August 2011 Archives

Related articles

• 2011 AREVA Paris: Christophe Lemaitre: " I want to run consistently under 10 seconds", by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 World Champs/Daegu: Men's 100 meters: Bolt False Starts, Yohan Blake Wins 100m, Dix Silver and Kim Collins (Yes, that Kim Collins), bronze, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 World Champs/Daegu, Day 2, Men's 100m semi-finals: Blake, Bolt, Collins win semis! by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Blake 9.95, LeMaitre 9.96 NR, WL for Tamgho (17.67m), Lavillenie (5.83m), by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Herculis Monaco: Bolt vs. Lemaitre, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)

Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia follwed Zaripova, and the pack of Kenyans and ran a national record of 9:11.97.


In third place, Milcah Chemos Cheywa, of Kenya, who had won all of the major events this year that she ran, ran behind Njorge for several laps and took the bronze, running 9:17.16.


In fourth place, Mercy Wanjiku Njorge of Kenya ran 9:17.88, without the benefit of two shoes-she lost one early on. In fifth place, Lydia Rotich of Kenya ran 9:25.74. In sixth place, Ethiopia's Sofia Assefa ran 9:28.24. In 13 th place, Emma Coburn of the US, finished in 9:51.40.

Zaripova leads, Ghribi, Njorge (w/o shoe), 2011 WC steeple final, photo by PhotoRun.net

Hats off to the Russian. Zaripova ran away from the field and was rewarded with the gold and the world leading mark in the steeplechase!

In a 400 meters that was an all out battle, Kirani James, all of 18 years old, ran his personal best and won the gold medal, catching LaShawn Merritt, the 2009 World Champion, and 2008 Olympic champion, with less than ten meters to go, running 44.60!


LaShawn Merritt, who ran three 44 second quarters in three days, ran out of gas with about thirty meters to go, fought to the finish and ran 44.63, nearly falling at the finish.

In third, Belgian Kevin Borlee ran 44.90 to take the bronze over Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica, who ran 44.99.

In fifth place, Jonathan Borlee, Kevin Borlee's brother, ran 45.07. And in sixth place, Rondel Barthlemew, also of Grenada, like our winner, ran 45.45.

The young man from Grenada gave his country its first medal, and showed that he will be a power in the 400 meters for some time to come! Brilliant race!

The seventh and final event of the heptathlon is the 800 meters. Tatyana Chernova had 153 points on Jessica Ennis before the 800 meters. Either Chernova was going to get sick and run 2:30 or Jessica Ennis had to put nine seconds on Chernova. Was not likely to happen.


Karolina Tymisnka of Poland won the 800 meters in 2:05.21, a personal best. Jessica Ennis just followed her, in a personal best of 2:07.81. And right behind her, Tatyana Chernova, who ran a seasonal best of 2:08.04. Jennifer Oeser of Germany, who was in a battle with Hyleas Fountain of the US, ran 2:10.39, her personal best, and retained the bronze, as Hyleas Fountain did not finish, we do not think she started the 800 meters.

Tatyana Chernova scored 6,880 points to win the gold, the best score since Caroline Kluft scored European record of 7032! Ennis score of 6,751 is better than her score in Berlin, and Jennifer Oeser scored 6572 for the bronze.

In all, a tremendous event, and a great battle for the medals.

Related articles

• Javelin gives Chernova sound lead in heptathlon (espn.go.com)
• Chernova Leads Ennis in Heptathlon at Worlds (abcnews.go.com)
• Ennis trails in battle for gold (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Ennis faces disappointment in Daegu (guardian.co.uk)
• Ennis trails in battle for gold (news.bbc.co.uk)
• 2011 World Champs/Daegu: adidas Interviews: Jessica Ennis, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Russia's Chernova leads heptathlon in Daegu (cbc.ca)
• Ennis with everything to do (mirror.co.uk)

The heptathlon is two days, with seven events. It is grueling, and in this god awful humidty (97 percent ) and heat (about 90 F), it had to be absolute crazy on track. No shade anywhere.


Long jump

Tatyana Chernova jumped 6.61meters to lead the long jump. Jessica Ennis responded with her personal best of 6.51m in the long jump. Hyleas Fountain of the US jumped 6.45m for fourth, and Aiga Grabuste of Latvia was third with a jump of 6.45m.

Jessica Ennis lead after five events, with a score of 5,088. Tatyana Chernova was in second with 4,970 points. Hyleas Fountain of USA in third with 4,878 points. In fourth Karolina Tymisnka of Poland had scored 4,815 points. In fifth, Natallia Dobrynska of Ukraine scored 4,773. And in sixth, Jennifer Oeser of Germany scored 4,728 points.

Javelin

Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida of France had best throw of day with pb of 55.79.  Margaret Simpson of Ghana was second with throw of 53.13m. And in third, Tatyana Chernova scored a Pb with a throw of 52.95. This was not good news for Jessica Ennis.

In group B, Hyleas Fountain threw 43.98m, and Jessica Ennis threw 39.95m about six meters below her best.

After six events, Tatyana Chernova of Russia leads with 5,887 points. 153 points down is Jessica Ennis of Great Britain, who has a score of 5,754 points.

In third is Jennifer Oeser of Germany with 5,613 points. In fourth is Hyleas Fountain with 5,611 points.

For Jessica Ennis to win? She need nine seconds or more in the 800 meters and Hyleas Fountain needs about .3 of a second to take the bronze. This will be tough!

The women's 100 meter final played up to the hype. The Jamaicans, from Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, versus the US sprinter duo of Carmelita Jeter and Marshevet Myers. Add in Kelly Ann Baptiste, and perhaps a surprise qualifier, and  you have a final!

Carmelita Jeter, 2011 WC 100m, qualifying, photo by PhotoRun.net

In the first semi-final, Kerron Stewart of Jamaica won, in 11.26. Marshevet Myers of the US was second, in 11.38. Both moved on to the final.


In the second semi-final, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica won in 11.03. Veronica Campbell-Brown was second in 11.06 and Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria was third in 11.22. All three moved on to the final.

In the third semi-final, Carmelita Jeter of the US ran 11.02, the fastest time in the semi-finals. Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad ran 11.05. In third, Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria ran 11.23. With those three, we have our final.

Hurdle races are about controlling one's speed before, after and on the hurdles. Hurdling is precise. It can be a thing of beauty. When hurdlers get tired, and get close, it can look more like a roller derby race.

In the 2011 World Championship final in Daegu, such was the case. And what a final it was! European Champion Andy Turner, who tells everyone he doesn't want to be the best hurdler in Europe, he wants to be one of the best in the world. David Oliver, he of 19 straight wins in 2010, who has had a tough second half of the season. Lui Xiang, the 2007 champion, who is back in form. Dayron Robles, the 2008 Olympic champion, who is, also back on form. Aries Merritt, the World Junior champ, who, one day, will win everything, he is that talented. Dwight Thomas, World Champion medalist, and one Jason Richardson, World junior champ over 400 meter hurdles, who has had a superb August and had a tremendous semi final earlier in the evening.

the hand; WC 110m hurdles, Xiang, Robles, Oliver, Richardson, photo by PhotoRun.net

The 400 meters is a test of wills. The scientist will tell you that the average human can not run all out more than perhaps 250 meters, the well trained human perhaps 300 meters. The last 100 meters is not only a test of wills but proper energy conservation.


To be an epic 400 meters, two competitors have to be matched well, and then, over the last fifty meters, one sees what the two competitors have; guts, endurance, luck, and more guts. When one sees a national record and two personal best, that race has to be pretty special.

The women's 400 meters was about eight runners lining up, and putting it all on the line. No false starts, No disqualifications, this race just came down to Amantle Montsho and Allyson Felix showing their best over the last very long, very challenging fifty meters.

In the end, Amantle Montsho set a national record and won the gold. Allyson Felix, pushing Montsho to the end, took the silver and set a personal best.

And it was a beautiful race....

The second day will go down as the day that Usain Bolt fell down from the heavens and did not make the 100 meter final.

It will also be the day that the men's 10,000 meters transfixed the stadium as Ibrahim Jaelin ran down Mo Farah in a tremendously exciting distance race.

Special thanks to the team of PhotoRun photographers, who provide us with most of our major photos from key events around the globe. As always, thanks to Chuck Bartlett, our Digital Manager/Web deity, who produces the RN Photo Galleries and keeps me sane from five thousand miles away!

The Men's 20,000m walk was held in humid and tough conditions. Valeriy Borchin of Russia let the leaders go, and caught them later on, winning in 1:19.56!

Countrymen Vladimir Kanaykin of Russia was second, with a walk of 1:20.27, and Luis Fernando Lopez of Columbia gave his country their first medal in any World Championships in Athletics: a bronze!

The 10,000 meter men's race, won by Ibrahim Jeilan in a fight to the final meters over Mo Farah, the false start of Usain Bolt, the the subsequent win by Yohan Blake in the men's 100 meters, will all go down as one of the races for the ages. And then, the unprecedented 1,2 by Trey Hardee and Ashton Easton in the decathlon. Eaton gutted out 5.8 seconds to take the silver out of the hands of Leonel Suarez of Cuba! 


All caught by the PhotoRun team of photographers, who have been our key photo team since 1987! We hope that you enjoy the Photo Gallery, prepared by our non-sleeping Web director, Chuck Bartlett, in his office in Seattle, WA.

The decathlon will be one hundred years old in 2012. It is an event, at least for the United States, steeped in tradition. Jim Thorpe, Glenn Morris, Bob Mathias, Milt Campbell, Bill Toomey, Bruce Jenner, Dan O'Brien, Dave Johnson, Steve Fritz, Chris Huffins, Bryan Clay are some of the names that are part of the fabric of this great event. Add Trey Hardee's name to that list. And make sure you watch Ashton Eaton.


Trey Hardee showed, with this meet, that he gets it. The decathlon, is all about mental toughness.  " Everybody's training had to be leading up to this. We all know what it takes to make our bodies peak. We all just missed the boat. To miss the boat and score 8600 points is pretty impressive." noted Trey Hardee.

Ashton Eaton won the silver by gutting out a brutal 1,500 meters, and putting just over five seconds on Leonel Suarez in the 1,500 meters. " I let my coach do the thinking (Harry Marra). He told me that I had to beat the Cuban by five seconds to get the silver." And that is what he did!

Here is how we saw the second day of the decathlon:

Here is the video of Brittney Reese's long jump victory, courtesy of the IAAF:

The 10,000 meters men's race lived up to all of its expectations: Great tactics, long kick by Tadesse, run to the finish by Mo Farah. What it did not tell us was that Ethiopian Ibrahim Jeilan, who has run 13:09 for the 5,000 meters, and won a race in Japan this year in 27:09, would catch a tiring Mo Farah with literally meters to go. Kenenisa Bekele, the defending champion for 2003,2005, 2007 and 2009, retired from the race just past 6,000 meters. Tadesse pushed the pace, with Rupp, Merga, Jeilan and Farah waiting to move. Perhaps Mo Farah moved too early, but his game move got him the silver medal, a first in the World Champs for Great Britain. For Ibrahim Jeilan, he keeps a tradition of Ethiopia's hold on the 10,000 meters at the World Championships and Olympics.

In this video, one can see Usain Bolt, realizing that he has false started, taking off his jersey and walking away from the starting line.


One can also see Kim Collins, the 2003 World Champion, getting a great start and superb lead, only to be drawn back by Yohan Blake, who goes on to take the gold medal in the 100 meters, and Walter Dix, who takes the silver in the 100 meters.

Kim Collins, the 2003 gold medalist, and in his eighth World Champs, takes the bronze medal!

In the end, Yohan Blake, Walter Dix and Kim Collins, did follow the rule, and while the rule may be bad, it is enforced at this time. Bolt showed his class by not screaming and hollering. It is tragic, but it is our sport, at this time.

We have heard that some TV sources claim that Bolt was reacting to some one elses move, we will have to see how that controversy is resolved. The timing system does not appeared to have malfunctioned, so the 100 meter final was run, and Yohan Blake is the 2011 World Champion at 100 meters, Walter Dix is the silver medalist and as one keen observer noted, " making all old farts feel good about themselves", Kim Collins took the bronze! 


The controversy began right after the race, and will not finish for the next fifty years. Sad that the best sprinter in the world did not run the final. We will have to look forward now  to the 200 meters!

The 20,000 meter Men's race walk was held Sunday morning in brutal conditions, with Valeriy Borchin of Russia taking the gold in 1:19:56. Vladamir Kanaykin of Russia took the silver in 1:20:27 and Luis Fernando Lopez of Columbia took the bronze, in 1:20:38, giving Columbia their first EVER medal in the World Athletics Championships. In 23rd place, Trevor Barron, the lone American, finished 23rd in 1:24:33, the youngest competitor in the Championships.

We asked 1956 Olympian in the 50k, Elliott Denman, one of our top contributors, to give us his expert view of one of the toughest endurance events in the championships. Here is his view of the race:

No one could have written this one better. Grand theatre! The no false start rule has bitten our sport in the butt and will not let go!


As one producer just told me, that the whole 100 meters just makes great TV, and it will! For the ages!

In a race that had all of the drama that a great middle distance race can have, it came down to the last few meters, where Ibrahim Jeilan overcame Mo Farah, winning 27:13.81 to 27:14.07. Image Merga was third in 27:19.14.

Here is how we saw it:

This event is tougher to call each and every day! Suffice it to say, the names to watch in the final are Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Christophe Lemaitre, and now, 2003 World Champ Kim Collins! Read on!

What a morning Session! The performance of the morning had to be LaShawn Merritt's 44.35! Here is how we saw it!

Well, Tyson Gay and Maurice Greene were asked about the 100 meters to be held tonight. Tyson could not vote against Usain Bolt. But Mo Greene? Well, he thinks Yohan Blake is the new star of the sprints. We shall see in just a few hours!


RBR's picks for the men's 100 meters: Bolt, Thompson, Dix, Spoiler: Christophe Lemaitre for a medal


RBR's picks for the men's 10,000m: Farah, Bekele, Rupp, Spoiler: Any of the Kenyans running out of their minds

Related articles

• 2011 World Champs/Daegu: Asafa Powell is out, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)

Jenn Suhr is a pole vault prodigy. She cleared 4.60m only after thirteen months of pole vaulting. She won her first US title just months after that. And in 2008, Jenn Suhr cleared 4.92m/16-01.75, the first American women to clear sixteen feet and the second highest vaulter of all times. She won the Olympic silver medal in 2008 in Beijing.

As with all great athletes, Jenn has had challenges. She has fought injuries for the past two years, and she is now getting healthy once again. She discovered a gluten intolerance that was causing her energy issues in the early summer. She fought back from some terrible back and stomach spasms over the past two months.

In August, Jennifer won the pole vault at the AVIVA London Grand Prix, and just before that, cleared 4.91m/16-1.25, the highest vault of the year. This morning, Day 2, Session 1 of the World champs (August 28, 2011), Jenn missed her first two attempts at 4.50m, then cleared 4.50m and then 4.55m on her first attempt, all she needed to make the final. Anyone of six vaulters can win this one and the medals should come from this pool too. "There are some great vaulters out there, and Jenn will just have to perform," noted coach Rick Suhr. In that light, Jenn 's video is pretty fascinating, check it out, as it was done at the adidas press conference on Friday night, August 26, 2011.

Brittney Reese had a scare in her qualifying, but her clutch 6.79m jump gave her the third best qualifying jump in the qualifications. Here, Brittney speaks on the long jump and what she needs to defend her titles from 2009! Brittney gave up basketball to long jump. She is one of the most competitive and talented athletes in our sport. Watch for some big jumps tonight in the Long Jump final!

Probably the biggest surprise in the evening session of qualifying was the disqualification of Christine Ohuruogu, the 2007 WC at 400 meters and Olympic gold medlasit at 400 meters. She had not had a good season, fraught with injuries, and her race at AVIVA London was just a nightmare.

The first session of Day 1 really got the World Champs going, we hope you enjoy!

The first session was amazing. Some great performances. Here is a synopsis of the first session, day 1. Day 1, second session coming later tonight, need some dinner and sleep! Thanks for following our blog!

Oh, what a summer Vivian Cheruiyot has had so far! At the DN Galan Games on July 29, Vivian dusted the field, running 14:20 for 5,000 meters. The reigning World, African and Commonwealth Champion was not even in her best event!

Vivian Cheruiyot took sixty seconds to run the last lap and win her World Championship gold medal, running 30:48.98, her personal best. In second Sally Kipyego, the multi NCAA champion, ran hard, and took the silver in 30:50.04. In third, Linet Masai, the defending champion, who lead much of the race, ran 30:53.59 for the bronze, and Priscah Cherono took fourth for Kenya in 30:56.43 for a personal best. Meselech Melkamu, the silver medalist from Berlin, finished fifth in 30:56.55, with Shitaye Eshete of Bahrain set a national record of 31:21.57 for sixth.


Such was the domination of Kenyan women today that they won all six of the World Championship medals contested so far! Former WC gold medalist Steve Cram noted that Britain's goal for the entire champs is seven medals!
 

Related articles

• 2011 World Champs/Daegu: Vivian Cheruiyot Wins 10,000m, Kenyan Women go 1-4, Six medals for Kenyan women on Day 1, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• IAAF World Champs - Kenya's day (sportsscientists.com)
• Cheruiyot wins women's 10,000 at worlds (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Kenyan women sweep marathon, 10,000 at worlds (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Kenya dominant in world championships opener (espn.go.com)
• Bolt cruises through 100m heats in Daegu (cnn.com)

This is where we will update the Decathlon all day, so check it often! 

The decathlon is ten events that test the will, the strength and the speed of the world's greatest athletes. Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic gold medalist noted that the decathlon gives an athlete ten different ways to make a mistake. The key is, to make as few errors as possible.


In this event, defender Trey Hardee of the U.S. is competing against Ashton Eaton, the newest star in the Decathlon pantheon.


We will cover all ten disciplines in the decathlon, and try to give you a good feel for the competition and the competitors. If you have questions, email us at runblogrun@gmail.com!

Edna Kiplagat, overcoming two falls, some spirited competitors, and 84 percent humidity, lead a Kenyan sweep of the marathon, the first time that any country had swept the marathon before at a World Champs.

Here is how I saw the marathon. Special thanks to the World Marathon Majors for hosting a reception at the start/finish area of the marathon!

Veronica Campbell-Brown is the two time Olympic champion at 200 meters, World champion at both the 60 meters indoors and 100 meters, and is in tremendous shape in 2011. Her 10.76 for the 100 meters at the Ostrava meeting showed that her fitness was back and she was ready to roll. The women's sprints should be nearly as exciting as the mens, with VCB, Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix all in the battle (of course with the other Jamaican women stars)!

adidas provided us this video on Blanka Vlasic and her aspirations for defending her World Champs title from Berlin. Vlasic has had some injuries this year, but she decided to come and do battle. We wish her the best! Blanka Vlasic is one of the best athletes in the world, and is very popular with the championship crowds. She jumps with emotion and is entertaining. That diva-ness about Vlasic makes Blanka one of the most popular athletes in our sport! The women's high jump should be one of the most competitive of the championships.

This is the press conference for the Usain Bolt before the World Champs. Over 250 media representatives were there and you are now there, courtesy of our friends at TrackAlerts.com. That Bolt is the biggest draw in our sport is true, and it is reinforced at the major meeting press conferences.

Usain Bolt is done a disservice, I believe. In our eternal need to have world records at each and every championship, we degrade the quality of the competition. Even with the withdrawals of Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay, Mike Rogers, both the 100 meter and 200 meter fields are still quite deadly. Getting to the semi-finals will be tough for many. Usain Bolt has mentioned all season that it takes a huge effort to run at his 2008 and 2009 level, this year is about competing and winning.

I am not sure that this is a WR year in the sprints. It might be the year of digging down deep and fighting for the win. And we, the track fans, should see some memorable races!

Here is the IAAF story on the Usain Bolt Press conference, written our InsidetheGames.biz 's Mike Rowbottom, who is writing for the IAAF here in
Daegu: http://daegu2011.iaaf.org/newslistdetail.aspx?id=61276

 

Related articles

• Bolt rules out record bid in Daegu (mirror.co.uk)
• World 100 title Bolt's to lose (theglobeandmail.com)
• Usain Bolt warns he is saving his world record best for London Olympics (mirror.co.uk)
• 100 title Bolt's to lose with rivals already out (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Even Slightly Off Form, Usain Bolt Is the One to Beat (nytimes.com)
• Sidelined Gay already thinking of London Olympics (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Bolt avoids four fastest rivals as Powell pulls out of 100m clash with injury (independent.co.uk)
• Bolt confident of another 3 gold medals in Daegu (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Powell ruled out of individual 100m (guardian.co.uk)

While I was traveling from Fort Atkinson, WI to Daegu, Korea (24 hours), there was some real drama in the IAAF World Congress. The electronic voting system was malfunctioning, and so, a more primitive means of voting was used in the second go round. Hersh, Al-Hamad, Coe and Bubka were elected IAAF Vice Presidents, but in the first, malfunctioning round, Mr. Bubka was not in the top four. There was also a difficulty in the election for treasurer as well. Insidethegames.biz, the top watcher of all things federation and all things Olympic and World Champs caught the story and it must be read in its entirety to truly appreciate the situations and frustrations of all involved.

The facilities in Daegu are top class. Staying in a fun little hotel called Geo-gi (Sincheon, Dong gu, Daegu), with nice rooms, and an easy walk to the train station and bus. I am now working in the Media Center and it is organized, cool and close to all that we need. Signage is all over the city and you would have to be blind not to know or see it. Winds could be a problem during the Champs, as they have been quite high and reportedly adverse during the practice event held the other day.

The press release from the IAAF's 48th Congress, which opened local time in Daegu, Korea on August 24, 2011. The IAAF Congress will be a two day affair, preceding the World Athletics Championships, which starts on Saturday, August 27 and ends on Sunday, September 4, 2011. 

Ryan Hall is preparing in earnest for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We asked long time contributor Elliot Denman, 1956 and 1960 US Olympian in race walk and one of the sports most prolific writers, to help us catch up on Ryan.

Ryan Hall, 2011 Aramco US Half Marathon Champs, Houston, photo by PhotoRun.net

Hall is one of our sports most gifted and mercurial athletes. At Boston, when he needed to deliver, Ryan Hall delivered and then some. Now, he has a fast, flat course in Chicago, and how fast can the guy run? 96 days later, Ryan Hall will line up with about 130 other men, intent on making the 2012 Olympic team. The difference is, Ryan Hall can make the team in his sleep if the right Ryan Hall shows up in Houston, and it looks like Hall wants to put his mark on the marathons in both Chicago and Houston.

The IAAF Council is meeting in Daegu, Korea on the eve of the World Championships in Athletics.

With several important matters to be discussed, including the election of  IAAF President, the naming of a new General Secretary and the sites of upcoming championships on the docket,the IAAF Council had many topics to consider.

The election of Lamine Diack to a third term will be unopposed, and Essar Gabriel will be the new General Secretary, replacing countryman Pierre Weiss, who is retiring from two decades of dealing with the politics of sports.

Well, gentle readers, it's almost that time! Track geekdom has come to this: Nine days & nights of the best track & field around! Yes, for the 2011 World Athletics Champs in Daegu, Korea! I am nearly packed, one more load to put in the dryer, and my travels from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin to Daegu, Korea begin! From car to Janesville, then bus to Chicago, then fly to SFO and SFO to Seoul, and a lovely one hour train ride to Daegu, Korea!


There should not be a bad day on the schedule. Weather will have highs in the mid 80s and lows in mid sixties, with several days with some rain.

Most of the athletes are in Daegu, Korea as the World Champs, August 27 to September 4, will showcase the best athletes in our sports. With only four athletes not defending their titles, the competitions should be superb!

Runblogrun and the RunningNetwork looks forward to keeping you up to date on all things World Champ related. If you want to reach us, try runblogrun@gmail.com or twitter us at runblogrun!

updated August 23, 2011


Amby Burfoot introduced me to John J. Kelley at a RW booth, I believe, at either the New York or Boston Marathons. It was early on
in Rodale's ownership of Runner's World. After meeting Kelley I just remember noting how humble John J. Kelley was-this guy had won Boston! 

I knew about John J. Kelley. He was the first American Boston Marathon winner of the modern era, winning in 1957. It was not until Amby Burfoot, who was coached and advised by John J. Kelley, who won in 1968, that a second American won Boston in that era, and it would not be again until 1975, when Bill Rodgers (called Will Rodgers in newspaper reports of the time) put his American feet up on the victory stands.

John J. Kelley was, a paradigm changer. He rejected much of post war modern America, and encouraged those around him to question authority, and embrace the independent thinkers. Amby described meetings in Kelley's home, with writers, songwriters, thinkers, and young distance runners like Amby, trying to figure out the world he was inheriting.  As singer John Prine would say, "it's a big old, goofy world", Kelley always seemed to see the humor in a situation.

Kelley was a runner, coach, advisor, friend, philospher, literary enthusiast, father, husband, so many things. What is fascinating to me is how many facets of John J. Kelley that Amby got to see. Burfoot's column is a homage to a man who obviously changed his life and the lives around him. So, in the end, John J. Kelley, the first modern American road runner, was, perhaps a mixture of New England indepdence and zen master. A true individual.  

Amby and I ran together a few times over my two years at the Rodale offices. I remember his stories and John was one of his focal points. When I read his moving history of  John J. Kelley, I learnt things about Mr. Kelley that I did not know. More than obituary, it was a celebration of Kelley life. 

Please read Amby's column and pass it around. Amby calls John J. Kelley our first modern road runner. I liked that. I hope you will too! Then, go do your run or walk and consider a life well lived, and well loved. 

Amby Burfoot's tribute to John J. Kelley:

http://footloose.runnersworld.com/2011/08/john-j-kelley-rip-1930-2011-1957-boston-marathon-winner-americas-first-modern-road-runner.html

Let's Run on John J. Kelley:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4192908

Related articles

• John Kelley, Boston Marathon Winner, Dies (huffingtonpost.com)
• Ex-marathon standout Kelley dies (search.japantimes.co.jp)
• John J. Kelley, '57 Boston Marathon winner, dies (espn.go.com)
• John Kelley, '57 Boston Marathon winner, dies (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• John J. Kelley, Marathon Champion, Dies at 80 (nytimes.com)

The Weltklasse, held four days after the ending of the 2011 World Champs, has some amazing fields! The women's pole vault, with Jenn Suhr, Anna Rogowska, and Yelena Insibayeva, will be surely one to watch, as that event in the World is one of the most onerous to pick a winner!


Anna Rogowska, reigning world champ, verus Olympic silver medalist Jenn Suhr, and 24 time world record holder, Olympic gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva.

My gut tells me Isinbayeva would not be out there without the desire to climb the wr charts and top of the podium. Suhr has the wheels and guts to take it all, and Rogowska, she knows how to win, and is just great to watch vault. 

Pick that one, my friends!

So, Erica Kerner, head of adidas Olympic programme in London 2012, will become the vp of marketing at Polo/Ralph Lauren.

Erica Kerner has a tremendous street rep. Big move for her, and the success and failure of adidas Olympic programme, quite frankly, much of the heavy lifting has been done already by Erica and her team. Building an Olympic programme as adidas or other major brands do is a herculean feat. Lots of heaving lifting, planning, and four years of long nights, long days, so that, in fact, the 18 days of the Olympics and subsequent Para Olympics is almost a zombie walk.

Please read subsequent article by our friends at insidethegames.biz. If you are not signed up for the RSS feed, well, you are just not serious about the Olympic biz, now are you?

Daegu is six days away now, and the news continues. Usain Bolt is 25 today. Bryan Clay, due to knee injury, is out of the Daegu decathlon. Chris Solinsky, AR at 10,000m, has withdrawn from the 5,000m, due to a hamstring injury that flared up.

Per a twitter announcement from Doyle Management group released on Saturday, August 20, manager of Bryan Clay, the 2008 Olympic champion has withdrawn from the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, August 27-September 5, due to a knee injury.

I started this column after the AVIVA London meeting, trying to see what we could pick from the last major meeting before Daegu. I will be writing about many of the events this week before Daegu, so tell me what you think, email me at runblogrun@gmail.com.

SPAR, a group of 12,200 stores, the largest voluntary group of convenience stores in the world, has extended their sponsorship with the European Athletics Association through 2015. I am fascinated for two reasons: one, SPAR, is a fascinating business model on its own, and their obvious satisfaction wit the European Athletics events! Nice Job, EAA! Sponsorship in this day and age is pretty difficult to engage, but it is, more than likely, the uniqueness and the opportunity to get grass roots support that makes SPAR and the EAA work together.

And on top of that, love that logo! 

Richard Thompson's 9.85 seconds for the 100 meters woke a few people up. Mr. Thompson, the silver medalist from 2008, is one of the best sprinters in the world. The problem for Richard is that he gets caught in the fireworks when Usain Bolt, the world record holder at 100m, 200m and on the 4 x 100m relays, wins a major championship.

Here is the interview he did for Trinidadian CTV. We hope that you enjoy it!

Andreas Thorkildsen threw a superb 90.61, his third farthest EVER, and a world leader as his third throw in his National Champs.

Mike Rodgers, who tested positive for a stimulant, will have his fate decided by USADA this week, per Reuters.

Lucas Rotich overcame a strong challenge by Micah Kogo, the 2007 champion, and Magdelena Lewy Boulet won the women's race, the first American women to do so since 2003 (Jenn Rhines), in the 2011 version of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race.

A long term sponsorship with New Balance will allow the iconic race to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year in fine fashion. This year, with cloudy, windy conditions, and near 100 percent humidity, the crowd of 11,000 plus championed the seven mile course in one of the true rights of New England summer.


Along with that, New Balance held a media summit, where many of the top sports editors and freelancers were shown New Balance footwear and apparel, and met with some of the key players in the resurging New Balance Athletics shoes. New Balance is on a role, with some key awards from both the Running Network and Runners World, and increasing support from the retail community.

But for today, it was all about the NB Falmouth Road Race. Last night, the NB Falmouth road mile and nine American men under the magical four minute barrier, which RBR believes may be the largest number of Americans in one race under four minutes in some time (yes, we are checking).

Full results are linked below and we look forward to seeing many of you there in 2012!

With just two weeks before the start of the World Champs, the IAAF announced that all athletes will be blood tested in Daegu. This is first time a group of this size has had blood-testing, in conjunction with WADA, the World Anti-Doping Association.

RBR is in Falmouth this weekend for the famed summer race, NB Falmouth Road Race. I hope to see some of you there! 

The 2011 AVIVA London Grand Prix, the only two day meeting on the Samsung DL fourteen meeting tour, exceeded expectations. From the first night, with Jenny Meadow's stunning win over Kenia Sinclair, Kiriani James 44.62 WL and victory over 400 meters, Jenn Suhr's pole vault win,  and Mo Farah's evening ending victory over 3,000 meters, meet records were falling and the crowd was cheering!


Saturday's tremendous session featured some tremendous performances. Sally Pearson continues to thrive in the 100m hurdles, Christian Taylor's 17.68m triple jump was the NCAA champion's personal best and a shot across the bow to the triple jump world that Phillips Idowu, the 2009 WC will have to be on his best game for Daegu. It was great to see Virgilijus Alekna, the two time Olympic and Word Champion, winning the discus with a strong throw-the 39 year old is still dangerous!

Carmelita Jeter, 2010 Lausanne, photo by PhotoRun.net

Related articles

• 2011 AREVA Paris: Robles VS. Oliver, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• AVIVA London GP: Oliver Summons Troops for Friday Hurdles Battle at Palace, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP Preview, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP, Day 1, official results from IAAF.org, notes by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP by Alfons Juck, Notes on Andy Turner, Lawrence Okaye, Tiffani Ofili-Porter & Dan Greaves, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Robles fires shot across bow in victory at Crystal Palace (search.japantimes.co.jp)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP, Day 2: Live (well, almost) Coverage, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 Nike Pre Classic: Oliver vs. Xiang, Epic race, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AREVA Paris: Bolt & Lemaitre, Robles VS. Oliver, Event by Event Preview, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)

Day two of the 2011 AVIVA London Grand Prix will be covered here! Stay tuned! My battery is working, so watch for updates on each event, as they finish, so almost live!

Related articles

• AVIVA London GP: Oliver Summons Troops for Friday Hurdles Battle at Palace, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP: Day 1, LIVE, LIVE, LIVE, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP: Powell taking precautions, is out of AVIVA London, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP Preview, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA London GP by Alfons Juck, Notes on Andy Turner, Lawrence Okaye, Tiffani Ofili-Porter & Dan Greaves, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Mighty Mo Farah gets 10 out of 10 in World Championship warm-up (mirror.co.uk)
• London Grand Prix: Jenny Meadows gives timely reminder of her World Championship prospects (telegraph.co.uk)
• Rudisha soars past Cram's 800m record (guardian.co.uk)
• 2011 adidas Grand Prix NYC: Visiting the Empire State Buildng, photos by PhotoRun.net, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)

The East Croydon Hotel lobby is constantly busy now, with the arrival of athletes, managers and media for the 2011 AVIVA London Grand Prix. Meet Director Ian Stewart can be seen speaking to athletes, greeting managers and he looks remarkably relaxed, considering that the AVIVA London is the only two day event on the Samsung Diamond League circuit.

RBR arrived on Tuesday from Stockholm. On Wednesday we went to the press conference, held at Forman & Field, near the 2012 London Olympic stadium,  with British athletes Andy Turner, Laurence Okaye, Tiffani Porter Offili and Dan Greaves. Andy Turner is always a good interview.



Having run his best this year, Andy has focused on seeing how great of an hurdler he can become. " The European championships was a great honor. Being the Euro champ is good, but I want to be good enough to be one of the best hurdlers in the world. I have to up my game. The focus now is on getting the small things right. " noted Turner. That afternoon, Andy was heading out to workout with David Oliver, under the watchful eyes of Oliver's coach, Brooks Johnson.


Laurence Okaye is a huge man, like Virjilijius Alekna size! A former rugby player, Okaye took up the discus sixteen months ago. Now, he is the current British Record holder! Okaye told RBR, " the key for me is to get more experience. I need to learn how to throw in competition, following up a good throw with another good throw. I look up to Robert Harting, Alekna and the American thrower, John Powell...I had a rough British Trials, where I placed fifth, but that is part of the experience." noted Okaye. Okaye is one of those athletes that RBR says is on the MUST WATCH list-this young man has the ability to just put the discus way out there!


Tiffani Offili-Porter is running for Great Britain. The young women had the choice of running for dual US/British citizenship and is running for the GB. " I have been pretty well received here, as you would expect, there are a few people who have criticized my decision, mostly in the UK. But, I am proud to run for Great Britain and my new British record of 12.60 for the 100 meter hurdles shows where I can go." noted Offili-Porter.

Para olympian Dan Greaves was a refreshing interview. Greaves holds the ParaOlympic record of 59.28 meters for the discus. He is competing in the elite Discus competition this coming weekend, hoping to extend that record. " I think I have 62-65 meters in me before London, and lets see where it can go! " noted Greaves. He also noted how exciting it is to see Oscar Pistorius run 45.07 for 400 meters and make the A standards for Daegu and London!

The two days of competition will start on Friday afternoon and end on Saturday afternoon at the sold out Crystal Palace! RBR will be coming back later tonight with pieces on several of the top athletes we interviewed today! 

Jeremy Wariner has withdrawn from the 2011 World Championships due to a torn toe ligament. The most dominant 400 meter runner from 2004-2010, Wariner had run 44.88 this season. While many think this puts the 400 meters way open, RBR considers that LaShawn Merritt may be the one to take up Wariner's mantle.

Jenn Suhr, 2011 NB GP, photo by PhotoRun.net

Jenn Suhr, the 2009 WC silver medalist, jumped 4.91meters, per EME news, with several attempts at five meters. Perhaps, Yelena Isinbayeva will have competition in Daegu!

Meb Keflezighi, 2011 RNR San Diego Half, photo by PhotoRun.net

And Meb Keflezighi has signed with the shoe company Skechers, as a sponsored athlete. Skechers is one of the most creative and marketing driven footwear companies, with huge support among women with the "toner" type shoe.

Mo Farah, the 2010 European champion at 5,000m/10,000m, has decided to focus on the 10,000 meters in Deagu for the 2011 World Championships. He noted that he needs to focus his energy on one event.

1976 Olympian from the U.S., Jim Bolding, has died from cancer. Bolding was WR holder at 440y hurdles.

RBR is now off to London for the AVIVA London GP. Special thanks to the team at DN. Galan Stockholm for making our visit so enjoyable. Thanks to all of the new friends we have met in Stockholm as well!

Related articles

• Mo Farah Considers the Roads after 2012, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Mo Farah focuses on 10,000m for Korea (independent.co.uk)
• Mo Farah, Galen Rupp run sub 4:00 for last mile, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA Birmingham Grand Prix Diamond League: Preview by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• Mo Farah Victorious at 2011 Nike Pre 10,000m: What it really means, by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
• 2011 AVIVA Birmingham Grand Prix Diamond League, Video highlights courtesy of Universal/NBC, notes by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)

Asafa Powell has run his 72nd and 73rd 100 meters under ten seconds! No one is actually even near him. Powell ran these in Budapest on Saturday, July 30 at the Istvan Gyulai Meeting! Powell goes into Daegu as the fastest man in the world!

 

Related articles

• Powell dusts field in 100-meter win (search.japantimes.co.jp)
• Powell sets Hungarian record with 9.86 in 100 (espn.go.com)
• Powell wins 100 meters in 9.86 in Hungary (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Asafa Powell warns sprint king Usain Bolt: Now is my time (mirror.co.uk)
• Powell wins 100 in 9.91 in Birmingham (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Powell powers to 100m win in Birmingham (cbc.ca)
• Asafa Powell throws down gauntlet to Usain Bolt with fastest 100 metres of year (mirror.co.uk)
• Powell issues warning to Bolt by winning in Hungary (indiavision.com)
• 2011 AVIVA Birmingham Grand Prix Diamond League, Video highlights courtesy of Universal/NBC, notes by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)