November 26, 2011 • No Comments
Two runners died during the annual running of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 20, according to Melanie Johnson, executive director of the race weekend.
The runners, identified only as an Asian male who was 21 and a white male who was 40, collapsed less than a mile from the finish line. They were transported by ambulance to Hahnemann University Hospital, and it was later released that both had died of heart attacks. The identities of the men has not been released as of Wednesday.
Race organizers say the race is open to anyone who wishes to participate, and that no physical qualifications or qualifying times are required for entry. Weather conditions for the race were fair, with very cool temperatures and little wind.
In addition to the two men who later died, 10 others were transported to the hospital for various injuries and illnesses suffered during the race. For the 2011 race, more than 35,000 runners participated, and more than 60,000 watched from the sidelines. The race is run through the streets of Philadelphia each November, and includes a route past the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’s house and along the Schuylkill River.
The men’s race was won by Folisho Tuko of New York, and the woman’s rice was won for the second consecutive year by a Dutch woman named Mariska Kramer.
Category: Various News
October 7, 2011 • No Comments
The world waited, with bated breath, as the Italian court debated Amanda Knox’s fate. People were glued with anticipation to their television. From Perugia to Seattle the public seemed frozen, awaiting the moment. Friends and relatives, of Amanda Knox, gathered in a Seattle hotel holding to the faith and hope that Amanda would be freed.
Earlier in the day Knox spoke, in Italian, to the Italian court. With every fiber of her being she expressed why she should be set free and that she had nothing to do with her room mate Meredith Kercher’s death. She also spoke, to the fact that her boyfriend, at the time, Raffaele Sollecito was innocent of the murder. The plea brought two of the jurors to tears. Raffaele Sollecito, the co-defendant, also made a personal plea to the court.
Amanda Knox’s tension and fear was palpable when the jury returned to the court, later that day, with their decision. There was an English interpreter present, for the convenience of the people who did not understand Italian. When the words, acquitted and released immediately were spoken, you could sense the tension and fear from four years start flooding out of the body. Knox was ushered from the Perugia court room, hopefully for the last time. The 26 year murder sentence was finally overturned. All that remained was to finish processing at the prison. Her fellow inmates cheered and wished her well.
Knox will have a long time to get reacquainted with her family. They will be traveling British Airways to London and then be on their way home to Seattle. Amanda Knox will see her home for the first time in many years. She will also do one other thing she expressed, to her mom, upon freedom. Amanda Knox will go out in her yard and “feel the grass.”
Category: Various News Tagged: Amanda Knox
