by Larry EderKara Goucher went out quite fast, but held on in the Lisbon Half marathon, winning by thirty seconds in 1:08:30. She is four weeks out from her race at the Boston Marathon. Jeremy Wariner, who we were able to interview in Santa Monica last week (watch for the interviews next week), opened this weekend in Waco in 20.77 for 200 meters! The first weekend in spring has happened! We hope that you enjoy the results!
Kipsang wins in Tokyo
TOKYO (JPN, Mar 22): Salim Kipsang, who surged at 36Km and left Sammy Korir and Kensuke Takahashi behind, won the third Tokyo Marathon in 2:10:27. He stumbled and dropped his bottle at the 35Km aid station. He had to stop to retrieve the bottle, which caused him to lose several meters at the crucial part of the race. However, not only he came back strongly to catch Korir and Takahashi, but Kipsang made a strong surge of his own and won the convincingly. “I am happy after winning this great race,†said Kipsang after the race. He won the prize money of 11 million yen. This is the first time official prize money was awarded in the marathon race (other than World Championships) in Japan. The time was slow because the race was marred with strong wind, especially in the closing stage of the course. A marathon debutant Kazuhiro Maeda finished second in 2:11:01 and thus automatically selected for the marathon team for Berlin. Kensuke Takahashi finished third in 2:11:25, while Sammy Korir was fourth in 2:11:57 and Kenta Oshima fifth in 2:12:54. Best European Dmytro Baranovsky from Ukraine as 7th 2:13:27. Last year’s 3rd place finisher Julius Gitahi has withdrawn from tomorrow’s race with an unspecified injury. Mizuho Nasukawa, who left Shitaye Gemechu and Yukari Saharu just before 40Km won the women’s race with 2:25:38. It was more than four minutes personal best for Nasukawa, who is coached by Yoshio Koide, who coached Naoko Takahashi to an Olympic Gold. However, since Tokyo Marathon is not a World Championships qualifying race for Japanese women, she won’t be going to Berlin. Yukari Sahaku finished second in 2:28:55. She improved her personal best by nearly 3 minutes. Sahaku is also coached by Koide. Reiko Tosa, fell at 5Km but recovered well and was third in her final marathon of her career with 2:29:19. Rounding up the top five, russian Alevtina Biktimirova finished fourth in 2:29:33 and Gemechu was fifth in 2:29:59. Best kenyan pamela chepchumba as 9th 2:32:40.
Lel and Goucher
LISBON (POR, Mar 22): Kenyan Martin Lel with 59:54 and US runner Kara Goucher (1:08:30) were the winners of today 19th Lisbon Half-Marathon. World record holder Samuel Wanjiru ended 7th (1:01:23). Second place for former World champion Jaouad Gharib of Morroco (59:59) and third inaugural WMM winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (1:00:02). In women section the rest of the podium for Kenyan runners: second Alice Timbilili (1:09:00) and third Jane Kiptoo (1:09:07). Fourth place for Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka (1:09:58).
Kiptoo and Dado
ROMA (ITA, Mar 22): Kenyan Benjamin Kiptoo clocked Italian all-comers record 2:07:17 to win the 15th Roma Marathon. Top four Kenyans went sub 2:10 with Paul Kiprop 2:08:23, Joseph Ngeny 2:08:41 and Hosea Rotich 2:09:47. Ethiopian Firehiwot Dado improved by 10 minutes from her last year debut in Kosice (2:37:34) to win in 2:27:08. Second place for Ukrainian Tetyana Filoynuk (2:27:43) and third another Ethiopian Lema Kebebush (2:28:08). Home pre-race favorite Anna Incerti finished fifth (2:29:33). Including the Fun Run some 70 000 participated.
Kanter as expected: world indoor best 69.51
VAXJO (SWE, Mar 22): Olympic and world winner Gerd Kanter fulfilled all expectations with world indoor discus best on Sunday. In Vaxjo Tipshallen during “World Record Indoor Challenge†he achieved already in second throw 69.51 what was clearly better than the previous mark 66.20 by Wolfgang Schmidt (GDR, 1980). His series was more than impressive: 65.25 – 69.51 – 68.21 – 69.01 – 66.51 – 66.58. Dutch Erik Cadee as second got 60.37 and third Estonian Mart Israel also over 60 with 60.32. Best female Swedish thrower Anna Soderberg won her category with 57.06 m.
Wariner opens with 20.77 at 200 m
WACO (USA, Mar 21): 400 m World Champion Jeremy Wariner started his season with a traditional 200 m outing at Dr. Pepper Invitational. With 20.77 (-0.1) he was faster than in last year opening. It was his first meeting since last year World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.
IAAF COUNCIL: CC 2010 in Poland
BERLIN (GER): The IAAF Council on Sunday heard progress reports from the Local Organising Committee’s for 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin (GER), 2009 IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, Thessaloniki (GRE), and the 18th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Birmingham (GBR). The Council also decided on the venue for the 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships which will be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 27 March 2010. After last years World Junior Championships another global initiative for the Polish city. It will be for second time that Poland will host this event after Warszawa in 1987.
BERLIN (GER): The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will not take disciplinary action against Dwain Chambers after he had been accused of bringing the sport into disrepute in his autobiography. Chambers welcomed the decision and told PA Sport tonight: “I’m just glad everything has been sorted out and I can start looking forward to a bright future.” The 30-year-old made personal attacks on Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, former manager John Regis and Lord Sebastian Coe in his book, serialized recently in a national newspaper. But the IAAF decided on the first day of its council meeting in Berlin that it does not warrant them taking any action.
The IAAF could have banned Chambers for life but came to its decision even though the book included a paragraph where Chambers said: “In my opinion, half of the Americans you have enjoyed watching at the 2008 Olympic Games have used performance-enhancing drugs in the past.” IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss said it was the council’s view that if there was to be any legal challenge, it should come from other organisations or individuals named in the book. Writes David Martin.
BERLIN (GER): Jorge Salcedo, head of the technical commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations is one from the supporters of „immediate exclusion from the race after false start“ rule. “Many athletes were playing mind games with the others, but under the new rule that would not be possible,” he said. Currently, one false start is allowed per race; another false start resulted in the automatic exclusion of the guilty sprinter regardless of who caused the first false start. If accepted, the new rule would become effective at the start of 2010. IAAF Council during first day of its session made the following recommendations for decision by the IAAF Congress, the IAAF’s highest decision making body which is made up of the representatives of the 213 IAAF Member Federations. A recommendation by the IAAF Technical Committee to introduce a No False Start Rule has been supported by Council. A proposal was made to increase minimum female representation on the 27 member Council from four to six (over 20%). The Juridical Committee is finalising a new system to set quality standards with regard to the registration process of Athletes’ Representatives (agents/managers) authorised by National Federations to exercise this activity, it is proposed that the IAAF shall introduce criteria and a new procedure for 2010. Over 100 Competition Rule change proposals and a number of amendments to the IAAF Constitution which will be presented to Congress were considered.
BERLIN (GER): The IAAF stated that marathons at the world championships in August will start and finish at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. It is the first time in a major event the races will neither start nor end in the stadium, as Reuters inform. The IAAF are also for the first time considering a carpet for race walkers around the Brandenburg Gate because the cobblestones could prove slippery for athletes.
OTHER NEWS
COLOGNE (GER): As The Associated Press informs, that German lab has developed a new test for gene doping that should be ready for use at the 2012 London Olympics. The test was developed at the Cologne Sports College, one of Germany’s leading anti-doping institutions, and still needs to be approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Gene doping, the practice of using genetic engineering to artificially enhance athletic performance, is believed by many to be the next frontier in drug cheating.
LONDON (GBR): The Romanian Constantina Dita, who last August became the oldest Olympic marathon winner at 38, advised the marathon Word record holder Paula Radcliffe to cut down on her training if she wants to end her Olympic agony at the London Games in 2012. 35-year-old Radcliffe finished 23rd in Beijing after her training was hampered by injury. Four years earlier in Athens she broke down in tears after pulling out due to heat exhaustion. “I think she wants to run every race and win gold medals everywhere. It’s too much. Maybe she is training too hard. When you get older you have reduce your training and races,” said Dita who also plans to be on the starting line in London in 2012.
BRISBANE (AUS): Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker and 100m hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan have been crowned 2008/09 Athletes of the Year at the Athletics Australia gala awards function held in Brisbane on Sunday. The pair join an impressive list of past winners including Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Catherine Freeman, Tim Forsyth, Craig Mottram and Jana Rawlinson. Hooker and McLellan were both presented with a $10,000 cheque which will greatly assist their preparations for the world championships to be staged in Berlin in August. McLellan and 400m Hurdles runner Tristan Thomas were named Athlete of the Australian season. Nine additional awards were also presented this afternoon. Dual Olympic medallist Jared Tallent was named Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year. Tallent’s coach, Brent Vallance was also recognised, taking out Coach of the Year – senior athlete. Rising talent Jess Rothwell who finished fourth in the 10km walk at the 2008 World Junior Championships was awarded Asics Junior Athlete of the Year. Eighteen-year-old Ryan Gregson, who smashed two national under 20 records this summer for the 1500m and 3000m and finished fifth in the 1500m at the world juniors in Poland, was awarded Steve Moneghetti Emerging Athlete of the Year. Gregson’s coach, Ian Hatfield, won the Coach of the Year – junior athlete category. Informs Athletics Australia.
TOKYO (JPN): Ken Nakamura informs that 2004 Olympic Champion, Mizuki Noguchi apparently reinjured her upper left leg, the injury which kept her out of Beijing Olympic Marathon. The injury resurfaced on January 30. She had MRI on March 19 and diagnosed with the similar injury on the idential location.
RESULTS
BRISBANE (AUS, Mar 21): The 87th Australian Championships ended on Saturday. Sydney long jumper Fabrice Lapierre surprised his opponents with his last final attempt – winning jump of 8.29m (+0.8m/s), third best on the Australian all-time list. “If I can keep jumping like this I can win a medal at the majors,” said 25-year-old 2002 World Junior Championship silver medallist. 20-year-old Brisbane commerce/law student Mitchell Watt finished 2nd achieving 8.10m (+3.0) ahead of training partner Chris Noffke (8.00m/+1.3). Beijing Olympic 100m Hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan managed to break a meet record despite strong wind clocking 12.74sec (-1.3m/s). 23-year-old Jeff Riseley, who was so sick in Beijing last year, clocked winning 3:35.71 – world lead in 1500m. World Indoor Champion Tamsyn Lewis improved in her new event the 400 m Hurdles to 56.27 and won. Solid marks in throws – Justin Anlezark 20.03 in Shot Put, Dani Samuels 60.05 in discus and New Zealander Stuart Farquhar 80.16 in javelin.
JOHANNESBURG (RSA, Mar 22): From as early as the 36 kilometre mark, eventual winner, Nathaniel Lebopo and his Toyota teammate Lebenya Nkoka both of Lesotho together with Ugandan Daniel Cheyegun, dictated proceeding at the front of the field and the winner at Johannesburg Marathon could only come from one of these three foreigners. According to the script they crossed the line in that order, with Lebopo winning in 2:18:32, just missing the IAAF World Championships qualifying time by 32 seconds. As supersports website says, then the dirt hit the fan blades – the referees had adjudged that this gesture contravened the IAAF advertising ruling and three of his runners were disqualified. He promptly appealed the ruling which was upheld by the jury so his quick bit of ambush marketing had just cost his athletes a collective R 95,000. Zimbabwean women winner Sharon Tavengwa was a last minute entrant after waiting days for a connecting flight from her Kenyan training base to Harare. She then had to travel by road to Johannesburg arriving late in the day from the two day epic. She finished in a fair time of 2:47:13 considering the tough nature of the course. She was followed by fellow country women, Samukeliso Moyo (2:50:30) and the first local girl Catherine Skosana who stopped the clocks on 2:56:59. With the London marathon next month, Hendrik Ramaala used the 10 kilometre as a tough test and achieved 29:51. The women’s 10km race also went South to Lesotho when Mamarolla Tjoka (35:20).
BAOJI (CHN, Mar 19-21): Chinese walking championships as tilastopaja reports did not brought any super fast times. 21 years old unheralded Li Lei was the star as he won both senior races in personal bests – 20 km (1:21:29) and 50 km (3:54:26). At shorter distance second Wang Zhiping (1:21:42) and third olympian Zhao Chengliang (1:21:54). World Cup participant Xing Shucai went as only other one sub 4 hours in the longer event with 3:57:28. Asian Games 2006 bronze medalist He Dan won the women´s 20 km in 1:32:09 beating Song Xiaoling (1:32:43) and Yang Yawei (1:32:45). But faster was junior winner and Beijing participant (unfortunately disqualified) Yang Mingxia in 1:31:40. In junior men 10 km and 30 km a double winner was Geng Lingfu in 42:07 and 2:12:14. More impressive the World Junior and World Cup silver winner Cheng Ding who won the U18 category in 40:56.
MONTE CARLO (MON, Mar 22): Kenyan Ben Kimwole improved to 2:11:01 to win the Monaco Marathon. Second his team-mate Jackson Rono (2:17:50) ahead of Russian Andrey Bryzgalov (2:18:04). Ethiopian Belaynesh Bekele was the best woman in 2:48:49.
NYERI (KEN, Mar 21): Big names dominated the second and the final day of the New KCC/Athletics Kenya track and field weekend meeting staged at Nyeri’s Ruring’u Stadium on Saturday. Kenyan media are informing. Asbel Kiprop’s appearance in the 800 metres final caught everyone’s attention and for sure he met the fans’ expectations by winning the race in one 1:47.0. Samuel Ndungu won the 10 000 m in 28:51.2. Joyce Wanjiku, of Kenya Police won the 5000 m in 16:07.3. Michael Kimtai of Prison won the steeple (8:55.9).
SAO PAULO (BRA, Mar 21): Bruno de Barros improved at Ibirapuera Park to solid 10.16 (+1.8) in 100 m heat and later won the 200 m in 20.93 (-0.3). He did not run the shorter final which was won by Jose Carlos Moreira in 10.25. Jesse De Lima cleared 220 in High Jump and Eliane Martins leaped to 650 in Long Jump.
MAR DEL PLATA (ARG, Mar 21-22): South American record holder Jennifer Dahlgren tossed the hammer to 69.20 during first of the series of South American GP meetings in Argentina. Brazilian Elisangela Adriano got good 58.25 in discus. Argentinian sprinter Mariano Jimenez improved to 20.87 (-1.1) at 200 m.
CAIRO (EGY, Mar 20): Mohsen Anani got 75.97 in hammer and Rana Taha Ibrahim (16 years) new African junior and youth girls record with 61.01 m. Tilastopaja informs.
VENLO (NED, Mar 22): Stephen Chelimo won the third Venloop Half-marathon in good 1:01:32 ahead of other Kenyan Boniface Biwott (1:02:31) and Morrocan Jamal Baligha who also clocked 1:02:31. Best European home runner Hugo Van den Broek as fifth (1:04:03). Magdaline Mukunzi of Kenya was the best woman in 1:10:34 ahead of German Susanne Hahn (1:11:46).
WIEN (AUT, Mar 22): Home wins at Half-marathon here with Martin Steinbauer (1:04:52) and Eva Maria Gradwohl (1:15:12).
KERZERS (SUI, Mar 21): Kenyan David Langat won here the 31st “Kerzerslauf†at 15 km with 44:32.1. His team-mate Hosea Tuei was second (45:42.2). Best European Christian Belz of Switzerland seventh (47:07.7). But in the women category a Swiss win was celebrated by Sabine Fischer (51:27.3) beating Kenyan Gladys Otero (51.52.8).
US WEEKEND
LOS ANGELES: Leading collegiate times in the 4 x 100 relays highlighted a solid showing by Texas A&M during the Trojan Invitational hosted by USC at Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field on Saturday. The women‚s foursome of Elizabeth Adeoti, Porscha Lucas, Allison George and Gabby Mayo blistered a winning mark of 43.67 seconds. An equally impressive winning time of 39.32 seconds followed for the Aggie men as the foursome of Tran Howell, Gerald Phiri, Chris Dykes and Justin Oliver combined for a victory. Jeshua Anderson achieved solid 49.52 at 400 m Hurdles.
TEMPE: Great discus improvement for Rashaud Scott to meet record 64.86 at Castillo Invitational. Jose Acevedo sprinted to 20.80 (0.0) at 200 m and Serbian Milan Jotanovic achieved 19.97 in Shot Put.
LAFAYETTE: Jamaican 400 m Hurdler Isa Phillips clocked here 21.07 (+1.8) and 46.71 wins beating 100 m Olympic medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad who got 21.14.
TUCSON: Fast 100 m 10.12 by Marcus Brunson at Willie Williams Classic.
ORLANDO: Jamaican Lacena Golding clocked here 13.10 (+0.6) at 100 m Hurdles.
ATHENS: Slovak hammer record holder Martina Hrasnova registered 68.93 at Georgia Relays.
IRVINE: Joel Stallworth achieved 46.33 at 400 m here with Jamaican 400 m hurdles junior record holder Josef Robertson improving to 46.83 as second.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck.
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