Shalane Announces Retirement And Coaching Career
It’s a day equal parts sad and joyous: Shalane Flanagan has announced her retirement from professional running and transition into professional coaching. She ends her career as one of the greatest- if not THE greatest- US distance runners of all-time. She made four Olympic teams. She won sixteen US titles, a World Cross Country bronze medal, an Olympic silver medal, and the 2017 New York City Marathon. She has been an incredible inspiration to a generation of distance runners and a wonderful leader of our professional team. No short paragraph could do justice to her wide ranging impact on the sport and our club, so we’ve assembled below her announcement as well as a sampling of the many articles on her illustrious career.
A Generation’s Leader Says Farewell: Shalane Flanagan Retires from Pro Running (Women’s Running)
Fans, Teammates, and Friends React to Shalane Flanagan’s Retirement (Runners’ World)
Running Legend Shalane Flanagan Is Retiring (Outside Magazine)
World Championships Recap
The nature of distance running-- particularly when your Coach is Jerry Schumacher-- is that long blocks of training lead into short periods of racing. Day after day, week after week, month after month, athletes train with their eyes pointed towards one peak event. When that event arrives, success or failure will inevitably color the memory of all that came before. A great and enjoyable block of training is marred by a disappointing result. A difficult period is remembered in the fond afterglow of an unexpected success. Every experienced athlete knows this intuitively. It is a process that can’t help but breed tension and nerves.
It’s doubly so when your running is your career and triply so when the peak event is an October World Championships. That is why, all places and times aside, we are so proud of how our athletes ran at the IAAF World Championships in Doha. Each of them confronted the pressure and delivered in the face of it.
The places and times though, they were pretty great!
In the final tally, across 10 athletes, we had 8 top 10 finishes, 5 personal bests, 2 national records, and one big ol’ Bronze Medal.
Below you’ll find all our Instagram recaps for each event, as well as race video where available.
Women’s Marathon
13. Carrie Dimoff, 2:44.35
Women’s 10,000m
8. Marielle Hall, 31:05.71— #6 U.S. All-Time
Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase
6. Courtney Frerichs: 9:11.27
Women’s 5,000m
9. Karissa Schweizer, 14:45.18— #5 U.S. All-Time
Men’s 1,500m
8. Matthew Centrowitz, 3:32.18
Men’s 10,000m
5. Moh Ahmed, 27:59.35— Canadian Record!
6. Lopez Lomong, 27:04.72— #3 U.S. All-Time
World Championships Schedule and Preview
The World Championships stretch for 10 days from September 27th to October 6th in Doha, Qatar. We have 10 athletes competing across 8 events. See below for the detailed schedule (all times are Pacific).
Note: for “Where to Watch” we have included the channels on which there is scheduled to be live coverage. There will also be tape delays on certain days. You can see the full TV schedule here. In addition to TV, all action can be viewed live or on demand with the NBC Sports Gold track and field package.
Friday, September 27th
9:00am PT: Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase, Prelim
Courtney and Colleen look to qualify for Monday’s final. Courtney is defending her historic Silver medal from 2017, while Colleen would like to avenge a disqualification in the prelims from that year when she just barely stepped on the inside line.
Where to Watch: NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold
9:55am PT: Men’s 5,000m, Prelim
Moh and Marc head up the international contingent for BTC in this prelim. Fresh off a second place at the British Trials, Marc is looking to make his first World Championship final. Moh has made the final at three consecutive World or Olympic Championships.
Where to Watch: NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold
1:59pm PT: Women’s Marathon
Carrie competing in the 2018 Payton Jordan 10,000m where she ran under 32 minutes for the first time.
At 36, Carrie makes her first ever appearance at the World Championships. The BTC Elite athlete, Nike shoe designer, and mother of two has been taking more time off than usual from work and family duties to prepare for this opportunity. The marathon is the one event that can’t take place in the air conditioned stadium in Doha. The race will be at night, but it still projects to be 90 degrees. In a marathon, tough conditions mean anything could happen!
Where to Watch: Olympic Channel or NBC Sports Gold
Saturday, September 28th
11:10am PT: Women’s 10,000m, Final
Marielle competes at her second World Championships in a stacked field. Earlier this year she set a personal best at the 5,000m, but was disappointed with her lone 10,000m race at the US Championships. We think she’s primed to put it together at the longer distance.
Where to Watch: Olympic Channel coverage lasts until 11:30 and then the action switches over to NBC. You can always stream online at NBC Sports Gold.
Monday, September 30th
11:20am PT: Men’s 5,000m, Final
We know Moh is in great shape, but one question remains: will the headband make an appearance in Doha?
Moh has finished 12th, 4th, and 6th in his previous three global championships in the 5,000m. This year he became the first Canadian under 13 minutes. Can he make the jump to the podium? Marc battled through a spring injury to make his second World Championships team. How high can he finish with a little bit of experience under his belt?
Where to Watch: Olympic Channel or NBC Sports Gold
11:50am PT: Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase, Final
Courtney shocked the world with her finish in 2017, everyone will see her coming this time. Colleen has struggled with injury the past month. She’s as tough as they come and will need to be to face this challenge.
Where to Watch: Olympic Channel or NBC Sports Gold
Courtney even surprised herself at the 2017 World Championships.
Wednesday, October 2nd
7:35am PT: Women’s 1,500m, Heats
The first of hopefully three races for Shelby. The name of the game: survive and advance.
Where to Watch: NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold
8:25am PT: Women’s 5,000m, Prelim
Karissa takes to the track in her first ever World Championships with one goal: make the final.
Where to Watch: NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold
Thursday, October 3rd
12:00pm PT: Men’s 1,500m, Heats
The first of the three rounds for Matt, the master tactician. Coming off a 13:00 5,000m personal best, he’s definitely strong enough to handle the extra rounds at Worlds.
Where to Watch: NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold
1:00pm PT: Women’s 1,500m, Semi-final
The road gets a little rockier for Shelby. The 1,500m semi-finals are always tense and exciting qualifying races. This is her first World Championship appearance in the 1,500m and her tactics and kick will be tested in this round.
Where to Watch: NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold
Friday, October 4th
10:10am PT: Men’s 1,500m, Semi-final
Even the Olympic Champion has to sweat the Semi-final at this level.
Where to Watch: Olympic Channel or NBC Sports Gold
Saturday, October 5th
10:55am PT: Women’s 1,500m, Final
Shelby winning the 2018 Prefontaine Classic her first sub-4 performance.
At the last World Championships Shelby was still a 5,000m. Since then she’s won two Diamond League 1,500m’s and broken 4:00 three times. We can’t wait to see her in what will hopefully be her first 1,500m final. Don’t miss this one!
Where to Watch: Olympic Channel or NBC Sports Gold
11:25am PT: Women’s 5,000m, Final
The pace in Women’s 5,000m finals are often brutal and unforgiving. We saw Karissa handle conditions like that really well at the Prefontaine Classic. We hope to see that again!
Where to Watch: NBC or NBC Sports Gold
Sunday, October 6th
9:40am PT: Men’s 1,500m, Final
The men’s 1,500m is often chaotic and unpredictable. It’s become straightforward in the past two years as Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot has taken to making the pace hard. We know Centro can excel in a sit and kick affair and, as a 13:00 5,000m man, he’s got the strength for the long run for home. No excuse for missing this one: Sunday football doesn’t even start until 10!
Where to Watch: NBC or NBC Sports Gold
10:00am PT: Men’s 10,000m, Final
Lopez dominated the USATF 10,000m in July.
They say good things come to those who wait. We hope that’s true because Lopez is going to have to do a lot of waiting for his chance to shine in these Championships. After winning the 10,000m and the 5,000m at the US Championships and running 13:00 for 5,000m, it’s safe to say he’s in the best shape of his life. The pace in these races is often run close to 27:00, which will be a huge test. Moh already passed that test in London in 2017, when he ran the Canadian Record of 27:01. Hopefully the BTC boys can work together to handle the storm!
Where to Watch: NBC or NBC Sports Gold
Bowerman Men Set for First Ever Race at Nike WHQ
Photos by Cortney White
The Bowerman men are back in action this Tuesday as they compete in their backyard in the first ever sanctioned race on the Michael Johnson Track at Nike World Headquarters. Mo Ahmed will command the pacing duties for BTC teammates Lopez Lomong, Matthew Centrowitz, and Woody Kincaid. Nestled in the woods, the men will be chasing fast times in the 5,000m as Mo, Lopez, and Centro tune up for Doha later this month. The ultimate goal of the race is for the men to hit the Olympic A Standard of 13:13.50 for 5,000m.
Lopez is fresh off his impressive USATF Outdoor Championships double, where he won the U.S. title in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. After recording a runner-up finish in the 1,500m at the U.S. Championships, Centrowitz will test his strength in the 5,000m distance. Woody returns to action after posting a personal best of 13:26.84 and strong 3rd place finish in the 5,000m at the U.S. Championships. Due to USATF not allowing athletes to chase the World Standard of 13:22.50 at the U.S. Championships, Woody will conclude his outdoor season after this race.
The event will be hosted by Portland Track and is free to the public. If you are in the Portland area, we invite you to join us for a special night at the first ever track meet at Nike WHQ. The race will also be available via livestream on RunnerSpace.
Event Overview
When: Tuesday, September 10th at 9:00 pm
Where: Michael Johnson Track at Nike HQ
What: Men 5000 race
Additional Details:
8:30: Track opens for Pre Race festivities
9:00: Men 5000
Free to the public
Livestream on RunnerSpace
5000 Olympic Standard: 13:13.50
1st Inaugural Bowerman Running Camp
The first inaugural Bowerman Running Camp was held in Bend, Oregon this summer. With 5+ days of great trails, hotly contested games, cooking lessons with Shalane Flanagan, and a river float, the energy was at an all time high.
We hosted over 100+ kids from all around world at the facilities at OSU-Cascades in Bend, including people coming all the way from Australia. We had a great roster of speakers and counselors, including college athletes and coaches from around the country, our own elite and pro athletes, as well as the man, the myth, the legend, Coach Jerry Schumacher.
We’ll always be looking for ways to improve the experience, including making it more accessible to more kids - but we feel like we have a great base to build on in the years to come.
PRE-Cap | All you need to know about BTC at the Pre Classic this year.
Women’s 1500:
Sunday was nearly a redux of Shelby’s breakout Pre Classic win from last year. Her and Kate hung back early and had to work hard to move up when the pack began to split with 600 to go. Shelby was in 6th at the bell and began to chase hard in the last 200m. She raised the hopes of the announcers and the BTC crowd at home, but Faith Kipyegon and Laura Muir were able to hold her off. Still, 3:59 isn’t a bad outdoor opener. Behind her, Kate battled really well through the field and came through with a new PR of 4:02! It’s been a long time coming for Kate to lower that mark and we have a feeling this may open the floodgates for the rest of her season..
Next up, Kate will run an 800, race at Azusa Pacific on July 9th. Then it’s on to USAs in the 1500m. Shelby will be back up in Park City until the Championships.
Photo by Cortney White
Photo by Cortney White
Men’s Mile:
The Bowerman Mile was Centro’s first track race in 11 months and his long awaited debut in the Bowerman kit (it looks pretty good on him, eh?). He sat at the back the first two laps and live the savvy vet he is, moved up when the pace slowed on the third lap. At the bell, he showed he’s still got that great kick, as he closed in 55 seconds and moved up to finish in 6th.
3:52 and a tidy World Championship standard isn’t bad for a “rust buster”..
Now that the standard is taken care of, the plan is to run an 800m at Azusa Pacific to get ready for USAs.
Photo by Cortney White
Women’s Steeplechase:
Things got rowdy early in the women’s steeple. Beatrice Jepkoech set off on world record pace and left the pack splintered behind her. Courtney and Colleen had to stay calm, find their own pace, and get to work. With Courtney leading the way they methodically moved up through the field. Courtney came home in 9:09 to take 5th, and Colleen ran 9:11 for 7th. Those are great times for their first steeples of the year nad they are set up really really to make a deep run into championship season!
Racing schedule between now and USAs is still up in the air, but in the meantime they will return to the thin air of Park City.
Photo by Cortney White
Women’s 3000m:
Racing at the World level can be vicious. Karissa stepped into the deep end on Sunday, making her Diamond League debut in what would end up as one of the greatest 3000m races of all time. After going out hard in around 4:32 for 1600m, she hard to hold things together by herself.
She managed beautifully.
8:42 is her new lifetime best and a great sign for her upcoming 5000m race at USAs in three weeks! We’re looking forward to seeing Karissa get more and more comfortable in these high level meets and finish higher and higher!
Photo by Cortney White
Men’s Two Mile:
The Men’s two mile was yet another race that saw an early split in the pack. Moh got caught on the wrong side of the break and had to step into the breach to keep the group going. After the elation of breaking 13 minutes 10 days ago, he might have sat back on his laurels and decided it just wasn’t his day. Instead he drove the rain home and held off all challenges to take 4th in 8:15. It won’t be the highlight of his year, but it’s great to see him scrapping for every place. You never know when that’ll be the line between good and great.
Moh will now get set to try and win his 4th consecutive Canadian title at 5000m.
Photo by Cortney White
The Power of Goal Setting: BTC Elementary School Visit
Watch a recap of a truly special opportunity involving a few of our Olympic athletes, their crazy goals, and the seriously inspiring youth of Atkinson Elementary School, located in SE Portland.
Watch a recap of a truly special opportunity involving a few of our Olympic athletes, their crazy goals, and the seriously inspiring youth of Atkinson Elementary School, located in SE Portland.
Thanks to Premvida, Foon Fu, and Tim Kalkkuhl for capturing this magic on video.
Marielle Hall, Kate Grace, and Evan Jager visited Atkinson Elementary School in April to talk to 400+ youngsters about setting big goals, working hard to achieve them, and getting to live their Olympic dreams. Spearheaded by the lovely mind of Marielle, she shared her journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics and the steps she took (quite literally), along the way. We’ve loved the effect of having our professionals athletes coach in our Youth program, and it is wonderful to see that initiative brought to a wider circle of kids!
Marielle, Evan, and Kate being kids at heart:
Photo by Cortney White
Stickers, autographs, and swapped smiles were clearly quite popular. After Marielle offered her advice on how to breakdown a big goal into smaller more attainable milestones along the way, the athletes got down to their level to hear about the kids’ dreams and how they hoped to get there.
Photo by Cortney White
Photo by Cortney White
Photo by Cortney White
Photo by Cortney White
Photo by Cortney White
Evan Jager brought along his Olympic silver medal he earned in the 3000m Steeplechase at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Needless to say, it was a real big hit.
Photo by Cortney White
Photo by Cortney White
We think this look says it all. Thanks to Atkinson Elementary for having us!
Photo by Cortney White
Bowerman Track Club Announces First Annual Summer Running Camp
Click the image for more info!
Lopez Lomong Featured on HBO's Real Sports Tonight; Feature Film Project Announced
Tune in tonight to watch Lopez Lomong’s interview on HBO’s Real Sports.
Bowerman Track Club’s Lopez Lomong will be featured tonight on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, set to air at 10pm. In a fascinating interview, Lomong will reveal a new aspect to his uplifting story, recounting how he helped younger brothers Peter and Alex follow his own path to the US to discover the American dream.
A trailer of his appearance on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel is available here
Lomong signs a copy of his book, “Running for My Life” for a fan in Ireland.
Feature Film Project
The remarkable story of Lopez Lomong’s rise from Sudanese child soldier to US Olympic flag bearer is set to be detailed in a feature-length film, Running For My Life, which is due for release in the spring of 2020.
Kimbia Athletics, in partnership with Brookwell/McNamara Entertainment, Film Roman Productions and Red Heritage Media, will begin production of the feature film on July 7, 2019 as Lomong continues his build-up for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The screenplay will be adapted from Lomong’s best-selling autobiography of the same name.
Lomong’s tale remains one of the most remarkable in world sports, a Sudanese child-soldier who grew up to become the flag bearer for the United States team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and it is only fitting that his tale would eventually grace the big screen.
“We want to take audiences on a deeply felt emotional journey, with cinematic and musical energy that we hope will remind viewers of Lion and Chariots of Fire,” said Steve Waterman, president of Film Productions, which is known for producing The Simpsons.
Running For My Life will detail Lomong’s journey from unimaginable childhood horror, being abducted at age six by rebel soldiers, to his arrival in the United States as one the Lost Boys of Sudan, where he eventually built a new life and became a decorated athlete of global renown.
“This is not just a story of survival, but of an absolute refusal to be limited by false assumptions and misplaced expectations of others,” said Tom Ratcliffe, Lomong’s long-time manager at Kimbia Athletics. “Lopez’s journey is a clear example of how immigrations strengthens this nation.”
Lomong’s appearance on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on Tuesday night will offer a poignant insight into the 34-year-old’s remarkable life, one which, despite being faced with colossal challenges, has ultimately been defined by his immense courage.