Posted: June 28, 2007

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 8, Number 56

Hoffa, Glenn, Payne win in Ostrava Reese Hoffa, Brianna Glenn and David Payne won their respective events Wednesday at the Golden Spike 2007 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Coming off his impressive win last week at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis, Hoffa won the men's shot put with a meet record toss of 21.77 meters/71 feet 5.25 inches, which is the fourth best in the world this outdoor season. Fellow Americans Christian Cantwell (21.68m/71-1.50) and Dan Taylor (20.52m/67-4) finished second and third respectively. In other events, 2001 Pac-10 Conference champion Brianna Glenn won the women's 100 meters in 11.38 seconds, and after placing fourth Sunday at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, David Payne won the men's 110m hurdles in 13.25 seconds. The event was highlighted by the performance of Haile Gebrselassie, who set a new world record in the One Hour Run. The legendary Ethiopian star covered 21,285 meters over the course of 60 minutes to break the previous best of 21,101 meters by Mexican Arturo Barrios on March 30, 1991. During his run, Gebrselassie also broke the world record for 20,000 meters in covering 50 laps in 56:25.98, well within the previous 56:55.6 also set by Barrios. A two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, Gebrselassie has now posted 24 world records during his remarkable career. For more information on the Golden Spike 2007 in Ostrava, including the complete results, visit: http://www.zlatatretra.cz/online2007/re0170040.html Track enthusiast, statistician and announcer Duckett dies Longtime track and field statistical maven and public address announcer J. Fred Duckett died Monday night at a hospital in Houston, Texas. He was 74. A track athlete and scout player on the football team while a student at Rice University, Duckett sustained an injury during his junior year which curtailed his athletic career. Following the injury he got involved with the school's sports information department, which began a close relationship that lasted throughout his life. A teacher and insurance salesman, Duckett was known for serving as the P.A. announcer at local track meets and at Rice University football games. He was best known as the P.A. announcer for the Houston Astros from 1969 through 1992. Fans still fondly recall his exaggerated announcement of Astros star Jose Cruz, as Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuz! Remembered as Houston's foremost expert on track and field and Rice University athletics, Duckett was known for his vast collection of track and field records, which were of considerable value to local researchers. According to The Houston Chronicle, Duckett had suffered from leukemia for several months. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest