September 28: Gebrselassie Sets World Record Of 2:03:59 In
Berlin Marathon;
Mikitenko Is Women's Winner In 2:19:19 //
Sara Slattery Takes USA 8K Crown
Perhaps we should never doubt Haile Gebselassie, The Ethiopian legend seemed a bit dinged up as he
approached Sunday's Berlin Marathon, and the
prospect of his breaking his own world record of
2:04:26 seemed uncertain. "I'm so happy,"
Gebrselassie commented right after setting his 26th
career world record. "Everything was perfect, the
weather, the pacemakers. Two weeks ago, I had a
little problem, I ran 20K 40 seconds faster than in
my preparation last year. But I had some cramps,
and missed a week's training. I started again a
week ago, and had some doubts today, but in the end,
everything was fine. This really is my lucky city."
James Kwambai, who actually gave Gebrselassie a race
for more than 20 miles, finished second in 2:05:36.
In the women's race, Irina Mikitenko coupled her
London victory in April with a Berlin triumph in
2:19:19, a German national record, with Askale Tafa
of Ethiopia second in 2:21:31. Gebrselassie and
Mikitenko both "negative split" the course.
More and
More (photo by Victah Sailer)
In Akron, Sara Slattery Is USA 8K Champ
Slattery, a former NCAA 10,000-meter titleist at the
University of Colorado and a 2007 Pan American Games
gold medalist in the 10,000, won her first national
road championship on Saturday with a 25:54 at the
USA Women's 8K in Akron Ohio. She was two seconds
ahead of Katie McGregor of Team USA Minnesota.
Slattery had a ten-meter lead on an uphill past the
three-mile mark and began extending it; McGregor
closed the gap somewhat in the final mile but it was
not enough. Slattery's victory was worth $7,500. Amy
Rudolph and Molly Huddle were third and fourth,
respectively, in 26:01 and 26:06. Renee Metivier-Baillie,
who had been running with Slattery and McGregor in
the first half, finished fifth.
German Fernandez Helps Lift Fortunes of
Oklahoma State Cross Country
The Californian was one of the most celebrated high
school runners of the last track season, as he broke
a national scholastic two-mile record that had
endured for four decades. Now he's part of an
extraordinary incoming class at Oklahoma State, and
his cross country season opens with the Cowboy
Jamboree at home on October 4. "I've been averaging
80-85 miles a week. That's the most I've ever done
in my life. In high school I'd do like 60-65,"
Fernandez explains. "I've adapted to the workouts
really fast. I was happy with that. Summer training
has really paid off." He's already talking about
goals - a top ten NCAA Cross Country finish this
year, and a 5000 faster than 13:05 by the time he
graduates.
California International Relays Move from
Modesto to Sacramento
The event was once called the Modesto Relays, the
"Biggest Little Track Meet In The World." The meet
will be at Sacramento State's Hornets Stadium on May
9; that venue has hosted Olympic Track & Field
Trials and NCAA Championships. Attendance was
sagging in Modesto, and an official release from
Relays officials noted "it is felt that the move
into a larger population base along with the
benefits of recent intensive sports marketing of
track and field by the Sacramento Sports Commission,
which began in 2000, will significantly improve
attendance and sponsorship enabling the event to
improve and evolve." As you can imagine, there are
people in Modesto who are not pleased by this
development.
She's Now Double Olympic Gold Medalist
AND Chief Superintendent Dibaba
The 10,000 and 5000-meter gold medals Tirunesh
Dibaba of Ethiopia earned in Beijing are the latest
in
a long list of running honors she's amassed at the
age of 23. Add to that the rank of Chief
Superintendent she's now been given by her club,
Prisons Police. There is now also a Tirunesh Dibaba
Hospital being built on the outskirts of Addis
Ababa. Her Ethiopian male counterpart Kenenisa
Bekele, who also won 10,000 and 5000-meter golds, is
now honored by the naming of "The Kenenisa Avenue"
through a major section of Addis Ababa.
More (photo of Tirunesh Dibaba by Victah
Sailer)
Manchester Road Race Honors Former
Champion Ray Crothers
The top men's 60-and-over runner at the Thanksgiving
Day race in Connecticut will now receive the Ray
Crothers Memorial Trophy. Crothers, who died in
February, won the race's high school division in
1959 and 1960 and was the overall champion in 1965.
He was the 40-and-over age division winner in 1984.
While gravely ill, he walked last Thanksgiving's
4.78-mile race. Crothers was a co-owner of "Run In,"
an athletic footwear store in Rocky Hill,
Connecticut. "Ray loved this race, and did so much
for it," states Race Director Jim Balcome. "I have
to b
I
NG Georgia Marathon Offers 'Every Runner Has a Story' DiscountsThose who have inspirational and encouraging running-related stories to tell can earn entry fee discounts of 26.2 percent for ING Marathon and 13.1 percent for the half marathon, both of which are in Atlanta on March 29. "What we find rewarding is that our event provides a finish line for so much more than just a race, but a compelling reason to achieve personal goals of fitness, well-being and teamwork. And this is just a small way we can say 'thank you' in return for making the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon a special event," says Race Director Victoria Seahorn. Click on "more" to learn how to earn these discounts, and visit www.INGgeorgiamarathon.com
