September 2007 Track and Field Articles

Nicole Blood KWIK-E
By Tony Casey

Oregon Duck Nicole Blood, a 3 time junior champion, boasts personal bests of 9:22 and 16:19 (the top freshman time in the country last outdoor season). She and the Lady Ducks look to make a big splash on the nation this XC season.

How did your summer go with training?
It went great, a lot better than last year. I’m healthy and ready to go. After Brazil I took some time off because it was a long season. I actually got my wisdom teeth out, so… more »

After the global success of my ramblings in the inaugural Nate Shopay FloTrack article, I’ve decided to use my newly found power to take on a difficult and touchy subject.

As of yesterday, millions of American men (and a rare few women) are again suffering from an affliction that last reared its ugly head November 9th 2004.

Marked by lack of sleep, blistered thumbs, and a myriad of irrational grievances, the disease commonly referred to as EPOH (Excessive Playing of Halo) is mainly found in young men in the process of gaining… more »

Rachael Lanzel was like any normal seventh grader when she started running track. She was just looking to fit in with a group. “It was for fun and was something to do after school” she said. “It was in eleventh grade that I really started to have a passion for running.” This passion led Rachael to become a two-time All-American in cross country and to finish fourth a year ago at the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Rachael will be the highest returning finisher from the NCAA Division II National Championships as Esther Komen has transferred… more »

Four-time NCAA National Champion and All-American, Sally Kipyego, is used to handling a busy schedule. Kipyego, 21, from Marakwat, Kenya, is a cross country and distance track runner for Texas Tech University, where she is a nursing major.

Kipyego is one of many Kenyan runners who attend college in the United States. When she transferred to Texas Tech from South Plains College in 2006, Kipyego joined fellow Kenyans All-American Irene Kimaiyo, from Nairobi and manager Chepleting Boit, from Eldoret.

Kipyego, Kimaiyo and Boit all started running in primary school, but did not compete until… more »

The Marathon Olympic Trials in New York City are less than 6 weeks away now and the hype is starting to build. With a prize purse of $190,000, guaranteed fame to the winner, and more importantly a trip to Beijing in ’08 there is a lot on the line for these men. Last week the big favorites all officially entered and the media frenzy began. Over the next few weeks prior to the trials I will talk with some of the favorites as they prepare for one of the bigger races of the year. In my questions I’ll try to… more »

Hey, Flotrack readers! My name is Tony Casey and I go to SUNY Plattsburgh in upstate New York. I ran XC all through high school, making it to the New York State Championships twice. I was also a Section 7 indoor champion in the high jump. I started getting into the results and the history of running so I would have something to talk to my coaches about. Now I just do open races for fun.
Every Friday I will be posting an interview with a Division I XC/Track and Field athlete. This first one is with fellow New… more »

Every runner knows the feeling. You’ve got your running clothes laid out and ready but 6:00 has come earlier than you’d hoped. As you switch off your alarm you notice something on the window. Frost. You look at your shoes, then back down at your covers. Now it’s decision time: do you gather the gusto to get out of bed, or adjust your week to call for a morning run the following morning? No one has to know.

Runners of all abilities struggle from time to time going it alone. A five mile morning run at… more »

As my first article for FloTrack I will be sure to make it brief and full of semi-coherent ramblings.

Fall is here and that means one thing... Fantasy Olympic Trials Marathon Draft. All across America office pools are being created and marathon fans of all ages are gathering on weekends in basements to pick their dream team. Each day millions log on to ESPN.com where they can click the “Countdown to NYC” banner on the top of the page (sponsored by Brooks line up of fall weather proof jackets), and check the status of their favorite runner.… more »

"I choose Division II" is the recent motto for NCAA Division II sports. The question is why would one choose Division II running? It is not for scholarship money; there are only one and half scholarships, or the free swag; my sweats have been in college longer than the seniors on the team, or for the chance to turn pro; though some still do. I did not intentionally choose Division II, Carson Newman College was a good fit for me. The honors program is excellent, the class sizes are small and campus is beautiful. Running was not a secondary thought;… more »

Every Monday there will be a new women’s running article. I will talk with other female runners about the different issues and challenges we face, as well as what it takes to succeed in the sport. I hope to inform, entertain and encourage fellow runners.

My name is Stephanie Lowe, but a lot of you may know me as txRUNNERgirl from the LetsRun.com message board. I love to run and am a huge fan of Track and Field. Growing up, I failed at any sport I tried. When I got to high school, I was cut from… more »