Here’s the latest in the aches, pains & eligibility departments
The No. 10-ranked U.S. marathoner last year on the strength of her 2:32:37 for 6th at Chicago, Sarah Crouch knew going into Boston that it was risky after a diagnosis of a stress reaction just 6 days earlier. Halfway through the race, it fractured. She still finished the race in 2:48:05. “Sometimes big risks are worth it and other times they completely blow up in your face, but I will look back on today with the knowledge that I am a tough son of a gun,” she said.
Chris Derrick has withdrawn from the London Marathon. “I inevitably got greedy and pushed a sore plantar fascia too far,” he said. “Will try and build back up healthy for an early fall attempt and, most importantly, the marathon Trials next winter.”
After missing a month of training this winter due to patella tendon tears, Shalane Flanagan opted for surgery to repair the tears. She said at Boston, “My knees are not doing so well. They’ve been hurting.”
UCLA vaulter Sondre Guttormsen, has a stress fracture in his lower back and will miss the first part of the outdoor season. “Whether or not I’ll compete at the NCAAs is not decided yet,” said the Norwegian sensation. “I will do everything I can to get back as soon as possible.”
Lynna Irby has gone pro early and will not finish out her NCAA eligibility at Georgia.
Vaulter Lexi Jacobus sat out of the McDonnell Invitational because of back spasms.
Cal’s McKay Johnson, 8th in the NCAA Indoor shot the last two years, is out for the season with what Cal says is a non-track related injury.
Back problems have laid 2:28:12 marathoner Allie Kiefer low, creating a domino effect of related injuries in her feet, including three stress reactions in her metatarsals.
Galen Rupp is reportedly back in serious training after last October’s foot surgery.
ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT…
Shot queen Valerie Adams gave birth to her second child in late March.
Though entered in the Asian Championships, Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim opted not to attend, saying he needed more time to prepare.
Tirunesh Dibaba withdrew from the London Marathon for “personal reasons” and later explained why. The Ethiopian great, 33, is expecting her second child and plans to return to competition in the Olympic year.
The ’15 World champ in the marathon, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, withdrew from Boston because of illness.
Abdalelah Haroun, who won 400 bronze for Qatar at the ’17 Worlds, was injured in a training session just prior to the Asian Championships and had to withdraw.
German discus thrower Christoph Harting says he will compete in the World Championships, but only to get IAAF rankings points to help ensure he has a chance to defend his Olympic gold the following year. Otherwise, he says, it is an interruption of his training plans.
Kenya’s Sally Kipyego dropped out of Boston when a calf injury flared up on her before 30K.
Patellar tendinitis will keep Canadian recordholder Cam Levins out of the London Marathon.
A broken pole led to a fractured wrist for New Zealand vault prospect Olivia McTaggart. She still expects to be healthy by the time of the Worlds.
Doping suspensions
8 years—Gulfiya Agafonova (Russia, HT), Tatyana Beloborodova (Russia, HT), German Komarov (Russia, JT);
4 years—Manpreet Kaur (India, shot), Asbel Kiprop (Kenya, 1500); Ivan Yushkov (Russia, SP);
3 years—Anisya Kirdyapkina (Russia, walks);
2 years—Anna Bulgakova (Russia, HT), Vera Ganeyeva (Russia, DT). □
