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CHICAGO MARATHON 2007
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LetsRun.com's Rojo talks about coaching at Cornell

Chicago Men
Holy &!&@
Invuti Wins Unbelievable Finish in Chicago

It's hard for words to describe the greatest finish in (Chicago) marathon history. It came down to two time world champ
Jaouad Gharib and former track/xc star Patrick Ivuti, fresh off his 59:27 half marathon. Gharib surged ahead going up a slight incline down the finishing straight. Ivuti then battled back and took the lead on the downhill. Gharib dug back and then they were side by side as they barreled towards the finish and the two guys still standing there with the finish tape which is only about 5 feet wide. It was way too close to tell but Ivuti was declared the winner.
80+ degree temperatures made for slow times.
*Robert Cheruiyot "I wanted to stop running, come back home, buy a piece of land, build a small house, buy two or three cows and start my life"EA Standard Chicago has a tremendous men's field ones again featuring the top marathoner in the world, Cheruiyot, the former top marathoner in the world, Evans Rutto, in his comeback, 2 time World Champ, Gharib, London and Chicago champ, Limo, and Daniel Njenga. The great news is the race will be streamed live on the internet on WCSN. The race starts at 9 am eastern. Click here to sign up for the stream.

*Felix Limo: "When you are going to war, you don't give out your secrets" IAAF
Previous:
*Talk about Global Warming IAAF Preview of Chicago Chicago is almost always a sure thing for a very, very fast race. Maybe not this year as race day temps will beget up to the high 80s. Unbelievable.
*
Robert Cheruiyot is Back in Chicago Ready to Defend His Title
The men's race as usual is a great one. #1 World Marathoner Cheruiyot versus 2 time World Champ Gharib versus former World #1 Rutto, in his comeback from injury.
*A Look at Top Contenders in Chicago
*Khannouchi Others on Hand to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Chicago Marathon
*
84 Degree Weather Forecast for Chicago Marathon on Sunday
*Kimbia Update on Weather and How That Affects the Athletes Paydays
(The races should just pay more in prize money, it is pretty simple).
*Check Out the Kimbia Profile on Evans Rutto He was the top marathoner in the world in 03-04. Commentary by Toni Reavis.
*
Many CEOs Running Chicago Marathon
*
45,000 Running Sunday in Chicago
*Benita Johnson Podcast
Previous:

*Robert Cheruiyot to Defend Title at 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Why the race waited until 3 days before the race to announce this we'll never know. But the Chicago Marathon has done it again, assembling a truly incredible men's field. Berhane Adere is back to defend her women's crown.
*Carey Pinkowski, Chicago Race Director, Interviewed by Chicago Sun Times

Paula Radcliffe Is Running NYC
It's official. And she'll face World Champ Catherine Ndereba and an incredibly strong field.
*Radcliffe Fired up for NY, Says She Needs to be in Sub 2:20 Shape to Win Guardian

*Paula Talks About Her Love of New York City New York Times

*Paula Radcliffe Running 2007 New York City Marathon (Her First Marathon in 2 Years) Times of London

*Audio of Paula's Teleconference She talks about being more determined after her break from running, how you need to be in sub 2:20 shape to run NYC, her love of running, and Beijing 08 (and London 2012).
Last Week: Motherhood and Sporting Elite International Herald Tribune

Shops Closed, Town in a Frenzy as Janeth Jepkosgei Comes Home

Edna Kiplagat, Samuel Ndereba, Richard Kiplagat Highlight BAA Half Marathon This Weekend in Boston

Asics Founder Kihachiro Onitsuka Dies The guy was a legend and is the reason many hard core runners love Asics shoes. Abebe Bikila gave up running barefoot for Asics.
*
Message Board thread on Onitsuka "Seems to me that if Onitusuka-san had had a better patent attorney, Martin Smith might still be coaching at Oregon."

Geb Believes 2 Hour Marathon Can Be Broken, But He Wants World Half Marathon Record Back IAAF

GEB 2:04.26 The great one just got a little greater as he shattered the world record in the marathon. "Let me hear you acknowledge that Geb is now without any shadow of a doubt the best ever," - message board poster.
*Gebrselassie Offers Apology to Tergat
*Tergat Congratulates Geb On Breaking His Record
*100+ thread on Geb's Run
*Watch the Race In It's Entirety on WCSN

Janeth Jepkosgei Ends Sensational Season With Fastest Time Ever on Kenyan Soil She left the local fans pleased with her 1:59.00 clocking.

Pre-Race Berlin Marathon Coverage
*Gebrselassie Dreams of 2:03:00 Marathon The Great one is in superb shape as evidenced by his 59:24 in NYC. He says of that run, "honestly, if it would have been a flat course, I would have run 58 minutes flat." He's upped his training to 156 miles a week.

Kenya Meet: Janeth Jepkosgei Goes Sub 2 in Nairobi, Emerging Star Edwin Soi Gets Another Win IAAF

Relook at British 'Success' in Osaka: ""The evidence proves that the system devised by the UKA does not work"

Kelly Holmes Sport Can Change Lives www.telegraph.co.uk

Michigan Hurdler Joi Smith Battling Cancer

Andy Norman, Arguably Once the Most Powerful Man in British Athletics, Dies Message board thread here. Norman fell from power with the Cliff Temple affair but was a giant in the sport at one time.
*Kelly Holmes will Miss Norman

Haile Gebrselassie Teaming Up with Chris Chataway to Promote Clean Water The great one even went on a run with Chataway. Vicky Buchanan, Chataway's soon to be daughter in law, was killed while riding a bike but was committed to clean water in Ethiopia.

"Most people would never guess that some the best college distance runners sign contracts between $100,00 and $200,000 per year. The world of sprinting pays even better, with the best guys earning up to $600,000 per year. Right out of college. That’s good money. And once you realize all of the bonuses that athletes can earn for running certain times or finishing in the top spots at certain races, you sit up and pay attention. If contracts and signing bonuses were public knowledge, as they are in all the other major sports, more people would pay attention."
-Matt Taylor writing an in depth article on the money in the sport of running and the need to publicize it. Plus he is critical of the reliance of appearance fees in marathoning. Thankfully, the 2008 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon
is shaking things up with a $250,000 first place prize. It has already secured Haile Gebrselassie for next year's race and will make the World Marathon Majors pay attention.

World Athletics Final Event By Event Recaps
*
Results/Start lists

Sunda
y: Robles 12.92, Edward Soi's 3k/5k Double Highlights World Athletics Final We're sure most of you have never heard of Soi (but he could be Kenya's future star. He's run 12:52 and has a sick kick). Soi picked up the 5k title to go with his 3k title the day before. A nice $60,000 weekend.
Distance: Day 2 World Athletics Final Distance Recap: Soi Gets 3000, 5000 Double, Defar Impresses

Hurldes: Robles' 12.92 in Final Event Brings World Athletics Final to Triumphant Close
Robles is only 20. Not sure what the Chinese will do if Liu Xiang loses next year in Beijing.
More on Moi:
"Even our sprinters are afraid of my 200m"
*Unheralded Jaysuma Saidy Ndure Wins 200m in 19.89 at World Athletics Final IAAF

*British Press Still Seem Surprised Sanya Richards Cleans Christine Ohuruogo's Clock Every Time They Race

Saturday:
*Event By Event Recaps
Day 1 of World Athletics Final:
Asafa Powell's 9.83 Highlights The dude is so fast people are upset if he doesn't break the record even though he ran 9.83 into a wind.
*Jamal's Dominating 1500m Win the Distance Highlight of Day 1 of 2007 World Athletics Final
This meet is set to reward the top performers of 2007. You can tell who the true stars are, at least financially, by looking at who skips the meet and the chance to pocket $30,000 for the win (Tirunesh Dibaba, Jermey Wariner, Bernard Lagat)

*Reuters Recap of Day 1 of World Athletics Final
*Marek Plawgo of Poland Wins 400m Hurdles at WAF

*Asafa Powell Wins 100m at 2007 World Athletics Final (AFP Recap of Meet with 2 Photos)

*
Live Audio Stream Saturday and Sunday of World Athletics Final IAAF

Leonard Mucheru Wants His Kenyan Citizenship Back

Maria Mutola May Miss Event In Kenya Next Weekend With Injury

Wednesday's Action: Asafa Powell Runs 10.12 in Poland
*Pedro's Cup Results (Jeremy Wariner 44.43)

*Photo of Powell in Poland

Past Champions Abdirahman, Browne Headline USA Men's 10 Mile Championship Next Month in Minneapolis

LetsRun.com
Wisconsin Men, Stanford Women #1 in 2007 LetsRun.com NCAA PreSeason XC Super Polls
Both teams were #1 all of last year until nationals where the Colorado Buffaloes upset the #1 ranked Badgers. See the preseason national, conference, and regional predictions.

$30,000 First Prizes on Tap at This Weekend's World Athletics Final IAAF

LaSalle Bank Announces 2007 Chicago Women's Field: Benita Johnson Headlines
*athy Butler and Liz Yelling Running Chicago Marathon

Steve Cram Says World Athletics Final Doesn't Serve Much Purpose Guardian

For Oregon Ducks With Everyone Back But One from Last Year's 5th Place Team Expectations are High And they added Chad Hall and Centro Jr.

Ndereba Gets Promotion in Kenyan Prisons Service

Golden League
Berlin: Isinbayeva, Richards Win $500,000 Each
*Results
There wasn't a lot of drama as Richards ran another World leader and dominated with Allyson Felix back at USC. In other action, Bernard Lagat got beat by Daniel Komen in the 1500, Allen Johnson showed he still has it in the hurdles, and Janeth Jepkosgei got another win in the 800.
*Sanya Richards and Isinbayeva Content to Share $1 Million IAAF
*
Susanna Kallur Wins Hurdles in Berlin, Wants to Get Swedish Record IAAF
*
Richards and Isinbayeva's Road to Jackpot
*World Champ Christine Ohuruogu a Distant Second in 400 in BerlinTimes of London

Sad News: The Man Responsible For Possibly More World Records/Olympic Medals Than Anyone In Track History Has Died Dr. J. W. Eschbach has succumbed to lung cancer at age 74. Eschbach is the one that discovered that EPO plays a huge role in red-blood cell production and led the clinical trials of the first EPO drug. Message board thread here

Paul Tergat Calls On Athletics Kenya To Have Full Time Coaches So Kenyans Won't Have To Train Abroad

Craig Mottram Says Hamstring Is What Caused his Debacle at Worlds It seems like instead of his coach talking about the heat causing Mottram's problems it would have been much easier to tell the truth at Worlds instead of misleading everyone for 2 weeks.

Jaouad Gharib, Felix Limo, and Evans Rutto Headline 30th LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Robert Cheruiyot, the world's top marathoner is not on the list, but if he runs, it should be a sick sick race.

London Champ Martin Lel, London Runner Up Goumri To Race at 2007 ING NYC Marathon Remember the days when NY was 2nd class to Chicago?
*Video: Watch the Incredible Sprint Finish in London this Year (Final Quarter Mile of arguably the greatest men's marathon ever)

Rieti Results
Asafa Powell 9.74 WR He did it in a semifnal heat, letting up before the finish. He had a nice wind and some slight altitude, but he wasn't even trying to set the record. It's really anticlimatic to see a WR in a semi of some meet a week after he should have run fast and when he wasn't even trying to run his fastest.
*Rieti: Recap Asafa Powell Runs 9.74, Janet Jepkosgei Runs 1:56.29 IAAF

Mesage board threads:

*Powell the best time trialist ever?
*Thread on the record
More Rieti: Rupp, A Goucher, Riley bomb in 3k Post Worlds blues
*Kara Goucher Continues Fine Form with 8:34 3k

World Champs Wrap Up
Great Read:
Tim Layden Writes a Worlds Recap: Allyson Felix 48. Relay, Seb Coe on Alan Webb, Mo Greene Update and Mor Layden takes issue with Lagat running for Kenya while a US citizen in 2004 (in actuality the US had 3 distance runners get medals in 2004, they only had 2 at Worlds). Others (including a Kenyan guy who emailed us today) are saying Lagat should have been DQd in the 5k for cutting off Kipchoge.
*Message board thread on Layden's article
*South African Editorial: Make Changes Now To Avoid Beijing Disaster
For the 4th time in 8 wchamps, SAfrica won a grand total of zero medals.
*Kenyan Editorial: This Is Why We Are Proud To Be Kenyans
The Kenyans had their finest major championship ever as they finished 2nd in the medal count. They rightly are proud (but apparently now want sprint and field event success as well).
*Uganda's Moses Kipsiro Is Happy With 5k Bronze
- The African champ won his country's 3rd ever medal by edging American Matt Tegenkamp
*Steve Cram: Osaka Was Better Than Expected For Britian

Worlds News:

*Results

Jeremy Wariner Leads US Men to 4*400 Gold as US Sweeps all 4 Relay Golds For First Time
*Video of Men's 4*400 Final

US Women Win 4*400 as Felix Gets 3rd Gold
*
Video of Women's 4*400

Men's 800
Yego Edges Reed

Unrabbited races often produce surprises but rarely so much so in the 800. The field went out in 55 seconds giving everyone a chance. Canada's Gary Reed had the lead the entire homestretch except for the last 3 feet as Alfred Kirwa Yego edged him by .01. The entire field finished within half a second of each other as Yego got the surprise win. Yego's highest finish this year in an international race was 5th before worlds.
*
Photo of Yego and Reed at Finish
*Video of Final 250 of Men's 800

Japan US Wins Men's 4*100
Tyson Gay Gets 3rd Gold

The hometown Japanese who have 0 medals at these championships (they did win the World Marathon Champs men's team title) ran faster than any winning team since the 2000 Olympics). The problem for the Japanese was that 4 teams ran sub 38 seconds, as the US held off an incredible anchor run by Asafa Powell to get the gold.

US Women Run World Leader to Edge Jamaicans in 4*100

Friday Distance Qualifying
800 Semis: Rashid Ramzi Bows Out

The defending champ did not make the final and neither did the Americans.
*2 Kenyans Bungei and Kirwa Make 800m Final

*2007 Word Leader Mbulaeni Mulaudzi Makes 800 Final
s

1500m Semis:
Americans Clement and Donohue failed to advance
More Distance News: *Craig Mottram Has a Traveling Hippie to Keep Him Company and Calm at Races He'll need all the help he can get trying to beat Lagat on Sunday.
*Martin Keino: Kenya Has Shown Dominance at Worlds

Cuban Yargelis Savigne Upsets Tatyana Lebedeva in Triple Jump The real question is Castro dead?

Thursday Distance Qualifying:
5000:
Tariku Bekele, Kipchoge Lead 5000m Qualifying as All 3 Americans Advance Adam Goucher even qualified despite kicking a lap early. (Slightly related: the IAAF should end qualifying on time in events above 800).
Ethiopian Perspective: Tariku Bekele and Abraham Cherkose negotiate tricky 5000m semis

800

*Round 1 of 800: Rashid Ramzi Runs, All the Favorites Advance The most exciting event at Worlds.

Jana Pittman Wins 400m Hurdles
*
Video of Jana Rawlinson Winning 400m Hurdles

Lagat Gets Gold
Webb 8th
The world's 2nd fastest ever at 1500m has been the bridesmaid twice and missed the last 2 World Championship. But on Wednesday he was golden as he powered down the final straight to capture the title as a slew of guys were in contention for the title. It was the first US 1500m title in 99 years. 2007 World leader Alan Webb faded to 8th during the final straight.
Alan Webb Quote
: "It was a colossal breakdown"
*Tim Layden Writes About the Dejection of Alan Webb and Stomach Problems That Plagued Lagat Earlier This Summer
*Philip Hersh: Did Webb's Desire to Get in Front Doom Him?

*Washington Post on Bernard Lagat and Webb
Washington Post

*IAAF Recap here. Letsun.com recap coming
*Quotes from top 4 (Ramzi said he had bad tactics)
*Photos

*
Video 1500: The Final lap of the men's 1500m

Previous Days Distance Action by Event:
Steeplechase:

Kipruto Shows There is Order in the World and Leads Kenyan 1-2-3 Sweep
No country dominates an event like Kenya does the steeplechase. Kenyan born athletes have every gold medal and 30 of the 39 total medals since 1988.
Women:Russia Goes 1-2 in Women's Steeplechase And that was e ven with Russian world record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina finishing 7th after fading off of her fast opening pace.
*Jepkorir Talks About her Bronze in Steeple, Admits Women's Steeple Isn't that Deep

Tirunesh Dibaba Survives Fall Retains Gold
Goucher Gets Bronze

A side stitch to Tirunesh Dibaba and a collision between the Ethiopians shook things up in the women's 10k and gave the opportunity for Kara Goucher to get the bronze. Dibaba fell off the pack, grabbed her side, and contemplated dropping out but stormed back to the victory. Goucher held off Jo Pavey for the bronze.

*Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden Writes about Goucher's Historic Medal
*Dibaba's Effort Is Herculean
*Britain's Jo Pavey Runs Race of Life But Finishes 4th in 10k Independent
*
Kara Goucher Talks About her Historic Bronze with Oregonian
"I thought, 'You know, a non-African is going to get a medal. Why can't it be me?'" Not sure why she fears the African women. 1 Kenyan woman has ever won a gold on the track. She should fear the Ethiopians.
*
Women's 10k Final: 2007 World Championship Women's 10k Preview: Dibaba Going for 9th World Crown at Age 21 Dibaba is truly incredible and only 21.

Luke Kibet Wins Marathon Kibet was unheralded coming in, but blew away the field for the win in the opressive heat. The hometown Japanese got the team gold as the World champs got underway.
LetsRun.com Previews (Plus Your Predictions):
*
Men's Steeplechase World Champs Preview: Can The Kenyans Sweep?
*On the boards:
Renato Canova Coach of Marathon Silver Medallist Shami Talks About Heat Specific Training They Did

Chicago Women
Holy &!&@
Adriana Pirtea Blows It

Adriana Pirtrea, a runner basically no one has heard of (including ourselves) (she did finish 2nd at an NCAA indoors once), was on her way to winning the Chicago Marathon. She had been clear of Berhane Adere for miles. Pirtrea, as she took the final turn, was high fiving the crowd. Little did she know that Adere had overcome whatever problems she had had and was quickly making up ground. When Juli Henner, the announcer, said Adere was 80 yards back with about a quarter to go and had no chance to catch her, we figured she actually had a chance because making up 15 seconds is not impossible in a quarter. Pirtrea never looked back and was strolling into the finish thinking about her career changing win. Meanwhile, Adere was in an all out sprint on the other side of the road. She flew by Pirtrea and Pirtrea had no chance to respond. A truly incredible turn of events.

More Marion Jones
*Victor Conte Says Marion Should Keep Medals
*Lamine Diack Blasts Marino Jones as One of the Biggest Frauds BBC

*Editorial: Ready Set Cheat, The IOC is In Trouble with Drug Cheat Thanou in Line to Get Marion's Medals Guardian

Previous:
Marion Jones Pleads Guilty, Apologizes and Cries She got herself in this mess but it is a sad tragedy.
*Video: Tearful Jones Apologizes/Retires
*Sally Jenkins Gives Jones Some Compassion Washington Post Jenkins explores the personal tragedy side of it all and actually has compassion for Marion. "Marion Jones swallowed steroids, and lied about it, and who knows if she's telling the whole truth now, when she says she didn't take them knowingly, but rather was given them by her coach, Trevor Graham. Frankly, it doesn't matter anymore. She's dead broke, her career is finished and she's facing a prison sentence....Other people may see a criminal in Jones, but all I see is a personal tragedy."
*Mike Rowbottom: A World Class Cheat The Independent Rowbotton correctly points out that Jones almost got a big drug ban at age 16.

*Sean Gregory Time: "So forget about track and field.. "In today's track world, as far as I'm concerned, you're practically guilty until proven innocent, and really, how can you prove you're innocent?"
*Talk About Ironic If Jones Is Stripped of Her 2000 Olympic 100 Meter Gold, Medal May End Up With Suspected Drug Cheat Ekaterina Thanou
*USATF's Craig Masback's Statement After Marion's Guilty Plea
*Owen Slot Of Tines of London Wonders If Marion Is Still Lying In Her Confession Letter Victor Conte Did Say She Knowingly Injected Drugs
*Victor Conte: Marion Jones is Not a Bad Person
New York Times

*Editorial: Track star owes apologies to more than her family and friends; she cheated her sport and her fans too
*Australian Olympic Head Says Athletes Who Marion Jones Cheated Will Never Get Justice www.news.com.au
*Marion Jones Always Adamant in Doping Denials Plus Victor Conte says the wisest thing we have ever seen him say: "We need to change the focus and put the spotlight upon Olympic governing body officials, owners of pro sports teams and players' union representatives — those that control the money in elite sport." USA Today
*Law Enforcement Sources Say Attention to Turn to Barry Bonds Next Nydailynews.com

Bulgarian 800 Meter Runner Tests Positive

Japanese Update: World Record Holder Wanjiru Out of NYC Due to Conflict With Toyota Corporate Team, Mekubo Mogusu Runs His 3rd Sub 1 Hour Half Marathon of 2007

Sunday is Final Day to Qualify for Men's Olympic Marathon Trials New York Times And the warm weather in Chicago is already freaking a lot of people out.

US 10 Mile Champs This Weekend A lot of US guys are using this as a tuneup for the Olympic Trials including favorite Abdi Abdirahman, Dan Browne, James Carney, and Ryan Shay.

Kenyan News:
*President Kibaki Honors World Champs Medallists in Eldoret
*President Kibaki Vows to Put in Tartan Track at Kip Keino Stadium in Eldoret
But it's election season so believe it when you see it.

Wallace Spearmon Runs 19.88, Gets Sprint Double, Xiang, Isinbayeva Win in Daegu S. Korea Worlds will be here in 2011.
*Daegu Results

Kenyan World Medallists to be Honored Today by Kenyan President Kibaki and be Given Cash

Adidas, Nike Ramping Up Business in China Ahead of 2008 Games

We're Not Joking: RunnersWorld with Extensive Olympic Marathon Trials Section The editor, Amby Burfoot, was a Boston Marathon champ back in the day, and has done a good job. You learn that Brian Sell looked good in the Olympic Trials simulator in Central Park, Khannouchi is fasting for Ramadan, Josh Cox is running 150 miles a week, and more.

Lengthy Video Interview With Gebrselassie with Sean Hartnett After His World Record Hartnett knows his stuff so we're sure this is a great interview without even watching it. Hartnett knows virtually every top runner in Kenya and Tergat turned to Hartnett for advice prior to moving to the marathon.

Revote: