by Larry EderPeter Coe, the father/coach of Lord Sebastian Coe, two time Olympic gold medalist at 1,500 meters and two time Olympic silver medalist at 800 meters, died on Saturday, August 9, 2008. He was 88.
In Kenny Moore’s wonderful book, Best Efforts, a compendium of Moore’s essays in Sports Illustrated, Peter Coe came alive in a piece observing the relationship between son and father before the Moscow Olympic Games.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Coe and his family.
EME NEWS (AUG 10, 2008)
Noguchi under question
KYOTO (JPN): The participation of defending Olympic marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi is under question, after it was learnt the marathoner went to hospital in Kyoto for examinations, suffering from intense fatigue. Noguchi returned to Japan from her high altitude training camp in St Moritz, Switzerland on August 4, three days earlier than planned. She is feeling some discomfort in her lower back. Apparently, her problem is muscular one and with MRI testing Physicians are trying to determine the extent of
cumulative damage hard training at altitude have caused. She remains under close monitoring by a team of doctors. The Japan Athletics Frederation is to hold a press conference on Sunday afternoon at a Kyoto hotel to make an announcement on the matter. “Although she hasn’t been hospitalized, she is being checked because her condition hasn’t improved,” said Keisuke Sawaki, managing director of the athletic federation. “At this point, I don’t think she will have to miss the marathon.” Japan has not registered any substitute runners in the event, Yomiuri Shimbun informs. Meanwhile, Yurika Nakamura has returned from two month long high altitude training in Albuquerque and Boulder on August 7. According to her coach Yutaka Taketomi, her training has gone well.
Thanou out of games
BEIJING (CHN): The International Olympic Committee announced on Sunday its decision to ban Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou from the Beijing Games for her role in the drug-testing scandal at the 2004 Olympic Games. Thanou and training partner Kostas Kenteris missed doping tests, claiming they were injured in a motorcycle accident. Executive board of IOC decided based on report of disciplinary commission composed of Denis Oswald, Sergey Bubka and Thomas Bach. Thanou meanwhile underwent a doping control on Saturday at Agios Kosmas near Athens. She was supposed to run the 100 m after clocking 11.39 B-qualifier at EA Premium Meet in Rethymno in July.
LATEST RESULTS
KULDIGA (LAT, Aug 9): At national half-marathon championships Mareks Floroseks won in 1:09:09. Former New York City marathon winner Jelena Prokopcuka was clear winner in women category with 1:15:57. It is her 47th national title in any event, a special record number.
TABOR (CZE, Aug 9): Reigning decathlon olympic winner Roman Sebrle again tested his throwing shape at a local meet. He achieved very good 15.38 in Shot Put and good 45.68 in discus. He is due to travel to Beijing on Sunday. Non-olympian Stepan Wagner leaped to 790 (0.0) in Long Jump. European junior bronze medalist 2007 Katerina Cechova improved to 11.52 (0.0) to win the 100 m. Jan Schiller was the fastest (10.57) ahead of Austrian 400 m specialist Clemens Zeller (10.63).
NINOVE (BEL, Aug 9): At 18th Gert Rasschaert Memorial (part of Flanders Cup) US Nikeya Green achieved 2:02.95 at 800 m. Another US win at 110 m Hurdles as Ryan Fontenot got 13.59 (-0.2) ahead of Fred Townsend (13.63). Liberian Kou Lougon achieved 52.89 at 400 m and in Belgium living Ethiopian Mimi Belete clocked 4:13.31 at 1500 m.
MOSCOW (RUS, Aug 9): Winners of 13th international road race at 15 km in Moscow were Dmitriy Semyonov after 47:08 and Irina Sergeyeva achieving 53.38 ahead of Yelena Sokolova (54:00) and Belarus Galina Karnatsevich (55:04).
OTHER NEWS
Kabia to miss the Games
BEIJING (CHN): University of Minnesota track and field sprinter Ibrahim Kabia, the native of Sierra Leone was looking forward to competing in at the Olympics. But that will not be the case. He received a notice from the Sierra Leone Athletic Association late last week declaring it was only going to take athletes who lived in the nation. Kabia’s family fled seven years ago, racing from the decade-long civil war. He is Big Ten 100 m champion with 10.29 and was in shape of his life.
IAAF Council
BEIJING (CHN): IAAF Council will meet twice in Beijing. First meeting is scheduled for Aug 12 (Tuesday) and second on Aug 23 (Saturday). During first session according to the schedule received the report of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games could be of interest and also the new project for World Athletics Tour starting in 2010. Also approved should be the calendar for World Athletics Tour 2009 which will be staged for last time in current format next year. In the second session reports of competition, marketing and press commissions could bring interesting decisions.
Kibiwott delays trip
NAIROBI (KEN): 1500 m runner Viola Kibiwott has lost her mother, who apparently died of a heart attack. The 2002 world junior champion, who was due to travel to Beijing tomorrow, flew instead to Iten to join her family, the Standard informs.
OBITUARIES
LONDON (GBR): Peter Coe, the father and coach of two time Olympic champion Sebastian Coe died on Saturday aged 88. Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the London 2012 Olympic organizing committee had delayed his trip to Beijing to spend time with his father in hospital. He will return to Britain for the funeral.
LONDON (GBR): Steve Parry, a former sports editor for Reuters for almost two decades (1982-2000) and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) press commission during that time, died of a respiratory illness on August 7, aged 64. He attended 10 summer Olympic Games and specialized in athletics during the 1970s.
Used with permission of Alfons Juck, publisher, EME News.
