Distance Running News Round-Up

Here is the latest news from the world of distance running:

EUROPEAN U23 CHAMPIONSHIPS OPEN THURSDAY

Competition at the European U23 Championships open on Thursday in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The four-day meeting features some of Europe's best developing athletes, including several who are already near the top of the global heap. In the middle and long distance events, the best athletes include Poland's 800-meter ace Adam Kszczot, the 2011 European Indoor champion (1:44.30 PB); France's 1500m runner Florian Carvalho (3:35.29 PB); and Spain's 800m/1500m athlete David Bustos (1:46.12/3:39.09 PB's). The meet opens on Wednesday night with a concert in front of Ostrava City Hall featuring a band called "Monkey Bussines."

B.A.A. HALF-MARATHON REGISTRATION OPENS

Registration opens tomorrow, for the 11th annual B.A.A. Half-Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, October 9, in Boston, Mass. Registration will open online at 10:00 a.m. EDT at www.baa.org. Last year's race filled in about two hours, so the Boston Athletic Association increased the registration limit from 6,000 to 7,000. The 2010 edition of the event had 4498 finishers, a race record. "The popularity of our Half-Marathon in recent years is indicative of the current boom in running, and especially here in Boston," said B.A.A. executive director Tom Grilk through a news release. "Bostonians make personal fitness a priority, and the B.A.A. Half Marathon is an event where personal fitness, collective well-being, and athletic achievement are in full form."

RRCA ANNOUNCES 2011 ROADS SCHOLAR CLASS

The Road Runners Club of America, a Virginia-based not-for-profit which promotes running and event participation in the United States, announced that six developing elite athletes had received their $5000 annual training grants under their Roads Scholar program. The goal of the program is to assist American post-collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world class road running athletes. The athletes are: Tyler McCandless, Boulder, Colo.; Megan Duwell, Flagstaff, Ariz.; Lex Williams, Hanover, N.H.; Meghan Armstrong Peyton, Richfield, Minn.; Bobby Mack, Raleigh, N.C.; and Megan Hogan, Minneapolis, Minn.

WARDIAN WILL TRY AGAIN FOR $15,000 IN KAUAI MARATHON "SPEED CHALLENGE"

At last September's Kauai Marathon, prolific marathoner Michael Wardian came within 53 seconds of pocketing a special $15,000 "Speed Bonus" offered by race organizers. The bonus was actually a bonus pool to be shared by men running sub-2:30 and women running sub-2:45. Wardian, who ran 2:30:53, was the only athlete who came close and would have been awarded the entire pool. For the 2011 edition of the race, scheduled for Sunday, September 4, the "Speed Challenge" will be back, and so will Wardian (2:17:49 PB). However, he'll have competition this time from American Tyler McCandless (2:17:09 PB), and Kenyans David Tuwei (2:13:44), and James Boit (2:15:15).

ATHLETES TWEET

American athlete Molly Pritz, who just left the Hansons program in Michigan tweeted: "I love when I get sad looks from waitresses when I ask for a table for one. Maybe I just like my alone time!"

USA 800m runner Nick Symmonds, who is training in Font Romeau, France, tweeted about a recent time trial he ran at sea level in Barcelona: "I give myself a C+ for the 600m time trial today... ran 1:15.9. Maybe a bit harsh on myself as I logged 30 miles in the previous 3 days!"

Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi is visiting New York City: "It is 5:20 a.m. & Just landed in NYC, always feel special coming here... people are on the move & some already done w/ their run/ workout...nice."

Bernard Lagat is in Tübingen, Germany, his usual summer base for the track season: "About to drop my buddy @RunDMC_Neill (David McNeill) at the train station. He's competing in #Liege and #Heusden (Wed&Sat)- the man is in shape!"

Amy Begley was on her way home from a two-week vaction yesterday: "Delayed in Reno for 2.5 hours. Wont get home till 1 AM. Good thing I had practice staying up late during vacation. :)"

Sub-four high school miler Lukas Verzbicas went bowling last night, part of his receiving an Athlete of the Year award from Gatorade: "Bowling at the @Gatorade AOY welcome dinner. I was told to stick to running..."

By David Monti (c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved; Used with permission