Outdoor Sports

The wire fox terrier continued a dominant tradition at last year's Westminster Dog Show.

With the breed's Best in Show win in 2019, it marked the 47th victory by a terrier at the premiere event, according to Paul Myerberg of USA Today, the most of any group. More specifically, the wire fox terrier has won 15 times, the most of any breed, including twice in the last six years.

Can a terrier add to that legacy this year? The 2020 Westminster Dog Show began over the weekend, continues Monday and concludes Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

It's the 144th annual edition of the show, which features more than 200 dog breeds competing against the others in its category and looking to advance to the Best in Show competition.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's Westminster Dog Show.

       

2020 Westminster Dog Show Schedule

Monday, Feb. 10

Breed judging (terrier, non-sporting and toy), junior handler preliminaries, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Go

Breed judging (select coverage), 1-3 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2

Pre-show, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

Group competitions (hound, toy, non-sporting, herding), 7:30-11 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

          

Tuesday, Feb. 11

Breed judging (sporting, working), junior handler preliminaries, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Go

Breed judging (select coverage), 1-3 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2

Pre-show, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

Group competitions (hound, toy, non-sporting, herding), Best in Show, 7:30-11 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

       

Preview, Expectations

In order to advance to the Best in Show competition, a breed must win its respective group's competition. The seven groups are herding, hound, non-sporting, sporting, terrier, toy and working. The group competitions will take place Monday and Tuesday, before the event culminates with the Best in Show finale on Tuesday night.

The top four finishers in each group receive a prize, but only the winners advance to Best in Show.

Here's what the dogs will be judged on: general appearance, movement and temperament, coat, colors, eye color and shape, ear shape and placement, feet and tail, among other factors.

"Say if you had two very different dogs like German shepherds vs. corgis, you're going to be judging whether it's closer to that ideal German shepherd or corgi," Westminster Dog Show national spokesperson Gail Miller Bisher said, according to Janine Puhak of Fox News. "It's much more detailed than people think. It's not a beauty contest at all. There's history involved, there's science involved—there is a lot more to it."

Each year, there is usually at least one new breed participating in the show. The Azawakh is making its Westminster Dog Show debut this year. According to Myerberg, the Azawakh "is a sighthound, a breed that includes certain types of greyhounds, and originates from West Africa."

If history is any indication, there's a solid chance that a terrier breed could again win this year's Best in Show. Behind the terriers' 47 wins, no other group has more than 18 total victories.

However, the last five winners have come from different groups, as well as six of the last seven. And with some strong competitors in other groups, there's a chance a non-terrier wins the top prize.

But the one thing viewers can always expect from the Westminster Dog Show is getting to see some of the best, most well-trained dogs competing for these top honors.

A pair of runners from Ethiopia took first place at the 2020 Houston Marathon.

Kelkile Gezahegn was the best in the field Sunday, winning the men's race with a time of 2:08:36. Askale Merachi was the top women's finisher after running all 26.2 miles in 2:23:29, beating out three different women who were within two minutes of first place.

Marathon winners: Kelkile Gezahegn (Ethiopia) & Askale Merachi (Ethiopia) 🏅 Congratulations! #runhou #houstonmarathon pic.twitter.com/CrzgTcSgXa

— Houston Marathon (@HoustonMarathon) January 19, 2020

Craig Hunt (2:17:18) was the top American man in eighth overall while edging Joseph Niemiec by just five seconds. Adriana Nelson-Pirtea earned the title of fastest American women with a time of 2:33:18.

Here is a look at the top finishers in each category.

     

Top Male Finishers

1. Kelkile Gezahegn (2:08:36)

2. Bronsa Dida (2:10:37)

3. Amanuel Mesel (2:11:04)

4. Benson Seurei (2:11:51)

5. Stephen Scullion (2:11:52)

     

Top Female Finishers

1. Askale Merachi (2:23:29)

2. Biruktayit Degefa Eshetu (2:24:47)

3. Malindi Elmore (2:24:50)

4. Meseret Belete (2:24:54)

5. Bekelech Gudeta (2:29:22)

Full results available at the event's official site.

Gezahegn had an impressive performance in Houston with a pace of four minutes and 55 seconds per mile. He was in second place at the halfway mark and third at 15.5 miles, but he was on fire the rest of the way to end up in front of the pack at the finish line.

Ethiopian native Kelkile Gezahegn wins Chevron Houston Marathon with an unofficial time of just over 2:08 #houmarathon pic.twitter.com/XRMamSrIY1

— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) January 19, 2020

Woldaregay Kelkile Gezahegn of Ethiopia won the men’s Chevron Houston Marathon for the men coming in at 2:08:36. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bPPeatgV0d

— Taisha Walker (@KPRC2Taisha) January 19, 2020

The 23-year-old has performed well on the international scene, winning a Slovenian marathon last October while adding victories in China and Germany. However, he had never competed in an American marathon until this one.

It seems the different geography didn't affect him at all as he was able to add another title to his resume.

Merachi also turned heads with her performance, extending an incredible run of success from Ethiopian women:

Askale Merachi of Ethiopia won the Chevron Houston Marathon for the women. Her time was 2:23:29. She’s the 14th consecutive woman from Ethiopia to come in first. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/rzgQYzrWMR

— Taisha Walker (@KPRC2Taisha) January 19, 2020

While the race was usually close, Merachi led at every single checkpoint Sunday as part of an inspiring effort from the 33-year-old.

After setting a course record with her win at the Los Angeles marathon last year, she shaved almost another full minute off her time in 2020.

In third place in the women's division was Malindi Elmore, who set a national record with her performance.

MALINDI ELMORE RUNS CANADIAN MARATHON RECORD IN 2:24:50 AT HOUSTON MARATHON!

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) January 19, 2020

With thousands of other runners competing on the difficult course, it was a memorable day of action in the Texas event.

In 2018, Nick Hilton proposed to his girlfriend after winning the Disney World Marathon. This year, it was all about him.

Hilton ran a time of two hours, 22 minutes and 19 seconds to earn a dominant win at the 2020 event, besting second-place Benjamin Xie by more than four minutes.

Martins said she's retiring from the event after the race. 

Reigning men's champion Fredison Costa was unable to complete the race due to an illness. Costa was looking for his eighth Disney Marathon victory, which would have tied him with Adriano Bastos for the most all-time. Brazilians have won 18 of the 27 races for the men. 

Martins finished nearly five minutes ahead of second-place American Jordyn Kleve. Martins and Kleve were by far the class of the women's field, as no other runner was within 10 minutes of the pair.

An American woman has not won the Disney World Marathon since 2013 (Renee High). 

Set those alarms, because the Disney World Marathon is almost here. And it's starting a bit earlier this year.

On Sunday, the 27th annual Disney World Marathon will take place, with the race beginning at 5 a.m. ET, 30 minutes earlier than past years. There are also several other changes to the race, so participants and spectators alike will want to be prepared before Sunday morning arrives.

There will be more than 75,000 runners participating, representing more than 72 countries, with the 26.2-mile course taking them through Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's edition of the Disney World Marathon in Florida.

                 

Event Information

When: Sunday, Jan. 12

Start time: 5 a.m. ET

Course map: Available on RunDisney.com.

           

For runners who have participated in the race before, they will notice some changes to this year's course.

Race participants will now run through Blizzard Beach. They will also spend more time running inside Epcot and less on the roads outside the parks. Those should be welcome changes, as it will showcase even more of what Disney World has to offer during the race.

The marathon used to feature a route through Blizzard Beach from 1995 to 1998, but that portion was replaced following a redesign in 1999.

Another change for race participants is a new outdoor-exclusive area where they can take pictures, pick up gear, stretch and recover. While spectators won't have access to that area, there are new ChEAR Squad packages that offer access to the race's finish line and a popular Magic Kingdom viewing location, along with other amenities.

Those changes and additions will be great for race participants and spectators. However, one thing that may not be so great is the weather.

On Thursday morning, runDisney issued a weather advisory for the weekend because of the warm temperatures and high humidity expected throughout the weekend, including for Sunday morning's race. Runners are encouraged to stay hydrated, choose light clothing/costumes and to slow down if experiencing any symptoms of heat illness.

According to The Weather Channel, the high temperature for Orlando on Sunday is expected to be 85 degrees Fahrenheit with 71 percent humidity.

The Disney World Marathon has been taking place annually since 1994. The weekend has featured a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon and the full marathon since 2006.

Last year, Fredison Costa of Brazil won the race on the men's side for the fifth time in six years, completing the course in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 45 seconds. The men's record of 2:11:50 was set by Leonid Shvetsov of Russia in 1995.

Giovanna Martins of Brazil has won the marathon on the women's side three straight years and four of the past five. She finished the course in 2:45:24 last year. The women's record of 2:31:54 was set by Judit Nagy of Hungary in 1995.

But this race isn't just about the competition. Many participants will be dressed up as their favorite Disney characters for the race, so there should be fun for all throughout the weekend in Orlando.

In 2002, a new annual tradition was added to Thanksgiving. In addition to turkey, football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, there's now also the National Dog Show.

Airing directly after the parade, the Thanksgiving dog show coverage will again feature some of the top competitors from the event. The show is sanctioned by the American Kennel Club and hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, taking place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.

The National Dog Show is part of the sport's U.S. Triple Crown, along with the Westminster Dog Show and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's National Dog Show.

        

2019 National Dog Show Viewing Information

Date: Thursday, Nov. 28

Time: Noon-2 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live

            

List of recent Best in Show winners

2018: Whiskey (Whippet)
2017: Newton (Brussels griffon)
2016: Gia (Greyhound)
2015: Charlie (Skye terrier)
2014: Nathan (Bloodhound)
2013: Jewel (American foxhound)
2012: Sky (Wire fox terrier)
2011: Eira (Wire fox terrier)
2010: Clooney (Irish setter)

         

Preview

There are 205 breeds and varieties of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club. And although they won't all be represented at this year's National Dog Show, a large number of them will be.

In the first round, dogs compete against others of the same breed, with the victor earning the title of Best in Breed. Each of those winners then moves on to the next round, which is the group stage.

In that round, the breeds are divided into seven groups—sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. The winner of each group, which earns First in Breed, goes on to compete in the final round, which determines the overall Best in Show winner.

The NBC coverage of the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving will feature that final round, in which the top contenders will compete for Best in Show.

Last year, the Best in Show winner was a whippet named Whiskey. The whippet competes in the hound group and is a quick, fast breed of dog.

"He is a beautiful breed type," 2018 Best in Show Judge Geir Flyckt-Pedersen said at the time, according to NBCSports.com's Mia Zanzucchi. "You look for star quality. The winning dog has to sell himself, have personality and showmanship. When that is in combination with good movement, you have something."

Although the National Dog Show has been taking place in its current format since 2002—and has been around in some form since 1879—there are still new breeds making their debuts in the event. This year, the Azawakh, which is part of the hound group, will be competing for the first time.

With so many dogs of various breeds competing, there is a large number of potential Best in Show winners, which can make the event a fun one to watch on Thanksgiving.

New York's Diriba Degefa Yigezu won the men's division of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday morning, coming in with a time of 2:16:30. 

Diriba Degefa Yigezu wins the Philadelphia Marathon with a time of 2:16:30.

He finished in third place a year ago. pic.twitter.com/R0vJjB4ase

— Graham Foley (@graham_foley3) November 24, 2019

Yigezu held off a number of contenders, including Albuquerque's Milton Rotich (2:18:47), Minneapolis' Connor Reck (2:19:27), New York's Urgesa Kedir Figa (2:19:39) and Astoria's Chase Pizzonia (2:20:25).

"It feels really good, I trained really hard," Yigezu told Graham Foley of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "The rain made it very hard but I got through ... it just feels so good."

On the women's side, New York's Feyne Gudeto Gemeda set a course record with a time of 2:32:48.

Feyne Gudeto Gemeda finished first in the female category of the Philadelphia Marathon with a course-record time of 2:32:48. She beat the record by three seconds. pic.twitter.com/QnVggy6rrW

— Graham Foley (@graham_foley3) November 24, 2019

She obliterated the field, finishing well ahead of Toledo's Viola Bor (2:39:58), Cherry Hill's Katie Rodden (2:40:47), Quebec's Anne-Marie Comeau (2:41:09) and Jersey City's Allison Goldstein (2:44:10).

"I'm very happy with the record," Gemeda told Foley. "I was training very hard. I was pushing to run under 2:32 but the rain and wind was very challenging so I'm happy with how I finished."

Frankly, just participating in the race on a rainy and cold Philadelphia morning was impressive enough, with temperatures below 40 degrees. That didn't seem to ruin the atmosphere among the runners and spectators.

A happy atmosphere as runners stream down 6th Street for the Philadelphia Marathon, the choir of Mother Bethel AME church singing on the corner. The church used to reschedule services because of the run, but now they sing to runners, many of whom are waving and cheering back pic.twitter.com/htvxbe7L5S

— Justine McDaniel (@McDanielJustine) November 24, 2019

Love the Philadelphia Marathon! The weather is terrible but the runners are amazing. Here are the elite runners at 21st and Chestnut. pic.twitter.com/odIsebSrMx

— Nikka (@nikkathatcher) November 24, 2019

And thousands braved the elements on Philadelphia's relatively flat course. If you have the mental fortitude to compete in a marathon, it seems having the mental fortitude to compete in a marathon in rainy and cold conditions is a given. 

The Philadelphia Marathon may not be as old as similar events held around the country, but it's an event with plenty of history.

That's because the race takes participants through the streets of Philadelphia and past historic landmarks, such as Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Liberty Bell Center. Runners will go through neighborhoods and along waterfronts during the marathon.

With the race getting closer, here's everything you need to know about this year's edition of the Philadelphia Marathon.

       

Event Information

When: Sunday, Nov. 24

Start time: 7 a.m. ET

Course map: Available on PhiladelphiaMarathon.com

Road closures: There will be streets closed around the city all weekend, beginning on Friday. For more information, visit PhiladelphiaMarathon.com.

         

The Philadelphia Marathon was established in 1954, but it's only been a City of Philadelphia-managed race held exclusively within city limits since 1994.

The marathon brings in about 30,000 runners each year, coming from all 50 states and numerous countries around the world. There will also be plenty of people coming to watch and cheer on the participants, so Philadelphia will likely be filled for this weekend's event.

The course for the marathon is the standard 26.2 miles.

This year's race could be chilly and wet for participants. According to Weather.com, Sunday's high temperature will be 47 degrees Fahrenheit with a 70-percent chance of morning rain showers. It is also likely to rain Saturday evening and night, which could make the course already damp heading into Sunday morning.

Last year, new race records (since 1994) were set on both the men's and women's sides. For the men, Tadesse Dabi of Ethiopia completed the race in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 47 seconds. Ethiopia's Abrha Serkalem Biset finished in 2:32:53 to set the women's record.

The winner of the marathon receives $10,000, while those who finish second ($5,000), third ($2,500), fourth ($1,500) and fifth ($1,000) also get cash prizes. There will also be prize money awarded to the first Philadelphian male and female, with each winning $1,000, as well as those who finish first in the master and wheelchair divisions, who will each receive $1,000.

There's also a $1,500 bonus for setting a course record.

The marathon isn't the only race that will take place at the Philadelphia event this weekend. There's also a half marathon, an 8K and a kids fun run on Saturday. Those races will take place throughout the morning, getting the weekend off to a fun start.

As always, it should be an exciting weekend for those who participate and attend, and it will officially begin when runners start to arrive in Philadelphia on Friday.

Las Vegas is known for its casinos, lights and various forms of entertainment, but for one night only, the Strip was partially transformed into a marathon course as runners from around the globe converged on the city to race.

In the end, Heather Bray and Tommy Rivers Puzey emerged as Vegas' biggest victors Sunday at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 @Humana #RnRVegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon!

Marathon:
Heather Bray 3:13:00
Tommy Rivers Puzey 2:28:04

Half Marathon:
Brittney Feivor 1:13:20
Tyler Day 1:03:48 pic.twitter.com/nK6aP4G6nQ

— Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series (@RunRocknRoll) November 18, 2019

     

Women's Top Finishers

1. Heather Bray (3:13:00)

2. Emily Rollins (3:19:42)

3. Jennifer Creps (3:25:11)

4. Kristina Nikolova (3:29:00)

5. Stephanie Kortan (3:30:10)

Source: track.rtrt.me

     

Men's Top Finishers

1. Tommy Rivers Puzey (2:28:04)

2. Jacob Krolick (2:31:25)

3. Meng-Tsung Chu (2:32:09)

4. Adam Cordell (2:41:58)

5. Markus Nett (2:43:59)

Source: track.rtrt.me

Nothing shook up Bray as she cruised to an easy win in an Elvis Presley costume:

ELVIS HAS CROSS THE FINISH LINE: Congratulations to Heather Bray on winning the women's Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon → https://t.co/Cv6I9Z2WAq pic.twitter.com/q69LNbDtAz

— Las Vegas Review-Journal (@reviewjournal) November 18, 2019

Bray, a runner, lawyer and mother who now lives in Amsterdam, beat second-place finisher Emily Rollins by 6:42. She had the best time at the 6.2-mile mark and never looked back as she slowly extended the gap between her and the field.

The Las Vegas Marathon winner, who averaged 7:22 per mile, is also an accomplished world-record hula hoop runner.

On the men's side, Puzey won his second consecutive Las Vegas Marathon thanks to a time of 2:28:04, beating second-place finisher Jacob Krolick and third-place runner Meng-Tsung Chu.

Puzey, a professional runner from Flagstaff, Arizona, ran an average of 5:40 per mile.

The top three finishers all competed in the event's elite marathon division.

Adam Cordell was the top marathon runner outside the elite group, ending his race with a time of 2:41:58. That mark was good enough for fourth overall, regardless of division. Markus Nett rounded out the top five.

The Las Vegas Marathon is part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series, with races scheduled around the world at least once a month through November 2020. The most recent event took place in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province. A two-day event occurring in Cancun, Mexico, on December 6 and 7 is up next.

The Vegas rendition consists of a full marathon, half marathon, 10-kilometer and five-kilometer races.

The race shut down parts of the Las Vegas Strip, per Ricardo Torres-Cortez of the Las Vegas Sun, with the event finishing on Las Vegas Blvd. at The Mirage.

Most marathons take place in the morning and go through many streets of a big city. The Las Vegas Marathon is much different.

Starting in the evening on Sunday instead, this race primarily occurs on the main stretch of the Las Vegas strip. It may be unorthodox, but that's part of what makes this event a unique attraction for runners from around the world.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's edition of the Las Vegas Marathon.

       

Event Information

When: Sunday, Nov. 17

Start time: 4:30 p.m. PT

Course map: Available on RunRockNRoll.com

Road closures: In addition to the Las Vegas strip being shut down, there will be road closures around the city, many of which will be in effect from 2:30 p.m.-11 p.m. ET. For more information, visit RunRockNRoll.com.

        

Over the weekend, there will be numerous events going on for participants, including multiple races, live entertainment—including a private Saturday night concert by Kesha—and more. But the main event will be Sunday evening's marathon race.

There should be great weather for Sunday's race, so racing conditions shouldn't be an issue. According to Weather.com, the high temperature for Las Vegas on Sunday will be 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be sunny with no chance of precipitation and only slight wind.

The marathon has a five-hour time limit, but the top finishers should finish in less than three hours. Last year, the winner on the men's side was Thomas Puzey of the United States, who completed the course in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 53 seconds. The women's winner was Hannah McInturff of the United States, who finished in 3:07:24.

The men's record for the race is 2:11:58 set by Stephen Kiogora of Kenya in 2005. The women's record is 2:29:01 set by Sylvia Skvortsova of Russia in 2007.

In future years, there will be more opportunities for participants to enjoy the run down the Las Vegas strip. That's because the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors recently approved a second marathon that will take place in the spring beginning in 2021.

"We've actually been talking to the owners of the race for a few years about adding a second race because of the success of the first," LVCVA vice president of marketing Fletch Brunelle said, according to Richard N. Velotta of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Instead of taking place on a Sunday night, this second spring race will occur on a Saturday night, which could potentially allow for more participants. So, for people who haven't yet had the opportunity to take part in or attend a cool, unique marathon experience, there will be more chances in years to come.  

Geoffrey Kamworor and Joyciline Jepkosgei, both of Kenya, took home the men's and women's races at the 2019 New York Marathon on Sunday.

Kamworor took home his second New York Marathon in the last three years, finishing with a time of 2:08:13. He is the 10th man in history to win at least twice at the event. Albert Korir, also of Kenya, finished in second place. 

BREAKING: Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor reclaims the #NYCMarathon title in 02:08:13 with Albert Korir coming in second #NewYorkMarathon2019 🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/CZlyY5k1WV

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 3, 2019

Defending men's champion Lelisa Desisa dropped out of the race in the seventh mile. Desisa was coming off a victory at the world championships last month. 

"From the start of the race, I was feeling OK," Kamworor said. "I was comfortable. I prepared very well to run this marathon. Throughout the last few meters, the pace was somewhat high, and it wasn't a problem for me. That's when I decided to pull away."

While he's still young at age 26, Kamworor is a cagy veteran in comparison to Jepkosgei, who took home the women's side in 2:22:38 in her first-ever marathon. Jepkosgei beat out countrywoman Mary Keitany, who was looking for her fifth New York Marathon championship.

UPDATE: 35KM into the Pro Women’s race and Joyciline Jepkosgei – KEN 🇰🇪 is in the lead followed closely by Mary Keitany – KEN 🇰🇪. #NYCMarathon #NewYorkMarathon2019 pic.twitter.com/VdmmSwbeUP

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 3, 2019

"My strategy I had planned was to finish the race strong," Jepkosgei said. "But in the last kilometers, I saw that I was approaching the finish line and I was capable of winning."

The times reflected a race that was run under borderline ideal conditions. Jepkosgei's time was the second-fastest for a woman in history.

No Americans finished in the top five in either race, but both races did feature a sixth-place finisher for the United States. Jared Ward was the sixth-place finisher on the men's side, while Des Linden did the same among the women.