Lisa Valle gets Faces in the Crowd attention for Lahti races
Lisa Valle, a W40 distance star for the SoCal Track Club, set a world age-group record in the 2K steeple at Lahti worlds. She ran the race in 7:01.91, beating the listed record of 7:02.96 by Italy’s Samia Soltane in 2008. (She also crushed the listed American record of 7:05.06 by Karen Steen at Hawaii nationals in 2005.) But Lisa’s been overlooked here and there, mainly because the steeple was contested at the Radiomaki track, not in the main stadium at Lahti. Sports Illustrated gave her some love this week when it featured her in its weekly Faces in the Crowd. But no mention of the WR. Sigh.
Lisa Valle’s portrait is printed in SI’s August 31 issue (with Bolt on the cover).
7 Responses
Congratulations to Lisa V. What a runner she has turned out to be, and what a great style she has. She has already impressed a lot of the veteran middle distance runners in our program, and we can look for more tremendous achievements in 2010, as she seems to be improving rapidly.
Cool Lisa. Steeple gets no respect
In Lahti I think it was more a case of scheduling than respect. Plenty of other events were also held at the second stadium, Radiomaki, like 800m, 1500m, 5000m finals. The thing (WMA Champs) has just got too big for one track. It was the same in Riccione two years ago.
At least at a slightly smaller event, like last year’s Eurovets in Slovenia, there was time to put the ‘chase on during the morning of the last day, and the relays afterwards. Made for a great day’s sport. There were just too many races in Lahti to make that feasible. At least the medalists were allowed to receive their medals at the main stadium.
Lisa, you make all of us proud!! Glad to see you are recognized in Sports Illustrated–you deserve it. Three golds at Worlds is stellar. Look forward to seeing you indoors.
Great range Lisa! This will surely motivate someone to get out there and move. Well done.
What most people don’t realize is that Lisa is the first American female in History to win the 800m and 1500m double- even my friend and Olympic Trials qualifier Rose Monday missed it when she won the 800m ,but was passed in the last 5 meters of the 1500m by a Brit–then Lisa goes on to win the Steeple coming from 7 meters behind with 80 meters to go and sets a World record doing it–that was her 5th race-then two hours later runs the fastest relay leg on the 4 x 400 relay– I don’t think an American female has ever had this much success at a World Championship- if you consider this was done in the toughest division and in the middle distances–Congrats Lisa you had the meet we all dream of–Mark
Congrats Lisa!
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