We were asked about Walt Murphy's extensive Indoor Calendar! Here you go and watch for the upcoming out door Calendar as well.
Jenny Simpson, 2011 NBIndoorGames, photo by PhotoRun.net
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Collis Birmingham, 2011 Rieti, photo by PhotoRun.net
Outdoor track & field is starting strong in Australia and New Zealand. Collis Birmingham is on a role, as is Valerie Adams and Jacko Gill! We should see some tremendous performances at the 2012 New Balance Indoor GP this weekend...
Kellie Wells, Dawn Harper, Danielle Carruthers, 2011 FBK Hengelo,
photo by PhotoRun.net
Kellie Wells injured her an elbow that required surgery. Injury was done on Tuesday, surgery was done early Wednesday. Her indoor season is over, but she will be able to start training in a week.
Indoor season is in full swing. Great fields at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, to be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012, from 5-8 pm. See you there!
Indoor season is in full swing. Great fields at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, to be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012, from 5-8 pm. See you there!
Maggie Vessey is one of the most talented women in middle distance running. The folks at the NB Indoor Grand Prix caught up with her earlier this week! Here is what she had to say: (Remember, NB Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday, February 4, and watch in on February 5, just before that other game, the SuperBowl):
Kick It With Maggie
Your prediction on the Super Bowl?
Patriots 34, Giants 31.
2011 was a very solid year for you. What is the primary positive you take away from 2011 going into 2012?
I have a solid team in place and we know how we need to operate to be successful.
Outside of the 800m, what athlete in the sport do you most like to watch compete?
I
love watching Jesse Williams high jump. It just blows my mind how he
can make it over that bar! I also love watching Lashinda Demus. She's
just so focused and gives every ounce of herself to the task. It's
admirable and inspirational. And she's also a mommy!
California is not known for indoor track meets. Do you like racing indoors?
I do like racing indoors. It's tight, fast and exciting. The crowd is close and it just makes for a hyped up, fun experience.
How fast could you run in an open 400m when you are 100% racing fit?
My best is 53.5. I'd like to think I can run in the 52 range at peak fitness.
If you weren't a professional runner, what do you think you'd be doing?
I
wanted to be a professional jockey but I got a little bit too big for
that job! I think I would like to be a psychologist of some
sort...industrial organizational or sports. Possibly some type of
apparel design. I love the world of health and fitness, so something in
that realm. Maybe coaching someday. There are several things I can
see myself getting into.
I love training in Texas with my coach, Rose Monday. She beats me up pretty good but she also spoils me a bit and I like that! I really love racing in California.
Look ahead at the Olympic Trials. What sort of time do you think it will take to make the team?
I'm pretty sure it will take a low 1:58 effort.
Photo courtesy of PhotoRun.net
The Shoe Addicts also sent their salute to Shalane Flanagan today, the winner of the women's 2012 Olympic Trials-Marathon. Shalane Flanagan and Desi Davila gave the race a certain amount of tension, the kind needed for a great marathon battle. As the Shoe Addicts so eloquently put it, " To London."
The 2012 Olympic Trials-Marathon in Houston, Texas were a success from anyone's view. Great races, strong teams and stunning stories. With 111 men and 181 women starting, the battles for the top three positions are epic sports stories.
The Shoe Addicts, our digital partners, sent us this video today, in homage of the great performances in Houston. We hope you enjoy it!
The Reggie Lewis Center, which has been the host facility for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix since its inception, has seen some amazing races. In our sport, it is really about the competition, not the records, but you would never know!
In the end, he or she who can put it all together, who can run, jump or throw, faster, longer or farther than the competition is the winner. Who can put it all on the line, with five thousand cheering, clapping fans, encouraging you to pull that extra bit of energy, that extra centimeter, that extra kick over the last lap to make the difference!
Defar vs Smith, 2008, photo by PhotoRun.net
Consider the race between Meseret Defar of Ethiopia and Kim Smith of New Zealand over two miles in 2008. Meseret Defar and Kim Smith went at it, lap after lap, for sixteen laps. Defar could not shake the Kiwi, who, when she gets in her groove, is tough as nails. The crowd, knowing that the race was special, was encouraging the racers, and it was only, in the very last lap that Defar built some daylight, but not much. Meseret Defar was rewarded with the World best at two miles, a fine 9:10.50, and Kim Smith, just behind her, ran a 9:13.94, a new Zealand record!
Jenn Suhr, 2011 AVIVA London, photo by PhotoRun.net
Consider the height of the ceiling in Reggie Lewis! Jenn Suhr and Steve Hooker have tried to tough the ceiling during their vault performances! Jenn Suhr, the best American women vaulter was ranked number uno by Track & Field News (the bible of our sport) in 2011. Suhr cleared 4.82m in Reggie Lewis Center, or 15-09.75, a world record indoors in 2009! Only Yelena Isinbayeva had jumped higher at the time, indoors or out!
Steven Hooker, 2010 Brussels DL, photo by PhotoRun.net
Then, look at Aussie Steve Hooker. Hooker was Olympic champ in 2008 and world champ in 2009, juggling injuries and the ability to soar near the clouds. In 2009, Steve Hooker cleared 6.06m, or 19-10.5, setting an Area record and American All Comers record. Only man who has jumped higher? Yep, Sergei Bubka!
The Reggie Lewis Center crowd loves all things track & field, but the mile, middle distances are the crowd pleasers! Lets see how 2012 fares, as the dozen milers line up for some fasting indoor miling. And when Jenny Simpson lines up, watch the 2011 World Champion get a strong applause for the biggest upset of the year, her victory in the 1,500 meters in Daegu, on that crazy September night!
Jenny Simpson, 2011 NB Indoor GP, photo by PhotoRun.net
See you in the Reggie Lewis Center for the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix!
In the end, he or she who can put it all together, who can run, jump or throw, faster, longer or farther than the competition is the winner. Who can put it all on the line, with five thousand cheering, clapping fans, encouraging you to pull that extra bit of energy, that extra centimeter, that extra kick over the last lap to make the difference!
Defar vs Smith, 2008, photo by PhotoRun.netConsider the race between Meseret Defar of Ethiopia and Kim Smith of New Zealand over two miles in 2008. Meseret Defar and Kim Smith went at it, lap after lap, for sixteen laps. Defar could not shake the Kiwi, who, when she gets in her groove, is tough as nails. The crowd, knowing that the race was special, was encouraging the racers, and it was only, in the very last lap that Defar built some daylight, but not much. Meseret Defar was rewarded with the World best at two miles, a fine 9:10.50, and Kim Smith, just behind her, ran a 9:13.94, a new Zealand record!
Jenn Suhr, 2011 AVIVA London, photo by PhotoRun.netConsider the height of the ceiling in Reggie Lewis! Jenn Suhr and Steve Hooker have tried to tough the ceiling during their vault performances! Jenn Suhr, the best American women vaulter was ranked number uno by Track & Field News (the bible of our sport) in 2011. Suhr cleared 4.82m in Reggie Lewis Center, or 15-09.75, a world record indoors in 2009! Only Yelena Isinbayeva had jumped higher at the time, indoors or out!
Steven Hooker, 2010 Brussels DL, photo by PhotoRun.netThen, look at Aussie Steve Hooker. Hooker was Olympic champ in 2008 and world champ in 2009, juggling injuries and the ability to soar near the clouds. In 2009, Steve Hooker cleared 6.06m, or 19-10.5, setting an Area record and American All Comers record. Only man who has jumped higher? Yep, Sergei Bubka!
The Reggie Lewis Center crowd loves all things track & field, but the mile, middle distances are the crowd pleasers! Lets see how 2012 fares, as the dozen milers line up for some fasting indoor miling. And when Jenny Simpson lines up, watch the 2011 World Champion get a strong applause for the biggest upset of the year, her victory in the 1,500 meters in Daegu, on that crazy September night!
Jenny Simpson, 2011 NB Indoor GP, photo by PhotoRun.netSee you in the Reggie Lewis Center for the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix!
Special thanks to Andy Caine, who provided us with the link and embed from the Bupa Great Edinburgh XC, which was held on January 7, 2012! The link is below if you have any trouble with the embed!
Edwin Soi, 2011 FBK Hengelo, photo by PhotoRun.net
Karlsruhe will have a very fast field for the 3,000 meters. Edwin Soi, Augustine Choge, Eliud Kipchoge are among the field, so do not be surprised if the meet record, then a WR in 1998, goes...2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston should be a memorable event, with some fantastic fields on a very fast track, with great fans! February 11 is looking like a huge day of indoor track, in two sites, one, in the Armory NB Track & Field Center in New York, where the Millrose Games will be hosted. Also in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with the USA Track & Field Invitational. Watch for more details.
Silas Kiplagat wins VISA mile over Bernard Lagat, 2012 US Open, Photo by PhotoRun.netSilas Kiplagat is one tough miler. The 2010 Commonwealth champion at 1,500 meters, and in 2011, Silas rose to the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Korea, Silas has run 3:29.27 for 1,500 meters. Coached by Renuto Canova, famed coached of Moses Mosop, among others, Silas Kiplagat has the raw energy seen in runners such as the late Sammy Wanjiru. Silas wants to win, make no mistakes about that!
For example, last weekend, in his first indoor mile at Madison Square Gardens, Silas duked it out with Daniel Komen and Bernard Lagat. Komen is no newbie to the pushing and shoving that comes in indoor track & field, and Bernard Lagat, heck, the guy virtually owns the 145 meter track that inhabits the Madison Square Gardens.
The pace last Saturday night, in MSG, was, well pedestrian. But, the track, which is unique in terms of world class elite indoor meets, is like running indoor cross country. Usually, the runner who gets to the front first stays there and shuts down all competition. Bernard had won their 8 times, going from front, back, in between. It was only in 2011 that Bernard lost. This year, Bernard told us that he was planning on focusing on the 5,000 meters. " I will run 1,500 meters and miles for speed. " Bernard told us before the race.
The pace, was slow. The 400 meters was hit in 60.3, the 800 meters in 2:00.33, and Komen was in front. Komen, Lagat, Kiplagat were together at the lead through the 1,200 meter mark, hit in 3:03. Two laps from the end, Bernard Lagat took over, looking like the winner. With one lap to go, Silas Kiplagat took off and made this huge move, hurling himself into the lead, much to the astonishment of Bernard Lagat and Daniel Komen.
Silas Kiplagat was not about to give up. He want to win at Madison Square Gardens, and he wanted to beat Bernard Lagat, one of the greatest milers of all times, and a tremendous racer. The pace increased over the last lap, with the last 400 meters covered in 57 seconds, but close as Bernard Lagat might come, Silas Kiplagat kept about two meters between himself and Mr. Lagat.
Silas Kiplagat won the mile in 4:00.65. Bernard Lagat was second in 4:00.92 and Daniel Kipkichir Komen was third in 4:03.82.
Dejen Gebremeskel, 2011 NB Indoor GP 3,000m, photo by PhotoRun.netThis coming weekend, at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Silas Kiplagat will be moving up to the 3,000 meters to face Matt Centrowitz, the 1,500m world bronze medalist from Daegu, and Dejen Gebremeskal, the 5,000m bronze medalist from Daegu. Last year, Gebremeskal took Mo Farah to the final steps, before claiming victory over Farah. And Gebremeskal had only one shoe for most of that 3,000 meter race!
(Mo Farah and Galen Rupp are in the mile, doing a bit of speed work. Mo just won a tough 1,500m in Glasgow last weekend from Augustine Choge. RBR is only suggesting, but this could be a very fast mile. )
Matt Centrowitz, Jr., 2011 WC, 1,500m, photo by PhotoRun.netThe New Balance Indoor Grand Prix should be a wonderful event, with three hours of tremendous track & field. Do not miss it, if you are in the Boston area! Otherwise, before the SuperBowl, turn your eyes to ESPN2 and enjoy two hours of indoor track & field!