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The Week That Was Page 2
February 19, 2008
Page 2 of 2 - Previous Page
We recap the rest of the week's action around the globe thumbs up/thumbs down style.
Thumbs Up
(Photo by PhotoRun.net)
To Switzerland's Viktor Rothlin for yet another great run in the marathon. The Swiss star, who first made his mark in a major way by winning the silver at the European championships in 2006, seems to be consistently getting better. In 2007, he got the bronze at worlds and this week he started 2008 with a win and Swiss record at the Tokyo Marathon with a stellar 2:07:23. Very impressive.
However, the LetsRun.com Performance of the Week has to go to Japan's Arata Fujiwara who set a nearly 30 minute PR (29:57) to get 2nd overall in Tokyo in 2:08:40 (2:38:37 was his previous best) and likely earn himself an Olympic spot. This website's motto is "Where your dreams become reality." Clearly that was the case here. Again, think about it. A 30 minute PR and an Olympic spot. It doesn't get any better than that!!!
*Switzerland's Viktor Rothlin Wins & Sets New Swiss Record of 2:07:23!
*2008 Tokyo Marathon Messageboard Thread Here
Thumbs Down
To Roger Clemens. Taking drugs is bad enough. Lying about it under oath to Congress is even worse. Roger Clemens tried to 'save' his reputation by testifying under oath this week at a Congressional hearing. He came across as evasive and dishonest. Hopefully he will be prosecuted for perjury.
To read more about Clemens' sad day in front of Congress, we encourage you to read the following:
Rojo's Editorial: Roger Clemens - Drug Cheat and A Liar
*Body Language Expert Says Clemens Came Off Looking the Worst ESPN.com
*ESPN Video Of Body Language Expert
*Clemens' Incredibly Unpersuasive Testimony to Congress Nice Read in Slate.com
*New York Times Talks About Abscess on Roger Clemens Ass New York Times
*MRI Testimony Seems to Hurt Clemens New York Times
*Did Clemens Try and Influence the Testimony of His Ex Nanny?
Thumbs Up
Wejo A Great Spotter of Talent
To Kenya teenage sensation Asbel Kiprop. Kiprop set the world on fire in 2007 and looks to be the world's next big star. In 2007, he won his first race, it was a small race called the World Cross Country Junior Championships. He then followed that up with a 4th place finish at the world championships in the 1,500, after his much talked about finger wagging victory over Alan Webb in the quarterfinals. Given the fact that Kenya has been unstable in 2008 and Kiprop is only 18, it was easy to wonder if Kiprop wasn't training properly in this Olympic year.
Apparently, no need to worry. Kiprop won his 2008 debut by winning the regional champs in Eldoret - out-sprinting Hosea Macharinyang who was top 5 in the senior world's xc champs last year.
*Kiprop Wins Regional Championships
Thumbs Down
To LetsRun.com viewers (and co-founders (not Wejo, he says he voted multiple times for Ritz as the winner) for having such little faith in Dathan Ritzenhein. Only 31% of people picked him to win the 2008 US Cross Country Championships - almost twice as many picked Ryan Hall to win. From now until he retires, everyone needs to promise to remember that Ritz was made for xc. He's a cross-country phenom and should always be at least even money to win US championships.
Thumbs Up
To anti-gravity treadmill maker Alter-G . The anti-gravity treadmill seems to be made for the injury prone Dathan Ritzenhein. It's not that he seems to be staying a whole lot healthier nw under the tutelage of Brad Hudson than he was in college. It's just that now unlike before he can train through his injuries. Ritz told LetsRun.com correspondent Stephen Bakke the at USAs that he's run a grand total of "106 miles on the ground in the last month." The rest of his training has been done the Alter-G. Unbelievable. The machine clearly is saving his career.
*Dathan Ritzenhein Testimonial To Alter-G
Quote of the Week
 Kenny B
We're not making this up. From the greatest runner currently on the planet:
"The weather conditions were very difficult. It was windy. I could feel it while running on one side of the track. Maybe there was a window open?"
-Kenenisa Bekele after missing the world record in the 3k in Valencia, Spain.
*Bekele Says Wind Prevented Him From Indoor World Record Attempt Last Weekend
Thumps Up Coach McDonnell
And while we're giving praise for quotes we have to give praise to one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, John McDonnell. Too many coaches never say what they really think or always try and put a positive spin on things. Not McDonnell. Perhaps that is why he's won more national championships than anyone. It's refreshing to hear a coach (or an athlete for that matter) say something honest and of substance to the press. Here's what McDonnell said after the Tyson Invite about his team's subpar performance:
Got an opinion, news, info, or results? How about a name for our column? "The Week That Was" is not too catchy. Email us at letsrun@letsrun.com
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