WWW.shoptravelhealthguide.COM
 |
| ATHLETICS |
Pollution to Keep Gebrselassie out of Olympic MarathonWhen China made its bid to play host to the 2008 Olympics, opposition mainly centered around the lack of human rights in the Communist-governed nation. Additionally, some athletes, particularly in the NBA, have protested China’s role as a key financial supporter of Sudan, in light of the genocide occurring in Sudan’s Darfur region.
In the track and field community, however, a non-political concern has surfaced recently – the quality of Beijing’s air. In 2005, satellite data showed the world’s largest amount of nitrogen dioxide above Beijing and northeast China, according to the European Space Agency. High quantities of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant produced mainly by heavy industry and motor vehicles, can cause lung damage. On March 10 of this year, Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie announced that he would not compete in the marathon in Beijing. Gebrselassie set a world marathon record last year with a time of 2:04:26. "The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42 kilometers in my current condition,” said Gebrselassie, who suffers from asthma. Gebrselassie added that Beijing’s air pollution "would be a hazard to athletes, seriously affecting their performances.” Belgian tennis player Justine Henin, the 2004 singles gold medalist and another asthma sufferer, has previously stated that she would not compete in Beijing due to the city’s pollution. Official Olympic committees are officially downplaying any problems with China’s air quality, while Chinese Olympic organizers state that steps will be taken to improve Beijing’s air prior to the Games, including limitations on automobile use. Clearly, however, future Olympic site selections must take air quality into account. It’s unfortunate that a runner of Gebrselassie’s caliber must choose between protecting his health and competing in what is now his best event. He still hopes to compete in a much shorter Olympic race, however, stating that he will attempt to qualify for Ethiopia’s team in the 10,000 meters, an event Gebrselassie, 34, won in 2000 and 2004.
|
Old and Young Triumph at U.S. IndoorsVictories by old favorites who returned to top form, along with surprising triumphs by first-time winners, highlighted the 2008 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held in Boston on Feb. 23-24.
The meet also served as the qualifying event for Team USA's roster for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, which begin March 7 in Valencia, Spain. The top two finishers in each event qualified, provided they’ve met IAAF performance standards. The most competitive event was the men’s shot put, where 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell plus defending World Indoor and Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa edged 2005 World Outdoor champ Adam Nelson to qualify for Valencia. Cantwell’s top throw measured 70-feet, 7-inches (21.51 meters). The men's 800 was the weekend’s closest race, as Khadevis Robinson (1:45.95) edged defending U.S. Indoor champion Nick Symmonds by .01. World Indoor champion Brad Walker, who was hampered by an injury earlier in the season, looked strong while winning the men’s pole vault for the third time (18-8.25/5.70 meters). Defending NCAA indoor mile champ Shannon Rowbury scored the meet’s major upset with a victory in the women’s 3000, finishing in 8:55.19 to defeat two-time Olympian Jen Rhines. Several U.S. Indoor champions defended their titles successfully, including Lolo Jones in the women’s 60-meter hurdles (7.88 seconds), Matt Tegenkamp in the men’s 3000 (8:02.52), Trevell Quinley in the men's long jump (25-8/7.82), Amber Campbell in the women’s weight throw (76-2.75/23.23) and Aarik Wilson in the men's triple jump (55-5.75/16.91). Jillian Camarena won her fourth straight U.S. Indoor shot put championship (59-5/18.11). Amy Acuff, captured her fourth national indoor high jump title, and second in a row, with a leap of 6-3.5 feet (1.92 meters), while Jenn Stuczynski won her second consecutive women's pole vault (15-5/4.70) and third overall. New U.S. Indoor men’s champions included Michael Rodgers in the 60-meter dash (6.54), David Neville in the 400 (46.34), David Oliver in the 60-meter hurdles (7.47), Kibwe Johnson in the weight throw (82-5/25.12) and Andra Manson the high jump (7-6.5/2.30). Additionally, Matthew Boyle officially ended Tim Seaman’s 10-year winning streak in the 5000 race walk, as Boyle won in 20:30.0. On the women’s side, first-time U.S. Indoor champs included Shakeema Welsch in the triple jump (45-9/13.94), Shareese Woods in the 400 (52.03) and Christin Wurth-Thomas in the 1,500 (4:14.21). Hyleas Fountain, a two-time U.S. Outdoor heptathlon champion, won her first U.S. Indoor women’s long jump title (20-11.25/6.38). Among the veterans who returned to the spotlight was 34-year-old Nicole Teter. The American indoor record-holder won her third U.S. 800 championship in 2:02.65. Angela Williams won her second 60-meter U.S. Indoor title with a time of 7.11. Like Teter, Williams’ last championship came in 2003. Teresa Vaill earned her seventh career indoor title – but her first since 1991 – in the women's 3000 race walk with a time of 13:08.40. Rob Myers, the 2004 U.S. Indoor champ, won the 1500 in 3:40.89. Allen Johnson 37, didn’t win, but the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the 110 hurdles qualified for Valencia by placing second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.53. |
NCAA Crowns Indoor ChampsArizona State scored a rare double by winning both the men’s and women’s Division I team titles at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held in Fayetteville, Ark. Since the women’s championships began in 1983 only LSU – in 2004 – had won both the men’s and women’s D-I crowns in the same season.
ASU’s women won their second consecutive indoor championship. The school also won the D-I outdoor title last year. Arizona State scored 51 points and was led by Jacquelyn Johnson, who won her third consecutive indoor heptathlon championship. Johnson came from behind to edge Michigan’s Bettie Wade in the final event, the 800 meters. Johnson's 4,496 points broke the previous NCAA record of 4,439 points set by Austra Skuyte of Kansas State in 2002. Arizona State’s men scored 44 points, edging runner-up Florida State by three points. ASU’s Kyle Alcorn took the lead with two laps remaining to win the 3000 meters (8:00.02). ASU then held off Florida State in the meet’s final event, the 4 x 400-meter relay. The Sun Devils finished third in that event while FSU settled for sixth. In Division II, St. Augustine's cruised to its second consecutive men’s title and its 11th national championship overall with 68 points. The D-II meet was held at Minnesota State. Joe Kindred won the high jump for St. Augustine’s, clearing 2.12 meters (6-feet, 11.5 inches). He was also second in the long jump. St. Augustine’s quartet of Alvin Miles, Antonia Abney, Chris Cox and Randy Curry won the 4 x 400 relay in 3:12.67. Lincoln’s Wilbert Walker was the meet’s lone dual-winner, taking both the long jump (7.69 meters) and triple jump (16.39) competitions. On the women’s side, Adams State won its first-ever D-II championship, beating St. Augustine’s 55-48. Adams State posted a consistent effort, gaining 19 All-American performances. Adams State’s distance medley team of Sofia Monroe, Drew Houston, Laura Knapp and Tanya Gaurmer gave the school its lone victory, in 11:39.81. St. Augustine’s Barbara Pierre won both the 60-meter (7.41) and 200-meter (24.37) events. Illinois Wesleyan was a also a first-time team champion, capturing the women’s Division III title at the Ohio Northern University Sports Center in Ada, Ohio. Wesleyan’s Rachel Anderson won the 400-meter dash in 55.66. She also anchored the school’s 4 x 400 relay team, which broke the tape in 3:52.21. The other members of the victorious quartet were Ali McCoy, Mackenzie Clemens and Brooke Halcott. Wisconsin-LaCrosse won its 15th men’s D-III championship and its seventh in the last eight years. Wisconsin-LaCrosse’s winners included Bobby Riley, who captured the shot put with a toss measuring 16.94 meters (55-feet, 7-inches), plus the 4 x 400 relay team of Alex Rooker, Dylan Randolph, Jon Doble and David Kolbe, which posted a winning time of 3:19.67. Peter Kosgei of Hamilton won both the 800 (1:51.97) and the mile (4:11.17). |