• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home IAAF

Missing Sammy-the view from the lead vehicle, by Toni Reavis, note by Larry Eder

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
October 8, 2012
0
0 0
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Wanjiru-Kebede.JPG

Sammy Wanjiru, Tsegeye Kebede, 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 
photo by PhotoRun.net

Wanjiru-Home-Nyahururu09.jpg
Sammy Wanjiru, Kenya, Spring 2009, 
photo by PhotoRun.net

Toni Reavis regales many with his admirers, readers and viewers with his comments about racing. Reavis puts life into our sport. He writes, with an attention to detail and a spirit found in few other places. This is a piece on his missing of the greatest marathoner who has ever run on the streets of Beijing, London, Chicago: Sammy Wanjiru and the spirit he brought to the marathon, and his competitors. 


MISSING SAMMY – THE VIEW FROM THE LEAD VEHICLE

by Toni Reavis

Rivals: Wanjiru & Kebede

Chicago, Illinois – As I commented on the final miles of the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon from my vantage point aboard the lead NBC5  TV motorcycle, I was reminded again what the sport of distance running lost with thetragic passing of 2008 Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru in the spring of 2011.  Why?  Because yesterday’s 35th edition of Chicago eerily resembled the 33rd running when the final two miles turned into what many believe was the most compelling marathon duel in the sport’s modern history.

During that epic run I was again sitting just a meter or two away trying to put words to the numinous.  Like yesterday, Ethiopia’s Tsegay Kebede took control of the race after the final pacer bid adieu at 30K. Then in those majestic final miles he did everything he could to break free from the Kenyan Wanjiru.  On at the back of at least three separate surges he developed what seemed a winning margin, only to have Wanjiru resurrect like a bad relationship, before Sammy buried Kebede for good in the final 600 meters.  Like Salazar and Beardsley in Boston in 1982, and Khannouchi, Tergat and Gebrselassie in London 2002, the monumental nature of the drama had even veteran observers gnashing their teeth and punching nearby shoulders, so caught up were they in the unfolding spectacle between the two tiny east Africans.

Yesterday, Kebede was again back in Chicago as late-race protagonist, along with the often forgotten third man in that 2010 war, countrymanFeyisa Lelisa who had hung on till 24 miles two years ago as a 20 year-old.  Over the years Kebede and Lilesa have proven themselves as two of Ethiopia’s most stalwart marathon racers, both holding bronze medals, Kebede from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lelisa from the 2011 Daegu World Championships. Despite those credentials, both were snubbed by the Ethiopian Federation for the London Olympic team.  Chicago would be their chance at redemption.

Like in 2010, Kebede took control of the race the instant the final pacer,Shadrack Kosgei, exited the stage. Read more of this post

Toni Reavis | October 8, 2012
at 9:01 am | Tags: Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Sammy Wanjiru, Tsegay Kebede | Categories: At the Races, Opinion| URL: http://wp.me/p1p8ec-1g4

RelatedPosts

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial, Some deep thoughts on Another epic 1,500m race…

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…

2023 Allianz Memorial Van Damme Diary, the excitement of Brussels

Author

  • Larry Eder
    Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 51-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts

Previous Post

RBR Six Questions: DeeDee Trotter on Saucony’s Run for Good, by Larry Eder

Next Post

Cross Country Results, Week # 4, October 8, 2012, Men, by Walt Murphy, XCountry XPress, note by Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 51-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

Coffee with Larry, Brussels DL continues was totally Impressive!

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial, Some deep thoughts on Another epic 1,500m race…

September 30, 2023
2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…
Wanda Diamond League

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…

September 30, 2023
Brussels Diamond League: Shericka Jackson back on top

2023 Allianz Memorial Van Damme Diary, the excitement of Brussels

September 30, 2023
Ben Blankenship Is Moving On Up!

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 6, day 6, a day at the races…

September 30, 2023
Jacob Kiplimo and Beatrice Chebet reign in Bathurst
World Athletics

RIGA 2023: Kenya and Ethiopia expected to Dominate!

September 30, 2023
NUGUSE SMASHES AMERICAN RECORD FOR THE MILE: 3:43.97
World Athletics

Kenya sends a formidable team to Riga World Road Running Championships this weekend

September 29, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

August 27, 2023
An epic pole vault competition

An epic pole vault competition

August 26, 2023
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023
Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

July 17, 2023
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
Coffee with Larry, Brussels DL continues was totally Impressive!

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial, Some deep thoughts on Another epic 1,500m race…

September 30, 2023
2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…

September 30, 2023
Brussels Diamond League: Shericka Jackson back on top

2023 Allianz Memorial Van Damme Diary, the excitement of Brussels

September 30, 2023
Ben Blankenship Is Moving On Up!

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 6, day 6, a day at the races…

September 30, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Coffee with Larry, Brussels DL continues was totally Impressive!

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial, Some deep thoughts on Another epic 1,500m race…

September 30, 2023
2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…
Wanda Diamond League

2023 Allianz Van Damme Memorial Diary, Thoughts on Brits in Brussels…

September 30, 2023
Brussels Diamond League: Shericka Jackson back on top

2023 Allianz Memorial Van Damme Diary, the excitement of Brussels

September 30, 2023
Ben Blankenship Is Moving On Up!

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 6, day 6, a day at the races…

September 30, 2023

Recent Tweets

Next Post

Cross Country Results, Week # 4, October 8, 2012, Men, by Walt Murphy, XCountry XPress, note by Larry Eder

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist