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6/3/2023

Kenyan athlete killed in hit and run accident in Kapsabet

Kenyan athletics lovers woke up on Saturday morning to shocking news following the death of youthful athlete Sammy Kosgei which happened on Friday night in Nandi County.

Kosgei, who comes from Kamonjil village in Nandi County, was involved in a road accident along the Kapsabet-Lessos road at around 7:30 pm when he was knocked down by a hit-and-run passenger vehicle.

Nandi Police Commissioner Joseph Kavoo said that the accident at the Emaki Trading Centre killed him on the spot.

“The said athlete was walking along the road at the trading center before he was hit by a public service vehicle. However, we cannot ascertain where the athlete was going or coming from,” said Kavoo.

He added that the body of the deceased was taken to Kapsabet mortuary as the investigation into the incident commences.

According to the family spokesman, Hosea Saina, the family has lost a youthful athlete who had the potential to become the shining light of the community and nation at large.

“The accident has terminated the good career of a very young athlete. As a family, we have lost a young man who was to be the light of the family,” said Saina.

“As a family we shall sit and plan for his burial dates later,” he added.

(05/27/23) Views: 683
Emmanuel Sabuni

Galen Rupp’s high school 5000m record (13:37.91) stood for 18 years, 9 months, 6 days Connor Burns’ high school 5000m record (13:37.30) stood for 20 days. Lex Young went 13:34.96 last night in Los Angeles

 It’s not every day that the 18th place finisher in a race steals the headlines but Newbury Park High School senior (CA) Lex Young highlighted the first night of the LA Grand Prix by breaking the U.S. high school 5000m record in 13:34.96. U.S. road 5K champion Abdihamid Nur won the race in a personal best of 13:05.17 and locked up his World Championship qualifying standard.

What you need to know:

– The previous high school record of 13:37.30 was set just three weeks ago by Connor Burns at Sound Running’s Track Fest. He broke Galen Rupp’s record of 13:37.91, which had stood since 2004.

– This should not come as much of a surprise after Young ran 13:43.95 last year. He didn’t have the best start to the year after finishing the 2022 cross-country season injured and then finishing third in the 5000m at New Balance Nationals Indoor in 14:00.64. Young has raced sparingly this outdoor season but took a big step forward with a 13:44.83 at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 14. He called his shot and publicly announced he was going after Burns’ record in the leadup to Friday night’s race.

What told him in training that this was possible:

“The times kept on getting faster and the effort kept on feeling easier, where I knew with the training progressing in the same way, I’d be ready by now.”

On racing a majority of the race solo:

“I knew it would be pretty darn fast but I thought there would be more people in that 13:30-13:40 range. So when everyone was still together at a mile and I was dropping off, I had to take a couple of breaths and think, ‘I’m falling off the back but it’s not because I’m dying but if I keep on going with them, I don’t want to dig myself down into a deeper hole.’ They were going really fast. They went like 4:17, which is faster than I need to go for the record. I wanted to be a bit more conservative.”

On what it’s like being a high school star in the social media era, where performances are under a bigger microscope and open to more criticism:

“When I produce the content, it motivates other people to try and do what I’m doing. Ultimately that is so worth it. People come up to me and they tell me how much it’s inspired them and that means so much. No matter how much people will hate or people who comment and doubt, I will always keep producing the content because I know how much it can help people as other people’s content has helped me.”

Other highlights from the LA Grand Prix:

– Emily Lipari won the women’s 5000m in 15:08.87 for her second-best career performance. She closed with a 69.34-second final lap.

– Team New Balance Boston’s Emily Mackay won the women’s 1500m in a personal best of 4:07.03. She spoke about what she’s learned in her first full year as a pro.

– Kieran Lumb notched a personal best of 3:35.99 to outkick NACAC champion Eric Holt in the men’s 1500m. He discussed his decision to turn professional and sign with On.

– Under Armour Mission Run Baltimore’s Ahmed Jaziri won the men’s 3000m steeplechase in 8:17.64 – just barely missing the World Championships qualifying standard.

– Former Colorado Buff Madie Boreman took 10 seconds off her personal best to win the women’s steeplechase in 9:22.99. She is now being coached by Julie Benson and could be a contender for the U.S. team.

– Craig Engels won his first race of the year with a 1:47.32 in the men’s 800m. He took three months off due to a torn calf and Achilles injury.

– Laurie Barton of the Brooks Beasts won the women’s 800m in 2:02.54.

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Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.

(05/27/23) Views: 132
Citius Magazine

Four tips for clearing mental hurdles on tough trail runs

A tough trail run can be even more of a grind on the brain than it is on the body. While running offers a mental challenge whether you’re doing intervals on the track or sweating bullets on a treadmill, hitting the trail can present unique psychological hurdles, particularly for those who are new to this kind of running. Consider these tips for staying level-headed on uneven terrain during your next trail run.

1.- Build confidence through preparedness

Getting in the right frame of mind for a challenging trail run starts well before you take your first steps. Reduce anxiety and doubt by going into your run confident and prepared. For trail runners, confidence begins with having the information you need to navigate your route safely. Familiarizing yourself with a section of the trail beforehand by checking an online map or following a well-worn route that others have already laid out using an app, such as Strava, can spare you from uncertainty and mental stress on your run.

For those runners who embrace the trails as a chance to explore and lose themselves in the woods, having a map—digital or otherwise—handy in the event of a very wrong turn can strike a good compromise between being adventurous and being prepared. If planning a run at a park or conservation area, it never hurts to check the site’s website before heading out for any trail closures or conditions that might otherwise throw you for a loop.

2.- Find a partner

Partnering up with a runner familiar with the area can help you conserve your mental strength in several ways. In addition to offering added peace of mind that you’ll be able to navigate the trails safely—and have someone there to help in case of a serious injury or other medical emergency—an experienced partner can offer insights that simply can’t be gleaned from a map. Getting a heads-up about easy-to-overlook tree roots, patches of poison ivy and other hidden hazards of the trail can keep your creeping uncertainty at bay. More than that, a buddy who knows the area can offer tips to maximize your effort and make your outing more fun. These might include sharing the most strategic areas for walking, upping the pace or taking in nutrition, as well as points of interest like the best places for snapping a photo or spotting wildlife. Those benefits aside, just engaging in conversation can help a tough trail run seem less taxing,

3.- Ask yourself helpful questions

Self-talk can promote a positive mindset on challenging runs, but this type of tool often isn’t used to its potential. Some runners may find comfort in repeating mantras like “I’m stronger than I think” or “pain is temporary,” while others may find the technique monotonous and mentally draining. Instead of limiting your self-talk to statements, try switching to questions. A helpful question to ask yourself when struggling on your run is: “What’s the easiest thing I can do right now that can help me feel more relaxed while staying at the same effort?” This kind of question not only asserts your ability to improve how you perceive your run, but also invites you to scan your body and see where you might be holding stress. Are you clenching your fists? Could your shoulders be looser, or your breathing just a bit slower or deeper? Exploring these questions can do wonders to shift your mental focus from discomfort to ease.

4.- Let your environment work for you

Similar to the way asking yourself the right questions can promote greater ease through mindfulness, being aware of your immediate environment can help keep you grounded mentally. One of the appeals of trail running is the sensory experience it can provide, not just through sights but through the sounds, smells and even the feel of your surroundings. Making a conscious effort to pay attention to all your senses on your run can help you cut through negative mental chatter and make your experience richer and more rewarding.

 

(05/26/23) Views: 104
Paul Baswick

Rejeanne Fairhead sets new 5k record for 95 plus

Canada’s Rejeanne Fairhead can now call herself the fastest 95+ woman in the world. On Saturday afternoon in 30 C weather, the 96-year-old unofficially destroyed the women’s 95+ world record, running 51:09 for five kilometres at the Ottawa 5K.

At Friday’s press conference, she said her secret to running fast is keeping busy. “I try to be active in all sports, and take care of myself and be happy,” said Fairhead.

Fairhead received honours from the race announcers before and after the race for her attempt and new accomplishment. She is the eldest participant of the Ottawa Race Weekend for the second consecutive year.

The women’s 95+ world record Fairhead beat was that of American Betty Lindberg, who ran 55:48 at the 2022 Atlanta Peachtree 5K.

(05/28/23) Views: 99

Florence Jebet Kiplagat is set to run in Gold Coast after four year break

Double Berlin Marathon champion Florence Jebet Kiplagat returns to action in July after four years out of competition due to an injury and prolonged illness.

The former World Half Marathon record holder will compete at the Gold Coast Marathon on July 2 and she can't wait. 

“It has been long since I completed and my return into action after four years in the cold is a sign that God loves me. I want my return to be better than before,” said Kiplagat.

Kiplagat was initially entered to compete at the Stockholm Marathon on June 2 but changed her plans after failing to secure vital travel documents on time.

She will be hoping to lower the course record currently held by Lindsay Flanagan at 2:24.43. Kiplagat’s best time stands at 2:19.44 set in 2011 at the Berlin Marathon on her second victory.

“I entered the Stockholm Marathon late and failed to secure a visa. That made me change my mind to compete at the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia,” she said.

The Iten-based runner had three incidents that kept her from running. First, the nagging injury, followed by the coronavirus then sickness. She says after the injury in 2019, she was to return to action but the world was hit by the  Coronavirus pandemic. "When the pandemic was over and planning to return, I fell sick," she explained. 

The mother of two has sweet memories of her World Half Marathon record feat, which she lowered twice; posting a new high of 1:05:12 in 2014 and 1:05:09 in 2015 during the Barcelona Half Marathon.

Under the tutelage of Italian marathon coach Renato Canova, Kiplagat says she is on top of her game and optimistic her performance in Gold Coast will be good despite the long period on the sidelines.

“Right now, I am coaching myself because my coach is currently unwell.  However, he has been sending me a training programme, which I follow religiously in a bid to make a successful return," she says.

She is well remembered to have ended Kenya’s 16-year-old gold drought at the 2009 World Cross-Country Championships in Amman, Jordan before winning the World Half Marathon title in Nanning, China in 2011. Kiplagat is a former footballer, who played at the national school games.

(05/26/23) Views: 89
Emmanuel Sabuni

Kiptoo, Masai seeking big performances at Bolder Boulder

It's time to be bold for NAZ Elite.

The running team is sending Wesley Kiptoo and Alex Masai to the BOLDERBoulder 10K road race in Colorado set for Monday with the hopes of making some noise on the men's side of the prestigious event after producing some solid outings on the women's side the last few years.

Last year's BOLDERBoulder champion, in fact, was NAZ Elite's Aliphine Tuliamuk, who finished in third place at the 2019 edition of the race and was runner-up in 2018.

“We would love to win on the men’s side, but it’s really, really hard," NAZ Elite Executive Director Ben Rosario said Wednesday.

Only former member Scott Fauble has produced a top-10 finish in the men's race for NAZ Elite, taking sixth in 29:54 in 2016. This will be the eighth year that NAZ Elite has sent at least one athlete to the event since the team started racing in 2014.

The nature of the team-focused event typically leads to a loaded pack running up front, according to Rosario.

“When you have got three athletes from Kenya, three from Ethiopia, three from the U.S., et cetera, et cetera -- and they are all distance-running powerhouses -- it’s going to be hard to win the race because all these teams have somebody who could win.”

Rosario thinks that altitude also has something to do with how athletes perform at the race, which starts at 5,275 feet of elevation, peaks at 5,377 and ends at around 5,360 feet.

Fauble was born at altitude in Colorado, as was Tuliamuk, who is a Kenyan-born American. Both Kiptoo and Masai were born and raised in Kenya at an elevation higher than Flagstaff.

“It’s not a guarantee that they will run well, but I think they have a better chance to run well and race well at altitude than an athlete who was born and raised at sea level," Rosario said.

And both Kiptoo and Masai are in shape and coming off good performances.

Kiptoo won his last time out, repeating as the champion at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon on May 7. Meanwhile, Masai placed second in a 10,000-meter track event earlier this month and was fourth at the BAA 5K road race in mid-April with a time of 13:27.

“He’s look quite good in training over the last month," Rosario said of Masai, "and I would just say that he’s ready to go.”

Kiptoo normally draws energy from races that feature such strong talent up front, as the second-year pro likes competing with athletes who can produce the sort of times and results he hopes as his career unfolds. 

“He’s certainly excited about the race. He’s shown so far in his young career that he enjoys these big road races, and when he is fresh and ready to go, he runs very, very well," Rosario said.

Before Monday's BOLDERBoulder, NAZ Elite will have two athletes in Krissy Gear and Katie Wasserman at Friday's USATF Distance Classic 1500m on the UCLA campus.

Rosario said there will be 17 athletes packed on the track for the "regular-season" race that will provided a chance for Wasserman to get some racing rust off her legs after a pause in racing due to illness and Gear to keep the momentum going and experience building.

Wasserman has not raced since mid-February at the USATF Indoor Championships, where she produced a 12th-place result in the 3000m.

(05/26/23) Views: 88
Mike Hartman

Ben Schneiderman wins men’s citizen race title at 43rd Bolder Boulder

Leading up to the 43rd running of the Bolder Boulder, Ben Schneiderman didn’t feel great about a lot of his workouts.

He felt great on race day, however.

On Monday, Schneiderman won the men’s citizen’s race at the Bolder Boulder, using a strong final push to finish in 31 minutes, 1.88 seconds.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Schneiderman said. “I qualified for the Olympic trials in the marathon in December at the California International Marathon, so I kind of decided to take a break from the full marathon and run a couple of shorter races after that before the fall. So I kind of picked out Bolder Boulder because it’s local and it’s a great race. It feels good.”

Josh Romine was second, in 31:06.98, while Max Sannes was third, in 31:17.50.

Schneiderman was in third for much of the race, but surged past Romine and Sannes on the final uphill stretch.

“I wanted to kind of go after those front two,” he said. “They were ahead of me for most of the race, but I thought I could maybe get them on the hill there at the end, which is how it played out.

“I’m strong on hills. The uphill final mile definitely helped me. Usually on those downhill stretches is where it seemed like they would pull away a little bit and then I would get back on the uphill a little bit.”

Schneiderman grew up in Colorado Springs and graduated from Liberty High School in 2014, lettering all four years in track and cross country. He then ran at Colorado School of Mines, where he earned several All-RMAC honors.

Schneiderman, who graduated from Mines with his PhD in December, had run in the Bolder Boulder a couple of times before, but this was his first time since 2015.

“It was fun,” he said. “I never finished that far up before. When I was in high school, I was (around 40th place) usually. It was a good race. Good day for it.”

Also running Monday was Schneiderman’s brother, Noah, who finished in 35:23, as well as former Mines teammate Jake Mitchem, who was fourth (31:20.16).

“He just told me he was going to do it like a couple weeks ago, so I was like it would be cool to work together, which we did for like the first half of the race or so,” Schneiderman said.

In the second half, his training paid off as he claimed his first win.

“This is encouraging,” said Schneiderman, who will compete in the Olympic trials in February. “I wasn’t really sure how fit I was coming into this because I just had a lot of sort of flat-feeling workouts during this training block, but it felt really nice to come out here and feel good and feel like I could put myself in it.”

(05/29/23) Views: 86
Brian Howell

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu flags off 9th Okpekpe 10km road race

Dare Esan, the media and activation director for the historic, first 10km road race in Nigeria says Shaibu will play a dual role at the race.

“His Excellency the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu will participate in the celebrity race,’ said Esan.

Shaibu was presented with his bib in a colourful ceremony on Wednesday at an impressive ceremony in Benin after he registered via online for the race.

“The deputy governor filled his form via the online platform like all others because he is still an active sportsman who has taken Edo state sports to greater heights.

“All eyes will be on the 53 years old to see if he will break his lifetime best in the 10km event,” added Esan

Meanwhile, Dan Oil and Petrochemicals have joined the list of corporate partners for the race.

One of the leading indigenous oil and gas companies, Dan Oil has always been associated with the race.

“We are delighted that one of the leading indigenous oil and gas companies in Nigeria whose services are tailored to meet and deliver the energy demands needed to move equipment and machinery needed  to drive the Nigerian economy is partnering with us again to deliver another world class event,’ said Esan.

The media and activation director is thrilled with the way the race has been receiving support for corporate Nigeria and believes getting the Platinum label the Deputy Governor spoke about on Wednesday will be released sooner rather than later.

“We are the first road race in Nigeria to get a World Athletics label status and this was in 2015. We are also the first to have its race course measured and the first 10km race in Nigeria to be granted a gold label status.’

The ninth edition of the race will be held this Saturday in Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government area of Edo state.

(05/26/23) Views: 82
Dare Kuti

Handcuffed couple lock in world record at Calgary Marathon

A Calgary couple toasted 20 years of marriage with a new world record Sunday after running the Servus Calgary Marathon handcuffed to one another. Megan and Rich MacDonald completed the 42.2-km distance in 3:18:28, setting the record for the fastest marathon run by a male-female duo tethered at the wrist.

The MacDonalds shaved 25 minutes off the previous record set at the 2019 London Marathon. In addition to hitting their target time, the couple also surpassed their fundraising target of $8,000 for MitoCanada, a charity that helps support and protect Canadians living with mitochondrial disease. The couple began training for their world-record attempt in February.

Sunday’s event wasn’t the first time the MacDonalds locked in a world record at the Calgary Marathon. In 2017, Megan was part of the 10-member Team MitoCanada who set the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run by a female team linked together (3:27:58). That same year, Rich was part of the 112-person team who set the record for the most people to finish a marathon linked together.

Sunday’s event wasn’t just a marathon to remember for the MacDonalds, but for a race day that continues to build its post-pandemic momentum, said John Bird, interim executive director with Run Calgary. “Today’s race went so well, and we were delighted to welcome more than 9,200 people to the finish line,” said Bird. “We had our highest attendance since the pandemic, raised more than $475,000 for charity, and brought together the running community in a great celebration of health and wellness. I’d like to thank the 1,100 plus volunteers who gave their time to help others achieve their goals today.”

The men’s marathon was won by Lance Risseeuw in 2:36:04, and the women’s event by Maria Zambrano, in 2:48:02. Both winners are from Calgary.

In addition to the marathon, which drew close to 1,200 participants, the race day included 50-km, half-marathon, 10-km, and 5-km events, as well as a 1.2-km “kids marathon.”

In total, 93 charities benefited from donations collected through this year’s marathon, with $475,000 being collected as part of the Servus Charity Challenge. The event has raised $9.7 million for charities over the last 12 years.

(05/30/23) Views: 77
Paul Baswick

Hellen Obiri confirmed for New York Mini 10K

This year’s New York Mini 10K, the first women-only road race in the world, will feature Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, and defending champion Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia.

The trio will take on the tough Central Park course on Saturday, June 10 with the hope of displaying great results.

Obiri will be making her debut in the race after winning the New York City Half Marathon in March and the Boston Marathon in April. She opened her season with a win at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February. 

“There is no greater feeling than having my daughter watch me win races, and having her with me when I won the United Airlines NYC Half and Boston Marathon this year was truly special.

"Now, I’m looking forward to lining up for the women-only Mastercard Mini 10K for the first time, and having so many girls from the next generation watch me race, just like my daughter does,” said Obiri.

On her part, Lokedi could not make it to the Boston Marathon earlier this year after she got an injury during the last days of her training.

She will be returning to Central Park for the first time since winning the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in her marathon debut in November. She was also the runner-up at last year’s Mastercard New York Mini 10K.

“The last time I was in New York, my entire life changed when I won the New York City Marathon. This iconic city will now always hold a special place in my heart and I’m eager to keep improving and show that I’m on top of the podium to stay,” Lokedi said.

Meanwhile, Teferi, the 2022 New York City Half Marathon champion, expressed her excitement towards winning last year’s event and was hopeful of winning another title.

(05/30/23) Views: 73
Abigael Wafula