BOLT PLAYING BASKETBALL

HOUSTON (USA): Fastest man on earth Usain Bolt enjoyed the Celebrity Game during the NBA All-Star weekend. Nice shots, some dunks. „I love basketball, Im a big dunker not a shooter,” he said for ESPN.  Usain Bolt proved he’s more than just a sprinter and provided a couple of dunks. The Jamaican sprinter, whose East team was blitzed by the West 58-38, said he was surprised that his opponents took the game so seriously. Informs Reuters. „I haven’t played basketball in a while. For me to come out here and have fun, that was the key, „ he said.

FARAH FOR HALF THE DISTANCE

LONDON (GBR): Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah will get his first taste of an elite marathon on 21 April when he runs the first half of the 2013 Virgin London Marathon alongside some of the greatest marathon runners of all time. Organizers are informing. The Olympic 5000 m and 10 000 m champion has agreed to make his full marathon debut at the 2014 London Marathon and will use this year’s race to prepare himself for the challenge of tackling 26.2 miles. Farah’s aim is to test himself against the best in the world while becoming familiar with the London course.

SURPRISES AT UHURU GARDENS

NAIROBI (KEN, Feb 16): Very close races for both men and women at Uhuru Gardens during Kenyan National Cross Championships and World Trials. Also some surprises were regstered with more than 140 runners in men competition. The winner was a new name Philemon Rono with 35:22 at 12 km (has 60:58 PB in half marathon). In a close finish second Timothy Kiptoo in 35:25 and third Geoffrey Kirui in 35:26. Fourth place for Hosea Macharinyang in 35:32. Bad day for Leonard Komon, only 81st. Margaret Wangare took probably the most unexpected gold of the day in senior women being back after a difficul moment due to health problem of her mother and so not able to train correctly. This strong athlete with 69:21 PB in half took the victory on 8km in 26:46 two seconds in front of another newcomer Irene Cheptai 26:48. Third youngster Janet Kisa in 26:50 and former world cross champ Emily Chebet 26:52 in fourth place. Ronald Kwemoi was the winner in junior men race against two of the favourites. He clocked 23:10 at 8 km in front of Leonard Barsoton 23:16, Moses Mukono 23:21 and Emmanuel Kiprono in 23.22. No surprise in junior women where the absolute favourite and strongest athlete Faith Chepngetich (World junior champion at 1500 m from Barcelona) took an easy gold ahead of Agnes Chebet. The winner clocked  on 6 km course 19:54 while second place for Agnes Chebet in 20:02 and third Roseline Chepngetich (sister of more famous winner) in 20:04 and fourth Caroline Chepkoech in 20.08.

RESULTS

ADELAIDE (AUS, Feb 16): Australian National Series continued at Santos Stadium with Adelaide Track Classic. Josh Ross won the 100 m in 10.45 against -1.2 but then lost the 200 m despite good 20.73 to young multi-talent Nicholas Hough 20.71 (+1.7). Melissa Breen scored women sprint double with 11.59 (-1.7) and 23.52 (+0.7). Personal best for Kelly Hetherington at 800 m 2:02.33. Kim Mickle won the javelin (58.74) and Alana Boyd the pole vault (420).

BATON ROUGE (USA, Feb 15): Jeremy Hick became the first US 8+ long jumper of indoor season 2013. At  LSU Twilight he leaped to 804. Second former World indoor champion Fabrice Lapierre of Australia 782. In women long jump London Olympian Chelsea Hayes registered 625 cm. In the men 60 m Jeff Henderson clocked 6.71 in close finish over Gabriel Mvumvure of Zimbabwe 6.71 and D´Angelo Cherry 6.72 (6.64 in heats).

LINCOLN (USA, Feb 15): Dusty Jonas is continuing to jump solid heights, at Nebraska Tune-Up cleared 227 ahead of James White 224. In women high jump Barbados talent Akela Jones with 185 clearance got national indoor record.

BEREA (USA, Feb 15): Fast 55 m heat time 6.16 for John Lundy was confirmed in the finals of Greater Clevaland College Championships. He clocked 6.48 and was beaten by Kevin Johnson (6.41). Johnson was also faster in heats with 6.31.

CHARLESTON (USA, Feb 15): At Friday Night Special Felisha Johnson achieved 23.06 in weight throw, third best mark of 2013.

BLACKSBURG (USA, Feb 15): First day of Virginia Tech Challenge registered sub 4 mile by Jeff See 3:58.36. Quarter-miler David Verburg posted 21.33 in the 200 m.

COLUMBUS (USA, Feb 15): Solid hurdles at Tune Up meet here. Terrence Somerville 7.69 and Cassandra Lloyd 8.12. Derrick Vicars got 20.01 in the shot put.

SUMY (UKR, Feb 15): Addition from Friday at Ukrainian Indoor Championships. Vasyl Ivanytskyy improved his heptathlon PB by nearly 300 points and scored 5766. 22-years old athlete set 6 personal bests, the only non PB was the hurdles race. His results: 7.12, 772, 13.26, 211 – 8.44, 430 and 2:49.51.

OTHER NEWS

HELSINKI (FIN): The fastest man in Finland Jonathan Astrand is without financial support from the public authorities. He will register as unemployed person. On Friday sports and culture minister Paavo Arhinmäki announced the list of 76 athletes from summer sports who will receive a contribution. Astrand was missing, he clocked last weekend national 200 m record 20.72.

WARSZAWA (POL): The 83rd Polish Marathon Championships on April 21 in Warszawa will start a new tradition. A high quality participation in new race the Orlen Warsaw Marathon. Among the entries should be olympic medalist and former world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco. in total 8 runners with sub 2:08 best are confirmed. The top home runner and best European in marathon 2012 Henryk Szost confirmed he will be running.