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May 22 Newswire: Seattle Marathon Costs Rise On May 31

Sundari Ramanathan — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:10:13 +0000

Shaw reclaims Windermere Marathon women’s title as Jefferies wins overall

Mike Jefferies from Swaledale Road Runners based in Richmond, North Yorkshire was first over the line in 2.45.30, beating his nearest rivals by six minutes, while the women’s event was won for the second successive year by Cheshire’s Nicola Shaw, who came home in an impressive 3.15.46. More.

Seattle Marathon costs rise on 5/31

The Seattle Marathon has announced that the last day for early bird pricing for all events is May 31st. The savings is significant. For those signing up for the full marathon the savings is up to 30.00. More.

Big Green Derby Race registration extended

The deadline for registration in the Big Green Derby, a recycled boat race, has been extended to May 25. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 2 at Oak Island Park, 500 River Drive, Wausau. More.

Record Attendance Expected At Shawnigan Lake Triathlon

The Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon happening on May 27th is becoming famous for a great early season tune-up on a beautiful course highlighted by a stunning west coast run on the Trans Canada Trail. More.

Santa Monica Classic 5K/10K benefitting Heal the Bay Draws Rave Reviews from Locals

The winners of the 10K were Christian Tregillis, with a time of 34:34.1, and Laura Conley, who crossed the finish line in 39:00.8. More.

Strong Fields Expected For Bogota Half

The IAAF is reporting that the Bogota Half Marathon in Columbia this July is drawing the likes of Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia. More.

Kenyan and Russia share honours in Riga

Titus Kipkorir Kurgat of Kenya in 2:16:53 and Russia Iraida Aleksandrova of Russia in 2:37:37 were respectively the men’s and women’s winners at the 2012 Nordea Riga Marathon on Sunday (20). More.

Marathon runners express displeasure, understanding with premature ending

A number of distance runners plan to return to the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, despite frustrations about the sudden heat-related cancellation Sunday of the 2012 event. More.

101 Year Old Fauja Singh To Run At 10th Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Sundari Ramanathan — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:29:38 +0000

The 10th Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Date: Saturday May 26
and Sunday May 27 2012

The world’s oldest
marathon runner, 101-year-old Fauja Singh, is set to join more than
27,000 runners on the streets of the Scottish capital at the 10th
Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

With eight marathons under his belt, all
completed after his 89th birthday, Fauja is in fine form to compete in
the team relay on May 27 over race weekend.

Organisers are proud
this year’s Edinburgh Marathon Festival has attracted 27,694 entrants
making it the city’s biggest yet offering a race for all abilities
including the classic 26.2 mile course as well as a marathon team relay,
half marathon, 10K, 5K, two popular junior races, international
breakfast run and a mascot race. It is the biggest running event in
Scotland and in the UK second only to London in size. This year’s
Edinburgh marathon features an all star line up of some of the finest
athletes in the world. Among those on the start line will be Zachary
Kihara, 33, of Kenya who holds the event record, crossing the finish
line in 2005 in a cool 2:15:46.

Since the Edinburgh
Marathon started in 2003 it has had an economic impact of more than £25
million for the capital and helped raise more than £30 million for
hundreds of charities.

Together with the
Edinburgh marathon’s official charity Macmillan Cancer Support and
hundreds of other charities the 10th anniversary organisers are hoping
to break all previous records and raise more than £4.5 million in 2012.

Neil Kilgour,
Edinburgh Marathon Festival Race Director, said: “It’s hard to believe
that a decade has gone by since our first event in 2003 but we’re
delighted that we have developed into one of the UK’s and Scotland’s
major running occasions.

“Edinburgh Marathon
Festival has it all – a great city that acts as a stunning backdrop to
the event’s proceedings and a programme of races that means that
everyone is catered for from children to marathon veterans. We’re
looking forward to a great 10th birthday and welcoming back the
thousands of runners who’ve supported the event over the years plus the
thousands who will be joining us for the first time.”

May 21 Newswire: Jesse Stevick Gets 6th Win At Capital City Marathon

Sundari Ramanathan — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:19:45 +0000

Jesse Stevick wins Capital City Marathon for a record sixth time

Olympia native Jesse Stevick won his sixth Capital City Marathon Sunday with a winning time of 2 hours, 35 minutes and 33 seconds to set a new record for most victories at Capital City by a male runner. More.

Kenyans win Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

Abraham Kogo, 31, from Kenya, was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 2:19:59. Among the women, Mary Akor, 35, of Hawthorne, Calif., took first with a time of 2:39:49. More.

Nicole Chyr wins Colfax Marathon in second consecutive year

For the second year in a row, Nicole Chyr won the Colfax Marathon, this time with a time of 3:07:42. More.

Ryan Bak, Kara Goucher Win Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon

Ryan Bak of Bend and U.S. Olympian Kara Goucher, who trains locally with the Oregon Track Club, each prevailed in dramatically different fashions. More.

Record-Breaking Day At Brooklyn Half

Winning in a close and record-setting finish was Tesfaye Assefa Dube in 1:03:18, followed by Mengsti Tabor Nebsi just two seconds back in 1:03:20. More.

Justin Gillette wins Pocono Run for the Red Marathon

Gillette ran second most of the day, but passed Too for the lead in the 21st mile and won by more than two minutes in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 22 seconds to win his second Red Cross Run for the Red Marathon. More.

Flushing’s Kenny Wall wins inaugural The Qualifier half marathon

Wall, 22, a Flushing native who just recently wrapped up his running career at Oakland University, finished in a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, 59 seconds. More.

Hatheway makes it three straight wins in half marathon

The Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon witnessed a three-peat on Sunday, just not the one that was widely anticipated. More.

Fitness marathon at Jethro On May 25

HELP the Southern Area Hospice by taking part in a fitness marathon being held in the Jethro Centre on Friday May, 25. More.

5K run at Lambeau Field set for July 28

Runners disappointed that the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon didn’t take them through Lambeau Field this weekend can get their Packers fix at the 5K Run July 28 at Lambeau Field. More.

Tsegay and Chebet to lead Bogota fieldsOrganisers have announced the initial confirmed athletes for the 13th edition of the Bogota Half Marathon on 29 July, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. More.

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Reaches Record 20,000 Participants

Sundari Ramanathan — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:21:16 +0000

CLEVELAND – (May 20, 2012) – The 2012 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon weekend opened Saturday with a winning performance by an Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 5K and ended Sunday with a record turnout and a pair of fast times in the men’s and women’s marathon.

Under clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s, the weekend saw participation in the 35th edition reach an all-time high of 20,008 runners. The total represents an increase of nearly 300 percent since Rite Aid became the title sponsor in 2003, when 5,200 participants took to the streets of Cleveland. Both the half and full marathon sold out for the second consecutive year and the third time in the marathon’s 35-year history.

“Well, it was a little warmer than we would have liked it today, but the runners turned in some great times and the crowds were unbelievable,” said Executive Race Director Jack Staph. “To have our men’s and women’s marathon winners run under 2:20 and 2:40, while setting records in the half and both 5K races is fantastic.”

The record also included a 5K on Saturday that drew 1,315 runners, the We Run This City Program that had 750 school-aged participants from Cleveland Municipal School District, and another 500 children who participated in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Red Nose Children’s Run on Saturday on the field at the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

“I think the thousands of fans and participants over the course of the weekend really got to see the best Cleveland has to offer,” said Staph. “This is a great city, a flat, fast course, and it seems more and more people are enjoying ‘the Cleveland Experience’ each and every year.”

Abraham Kogo, a 31-year-old runner from Kenya, was the first to cross the marathon finish line in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 59 seconds. Kogo bided his time until mile 21 when he surged past the pack to grab a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.

Peter Kemboi, also of Kenya, came in second in 2:23:29, followed by 30-year-old Matt Levassiur of Alamosa, Colo. at 2:24:07.

Among the women it was 35-year-old Mary Akor of Hawthorne, Calif. who took first in 2:39:49. Russian Venera Sarmosova, 32, finished second in 2:44:16. She was followed by Beth Woodward, 36, of Orrville, N.Y. in 2:55:19.

Both Kogo and Akor won $3000, while collecting an additional $3000 bonus for finishing under 2:20:00 and 2:40:00, respectively.

Twenty-four-year-old Andy Schweitzer of Beavercreek, Ohio finished first in the men’s half-marathon, with his 1:10:39, while Michael Capriolo, 28, of Akron, took second in 1:12:08 with 30-year-old Charlie Ban of McLean, Va. third (1:13:13).

Christie Forster, a 23-year-old runner from Colorado Springs, Colo. led the women’s half-marathon with a course record time of 1:19:47. Forster was followed by Heidi Greenwood, 27, of Cleveland, who crossed in 1:21:30, while Andrea Gravue, 27, took third (1:22:12).

Common with the 10K race, elite international runners dominated the top spots for the men’s and women’s events. Kenyan runners Julius Kibet and Everlyne Lagat won the men’s and women’s races, respectively, and each took home a $2000 purse. This was the second year in a row that Lagat won the women’s race.

Kibet, 29, finished in 28:44, matching his time from his 2005 victory. He was followed by countryman Simon Ndirangu, 26, who clocked 29:00 and Ethiopian Alene Reta, 30, who ran 29:34.

Lagat, 31, won the women’s 10K in 33:58. Esther Erb, 26, of Blowing Rock, N.C. was runner-up in 34:23 followed by 24-year-old Lilian Mariita of Kenya in third (34:37).

Another course record was set on Saturday in the 5K by Stephen Benesh, 32, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, who ran 16:08, breaking his own course record from his win the previous year by four seconds. In the women’s race, 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson won with a course record time of 18:48, just three days after celebrating her 55th birthday. Benoit Samuelson was in town as a special guest as part of the 35th anniversary celebration.

The 2012 race featured 20 neighborhood parties, and numerous music stations and bands along the course. The finish line area, which featured live music, a beer garden and sponsor and charity booths, was overflowing with family and friends of runners enjoying the sights of the North Coast Harbor with the finish line situated just between the Great Lakes Science Center and Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Registration opened today for the 2013 race, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 19.

35th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
Cleveland, OH, Sunday, May 20, 2012

MEN
1) Abraham Kogo (KEN), 2:19:59, $6000
2) Peter Kemboi (KEN), 2:23:29, $1500
3) Matt Levassiur (USA / CO), 2:24:07, $1000

WOMEN
1) Mary Akor (USA / CA), 2:39:49, $6000
2) Venera Sarmosova (RUS), 2:44:16, $1500
3) Beth Woodward (USA / NY), 2:55:19, $100

35th Rite Aid Cleveland 10K
MEN
1) Julius Kibet (KEN), 28:44, $2000
2) Simon Ndirangu (KEN), 29:00, $1000
3) Alene Reta (ETH), 29:34, $500

WOMEN
1) Everlyne Lagat (KEN), 33:58, $2000
2) Esther Erb (USA / NC), 34:23, $1000
3) Lilian Mariita (KEN), 34:37, $500

Complete results at: www.clevelandmarathon.com

GO! St. Louis Adds New Summer Race: All-American 5K & Fun Run

Sundari Ramanathan — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:19:42 +0000

ST. LOUIS – (May 20, 2012) – GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, has announced its newest event: GO! St. Louis All-American 5K & Fun Run, which is set for Sunday, June 17.

The first-time father’s day race starts at the Kirkwood YMCA and finished in Webster Groves, MO and is open to participants of all ages and fitness levels.

Participants receive a great-looking finisher medal (5K only), t-shirt and post-race refreshments, including ice cream. Top finishers will compete for cash prizes, while age group winners receive an apple pie. Entry fees range from $10 – $30. To register or for more details, visit: gostlouis.org.

The GO! St. Louis All-American 5K & Fun Run is sponsored by SSM Health Care St. Louis, YMCA and Saint Louis Injury & Rehab.

Other GO! St. Louis signature events include the GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend in April and the GO! St. Louis Halloween 10K & Fun Run in October.

Bak, Goucher Win Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon

Sundari Ramanathan — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:15:20 +0000

PORTLAND, Ore. – (May 20, 2012) – At the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon, it was an Oregon sweep Sunday as two in-state residents took home titles. Ryan Bak of Bend and U.S. marathon star and Olympian Kara Goucher, who trains locally with the Oregon Track Club, each prevailed in dramatically different fashions.

Beneath a steady Portland mist along the scenic Willamette River adjacent to Tom McCall Waterfront Park, runners from 49 states and 16 countries kicked off Portland’s annual Rose Festival. The lead pack of 6 men, who all owned half-marathon personal bests within one minute, ran an opening mile of 4:57 through the downtown streets, before crossing the Hawthorne Bridge into east Portland.

Bak, Arizona’s Tibor Vegh and Philemon Terer of Kenya separated themselves from the competition at mile six after the steady uphill climb past the swanky business district section located along Hawthorne Blvd. The three runners stayed together until they reached the scenic downtown views on Lloyd Blvd just before mile 12, when Bak, 30, made his move to take home the victory with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 26 seconds.

“This was my third weekend in a row racing and it was great to have a decent pack of guys who were all competitive. When the three of us were together until mile 12, I was thinking this is really going be a race,” said Bak, who finished fifth at last weekend’s USA 25k Championships and will run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth on June 16th. “There was a lot happening with little surges here and there, and it was a great feeling to win with the sprint at the end in front of the spectators in my home state. This was my first Rock ‘n’ Roll event and it was a lot of fun and great to have it so close to home.”

“The race was a lot of fun, but I picked up a stomach bug on Friday afternoon and considered not running; however, I couldn’t pass up a chance to run in Portland. I had hoped to run faster and simulate marathon pace a little bit more, but sometimes things don’t go according to plan,” said Goucher, whose time was a far cry from her half-marathon personal best of 1:06:57. “The crowd kept me going all the way to the finish and it was awesome out there with all the people cheering. I moved out here seven years ago and Portland has really embraced me and my family, our son was born here, we love it here and it feels really good to get out and run here in my local community.”

With her race goal dialed down to a 5:25 per mile pace, Goucher started off strong, executing her Coach Jerry Schumacher‘s plan to perfection after hitting the 2 mile mark with a split time of 10:50. However, the topography of Portland also proved to be a challenge, and with the up and down nature of the course taking its toll, Goucher was unable to complete another mile at her goal pace, clocking 34:14 at 10K but running within herself, with a solid form all the way through the finish line.

“I might have to rib (course designer) Alan Culpepper the next time I see him. Portland is a hilly town, so I didn’t expect the course to be pancake flat, but I didn’t expect it to be quite so hilly,” added Goucher. “Sometimes it’s about effort and it was a good hard effort and sometimes the clock doesn’t really matter. It’s just about getting out there and challenging yourself and today was certainly a challenge.”

The first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon is a signature event of the Portland Rose Festival. Participating in his first half-marathon, Rose Festival CEO Jeff Curtis completed the event in 2:08:17. Other notable runners included running legend Mary Decker Slaney, the only athlete ever to hold every American record from 800 meters to 10,000 meters, pacing her sister who was completing her first half-marathon finishing with a time of 2:17:26. Battle Ground, Washington resident Craig Blanchette, who holds 21 world records in elite wheelchair racing, won the wheelchair division with a time of 58:44.

With more than 11,000 finishers, the event has become the largest inaugural half-marathon in the United States to-date this year according to Running USA. The second Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon, a signature Rose Festival event, is set for Sunday, May 19, 2013.

Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland 1/2 Marathon
Portland, OR, Sunday, May 20, 2012

MEN
1) Ryan Bak, 30, Bend, OR, 1:05:26, $1500
2) Tibor Vegh, 28, Flagstaff, AZ, 1:05:34, $850
3) Philemon Terer, 27, Kenya, 1:06:05, $600
4) Sage Canaday, 26, Sheridan, OR, 1:06:16, $400
5) Craig Leon, 27, Eugene, OR, 1:07:49, $250

WOMEN
1) Kara Goucher, 33, Portland, OR, 1:13:05, $1500
2) Sheila Croft, 37, Redmond, WA, 1:16:51, $850
3) Hallie Jansen, 37, Portland, OR, 1:19:11, $600
4) Eva Vail, 27, Portland, OR, 1:21:34, $400
5) Renee Knapp, 31, Eugene, OR, 1:22:20, $250

For complete results, photos and more, go to: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/portland/event-detail s

Miller, Kampf Capture USA 1 Mile Road Titles

Sundari Ramanathan — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:11:52 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS – (May 17, 2012) – Minnesota native Heather Kampf and former University of Wisconsin star Craig Miller won USA 1 Mile road titles at the 8th Medtronic TC 1 Mile in Minneapolis on Thursday evening. The two Olympic hopefuls won their first career USA titles with the victories and pocketed $4000 each for their efforts.

Kampf, 25, a Minneapolis resident and the runner-up in the event last year, clocked 4 minutes, 36.9 seconds to out-leg Alisha Williams of Denver, Colo., second at 4:39.6, and Detroit’s Danielle Tauro, third with 4:40.0.

Miller, 24, who finished third at the men’s race in 2011, ran 4:04.3, just three days after running a 3:37.13 personal best track 1500m race in Philadelphia. Last year’s USA 1 Mile runner-up Aaron Braun of Flagstaff, Ariz. was second again at 4:05.1. Unheralded Scott Smith, a teammate of Braun’s with the Team USA Arizona program, was third at 4:06.9.

The only foe the champions couldn’t defeat on a warm Minnesota evening was a stiff southerly headwind which made for tactical racing, slowed times, and a pair of unclaimed $10,000 course record bonuses.

Kampf was content to nestle herself into a tight pack of contenders for the first half of the race, before setting herself up for what turned out to be a title-winning kick. Steeplechaser Mason Cathey provided the early pacesetting, giving way to Kellyn Johnson near the half-way mark, passed in 2:20.

Kampf moved to the front with more than 200-meters to go and powered away from the field for a comfortable victory.

“I feel like a road mile is a little bit to my advantage,” commented Kampf, a former NCAA champion at 800-meters for the University of Minnesota. “If I can stay in the race, then have a good shot to kick at the end, my closing speed is a lot better than some milers.”

Kampf also had the advantage of a supportive home crowd along the course.

“Doing this at home is so great, I just have to say ‘thank you’ to everyone out there,” the Team USA Minnesota athlete added. “I feel like I heard my name more than anyone else’s out there, and it’s just the great support we have here in Minneapolis that helped me out through that.”

Like Kampf, Miller also tucked himself in the pack, paced throughout by Braun, which passed the half-way stripe in only 2:07.

“I knew I didn’t want to lead,” Miller, a former Big Ten 1500m champion, explained. “It takes a lot more mental and physical energy to lead. Whoever was in the front, I’d try to hide behind.”

Miller waited until the final 150 meters to launch a furious kick to the finish line.

“You see the finish line from maybe 200 meters out and your instinct is to just go then,” Miller, a 3:56 miler on the track said. “So, I just wanted to be patient and wait until I knew I could finish strong.”

More than 2,500 runners participated in the 8th Medtronic TC 1 Mile, including a record number of Corporate Team Challenge participants representing more than 40 organizations.

“It was an exciting night of racing, climaxing with our USA Championship waves,” Twin Cities In Motion Executive Director Virginia Brophy Achman said. “I’m always amazed by the energy and enthusiasm of the Minnesota running community and pleased to see local companies support fitness and healthy lifestyles.”

8th Medtronic TC 1 Mile: USA Men’s & Women’s Championship
Minneapolis, MN, Thursday, May 17, 2012

MEN
1) Craig Miller (WI), 4:04.3, $4000
2) Aaron Braun (AZ), 4:05.1, $2500
3) Scott Smith (AZ), 4:06.9, $1500
4) Kenyon Neuman (CO), 4:07.5, $800
5) Bobby Mack (NC), 4:07.8, $500
6) Benjamin Bruce (AZ), 4:08.8, $325
7) Edwin Sang (CO), 4:09.5, $150
Chris Rombough (MN), 4:10.0, $100
9) Jordan Horn (AZ), 4:10.8, $75
10) Darren Brown (TN), 4:11.9, $50

WOMEN
1) Heather Kampf (MN), 4:36.9, $4000
2) Alisha Williams (CO), 4:39.6, $2500
3) Danielle Tauro (MI), 4:40.0, $1250
4) Kellyn Johnson (AZ), 4:40.2, $800
5) Frances Koons (NJ), 4:40.5, $500
6) Meghan Peyton (MN), 4:41.1, $325
7) Laura Thweatt (CO), 4:42.0, $150
Tara Erdmann (CA), 4:42.9, $100
9) Mason Cathey (IN), 4:46.1, $75
10) Stephanie Pezzullo (NC), 4:47.3, $50

Full results and more at: www.tcmevents.org

May 20 Newswire: Jacoby, Chapman Win Historic Half Marathon Titles

Sundari Ramanathan — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:17:02 +0000

Jacoby, Chapman Win Historic Half Marathon Titles

Bert Jacoby and Courtney Chapman won individual championships at the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon Sunday in Fredericksburg. Jacoby finished the race in 1 hour, 11 minutes. Chapman, who finished the race in 1 hour, 22 minutes, began running competitively after her mother’s death. More.

Gebrselassie Takes Another Strong 10K Victory In Manchester

Looking almost as strong as in his best years Haile Gebrselassie demolished a top class field in the Bupa Great Manchester Run on Sunday. The great Ethiopian won the 10k race clocking a world leading time of 27:39. More.

Inaugural Worcester Marathon Will Debut On June 3

The community and event organizers have doubled up to present the Worcester Marathon on June 3, adding the 26.2-mile distance to the half marathon and 5K. More.

Steamtown Marathon Sold Out

It is the earliest that registration for the event has closed, according to assistant race director Jim Cummings, even given that Steamtown opened the race to another 380 runners this year, its largest field ever. More.

Hometown Team Wins Top Honors at Beach to Bay Relay Marathon

Local Resident Justin Adame carried his team, Fleet Feet Elite across the finish line to win first place in this year’s Beach to Bay Relay Marathon. The team came in at 2 hours and 17 minutes. More.

Johnson Wins Bedford Road Race In Record Time

Johnson, a 23-year-old graduate student at Dartmouth, set a race record by completing the course in 36 minutes, 51 seconds, besting a field of 511 runners. More.

Van De Kamp Wins Ogden Marathon; Fowler 1st Female Finisher

Fritz Van De Kamp won Saturday’s Zions Bank Ogden Marathon with a time of 2:23:00. Farmington resident Cynthia Fowler, 31, was the top female finisher, coming in at 2:47:29. More.

Eicher, Olson Win Brookings Marathon

Aaron Eicher, 29, of Burnsville, Minn., led the way with a winning time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, 56 seconds. Rachael Olson, a 24-year-old from Minneapolis, was the top female finisher with a time of 3:08:51. More.

Oxy High Performance Meet Produces Fast Times, Records

Sundari Ramanathan — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:43:33 +0000

By Jon Gugala, Race Results Weekly

LOS ANGELES (18-May) — Athletes come to Occidental College every spring for one reason: to run fast. Whether you’re a collegian looking for a U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifier, or a pro looking the Olympic “A” standard, you show up with this goal in mind. At the 2012 USATF Occidental High Performance Meet, here America’s best tucked in to fast times in one of the first tests of their Olympic aspirations.

The women’s 3000-meter steeplechase was the first distance in contention in the meet, which kicked off at 6:30 p.m. with a setting sun and light breeze. Only one woman would dip under the Olympic “A” standard of 9:43.00, which was heat-two winner Bridget Franek of the Oregon Track Club Elite. Franek has a PR of 9:32.35 set in 2010. Behind her was the New Jersey New York Track Club’s Ashley Higginson, whose 9:46.83 was under the Olympic “B” standard of 9:48.0. Beverly Ramos and Higginson’s NJNY-TC teammate Delilah DiCrescenzo were also under the “B” standard. Heat one was taken by Jamie Cheever of the Mammoth Track Club in 9:52.15.

For the men, the steeplechase was not won by a veteran but by a relative newcomer, Donn Cabral of Princeton. Cabral kicked past Dan Huling in the second of two heats, 8:19.14 to 8:20.81. Cabral’s previous best was 8:32.14, and his new mark stands as the American Collegiate Record, breaking Weber State’s Farley Gerber’s mark of 8:19.27, set in 1984. Cabral would lead three other men under the Olympic “A” standard of 8:23.10, including Kyle Alcorn (8:20.86) and Evan Jager (8:20.90). Justin Tyner of the Falcon Distance Project won the first heat in 8:33.98.

Next up was the women’s 800m, which saw wins by Geena Gall, Molly Beckwith, and Katie Palmer, with Gall of the Oregon Track Club Elite running the fastest time of the evening in 2:00.44, with Alice Schmidt, last year’s third place finisher at the U.S. Championships, next in 2:00.79. Beckwith, who set the current nation-leading time of 1:59.51 last week in the Diamond League meet in Qatar, won her heat in 2:01.24. Palmer would run 2:02.77. No women would go under the Olympic “A” standard of 1:59.9.

In the men’s 800m, Lacklan Renshaw, Brandon Johnson, Tyler Mulder, and Geoff Harris won their respective heats, with Mulder of the Oregon Track Club Elite running the fastest time of 1:45.68 seconds, just missing the Olympic “A” standard of 1:45.60. No men would meet the mark. Mulder has a 1:44.83 career best, set in 2010. Johnson would win his heat in 1:46.61, followed by 2008 Olympic trials runner-up Andrew Wheating, who spent much of the winter battling a hamstring injury. Renshaw and Harris would claim their heats in 1:46.61 and 1:47.37, respectively.

Moving up to the 1500m, Gabriele Anderson took down 2011 Diamond League 1500m Champion Morgan Uceny in heat one with a PR 4:06.46 over Uceny’s 4:06.52. Shannon Rowbury then won the next heat in a U.S.-leading 4:05.92, followed closely by Anna Pierce in 4:06.11. Pierce had previously set the U.S.-leading mark of 4:07.0 at the Payton Jordan Invitational in April. Rowbury was the only woman to meet the Olympic “A” standard of 4:06.00. Kim Conley won the third heat in 4:14.00.

In the men’s 1500m, 2011 World Championships 5000m gold medalist Mo Farah and Nike Oregon Project teammate Galen Rupp ran the fastest two times of the night in the same heat, with Farah taking the win in 3:34.66 to Rupp’s 3:34.75. Former NCAA 800m champ Robby Andrews was in third in 3:34.78. In heat two, Nate Brannen took down four-time U.S. 800m Champion Nick Symmonds, 3:35.88 to 3:36.04. For the second time on five days, Brannen came close to the Olympic “A” standard but missed it. Heat three saw the reemergence of Jamal Aarrass of France for the win in 3:34.85 over David Torrence in 3:35.41. Aarrass served a two-year doping suspension from 2005 to 2007, but was the winner of the Puma Mile at the Mt. Sac Relays in April in 3:52.21. Raul Botezan of Oklahoma State University won heat four in 3:41.14. In total, five men were under the Olympic “A” standard of 3:35.50.

The women’s 5000m saw Jackie Areson continue her 2012 dominance, moving past early leader Deena Kastor with 500m to go. Lisa Uhl of the Oregon Track Club would move with her and attempt to challenge, but would settle for second, 15:15.22 to Areson’s 15:14.31. Both were under the Olympic “A” standard of 15:20.0, though Areson had already achieved the standard with a win at the Stanford Invitational in early April. Kastor, who has a 14:51.62 best set in 2000, was third in 15:23.51.

In the final event of the night, the men’s 5000m was taken by Farah again, who was initially rumored to be pacing teammate and former American record-holder at the distance Dathan Ritzenhein. Farah would outkick the field for the win in 13:12.87. Mexico’s Juan Luis Barrios was next in 13:13.54, followed by former NCAA 10,000m champ Sam Chelanga, who has since joined the Oregon Track Club Elite, in 13:14.05. Ritzenhein was fourth in 13:14.72. All four men were under the Olympic “A” standard of 13:20.00.

May 19 Newswire: 2013 Boston Marathon, Registration To Begin On Sept. 10

Anu Tibrewal — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:30:27 +0000

2013 Boston Marathon, Registration To Begin On Sept. 10

For the 2013 Boston Marathon, registration will begin on Monday, September 10 at 10:00 (ET) and will close on Friday, September 21 at 5:00 p.m. ET (or until we reach maximum capacity). In years past registration started in September and tended to carry through January before it filled up. More.

Twigg Set A Men’s Record In Fargo 10K

Twigg set a men’s record in the Fargo 10K, crossing the finish line at the Fargodome in 33 minutes, 17 seconds. James Schanandore took a wrong turn Saturday. Cley Twigg took advantage. More.

Superhero Half Marathon To Take Place On May 20

The third annual Superhero Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 20 at Ginty Field. Crossing the finish line isn’t the only goal participants have in mind; event organizers are hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the most superheroes in one place. More.

Brooklyn Half Marathon To Close Ocean Parkway.

Fifteen thousands runners will trot down Ocean Parkway from Prospect Park to Coney Island Avenue on Saturday, as a larger-than-ever Brooklyn Half Marthon takes to the streets. More.

TriStar Split Postponed From May 27 to Sept. 30

In order to assure better conditions for everyone TriStar Split has been postponed from 27th May to 30th of September. The new date suits perfectly to the TriStar international and Croatian race calendar. More.

Cheruiyot Standsout At Kenya Police Championships In Nairobi

Fleet footed double World champion Vivian Cheruiyot once again proved to be unassailable in one of the numerous highlight performances of the two-day Kenya Police Championships meet that ended with a flourish in Nairobi on Friday (18). More.

Marathon Physical Therapy 5k Road Race On May 19 To Benefits Matt Brown

The second annual Marathon Physical Therapy 5k Road Race will be held this Saturday, May 19, at the Norwood High School. The race, which benefits Matt Brown and the NHS track and field team, starts and ends at the high school. Registration begins at 9 a.m. the day of the race, and costs $30. Age group winners and raffles will be awarded. More.