Quote of the Day

Tyson Gay: "We're running a track meet Saturday. You don't know any of the athletes? A lot of big names."

Security Guard: "I know Usain Bolt."

- NY Times article on Saturday's Reebok Grand Prix in NYC (if you'd been coming to LetsRun.com all week you should have won 1 of 50 free tickets on the finishing straight). The article focuses on Usain Bolt who isn't even running in the meet. The meet does however have stacked fields and perhaps the best 5k in the US outside of the Olympics.

Reebok GP Is Saturday In NYC *Meet Website/Results *TV Reminder: Live on NBC 4:30-6:00 EST

LRC Preview: The Stars Indeed Come To New York Once Again We do our best to preview this meet but it would take days to properly preview all of the events. This sick meet has the following names: Alan Webb, Micah Kogo, Gebre-Gebremarian, Bernard Lagat, Tirunesh Dibaba, Kim Smith, Linet Masai, Jeremy Wariner, Asafa Powell, LaShawn Merritt, Kerron Clement, Tyson Gay, the X-Man, Wallace Spearmon, Veronica Campbell-BrownAllyson Felix, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Khadevis Robinson, Boaz Lalang, Nate Brannen and others, including HSer Chelsey Sveinsson and Liberty's Sam Chelanga.
*Dibaba's Race In NY Is Her First Since Double Golds In Olympics
*Asafa Powell Warns Usain Bolt Not To Rest On His Laurels
Previous:
Nice Profile: With Centro In Her Corner, American Miler Lindsey Gallo Is Focused On Worlds
Gallo: "It was difficult leaving Mike, he was my coach for eight years, but I felt like it was time to leave Ann Arbor just to see if I could motivate myself and get the spark back in my training."
Lots Of Press Conference Related News *Video: Press Conference Highlights

*USA Today: Healthy Tyson Gay Excited To Run 200 Meters At Reebok
*AP Preview: Lauryn Williams Still Trying To Overcome Jamaicans And "Voodoo Doll" Comment Apparently a lot of the islanders took great offense to Williams' comment about what was the difference between the US & Jamaican sprinters in Beijing. Also Tyson Gay slams the US-Jamaica sprint rivalry idea.
*IAAF Preview: Gay & Powell Want Your Attention Tyson Gay faces Jeremy Wariner and Wallace Spearmon in the 200 as Powell runs the 100m.
*MBoard Talk About Who Will Win Men's 5k
*Kennedy's 5K AR To Go At Reebok On Sunday?
Free Ticket Giveaway Each Day On LRC Click here for more info. Final 5 pairs of tix available Friday. Friday's Question is now up.

Recommended Read: Reuters Profile Of Zersenay Tadese - The Man Who Is Bigger In Eritrea Than David Beckham Is In Britian The guy has had a remarkable journey. He started as a cyclist and now is known as the former world XC champ but in his first international XC race, he didn't even know to start when the gun went off.

Sad News: Upstate New York Running Columnist Diane Sherrer Loses Battle With Cancer

Oregon News

Only at Oregon could a guy who is top 10 at NCAAs in cross be considered overshadowed
*Oregonian Eugene Register Guard "Overshadowed" Shadrack Biwott Coming Into Fine Form At Right Time The guy had a hell of a PAC-10 meet as he lost to an Olympian in the 10k by two seconds before losing the 5k to the collegiate leader by .06.
*Nice Oregonian Eugene Register Guard Article On Whether Regionals Are Good Or Bad For Track Dan Steele bashes the format while Vin Lananna gives a more measured response (he used to coach the little guy at Dartmouth so we think he's staying true to his roots).
*Meet Director Expects Jelimo To Break Meet Record At 800 Although his comments came before her shocking loss last weekend.
*After Two-Year Hiatus, 400 Hurdles Will Be Back on Men's Side At Pre Classic With All 3 Olympic Medallists

Prospect That Wild Lion Might Eat You Made Richest Race Ever In Kenya "Exciting" Says Race Winner We didn't realize the Sotokoto race was held in a national park.

LRC Week That Was This week we give praise to Scott MacPherson, tell you why it may be okay to dislike the French after all, give you free coaching advice, and marvel at how a running book is actually on the New York Times Best Seller list. Speaking of NY, we also start to get ready for Reebok Grand Prix. Plus we announce the arrival of Deriba Merga as a true great, and mourn Pamela Jelimo's first-ever loss at 800.

The Link of The Day - A Must Click: All NCAA Regional Results - Evey By Event on Same Page
NCAA Regionals: Day 1: Big Shocker - Winner of Last Two NCAA Titles at 800, Jacob Hernandez, Is A No Show

Excellent Meet On Monday: Hengelo Meet: 3 Olympic Champs Square Off At 1,500: Kenenisa Bekele vs. Steeple Champ Brimin Kipruto vs. Asbel Kiprop At 1,500, Plus Gebrselassie, Olympic 1,500m Champ Nancy Lagat, Saladino And Kaki  Gebrselassie is going for his 1 hour world record, but the best race by far is the men's 1,500. The article somehow glosses over the fact that Kiprop is the favorite in the 1,500.

Friday Action: World Marathon Champ Luke Kibet Wins Sprint Finish At Kenya Prisons 10k Championship

This Weekend:

Upcoming:

Thursday:

Nike Mile: Nick Symmonds Opens Outdoor Season With 1:46 Four elite events were held on the Nike campus and Kara Goucher ran the 800/mile double 15 minutes apart. Her husband Adam ran in the men's mile.
*Video
*Message Board Thread

Jeremy Wariner And LaShawn Merritt Please Brace Yourselves
Usain Bolt: "I want the 400m world record."
What a great piece as Bolt finally seems motivated to attack the 400 next year. He says he's even willing to lose out on the 100 meters if that's what it takes.
Right On! IAAF Says They May Change Olympic Schedule To Allow Bolt To Do 100, 200, 400 Triple IAAF: '"If Usain continues to do amazing things, is super motivated, we'd be insane not to consider it."

Son Of London Marathon Director To Be Paced at Rock 'N Roll Marathon By Ryan Hall (and Josh Cox) As He Tries To Beat His Dad In A Bet We love the British. Over a pint, Tom Bedford bet his dad he could run 2:25 in the marathon. Not sure if his dad knew he'd get some awesome help. Plus he's raising a lot of money for charity in the process.
*Interview With Dave Bedford's Son

It's Official: Sammy Wanjiru Withdraws From Worlds To Go After WRecord At Berlin Marathon Kenya's replacement for Wanjiru - 4-time Boston winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, who was an alternate. Insane.

Freihofers Run For Woman Is Saturday In Albany
*IAAF: Benita Johnson's Quest For 4-Peat To Be Challenged By Very Tough Field Led By Teyba Erkesso Erkesso has been firing on all cylinders in 2009 as she won the Houston marathon in 2:24 as well as winning BOTH in Ottawa and San Francisco (Bay to Breakers) last weekend.
*RRW: Loaded Field To Challenge Johnson In Her Quest For Win #4
*Strong European Opposition To Battle Benita Johnson

Other News
*Big Stars, Led By Roman Sebrle, Ready For 2nd Stop On IAAF World Combined Events Challenge
*IAAF Recap Of 2nd Leg Of Asian GP
*Olympic Discus Champ Stephanie Brown Trafton Talks About Her World Leading PR In Her Online Diary

Ryan Hall Gets Advice From Stoned-Out Hippie

Warning: Don't Do The Triathlon: You are twice as likey to die doing that as a marathon

Busted Steroid Dealer Says He Dealt Drugs To Washington Nationals & Capitals Players "You name the sport, and I've sold steroids to athletes who play it."


NCAA Regionals Start Friday Afternoon

Amazing Page: All Regional Results On One Page
East Info
 *Live Results *Declared M *W *Heats M *W
West Info *Live Results *Declared M *W *Heats M *W
Mid-East Info *Live Results *Declared M *W *Heats M *W
Mid-West Info *Live Results *Declared M *W *Heats M *W
9 men in the West Region qualify for the 100m and 10 for the 400m compared to 32 and 33, respectively, in the East region. 8 women in the West 200m.
Where are the meets?
East: NC A&T. West: Oregon. Mid-East: Louisville. Mid-West: Oklahoma.