Mark Flotrack » Final Crack Recap Day 9 Berlin World Champs

what happened with the interviews with the long jump gold medalists?

Thank you guys for the great coverage and for giving us a look inside the heads of all of these great athletes. The humanness that you guys extract in most of your intviews confirms what we knew and hoped... that most world class athletes in track and field are world class individuals, so similar to "us" yet so exceptional in ways that most of us can only dream.
As one who was at an all commers meet in Los Gatos, CA, only a couple of months ago, and watched a "relatively" at the time unknown female middle distance runner cruise to a 54 something 400 as a workout, asking "who is that Maggie who?" and being able follow her path, through Pre to Europe to a 1:57 something for 800m... and for all of the other interviews and insights, you guys bring something that the major networks can't or won't, you care about the sport and the athletes.

So, Thanks.

You guys have stepped up your game. Well done. I love what you are doing for track and field (athletics!). Also truly enjoy how you reach out to all athletes, not just U.S. athletes and also cool how you interview lots of athletes - not just the ones making the medals. This is a great service to the sport and it adds a wonderful, more in-depth and human, dimension to the competitions. Frankly, your questions are usually more interesting than a lot of the drivel that NBC spits out.

My one criticism: keep your between-round interviews a little shorter and more focused for the sake of the athletes. One suggestion: do a little more background research into the technical aspects of the events you are less familiar with so that you will have a better handle on things, particularly non-distance events.

Other than that, great stuff!!

What can we I say about you guys that everyone else haven't already said, even thou you guys are Americans you were not bias in your coverage and to that you get all the respect in the world. thank you again guys a job well done.

I thought this was the case in Beijing and then I confirmed it here. The USA is the #3 distance running country in the world. Granted this is kind of like the golf world with the who's chasing Tiger category but it's still pretty nice. I scored the distance races from the 800-marathon like a track meet 8 deep. Here's what I got for the top 4 countries combining men and women.

Kenya--133
Ethiopia--94
USA 40
Russia--24.
To folow up a blog post earlier on this site by Ryan, this was the year of the America rise in women;s mid distance. The most points were scored in the women's 1500 by America. nice.

Love the coverage, gentlemen.

No one else compares. No one.
(kinda wish you jerks would accept $ donations....)

Why give Kara a mix of PowerAid and GU? PowerAid is not something you drink during a race. The acidity is way too high and it messes your stomach up.
Great coverage Flotrack!!!

Awesome job!! NBC could take some lessons from you guys. The athletes definitely seem to open up to you much more than the network media. Great to watch. Keep it coming.

Flotrack> NBC commentators

Thanks guys, You guys really made this world championship really enjoyable and fun, it definitely wouldn't have been the same without flotrack. Kudos.

you guys amplify the excitement of track and field.

thank you thank you thank you

flotrack with the awesome coverage, as always. THANKS!!

You guys make this sport so fun to follow. I can't believe how sucked into it all I've become this summer. The coverage has been superb, thanks so much!