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Canada Track & Field and Cross Country News

World Marathon Majors - A pointless series Chris Kelsall Oct 02, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Photo: (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Mutai and Kimetto - Berlin Marathon
Mutai and Kimetto

The World Marathon Majors series is pointless and does not accomplish what it has set out to do. Most world-class marathon runners that are focused on peaking for the Olympics and World Championships and are dealing with recovery or injuries are not able to compete in enough events to earn the points required to compete for the World Marathon Majors prize purse, so they don’t bother. There typically remains a field of just a handful of East Africans that compete to the end, which is not edge-of-your-seat sporting competition to say the least.

New Case Study Sheds Light Into Elite Marathon Training and Nutrition Practices Chris Kelsall Sep 27, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

CASE STUDY AND INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR Dr. TRENT STELLINGWERFF

Dr. Trent Stellingwerff is a former track and field athlete who competed in the NCAA for division 1 Cornell University, where he was selected as a co-captain. He also competed in the CIS for the University of Guelph, where he twice earned All-Canadian status.

Stellingwerff was an academically decorated student who made the Dean’s list at Cornell University. In 2006 he took a position in Switzerland for the Nestle Research Centre (Powerbar) as a Senior Research Scientist in Sport Nutrition, Energy and Performance. Stellingwerff has also served as the Nutrition and Physiology Consultant for Athletics Canada. He now lives in Victoria, BC and is a Senior Physiologist working with the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific.

Kenya's Gilbert Yegon Had Bold Ambitions for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Chris Kelsall Sep 25, 2012

 

By Paul Gains

When Gilbert Yegon made his marathon debut in Amsterdam three years ago he instantly attracted attention as his time of 2:06:18 knocked two seconds off the course record held by the legendary Haile Gebreselassie.

Following the race he announced that, had it not been for muscle cramps suffered in the closing stages of that race, he would have also beaten the 2:06 barrier. Gebreselassie, of course, is also a two time Olympic 10,000m champion and held the world marathon record at 2:03:59 until last year.

 

Kiprop Leads Kenyans at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Chris Kelsall Sep 20, 2012

 

by Paul Gains

The great rivalry between East African neighbours Kenya and Ethiopia continues on the Toronto roads October 14th with a world class field intent on chasing the women’s course record of 2:22:43.

Agnes Kiprop, who has a personal best time of 2 hours 23 minutes and 54 seconds from the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon, will carry Kenyan hopes into the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label race. Among her Ethiopian rivals is Netsanet Achamo who has a best of 2:24:12.

Marilyn Arsenault - Will Take Two for the road Chris Kelsall Sep 18, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Marilyn Arsenault of Victoria, BC will be racing the Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon Sunday, October 14th. She is back where she started two years ago, when she was planning on running the Toronto event, but had her plans derailed at the last minute by a rare infection that not only hospitalized her, but threatened her life. Even though she is now two years older (44) her goal time is more aggressive, she said, “my goal two years ago was in the 2:38-2:40 range. I am definitely fitter this time around and recent workouts have indicated I may be able to aim lower by a few minutes”.

Natasha Fraser - Interview Chris Kelsall Sep 16, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Natasha (Wodak) Fraser of Port Moody, British Columbia is preparing to compete in her favourite running discipline, cross-country. She plans to race the Canadian Cross Country Championships that take place at Jericho Beach near downtown Vancouver on Saturday, November 24th.

Sally Kipyego - Interview Chris Kelsall Sep 11, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Kenyan distance runner Sally Kipyego won silver in the 10000m distance of the 2012 London Olympic Games. She finished in a personal best time of 30:26.37 in that race. It was her second silver finish in major international competition. During the thirteenth IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, Korea, Kipyego won silver, finishing in 30:50.04 behind Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba.

Matt Loiselle Chasing 2013 World Champship Marathon Berth Chris Kelsall Aug 31, 2012

 

 

by Paul Gains

Marathoners are wise to race their chosen distance two, maybe three times in a year which means it’s critical to get the buildup right.

With his victory at the Toronto 10 miler race August 12th Matt Loiselle received a good indication that his preparations for the 2012 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon are proceeding very nicely indeed.

IAAF Should Loosen its false start and lane violation criteria Chris Kelsall Aug 25, 2012

 

By Andrew Maloney

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

It was hard to watch the men's 4x100m relay finals (even if you are not Canadian) for the very reason that it is painful to see anyone go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows -- as the Canadian men's relay team did in a matter of minutes on live television. The beauty of athletics is that it is typically the most objective of sports and not reliant on the judgement of officials (good or bad) in determining winners or losers.

Looking back at the Olympics Chris Kelsall Aug 22, 2012

 

IAAF SHOULD LOOSEN ITS FALSE START AND LANE VIOLATION CRITERIA

It was hard to watch the men's 4x100m relay finals (even if you are not Canadian) for the very reason that it is painful to see anyone go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows -- as the Canadian men's relay team did in a matter of minutes on live television. The beauty of athletics is that it is typically the most objective of sports and not reliant on the judgement of officials (good or bad) in determining winners or losers.

Why Wasn't The USA Disqualified? Chris Kelsall Aug 16, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

I have received a great volume of email messages about the Canadian men's 4 x 100m relay team disqualification at the London Olympics. Many are asking for further clarity of the rules that are written by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) – the governing body for the sport of athletics. I think it will be easier to write an opinion, blog-like article than to answer all of the email queries. So below I hope to achieve a little clarification on the matter. Thank you for all of your email messages.

Canadian Men 4 x 100m Qualifies for tomorrow's final Chris Kelsall Aug 11, 2012

 


By Mathieu Gentès  - Athletics Canada

LONDON, UK - The Canadian men's 4x100-metres relay team finished second in their heat to automatically qualify for tomorrow evening's final. The combination of Gavin Smellie of Etobicoke, Ont., Seyi Smith of Ottawa, Ont., Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., and Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., clocked a seasonal best time of 38.05 seconds

Rob Watson on track for Toronto ten Miler Chris Kelsall Aug 07, 2012

by Paul Gains

With eight weeks of high altitude training under his belt Rob Watson lines up in Sunday’s Toronto Ten Miler road race intent on discovering precisely how fit he is. The 29 year old is preparing for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (October 14th).

 

Smith and Bishop - ready to Battle the Olympic 800m Chris Kelsall Aug 07, 2012

 


© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Canada has two women competing in the 800m distance event at the 2012 London Olympic Games. They are Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ontario and Jessica Smith of North Vancouver, BC. The competition starts with six heats on Wednesday, August 8th, at 11:35 GMT.

 

Andrew Ellerton - Interview Chris Kelsall Aug 01, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Sudbury, Ontario's Andrew Ellerton is the new coach of the University of Victoria Vikes. Former coach Keith Butler is leaving Ellerton one of Canada's top-three varsity teams. He attended the University of Michigan under coach Ron Warhurst.

Hilary Stellingwerff - Ready to Race Chris Kelsall Aug 01, 2012

 

Hilary Stellingwerff

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

London, Ontario's Hilary Stellingwerff, who now resides in Victoria, BC, is competing in the 2012 London Olympic Games. She is coached by Guelph's Dave Scott-Thomas. Stellingwerff will be competing in the 1500m distance event. She owns a personal best time of 4:05.08, which she achieved in the 2012 Rome Diamond League meet. Stellingwerff also ran to an 800m personal best time during 2012 finishing in 2:02.01.