by Larry EderAt the Reebok Boston Indoor, Alberto Salazar mentioned several times that he was very excited about how fast Galen Rupp would run at 5,000 meters this year. Well, it did not take long for Salazar’s view into the future became a reality.
Running within himself, as far back as fifth, Rupp hit two miles/3200 meters in 8:34.9 and the race was on. It came down to Bekana Daba of Ethiopia and Galen Rupp, and over the last two laps, Daba pushed and Rupp turned heads staying in the fight. Daba took the race, and world lead in 13:17.89 with Galen Rupp taking the American record in 13:18. 12 from Doug Padilla (1982), plus the collegiate and American collegiate records (Suliman Nyambui and Alberto Salazar, both, 1981, 13.20.24 and 13.22.26)!
Here is what Galen had to say after his race to USATF:
“Coming in, I was confident because I have been running well the last couple weeks. I was really looking forward to this event because the 5K and 10K are my bread-and-butter.The first part of the race I was pretty relaxed. But I knew the two Ethiopians would run in the low 13s, so the pace was bound to get faster. I had to turn into a bit of a sprinter the last couple laps…..(On setting a new collegiate record) “Anytime you set a record it’s special. They’re all great to me. With about two laps to go I knew about how fast I had to run. I didn’t focus on it too long though because I had a race to run.”
The truth is, Mr. Rupp is coming along just fine. Little by little, he is improving his game, and as he said, the 5k and 10k are his ‘bread and butter” races. I , for one, am looking forward to some fast 10,000 meter races this spring!
Oh, and special congratulations to Shalonda Salomon for her blazing 36.45 for a new American record at 300 meters indoors at Tyson!
EME NEWS (FEB 14, 2009)
Bolt the best man and women shared
KINGSTON (JAM): Usain Bolt was named Sportsman of the Year 2008 in Jamaica, an award he said topped all he received for his breathtaking runs in Beijing.”This is No. 1,” he said. “It’s Jamaica and as I said it’s always good for your country to be recognized in this way.” Agencies are quoting him. It is another award for him after beeing Athlete of the Year by AIPS, IAAF, Track and Field News, BBC Overseas Sports Personality, L´Equipe, Eurosport, La Gazzetta dello Sport. Interestingly Olympic winners Veronica Campbell-Brown and Melaine Walker were both named Sportswomen of the Year. Olympic 100 m winner Shelly-Ann Fraser got the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the Jamaican public. Bolt is to run on Saturday the 400 m at Camperdown Classic what will be his first race of the year.
Vili wants to break 21 metres
WELLINGTON (NZL): Olympic winner and world champion in shot put Valerie Vili will start her road to the world championships in Berlin in August at The Trusts Stadium Waitakere next Friday (Feb 20). It will be the first competition of the season for Vili who has set herself a target this year of 21 metres and a successful defence of her world outdoor title. Informs New Zealand Athletics. Her best is so far 20.56 from Beijing Olympic gold competition. “I’m really looking forward to this year and the world championships. 2008 was a fantastic year for me but I have to continue to train hard if I want to be successful again this year. I’ve been back in training since October and at the moment my coach, my training group and I are putting in the hard work. We are always looking to improve my strength, power and technique,” said Vili. Athletics New Zealand are currently awaiting visa clearance for a high profile European athlete to compete against Vili in the shot put. Also expected to compete are Kristin Heaston of USA second at Waitakere last year with 17.66m and Tonga’s Ana Po’uhila, third last year 17.37 m.
World leading 5000 m for men and 200 m for women, Hoffa beats Nelson
FAYETTEVILLE (USA, Feb 13): The third stop of USA Track & Field’s 2009 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the Tyson Invitational registered three world leading marks (200 m women, 5000 m men, 4×400 m men) and two US indoor records (5000 m men, 300 m women). Some 4397 spectators saw 2008 Olympian Galen Rupp break the American Record in the men’s 5000 m, running 13:18.12 in finishing second to Ethiopia’s Bekana Daba (13:17.89 world lead). The previous American record of 13:20.55 was set by Doug Padilla in 1982, four years before Rupp was born. Rupp’s performance also was a collegiate record, breaking Suleiman Nyambui’s record of 13:20.4 from 1981 and Alberto Salazar’s American Collegiate record of 13:22.6 from 1981. Informs USATF. Under 13:20 also third Kenyan Sam Chelanga (13:19.79). 2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 200m champion Shalonda Solomon set an American record in the women’s 300m, leading wire-to-wire, to finish in 36.45. The previous accepted American record of 36.67 was set in 2007 by Francena McCorory. Monica Hargrove was the runner-up in 36.85. Solomon´s mark is the second fastest of the year. 2008 NCAA Indoor champion and Collegiate record-holder Bianca Knight easily won the women’s 200m in a world-leading 22.88. On the men’s side, Chris Berrian was the winner in 20.67 PB (second fastest of the year) with Michael Rodgers the runner-up in 20.83 after Lionel Larry and Chris Lawson were disqualified for lane violations. Olympic silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski won the women’s pole vault with 453 and 463 first time clearances and missed only at new US record height 483. Olympic 2000 winner Stacy Dragila was second (453). Shot put ended in usual dramatic style when Adam Nelson took the lead in third round (21.01) and Reese Hoffa bettered him in last fourth (21.06). Also over 20 metres Russ Winger (20.42), Dan Taylor (20.30) and Cory Martin (20.22). Olympian Nick Symmonds went out in his usual style, sitting in the back of the pack for the first half of the men’s 800m and with fast finish won in 1:47.72 ahead of Khadevis Robinson (1:47.76). Hurdles world leader Terrence Trammell confirmed his great shape with 6.56 60 m win (hurdles were not in the programme) beating world leader Michael Rodgers (6.58). In strong field Ivory Williams was third in 6.59 ahead of Travis Padgett (6.63), Trindon Holliday (6.64), Darvis Patton (6.68) and Shawn Crawford (6.74). Four-time 2006 NCAA champion Xavier Carter won the 400 m in 46.98. World 100 m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter won the 60 m in 7.20 also beating a strong field (Bianca Knight 7.26, Gloria Asumnu 7.26, Lisa Barber 7.28, Muna Lee 7.28). Olympic trials steeplechase champion Anna Willard was the best in the women’s mile (4:30.69, second Kenyan collegiate Sally Kipyego 4:32.01). 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Nick Willis of New Zealand won the mile in 4:02.70 over Chris Lukezic (4:03.87). Georgia won the men’s 4x400m in world leading 3:07.96.
US FRIDAY ROUND-UP (Charfreitag WT world lead, Cullen excellent 3000 m, 400 m world lead equalled)
FAYETTEVILLE: In college programme at Tyson Invitational Torrin Lawrence equalled the world lead of Ireland´s David Gillick from Dusseldorf with 46.18. Seven runners went sub 47 seconds. World youth triple jump champion 2007 and still a junior Christian Taylor for first time in his career achieved 8+ mark with 802 in last attempt of Long jump. In 60 m D´Angelo Cherry achieved 6.64 win in consolation race.
FINDLAY: At Findlay Open new world lead in weight throw by Slovak Olympic finalist Libor Charfreitag with 24.39 m and he beat the best US A.G. Kruger who achieved 23.64 (but has 24.11 this year).
CLEMSON: Jamaican Eric Keddo improved hugely to 7.65 at 60 m Hurdles here. His previous PB was 7.80 from 2007.
BOSTON: It looks like the 26 years old Irish runner Mary Cullen would be able this year in Torino improve on her 7th place from Birmingham 2007. It is because at Valentine Invitational she improved dramatically to excellent 8:43.74 at 3000 m. Her outdoor best is 8:48.17 in 2007. It is also new Irish record, the former held by Sonia O´Sullivan who clocked 8:44.37 at World Indoors 2001 in Lisbon. Only Meseret Defar and Anna Alminova were this year faster in Stuttgart.
COLLEGE STATION: Some interesting marks at Texas AM Invitational first day. US Virgin Islands Laverne Jones-Ferrette clocked good 52.38 at 400 m, the same good quality 46.58 for Kelly Willie in men´s 400 m. Jeneba Tarmoh clocked 23.31 in 200 m and Gerald Phiri of Zambia 6.67 in 60 m heats. Aries Merritt registered 7.68 in 60 m Hurdles heats and world leader Murielle Ahoure got 7.24 in women´s 60 m heats. Australian Fabrice Lapierre who is Commonwealth medalist started the indoor campaign with 802 leap and missed his indoor PB only by 2 cm.
MARATHON NEWS
ROMA (ITA): Marathon runner Alberico Di Cecco had his doping ban confirmed for two years by Italian olympic committee CONI. He was positive at EPO. The 34 years old runner was 9th at Olympic Games in Athens. His best is 2:08:02 from winning the Roma Marathon in 2005.
BONN (GER): The organisers of Bonn Marathon (April 26) announced that last year winner Vincent Kipchirchir of Kenya will come again. The aim is to break 2:12.
ROTTERDAM (NED): The organisers of Rotterdam Marathon (April 5) set the goal to break the existing course record what means to run faster than 2:05:49. The main contender should be last year title winner William Kipsang and another Kenyan Abel Kirui who has 2:06:51 from Berlin 2007. Interesting debut is planned for Patrick Makau, one of the best half-marathoners with 58:56 PB and seven sub one hour clockings. Another debutante will be Joseph Maregu with three sub one hour times (best of 59:45). Dutch runners Luc Krotwaar, Koen Raymaekers and Sander Schutgens aim in Rotterdam to qualify for World Championships in Berlin.
LAGOS (NGR): World half marathon champion Lornah Kiplagat should compete for first time this year next Saturday (Feb 21) at Lagos Half-Marathon in Nigeria. Initially also Haile Gebrselassie was on the start list, but as he will run in March Den Haag half-marathon, he will come only as guest. The main names for men race are Marathon world champion Luke Kibet and South African Hendrick Ramaala.
NAIROBI (KEN): Legendary Paul Tergat, and current world champion Catherine Ndereba are among top athletes lined up for this year’s Safaricom Lewa marathon. Informs Kenyan The Nation. The marathon, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will take place on Saturday, June 27, at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu District and has so far already received more than 13.9 million Kenyan Shilling in sponsorship. Title sponsors, Safaricom, announced a 8 million sponsorship of the marathon during a ceremony held this week. Huawei, Nokia Siemens, Ericsson and National Oil are some of the top sponsors of the event. The Internally Displaced Persons are among the beneficiaries of the 30 million shillings raised during last year’s race.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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