by runblogrunstg
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field–November 2
1991—South Africa’s Elana Meyer set the first IAAF-ratified World Record for 15-kilometers, running 46:57 in Cape Town. The previous best of 47:17 was set by Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen in 1987.
TCS NY City Marathon
1986—Grete Waitz (2:28:06) won the Women’s division, the 8th of her eventual 9 victories in the event. Italy’s Gianni Poli won the Men’s race in 2:11:06 and was followed by Australia’s Rob de Castella (2:11:43), the 1983 World Champion, Italy’s Orlando Pizzolato (2:12:13), the 2-time defending NYC champion, and Kenya’s Ibrahim Hussein (2:12:51), who would win the race the following year. (20,502 starters)
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 9.Pete Pfitzinger 2:14:09
Women: 2.Lisa Ondieki (Australia) 2:29:12, 3.Laura Fogli (Italy) 2:29:44…9.Christa Vahlensieck (Germany) 2:38:12
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/861102/finishers
Top 25: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_New_York_City_Marathon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grete-waitz-wins-her-eighth-nyc-marathon
Full TV broadcast(2:18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsO2q8dPHjA
1997—Despite stopping 2 times to re-tie the shoelaces on his new pair of shoes (they would become undone a 3rd time, but he didn’t stop this time), Kenya’s John Kagwe won the Men’s race in 2:08:12 (He would win again the following year). As reported in the NY Times, it was a “miserably humid, windy and rainy day”. Those conditions, plus the time lost securing his shoes, might have cost Kagwe a chance to break the Course Record of 2:08:01, set in 1989 by Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania,
Switzerland’s Franziska Rochat-Moser was the surprise winner of the Women’s race in 2:28:43. Kim Jones (2:32:07), the top American finisher in the Women’s race (6th), complained that some of the leaders had received an unfair advantage at some of the water stations (see link). Suffering cramps during the race, Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe, a crowd favorite after winning in NY in 1994 and 1995, finished 7th in 2:33:31. (30,434 finishers)
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 2.Joseph Chebet (Kenya) 2:09:27, 3.Stefano Baldini (Italy) 2:09:31…5.Germán Silva (Mexico) 2:10:19, 6.Domingos Castro (Portugal) 2:10:23, 8. Dionicio Cerón (Mexico) 2:13:01…18.Mark Coogan (USA) 2:20:41
Women: 2.Colleen De Reuck (South Africa) 2:29:11…4.Anuța Cătună (Romania/defending champion) 2:31:24
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/971102/finishers/1688170
Top-20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_New_York_City_Marathon
Kagwe’s Shoelaces: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/sports/other/110397ny-marathon-men.html
Controversy: http://partners.nytimes.com/library/sports/other/110397ny-marathon-women.html
Lots of NY Times Links:
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/sports/other/97nyc-marathon-index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franziska_Rochat-Moser
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kagwe
2003—Margaret Okayo (2:23:03) was the winner of the Women’s race, outdueling fellow Kenyan Catherine Ndereba (2:23:03) and the Netherlands’ Lornah Kiplagat (2:23:43) as all three bettered Okayo’s previous Course Record of 2:24:21, set in 2001.
Kenyans swept the top 4 places in the Men’s race, with Martin Lel (2:10:30) winning over defending champion Rodgers Rop (2:11:11), Christopher Cheboiboch (2:11:23), and Elly Rono (2:11:31).
Among the record number of 34,729 finishers was Sean “P.Diddy” Combs, who ran 4:14:54 as part of a fund-raising effort to aid needy children.
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 9.John Kagwe (Kenya) 2:14:08…17.Matt Downin (1st American) 2:18:48
Women: 4.Lyudmila Petrova (Russia) 2:25:00…10.Sylvia Mosqueda (1st American) 2:33:10…16.Jenny Crain 2:38:49, 17.Jen Rhines 2:43:01…20.Marla Runyan 2:45:12; DNF-Deena Kastor
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/NYC2003/finishers
Top 20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_New_York_City_Marathon
P.Diddy: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/p-diddy-did-it-finishes-marathon/
Men: http://www.marathonguide.com/news/exclusives/NYC_2003/NewYorkMen.cfm
Women: http://www.marathonguide.com/news/exclusives/NYC_2003/NewYorkWomen.cfm
2008—World Record holder Paula Radcliffe, who had been limited by a stress fracture to a disappointing 23rd-place finish at the Beijing Olympics in August, rebounded to win the Women’s race in NY for the 2nd year in a row, beating runnerup Lyudmila Petrova of Russia by almost 2-minutes (2:23:56-2:25:43). Finishing 3rd was Kara Goucher, who ran 2:25:53, the fastest debut performance by an American woman at the time.
Brazil’s Marilson Gomes dos Santos (2:08:43), the 2006 winner, passed Morocco’s Abderrahim Goumri (2:09:07) in the last half-mile, pulling away to win his 2nd Men’s title. He was named to the NYRR’s Hall of Fame in 2019.
Other Notable Finishers (total 38,099)
Men: 4.Paul Tergat (Kenya) 2:13:10…6.Abdi Abdirahman (USA) 2:14:17, 7.Josh Rohatinsky (USA) 2:14:23, 8.Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:14:30…10.Bolota Asmerom (USA) 2:16:37…12.Hendrick Ramaala (South Africa) 2:19:11 (2004 winner)
Women: 5.Catherine Ndereba (Kenya) 2:29:34, 6.Gete Wami (Ethiopia) 2:29:25…8.Lidia Șimon (Romania) 2:30:04…10.Katie McGregor (USA) 2:31:14; DNF-Kim Smith (New Zealand)
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/a81102/finishers
Top 20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_New_York_City_Marathon
http://www.marathonguide.com/news/exclusives/NewYorkCityMarathon2008/
Goucher Looks Back: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/kara-goucher-on-first-marathons/
Radcliffe-Goucher Friendship: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/sports/09marathon.html
NYRR Hall of Fame: https://www.nyrr.org/media-center/press-release/20191017_nyrrhalloffame
2012—Just hours after insisting that the race would go on as planned, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and race organizers announced the cancellation of the NY City Marathon. There had been growing opposition to conducting the race while the city was still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/sports/new-york-city-marathon-will-not-be-held-sunday.html
2014–Both races were close, with Mary Keitany (2:25:07) winning the 1st of her 4 Women’s titles by only 3 seconds over fellow Kenyan Jemima Sumgong (2:25:10), and Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang (2:10:59) winning the Men’s race by 7 seconds over Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa (2:11:06), who would win the race in 2018.
With 50,869 starters (50,530 finishers), this was the largest marathon in history. It was the first year that TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) sponsored the event.
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 3.Gebre Gebremariam (Ethiopia) 2:12:13, 4.Meb Kefelzighi 2:13:18 (2009 winner), 5.Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda) 2:13:25 (gold medalist at the 2012 Olympics, 2013 World Championships)…9,Ryan Vail (USA) 2:15:08, 10.Nick Arciniaga (USA) 2:15:39
Women: 4.Jeļena Prokopčuka (Latvia) 2:26:15 (2005, 2006 winner)…5.Des Linden (USA) 2:28:11…9.Annie Bersagel (USA) 2:33:02, 10. Deena Kastor (USA) 2:33:18…12.Edna Kiplagat (Kenta) 2:36:24 (2010 winner), 13.Kara Goucher 2:37:03
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/M2014/finishers
Top 20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_New_York_City_Marathon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsJ-Tn5RXxM
https://www.letsrun.com/events/2014-new-york-city-marathon-tcs-new-york-city-marathon/
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlHbntVAMzM
Past NY City Marathon Winners: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winners_of_the_New_York_City_Marathon
Through The Years:
Born On This Day*
Holly Bleasdale-Bradshaw 34 (1991) 4-time Olympian won the bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021; 2012-=6th, 2016-5th,
2024-qual.round.
Bronze medalist at the 2012 World Indoor Championships (2014-9th)
2013 European Indoor Champion
3-time finalist at the World Outdoor Championships—2015 (7th), 2017 (6th), 2019 (4th)
15-time British Champion
British Indoor (15-11 ¾ [4.87/2012]/#9 All-Time) and former Outdoor (16-3/4 [4.90/2021]/=#12 A-T) Record
holder
Diagnosed with Covid 4 months before the Tokyo Olympics (mild symptoms)
Was disappointed with her 6th-place finish at the 2012 Olympics in London, but her day ended well after
her boyfriend, Paul Bradshaw, proposed to her (and she said “yes”)…couple were married in October,
2014….Was a former gymnast, hurdler and heptathlete…didn’t take up the pole vault until her mother Debbie
suggested she try it in the fall of 2008
Announced her retirement in September, 2024.
Has been named an IOC Mental Health Ambassador: “I was really honoured. Mental health has been incredibly
important as part of my journey. It was such a privilege to be asked, and I can’t wait to get started.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Bradshaw
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/124059
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2021/july/lockdown-workouts-boost-bradshaw/
https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/56862708
https://twitter.com/hollybradshawpv/status/1371517180056064000
German Fernandez 35 (1990) 2009 NCAA Champion–1500-Meters (Oklahoma State-freshman)
Double winner at the 2009 Big-12 Indoor Championships—set a World Junior Indoor Record of 3:55.02 in the Mile
and an American Junior Indoor Record of 7:57.71 in the 3000-Meters (since broken). Outdoors, he set an
American Junior Record of 13:25.46 for 5000-Meters while placing 5th at the U.S. Championships.
Had a great prep career at Riverbank H.S. in Riverbank, California. In his senior year (2008), he won his 1st U.S.
Junior X-Country title in February (he won a 2nd title in 2009). Outdoors, he ran 8:34.40 for 2-miles to break the
29-year old National H.S. record of 8:37.3, set by Jeff Nelson in 1979. His en-route split of 7:59.83 for 3000-
Meters broke Galen Rupp’s H.S. Record of 8:03.67 (2008). T&F News Male H.S. Athlete of the year in 2008
The T&F News cover for the 2009 NCAA meet pictured Fernandez with the caption, “The Next Great U.S.
Miler?”, but later injuries kept him from fulfilling his great promise. He showed occasional signs of a resurgence,
running 3:34.60 for 1500-Meters and 28:06.64 for 10,000-Meters in the Olympic years of 2012 and 2016,
respectively, but was not a factor at the U.S. Trials either year.
PBs: 3:34.60 (2012), 3:55.02i (2009), 7:53.61 (2012), 13:25.46 (2009), 28:06.64 (2016)
(2013): https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20796980/unbridled-talent/
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/german-fernandez-14335777
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Fernandez
Video(NCAA 1500): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2tDb6n5-ek
https://www.flotrack.org/articles/5016784-german-fernandez-sets-national-2-mile-record
Noah Ngeny–Kenya 47 (1978) 2000 Olympic gold medalist—1500m (Upset Hicham El Guerrouj, Bernard Lagat 3rd)
Silver medalist–1999 World Championships; Bronze medalist–2001 World Indoor Championships
PBs:
1:44.49 (2000)
2:11.96 (1999) Current World Record (Broke Seb Coe’s Record)…also has the #3-Performance-2:12.66
3:28.12 (2000) #12 All-Time
3:43.40 (1999) #2 All-Time—finished 2nd to Hicham El Guerrouj’s World Record of 3:43.13
4:50.08 (1999) #12 All-Time
7:35.46 (2000)
Videos:
2000 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0X20AJGCec
WR Mile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvCsj7eJKKA
WR 1000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY21WbOYHrg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Ngeny
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/noah-ngeny-14209412
All-Time Lists: http://www.alltime-athletics.com/
Jamie Nieto 49 (1976) 2-time Olympic finalist—High Jump (2004-4th, 2012-6th)
7th at the 2003 World Championships
2-time U.S. Champion (2004 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials); 2-time U.S. Indoor Champion—2004, 2008
Ranked among the top-10 in the U.S. 15 years in a row from 1998-2012(#1 in 2003-2004/5-4 World)
All-American at Eastern Michigan—6th at 1998 NCAA Championships
PB: 7-8 (2.34/2004)
Suffered a serious injury while doing a backflip in 2016. Injury left him paralyzed from the neck down, but he was
able to walk down the aisle at his wedding to Shevon Stoddart in 2017. Stoddart represented Jamaica in the
400-Meter Hurdles at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Couple’s first child, son Jaysha King, was born on August 10,
2020, shortly after Shevon had wowed the judges on America’s Got Talent with her singing ability. She withdrew
from subsequent rounds of the competition due to concerns about Covid19.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Nieto
Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/rankings
(for subscribers): http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-paralyzed-olympian-20170603-story.html
Walking Down the Aisle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lojQREwjqTw
Post-Wedding Interview:
Saïd Aouita–Morocco 66 (1959) Arguably the greatest all-around runner in history.
1984 Olympic gold medalist—5000m; 1988 Olympic bronze medalist—800m
1987 World Champion—5000m; 1989 World Indoor Champion—3000m
Bronze medalist in the 1500 at the 1983 World Championships
PBs:
800-1:43.86 (1988)
1000-2:15.16 (1988)
1500-3:29.46 (1985) World Record at the time
Mile-3:46.76 (1987) #12 All-Time
2000-4:50.81 (1987) World Record at the time (#16 All-Time)
3000-7:29.45 (1989)
