Track is to road running, as ballet is to disco.

There is no where to hide on the track, you are exposed to the glare of the public. Fail on the track and you fail in the spectators' eyes. Your every move is seen.

So you ask yourself, "Why bother running track?", because it makes you tough, it develops your speed, pace judement, focus and the ability to withstand pressure. No matter your ability the pro's far out weigh the cons.

If you have never run track before then experience the 'wonders of the colliseum', you will emerge victorious no matter your finishing position. Rest assured what is being stated here is a positive message. Accept the challenge and try track.

It is Time-to-Run's aim to cover the distances of 800m to 10 000m, inclusive of 3000m Steeple Chase. We will also feature coverage of the main events held worldwide. The Golden League, the Olympics being the focus of many athletes.

In this section we will highlight the history of track, as well as covering the athletes of the distance and the world record progression of the various distances. still to come

Track Headlines

SA athletes win African Champs
South Africa's athletics team proved to be the continent's best when the African Senior Championships concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday, by topping the medal standings with a haul of 22 medals that included 12 golds.

Abeylegesse wins 3rd consecutive Euro Cup 10000m title
Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse eased to her third consecutive European Cup 10000m victory in Instanbul, Turkey, with her compatriot Selim Bayrak capturing the Men's title

Valencia World Indoor Champs 2008 summed up
The 2008 World Indoor Champs in Valencia, Spain, delivered a numerous amount of fantastic performances and displays of why this sport is great.

Indoors - Soboleva sets World 1500m Indoors record
With a little help from my friends. That surely was the case for a grateful Yelena Soboleva from Russia when she broke the world record on Sunday in Valencia, Spain.

Track Indoors - Lewis delivers massive surprise for Australia at Worlds
Tamsyn Lewis does it for Australia. A year ago I wrote about being happy that Lewis may finally realise her ability and that maybe she was becoming a true professional athlete.

Track Indoors - Tia Hellebaut and Kelly Sotherton value for money
We cannot not comment on the magnificent performances of Tia Hellebaut and Kelly Sotherton in the 800m, the final event of the Women's Pentathlon.

Megan Metcalfe breaks Canadian record at world indoors
VALENCIA, Spain – Megan Metcalfe of Edmonton broke the Canadian record to advance to the women’s 3,000-metre final on Friday at the world indoor track and field championships.

2008 National Open & AWD Championships - Results Day 2

Kenya Squad for Valencia led by Bungei
Nairobi, Kenya - 2006 World indoor 800m gold medallist Wilfred Bungei will be leading a Kenyan squad of eight to the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain, 7-9 March.

Athletics Canada names World Indoor Championships team
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada named today the 2008 World Indoor Athletics Championships team. The Championships take place in Valencia, Spain March 7 to 9.

Bekele sets two-mile world record
Kenenisa Bekele set a new world record for the two miles at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday.

2008 Sydney Athletics Grand Prix Results
Lewis, Pape make memorable Sydney Grand Prix. Eight years on from the Olympic Games, track and field returned to its rightful atmosphere of excitement and drama in Sydney on Saturday night. The crowd was abuzz with the performances delivered by Australia’s finest athletes, resulting in two A and nine B-qualifiers for Beijing

Defar smashes 2 mile world mark at Reebok Boston Indoor Games
BOSTON - Meseret Defar of Ethiopia crushed a world best, while Craig Mottram of Australia broke a few records of his own Saturday night at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury.

Lagat defends 1 500 title in Glasgow
World champion Bernard Lagat made a winning start to an Olympic year, defending his 1 500 metres title on Saturday at the Norwich Union International indoor meet in Glasgow, Scotland.

RSA Track - Ramolefi all geared up for Secunda
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s 3000m steeple chase champion Reuben Ramolefi faces a huge challenge when he attempts to retain the 3000 metres title at the Yellow Pages Series Meeting in Secunda, Mpumalanga on Friday.

Moscow to host 2008 European Indoor Cup
The Russian capital city of Moscow has been awarded the right to host the 4th edition of the European Athletics Indoor Cup, which will be held on Saturday February 16, 2008.

Beatrice Faumuina re-elected to the IAAF Athletes Commission

Golden League 2007 - Zurich packed to the rafters
After any Championship event you can always expect a drop in performances, especially for those who have won the Gold. Zurich followed Osaka and the stadium was packed with spectators coming out for an evening's athletics and a chance to see the recently crowned Champions from Japan.

Waterford Crystal European Athletics Rising Star Award 2007

Osaka World Athletic Championships - August 2007
Osaka 2007 - Overall sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 9 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 8 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 7 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 6 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 5 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 4 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 3 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 2 sum up
Osaka 2007 - Day 1 sum up

Aus: Not to be for Buster

USA: Lagat Makes History with 5000m World Title

Day 6: Men's 800m heats reports - 6 heats

Men's 1500m - Lagat takes dream win
Bernard Lagat captures the 1500m with a dazzling display of 1500m mastery.

Men's 3000m SteepleChase - Kenyan 1-2-3
Kenyan contiued their dominance of the 3000m SteepleChase at Championship events with the enigmatic 1-2-3 finish of their contry's athletes.

Women's 800m - Hail the new Queen Jepkosgei
There is a new 'Queen of the 800' and that is Janeth Jepkosgei. She is brilliant and she is the future.

Men's 10000m Kenny Bekele is back
Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele is back from the brink, as he captures the 10000m title ahead of compatriot Sileshi Sihine. His winning time was 27:05.90 however the victory was significant in restoring his cofidence

Women's Steeple V for Volkova
Russia's Yekaterina Volkova sets a new Championship record with her winning time of 9:06.57

Men's 1500m semi-finals recap
The Men's 2 semi finals produce races of intrigue and sheer madness

Men's Marathon Report and Results
Kenya struck Gold on the first day of the Osaka World Championships with Luke Kibet convincingly winning the Men's marathon ahead of former compatriot, , now of Qatar. Victor Rothlin of Switzerland took a surprising but deserved Bronze in a tightly contested 3rd place battle which was only decided in the last 2km of the event. The event was run in particular distressing and hot conditions, totally unsuitable for marathon running. Men's Marathon Race Report

Osaka: Bekele steps it up a gear
Well, who would have guessed, Kenenisa Bekele can trash talk? It isn't exactly 'trash talk' by any stretch of the imagination of a sprinter's standards or even that of Australia's Craig Mottram however for the Ethiopian to dismiss Mottram in the manner he has, places some fuel to the fire.

Bekele dismisses Mottram as a serious rival
Ethiopian distance running superstar Kenenisa Bekele has dismissed any suggestion of a genuine rivalry with Craig Mottram, claiming the only reason the Australian beat him last year was because he was jet-lagged and tired.

2 Canadians re-elected, 1 elected at IAAF Congress
Osaka, Japan – Athletics Canada is proud to announce that two Canadian delegates have been re-elected, and one elected, at the 46th IAAF Congress held at the New Otani Hotel in Osaka, Japan.

The World Athletic Champs in Osaka await
The World Athletic Championships are steaming in quicker than an autumn morning in Sweden. Japan welcomes athletes to Osaka for a feast of athletics and the journalists and squires from around the world prepare to put pen to paper in preparation for 9 days of athletics. The last Champs, 2 years ago in Finland, were literally washed out and the organisers must be holding thumbs that the same fate does not await them.

Australian Results August 2007

USA: Webb, Lagat lead distance crew into IAAF World Champs
INDIANAPOLIS - Alan Webb and Bernard Lagat will bolster a strong Team USA distance running contingent at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships August 25-September 2 in Osaka, Japan.

NZ team finalised for Osaka World Championships
New Zealand will have a team of ten competing at the World Track and Field Championships in Osaka starting on 25 August.

Final Australian team confirmed for Osaka

Aus: Silver caps successful Universiade

Aus: Mottram heads to worlds a winner

Athletics Canada finalizes World Championships team
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the team which will compete at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan August 25 to September 2. The team will head to Singapore on August 11 for a two week training and preparation camp.

Australian Results July - #18 2007

Drugs-in-Sport : Ceplak the latest in a week of scandal
The Slovakian, Jolanda Ceplak, has been suspended after testing positive for EPO.

Jolanda Ceplak tests positive for EPO

Kimberley Smith smashes NZ 3000m record
Kimberley Smith continued her amazing run on the European track running circuit, smashing the New Zealand 3000m record with a time of 8m 35.31s in Monaco last evening.

Athletics Canada Announces 2007 Summer Universiade Team

Alan Webb interview after Mile AR

Aus: Howe, Steffensen and Ross all winners in Madrid

Webb breaks American Record in mile
Three-time U.S. 1,500m champion Alan Webb on Saturday broke the American record in the mile, clocking 3:46.91 at the Atletiek Vlaanderenmeet in Brasschaa, Belgium.

Australian Results July 2007

NZ: Kimberley Smith slashes seven seconds off her 5000m record
Kimberley Smith slashed seven seconds off her New Zealand national 5000m record after finishing second in the IAAF Golden League meeting in Rome last evening.

Aus: Hooker and Rawlinson winners at British Grand Prix

Golden League - Golden Troubles
This year controversy seems to be dogging the Golden League series. Last week, in Paris we had the situation of the shambles of the last lap in the Men's 3000m SteepleChase where Kenyan Paul Koech was denied victory after confusion of the last lap.

Webb moves to a new level with Golden League win

Obikwelu & Gevaert named European Athletes of the Month for June

Webb posts world leader with Paris Golden League win
Reigning USA Outdoor 1,500m champion Alan Webb ran a huge personal best and posted the fastest men's 1,500m time in the world this outdoor season Friday at the Meeting Gaz de France in Paris, which is the second event of the 2007 IAAF Golden League.

Canada wins 3 medals at Pan American Junior Championships

2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Champs mark phenomenal successes

Australian Results June 2007

USA Track section - all the News

Canada Announces 2007 IAAF World Youth Championships Team
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the team competing at the 5th World Youth Championships from July 11th to 15th. The competition takes place in Ostrava Czech Republic and is predicted to be the largest gathering of world youth athletes ever.

Canada announces 2007 Pan American Junior Champs Team
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the 2007 Pan American Junior Championships Team competing July 6 through 8 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Canadian Results from Around the Track (and Field) June 18 2007

Canada: Korir wins Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile
On the historic grounds of Galt Collegiate Institute in Cambridge, Ontario Shedrack Korir (Kenya) was the top finisher in the elite men's division of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile. The race takes place on a traditional clay track to mimic the conditions that Roger Bannister faced when he first broke the four minute mile in 1954.

Lysenko and Akkas voted European Athletes of the Month for May

USA: Great results for Hayward Field crowd at Nike Prefontaine Classic
EUGENE, Ore.- 2007 USA Indoor 3,000m champion Matt Tegenkamp set an American record in front of a standing room only crowd Sunday at the 2007 Nike Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., which is the fourth event of USA Track & Field's 2007 Outdoor Visa Championship Series.

SPAR International extends European Athletics Sponsorship until 2011
European Athletics and SPAR International are pleased to announce that the world's largest voluntary food retail chain has extended its commitment to athletics for a further four year period, until the end of 2011.

Athletics Canada launches “Team 2012 Athlete Identification Program”
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the launch of the Team 2012 Athlete Identification Program (Team 12) for the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London, England. Team “12” features three levels of recognition in which athletes and their coaches are eligible to be identified based on their 2012 podium potential.

Canada: Classic Mile - Mercedes-Benz put car on line
CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO ---- May 15th, 2007--- Mercedes-Benz Canada will award the winner of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile a brand new Mercedes B200 sedan should he beat the magic four minute mile.

Andre Bucher, World 2001 Champion over 800m retires

NZ: Nick Willis wins first race back from injury
Nick Willis won his first race back after injury, taking out the 1500m at the Len Paddock Invitational track and field meeting in Michigan.

Canada: Kenyan Miler returns to Cambridge Mile
CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO ------Organisers of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile are thrilled to announce that Kenya’s outstanding miler, Laban Rotich, will attempt to win the event for the third consecutive year.

NZ: Kimberley Smith breaks national 10,000m record
Kimberley Smith eclipsed her New Zealand national 10,000m record with a second placing at the invitational athletic meeting in Stanford California yesterday. Adrian Blincoe sets new meet 5000m record with 13:27.34 in Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in USA. Michael Aish clocks 27:46.37 in at same meeting

USA: Rupp, Rhines win feature events at Payton Jordan Invitational
University of Oregon junior Galen Rupp and two-time Olympian Jen Rhines were victorious in the men's and women's 10,000 meters Sunday night at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

USA: Webb, Hartwig set meet records at Drake Relays
2004 Olympian and national high school record holder Alan Webb and U.S. men's pole vault record holder Jeff Hartwig each shattered long-standing meet records Saturday at the 98th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. A sellout crowd of 14,000 people was on hand for the final day of the event, extending Drake's string of Saturday sellouts to 42 consecutive years.

Aus: The past meets the future at the AIS this weekend

NZ: Initial selections made for world championships in athletics

Big Team for World Youth Championships
Johannesburg, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 - Athletics South Africa (ASA) today announced a provisional team of 31 Athletes for the IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic in July.

USA: Talented fields to compete at 2007 Mt. SAC Relays
Allyson Felix, Dwight Phillips Joanna Hayes and Asafa Powell will lead a galaxy of stars converging on Hilmer Lodge Stadium for the 49th annual Mt. SAC Relays this weekend in Walnut, California. The three-day competition will showcase high school, collegiate and world-class athletes.

Deem, Henry to lead Team USA to Osaka 2007 World Champs
INDIANAPOLIS - University of Miami head women's coach Amy Deem and Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry have been named to serve as the women's and men's head coaches, respectively, for Team USA's track and field squads for the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Osaka, Japan, USA Track & Field announced Thursday. Ralph Lindeman and Diane Wholey will serve as head managers.

NZ: World Youth Championships team announced
Ten track and field athletes have been selected to represent New Zealand at the 5th IAAF world youth championships to be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic from July 11 to 15.

Introducing the future leaders of European Athletics
The beautiful French city of Cannes will be the setting for the 20th European Athletics Congress on April 14th. Elections will take place for the post of European Athletics President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and thirteen positions on the Council along with the Development and Competition Committees.

2011 and 2013 IAAF World Champs cities named
The IAAF has announced that Daegu, Korea and Moscow, Russia will be the respective host cities of the 2011 and 2013 IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

Rawlinson and Mottram head 40-strong squad for Osaka
Athletics Australia today named a squad of 40 athletes to participate in the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics to be held in Osaka, Japan in August 2007.

Thornton, Bolden slated to head 2008 Olympic Team Staff

Australia Champs - Triple double and a new Australian record

Australia Champs - Ross wins in a ‘heartbeat’ in Brisbane

Dramatic steeple closes day one of Telstra Australian Championships

Wirz declares Birmingham the “Best Ever Indoor Championships”

EAA has strong stance on doping in sport

Europe News - Record TV coverage for Indoor Championships

Europe News - Director General's "State of the Sport" Address

Devers and Lagat deliver at 100th Millrose Games
NEW YORK - In a night filled with legends, living legend Gail Devers stole the show at the 100th Millrose Games Friday evening at Madison Square Garden, while legend-in-the-making Bernard Lagat closed off the evening with a stirring win in the Wanamaker mile.
Athlete quotes - 100th Millrose Games

Who's who of track and field at 100th Millrose Games

Lagat, Coghlan chat to New York Track Writers
Seven-time Wanamaker mile champion Eamonn Coghlan and four-time Wanamaker winner Bernard Lagat On Monday spoke to the New York Track Writers

Dibaba of Ethiopia breaks 5000m WR indoors at Boston
BOSTON - Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia shattered the world record in the women's 5,000 meters, while Shalane Flanagan deconstructed the American record in the RBK women's 3,000m Saturday at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Two Australian national marks and a New Zealand AR also fell on the first stop of USA Track & Field's Indoor Visa Championship Series.

Reebok Boston 2007 Indoor Games Athlete quotes
Tirunesh Dibaba, women's 5,000m (14:27.42WORLD RECORD). "I'm very happy with what I accomplished today. With God's help, I did it. I'm so happy. I was so prepared for this race. I didn't do any cross country. Indoors, I was concentrating on this race, so I had the confidence to break it [the record]. I didn't think I could break it by this much. ... I always want to better my performance, so that was my motivation."

Aus: Super Sally sizzles in Canberra

Watch the stars come out at Reebok Boston Indoor Games

Andrea Miller sets NZ record in hurdles
Andrea Miller gave the Black Singlet Series a great start setting a New Zealand 100m hurdles record at the Caledonian Ground Logan Park Dunedin last evening.

USA Track & Field Announces "Record" Coverage of Sport for 2007
INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field today announced a 2007 TV lineup for the sport that boasts a surge in major network coverage, positioning in key time slots, and increased sponsor support.

Romanian 1500m star Cioncan dies
Maria Cioncan, the Romanian runner who took 1500m bronze behind Kelly Holmes at the 2004 Olympics, has been killed in a car accident in Bulgaria.

Victoria confirmed as Australia’s premier athletics state
Victoria has claimed the bragging rights as Australia’s premier athletics state, with impressive 80m javelin efforts by Jarrod Bannister and Joshua Robinson, a sprint double to Patrick Johnson, a fast 100m from Sally McLellan and a superb solo 1500m personal best to Lisa Corrigan the highlights of the inaugural Australian Athletics Cup in Brisbane today.

New Zealand to host IAAF Permit Meeting
Athletics New Zealand has been granted the right to stage a prestigious IAAF permit meeting. The meeting will be staged at QEII Stadium in Christchurch on 21 February.

Alan Webb joins Wanamaker Mile field

Aus: Corrigan conjures up Lewis defeat in Sydney
Seven-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis has tasted a rare defeat at the hands of a fellow Australian over 800m in a high quality race at the Resi Sydney Track Classic in Sydney.

Tirunesh Dibaba to race 3000m at 100th Millrose Games

Summer of athletics moves to Sydney on Saturday night

USA: Defar, Hayes on tap for Reebok Boston Indoor Games
Reigning Olympic gold medalists Meseret Defar and Joanna Hayes have been added to a star-studded lineup for the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Jan. 27 that already includes Tirunesh Dibaba, the double World Champion; Australian Steve Hooker, the world's top pole vaulter; and American miler Alan Webb.

Francis Obikwelu wins European Athlete of the Year 2006

New Zealand to contest the Australian Athletics Cup

USA: Longtime Drake Relays Director Ehrhart dies

Carolina Klüft wins European Athlete of the Year 2006

Aus: Cash on the line for high fliers in Perth