Flanagan Barely Misses American Record as Defar Wins 5000 in Paris
You could hardly tell this had transpired from the various Internet feeds (which are all the same picture, essentially) of the Meeting Areva in Paris on Friday. In a very loaded womens 5000, 
American Shalane Flanagan was at the back of the pack early on and seemed to have lost contact at the midway point. Meanwhile, a quick race was shaping up in the front, and ultimately, Meseret Defar would win her duel with fellow Ethiopian Sentayehu Eliju, 14:29.52 to 14:31.66, with Kenyas Mercy Cherono third in 14:35.13. And as the camera lingered on Defar past the finish line after she was done, in the back of the frame one could glimpse a tiny blonde who had apparently never relented and had picked off stragglers to move up to fourth place in 14:45.20, just missing the American record of 14:44.76 she hoped to win back from Molly Huddle. Well, Flanagan ran her own race. And she does have True Grit. (photo of Shalane Flanagan by Victah Sailer)
Can Alysia Montano Rise to the Top Again in the 800?
There was a period during 2010 when Montano, the former Alysia Johnson, was the #1 womens 800-meter runner in the world, with back-to-back victories in Lignano, Italy, and in Monaco, both 
in 1:57 and change. She was not the perceived headline story in todays (Fridays) Meeting Areva, the Paris Diamond League meet—even the article inked at More has paragraph after paragraph about Usain Bolt, whos doing a 200—but hers is the tale that should intrigue American track fans most. Montano is the 2011 USATF champion in her two-lap specialty and in Paris shes taking on 2009 World Champion Caster Semenya, who wasnt on the circuit in 2010. This year, Semenya has had flashes of brilliance mixed with moribundity (its a word!) and one always suspects shes dogging it a bit until Championships time (and maybe even then), so who knows what to expect in Paris? (photo of Alysia Montano by Victah Sailer)
Surviving contact that knocked down one runner early, Montano had the lead (behind the rabbit) at 400 meters in Paris but began to fade at 500. Meanwhile, Semenya, again not looking like she was working very hard, came past for the lead and the victory in 2:00.18. Halima Hachlaf of Morocco was next in 2:00.60, with Jenny Meadows of Britain third in 2:00.74 and Montano fourth in 2:00.78.
American Trio Get Their 1500-Meter Worlds Qualifiers
There were multiple stories unfolding in the mens 1500 at Meeting Areva in Paris. One was the race up front, in which 
Amine Laalou of Morocco was an impressive victor in 3:32.15 ahead of 2008 Olympic gold medalist Asbel Kiprop of Kenya (3:33.04) and Bernard Lagat of the U.S. (3:33.22). With Lagat, who got second at the USATF Championships, electing to run the 5000 (which he won at USATFs) at the World Championships, it was left to Matthew Centrowitz, Leo Manzano, and Andrew Wheating first, third, and fourth at USATFs respectively to earn their qualifying standards for Worlds. Theyve all got them now and theyll be going to Daegu after 2008 Olympian Manzano was sixth in Paris in 3:33.66, Wheating was ninth in 3:34.39, and Centrowitz was 11th in 3:34.69. (photo of Matthew Centrowitz by Andrew McClanahan/Photo Run) More (Centrowitz Video)
Bolt and Robles Triumph; Chris Brown Trounces Jeremy Wariner
Usain Bolt had a whole new bag of pre-race shenanigans in Paris on Friday, but when the much-delayed mens 200 finally got going, he was all business and got off to a huge early lead, easing up in the stretch to prevail in 20.03; even right now, hes capable of much faster. Christophe Lemaitre was second in 20.21, which delighted the French fans. In the much anticipated mens 110-meter match-up, Olympic gold medalist Dayron Robles got the better start but American David Oliver caught up and this one really did just go to the guy with the superior lean at the end. That was Robles, as both men were timed in 13.09. The mens 400 went to Chris Brown of the Bahamas, who now looks like a World Championships gold medal contender after his 44.94. Jeremy Wariner looked like, well, a shadow of his former self, as he took fourth in 45.50 behind Belgiums Jonathan Vorlee (45.05) and Jamaicas Jermaine Gonzales (45.50). More (Bolt Video)
Kara Goucher Will Wait Four Weeks for Her Next 5000
Goucher, whos on the American team in the 10,000 at the World Championships, was going to be in that 5000 in Paris today but 
got a call from Coach Alberto Salazar last week and heard him ask you’re ready to run 14:55 to 14:58. Do you want to go all the way to Paris for that? Although Goucher had invested so much mental preparation into the trip, she understood Alberto pays close attention to how his runners are doing every step of the way and isn’t afraid to make short-term changes to keep them on track toward long-term goals. So after her husband Adam corroborated Salazars notion, Kara Goucher is now entered in a 5000 in London on August 5. Meanwhile, theres a lot of speed work to do in these next four weeks. (photo of Kara Goucher by Victah Sailer) More
After Hip Surgery, Tyson Gays 2011 Track Season Is Over
The second fastest 100-meter man in history had an arthroscopic procedure on his injured right hip in Vail, Colorado, on Tuesday and will not run again this year, Reuters reports. The doctor was pleased with the outcome and believes Tyson will resume his normal base training in the fall as he prepares for 2012, reports Gays agent, Mark Wetmore. Dr. Marc Philippon said in a statement Tyson is already doing range-of-motion, active rehabilitation, and I expect him to resume normal training after six-to-nine weeks. More
Todays Brief Chat
is with Pete Magill, who was winning national 5K and 10K cross country titles in the 40-49 age group while he was 49. As of June 19, hes 50, and his chief goal is to become the first man his age to break 15:00 for a road 5K. Click here to read the Chat.
Nick Willis Is Healthy for the First Time in a Long Time
Willis won a 1500-meter race in Cork, Ireland, over the weekend in 3:40, easing up in the final stretch. The Michigan-based New Zealander—who was up against much tougher competition in todays (Fridays) Diamond League meet in Paris and placed fourth in 3:33.22 —affirms its nice that Ive had seven or eight months of uninterrupted training. The strength is good and every week I am just testing the speed a little bit and I think there was a lot of it evident today. More
The Family Visits, and Nick Arciniaga Squeezes in 102 Miles
The 2:11 marathoner had a week including a good deal of travel between Oregon and Arizona and visits by family members. Fortunately, as Nick Arciniaga says, my parents went out and ran, rode bikes, and/or walked each day as well so he managed to get in three days of doubles and 102 miles for the week, including a 21-miler with Brett Gotcher on a mountain road. His blog entry at More has the details. More
Louise Knudson Learns, Happily, What Boston Is
In 2006, for the first marathon, my only goal was to finish it and not die,” says Knudson, a 25-year-old nurse in the University of Virginia Health System. With limited training, she clocked a 3:44. After I finished, some friends asked me if I had qualified for Boston, she recalls I asked them, What’s Boston? She found out this April, when she ran a 2:42:42 in Boston to become an Olympic Trials Qualifier. I just couldn’t believe it, Knudson says of her Boston time. It was the greatest thing ever. Dana Thiele, one of her coaches, believes the most notable thing is how quickly Louise has improved, and how much potential she may have. Louise has all the ingredients of a great distance runner—she has the talent, mixed with a toughness about her and the desire to be great. (photo of Louise Knudson by Victah Sailer) More
Boomer Esiason Enters Cystic Fibrosis Run to Breathe in NYC
The 10K in New Yorks Central Park on Saturday actually bears the former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets quarterbacks name; its Boomer’s Cystic Fibrosis Run to Breathe to benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which heightens awareness, education, and the quality of life for those affected by cystic fibrosis while providing financial support to research aimed at finding a cure. Esiasons son Gunnar has the respiratory disease. Gunnar will join Esiason, his wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Sydney, in participating in the New York Road Runners event. For many people with cystic fibrosis, everyday activities can be a challenge, emphasizes Esiason. “The Run to Breathe will bring together people with cystic fibrosis who are using exercise to beat this debilitating disease, and I encourage other athletes to show their support by running side-by-side with these courageous individuals. The Boomer Esiason Foundation is an official ING New York City Marathon charity. More
Boston, NYC, and London Champs Face Off in Sicily
Reigning marathon titlists Geoffrey Mutai (Boston), Emmanuel Mutai (London), and Gebre Gebremariam (New York City) will meet up at the Giro Podistico di Castelbuono on July 26. Its an 
early evening race on a Tuesday. This years version of La Corsa Piu Antica (the Ancient Race) is a certified 10K on nine loops of a route on ancient streets tiled with volcanic stone (thats almost a lyric from Sounds of Silence). These marathon heroes all have very solid 10K credentials, too—as does American Ryan Hall, wholl also be in the Giro. Past winners of the Giro Podistico di Castelbuono include Paul Tergat, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Martin Lel, Gelindo Bordin, Khalid Khannouchi, Hendrick Ramaala, and Zersenay Tadese. Gosh! Castelbuono is in central Sicily in the middle of Parco delle Madonie, an 8000-acre national park. (photo of Gebre Gebremariam by Victah Sailer) More
Jo Pavey Is Skipping the World Championships Marathon
The British star, whose marathon debut was a 2:28:24 in London in April, has had recent minor foot injury and is thinking ahead to an autumn marathon. It’s always great to represent your country but I’ve got to look ahead to the Olympics next year, Jo Pavey says of her decision not to compete at the Championships in Daegu. Realistically, I need a quicker marathon personal best to think about being competitive (in 2012) and I have to work out what’s the best way to do that. More
Frances Christophe Lemaitre Joins the U23s in Ostrava
Of course, Lemaitre first has todays 200-meter date with Usain Bolt in Paris. But then hell be at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava in the Czech Republic beginning on July 14. The event is, as the name suggests, for athletes under 23 years of age. Adam Kszczot of Poland, the European Indoor champion in the 800, will be another of the notable names in Ostrava. More
Does 5,469 Laps Around a Queens HS Sound Like Fun?
The 15th Annual Self-Transcendence 3,100-mile race is underway in Jamaica, Queens, New York. There is a 52-day cutoff as runners (not many of them) circle a .5488-mile course around Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School. The record for the event is 41 days and eight hours. Yeah, thats 41 days on an urban city block in the middle of the summer. Most of the participants are disciples of the late spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy; as the Wall Street Journal puts it, Chinmoy found running to be a useful way of confronting—and ultimately surmounting—the physical boundaries of the body and the psychic limits of the mind. This race was an outgrowth of that philosophy. More
Heres Todays Running Song of the Day
Im kind of surprised that I didnt have one up previously. Anyway, its by everyones favorite pouting Scottish lass. No need to make apologies for this one, its terrific. Crank it up. More
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