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The inaugural Boston 10k this morning saw Australian's Shawn Forrest and Benita Willis, along with Kiwi Kim Smith finish inside the Top 10. Forrest crossed in 6th place with Smith and Willis 2nd and 5th respectively.

The men's race was won by 2011 Boston Marathon winner Geoffrey Mutai in incredible fashion, pulling away at half way and crossing the line in 27:19. Second place was New York Marathon champion Gebre Gebremariam while the new World 25k and 30k record holder Moses Mosop rounded out the Top 3. NCAA 10,000m record-holder Sam Chelanga was 4th in his first race as a professional.

The women's race capped the double for the 2011 Boston Marathon winners as Caroline Kilel pressed early on to pull away from Kim Smith who finished 2nd in 32:06. Benita Willis finished 5th in her second race back from injury.

B.A.A. 10K – OFFICIAL TOP TEN FINISHERS

MEN:
Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) – 27:19
Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) – 28:11
Moses Mosop (KEN) – 28:29
Samuel Chelanga (KEN) – 28:31
Samuel Ndereba (KEN) – 29:01
Shawn Forrest (AUS) – 29:10
Simon Ndirangu (KEN) – 29:30
Joseph Chirlee (KEN) – 29:37
Elkanah Kibet (KEN) – 30:13
Timothy Ritchie (USA) – 30:26

WOMEN:
Caroline Kilel (KEN) – 31:58
Kim Smith (NZL) – 32:06
Misiker Demissie (ETH) – 33:08
Heather Cappello (USA) – 33:32
Benita Willis (USA) – 34:11
Katie Dicamillo (USA) – 34:26
Jennifer Campbell (USA) – 35:42
Caroline Bjune (USA) – 36:08
Trina Painter (USA) – 36:13
Mary Kate Champagne (USA) – 36:38

Hi All
I was thrilled to win our World Cross trial in Melbourne a few weeks ago. That victory meant a lot to me – more than usually a win in this type of race would. It was not only the fact that I crossed the line first but the fact that I beat a top field (we have such strength amongst our female distance runners in at present) and also that I wasn’t afraid to get back out there racing after a very below par performance at Zatopek in December. I believe that after disappointing runs, the worst thing you can do is throw in the towel and make up excuses for yourself. Instead, after Zatopek (despite being terribly disappointed after the run), I continued to train, enjoyed mentoring at a National live-in junior girls’ camp in Melbourne then went home to Mackay, North Queensland for Christmas and two weeks with my family there. During that time, I did some easy running, went to watch my sister, Caitlin train (she’s on the rise right now – moving up from 400m to 800m) and gained a fresh perspective on what’s important in life and realised in my own mind how hungry I am to achieve my goals this year. I also love spending time with my family and this break in Mackay was exactly what I needed after a tough 2009! (Although, I tell you what, the heat and humidity knocked me around especially after spending so many years in Melbourne and London!) My nephew Josh, who has just turned 1 and was the star attraction over Christmas of course…..He is absolutely gorgeous and changing everyday!

I arrived up to Falls Creek from Mackay on 27^th December. I rented an apartment on the mountain with a great friend and training partner of mine, Kaila McKnight. We drove up from Melbourne together and arrived late that night. Our weeks together at Falls were fantastic - cooked some lovely meals, enjoyed plenty of laughs, watched a bit of ‘Gossip Girl’, went out with all the runners to the Milch café to welcome in the New Year plus I spent plenty of time mentoring the Athletics Australia junior girls here on camp. Steve Monnagetti and myself also spoke to all the runners at a seminar up here about various topics we’ve come across in our careers and conducted a question/ answer session after. It was great – everyone took plenty away from the afternoon, including myself….always like to hear Steve talk and learn a lot from him.

 

I trained hard up at Falls Creek for the 3 weeks I was there. We did all the traditional sessions including the km reps on Tuesday, Qtrs on Thursday, Fitzy’s hut on Sat and the Pretty Valley long run on Sunday. I was covering about 170-180kms per week. I also kept gym work going 3 times a week as well as fast strides on Monday and Friday. We have a great training group so plenty of people to work with. On top of this, there were so many runners here doing the same sessions as us, often 120 people would turn up for the sessions! Fantastic to see so many runners of all abilities working hard and enjoying the sport I love so much. I think it was up at Falls on this particular training camp, where I started really ‘hitting my straps’ so to say and gaining some confidence back into my running. Steve did quite a few sessions with me – was fantastic to have him there helping me out as well chatting to him and other knowledgeable ‘older’ athletes. My coach Nic was there too as well as Sonia O’Sullivan – their input throughout my career has been invaluable. They are helping out so many of our young athletes now…..I believe their skills and knowledge are really helping to take distance running from strength and strength in this country.

 

So I went to the World Cross trial a bit nervous but really excited to be out racing and competing for a spot in a very strong senior women’s’ team. My sister Caitlin was there at the trial as well as my brother in law, Jack. I loved having them there – we went out to my favourite café for brunch afterwards and had a lot of fun over the whole weekend. This win was my first for my new shoe company, Saucony. This change in companies was the ‘fresh’ start I felt I needed. Saucony have been wonderful to me and I absolutely love their shoes – you should try them out!

Plenty to look forward to! I may run a few of the Australian Domestic season GP’s in the lead up to World Cross. Right now I am back up at Falls Creek this month for some more hard training! And I can’t wait to get over to Poland and compete at the World Cross – not just for myself but as a member of a very strong senior womens’ team.



 Will keep you posted on what I’m up to after World Cross!  

by Chris Wainwright

The Zatopek Classic, first run in 1961, is the oldest named distance running meet in the world. Held in Melbourne each December, it is traditionally Australia’s most competitive and fastest 10,000m each year. The event, named after Emil Zatopek, the legendary distance runner who rose to prominence at the London Olympics in 1948, is also classed as the premiere distance event on the Australian calendar.

The Zatopek:10 is one of the strongest brands in Australian athletics, and in 2009 the 49th edition of the race will again showcase Australia’s best distance runners. First won by Ron Clarke in 1961 in 30:36 (Ron also won the 10000m event in 1962, in 29:53, and 1963 in 28:15), past winners include such distance greats as Rob De Castella, Steve Moneghetti, Lee Troop, Craig Mottram, Lisa Ondieki, Susie Power and Kerryn McCann. Note: The first women’s 10000m was conducted in 1976, where Adriana Callaghan won the race in a time of 43:18.

Clarke’s Records Commence at Zatopek Meeting
For Clarke, he began setting world records in 1963 at the Zatopek meeting in Melbourne where he smashed the world 6 miles and 10,000 metres record.  He then went to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as one of the favorites, but was outsprinted by American Billy Mills and finished third in the 10,000 metres. Clarke then had a great European season’s in 1965 and 1966, setting further world records and also picked up two silver medals at the 1966 Kingston Commonwealth Games over 3 and 6 miles.

Clarke’s ambitions were then shattered in Mexico’s rarified atmosphere, although he still managed a fifth in the 5000 metres and sixth in the 10,000 metres behind African athletes – who were conditioned with running at altitude. The effort in Mexico City eventually was to cost Clarke in the long term with heart problems.
Note: In his career Clarke won nine national titles. His best for 5000 metres was 13:16.60 and for 10,000 metres was 27:39.89, national records until 1998 and 1996 respectively.

Zatopek Highlights
Over the years there have been some memorable moments from Olympic Park, including:

• At the age of 19, Robert de Castella set the Australian junior record for the 10000m at the 1976 Zatopek Classic. His time of 28.50.40 remains the fastest ever recorded by an Australian junior athlete over the 10000m.
• Andrew Lloyd set his career best time of 27.57.34, when winning in 1987.
• Steve Moneghetti remains the only person to win four Zatopek 10000m titles in a row (1989-1992).
• Paul Patrick also broke the 28 minute mark in 1993, running 27.59.64, in winning the event at the age of only 22.
• Shaun Creighton set a new Australian record of 27.31.92 in placing 2nd at the 1996 Zatopek Classic. Darren Wilson placed 3rd at the same meeting in a time of 27.37.00.
• Assisting Creighton in running the Australian record was Kenyan Luke Kipkosgei. The Kenyans winning time in 1996 was 27.26.12, which he eventually bettered in 1998 (27.22.54) – a time that still stands as the meeting record.
• Shawn Forrest defeated Clint Perrett in a quality U/20 3000m race in 2002 – 8.07.50 to 8.09.24. Placing 3rd, 4th and 5th in the same race were Jeremy Roff (8.14.53), Michael Shelley (8.15.40) and Collis Birmingham (8.24.34), with all three athletes going onto represent Australia at a senior level.
• One of the best women’s race occurred in 1991, where Carolyn Schuwalow won the event in 31.54.95 to defeat Jenny Lund by just under two seconds (31.56.35). Krishna Stanton was the third Australian across the line in the same meeting, recording a time of 32.17.37.
• In 1999, a year after being beaten by Natalie Harvey, Kerryn McCann won the event in a time of 31.55.94. Less than three seconds behind was Tasmanian Kylie Risk (31.58.90).
• In one of the highlights of the U/20 women’s 3000m event, Melissa Rollinson defeated Georgie Clarke in 2001 - 9.03.64 to 9.09.46.
• Also in 2001, Susie Power set the existing record in the women’s 10000m of 31.26.34 and then backed up the win with victory in 2002 – again breaking 32 minutes (31.58.43).
• In 2003 Haley McGregor ran a career best time of 31.43.14 to win the event by over a minute and a half.
• In 2005, at the age of only 15, Emily Brichacek ran a scintillating 9.21.48 to win the U/20 3000m event.

Latest Results

Year	10000m Men	10000m Women	3000m U/20 Men	3000m U/20 Women
2008	David McNeill 28.03.02	Lara Tamsett 32.56.19	James Nipperess 8.19.33	Bridey Delaney 9.21.43
2007	Collis Birmingham 28.39.91	Melinda Vernon 34.28.85	Ben Ashkettle 8.17.00	Lara Tamsett 9.29.60
2006	Galen Rupp 28.28.18 (1st Australian – Lee Troop 28.53.31)	Jessica Ruthe NZL 33.04.52 (1st Australian – Lisa-Jane Weightman 33.25.90)	Mitch Frey 8.17.97	Lexy Gilmour 9.37.64
2005	Brett Cartwright 29.07.30	Kate McIlroy NZL 33.17.78 (1st Australian – Haley McGregor 33.34.55)	Liam Adams 8.24.53	Emily Brichacek 9.21.48
2004	David Ruschena 28.59.55	Haley McGregor 32.41.10	Brendan Woodman 8.31.45	Lucy Starrat 9.44.38

Race Records – 10000m
Men: 27.22.54 Luke Kipkosgei in 1998
Women: 31.26.34 Susie Power in 2001

Top-10 Lists – 10000m
Men

27.22.54	Luke Kipkosgei	KEN	27.11.75	1	05.12.1998
27.26.11	Kipkosgei			1	25.11.1996
27.29.44	Kipkosgei			1	18.12.1997
27.30.04	Julius Kiptoo	KEN	04.09.77	2	18.12.1997
27.31.92	Shaun Creighton	AUS	14.05.67	2	25.11.1996
27.37.00	Darren Wilson	AUS	09.08.68	3	25.11.1996
27.38.52	Joseph Kimani	KEN	21.09.72	1	14.12.1995
27.40.34	Benjamin Maiyo	KEN	06.10.78	2	05.12.1998
27.41.49	Kimani			4	25.11.1996
27.46.84	Creighton			2	14.12.1995
27.48.94	Steve Moneghetti	AUS	26.09.62	3	14.12.1995
27.50.55	Craig Mottram	AUS	18.06.80	1	04.12.2003
27.51.40	Gerard Barrett	AUS	31.12.56	1	14.12.1978
27.54.30	Steve Austin	AUS	14.02.51	1	18.12.1980

Women

31.26.34	Susie Power	AUS	26.03.75	1	06.12.2001
31.43.14	Haley McGregor	AUS	27.05.79	1	04.12.2003
31.47.11	Lisa Ondieki	AUS	12.05.60	1	15.12.1994
31.54.95	Carolyn Schuwalow	AUS	10.08.65	1	10.12.1991
31.55.94	Kerryn McCann	AUS	02.05.67	1	06.12.1999
31.56.35	Jenny Lund	AUS	11.07.61	2	10.12.1991
31.58.43	Power			1	14.12.2002
31.58.90	Kylie Risk	AUS	28.11.73	2	06.12.1999
32.01.68	Nyla Carroll	NZL	24.11.65	1	14.12.1995
32.05.47	Susan Hobson	AUS	13.03.58	3	10.12.1991
32.17.37	Krishna Stanton	AUS	10.05.66	4	10.12.1991

2009 Highlights

On Thursday 10th December, the 49th edition of the Zatopek Classic will again feature some of Australia’s finest distance athletes. Current 10000m Australian record holder Collis Birmingham (27.29.73) will be joined by athletes such as Benita Willis (PB of 30.37.68 for 10000m), Mark Tucker (PB of 28.44.52 for 10000m), David McNeill (2008 Zatopek winner in 28.03.02), Martin Dent (PB of 28.38.67 for 10000m) and Lisa-Jane Weightman (PB of 33.25.90 for 10000m). The meeting will also include such athletes as Berlin world championship representatives – Tamsyn Lewis, Ryan Gregson, Jeremy Roff and Scott Martin.

So what will the highlight be after the running of the 2009 Zatopek Classic? Will Birmingham back up after the Great Australian Run over 15km and break 28 minutes? Can Willis break 32 minutes in the women’s race? Maybe the 10000m races, which will double as the National Championships and selection trial for the Commonwealth Games, will be upstaged by another performance(s) on the track or in the field?
Either way the Zatopek:10 will again be filled with exciting duels and memorable moments.

On a personal note it signals the official commencement of the domestic season, and with this I hope to see you all at Olympic Park on Thursday night for an action packed night of track and field.

Note: For further information regarding the Zatopek:10 please visit the Athletics Victoria website at www.athsvic.org.au

The main event on Day Seven was the rain. Buckets of it coming down at the start of competition, so much so that everything was postponed for an hour. When we finally got underway, it was with the mens 4x100m relay. The Aussies were represented in the third heat, in what was a great move by Athletics Australia. As we all know, anything can happen, and doubly so in the relays. Especially when it's raining.

Anthony Alozie, Josh Ross, Aaron Rouge-Serret, and Matt Davies took to the track in lane four, alongside the Jamaican powerhouse, minus Bolt for the heats. The boys ran well, with smooth changes, and powered to a season best 38.93 seconds - but it was not enough to make the final, with the Aussies needing 38.60 to secure a berth.

Ross: "Great start, good exchanges, it was clean. We were leading for half the race. We've run a seasons best, so we can walk away holding our heads high, and look forward to the Commonwealth Games. There's a lot more potential, but just keep working on it, that's all you can do, just be patient."

Then came the womens 1500m semi finals, with all the favourites making it through - Jamal won the first heat, with Dobriskey and Wurth-Thomas also making it though; and Burka won the second with Willard and Rowbury also qualifying. The only surprise was Olympic Champion Nancy Langat missing out on a spot in the finals, but she has not found the same form as last year.

Dobriskey: "Just to be there is a great achievement. In the past, making the final was a bonus. Now, it is expected and it is also important for funding. Yes, I'd like to think I'm in the kind of shape to be chasing for a medal."

Wurth-Thomas: "I had more difficult races this season and I did not expect to take the lead. But I did not want to get caught up. The other competitors raised a bar for the others, so it is pushing us to do better. I am ready for this event."

In the mens 800m semi finals, the first heat took a tumble as three of the eight runners went down in the first lap, including Kaki. Kaki didn't finish, and barring an appeal won't be appearing in the final. The semi was won by Nick Symmonds. Next up was Kamel, Kiprop, Borza, and Yego, with Kamel winning from Borzakovskiy, Yego, Mulaudzi, with Kiprop training home a beaten man. It looks like the 1500m did wonders for Kamel, but drained Kiprop. In the third heat, Laalou and Lopez sped away from Reed and Rudisha to take the last two spots in the final.

Yego: "I am not satisfied with the race, I cannot run good if there is weather like this. I am really sorry for Kaki. I am ready to defend my crown even if it is going to be very fast race, I am ready for it. Tomorrow I will take a rest and I will try."

Kiprop: "I have no comment about what happened. I do not know what happened at 600m - maybe I was already tired. I am going to close the season and I will see what is going to happen after. I plan to focus on both the 800m and 1500m next year."

Then came the first final of the night, the womens 200m. It was really a race for second, with Allyson Felix taking out the gold in 22.02, 0.32 seconds clear of Veronica Campbell-Brown in second, and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in third. Felix looked the model of controlled power, and effortlessly floated away from the rest of the field

Felix: "It is very special for me to win here in Berlin. I have worked really hard. Compare my two titles? They are all different. But this one happened in a stadium with a lot of history. So this if definitely something special for me."

The women were closely followed by the mens 400m event, where everyone was excited to see the next chapter in the Jeremy Wariner vs. LaShawn Merritt rivalry. The times weren't great in less than ideal conditions, but both Americans entered the final straight neck and neck, neither one giving anything. But slowly, Merritt forced his way ahead of Wariner, and managed to stride across the line in first place, clocking 44.06 to Wariner's 44.60.

Merritt: "You know what - it was all about putting it from my head to the track. I had already won the race in my heart. Everybody trains hard. I am playing the A game. This medal is for Jesse Owens, my family, my nephews and my fans. Wariner is a great champion. But I really wanted it."

The womens discus throw was a major medal hope for Australia, with Olympian and World Uni Games Champion Dani Samuels easily making the final, and in brilliant form. But she would have to come up against the reigining Olympic Champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton, as well as some strong Chinese throwers. Samuels' first effort caught the net on the way out of the cage. But her second got her on the board, with 59.05m. But she still had some work to do to make the top eight and get three more throws - work which she did admirably, with a third throw of 62.71 to launch herself into third place and into contention for the medals.

And then came a big one. One that had been building up, after months of training, the PB she knew she had inside her. 64.76m came bursting out, and shot Samuels into second place. Everyone rejoiced, and she knew she had given herself a real chance at the medals.

But Samuels wasn't finished yet. On her fifth throw, she let rip with 65.44, again smashing her PB which was all of ten minutes old, and putting her this time in first place! And that's how it finishes, with Samuels taking home our first medal, and a gold one at that, for the World Championships. She's all smiles, and deserves it all. Go Dani!

(Lots of quotes and info on Dani to come tomorrow)
 

Steffi Nerius Press Conference Berlin World - Berlin World Champs

© 2009 The Runner's Tribe, all rights reserved. Published Friday August 21, 2009

Brought to you by Edward Ovadia who is in Berlin with official IAAF accreditation covering the championships for Runnerstribe.com

 

"Casualties of a hard fought battle"

 
 

"I think it's best for everyone if we both just stand here. I'll attempt to heal him with my eyes"

 

 

1500m -Pac-10 Track Champs