Smail Ruptures Achilles In World Championships 3k Steeplechase Final

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 16, 2013




Smail Ruptures Achilles In World Championships 3k Steeplechase Final


(Colorado Springs, CO) - Nouredine Smail (France) had moved into the lead with three laps to go in the final of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the IAAF World Championships of Athletics in Moscow, Russia, as the pace picked up for the push to the finish. Smail was up a stride on eventual champion Ezekiel Kemboi poised for the approaching kick. As Smail approached the penultimate water jump, a sudden rupture in his achilles tendon sent him flying arms first into the water pit as the field literally passed over him. Springing bak to his feet, after one stride, unable to run, he hobbled off the track and fell to the tarmac soon to be carried away on a stretcher.


After flying back to Paris, doctors have confirmed a partial tear and will proceed with surgery.


The injury brings to close a breakthrough year for the 26-year-old who set personal bests of 13:26.67 for the 5,000-meters with a solo win of the B heat at the Payton Jordan Invitational, and 8:15.89 for the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a 6th-place finish at the Paris Diamond League. Smail secured his spot on the French World Championships team with a runner-up finish in the steeplechase at the national championships two days after winning the 5,000-meter title. He then advanced to the Moscow finals by finishing third in his heat in 8:24.05. Smail will rehabilitate in France before returning to Colorado Springs to resume training.
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Stanford Invitational
Event 19 Men 5000 Meter Run Section 2
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Name Year School Finals
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Finals
1 Nouredine Smail Adp/Sharkies 13:26.67
2 Joe Stilin Unattached 13:40.04
3 Matthew Elliott Brooks 13:44.30
4 Richard Medina Colorado 13:45.50
5 Andrew Colley North Carolina St. 13:45.69
6 Jonathan Peterson Team Usa Minnesota 13:45.86
7 Erik Olson Stanford 13:46.12
8 Michael Crouch Zap Fitness 13:46.96
9 John Simons Minnesota 13:49.65
10 Mitch Goose Iona 13:50.11
11 Jordan Welling Bowerman AC 13:50.91
12 Malcolm Hicks Nike New Zealand 13:52.65
13 Ammar Moussa Colorado 13:57.96
14 Breandan O'Neill Florida State 13:58.99
15 Sandy Roberts Unattached 14:03.85
16 matthew tebo Boulder Track Club 14:16.91
17 Jordan Horn Brooks Beasts 14:18.55
-- Gabe Aragon New Mexico DNF




Tapia's World Championships Marathon Set For Saturday


(Colorado Springs, CO) - Daniel Tapia (Mizuno) is set to compete in the men's marathon on Saturday at the IAAF World Championships of Athletics in Moscow, Russia. Tapia rounds out the three-man USA squad that also includes Jeff Eggleston and Carlos Trujillo. USA Track & Field elected to only send three marathoners on both the men's and women's sides despite being able to send five as other competitive countries such as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Japan have.


Tapia was added to the US team four weeks out after Mo Trafeh was a late withdrawal due to an injury. Tapia won the 2012 California International Marathon and finished 9th at the 2013 Boston Marathon with a personal best of 2:14.30.


The marathon, starting at 3:30pm Moscow time and 5:30am MDT, will be not be televised live in the US but fans can follow twitter updates at the IAAF's website or on sights like Twackstar.com.
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ABOUT AMERICAN DISTANCE PROJECT
The American Distance Project is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is the development of American distance runners to be internationally competitive. The ADP is located on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, taking advantage of incredible training resources in and around Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. The ADP is coached by Renato Canova and Scott Simmons. For more information, visit www.AmericanDistanceProject.com

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Contact:
Scott Simmons
www.AmericanDistanceProject.com
scott@distancesummit.com

Keith Conning: Daniel Tapia (North Monterey County HS, Castroville 2004; Hartnell College, Salinas)
Mohamed Trafeh (Duarte HS 2004; Arizona 2006)