25  Apr 2011

USA v. the World at Penn

Posted by Kane Peterson | Tags: Penn, World Penn

USA Takes on the World at the Penn Relays
These world-class relay contests have worked ingeniously for the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Some of the best speedsters in the world are willing to engage in team competition this early in the season in lieu of actual head-to-head individual sprints. The USA vs. the World portion of the 117th Penn Relays is at Franklin Field on Saturday and involves athletes from 16 countries in the Nike men’s distance medley relay, women’s sprint medley relay, Visa women’s 4100, BMW Men’s 4100, Nike women’s 4400 and Visa men’s 4400. Tickets are still available for this year’s event at and the meet will be televised on Saturday from 8:00 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2. The American entrants will include Sanya Richards-Ross, Allyson Felix, Darvis Doc Patton, Mike Rodgers. More information on relay fields and line-ups will be released throughout the week. For more information on USA vs. the World, visit . (photo of Sanya Richards-Ross by Victah Sailer) More

Neely Spence Chooses to Embrace the Challenge in NCAA D-2
The highly regarded Spence chose to stay close to home at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, where her coach is her father, Steve Spence, a 1992 Olympian  who was the 1991 World Championships bronze medalist in the marathon. Her most recent accomplishment is an NCAA Division II 5000-meter record of 15:33 at last weekends Mt. SAC Relays in California; it was her first time under 16:00 for the distance, and surpassed her fathers prediction of 15:45. Spence downplays talk of her being a D-2 athlete, contending the most important thing is that the athlete makes the choice that is best for them. For me, this was staying with my dad at a D2 school. She believes in being positive and enjoying what you do. I think running is like life: a long journey with many adventures. You just have to embrace the challenge, be patient, and find the balance.(photo of Neely Spence by Victah Sailer) More

Norway Plans a Tribute to Grete Waitz
Toni Reavis reports that a national tribute to Grete Waitz, who died of cancer a week ago at age 57,  will be staged at Bislett Stadium in Oslo on May 11. The ceremony is open to everybody. Waitz won nine New York City Marathons, two London Marathons, the first World championships marathon in 1983, and five World Cross Country crowns, plus a silver medal in the first womens Olympic marathon in 1984. She also set two world records at Bislett Stadium in the 3000, first an 8:46.6 in 1975 and 8:45.4 a year later. A bronze statue of Waitz stands outside the stadium. More

Marathons and Half-Marathons? They Keep Getting More Popular
We can probably keep writing that headline for the foreseeable future. The number of finishers in American marathons in 2010 reached 507,000, the first time it surpassed a half million; the growth rate was 8.6 percent over 2009. There were at least 35 new U.S. marathons. As most of you have discovered, more and more races were selling out quickly—not just Boston in eight hours but also Marine Corps in 28 hours. Running USA, which assembled this data, attributes the 26.2-milers popularity to training programs (charity and non-charity), the challenge of 26.2 miles, bucket list appeal, women’s growth and fun, well-organized community events. More

In the Case of Matt Hughes, Hockeys Loss Is Louisvilles Gain
Hughes is from Canada, and notes hockey is my favorite sport. Even in high school, I didnt really take running seriously. It was kind of something I did to stay in shape while I was playing hockey and soccer. That changed in his junior year when he switched to the steeplechase with instant and overwhelming success. And in 2010, he became the University of Louisvilles first NCAA outdoor track and field national champion with his steeplechase victory in a school-record 8:34.18. I know Im going to have a huge target on my back, Hughes says of his plans to defend his title. The guys I beat last year arent going to lie down and let me win. I know I have to train harder and step my game up. His other goal is to make Canadas World Championships team. (photo of Matt Hughes by Jeff Reinking/University of Louisville) More

Anne Kesselring Is Oregons Newest Emerging Star
The University of Oregon sophomore is from Germany and her 2:02.44 for second place in the 800 at the Oregon Relays on Saturday, just behind professional runner Geena Gall, is the fastest collegiate time for the distance in 2011. Thats a killer performance, proclaims Oregon Coach Vin Lananna. Anne was nice and composed, and she has more in the tank. Kesselring is also one of Oregons hopes in the 1500. More

Spedding Hoped London Olympics Could Have Enduring Effect
Charlie Spedding was Great Britains bronze medalist in the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics; hes still the British record-holder with a 2:08:33. He has a history of overcoming physical adversity, and hes just undergone six months of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (he reports Im feeling well. Ive got the all-clear). Spedding may be more upset that a 2012 Olympic legacy event he devised called The British Schools Olympic Challenge, a nationwide athletic test that would serve as a spur for children to improve fitness, is now going nowhere. If this worked properly you would have documented proof that four million, maybe even five million children were now physically fitter than they were eight months earlier, purely because of the Olympic Games, explains Spedding. He was told the idea could fly if he got a sponsor—but it would have to be one of designated Olympic ones, whose budgets apparently dont accommodate Speddings dream. And government officials he contacted saw no urgency for such a project. More

There Are Prizes for Back-of-the-Packers at Lilac Bloomsday
World-class runners and wheelchair racers are competing for nearly $100,000 in prize money in Spokane on May 1, but at least four Bloomsday finishers farther back in the pack will also have a shot at more than just a finisher’s shirt. In celebration of the 35th running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run, special prizes will be awarded to the 35th, 350th, 3,500th and 35,000th finishers. Each of those four will receive an iPad2 from Strong Solutions, a gift certificate from Sports Authority ($100 for #35, $50 for the others), an Inlander.com T-shirt and Bloomsday souvenir apparel. This is our way of underscoring the thirty-fifth Bloomsday, says Lilac Bloomsday Association President Carol Hunter. It also gives some special recognition to four Bloomsday participants spread throughout the field. So, you know, if youre in 34,999th place and closing in on the finish line, slow down just a little. Late entry to Bloomsday is available this weekend at the Spokane Convention Center on Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Late entry is not available on Sunday. Late entry fee is $30.

Florida State Men and Clemson Women Win ACC Championships
The Seminoles were Atlantic Coast Conference outdoor track and field titlists for the sixth year in a row with 174.5 points to runner-up Virginia Techs 153.5. Clemson took its second consecutive womens crown with 202 points to 132.5 for second place Florida State. Ciaran OLionaird was a double winner for Florida State in the 1500 (3:40.69, edging Virginias Robby Andrews by 8/100ths of a second) and 5000 (13:52.11), setting Championships records in both events. Kate Van Buskirk of Duke triumphed in the womens 1500 in 4:16.68, while Jessica Parry of Florida State was first in the 5000 in 16:14.74. More

Get Ready For National Run a Mile Days
The American Running Association (ARA) is hosting and promoting the 4th National Run a Mile Days starting May 1 and lasting through May 8. Participating organizations may include schools, track clubs and community organizations. ARA and Youth Runner Magazine will post stories and photos from multiple event sites across the U.S. We are seeking elementary, middle school and high schools in all 50 states to host a Miler Day, said ARAs Executive Director Dave Watt. Host schools, running clubs and communities are encouraged to incorporate the Miler event into their PE class planners as well as community events. ARA will sponsor a Miler host site in all 50 states in 2011. Each selected event will receive recognition awards or Run a Mile Days certificates for participants in their mile events. Completion certificates and posters will be provided to select schools. Results and photos will be posted  at and at . Go here to sign up. More

Heres Todays Running Song of the Day
For a change of pace, this ones homemade by a group of high school runners who envision a world in which being a cross country runner is cool and appealing and even, well, stimulating. Science fiction? Fantasy? You decide. The kids did a nice job. More

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