(6-28-09) Courtesy Running USA Wire #52-06-09, by Dan Cruz - On a day that dawned with clear blue skies, the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & Half Marathon lived up to the hype, kicking off the Seafair season and solidifying its place as a signature summer event in the Pacific Northwest. On Saturday, runners from all 50 states and 14 countries participated in the race, which highlighted some of the area's most scenic locations, including Lake Washington, awe-inspiring Mt. Rainier and Seattle's downtown skyline.
Highlights included, Kenya's Elija Nyabuti setting a new Washington state record for the half-marathon with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, 14 seconds and American Michelle Suszek winning the women's marathon in 2:38:37, a full four minutes faster than her previous best.
"I wanted to run my own race today and wanted to break the 2:40 mark," said Suszek, who entered the race just a week ago and recently started working with new coach Lyle Knudson after a disappointing finish in April's Country Music Marathon.
The top five finishers in the women's marathon were Americans. Two-time Chicago Marathon champion Berhane Adere of Ethiopia won the women's half-marathon in 1:11:19.
In the men's marathon, Kenyan Peter Omae won in 2:18:17. American Peter Gilmore finished second (2:18:52). Both men pushed the pace after a 10K split of 31:37, breaking away from the lead pack at mile 10. The duo ran shoulder-to-shoulder for the next 10 miles, before Omae pulled away with the lead and the win.
"The first opponent every marathoner has is the distance and the course itself," said Toni Reavis, who commentated during the event's live webcast on Competitor.com. "Because of the challenging nature of the Seattle course the runners had to make sure they handled the distance before trying to outrun their competition."
The unparalleled Seattle landscape made the 4th of 9 Rock 'n' Roll events in this year's series truly one-of-a-kind. The event successfully sold out its 25,000 slots a full two months before its June 27 running. The total number of finishers to cross the line in the parking lot of Quest Field was well over 20,000.
Participants of the race enjoyed a wide variety of entertainment along the tree-lined course, with bands selected by One Reel, a local music and entertainment service. The course, despite its hills and dips, proved to be the perfect combination in helping bring runners across the finish line in record numbers.
The 2nd Rock 'n' Roll Seattle is set for June 26, 2010.
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon
Seattle, WA, Saturday, June 27, 2009
MEN
1) Peter Omae, Kenya, 2:18:17
2) Peter Gilmore, USA, 2:18:52
3) David Kiprop Yego, Kenya, 2:19:23
WOMEN
1) Michele Suszek, USA, 2:38:37
2) Leah Thorvilson, USA, 2:38:49
3) Christine Glockenmeie, USA, 2:56:02
Half-Marathon
MEN
1) Elija Nyabuti, Kenya, 1:05:14*
2) Pat Rizzo, USA, 1:05:34
3) Rik Ceulemans, Belgium, 1:06:01
*Washington state record (previous, 1:05:43, Dave Mora (USA), 1994)
WOMEN
1) Berhane Adere, Ethiopia, 1:11:19
2) Nuta Olaru, Romania, 1:11:43
3) Isley Gonzalez, USA, 1:20:14
Deeper results at: www.RnRseattle.com
Goucher, Tegenkamp Defend USA 5000m Crowns
(6-28-09) Courtesy Running USA Wire #52-06-09, by Parker Morse - Kara Goucher successfully defended her 5000 meter national title from 2008 Friday evening, running 15:20.94 as part of her preparation for the World Championships marathon in August. Matt Tegenkamp, just a hundredth of a second away from a medal in the men's 5000m in 2007, will have another chance in 2009, as he also defended.
Goucher sharpens up
After a promising marathon season where she finished third in both the ING New York City Marathon last November and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon this April, Goucher entered the 5000m here hoping to both defend the national title she won in 2008 and sharpen her closing speed for her next marathon, at the World Championships in August in Berlin. Much like her training partners Amy Yoder Begley and Galen Rupp in Thursday evening's 10,000m finals, Goucher ran most of the race off the lead while Rebecca Donaghue led the pack through a 3:06.7 first kilometer and to 2K in 6:14.9.
Donaghue found no other takers as the pace lagged in the middle kilometers, and it was only when three-time Olympian Jen Rhines took over with three laps to go that the pack began to string out. Goucher was well back in the tightly-bunched pack at the time, but she covered Rhines' move immediately, and Rhines covered nearly two laps with Goucher close on her shoulder. Goucher burst to the front with 500 meters remaining, and that move proved to be the decisive one as she finished in 15:20.94 to Rhines' 15:26.92.
"I took a lot of inspiration" from Yoder Begley and Rupp's races, explained Goucher. "I told myself, Alberto coached them, he's coaching me. This has been a really challenging season for me. I wasn't beat up from Boston, it was the three months of training before Boston. I was trying to jump in to speed workouts with Amy [Begley], and she's in the best shape of her life."
"If I hadn't done these track races, I would not have realized how much I have to do before Berlin," she continued. "Also, to do these races, I had to sprint. I was afraid of the kick in Boston, and it cost me. I needed to be in races like these to prove to myself that I can finish quickly."
"We thought it would be tactical, so I stayed tucked in," said Rhines. "I knew when I went that it wasn't enough to drop Kara, but I was hoping I'd be able to run away from her. Pretty much every race I've run this year has been bad, but after Prefontaine we went to a week of therapy, and today I felt like myself again. I'm so relieved, and I'm going to be ready to run well in Berlin."
Behind the leaders, NCAA champion Angela Bizzarri of the University of Illinois ran down first Donaghue, then Julie Culley to take third in 15:33.02, leaving the team selection situation for Berlin in temporary disarray. Goucher will not run the 5000, and while Rhines has an "A" standard (sub-15:10.00), Bizzarri lacks even a "B" (sub-15:25.00). The only other "A" qualifier in the final was Sara Slattery, who finished 11th. Should she choose to, Bizzarri might chase the "B" standard and join the team with Rhines and Slattery; otherwise Culley or Donaghue may race themselves on to the team. The qualifying window will remain open for nearly a month.
OTC sweeps the men's team
The men's 5000 benefited from the determined presence of Anthony Famiglietti, last year's steeplechase national champion, who with Bolota Asmerom led a large pack through the early going. "Fam" was shadowed by the former Wisconsin teammates Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky (4th place finisher at last year's Olympic Trials). When Asmerom stepped up to take the pace from the flagging Famiglietti, both Tegenkamp and Solinsky moved to cover.
Clinging to those four was Tegenkamp and Solinsky's Oregon Track Club teammate Evan Jager, who forfeited his NCAA eligibility to follow coach Jerry Schumacher to Portland. Jager, benefiting from confidence born of training with Solinsky and Tegenkamp day after day, followed his older teammates around Asmerom when they began their final charge for home.
It was Tegenkamp who had the closing speed to win, pipping Solinsky 13:20.57 to 13:20.82. Jager followed them in at 13:22.18, with Asmerom fourth in 13:24.00.
"We were completely relaxed tonight, and ready to run faster," said Tegenkamp. "In a championship race you have to respond to whatever happens, and be in the top three."
The selection situation in the men's 5000m is confusing as well, although simpler than in the women's race. Solinsky and Famiglietti both have "A" standards, while Tegenkamp and Jager have "B" standards. Tegenkamp, Jager and Asmerom will be permitted to chase standards over the next month; if Tegenkamp improves to an "A", as seems likely, the top three finishers will be the team, but if none of the three improve, the team would be Solinsky, Famiglietti and Tegenkamp. Asmerom could claim a spot at Jager's expense if he runs an "A" and neither Tegenkamp nor Jager improve.
"By the middle of July it will be a lock," said Tegenkamp, "because I'll have the standard."
In fifth place, German Fernandez, 19, ran 13:25.46 to set a U.S. Junior record.
USA 5000m Championship - Friday, June 26, 2009
MEN
1) Matt Tegenkamp (OR), 13:20.57
2) Chris Solinsky (OR), 13:20.82
3) Evan Jager (OR), 13:22.18
4) Bolota Asmerom (CA), 13:24.00
5) German Fernandez (OK), 13:25.46*
*U.S. Junior record (previous, 13:29.98, Chris Derrick, May 2, 2009)
WOMEN
1) Kara Goucher (OR), 15:20.94
2) Jen Rhines (CA), 15:26.92
3) Angela Bizzarri (IL), 15:33.02
4) Julie Culley (VA), 15:33.92
5) Rebecca Donaghue (PA), 15:36.09
Complete results at: www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAOutdoorTFChampionships
Goucher sharpens up
After a promising marathon season where she finished third in both the ING New York City Marathon last November and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon this April, Goucher entered the 5000m here hoping to both defend the national title she won in 2008 and sharpen her closing speed for her next marathon, at the World Championships in August in Berlin. Much like her training partners Amy Yoder Begley and Galen Rupp in Thursday evening's 10,000m finals, Goucher ran most of the race off the lead while Rebecca Donaghue led the pack through a 3:06.7 first kilometer and to 2K in 6:14.9.
Donaghue found no other takers as the pace lagged in the middle kilometers, and it was only when three-time Olympian Jen Rhines took over with three laps to go that the pack began to string out. Goucher was well back in the tightly-bunched pack at the time, but she covered Rhines' move immediately, and Rhines covered nearly two laps with Goucher close on her shoulder. Goucher burst to the front with 500 meters remaining, and that move proved to be the decisive one as she finished in 15:20.94 to Rhines' 15:26.92.
"I took a lot of inspiration" from Yoder Begley and Rupp's races, explained Goucher. "I told myself, Alberto coached them, he's coaching me. This has been a really challenging season for me. I wasn't beat up from Boston, it was the three months of training before Boston. I was trying to jump in to speed workouts with Amy [Begley], and she's in the best shape of her life."
"If I hadn't done these track races, I would not have realized how much I have to do before Berlin," she continued. "Also, to do these races, I had to sprint. I was afraid of the kick in Boston, and it cost me. I needed to be in races like these to prove to myself that I can finish quickly."
"We thought it would be tactical, so I stayed tucked in," said Rhines. "I knew when I went that it wasn't enough to drop Kara, but I was hoping I'd be able to run away from her. Pretty much every race I've run this year has been bad, but after Prefontaine we went to a week of therapy, and today I felt like myself again. I'm so relieved, and I'm going to be ready to run well in Berlin."
Behind the leaders, NCAA champion Angela Bizzarri of the University of Illinois ran down first Donaghue, then Julie Culley to take third in 15:33.02, leaving the team selection situation for Berlin in temporary disarray. Goucher will not run the 5000, and while Rhines has an "A" standard (sub-15:10.00), Bizzarri lacks even a "B" (sub-15:25.00). The only other "A" qualifier in the final was Sara Slattery, who finished 11th. Should she choose to, Bizzarri might chase the "B" standard and join the team with Rhines and Slattery; otherwise Culley or Donaghue may race themselves on to the team. The qualifying window will remain open for nearly a month.
OTC sweeps the men's team
The men's 5000 benefited from the determined presence of Anthony Famiglietti, last year's steeplechase national champion, who with Bolota Asmerom led a large pack through the early going. "Fam" was shadowed by the former Wisconsin teammates Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky (4th place finisher at last year's Olympic Trials). When Asmerom stepped up to take the pace from the flagging Famiglietti, both Tegenkamp and Solinsky moved to cover.
Clinging to those four was Tegenkamp and Solinsky's Oregon Track Club teammate Evan Jager, who forfeited his NCAA eligibility to follow coach Jerry Schumacher to Portland. Jager, benefiting from confidence born of training with Solinsky and Tegenkamp day after day, followed his older teammates around Asmerom when they began their final charge for home.
It was Tegenkamp who had the closing speed to win, pipping Solinsky 13:20.57 to 13:20.82. Jager followed them in at 13:22.18, with Asmerom fourth in 13:24.00.
"We were completely relaxed tonight, and ready to run faster," said Tegenkamp. "In a championship race you have to respond to whatever happens, and be in the top three."
The selection situation in the men's 5000m is confusing as well, although simpler than in the women's race. Solinsky and Famiglietti both have "A" standards, while Tegenkamp and Jager have "B" standards. Tegenkamp, Jager and Asmerom will be permitted to chase standards over the next month; if Tegenkamp improves to an "A", as seems likely, the top three finishers will be the team, but if none of the three improve, the team would be Solinsky, Famiglietti and Tegenkamp. Asmerom could claim a spot at Jager's expense if he runs an "A" and neither Tegenkamp nor Jager improve.
"By the middle of July it will be a lock," said Tegenkamp, "because I'll have the standard."
In fifth place, German Fernandez, 19, ran 13:25.46 to set a U.S. Junior record.
USA 5000m Championship - Friday, June 26, 2009
MEN
1) Matt Tegenkamp (OR), 13:20.57
2) Chris Solinsky (OR), 13:20.82
3) Evan Jager (OR), 13:22.18
4) Bolota Asmerom (CA), 13:24.00
5) German Fernandez (OK), 13:25.46*
*U.S. Junior record (previous, 13:29.98, Chris Derrick, May 2, 2009)
WOMEN
1) Kara Goucher (OR), 15:20.94
2) Jen Rhines (CA), 15:26.92
3) Angela Bizzarri (IL), 15:33.02
4) Julie Culley (VA), 15:33.92
5) Rebecca Donaghue (PA), 15:36.09
Complete results at: www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAOutdoorTFChampionships
Rupp Pleases Hometown Fans, Wins 10k at USATF Outdoor Champs
(6-26-09) From USATF Press Release - In his last ever race in a University of Oregon singlet, 2008 NCAA Cross Country champ, and 2009 5,000m and 10,000m winner Galen Rupp battled two-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein most of the way in the 10,000m final, until Rupp broke away with 150 meters to go before winning the race in 27:52.53.
Ritzenhein punched his ticket for a second World Outdoor Championship with his runner-up finish in 27:58.59, and Oregon TC Elite member and 2008 Olympic Trials tenth place finisher Tim Nelson finished third in 28:01.34.
Ritzenhein punched his ticket for a second World Outdoor Championship with his runner-up finish in 27:58.59, and Oregon TC Elite member and 2008 Olympic Trials tenth place finisher Tim Nelson finished third in 28:01.34.
Oregon's Semick named Athlete of the Week After Winning 100k World Title
(6-25-09) From USATF Press Release - Kami Semick has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the individual title Saturday at the IAU 100 km World Cup in Torhout, Belgium.
Semick dominated the women's race, pulling away early to win by just over nine minutes, running 7 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds. Her win helped lead the Team USA women to the team gold medal.
Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 27, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 17, Galen Rupp; June 24, Kami Semick.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
Semick dominated the women's race, pulling away early to win by just over nine minutes, running 7 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds. Her win helped lead the Team USA women to the team gold medal.
Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; April 1, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 27, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 17, Galen Rupp; June 24, Kami Semick.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
Half Marathon Race Headlines Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Seattle
(6-23-09) From Press Release - An international field of Olympic athletes will take to the roads of the Pacific Northwest Saturday for the Inaugural running of the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon and 1/2 Marathon, a Seafair Signature Event.
The women's professional field will be lead by former 10,000m World Champion Berhane Adere of Ethiopia. Adere, who will compete in the ½ marathon, won back-to-back Chicago Marathons in 2006-07 and was the winner of the Dubai Marathon last year. She holds a half-marathon PR of 1 hour, 8 minutes, 17 seconds and is looking to challenge the Washington State record of 1:10:08 set in 1990 by Lisa Weidenbach, the last American to win the Boston Marathon.
"We are delighted to have an athlete of Berhane's caliber come to Seattle," said Matt Turnbull, Athlete Coordinator for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. "She is in fantastic condition and we expect her championship form to carry through in what is shaping up to be a great contest on June 27th."
Romanian Nuta Olaru, winner of the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio last November and two-time L.A. Marathon runner-up, joins Adere amongst the favorites in the women's 1/2 marathon.
The men's 1/2 marathon field is lead by former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat. A two-time Olympic silver medalist, Tergat, 40, won Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan earlier this year and was the first runner in history to run a sub-2:05 marathon with a then record setting time of 2:04:55 in 2003. Tergat will be challenged by fellow Kenyans Nicolas Koech and Elijah Nyabuti. Koech won the Prague 1/2 Marathon in March with a time of 1:00:07. Nyabuti, 29 owns a 1/2 marathon PR of 1:01:19. The half-marathon record for the State of Washington is 1:05:43 set by American Dave Mora in 1994.
Challenging the East Africans in the 13.1-mile road race, will be the Pacific Northwest's own Mark Mandi and Sean Sundwall. Mandi, a 2006 graduate of the University of Washington where he ran track and cross country, has won multiple road races around the region including the individual championship in the 2004 Sundodger Invitational and the 2005 Charles Bowles Invitational. He helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA Championships in 2003 and 2005 as a co-captain of the cross country team. His 1/2 marathon PR of 1:06:37 was set in 2007 in Eugene.
Sundwall, winner of the 2008 Tacoma Half Marathon, is a resident of Snoqualmie, WA and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials. He won the Newport Marathon in Oregon last year with a time of 2:22:47, breaking the course record by four minutes.
Rounding out the men's half marathon field is four-time Belgian half marathon champion Rik Ceulemans, who owns a personal best of 1:02:07 over the distance.
The marathon field will be lead by Americans Mark Batres and Andy Martin. Batres, a five-time All American at Cal Poly Pomona, has a PR of 2:19:07 set in 2007 when he finished second at the Las Vegas Marathon. He won the Santa Barbara Wine Country ½ Marathon last month in 1:05:45, breaking the course record by over a minute. Martin set his marathon PR of 2:20:04 back in 1999 and won the hilly Big Sur Marathon in 2:29:50 last year.
Other contenders in the marathon field include Kenyan trio of David Kiprop Yego, Jynocel Basweti and Zach Nymbaso, all of whom are capable of claiming victory. Basweti, 22, trains in New Mexico and won the Quad Cities, Denver and SunTrust Richmond Marathons in 2008. His PR of 2:14:02 at the Austin Marathon was one of the fastest marathon times on U.S. soil in 2007.
The favorite in the women's marathon field is American Leah Thorvilson of Little Rock, AR. She has already won two marathons this year, in Green Bay (2:37:55) and Little Rock (2:44:19).
The entire field of elite runners will be introduced at a local press conference on Thursday afternoon at 1:00pm. The media event will be held in the clinic area of the Health & Fitness Expo at the Qwest Event Center and moderated by acclaimed running broadcaster Toni Reavis.
About Rock 'n' Roll Seattle
The Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is part of a national series of eleven musically themed marathon and half-marathon events. The inaugural race sold-out with more than 25,000 participants and will feature over 45 live bands and thousands of cheerleaders along the marathon and half-marathon courses. Qwest Field will be the location of both the finish line and Health & Fitness Expo at the Qwest Event Center. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public, hosting over one hundred running and fitness retailers, exhibits and clinics. For more information, visit: www.RnRseattle.com
The women's professional field will be lead by former 10,000m World Champion Berhane Adere of Ethiopia. Adere, who will compete in the ½ marathon, won back-to-back Chicago Marathons in 2006-07 and was the winner of the Dubai Marathon last year. She holds a half-marathon PR of 1 hour, 8 minutes, 17 seconds and is looking to challenge the Washington State record of 1:10:08 set in 1990 by Lisa Weidenbach, the last American to win the Boston Marathon.
"We are delighted to have an athlete of Berhane's caliber come to Seattle," said Matt Turnbull, Athlete Coordinator for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. "She is in fantastic condition and we expect her championship form to carry through in what is shaping up to be a great contest on June 27th."
Romanian Nuta Olaru, winner of the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio last November and two-time L.A. Marathon runner-up, joins Adere amongst the favorites in the women's 1/2 marathon.
The men's 1/2 marathon field is lead by former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat. A two-time Olympic silver medalist, Tergat, 40, won Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan earlier this year and was the first runner in history to run a sub-2:05 marathon with a then record setting time of 2:04:55 in 2003. Tergat will be challenged by fellow Kenyans Nicolas Koech and Elijah Nyabuti. Koech won the Prague 1/2 Marathon in March with a time of 1:00:07. Nyabuti, 29 owns a 1/2 marathon PR of 1:01:19. The half-marathon record for the State of Washington is 1:05:43 set by American Dave Mora in 1994.
Challenging the East Africans in the 13.1-mile road race, will be the Pacific Northwest's own Mark Mandi and Sean Sundwall. Mandi, a 2006 graduate of the University of Washington where he ran track and cross country, has won multiple road races around the region including the individual championship in the 2004 Sundodger Invitational and the 2005 Charles Bowles Invitational. He helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA Championships in 2003 and 2005 as a co-captain of the cross country team. His 1/2 marathon PR of 1:06:37 was set in 2007 in Eugene.
Sundwall, winner of the 2008 Tacoma Half Marathon, is a resident of Snoqualmie, WA and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials. He won the Newport Marathon in Oregon last year with a time of 2:22:47, breaking the course record by four minutes.
Rounding out the men's half marathon field is four-time Belgian half marathon champion Rik Ceulemans, who owns a personal best of 1:02:07 over the distance.
The marathon field will be lead by Americans Mark Batres and Andy Martin. Batres, a five-time All American at Cal Poly Pomona, has a PR of 2:19:07 set in 2007 when he finished second at the Las Vegas Marathon. He won the Santa Barbara Wine Country ½ Marathon last month in 1:05:45, breaking the course record by over a minute. Martin set his marathon PR of 2:20:04 back in 1999 and won the hilly Big Sur Marathon in 2:29:50 last year.
Other contenders in the marathon field include Kenyan trio of David Kiprop Yego, Jynocel Basweti and Zach Nymbaso, all of whom are capable of claiming victory. Basweti, 22, trains in New Mexico and won the Quad Cities, Denver and SunTrust Richmond Marathons in 2008. His PR of 2:14:02 at the Austin Marathon was one of the fastest marathon times on U.S. soil in 2007.
The favorite in the women's marathon field is American Leah Thorvilson of Little Rock, AR. She has already won two marathons this year, in Green Bay (2:37:55) and Little Rock (2:44:19).
The entire field of elite runners will be introduced at a local press conference on Thursday afternoon at 1:00pm. The media event will be held in the clinic area of the Health & Fitness Expo at the Qwest Event Center and moderated by acclaimed running broadcaster Toni Reavis.
About Rock 'n' Roll Seattle
The Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is part of a national series of eleven musically themed marathon and half-marathon events. The inaugural race sold-out with more than 25,000 participants and will feature over 45 live bands and thousands of cheerleaders along the marathon and half-marathon courses. Qwest Field will be the location of both the finish line and Health & Fitness Expo at the Qwest Event Center. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public, hosting over one hundred running and fitness retailers, exhibits and clinics. For more information, visit: www.RnRseattle.com
Oregon's Semick, U.S. Women Strike Gold at 100K World Cup in Belgium
(6-22-09) Courtesy Running USA Wire #50-06-09, by Dan Brannen - Kami Semick of Bend, Ore. early Saturday morning, June 20 became the second American, man or woman, to win a world ultramarathon title, taking control early and running away from the rest of the world's top women at the IAU 100K World Cup in 7 hours, 37 minutes, 24 second. Irina Vishnevskaya of Russia was a distant runner-up in 7:46:26. Semick, 43, made the only possible improvement she could have over her surprise silver medal at last year's version of the 62-mile world championship, and over the multi-loop course, she led the U.S. women to the second national team gold medal in U.S. history. Fellow Americans Devon Crosby-Helms and Meghan Arbogast placed 4th and 5th to seal the team victory for Team USA. The dominance of the U.S. distaff squad (taking 4 of the top 7 places) was the biggest surprise of the night, and rekindled memories of 1995, when the USA's Ann Trason, Donna Perkins and Chrissy Duryea similarly crushed the global women's national team field at the World Cup.
For the second straight year, multi-ultra national champion Michael Wardian of Arlington, Va. was the top U.S. man as he finished 6th in 6:53:17. Yasukazu Miyazato of Japan won the world title in 6:40:44 over Jonas Buud of Sweden who was a close runner-up (6:41:50). Miyazato, like Semick, led the way to his country's team title.
23rd IAU 100K World Cup
Torhout, BEL, Fri-Sat, June 19-20, 2009
WOMEN
1) Kami Semick (USA), 7:37:24
2) Irina Vishnevskaya (RUS), 7:46:26
3) Monica Carlin (ITA), 7:53:58
4) Devon Crosby-Helms (USA), 7:59:17
5) Meghan Arbogast (USA), 8:04:29
6) Helena Crossan (IRL), 8:04:40
7) Carolyn Smith (USA), 8:07:03
8) Branka Hajek (GER), 8:07:49
9) Mai Fujisawa (JPN), 8:08:48
10) Yoko Yamazawa (JPN), 8:10:05
Other U.S.
19) Connie Gardner (USA), 8:42:37
TEAM
1) USA, 23:41:10
2) Russia, 24:32:06
3) Japan, 24:41:21
MEN
1) Yasukazu Miyazato (JPN), 6:40:44
2) Jonas Buud (SWE), 6:41:50
3) Giorgio Calcaterra (ITA), 6:42:05
4) Marco Boffo (ITA), 6:45:39
5) Masakazu Takahashi (JPN), 6:51:18
6) Michael Wardian (USA), 6:53:17
7) Christophe Buquet (FRA), 6:55:46
8) Angel Jimenez (ESP), 6:55:59
9) Eric Legat (FRA), 6:57:07
10) Alexey Izmaylov (RUS), 6:58:46
Other U.S.
19) Todd Braje (USA), 7:15:13
34) Howard Nippert (USA), 7:40:06
55) Chad Ricklefs (USA), 8:17:31
TEAM
1) Japan, 20:31:01
2) Italy, 20:43:12
3) France, 21:00:46
Deeper results at: www.iau.org.tw
For the second straight year, multi-ultra national champion Michael Wardian of Arlington, Va. was the top U.S. man as he finished 6th in 6:53:17. Yasukazu Miyazato of Japan won the world title in 6:40:44 over Jonas Buud of Sweden who was a close runner-up (6:41:50). Miyazato, like Semick, led the way to his country's team title.
23rd IAU 100K World Cup
Torhout, BEL, Fri-Sat, June 19-20, 2009
WOMEN
1) Kami Semick (USA), 7:37:24
2) Irina Vishnevskaya (RUS), 7:46:26
3) Monica Carlin (ITA), 7:53:58
4) Devon Crosby-Helms (USA), 7:59:17
5) Meghan Arbogast (USA), 8:04:29
6) Helena Crossan (IRL), 8:04:40
7) Carolyn Smith (USA), 8:07:03
8) Branka Hajek (GER), 8:07:49
9) Mai Fujisawa (JPN), 8:08:48
10) Yoko Yamazawa (JPN), 8:10:05
Other U.S.
19) Connie Gardner (USA), 8:42:37
TEAM
1) USA, 23:41:10
2) Russia, 24:32:06
3) Japan, 24:41:21
MEN
1) Yasukazu Miyazato (JPN), 6:40:44
2) Jonas Buud (SWE), 6:41:50
3) Giorgio Calcaterra (ITA), 6:42:05
4) Marco Boffo (ITA), 6:45:39
5) Masakazu Takahashi (JPN), 6:51:18
6) Michael Wardian (USA), 6:53:17
7) Christophe Buquet (FRA), 6:55:46
8) Angel Jimenez (ESP), 6:55:59
9) Eric Legat (FRA), 6:57:07
10) Alexey Izmaylov (RUS), 6:58:46
Other U.S.
19) Todd Braje (USA), 7:15:13
34) Howard Nippert (USA), 7:40:06
55) Chad Ricklefs (USA), 8:17:31
TEAM
1) Japan, 20:31:01
2) Italy, 20:43:12
3) France, 21:00:46
Deeper results at: www.iau.org.tw
Lagat, Symmonds, Rupp look to shine at USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene
(6-17-09) From USATF Press Release - Bernard Lagat, Nick Symmonds and Galen Rupp will headline the men's middle and long distance running events at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 25-28 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene.
The final event of the 2009 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Championships will be televised on the following dates:
June 26: Live on ESPN from 8-10 p.m.
June 27: Live/tape on ESPN from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
June 28: Live on NBC from 4-6:00 p.m.
(All Times Eastern)
The USA Championships will feature the nation's finest professional track and field athletes competing for national honors and spots on the Team USA roster for the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. The World Championships will be held at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer and American icon Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.
800m
At the 2008 Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating, Christian Smith and Khadevis Robinson staged a race for the ages during the 800m final that created a roar whose echoes can still be heard in Eugene.
Recognized as one of the favorites to win the race, Symmonds, a Eugene-area resident, assumed command down the final straightaway of the last lap to win the race convincingly, with University of Oregon star Andrew Wheating finishing as the runner-up. Shortly thereafter they were joined on the Team USA roster for Beijing by fellow Eugene fan favorite and then Oregon Track Club member Christian Smith, who dove across the finish line just ahead of 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson for the third and final spot on the Team USA Olympic roster, which sent the sold-out partisan crowd into hysterics. Smith's time of 1:45.47 bettered the Olympic A qualifying standard, which officially punched his ticket to Beijing.
Symmonds, Wheating, Smith and Robinson are all expected to meet again on the fabled Hayward Field track, with Robinson posting the fastest time by an American this outdoor season of 1 minute, 45.67 seconds in Kingston, Jamaica on May 2. Expected challengers include Duane Solomon, who finished sixth at the 2008 Olympic Trials, 2004 Olympian and NCAA champion Jonathan Johnson and Olympic Trials seventh-place finisher Jebreh Harris.
1500m
Reigning world 1,500m & 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat must compete in at least one event in Eugene in order to compete in both events at the World Outdoor Championships in Berlin. He is currently entered in the 800m and 5,000m.
If Lagat chooses to skip the 1,500m, his fellow 2008 Team USA Olympic teammate Leonel Manzano will assume the favorite's role. The 2008 NCAA 1,500m champion and a competitor at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, Manzano posted the fastest 1,500m time by an American this outdoor season with his personal best time of 3:34.14 at the May 30 Reebok Grand Prix in New York City.
Other expected challengers include 2008 Olympic delegation flag bearer and 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Lopez Lomong and U.S. record holder, three-time USA Outdoor champion and 2004 Olympian Alan Webb, who will be attempting to qualify for his third U.S. World Outdoor Championships team. Additional contenders include 2008 Olympic Trials finalists Jon Rankin, Said Ahmed, Andy McClary, Chris Lukezic and Rob Myers.
3,000m Steeplechase
In 2008, two-time World Outdoor Championships team member Anthony Famiglietti rode his aggressive style to a win at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, a place in the steeplechase finals in Beijing and his rightful place atop the annual U.S. rankings by Track & Field News.
Famiglietti will be challenged in Eugene by his Beijing Olympic teammates, Billy Nelson, the 2003 U.S. Junior 5,000m champion and former University of Colorado standout, who placed second at the Olympic Trials and ended the 2008 campaign ranked #2 in the U.S. Also keep an eye on Olympic Trials third place finisher Josh McAdams, who was the 2007 USA Outdoor champion, who later that summer won the gold medal at the Pan American Games.
Eugene fan favorite Ben Bruce of the Oregon Track Club, who posted the fastest time by an American this season of 8:26:08 in winning the Payton Jordan Classic on May 2 in Palo Alto, Calif., is considered a strong challenger, along with Jake Morse, who finished fourth at the 2008 Olympic Trials and is ranked #4 in the U.S. 2008 NCAA champion Kyle Alcorn, who began his collegiate career at Oregon and finished at Arizona State, could also challenge the favorites.
5,000m
Reigning world champion Bernard Lagat is entered in the 5,000 meters, and will be a heavy favorite to win if he chooses to compete.
Lagat, who posted the fastest time by an American this outdoor season of 13 minutes 3.06 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix last month in New York, is slated to go up against 2008 Olympic finalist Matt Tegenkamp, who placed fourth in the 5,000m final at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Others to watch include 2008 Olympian Ian Dobson, who finished third at the 2008 Olympic Trials, Bolota Asmeron, who placed fourth at the Trials and two-time NCAA Outdoor champion and Olympic Trials fifth-place finisher Chris Solinsky. Also look for 2008 Olympic Trials 3,000m steeplechase winner Anthony Famiglietti, who posted the second-fastest qualifying time in the field of 13:17.98 on April 17 in Walnut, Calif.
10,000m
Look for the men's 10,000m to be a very competitive race with the favorites being the top three finishers from the 2008 Olympic Trials, Abdi Abdirahman, Galen Rupp and Jorge Torres.
A three-time Olympian and three-time national 10,000m champion, Abdi Abdirahman will attempt to make a U.S. World Outdoor Championships roster for the fourth time in his career. Abdirahman, who's best finish at a Worlds was in 2007 when he placed seventh in Osaka, will do battle with Eugene fan favorite Galen Rupp, who recently ended his University of Oregon collegiate career by winning the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
Others to watch include 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein, who finished eighth in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Additional contenders include 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Jorge Torres, who won this event at the 2006 Championships in Indianapolis. Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Ed Moran will be in the mix along with Josh Rohatinsky, who placed fifth in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials and ninth at the Olympic Trials Marathon. 2000 Olympian Adam Goucher will attempt to make his fourth World Outdoor Championships team roster.
20 km Race Walk
Two-time Olympian Tim Seaman, who won his 36th career national race walk title earlier this year at the USA 10 km Championships in Albany, N.Y., will be in search of his sixth U.S. 20 km crown, and his first since 2005.
Seaman, who will be looking to qualify for his fifth U.S. World Outdoor Championships team, will face, among others, 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Patrick Stroupe, 2004 Olympian John Nunn and Ben Shorey, who placed second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - 50 km Race Walk, and ended that year ranked #2 nationally in that event.
For ticket information to the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com or www.tracktown.net. USATF welcomes you to purchase tickets with your Visa Card. Visa, the only credit card accepted by USATF.
For more information on the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com.
The final event of the 2009 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Championships will be televised on the following dates:
June 26: Live on ESPN from 8-10 p.m.
June 27: Live/tape on ESPN from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
June 28: Live on NBC from 4-6:00 p.m.
(All Times Eastern)
The USA Championships will feature the nation's finest professional track and field athletes competing for national honors and spots on the Team USA roster for the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. The World Championships will be held at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium, where National Track & Field Hall of Famer and American icon Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.
800m
At the 2008 Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating, Christian Smith and Khadevis Robinson staged a race for the ages during the 800m final that created a roar whose echoes can still be heard in Eugene.
Recognized as one of the favorites to win the race, Symmonds, a Eugene-area resident, assumed command down the final straightaway of the last lap to win the race convincingly, with University of Oregon star Andrew Wheating finishing as the runner-up. Shortly thereafter they were joined on the Team USA roster for Beijing by fellow Eugene fan favorite and then Oregon Track Club member Christian Smith, who dove across the finish line just ahead of 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson for the third and final spot on the Team USA Olympic roster, which sent the sold-out partisan crowd into hysterics. Smith's time of 1:45.47 bettered the Olympic A qualifying standard, which officially punched his ticket to Beijing.
Symmonds, Wheating, Smith and Robinson are all expected to meet again on the fabled Hayward Field track, with Robinson posting the fastest time by an American this outdoor season of 1 minute, 45.67 seconds in Kingston, Jamaica on May 2. Expected challengers include Duane Solomon, who finished sixth at the 2008 Olympic Trials, 2004 Olympian and NCAA champion Jonathan Johnson and Olympic Trials seventh-place finisher Jebreh Harris.
1500m
Reigning world 1,500m & 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat must compete in at least one event in Eugene in order to compete in both events at the World Outdoor Championships in Berlin. He is currently entered in the 800m and 5,000m.
If Lagat chooses to skip the 1,500m, his fellow 2008 Team USA Olympic teammate Leonel Manzano will assume the favorite's role. The 2008 NCAA 1,500m champion and a competitor at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, Manzano posted the fastest 1,500m time by an American this outdoor season with his personal best time of 3:34.14 at the May 30 Reebok Grand Prix in New York City.
Other expected challengers include 2008 Olympic delegation flag bearer and 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Lopez Lomong and U.S. record holder, three-time USA Outdoor champion and 2004 Olympian Alan Webb, who will be attempting to qualify for his third U.S. World Outdoor Championships team. Additional contenders include 2008 Olympic Trials finalists Jon Rankin, Said Ahmed, Andy McClary, Chris Lukezic and Rob Myers.
3,000m Steeplechase
In 2008, two-time World Outdoor Championships team member Anthony Famiglietti rode his aggressive style to a win at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, a place in the steeplechase finals in Beijing and his rightful place atop the annual U.S. rankings by Track & Field News.
Famiglietti will be challenged in Eugene by his Beijing Olympic teammates, Billy Nelson, the 2003 U.S. Junior 5,000m champion and former University of Colorado standout, who placed second at the Olympic Trials and ended the 2008 campaign ranked #2 in the U.S. Also keep an eye on Olympic Trials third place finisher Josh McAdams, who was the 2007 USA Outdoor champion, who later that summer won the gold medal at the Pan American Games.
Eugene fan favorite Ben Bruce of the Oregon Track Club, who posted the fastest time by an American this season of 8:26:08 in winning the Payton Jordan Classic on May 2 in Palo Alto, Calif., is considered a strong challenger, along with Jake Morse, who finished fourth at the 2008 Olympic Trials and is ranked #4 in the U.S. 2008 NCAA champion Kyle Alcorn, who began his collegiate career at Oregon and finished at Arizona State, could also challenge the favorites.
5,000m
Reigning world champion Bernard Lagat is entered in the 5,000 meters, and will be a heavy favorite to win if he chooses to compete.
Lagat, who posted the fastest time by an American this outdoor season of 13 minutes 3.06 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix last month in New York, is slated to go up against 2008 Olympic finalist Matt Tegenkamp, who placed fourth in the 5,000m final at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Others to watch include 2008 Olympian Ian Dobson, who finished third at the 2008 Olympic Trials, Bolota Asmeron, who placed fourth at the Trials and two-time NCAA Outdoor champion and Olympic Trials fifth-place finisher Chris Solinsky. Also look for 2008 Olympic Trials 3,000m steeplechase winner Anthony Famiglietti, who posted the second-fastest qualifying time in the field of 13:17.98 on April 17 in Walnut, Calif.
10,000m
Look for the men's 10,000m to be a very competitive race with the favorites being the top three finishers from the 2008 Olympic Trials, Abdi Abdirahman, Galen Rupp and Jorge Torres.
A three-time Olympian and three-time national 10,000m champion, Abdi Abdirahman will attempt to make a U.S. World Outdoor Championships roster for the fourth time in his career. Abdirahman, who's best finish at a Worlds was in 2007 when he placed seventh in Osaka, will do battle with Eugene fan favorite Galen Rupp, who recently ended his University of Oregon collegiate career by winning the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
Others to watch include 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein, who finished eighth in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials. Additional contenders include 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Jorge Torres, who won this event at the 2006 Championships in Indianapolis. Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Ed Moran will be in the mix along with Josh Rohatinsky, who placed fifth in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials and ninth at the Olympic Trials Marathon. 2000 Olympian Adam Goucher will attempt to make his fourth World Outdoor Championships team roster.
20 km Race Walk
Two-time Olympian Tim Seaman, who won his 36th career national race walk title earlier this year at the USA 10 km Championships in Albany, N.Y., will be in search of his sixth U.S. 20 km crown, and his first since 2005.
Seaman, who will be looking to qualify for his fifth U.S. World Outdoor Championships team, will face, among others, 2008 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Patrick Stroupe, 2004 Olympian John Nunn and Ben Shorey, who placed second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - 50 km Race Walk, and ended that year ranked #2 nationally in that event.
For ticket information to the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com or www.tracktown.net. USATF welcomes you to purchase tickets with your Visa Card. Visa, the only credit card accepted by USATF.
For more information on the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com.
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