ATHLETICS AND DISTANCE RUNNING NEWS ROUND-UP
By David Monti
(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved (Used by permission)

(11-Nov) -- Here is the latest news in athletics and distance running which has come across your editor's desk:

ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON BREAKS SIZE, PAYMENT RECORDS:
The ING New York City Marathon broke two significant records last Sunday, in addition to the sparkling course record run by Geoffrey Mutai (2:05:06, pending USA all-comer's record). First, the preliminary finisher total of 46,795 was the largest of any marathon in history, surpassing the 44,829 recorded at the ING New York City Marathon last year. Second, the prize money and time bonus payout of $1,205,000 was the largest ever recorded for any road race, according to the independent Association of Road Racing Statisticians. The previous record was $1,146,200 awarded at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2002.

MARKS FOR MARATHON QUALITY FOR WOMEN TUMBLING IN 2011:
According to this week's edition of the Analytical Distance Runner, the official publication of the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS), the number of quality marks for women in marathon running have broken records for every time band tracked, despite the fact that the year isn't yet over. There have already been 1406 marks under 2:50:00 in 2011, eclipsing the previous record of 1378 set in 2010. In other time bands, sub-2:28 performances reached 128 this year, a 49% jump from the previous record of 86 set in 2010. Sub-2:30's have hit 189, up 32% from the previous record of 143 set last year. Sub-2:20 marks by men are also on record pace, but have not yet surpassed last year's totals.

FRANKFURT TOPS CHICAGO:
According to the field strength rankings of the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS), the BMW Frankfurt Marathon had the most competitive road race fields for the month of October, topping the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for both men and women, if only slightly. The Frankfurt men's field was worth 785 points to Chicago's 767, while the women's field was worth 709 points to Chicago's 705. Through 31 October, the most competitive marathon fields in the world this year were 844 points for men (Boston) and 919 points for women (London).

LONDON TO HOST 2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The IAAF announced today that London would host the 2017 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. London, also the host city of the 2012 Olympic Games, beat out Doha. The 2013 edition of these championships will be hosted by Moscow, Russia (10 - 18 August 2013), followed by Beijing, CHN in 2015 (22 - 30 August 2015).

2014 WORLD ATHLETICS SERIES SITES SELECTED:
The IAAF also announced today that the following cities would host their key championships in 2014. Exact dates have yet to be determined for all of the championships.
. World Half-Marathon Championships: Copenhagen, Denmark (Date TBD)
. Continental Cup: Marrakech, Morocco (September 13/14)
. World Junior Championships, Eugene, Ore., USA (Date TBD)
. World Indoor Championships, Sopot, Poland (Date TBD)

NBC TO BROADCAST USA OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS ON TAPE DELAY:
The U.S. Olympic Committee, NBC, USA Track & Field, and the Houston Marathon Committee jointly announced that the USA Olympic Marathon Trials for both men and women would be broadcast by NBC on a same-day, tape-delayed show for two hours. The Trials, the first to feature both men and women running on the same course at the same time, are scheduled for Saturday, January 14, in Houston. "We're thrilled to see NBC's commitment to broadcast this historic event," said USATF interim CEO Mike McNees in a statement. "With this being the first U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon where men and women compete on the same course, on the same day, it's fitting that NBC will broadcast the event for all of America to see." The broadcast will be aired from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

OLYMPIC MEDALIST FLANAGAN TO RUN RNR HALF IN SAN ANTONIO:
Reigning Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan will tune-up for the 2012 USA Olympic Trials Marathon this Sunday by running the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Half-Marathon. Flanagan, the American 10,000m record holder, was also the individual bronze medalist at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and is one of the favorites to make the 2012 USA Olympic team in the marathon. "After discussing with my coach (Jerry Schumacher), we both felt running the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Half-Marathon will be an ideal race to compliment my goal of making the Olympic Team in the marathon this summer," Flanagan said in a written statement provided by race organizers. "I am excited to run in the beautiful city of San Antonio and look forward to this special weekend."

KARDONG NAMED AMERICA'S TOP RACE DIRECTOR:
Don Kardong, the 1976 Olympic marathoner turned race director, was named yesterday MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year. Kardong, who directs the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, Wash., was honored at a reception at the Road Race Management Race Directors' Meeting in Hollywood, Fla. "We had a large and very impressive field of well-qualified candidates from around the world, the most impressive group of nominees in many years, and Don emerged as the winner," said Road Race Management President Phil Stewart through a media release. Bloomsday is America's largest, fully-scored 12-K road race. The 2011 edition, held on May 1, had 56,460 entrants and 51,260 finishers, making the Bloomsday larger than the Boston and Honolulu Marathons, combined.