April 2008 Track and Field Articles

Eric Kiauka races the Esquimalt 8k in (Esquimalt) Victoria, BC, just another local road race where a few hundred runners, joggers and walkers join in on the somewhat hilly, summer offering. He comfortably sits in with the small, lead pack made up of David Jackson and Steve Osaduik, two guys capable on any given Sunday of completely disheartening their comrades-in-sweat. When Eric rounds the final corner with them, he drops a little high octane petro into the thrusters and extricates himself neatly into the chute, no longer the comrade-in-the-pack, he becomes the formidable foe with the killing kick. Kiauka grew… more »

Here is the rankings for this week. LSU, Texas A&M, Florida State, Florida and Texas head the top 5 in the Mens rankings. LSU, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Southern California head the top 5 in the Womens rankings.

Men's Division I Rankings
Rankings Points
1. LSU 278.93
2. Texas A&M 273.05
3. Florida State 266.48
4. Florida 245.31
5. Texas 184.78
6. Auburn 182.38
7. UCLA 176.05
8. Arkansas 174.68
9. Baylor 164.85
10.… more »

North Dakota senior, Heidi Evans, had a spectacular weekend at the Mt. Sac relays. On Friday, she ran 2:10.71 in the 800 meters, a personal record. On Sunday, Evans ran a stellar 4:24.66 in the 1500 meters, bettering the time she ran at the 2007 Outdoor National Championships where she placed fourth. It is also the fastest time this year for Division II. This past weekend, Evans traveled to the prestigious Drake relays and ran 4:29.22 for 1500 meters. About her performance at the Mt. Sac Relays she explained, “We have been doing speed work the last couple of weeks.… more »

Results are up here. Streaming video, viewable here ________________________________________________________ Victoria, BC - Times Colonist 10k - April 25, 2008 - The 19th running of the Garden City, Times Colonist 10k will take place this Sunday, April 27th 2008 attracting approximately 10, 000 participants. One of them is David 'Action' Jackson, who will be looking for his first TC 10k victory, after placing second in 2007 behind Vancouver's Ryan Hayden. Jackson would also like to make up for a disheartening error in last week's Vancouver Sun Run. David finished in 30:40 and off-the-podium. A sub 30 was in the cards, but… more »

Penn Relays Preview
by Walt Murphy (WMurphy25@aol.com)

After months of anticipation, it’s finally here--the best weekend in track and field, otherwise known as the Penn Relays. It’s always dangerous to play the weather “game”, but the forecast is encouraging.
It seems that every edition of the Relays becomes identified with the exploits of an outstanding team or individual. There was the year that Renaldo Nehemiah drove the crowd wild with his performances on Maryland’s relays, and the many years that Villanova and Arkansas dominated the men’s races. Who will make their mark this year. Will… more »

Northern Arizona's David McNeill, an Australian native, had an amazing sophomore XC campaign with a 10th place finish. After facing a few injuries surrounding a 7:50 3k indoors, he's back for this huge outdoor season and ready to run fast times.

Photo courtesy of David's Facebook.

Have you run yet today?
Yeah, I went for a run this morning. We did the Navy 12k. So, like 7.5 miles.

What kind of pace did you run?
This morning I was sort of just on heart rate. So, I was sitting… more »

Here is the rankings for this week. LSU, Florida State, Texas A&M, Florida and Texas head the top 5 in the Mens rankings. LSU, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, USC head the top 5 in the Womens rankings.

Men's Division I Rankings
Rankings Points
1. LSU 285.01
2. Florida State 268.80
3. Texas A&M 257.09
4. Florida 226.14
5. Texas 197.09
6. Auburn 189.50
7. UCLA 183.55
8. Arizona State 171.74
9. Baylor 160.54
10.… more »

The time has finally come this weekend will host two of the biggest track meets in the country. Yes, there will be other meets and events going on, but by far the Penn and Drake Relays will headline this weekend. They are some of the biggest if not the biggest track meets held each year in our country. Every year athletes have to make the tough decision on, which one to go to, but if your a fan don't worry they both will still be stacked. The Drake Relays will start a little earlier on Wednesday, but both meets will… more »

The DII National Outdoor Track and Field meet is about a month way, leaving plenty of time to gain the qualifying marks. Right around the corner, or should I say curve, are the conference meets. This past weekend, track and field delivered plenty of exciting action, and DII athletes were in the mix. (Readers are encouraged to post anything I may have left out.)

Mt. SAC relays There were a multitude of great performances at Mt. SAC this past weekend (you can watch all them here on Flotrack). I will highlight a few of the more spectacular… more »

Four years of preparation led up to a 2:32:40 race for Beijing this Sunday at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials in Boston, Mass. Blake Russell crossed the finish line with that 3rd place time behind fellow qualifiers Deena Kastor (1st place - 2:29:35) and Magdalena Lewy Boulet (2nd place - 2:30:19).

Without 2004 Olympic Trials qualifiers Colleen De Reuck and Jen Rhines in the race, the women almost finished in the same order as four years ago. In 2004, Kastor placed second, Russell fourth, and Lewy Boulet fifth.

Russell was determined to… more »

Vancouver Sun Run (April 20, 2008) - 59,179 participants registered for the 24th annual Vancouver Sun Run, presented by HSBC Canada. The race was run in cool temperatures (start of 3c) with a very light breeze and sunny skies. Kenyan, Festus Langat was first in, with a time of 29:26. Second was Philip Koech also of Kenya. Finishing third and top Canadian male was Ryan Hayden of Surrey, BC with a time of 29:38. The Africans were fading and Hayden closed in, narrowly missing second, this is a reversal of his other 3rd place performance from 2007 where Ryan had… more »

Altitude-training junkie Stephen Pifer, a senior Colorado Buffalo, is going into his last collegiate outdoor track season and hopes to make it a memorable one. With two XC team titles in his pocket, he looks for top honor at the NCAA meet and a strong at the Olympic Trials in the 1500m or the 5000m. Or maybe both.

What are your goals right for this season?
My number one goal is to have a good showing at the Big 12 Meet, because it's going to be in Boulder. Then in the NCAA meet, hopefully I can… more »

Here is the rankings for this week. Texas A&M, LSU, UCLA, Tennessee and Florida State head the top 5 in the Mens rankings. LSU, ASU, Texas A&M, Florida, Southern Cal head the top 5 in the Womens rankings.

Men's Rankings
Rankings Points
1. Texas A&M 301.67
2. LSU 265.66
3. UCLA 248.25
4. Tennessee 217.82
5. Florida State 215.58
6. Florida 209.19
7. Arizona State 199.55
8. Auburn 192.64
9. UTEP 161.23
10. Texas 148.18
11. BYU 146.46
12. Alabama 122.13
13. Texas… more »

Kirsten Sweetland, aka 'Sweets', who was raised on Vancouver Island, primarily in Nanaimo and Victoria, is about to take on the world. Well, she has already taken on the world and has come out on top, with some bumps and scrapes along the way. Now however, she is about to embark on her 2008 triathlon season with an eye on the big prize of Beijing. Kirsten is of the generation of triathletes mentored through the Kids of Steel (KOS) program. Rather than being a swimmer or cyclist or runner who turned to triathlon, she is a triathlon purist. She started… more »

Get ready because this weekend will be crazy. I am sure that you have all heard about this week at Mt. SAC where you the viewer will not only be able to see the race live, but will also have the opportunity to interact with the announcers. This is just another example of how Flotrack is taking the coverage of track and field to another level. Make sure to log on and be apart of history this weekend. Not only will you be watching history, but you will be making it. Thanks Mark and the crew!

… more »

Augustana Senior, Rachel Stangler, was recently named North Central Conference Athlete of the Week after finishing second in the steeplechase at the Arizona State Invitational held on March 29. Rachel finished fifth at last year’s NCAA Division II outdoor nationals in the 3k steeplechase with a time of 10:48.88. The four athletes ahead of her were all seniors, suggesting that she will likely be a frontrunner this year. Her talents as a runner extend beyond her abilities in the steeplechase; Rachel finished seventh overall at 2007's NCAA Division II cross country championships. Although she has accomplished a lot during her… more »

Every single part of Steve Archdekin's afflicted body hurts like hell. From his head to his toes, his knees, elbows, hips, ankles, shoulders, neck, his entire skeleton aches all time. His face, skull, toes and nose are in a constant state of pain. Well except for his nose. "The only place on my body that doesn't hurt is my nose; I have long since forgotten what it is like to simply not hurt." Steve's face hurts when he smiles, but he smiles all the time, especially in the middle of a triathlon. His tendons hurt too; his muscles, connective tissue,… more »

Newly crowned American Collegiate Record Holder in the 10k, Lisa Koll, an Iown Cyclone, is riding high, but keeping things in perspective. In her record run she negative split a 5k that was a mere two seconds from her 5k personal best. Looking to the NCAA Championships and beyond, this distance runner will continue to excel.

A few days after running the American Collegiate Record in the 10k, how do you feel?
It's still kind of settling in. It was shocking at first anyway. It feels good taking it all into consideration. Yeah, it was… more »

Should you be tasked in choosing an individual who, in toto, represents the running doctrine of greater Victoria, past, present and future, you would choose Bob Reid. Bob is a cog and a catalyst to the sport of running in Victoria, yet he stands tall amongst the most dedicated of volunteers. Whether being front and center raising thousands of dollars to purchase green space land for people to enjoy uninterrupted forested lands, assist elite athletes to make their all important qualifying race overseas or doling out bee sting ointment to a weekend warrior, out at the lakes, Bob Reid is… more »

The Week Ahead is bound to be a big one with the Flora London Marathon and a multitude of college track meets on tap. We are definitely in the swing of things with top performances happening all over the country by high school, college, and pro athletes. At the high school level Southlake Carroll’s boys went 10:02 in the DMR (Colby Lowe 4:06 1600 meter leg) and I was there to see 18-year-old Jeffery Demps’ 10.17 in the 100 meters. The collegiate athletes are not far behind how about Lisa Koll’s CR of 32:11.13 in the 10,000 meters and Richard… more »

Track is back in full stride. Many meets have been contested, ranging from large meets like the Texas relays (which you can watch right here on Flotrack) to smaller ones. Needless to say, there was plenty of running action this past weekend in the NCAA Divisions and in NAIA. With so much action, it is easy to miss some of the great Division II performances. Below is a summary of some of the highlights.

2008 Oliver Nikoloff Invitational Ashland’s men’s and women’s women team placed second at this meet to the host school, University of Cincinnati,… more »

Two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph, 34, will utilize her experience for the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials. After competing in the 5000 at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, she will move up to the 10000-meter distance this year. First, she plans to attain the “A” standard of 32:45.00 this outdoor track season. Rudolph has a personal-best time of 31:18.96 in the event, which she ran in 2005. In 2006, she was the 10000-meter USA outdoor champion.

Rudolph has been building her base mileage since she returned from a stress fracture last year. In her first major race… more »

Stanford Cardinal senior Teresa McWalters, who has finished third in the 5k at the NCAA Meet, is currently coming back from injury and looks for a big outdoor season.

I hear you go by T-Mac. How did this nickname come about?
(Laughs) Who told you that?

That would be Russell Brown.
(Laughs some more) Yeah, well I guess he calls me T-Mac. It started my freshman year. I don't know when it came out, but it stuck when it did. I kind of fought it, but now everyone calls me T-Mac on… more »

Competitive middle and long distance running in North America and Europe is apparently waning under a cloud of mediocrity. Oh sure there are the Ryan Halls and Deena Drossins running on the edge of greatness, but it is the depth of that apparent greatness that is of greatest concern. As we navel gaze, we often enter into debates about lifestyle, genetics, environment, role-modeling and alternative sporting diversions as causes and effects of the apparent mediocrity. I am sure each and every reason is valid however, one often overlooked cause could be the lack of coolness of jogging - in the… more »

The Week Ahead is one that you should circle on your calender, because it is sure to be one to remember. The pros had their time in the spotlight last week but this weekend will be the collegiate runners' opportunity to shine. The competition this weekend is intense now that we are in the middle of an up in the air outdoor season. As you have seen Flotrack will be covering action all over the country from the west coast to the east coast and everywhere in between. Isn't it awesome to see how Flotrack has grown so much over… more »

Jessica Selby-Tallman is the most decorated female track and field athlete in Missouri Southern’s history. Some of her most recent achievements include: 2008 and 2007 National Indoor runner-up in shot put, All-American Outdoor in hammer and shot in 2007, and 2007 Regional indoor and outdoor field athlete of the year. Despite all these achievements, she stated, “I think my greatest achievement is making 1st Team Academic All-American. It takes a lot of work to do well in the ring and in the classroom.”

Jessica Selby-Tallman began throwing in 7th grade. She already played volleyball and basketball and… more »