08.10.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Road Stories, College, Education at 1:58 pm by Administrator
day two of of our uc tour was to uc davis. it was due east of the bay area and seemed real close to sacramento (15 miles?). i always thought davis was further north myself.
the surrounding are looked like kern county foothills with a few more trees. the university wasnt that impressive looking but we did like davis. it looked like bakersfield’s westchester/downtown area with a lot more trees and bikes.
i could see leaving my son here to go to school. the place was mellow and very non-threatening. felt like home but nicer. it seemed to a place that would be easy to go to school. maybe a little dull but definitely not crazy like berkeley..
then since it was on the way home, we headed to uc merced.
dont make the same mistake we did. there is no reason to visit uc merced. it is really sad. first off it is miles from the freeway and the town. second, it looks like frontier high school. no offense to frontier but a high school shouldnt look better than a UC
Join Andy at the biggest poker site in the world - PokerStars.com.
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08.03.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Road Stories, College, WTF, Education, Worst Person in the World at 9:00 am by Administrator
what started out as me doing the san francisco marathon ended up being a tour of the northern califiornia’s universities. after i survived the LA marathon, i thought “why not san fran” but after signing up i realized i didnt want to do five hour training walks in the summer heat, so i decided on doing the half instead.
at first i was going to do the trip alone but i ended up taking two oldest sons. we took the coast route up and it was beautiful. saw lovely coastlines, surfers sailing with kites and enjoyed the cool fresh air.
after eating in santa cruz, i decided to visit uc santa cruz. i havent been there since i was in college. my sophomore year, the all uc meet was in santa cruz.
i went to uc san diego, so we got to fly to the meet. sadly, i had never flown in a plane so all summer i trained hard to win my seat to the meet. i remember having to take a physics mid-term and then jumping into a van and barely getting to the airport on time.
my first flight was uneventful and the takeoff and landings just felt like a cheesy carnival ride for the most part. it was nice getting to san jose in so quickly though.
i barely remember the race except that it was hilly and there were a lot trees. the best part of the trip was getting to hang out at stanford with my old high school friends and going to a stanford football game.
now 20 plus years later, i am touring uc santa cruz with my teenage sons. the campus sits on a hill with a nice forest of trees. the campus is in the forest. it looked like a nice place to go despite their banana slug mascot.
then my mind changed forever. to leave campus, one must go down a very steep and long hill. wouldnt you know but santa cruz’s finest sits on the bottom of the hill.
i had my foot on the brake the whole way and i have never received a speeding ticket in my life. but they got me, i dont think i was speeding but they say i was. heck, they could have stopped everyone that goes down that road. when i left they had three of us. Read the rest of this entry »
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06.22.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Photos, Top 20 at 4:23 pm by Administrator
This is a view of my 20 most popular bits, ordered by the most views.
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#1: jason ward at kern invite
High school track and field leaders / Central Section
Batch Data Processor | Wednesday, Apr 25 2007 8:45 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Apr 25 2007 8:48 PM
Boys
100–Kyle Alston, Fresno-Roosevelt, 10.81a; Miles Jones, Fresno-Edison, 11.03a; Lampford…
• 1302 views / Nobody counts jason ward at kern invite as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#2: North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Girls - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Delano Diaz, Brianna 18:32:00 2 2 1
Shafter Wittenberg, Elizabeth 18:39:00 3 3…
• 1210 views / Nobody counts North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#3: fernado
Why, oh, why would people subject themselves to this?
“For the mud of it,” replied Volkslauf’s Sheena Crider.
In clear view of Lerdo Jail, ripped manly men and stick-thin teenagers blasted through mud pits on a cold, rainy Saturday that laughed at…
• 687 views / 3 people |
count this as a favorite / 0 comments
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#4: Stockdale Pennel, Shelbe 19:45:00 12 11 3
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Girls - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Delano Diaz, Brianna 18:32:00 2 2 1
Shafter Wittenberg, Elizabeth 18:39:00 3 3…
• 673 views / Nobody counts Stockdale Pennel, Shelbe 19:45:00 12 11 3 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#5: 2nd behind mcfarland - kern invite 2006
F/S Boys - 2006 Kern County Cross Country Championships
School Athlete Time
East Vincente Harrera 10:45.0
McFarland Eduardo Bautista 10:49.0
BHS Andrew Ariey 10:55.0
McFarland Gerardo Alcala 10:57.0
Centennial James Diller 10:57.1
McFarland Marco…
• 649 views / Nobody counts 2nd behind mcfarland - kern invite 2006 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#6: Ridgeview’s Dominique Lauderdale at area 100
Ridgeview’s Lauderdale sweeps girls 100, 200; Foothill’s Ragans wins shot put, discus
BY BRAD RIDDELL, Californian staff writer
e-mail: briddell@bakersfield.com | Wednesday, May 9 2007 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, May 9 2007 11:08 PM
A year…
• 637 views / 1 person counts this as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#7: Taft Union Thompson, Megan 19:52:00 14 13 1
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Girls - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Delano Diaz, Brianna 18:32:00 2 2 1
Shafter Wittenberg, Elizabeth 18:39:00 3 3…
• 597 views / Nobody counts Taft Union Thompson, Megan 19:52:00 14 13 1 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#8: thomas n haney
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Girls - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Delano Diaz, Brianna 18:32:00 2 2 1
Shafter Wittenberg, Elizabeth 18:39:00 3 3…
• 521 views / Nobody counts thomas n haney as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#9: mike n david at the Kern County Championships
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Boys - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
Foothill Schwartz, Chris 15:03 1 1 1
McFarland Cisneros, Alfonso 15:39 2 2 1
McFarland Garcia, Eddie 15:41 3 3 2
East…
• 488 views / 1 person counts this as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#10: Hassay, Jordan Mission Prep 10:20.86
Event 17 Girls 3200 Meter Run
# Name Year School Finals Points
1 Hassay, Jordan Mission Prep 10:20.86
2 Saylor, Lauren Buchanan 10:51.81
3 Marvin, Meaghan Clovis 10:53.75
4 Allen, Chloe Clovis West 11:11.56
5 Poindextwe, Megan Clovis…
• 480 views / Nobody counts Hassay, Jordan Mission Prep 10:20.86 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#11: Foothill High junior Dayshan Ragans
Ragans eyes ‘60-180 Club’
BY CARL BRYAN | Wednesday, Mar 21 2007 10:30 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Mar 21 2007 10:35 PM
Special to the Californian
Photos:
Photo by John Harte / The Californian
Foothill High junior Dayshan Ragans owns the Central…
• 475 views / Nobody counts Foothill High junior Dayshan Ragans as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#12: Centennial Baker-Steimer, Lizzy 19:10:00 6 6 2
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Girls - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Delano Diaz, Brianna 18:32:00 2 2 1
Shafter Wittenberg, Elizabeth 18:39:00 3 3…
• 453 views / Nobody counts Centennial Baker-Steimer, Lizzy 19:10:00 6 6 2 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#13: Edquist, Andrew 10 Bakersfield 4:56.10
Boys 1600 Meter Run Frosh/Soph
# Name Year School Finals
1 Carlos, Ricky 10 Warren 4:38.30
2 Block, Levi 9 Cabrillolom 4:39.92
3 Dotson, Greg 9 Burbank 4:43.33
4 Bradley, Steve 10 Newbury Park 4:44.77
5 Durand, Lewis 10 Calabasas 4:45.42
6…
• 442 views / 1 person counts this as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#14: chris schwartz
• 376 views / Nobody counts chris schwartz as a favorite / 1 comment |
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#15: erica silva
Bakersfield hopes sports get city’s ball rolling
Investing in Cal State Bakersfield’s step up to Division I athletics is seen as a way to fuel growth of a college-educated community.
By Ken Fowler
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 13, 2007
…
• 361 views / Nobody counts erica silva as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#16: Centennial Thomas, Ashley 19:04:00 4 4 1
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Girls - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
North Carlson, Candace 18:09:00 1 1 1
Delano Diaz, Brianna 18:32:00 2 2 1
Shafter Wittenberg, Elizabeth 18:39:00 3 3…
• 350 views / Nobody counts Centennial Thomas, Ashley 19:04:00 4 4 1 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#17: swyl 100
100–1. Lauderdale, Rid, 12.01; 2. R. Anderson, Stk, 12.07; 3. Bennett, Cent, 12.96
• 334 views / Nobody counts swyl 100 as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#18: cassandra salazar - shafter
Invitational Girls 3200 Meter
# Name Year School Finals
1 Megan Poindexter Clovis 11:31.21
2 Megan Marvin Clovis 11:31.60
3 Cassandra Salazar Shafter 11:36.78
4 Chelsea Janzen Buchanan 11:50.35
5 Kristen Kirby Buchanan 11:50.85
6 Katrina…
• 333 views / Nobody counts cassandra salazar - shafter as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#19: Anthony Rodriguez
Arm in arm, prep runners nearing the finish line
By ANDY KEHE, Californian staff columnist, email:akehe@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, May 1 2007 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 1 2007 11:25 PM
You might remember the story from a couple of years ago…
• 324 views / Nobody counts Anthony Rodriguez as a favorite / 0 comments |
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#20: kern invite champ - chris schwartz
Kern County Championships
Sat 10/27/07 - Hart Park - Bakersfield
Varsity Boys - 2007 Kern County Cross Country Championships
Foothill Schwartz, Chris 15:03 1 1 1
McFarland Cisneros, Alfonso 15:39 2 2 1
McFarland Garcia, Eddie 15:41 3 3 2
East…
• 320 views / Nobody counts kern invite champ - chris schwartz as a favorite / 0 comments |
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06.06.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Music, Friends, Gigantic, Business, Noise Flash!!!, World Records, Darkstar Records at 8:32 pm by Administrator
Vinyl records make comeback on local scene
By JOHN COX, Californian staff writer Photo by Barrios
e-mail: jcox@bakersfield.com | Friday, Jun 6 2008 6:56 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Jun 6 2008 6:43 PM
For nearly 20 years World Records stocked no records. Unless you placed a special order, CDs were what you got.
BAKERSFIELD-AREA RECORD STORES
Darkstar Records and Books
1024 Truxtun Ave.
859-0241
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Downtown Records
1518 19th St.
324-5235
Noon to 8 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Gigantic Vintage
1515 19th St.
859-1515
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Going Underground
1822 G St.
477-8475
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Midnight Music
1215 Olive Drive
399-3454
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Rockit Music
429 James St.
746-0822
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
World Records
1824 G St.
831-3100
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. SaturdayBY THE NUMBERS
15: The percentage by which vinyl album sales increased in 2007 as compared with 2006, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
70: The percentage by which vinyl sales are projected to grow this year over 2007 totals, based on sales in January through March, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
17.5: The percentage by which shipments of CDs declined between 2006 and 2007, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
68: The percentage by which shipments of turntables increased in the first four months of this year compared with the first four months of 2007.Photos:
Photo by Henry A. Barrios/ The Californian
Darkstar Records and Books owner Dan Robertson, left, and son Andrew Robertson. Dan has a long history as a deejay in Bakersfield.
Earlier this year, though, young people started asking for vinyl. Now World Records’ new home on downtown G Street boasts a record section with new releases and reissues by Amy Winehouse, Parliament, The Velvet Underground and others.
Vinyl’s back.
U.S. record sales were up 15 percent last year over the year before, fed by growing interest in independent record stores like World Records and Darkstar Records and Books, another newcomer to downtown Bakersfield.
The resurgence has many roots, ranging from purists’ ideas about sound quality to availability of turntables at major retailers to the desirability of belonging to an exclusive, anti-digital subculture.
Vinyl’s growing popularity could have side benefits for Bakersfield. Independent record stores tend to promote the local music scene more than chain stores do. And downtown’s cluster of music stores could make it more of a destination for out-of-town collectors, boosting local tourism.
What surprises many longtime record collectors is how vinyl appeals to so many young people born after much of the nation turned its back on records when CDs were introduced in the 1980s.
A THING FOR VINYL
Consider the enthusiasm of 19-year-old Brenndan Morlan. He has amassed 140 or so albums since he began collecting records three or four years ago, and now spends $100 a week on vinyl recordings of classic jazz, psychedelic rock and exotic funk. His friends “don’t get it.”
“They’re just like, ‘How can you spend so much money on records?’” the Bakersfield sandwich shop employee said Thursday as he flipped through row after row of old vinyl at Darkstar on Truxtun Avenue.
Dan Robertson, the store’s co-owner along with his two sons, understands. His own collection numbers about half a million.
“I think (renewed interest in records) is almost a reaction against the digital,” said Robertson, a deadhead deejay who counted Buck Owens among his personal friends. He has been planning to open a record store for more than three decades.
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Distaste for digital music is common among record people. They tend to frown upon the carelessness others afford CDs, and relish the special care records require and the sense of history one gets when holding an album.
“It’s like having primary text from an author or a philosopher,” said 23-year-old Steven Koontz, the drummer for Bakersfield punk band Loser Life, which this week embarked on a European tour. Band members were planning to bring with them and sell more than 200 vinyl recordings of their music.
Then there’s the sound quality issue. Vinyl enthusiasts praise the medium’s warm sound as compared with digital recordings.
Listening to a record is “kind of like holding someone’s hand without a glove,” said Andrew Winton, a 29-year-old coffeehouse manager and regular at Going Underground, a punk music store on downtown G Street that sells and pays to have pressed many vinyl recordings that have never been transferred to CD format.
A RISING TIDE
The opening of two new record retailers so close in proximity has store owners hopeful that customers near and far will view Bakersfield as a hub for buying vinyl.
“The more the better,” said Alex Rodriguez, co-owner of downtown 19th Street’s Gigantic Vintage, which sells vintage clothing in front and records in back. “Kids aren’t just going to go to one (record store), they’re going to go to all of them.”
David Thomas, owner of Shafter’s Rockit Music, agreed. His 5,000-square-foot store, which has sold records since 1947, draws collectors from the Bay Area and the Los Angeles area. The more stores clustered in one area, he said, the more likely it is that serious collectors will come.
And when they drive in, collectors can drop big money. Jake Chavez, owner of Downtown Records on 19th Street across from Gigantic Vintage, said he once sold 200 records to a collector from Alaska driving on his way to a large show in Las Vegas.
STAYING POWER
Thomas suggested that independent stores such as those operating locally will outlast chains because of their personal touch.
“People want to go back (and) deal with neighborhood-type record stores where they can actually go in and talk about music,” he said.
This appears to be the case recently. Entertainment research company Nielsen SoundScan reported that three-quarters of all vinyl album sales in 2007 took place at independent music stores.
SIDE BENEFITS
But even aside from the business they do, record store owners say there is a benefit to having independent shops around: They help introduce young people to artists new and old.
Robertson, Darkstar’s co-owner, hopes to support the local music scene much the way Going Underground does, selling albums produced locally. He said that would mean opening up his offerings to include many different genres.
For now, though, he said he’s satisfied to be broadening the musical horizons of customers like 17-year-old Jordan Aguirre, who spent time this week checking out Robertson’s diverse collection.
Since becoming interesting in vinyl, Aguirre said he has come to a fuller understanding of the musicians who have influenced many modern recording artists.
“It’s kind of like an education,” he said.
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06.02.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Schools, Championships, State, Road Stories, Track Meets, Bakersfield at 8:15 pm by Administrator
our driller state trip started right after graduation on thursday night around 9. all the coaches were there at 9 but no athletes.
remarkably, the first athlete to show up was isiah griggs who sang at the graduation. isiah is our sophomore high jumper who improved from 6′2 to 6′6 this season with help from coach alex (csub jumper).
slowly but surely the rest of the gang showed up. emanuel turner, brandon gooden and johnny norwood who had just graduated and now were heading to state.
we all piled into the vans and headed to cerritos and were in are hotel rooms by 1 am and tried to get some sleep before friday’s prelims.
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05.21.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Driller of the Week, Coaches, Schools, Boys, Girls, Kern Track Results, Sports, Videos, Track, Drillers, BHS, Photos, Driller Noise, Noise Flash!!!, Bakersfield at 10:52 pm by Administrator
it is always fun watching coach anderson hand out awards. he is a lot better than those softball coaches thats for sure! it was nice to see miss williams and mr ellis get the most dedicated awards. mr. turner and miss wandick got mvps. mr. fingers and mr. gooden got the impact awards and mr. miller got frosh/soph mvp.
many drillers got all league honors and mr. van matre got the “bringing coach to tears” award.
this year’s team was great and i enjoyed watching they all train and compete. i look forward to next year because so many of our athletes are coming back.
our boys got fifth in valley and i expect we will do better in the future.
our state team is:
4 x 100 - walter hunt (9), emmanuel turner (12), jerek johnson (11), johnny norwood (12) and charles anderson (11)
4 x 400 - chris miller (10), emmanel turner (12), jerek johnson (11) and brandon gooden (12)
high jump - isiah griggs (10)
100m - emmanuel turner (12)
200m - brushay wandick (11)
2008 awards photos HERE
2008 videos HERE
2007 awards photos HERE
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05.16.08
Posted in Yada Yada, Profiles, Athletes, Championships, Sports, Track Meets, Upcoming, WTF, Olympics, Noise Flash!!! at 3:26 pm by Administrator
Amputee runner Oscar Pistorius wins appeal
By COLLEEN BARRY, Associated Press Writer
MILAN, Italy (AP)—His Olympic dream suddenly revived, Oscar Pistorius can get back to what he loves most—running.
The double-amputee sprinter from South Africa was cleared Friday to compete in his bid to qualify for the Beijing Games.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a ruling by the International Association of Athletics Federations that barred the 21-year-old runner from the Olympics and any other able-bodied competition because of his prosthetic racing blades.
Pistorius broke into a broad smile to a roomful of applause when the decision was announced. He reached toward his manager, Peet van Zyl, for a victory handshake.
“I am ecstatic,” Pistorius said. “When I found out I was crying. It is a battle that has been going on for far too long. It’s a great day for sport. I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people.”
He is the first to acknowledge it will be a challenge to make it to the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games. He holds the 400-meter Paralympic world record of 46.56, but must reach the qualifying time of 45.55 to compete in the individual event in Beijing.
“My hopes are very big for the Olympics for 2008,” Pistorius said. “I think the time period at the moment is very short. Obviously, I have the opportunity, so I am not going to let it go … but it is going to be very difficult in order to run those times.”
However, Pistorius also could be invited to join the South African relay team, which would not require him to qualify.
“We are very much hopeful that he will be part and parcel of our team,” said Leonard Chuene, president of Athletics South Africa.
If Pistorius does go to the Olympics, he will be competing alongside another amputee South African athlete: Natalie du Toit, who qualified for Beijing in open-water swimming.
Pistorius was born without fibulas—the long, thin outer bone between the knee and ankle—and was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee.
“Oscar Pistorius is a determined and gutsy athlete who will now no doubt put all his energy into reaching the qualification standards for the Olympic Games,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement. “If he makes it we would be delighted to welcome him.”
Pistorius will resume training in South Africa on Monday, before returning to Europe on May 28. Van Zyl said Pistorius will be running in able-bodied races July 2 in Milan and July 11 at the Golden Gala in Rome, and that many other offers have been coming in.
“A lot of the time we’ve had this year we’ve devoted to the court case,” Pistorius said. “Now when I get home my time can be dedicated to training. I am going to have to start thinking about getting my body in shape in order to run those (qualifying) times. I am hopeful there will be enough time but it is going to be very difficult.”
Regardless of whether he runs in the Olympics, Pistorius plans to compete in Beijing at the Sept. 6-17 Paralympics. He will prepare by running in disabled events in the Netherlands and Germany.
Pistorius appealed to CAS, the highest tribunal in international sports, to overturn a Jan. 14 ruling by the IAAF. Track and field’s ruling organization banned him from competing against able-bodied runners on grounds that his carbon fiber blades gave him a mechanical advantage.
A two-day hearing was held before three arbitrators at CAS headquarters last month. The panel said the IAAF decision is “revoked with immediate effect and the athlete is eligible to compete in IAAF events.”
“Oscar will be welcomed wherever he competes this summer,” IAAF president Lamine Diack said in a statement. “He is an inspirational man and we look forward to admiring his achievements in the future.”
Even if Pistorius fails to get the 400-meter qualifying time, South African selectors could add the University of Pretoria student to the Olympic 1,600-meter relay squad if it qualifies for the games among the top 16 in the world.
Pistorius would not require a qualifying time and could be taken to Beijing as an alternate. Six runners can be picked for the relay squad.
The IAAF based its January decision on studies by German professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who said the J-shaped “Cheetah” blades were energy efficient
Pistorius’ lawyers countered with independent tests conducted by a team led by MIT professor Hugh M. Herr that claimed to show he doesn’t gain any advantage over able-bodied runners.
CAS said the IAAF failed to prove Pistorius’ running blades gave him an advantage.
“If I had to look at the situation, how many amputee athletes use the exact same prosthetic leg as I do and don’t run nearly close to the same times?” Pistorius said. “I think running has become my purpose in life. It has become my calling in life.”
Associated Press Writers Graham Dunbar in Geneva and Celean Jacobson in Johannesburg, South Africa, contributed to this report.
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