Middle Distance
World-Class Americans, 2008 (800m - 10000m)
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008Here’s the list of all American runners from 800m through 10000m who made the IAAF top lists in 2008 and the events for which they made the list:
That’s No Ordinary Rabbit…
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
When Pamela Jelimo goes after the women’s 800m world record on Friday at Weltklasse in Zürich, be sure to pay close attention to the rabbit. It will be none other than Russian Svetlana Klyuka, the 4th place finisher in Beijing:
"I’m in shape to improve on my personal best but it was made worth my while to be the pacemaker. It will be the only time I will do it [pacemaking]," said Klyuka, after getting an offer she could not refuse.
[Spike]
Only 51 women in history have run faster than Klyuka’s PR of 1:56.64 in the 800m. This is the equivalent of hiring Gary Reed or Khadevis Robinson to be a rabbit for Abubaker Kaki. It’s definitely not something you’ll see every day.
Swiss You Can’t Miss
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
Bob Ramsak has posted a preview of the Weltklasse Zürich meet over at the IAAF’s Golden League website. Don’t forget to join Tom Borish over at TrackShark.com for a live video feed and some live blogging of the meet this Friday, August 29th!
TFS Podcast Back In Action With Jon Rankin
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
Adam Jacobs at TheFinalSprint.com interviews middle-distance runner Jon Rankin in the latest TFS Podcast. Be sure to check it out!
Steeplechaser-Turned-Marathoner Kemboi
Sunday, August 24th, 2008Spikes Magazine reports that Ezekiel Kemboi, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 3000m steeplechase, will become a marathoner and attempt to make the 2012 Kenyan Olympic team in that event after failing to defend his title in Beijing.
Gary Reed Must Be Hoping For Rain
Friday, August 22nd, 2008
How about that Gary Reed? The likes of Abubaker Kaki and Yuriy Borzakovskiy may have choked because of a little rain, but Reed will toe the line at the start of tomorrow’s 800m final. He’s always Mr. Clutch, isn’t he? I’m confident that he’ll be on the medal stand come tomorrow night, especially if it rains like it did during the semi-finals:
"I loved it," Reed, a semifinalist four years ago in Athens, said when asked if he was bothered by running at Waterworld in temperatures that seemed chilly after the heat waves Beijing has been subjected to lately.
"I could see it screwed up the Africans out there. I was at home. They were all getting cold but I live and train in Victoria so I’m good. I train in it almost all year."
[Source]
Now if he could only figure out a way to have the organizers delay that 800m final until Sunday when the forecast calls for PM Showers in Beijing…
Clay claims “world’s greatest athlete” moniker, wins Olympic decathlon
Friday, August 22nd, 2008
BEIJING - Bryan Clay upgraded his 2004 silver medal to 2008 gold in the decathlon, dominating competition during Friday evening action at the "Bird’s Nest" National Stadium.
Clay (Glendora, Calif.) got his evening off to a very strong start, throwing a season-best 70.97m/232-10 to place third in the javelin. The performance earned him 904 points, bringing his total up to 8,269 with one event remaining in the 10-event competition. Ahead of the field by 479 points, his only competition was himself in the final event, the 1,500m.
Never a favorite event for Clay, he endured through the accumulated fatigue of two days of competition to finish in 5:06.59 for 522 points, bringing his winning total to 8,791 and becoming the first U.S. gold medalist in the event since Dan O’Brien in 1996. Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus took the silver with 8,551, and Leonel Suarez of Cuba finished third with 8,527.