Chinese National Games. Harry How/Getty Images.

Liu Xiang Wins at China National Games originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 12:06:15.

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Amputee Amy Palmiero-Winters Finishes, Wins 100-Mile Race

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:27:03 +0000

Amy Palmiero-Winters of Hicksville, NY, is USA Track and Field's athlete of the week after winning the Heartland "Spirit of the Prairie" 100-Mile Endurance Run on Oct. 11. That feat would be impressive enough, but Palmiero-Winters is a below-the-knee amputee who runs with the aid of a customized running prosthesis on her left leg.

Palmiero-Winters, 37, was injured in a 1994 motorcycle accident and eventually had her left leg was amputated below the knee. She didn't run again until 1997. In 2004 she finished second in her division in the Silver Strand Marathon, despite have a walking prosthesis on her left leg, and being five months pregnant with her second child. She placed third in her division in a triathlon the following year, still employing only the walking prosthesis..

Palmiero-Winters gained her running prosthesis, as well as a customized biking leg for use in triathlons, from A Step Ahead Prosthetics. She competes as a member of Team A Step Ahead, a group of disabled athletes.

At the Oct. 11 race, Palmiero-Winters posted the second fastest time in the event's history, finishing the 100 miles in 18 hours, 54 minutes and 13 seconds, with a 23-minute advantage over the race's runner-up. She's the first woman amputee to finish a 100-mile run.

Read more about Amy Palmiero-Winters and Team A Step Ahead on their respective Web sites.

Amputee Amy Palmiero-Winters Finishes, Wins 100-Mile Race originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 10:27:03.

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Three Runners Die in Detroit Marathon

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:11:45 +0000

The premier running event where I live, in southeast Michigan, is the annual Detroit Free Press Marathon. The event turned tragic this year when three runners died in last Sunday's race. The trio ranged in age from 26 to 65 and were all running in the 13.1-mile half marathon portion of the event.

According to a Detroit News article on Sunday's race, autopsies haven't confirmed the causes of death of the three Detroit runners, but cardiac arrest seems likely. One runner collapsed after crossing the finish line, while the other two were stricken between the 11- and 12-mile mark. All three received prompt medical attention and were treated with defibrillators.

All three were reportedly well-conditioned athletes. The 65-year-old had been running for 30 years. Nevertheless, some people, even top professional athletes, simply have hidden problems that don't show themselves until it's too late. I remember when Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed on the football field after running a pass route in a 1971 game. At age 28, he'd suffered a fatal heart attack.

While deaths related to distance running are rare (although three other distance running deaths have been reported in the U.S. this month), these fatalities demonstrate that there is no such thing as a "casual" distance runner. Anyone engaging in distance training or running must do more than just "check with your doctor before beginning strenuous exercise." Distance runners must monitor their health as closely as possible, and must continue to do so throughout their running lives.

Additionally, amateur distance runners in particular must beware of the "Rocky" syndrome. In the first Rocky movie, the hero believes he can't win the fight, but he's determined to go the distance. Similarly, for many amateur runners simply finishing the race - going the distance - is their victory. While their goal is admirable, it shouldn't be attained at all costs. Amateur runners should always remain alert for physical warning signs, other than normal fatigue or muscle soreness. There's no shame in pulling up short and seeking medical attention and advice. Nobody knows whether any of the Detroit runners suffered warning signals before they collapsed. Still, if in doubt, it's better to cut your race short than to cut your life short.

Three Runners Die in Detroit Marathon originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 11:11:45.

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Tedese, Keitany Win Half Marathon Titles

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:36:41 +0000

Many track and field athletes find their niches after specializing in other sports earlier in life. Long jump record-holder Mike Powell's first love in high school was basketball. Yelena Isinbayeva was once a gymnast. Likewise, Eritrean distance runner Zersenay Tedese began competing as a cyclist. A bicycle, of course, can ride on a variety of surfaces, so it's appropriate that an ex-cyclist pulled off an unusual triple success this season, earning world championship medals on three different surfaces, including the gold medal in the Oct. 11 World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham, UK.

Tedese placed third in the World Cross Country Championships in March, running across natural terrain in Amman, Jordan. He earned a silver medal on a standard track in August, finishing second in the 10,000 meters at the World Outdoor Championships in Berlin. Tedese - who also owns a 10,000-meter bronze medal from the 2004 Olympics - completed his triple triumph by winning his fourth consecutive Half Marathon/World Road Running title on Sunday, finishing in 59:35 (the 2006-07 events were called the World Road Running Championships, while the 2008-09 races were called the World Half Marathon Championships). Kenya's Benard Kiprop Kipyego was second on Sunday (59:59) and American Dathan Ritzenhein third (1:00:00).

Women's champion Mary Keitany's problem wasn't running the half marathon distance on Sunday, but overcoming immobility the day before, when she and eight others were stuck in an elevator for 50 minutes. Keitany's confinement didn't affect her running on Sunday as the Kenyan won in 1:06.36, just shy of Lornah Kiplagat's world record of 1:06.25. The Birmingham crowd witnessed an excellent race but were disappointed when Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe, a three-time World Half Marathon champion, had to withdraw earlier in the week due to tonsillitis.

Philes Ongori earned the women's silver (1:07:38) after sprinting past Ethiopia's Aberu Kebede (1:07:39).

Tedese, Keitany Win Half Marathon Titles originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 21:36:41.

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Rio de Janeiro to Play Host to 2016 Olympics

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:07:08 +0000

With the selection of Rio de Janeiro as the site of the 2016 Olympics, and Chicago's early elimination from the final vote on Friday, finger-pointing became the sport of choice for many American athletic officials last weekend.

The International Olympic Committee selected Rio as the first South American city to ever host the Olympic Games, beating out bids from Tokyo, Madrid and Chicago. Oddsmakers had pegged Chicago as the favorite after U.S. president Barack Obama agreed to address the IOC on Friday. Nevertheless, Chicago was the first city eliminated from the four-city competition.

With the exception of a few political rivals, fingers weren't pointed at Mr. Obama. Some United States Olympic Committee members the shakeup among the USOC's top management over the past year. Others cited a USOC announcement in July that the organization wanted to create on Olympic television network - an ill-timed sentiment the USOC soon retracted.

Other reasons were given for Chicago's defeat, and more speculation ensued. But the failure to ever hold an Olympic Games in South America meant that the serious Brazilian effort was always going to generate plenty of interest, regardless of how well the USOC and Chicago presented the U.S. case. After all, the Olympic symbol of five interlocking rings is supposed to represent the world's continents. But previous Olympics had only been held in Europe, Asia, North American and Australia. By awarding the 2016 bid to South American, the Olympics are one step closer to fulfilling their goal of global representation. From a neutral viewpoint, even we Americans should view such outreach as positive, even while we're disappointed that the 2016 Games won't be held in the U.S.

Even while the USOC reevaluates its efforts, many are no doubt already looking ahead to 2020. Will Chicago, or another U.S. city, make a bid for those Olympic Games? Will a city in Africa, the final continent without an Olympics to its name, step forward? As always, the next selection process should be interesting.

Rio de Janeiro to Play Host to 2016 Olympics originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 16:07:08.

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President Obama to Back Chicago's Bid for 2016 Olympics

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:44:10 +0000

U.S. President Barack Obama will personally lobby the International Olympic Committee Friday (Oct. 2) in support of Chicago's bid to play host to the 2016 Olympics. Among the notable Chicago supporters already meeting and greeting with IOC officials in Copenhagen are Oprah Winfrey and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama. Never before, however, has a sitting U.S. president personally traveled to an IOC meeting to promote his country's Olympic bid.

Mr. Obama's decision to travel to Copenhagen makes the Chicago the pre-vote favorite according to several sources. It's notable that Paris was the late favorite for the 2012 bid, which it eventually lost to London. But it's also notable that London was boosted by then-prime minister Tony Blair's personal lobbying.

Four cities are bidding for the 2016 Games, including Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid. Among the dignitaries boosting their countries are Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, new Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama and Spanish king Juan Carlos. All four entrants will make a final, 45-minute presentation Friday. The IOC vote will follow.

The X-factor in the proceedings is the IOC's selection method. If no city receives a majority of votes in the first round, the fourth-place city is eliminated. The same procedure applies to the second round. One city might lead after the first round, but another entrant could gain more votes from the eliminated city's supporters. In other words, if, say, Chicago leads after round one while Tokyo is eliminated, how will Tokyo's votes be dispersed in round two?

The U.S. has been the Olympic host four times, in St. Louis, Los Angeles (twice) and most recently Atlanta in 1996. Japan last held the Olympics in 1964, in Tokyo. Spain was the 1992 Olympic host, in Barcelona, while the Games have never been held in Brazil or South America - a fact that many feel favors Rio's bid this time.

Then again, never underestimate the campaigning skills of Barack Obama.

President Obama to Back Chicago's Bid for 2016 Olympics originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 12:44:10.

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Triple Winners Tedese, Radcliffe Headline Half Marathon Championships

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:23:59 +0000

The major multi-event track meets are done for the season, but there will be a major distance race next month, the World Half Marathon Championships, which will be held Oct. 11 in Birmingham, UK.

Zersenay Tedese of Eritrea is either the one-time or three-time defending men's champion of the event. That's because the Half Marathon Championships, which began in 1992, were called the World Road Running Championships in 2006 and 2007, when Tedese swept the two races. The 2006 event was run at the shorter 20-kilometer distance, while the 2007 race was a true half marathon (just under 21.1 kilometers). The event reverted to its original name last year.

Tedese, who earned a silver medal in the 10,000 at the World Championships in August, is the second multiple men's winner in the Half Marathon/Road Running Championship's history. Kenya's Paul Tergat won consecutive races in 1999-2000. Tedese won the 20K race with a solid 40-second margin in 2006 (56:01), then edged Kenya's Patrick Makau by three seconds in 2007 with a winning time of 58:59, the top time in the event's history. Tedese cruised to victory in 59:56 last year, beating Makau (1:01:54) decisively.

Makau owns the world's fastest time in 2009 (58:52), but will not race in Birmingham. Tedese's biggest challengers should include a pair of Kenyans: Sammy Kitwara, who won the Rotterdam Half Marathon in September in the world's second fastest time this year (58:58), plus Bernard Kiprop, who won his debut half marathon in Berlin (59:34).

On the women's side, Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands would be in the same position as Tedese, having won the Road Running Championships in 2006-07 and the Half Marathon Championship last year, but she will apparently not run in Birmingham due to injury. However, another three-time winner will compete, and will do so on her native soil. Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe won the Half Marathon Championships in 2000-01 and 2003. Radcliffe has been bothered by injuries in recent years but won the New York City Half Marathon in August (1:09:45) and should be ready to compete for the championship in Birmingham. She ran her personal best (1:06:47) while winning the 2001 Half Marathon Championship. The Kenyan-born Kiplagat set the world half marathon record in the 2007 Road Running Championships (1:06:25). Mary Keitany of Kenya owns the 2009 world best of 1:07.

Triple Winners Tedese, Radcliffe Headline Half Marathon Championships originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 12:23:59.

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No Record, But Gebrselassie Wins in Berlin

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:45:41 +0000

For Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrselassie, a new world record is always his goal, particularly when he runs in Berlin. Gebrselassie broke the world marathon record in the 2007 Berlin Marathon, then bettered his mark in Berlin last year, running 2:03:59. Gebrselassie won the Berlin event for the fourth consecutive time earlier this month (Sept. 20), and was ahead of world record pace for most of his race before he slowed down the stretch and settled for a time of 2:06:08.

Gebrselassie ran the first 30 kilometers, or about 19 miles, in 1:27:49, with the help of several pacemakers. But the final pacemaker left the course after 32 kilometers. Additionally, Gebrselassie admits he grew tired as the temperatures rose.

But Gebrselassie, at age 36, hasn�t given up hope for breaking the marathon record again. He�s broken numerous records at a variety of distances, from 5000 meters to the marathon, and continues to hold the marathon record. After the Berlin race Gebrselassie said he�s set his sights on lowering his marathon record and earning a marathon gold in London at the 2012 Olympics. He previously earned gold medals in the 10,000 at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.

Photo: Gebrselassie celebrates a 10,000-meter victory in England earlier this year (Ian Walton/Getty Images).

No Record, But Gebrselassie Wins in Berlin originally appeared on About.com Track & Field on Saturday, September 26th, 2009 at 16:45:41.

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