JUN
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General News
Chicago Olympic bid 2016 relies on US Presiential elections?
CHICAGO officials will be desperately hoping that local boy Barack Obama (Democrat) wins the race to become the next President of the United States or they will face a major decision that could make-or-break their bid to host the 2016 Olympics.
Obama would back his hometown bid 100% if elected but if his Republican rival wins then Chicago know they have a major dilemma.
John McCain who chaired the Senate Commerce Committe hearing into the International Olympic Committes (IOC) affairs following the Salt Lake City bribery scandal, which erupted in 1998 when it emerged that the Utah city had bribed some IOC members to win the right to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. McCain made many comments describing the IOC was incapable to reform under the present IOC
Results
Baddeley wins Dream Mile!
Britain's Andrew Baddeley produced his greatest race to date by winning the Dream Mile at the Bislett Games (Oslo, Norway).
Competing in a race made famous by his more illustrious predecessors Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram, Baddeley, 25, triumphed in 3min 49.38sec, beating his personal best by an impressive 2.57sec. He is the first Briton to win this legendary mile race since Peter Elliott in 1991 and his triumph may have signalled the start of a breakthrough for British men's middle-distance running.
This, from an athlete who was fitted with a computer chip to monitor palpitations that can send his heart beat up to 250 beats a minute. The batteries in the chip have long since expired and Baddeley will have the chip removed after the Olympics, confident that his condition is now under control and that he can be considered among Britain's few medal hopes in Beijing.
There was also a breakthrough for young athlete Tom Lancashire, a former European junior silver medallist, took the 1500m in a lifetime best of 3:35.33
New 5000m female world record
Tirunesh Dibaba ran 14mins 11 secs at the same meet as Andrew Baddeley (Oslo). Ethiopian Dibaba took 5 seconds off the previous world record and sets herself up perfectly for Olympic gold in Bejing. Dibaba ran on average 4.33 for 3 miles and said after that she could have run much faster. Look out for a sub 14 minute 5k record soon!
Preview
The Comrades marathon loses its comradeship?
Approximately 11,500 runners will take part in the 89km marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. In an effort to save lives the South African race is too enforce new rules this year. An International Amateur Athletics Federation rule that runners may not drag others across the finish line will be strictly enforced when the 2008 Comrades takes place on Sunday.
The Comrades Marathon Association has decided, after the death of two athletes during last year's race, to ensure the rule is adhered to. William Malapi, 48, of Worcester, and the 34-year-old Michael Gordon of Gauteng died last year shortly after being assisted to cross the line.
Race favorite is Leonid Shvetsou but will have tough competition from rival Oleg Kharitonov who last year ran 100miles in 11 hours 28 minutes. Ouch!
Video of the week
After a great result by Andrew Baddeley lets have a look at some of his rivals at the Olympics. This video was from the world championships in Osaka last year. It was a great race won by American Bernald Lagat. Baddeley was also in the final and we hope to see him further up the field in the Olympics.
(Apologises for the long build up, stay with it as it was a great race).
Tags: gym workouts
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