by Larry EderOn June 8, Kara Goucher ran a tough last 2k in the 5k world record attempt by Meseret Defar, and broke fifteen minutes in a tough duel with Vivian Cheruiyot. Goucher took third in 14:58.10, a near personal best. She was coming into form.
On June 22, in Vancouver, BC, Kara ran 4:06.17 to fine tune the engine, and Galen Rupp ran a personal best of 3:43.33 at the same meet, in the men’s 1,500 meters.
It was just a few months ago, that several writers and myself witnessed Kara, Galen, Adam , among others were on the Nike soccer pitch, running a five mile tempo run, on soft, wet grass.
Kara was not amused. She knows the workout is good for her, but does not like it, and looked to be fighting it a bit. In a quick hello with Alberto Salazar, just before the workout, it was clear that he had a reason for all he does. And his system works with his athletes.
Galen, who I saw running 1,500 meters all winter, was floating along the five miler as if he was never hitting the group. His clean style of running would make Frank Shorter, one of our most elegant runners, look sloppy. Rupp’s 3k victory at the adidas Track Classic on May 18, in a very hot, and very competitive situation showed me that Rupp is one of our truly tough and talented 10,000 meters runners.
How far these two go is anyone’s guess. For Kara, who is planning on running the 10,000 meters, that race is going to be packed. Goucher’s leg speed and last two kilometer moves bode well for her in Eugene and Beijing. For Rupp, he is dealing with Abdi Abdirhaman, Mr. 27:17, Dathan Ritzenhein, if he is in shape, and Jorge Torres, plus the normal surprises.
The Trials are less than a week away, you can feel the excitement!
EME NEWS (JUNE 22, 2008)
Burns wins in 10.01
PORT OF SPAIN (TRI, June 21): The much anticipated 100 m finals at Trinidad National Championships in Hasely Crawford Stadium ended with a drama. Osaka finalist Marc Burns won in 10.01 and pre-race favorite Darrel Brown did not finish after collision with NCAA Champion Richard Thompson. As Trinidad Express writes, Brown was looking to surge ahead of the pack, but collided with Thompson after 75 metres of the race. He failed to finish, but Thompson
was able to make it and ended second with Aaron Armstrong third as both got 10.11. Fourth was Keston Bledman (10.18) and Jacey Harper (10.24) fifth. It remains to see what will the Olympic selectors say to that situation. Normally top three should qualify for the games. But Brown showed the best shape in the early rounds. His training partner Asafa Powell watched the final from the stands after clocking 9.96 in semis.
Other NCAA Champion Kelly-Ann Baptiste won the 100 m with windy 11.01 (+2.7) and thus did not break the national record 11.06. Cherisse Bacchus won the Long Jump registering 655 ahead of Patty Sylvester of Grenada (651).
Camejo 846 cm in Long Jump
BILBAO (ESP, June 21): Cuban Long Jumper Ibrahim Camejo achieved excellent 846 (+0.3) in last round during 8th International Meet in Bilbao (member of EAP circuit). It is new best for Central American Games bronze holder from 2006 and second best in the world this year after 873 of world champion Irving Saladino. Other Cuban athletes who are based while in Europe in Spain also showed interesting shape. World discus medalist Yarelis Barrios improved to 65.80 what is fourth best mark of the current season. Javelin world record holder Osleidys Menendez is also improving and with 64.02 got her best mark since 2006. Hammer former world champion Yipsi Moreno achieved good 73.22 and triple world medalist Yoandri Betanzos 17.03 (+1.3). In shot put duel Misleidys Gonzalez (18.78) beat Maylin Vargas (18.74). Victor Moya went over 223 in High Jump, Roxana Diaz clocked 23.16 (+1.5) at 200 m and former world champion Zulia Calatayud was again faster with 2:02.20 at 800 m. Kenyans produced solid distances times. Abraham Chirchir 8:25.46 in steeple and Peter Bomo 13:22.68 at 5000 m.
OTHER RESULTS
VANCOUVER (CAN, June 21): Osaka 10 000 m bronze medallist Kara Goucher tested her speed on Saturday afternoon at the Harry Jerome Track meet in Vancouver, claiming the 1500m in 4:06.17. Her training partner Galen Rupp achieved a new personal best in the men’s event clocking 3:43.33 in a race won by Guelph’s Taylor Milne in 3:36.00 (PB). Home star and world medalist Gary Reed clocked season best 1:45.44 at 800 m and US Jesse Williams is comingt into shape in High Jump with 230 cm. Priscilla Lopes made the double 100m hurdles – 100m, winning both races in 12.86 and 11.61 . Diane Cummins won the 800m in 2:03.13. Chad’s Kaltouma Nadjina, who is progressively getting back to shape after maternity leave, edged Carlene Muir in the women’s 400m, 51.77 to 51.84. The men’s shot put was dominated by Dylan Armstrong with 20.57m and Ruky Abdulai had a best jump of 6.49m in the long jump. In discus great battle between US athletes Jarred Rome (64.34) and Ian Waltz (64.32).
VALBONNE (FRA, June 21): Italian hammer thrower Marco Lingua continues in his heavy schedule. On Saturday he achieved 78.67 m at EAP meet in France.
FORMIA (ITA, June 21): Third Italian this year with 230 in High Jump is Filippo Campioli (his outdoor best) who got this height at local meet in Formia. He also tried at new Italian record 234 cm. Nicola Ciotti was second (225).
PRAGUE (CZE, June 21): New Czech youth record by Martin Ricar at 100 m 10.52 (+1.4) was the highlight of National Junior and Youth championships. Last year European junior heptathlon medalist Nikol Ogrodnikova improved at 100 m Hurdles to 13.83 (+1.8).
ARRAS (FRA, June 21): Solid steeple at this international meet in France. Ethiopian Gary Roba clocked 8:28.44 ahead of South African champion Ruben Ramolefi (8:35.36). Combined events athletes competed in triathlon. Romain Barras scored 2221 points (11.35 at 100 m, 191 in High Jump and 58.40 in javelin) and Dutch Laurien Hoos 2498 (12.49 at 100 m, 571 in Long Jump and 50.83 in javelin).
COLUMBUS (USA, June 21): During second day of US National Junior Championships rain caused a delay and afterwards the much anticipated 400 m Hurdles final happened. NCAA champion Jeshua Anderson won with 49.28 (new meet and stadium record) and will be the main favorite in Bydgoszcz. He will also compete at Olympic Trials and will return to football in fall. High quality also second Johnny Dutch (49.74), third last year world youth champion William Wynne got 50.42. Very good also 1:47.68 at 800 m for Elijah Greer of Oregon. In solid triple jump Austin Davis (16.06, +1.6) beat last year world youth champion Christian Taylor (16.05, +1.2, PB).
GREENSBORO (USA, June 21): Excellent 200 m by last years world youth silver medalist Chalonda Goodman 23.22 against -1.7 wind was the highlight of Nike Nationals for youth athletes. Good 400 m times were produced by Ja-Vell Bullard (46.54) and Nadonnia Rodriques from Brooklyn (52.86).
DULUTH (USA, June 21): Kenyan Lamech Mokono won the 32nd Grandma´s Marathon in Minnesota with new personal best 2:13:39. He will earn 11 250 USD for that. Also other two podium places for Kenyans. David Tuwei achieved 2:13:44 (PB) and Benson Cheruiyot 2:14:20. Mary Akor was the best woman after 2:38:50 ahead of Kenyan Margaret Toroitich 2:41:43. In total 7103 runners participated.
Used with permission of the publisher…
