'09 Zürich m5000 (Ritz AR 12:56.27!)

[Daisy]

Geb gave up when he saw the stadium clock and realized Komen had a very good chance to break his record. He knew he couldn't win and wasn't going to help Komen.and realized Komen had a very good chance to break his record. He knew he couldn't win and wasn't going to help Komen.

Which is totally and completely inexplicable for a world-class athlete 100 meters from the finish line.

Why?

I can't even believe you need to ask the question.

Given what kuha, dutra and conor outlined above, the usage of the word inexplicable is incorrect. It is explicable, you and Zat0pek just find it uncomfortable that he did it.

[dunes runner]

43rd performer all time.

http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists ... etail.html

Thank you for explicating the answer to my question. : )

[Pego]

Entertainment value of this thread is diminishing exponentially by each additional post.

[Gebfan2]

We bought Ritz a beer in the bar; he was so pleased that not long after the race he got a call from Bob Kennedy--another class act--offering congrats for breaking his AR.

Thanks for sharing this. Says it all. Two class AR holders.

[DrJay]

We bought Ritz a beer in the bar; he was so pleased that not long after the race he got a call from Bob Kennedy--another class act--offering congrats for breaking his AR.

I'll have whatever he was having!

[DrJay]

Ritz's is 114th all-time performance. There are only 20 performances, by 10 men, under 12:50.

Where do you find stats like that?

A must-have link:

http://www.alltime-athletics.com/


Peter Larsson does a great job, updates the lists same day usually.

[gh]

We bought Ritz a beer in the bar; he was so pleased that not long after the race he got a call from Bob Kennedy--another class act--offering congrats for breaking his AR.

I'll have whatever he was having!

That fine Swiss brew, Feldschlössen.

[SQUACKEE]

We bought Ritz a beer in the bar; he was so pleased that not long after the race he got a call from Bob Kennedy--another class act--offering congrats for breaking his AR.

I'll have whatever he was having!

That fine Swiss brew, Feldschlössen.

I just ordered a case. If i cant train like a 12:56, i must drink like one.

[David Andersen]

Universal Sports Commentary

It has been said a thousand times, but might as well be said again until they get it right. The commentary (Stones, ?) during the Zurich meet (esp. the 5k I watched) was terrible. No other sport is burdened with such inane banter. They can take a perfectly exciting event and make it more boring than I could ever imagine. It's been the same crap for years and years. What is the problem?!!!!

[kuha]

Seeing the coverage of this race today (good quality vs. a rather poor link I found elsewhere, yesterday) was really cool. Knowing what Ritz would do, it was just incredible tracking him from dead last, all the way (nearly) up through the field in the last couple laps. It was a remarkable run, and the emotion on his face afterwards was pure gold.

If anyone wonders what purpose the post-championship meets serve: here's Exhibit A. Case closed.

By the way, by my count, this was the 75th sub-13 minute race in history.

[Master Po]

Seeing the coverage of this race today (good quality vs. a rather poor link I found elsewhere, yesterday) was really cool. Knowing what Ritz would do, it was just incredible tracking him from dead last, all the way (nearly) up through the field in the last couple laps. It was a remarkable run, and the emotion on his face afterwards was pure gold.

If anyone wonders what purpose the post-championship meets serve: here's Exhibit A. Case closed.

By the way, by my count, this was the 75th sub-13 minute race in history.

kuha,
Agree with you on Ritz's race, and the post-championship comment. However, could I ask you to do a re-count on the # of sub-13:00 races -- mostly to check my work? I count 77. Thanks!

[Daisy]

Re: Universal Sports Commentary

What is the problem?!!!!

NBC are aiming at the wrong people. Actually, are they aiming at anyone?

[kuha]

kuha,
Agree with you on Ritz's race, and the post-championship comment. However, could I ask you to do a re-count on the # of sub-13:00 races -- mostly to check my work? I count 77. Thanks!

Erg!! You're very likely right! I've been trying to keep track of all the sub-13 minute races, but honestly haven't been quite as persnickety about it in the last couple years as I had before...ugh...

[schmke]

By the way, by my count, this was the 75th sub-13 minute race in history.

kuha,
Agree with you on Ritz's race, and the post-championship comment. However, could I ask you to do a re-count on the # of sub-13:00 races -- mostly to check my work? I count 77. Thanks!

From All-time Athletics, I count 75 outdoor and it doesn't list Friday's race so it would be 76. But it also lists 4 indoor races under 13:00.0 so that makes 80.

[croflash]

I think the PA announcer mentioned Ritzenhein's name more times than Bekele's during the last kilometer, that is saying something. For a second it seemed like Ritzenhein could even get all the way to the front before Soi soared past him again. Great race to watch for those two reasons, Bekele's attempt at a fast time and the surprise factor with Ritzenheim breaking the American Record.