Harry Groves, Penn State's XC and T&F coach, to retire at season's end

Coach Groves will be retiring at the end of June. Here are two excellent articles on his legacy. He has done more for the sport that can be put into words, which inludes coaching Olympians and American record holders to pushing walk-ons to All-American status. He pushed us to our limits all the same, and helped us to find out a little bit more about ourselves each day. The passage below from Rudyard Kipling's If describes him very well:

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch.

More about Coach Groves in the upcoming months. Enjoy.

GoPSUSports.com

Daily Collegian

Deena Kastor Interview

Interesting reads on Deena Kastor

Deena Kastor is the favorite to win the Flora London Marathon on Sunday April 23. She is also attempting to break the 2:20 barrier.

Kastor has Double Target
Kastor targets London Win
Kastor gunning for London victory
Kastor downplays favorite role
Haile Gebrselassie and Deena Kastor the favorites on London's 'speedy, classic' course

Brian Sell Update

Brian Sell was fourth in the Boston marathon, and established a new pr of 2:10:55. He ran a steady,consistent race, hitting 5:00 minute miles throughout. The Americans went 3-4-5 at 110th Boston Marathon and placed five men in top 10. Runners World did a nice feature on the winner, Robert Cheruiyot, who set a new course record, and the American men's performance. They also did a brief chat with the third, fourth, and fifth place American finishers, Meb Keflezighi, Alan Culpepper, Brian Sell respectively. Congratulations to Brian on his excellent performance.

Bucknell Distance Carnival

This weekend Bucknell University will play host to the Bison Outdoor Classic. Friday night's Distance Carnival will feature the 1500m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, and 10000m running events. The events will have both open and invitational sections. It should be an excellent meet. The track is enclosed in a stadium, so that should reduce the effects of the wind, and allow for some fast times.

Meet Schedule
Distance Carnival Entries

Local Athletes competing at the meet are:
Alex Krichels, Deep Six Racing: 1500m (5:45 p.m.)
Ian McLaren, Deep Six Racing: 1500m (5:45 p.m.)
Rick Koubek, Deep Six Racing: 5000m (6:55 p.m.)
Artie Gilkes, Diabetes AIAC: 5000m (9:10 p.m., Invite Section)
Rebecca Donaghue, Reebok Boston: 10000m (9:30 p.m., Invite Section)
Miesha Marzell, Unattached: 800m (Saturday, 12:20 p.m.)

I am still trying to secure someone to videotape the races. Right now, I am a day late and a dollar short on that endeavor. But if anyone is interested, please let me know, and we will see if we can work something out.

National Distance Running Hall of Fame

On July 11, 1998, a hall of fame was established to honor the sport of distance running. The National Distance Running Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the athletes who have made contributions to the sport of distance running, contributions that have brought distance running fame and recognition. From the sport's top runners and most decorated athletes to those who pushed the sport's barriers and eventually broke them, the Hall of Fame honors their talents, initiative and drive.


Inductees

Matt Lane and Justin Gatlin Interviews

Two excellent interviews on two of America's brightest stars, Matt Lane and Justin Gatlin. Lane talks about commitment. And how one needs to invest 100% of oneself to reach top results and be satisfied with the outcomes one accomplishes.

Gatlin discusses his 2006 racing plans and more. With no major championships this year, he will be going after the 100m world record (9.77). But more than that, he wants to put together all of the progress he has made the last few years and retain his number one world rankings in the 100m and 200m.

Hansons Preparing for Boston Marathon

The Hansons Distance Project is leaving no stone unturned with their preparation for the upcoming Boston Marathon. They recently had a "working" dinner with the last American to win the Boston Marathon, Greg Meyer.

Bill Bowerman

Here is a link to an article about Bill Bowerman written by Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike. It is a great read. It talks about how he got everything that he could out of his athletes, by wanting to achieve the same of themselves. Enjoy.

New Brian Sell Interview

The interview was conducted by MensRacing.com. It focuses on his preparation for Boston and his future goals.

Nicole Blood Interview

This Nicole Blood interview is from November, but I just found it today. It was after Nicole won the Foot Locker Northeast Regional and was chosen as Track & Field News High School Runner Of The Month. It discusses her xc season, the upcoming track season, and why she left her high school team. It is an excellent read.

End of Two Amazing Eras

After winning the 4k and 12k at the World XC Championships. Kenenisa Bekele is planning not to defend his 12k (they removed the 4k race, to go to a one day format) title at next year's championships. He wants to focus on the Daniel Komen's 3k (7:20.67) and 2 mile (7:58.61) world records. More on that story can be found on AllAfrica.com.

Craig and brad Miller are competing in their final high school season. They have big goals for the season and have already started off with a bang. Craig ran 4:13 and brad ran 4:21 this past weekend. With their increased off-season training, the record books are in danger. They discuss their final season at LancasterOnline.com.

Brian Sell's Runner's World Interview

With the Boston Marathon less than two weeks away, I turn my focus towards Brian Sell. Brian owns a marathon personal record of 2:13, and finished ninth at the 2005 World Championships in the marathon.

Brian attended St. Francis University where he roomed with Steve Petrosky and earned two All-American Awards (XC and 10k), and several NEC athlete of the year awards. Below I have listed a few interviews with Brian, one before and one after the Olympic Trials Marathon race, and the recent Runner's World one that discusses his preparation for Boston. Good luck to him and his fellow competitors at Boston. And hopefully Brian will improve on his personal record and bring home the title.

Just to note Brian's high school pr in the 3200 was 10:06. Just goes to show you what a lot of hard work and perseverance can for someone who stays focused.

Runner's World: Boston Preparation
MensRacing.com: Post-Olympic Trials
MensRacing.com: Pre-Olympic Trials

Team USA women take fifth in 4 km at World Cross Country Championships

Running in her second race of the weekend, Blake Russell (Marina, Calif.) finished 18th in the Open Women's 4 km to lead Team USA's women's team to a fifth-place finish at the 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships at Umi-no-Nakamichi Seaside Park on Sunday.

Full Results for all of the races. You are able to see what place everyone is in at each one kilometer checkpoint of the race.

Senior Women 4k Finish Results
Junior Men 8k Finish Results
Senior Men 12k Finish Results

Goucher sixth in 4 km at World Cross Country Championships

Adam Goucher (Portland, Ore.) finished sixth to lead Team USA's open men's team to fifth place in the 4 km at the 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships at Umi-no-Nakamichi Seaside Park on Saturday.

Full Results for all of the races. You are able to see what place everyone is in at each one kilometer checkpoint of the race.

Senior Women 8k Finish Results
Junior Women 6k Finish Results
Senior Men 4k Finish Results

Team USA prepsters ready to compete in Fukuoka

They may not have the international savvy, credentials, or moxie of some of their older teammates, but the four high school athletes on Team USA's junior squad are more than up to the challenge of competing against the world's best under-20 cross country runners at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Saturday and Sunday at Umi-no-Nakamichi Seaside Park here in the western Japanese seaport.