James Campbell Runs Marathon in Backyard, Raises $22K for Coronavirus Relief
Apr 1, 2020
A timing chip is attached to shoe laces, right, of a runner in the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 16, 2007, in Newton, Mass. A radio transmitter inside the chips send each runner's ID number to an antenna, which routes the information to a central database. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Who says there is nothing to do for people who are stuck at home while social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic?
While some have completed puzzles, played video games or binge watched Joe Exotic's adventures on Netflix's Tiger King, James Campbell ran a marathon of 20-foot shuttles in his backyard in an effort to raise money for Britain's National Health Service.
Yes, you read that right.
According to the Associated Press, the British man who is a former professional javelin thrower ran across his yard at least 7,000 times to reach the 26.2 miles of a full marathon.
He did so after saying on Twitter he would run a marathon if he received 10,000 retweets.
Campbell's effort, which was livestreamed and took just more than five hours, was for a worthy cause, as he raised more than £18,000 ($22,000) to help COVID-19 treatment and relief efforts.
As if that's not enough, he probably won't have to mow the grass for some time after he surely wore a path in it by running back and forth.
Thomas Waerner Wins 2020 Iditarod; Will Earn at Least $50K in Prize Money
Mar 18, 2020
WILLOW, AK - MARCH 08: Thomas Waerner (Torpa, Norway) waves to spectators while driving his team during the restart of the 2020 Iditarod Sled Dog Race at Willow Lake on March 8, 2020 in Willow, Alaska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
Thomas Waerner of Norway crossed the finish line early Wednesday morning to win the 2020 Iditarod trail sled dog race in Alaska to capture the grand prize of at least $50,000 and a pickup truck.
"This is awesome," Waerner told reporters. "This is something special."
The 47-year-old Norwegian musher and his 10 canines, led by lead dogs K2 and Bark, crossed nearly 1,000 miles of Alaskan terrain in nine days, 10 hours, 37 minutes and 47 seconds.
It was the second Iditarod appearance for Waerner, who was named the race's Rookie of the Year in 2015.
His final payout will be determined by how many mushers complete the course, but the European musher said the quest wasn't about financial gain.
"This is a money-spending sport," Waerner said Monday.
The 2020 Iditarod was one of the few high-profile worldwide sporting events to move forward despite the coronavirus pandemic, though efforts were made throughout the journey to practice social distancing.
This year's race started March 8 near Anchorage and finished in Nome.
London Marathon Postponed Until October Because of Coronavirus
Mar 13, 2020
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge wins the first place in the men's race at the 39th London Marathon in London, Sunday, April 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
The 2020 London Marathon has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and has been rescheduled for later in the year.
The event was set to take place on April 26, but will now be run on October 4 in the capital:
The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon has been postponed and is now scheduled to take place on Sunday 4 October 2020.
Hugh Brasher, the event director, said health and safety remain the primary concern of the organisers, per the race's official website:
"The world is in an unprecedented situation grappling with a global pandemic of COVID-19 and public health is everyone's priority. We know how disappointing this news will be for so many – the runners who have trained for many months, the thousands of charities for which they are raising funds and the millions who watch the race every year."
This year was set to be a milestone for the event, with the 40th running of the London Marathon.
The Boston Marathon alsoannouncedit would be postponing their race until September 14 due to the coronavirus.
Eliud Kipchoge was set to defend his London crown, with the 35-year-old hunting a fifth victory at the event. The Kenyan broke the course record in 2019.
Kenenisa Bekele was ready to challenge the champion for this year's title. The duo have previously recorded the two fastest marathon times in history.
2020 Boston Marathon Postponed to Sept. 14 Because of Coronavirus Concerns
Mar 13, 2020
Kenyan Lawrence Cherono edges Ethopian Lelisa Desisa for first place for the Men's Elite race, at the 123rd Boston Marathon on April 15, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. - Kenya's Lawrence Cherono sprinted to victory in the Boston Marathon on Monday, overhauling Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa in the final few metres of the gruelling race to claim a thrilling win. In damp, chilly conditions, Cherono, Desisa and Kenya's Kenneth Kipkemoi broke away from the field over the final few miles as the world's oldest major marathon reached a dramatic conclusion. Desisa, the 2013 World Champion and two-time Boston Marathon champion, looked to be on course for victory as he kicked for home in the final 200m.But with the crowds at Boston's famous Boylston Street finish line roaring them on, it was Cherono who timed his finish to perfection, overhauling the grimacing Desisa just a few metres from the tape to claim a magnificent win in 2hr 7min 57 sec. (Photo by RYAN MCBRIDE / AFP) (Photo credit should read RYAN MCBRIDE/AFP v
The Boston Marathon has officially been postponed for the first time since its inception in 1897 because of ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
According to WBZ's Anna Meiler, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Friday that the race will be moved to Sept. 14.
Word that the event, which was scheduled for April 20, could see a date change emerged on Thursday, when Walsh told Paula Ebben of WBZ-TV that it was a possibility.
Later that evening, WBZ-TV reported that the event was postponed, with hope that it could be run in September:
"Officials from the eight cities and towns on the route – Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston – met Wednesday at Boston City Hall to talk about a change of date for the race, a day after Gov. Charlie Baker declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts on Tuesday.
"Those authorities are now looking at the possibility of holding the event on a Monday in September, instead of Monday, April 20. They hope to reach a decision by the end of this week, but there are a great deal of logistics in those communities that still need to be worked out."
The official announcement soon followed on Friday.
The race has played a significant part in the greater Boston area's history and culture. The marathon always takes part on the city's Patriots' Day, which commemorates the first battles of theAmerican Revolutionary War.
The event serves as the centerpiece of the day in addition to a Boston Red Sox home game (barring cancellation due to rain or other events) in the late morning or early afternoon since 1959.
However, the marathon has now become the latest sporting event to be postponed.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020 Gold-Medal Match: Newfoundland vs Alberta Score, Reaction
Mar 8, 2020
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 1: Newfoundland and Labrador skip Brad Gushue delivers his shot in his game against Northwest Territories during the Tim Horton's Brier at the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 1, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Todd Korol/Getty Images)
Brendan Bottcher came up just short.
Again.
Brad Gushue led Newfoundland and Labrador to a 7-3 victory over Bottcher's Alberta in Sunday's 2020 Tim Hortons Brier gold-medal match at the Leon's Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Bottcher has been in the last three gold-medal games at the annual event, only to lose them all.
.@TeamGushue is once again known as Team Canada! 🇨🇦
Congratulations Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker, Jeff Thomas and Jules Owchar on winning the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier! #Brier2020pic.twitter.com/CPIqu8cAcA
He also fell in a matchup with Gushue in the 2018 final and lost to Kevin Koe in 2019.
"I want it bad," Bottcher said before the match, per Gregory Strong of the Canadian Press. "You don't know how many chances you're going to get in moments like this."
He earned a chance at such a moment by leading Alberta to an 11-1 record at the Tim Hortons Brier going into Sunday's gold-medal match. Alberta was the best team throughout the event and defeated Saskatchewan's Matt Dunstone in Saturday's 1-2 Page playoff game to reach Sunday's stage.
Newfoundland and Labrador also reached the final with a victory over Saskatchewan with a dramatic 7-6 victory in the semifinals to start Sunday's slate. Gushue's side earned a point in the 10th and final end after Saskatchewan tied the match with two points in the ninth end.
It picked up right where it left off for the gold-medal match with a point in the first end and three points to take a commanding lead in the third end.
It is 4-1. Slip of the fingers on the keyboard (not unlike slipping on a banana peel!) 🍌
Alberta cut the deficit to 4-2 with a point in the fourth end and tallied a double clear in the fifth end to remain within striking distance in the fifth end. However, Newfoundland and Labrador capitalized on a chance in the sixth end with another point to make it 5-2.
Bottcher's comeback chances faded even more in the eighth end when Gushue earned a point even though Alberta had the hammer.
.@TeamGushue with another steal in the 8th and starting to run away with this one.
A single point in the ninth end didn't do much to change Alberta's fortunes, and Newfoundland and Labrador finished the championship with another point in the final end.
Bassmaster Classic 2020: Winner, Final Weigh-In Results and Leaderboard
Mar 8, 2020
Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., holds up a bass for spectators following him on the second day of the Bassmaster Classic, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, in Guntersville, Ala. Tharp was bumped from first to second by 1 ounce by Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla. The field will be cut to the top 25 anglers for the final day of competition. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
Hank Cherry Jr. topped the 50th annual Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday afternoon.
The 46-year-old entered Championship Sunday atop the leaderboard with 45 pounds, 13 ounces to his name. Cherry had suffered an arm injury during Friday's opening round of action, according to Carolina Sportsman's Brian Cope, after falling in his boat. While Cherry said he will probably get his arm checked by a doctor, it did not inhibit him in the Classic.
Cherry earned his first career Bassmaster Classic championship in his fifth appearance. The closest he came previously was as a third-place finish at the 2013 event.
It was not a foregone conclusion that Cherry would parlay his two-day lead into a title, however, as there were four lead changes Sunday. Ultimately, the North Carolina native's 19 pounds, eight ounces on Day 3 secured the trophy.
Bassmaster Classic Top 10 Anglers
1. Hank Cherry Jr. (65 pounds-5 ounces)
2. Todd Auten (58-10)
3. Stetson Blaylock (58-1)
4. Seth Feider (54-0)
5. Micah Frazier (54-0)
6. John Crews Jr. (53-13)
7. Brandon Lester (53-9)
8. Lee Livesay (52-12)
9. Brandon Card (50-4)
10. Matt Herren (49-5)
Full results available at Bassmaster.com with payout information courtesy of the tournament's live stream.
Seth Feider and Lee Livesay tied for Day 3's best weigh-in at 21 pounds, 13 ounces across five fish. It was Stetson Blaylock and John Crews Jr. who appeared to be giving Cherry the most trouble while the anglers were still out on the water, though, as Crews reeled in the day's heaviest bass at six pounds even:
This was Blaylock's first time qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic and Crews' 12th. Both will have to wait at least another year to contend because Cherry would not be denied:
.@cherryhank is back in control on the Final Day of the Bassmaster Classic. He just landed his limit fish and this big one fired him up. His nearest pursuers are upgrading to try and stay within striking range on Guntersville. Anything can happen. #bassfishing#bassmasterclassicpic.twitter.com/KyYvIwK5oF
Brandon Lester was in second place, four pounds and 13 ounces behind Cherry through Saturday's action, but posted just 12 pounds, nine ounces on Sunday to slide down to seventh place.
Cherry won $300,000 for claiming first place, per the Bassmaster official live stream, while Todd Auten banked $50,000 for second and Blaylock collected $40,000 for third. There is a payout from the tournament's $1 million purse for every angler through 53rd place.
LA Marathon 2020 Results: Men's and Women's Top Finishers
Mar 8, 2020
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Runners cross the finish line of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon at Santa Monica Beach on March 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Bayelign Teshager and Margaret Muriuki took home first place in their respective divisions at the 2020 Los Angeles Marathon.
Elisha Barno was the favorite in the men's field entering Sunday after winning this event in both 2017 and 2019, while Weldon Kirui had won in 2016 and 2018.
However, Teshager shocked the big names by coming through with a first-place finish in just over two hours and 26 minutes:
According to Scott Reid of the Orange County Register, the 19-year-old was making his marathon debut but had little trouble defeating more seasoned runners.
The Ethiopian finished about 17 seconds ahead of John Lagat in second place and 49 seconds ahead of Wilson Kwambai Chebet. The top six finishers in the division posted a better time than Barno's winning 2:11:46 time from 2019.
Barno ended in ninth place.
Men's Results
1. Bayelign Teshager (2:08:26)
2. John Lagat (2:08:43)
3. Wilson Kwambai Chebet (2:09:16)
4. Michael Chege (2:09:29)
5. Lani Rutto (2:10:06)
Women's Results
1. Margaret Muriuki (2:29:27)
2. Almaz Negede (2:32:28)
3. Jane Kibii (2:36:04)
4. Emily Gallin (2:36:04)
5. Grace Gonzales (2:50:08)
Full results available at the event's official site.
Muriuki seemingly had a much easier time getting through her race, winning the women's division in a time of two hours and 29 minutes, more than three minutes ahead of runner-up Almaz Negede.
It was effectively a wire-to-wire victory for the Kenyan, who averaged five minutes and 42 seconds per mile.
There was also some success from those who train in America, including Jane Kibii, Emily Gallin and Grace Gonzales. Gallin is a Malibu native who came in fourth in her local race.
The top finishers took home their share of the $100,000 purse, featuring even prize money for both men's and women's divisions. The two winners each earned $23,000 for their performances.
The Los Angeles Marathon is often one of the biggest races in the world, not only due to the city's population but also the scenic tour around Southern California.
The event begins at Dodgers Stadium and ends by the water in Santa Monica, featuring trips through Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Riviera Country Club.
While there was some concern about the spread of the coronavirus with more than 25,000 entries to the race, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommended "social distancing" while keeping six feet between runners, per NBC Los Angeles.
Spectators were also told not to share food or water bottles.
Bassmaster Classic 2020: Weigh-In Results and Saturday Leaderboard
Mar 8, 2020
Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., holds up a bass for spectators following him on the second day of the Bassmaster Classic, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, in Guntersville, Ala. Tharp was bumped from first to second by 1 ounce by Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla. The field will be cut to the top 25 anglers for the final day of competition. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
Day 2 of the Bassmaster Classic looked a lot like Day 1 with a few notable differences. Brandon Lester jumped from fourth to second place, Skylar Hamilton fell from seventh to 16th and Clent Davis dropped even further—from a tie for second to 17th.
The only constant was the success of Hank Cherry Jr., who ended the day right where he started it: atop the leaderboard.
Here's a look at the standings following Saturday with all 25 anglers who advanced to Sunday's final round:
1. Hank Cherry Jr. (45 pounds-13 ounces)
2. Brandon Lester (41-0)
3. John Crews Jr. (38-3)
4. Todd Auten (38-0)
5. Stetson Blaylock (37-9)
6. Brandon Card (37-2)
7. Micah Frazier (36-0)
8. David Mullins (35-5)
9. Jason Williamson (34-3)
10. Matt Herren (32-12)
11-25: Seth Feider, Luke Palmer, Keith Combs, Bill Lowen, Lee Livesay, Skylar Hamilton, Clent Davis, John Cox, Drew Cook, Caleb Kuphall, Greg DiPalma, Cody Huff, Chris Zaldain, Hunter Shryock, Grae Buck
Slipped up and had a tough day. Finished up the 50th @Bassmaster Classic in 30th. I have the best support system out there. Thankful for them! I’ll be around the expo tomorrow, stop by and say hey! Thank you for all the calls and texts! #bassfishing#bassmasterclassic#alxrodspic.twitter.com/7u2MIIB5qg
Cherry seemed on track to run away with the tournament after taking a nearly eight-pound lead Friday, but a furious moving day saw that lead quickly dwindle. Each of the top 12 anglers on the leaderboard has now caught a total of 10 bass with all but six of the final 25 reeling in five fish Saturday.
That will set up a furious finish Sunday at Lake Guntersville in Birmingham, Alabama, where Cherry can capture his first Bassmaster Classic title.
Either way, the tournament is set to have a brand new champion in 2020. None of the top 10 anglers after Saturday have won the Bassmaster Classic before.
Sunday's action begins at 8:30 a.m. ET. The final weigh-in is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. ET, after which a new champion will be crowned.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Updated Curling Draw, Schedule After Saturday's Results
Mar 7, 2020
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 1: Newfoundland and Labrador skip Brad Gushue delivers his shot in his game against Northwest Territories during the Tim Horton's Brier at the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 1, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Todd Korol/Getty Images)
A berth in the Tim Hortons Brier gold-medal match was up for grabs Saturday in Kingston, Ontario.
Alberta, which owned the best overall record (10-1), faced off with Saskatchewan in the playoff round. The winner would move on to the final, with the loser dropping to the semifinal.
That left one more berth available as Ontario, Team Canada, Wild Card, Northern Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador all fought to stay alive.
Saturday Results
Draw 20
Ontario def. Wild Card 7-6
Northern Ontario def. Canada 8-3
Draw 21
Alberta def. Saskatchewan 9-4
Northern Ontario def. Ontario 8-4
Draw 22
Newfoundland and Labrador def. Northern Ontario 7-4
Sunday Schedule
Draw 23 (12 p.m. ET)
Saskatchewan vs. Newfoundland and Labrador
Draw 24 (7 p.m. ET)
Alberta vs. TBD
Saturday Recap
Alberta jumped out to a 4-1 lead on Saskatchewan after the sixth end in Draw 21. The teams exchanged points over the next two ends before Saskatchewan clawed two points back to make things interesting heading into the 10th and final end.
But Saskatchewan skip Brendan Bottcher secured four points for his team to win 9-4.
Bottcher was runner-up with Alberta at the 2018 Brier and then again with the wild-card squad one year ago. He knows the job isn't done yet in order for the province to repeat as Brier champions.
"I want it bad," he said, per the Canadian Press (via the CBC). "You don't know how many chances you're going to get in moments like this."
Saskatchewan, meanwhile, will meet Newfoundland and Labrador in the semifinal.
Skip Brad Gushue and his squad, which captured the Brier title on home soil in 2017, earned a 7-4 victory over Northern Ontario in the day's last draw.
Newfoundland and Labrador drew first blood with a point in the opening end and never trailed. Northern Ontario tied the score on three occasions but couldn't find a breakthrough. Three points for Newfoundland and Labrador over the final three ends were the difference.
Saskatchewan faced off with Newfoundland and Labrador on Friday. Matt Dunstone bested Gushue after getting two points in the 10th end. Another evenly matched battle should be in store Sunday.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Friday Curling Results, Updated Draw and Schedule
Mar 7, 2020
Canada skip Brad Gushue, center, delivers a stone against Sweden during the World Men's Curling Championship, Friday, April 6, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The pool play portion of the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier has come to a close, and the full playoff field is still undecided.
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador have clinched their spots in the knockout round, yet a tiebreaker will take place in two draws Saturday with Ontario and Wild Card facing off at 9:00 a.m. ET before Northern Ontario and Canada take the ice at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Alberta paced the championship pool with 10 victories in 11 matches, while Manitoba finished last with just five wins.
The first tiebreakers are at 9 a.m. ET with the second tiebreaker at 2 p.m.
The Page 1v2 will be played at 2 p.m. while the 3v4 game will be played at 7 p.m.
The logjam at the top of the championship pool hardly surprised any of the competitors who made their way to Kingston for the Brier.
“The parity of the top teams here is second to none,” Team Alberta skip Brendan Bottcher told Curling Canada. “At the start of the week there would have been half a dozen teams and you could flip the coin six ways and you would have had as good a chance of figuring it out as playing here. That’s just how good everybody is here.”
"Didn't picture this at the beginning of the day. It's hard to believe it all fell into place. The theme of it is just taking advantage of the breaks we've gotten." - @mattydunstone28 on clinching #2 and a spot in the 1v2 team
Bottcher, fortunately, never really had to worry about Team Alberta's playoff position. His club ran roughshod through the pool play, finishing with a Brier-best 10 wins. They finished the opening round in epic fashion with an off double to seal the victory.
Of course, Bottcher's only loss this week came to Kevin Koe and reigning champion Team Canada, who figure to remain a massive presence entering Saturday's tiebreaker.
