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Micah Ward · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 10:16 am Post subject:

OUTSTANDING RACE BY DEENA KASTOR!!!!!!

What a great race. Just a whole bunch of good story lines. Radcliffe dropping out, the drama of Ndereba trying to catch Naguchi and then Deena coming from so far back to take the Bronze. Deena ran a great race and the move she put on the Ethiopian to take 3rd was classic. She came by so fast and hard that there was no chance for the other woman to go with her.

That course has got to be the hardest of any major marathon ever run. The Atlanta paper reported that the runners climb the equivalent of a 6 story building every mile from mile 8 to 21 and then drop the equivalent of an 8 story building every mile from there to the finish. Some purists may not like that because they would prefer a flat Chicago or London type course to bring in fast times. But I like the course. It really makes the runners use strategy (like Deena) and toughness more than even a normal marathon.

Whew....I need a rest......
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Dan · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 10:55 am Post subject:

Actually, I would think the "purists" would object to pancake courses. Purists generally prefer competition over time trials.

Dan
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Micah Ward · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:47 am Post subject:

Excellent point.
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Conway · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:41 pm Post subject:

I knew that marathon would excite you ... It was an awesome race !!!!!!
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Kishan Gill · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:30 am Post subject:

Big disappointment for Britain. Radcliffe was the best , if not only gold medal hope in track and field for the country.

Dan · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:33 am Post subject:

She seems to be the non-purist equivalent of the pancake flat courses, being at her best in non-tactical, time trial affairs. Much like ElG.

Dan
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Paul · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:24 am Post subject:

I agree with x-King and Conway about how these Games just haven't excited me like previous Olympiads have. And we have had some great efforts from Oregon. Women's Fencing, both Men's and Women's Rowing, Shooting, etc. I wasn't expecting a lot from the coverage. But everyone in the media is so intent on uncovering the BIG human story that they are completely missing all the human drama unfolding right before their eyes. Maybe it would have taken a Jim Murray to see through all this.

By the way, maybe this has been posted already, but here is probably the best links results I have come across yet:

http://www.athens2004.com/en/resultsAthletics/results
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Paul

"Gaunt is Beautiful" Cassidy's T-shirt

Paul · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:29 am Post subject:

By the way, I do feel bad for Paula. But very happy for Deena, who, as you all remember, didn't have that great of a Trials. And how can you not like Dan Browne. Lost in the whole 10K thing is the fact he beat Abdi.
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Paul

"Gaunt is Beautiful" Cassidy's T-shirt

Micah Ward · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:47 am Post subject:

Has Dan said anything about running the marathon? If he is healthy there is no reason not to. He has no pressure to medal, so he could start easy like Deena did and who knows....maybe creep up into the top 10.
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Paul · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:16 am Post subject:

Browne's main event is the Marathon. He has stated that he sees no reason not to do both. The 10K is 9 days before the Marathon and he feels with the technical support that the US team has, there should be no reason not to be ready. Much like Frank Shorter in 1972.
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Paul

"Gaunt is Beautiful" Cassidy's T-shirt

Conway · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject:

I'd love to see an American male do decently in the marathon ... Its been SO long .... Hopefully he can run better than 2:10 ... We'll see ... Been awful fot there .. I don't understand why they don't run a morning race ... Oh well ...

Has anyone noticed that this has been a very bad meet for National Heroes ??? Kenteris had to bow out ... Powell ran out of the medals ... Felicien didn't even get over the first hurdle ... Guevara beaten .... Radclif had to quit ... Not been good for the Big Guns .... This is the Youth Movement Games ... Wink

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Conway
Speed Thrills

Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:02 am Post subject:

That is always part of the fun when there are upsets and suprise wins. One team that did as well as expected was Walsh and Mays in women's beach volleyball. They dominated just about everyone.

Stacy Dragila was another disapointment. I knew the gold would be tough but I never thought she would go out like that.

El G got his gold and I wasn't sure he would with the way he had been running this summer. He certainly seemed vulnerable.
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Conway · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:28 am Post subject:

Yeah, El G winning was actually a surprise ... Imagine that ... LOL ... But has been tough on the Stars this time around .... I too was shocked at Dragila ... I meant to not even be in the final had to be devastating for her ...
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Paul · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:11 am Post subject:

The last half of the race was stunning. I think Graeme had mentioned he was under 1:47 for the last 800. I think Webb could have gotten in the top six.

Disappointed, but not shocked by Dragila. She just hasn't been consistent. I will be interested to see what her plans are for the future.

Joanna Hayes really stepped up to the line for these games.

Two Americans over 7-8.

All 3 women make the 400 final, even though they finish 4,5,6. Relay might be a pleasant surprise.

Biggest disappointment for me: Devers. Did she really think she could run 7 quality races in 3 days at 37 and not have something come apart? No relay, now, I'm assuming, which means she goes home empty handed. The thing to do, in my opinion, would have been to give up the 100m slot to Marion, concentrate on her specialty, and maybe run a relay leg in the semi's or something. Might have had a chance for two medals.
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Paul

"Gaunt is Beautiful" Cassidy's T-shirt

graeme · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:18 am Post subject:

Yeah, I was surprised that Devers attempted the double too. Did she ever mention in an interview why she attempted it? I heard some speculation that she was trying to make up for an uncharacteristically weak US 100m team. But then she could have just given her spot to Marion if that was her motivation. I guess anything is just speculation really.

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