by Larry Eder
Start of the Venice Marathon, October 25, 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.
A busy weekend on the roads! Continued fast times in Germany, making it the nation where the fastest marathons in the world have been run for men!
MARATHONS (fastest Kirwa in Frankfurt 2:06:14 and Cheptanui in Ljubljana 2:25:24)
FRANKFURT (GER, Oct 25): Gilbert Kirwa of Kenya broke both the defending champion and the course record to win the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon in 2:06:14, a time that puts him in the top 20 all-time at the distance. It also netts him 95,000 euros in prize and bonuses. Writes Pat Butcher. Kirwa, 23, was running only his second marathon, having won his first in Vienna six months ago, in 2:08:21. Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot was clocking 2:06:23 for second, still 58sec better than his course record of 2008. “When he went away, I thought he would win,†said Kirwa of Cheruiyot immediately after the finish. “But when I started to catch him, I thought I could win. I had a little problem with stiffness in my back, but it’s OK. Two marathons, two victories, I’m very happyâ€. Cheruiyot blamed an ongoing hamstring problem, for causing him to slow down, and let Kirwa take the advantage. He said, “It’s the same problem I had in Boston,†where he finished fifth in April. Although he was on paper the fastest man in the field, with his 2.06.50 from ten years ago, William Kiplagat, 37, claimed beforehand that he is more of coach nowadays, principally to Cheruiyot. Yet he showed many of his young compatriots how to do it, by finishing third, in 2:07:05, also inside the previous record. Also under 2:09 was fourth Elias Kemboi (2:08:15 PB) and best Ethiopian Alemayehu Tafere as fifth another life-time best 2:08:46. Best European Austrian Gunther Weidlinger as 10th in 2:10:47 broke the 23 year old national record of Gerhard Hartmann by one minute and 52 seconds (2:12:22 in 1986). Agnes Kiprop of Kenya won the women’s race in 2:26:57, ahead of her colleague, Hellen Kimutai, 2:27:50, with Karolina Jarzynska of Poland third, in 2:29:10 (PB) and Ethiopian Roma winner Firehiwot Dado (2:29:20). Lithuanian olympian Rasa Drazdauskaite improevd as fifth to 2:30:29. Ken Nakamura points out, that Kirwa´s time is 9th fastest ever recorded in Germany and the top ten average of Frankfurt is bettered to 2:07:40 and tying Boston.
NAIROBI (KEN, Oct 25): Kenyans Moses Kigen and Irene Jerotich, who also triumphed here in 2006, won 7th Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon in new course records. Kigen who initially planned to run in Frankfurt clocked 2:10:12 and will get 20 000 USD first place prize and 3333 USD for new course record. Fourth from world junior steeple 2004 in Grosseto Nathan Naibei debuted as second with 2:11:16. For the best runners excellent times taking the altitude into account. Third Peter Kiplagat achieved 2:11:32. Jerotich improved the event best to 2:28:57 also a career improvement for her. Alice Chelagat finished second in 2:30:38, she was the winner of the inaugural women‘s race in 2003. The former World Junior 5000 m bronze medallist (2000) Sharon Jemutai took third place in 2:33:53. In the half-marathon races, Ernest Kipkurgut (1:01:54) forced former World Cross junior bronze medallist Barnabas Kosgei (1:02:12) to be runner-up with Geoffrey Ngugi (1:02:18) coming third in the men‘s race. Magdaline Chemjor, the winner of 2003 Berlin Half Marathon won the women‘s 21km race in 1:12:18.
VENICE (ITA, Oct 25): As expected Kenyan winner appeared at 24th Venice Marathon. John Komen registered ninth Kenyan male win here with new course record 2:08:13. His team mates followed on the podium. Paul Samoei improved to 2:10:09 and experienced Benson Cherono as third clocked 2:10:19. Best European Ukrainian Oleksandr Kuzin as fourth achieved solid 2:10:54. Pre-race favorite Joseph Lomala of Kenya finished fifth (2:11:44). Multiple second placer here Anne Kosgei finally got her win and improved her life-time best to 2:27:46 what is the second best mark here after Lenah Cheruiyot course record 2:27:02 from 2007. 22-years old Ethiopian Jelile Korene achieved in her debut 2:28:41 as second, third was best European Russian Alena Samokhalova (a 31 10k track runner) who bettered her PB to 2:28:47. She was followed by another excellent Ethiopian debutante Harun Makda in 2:29:56. Then again two very solid Europeans. Ana Dias of Portugal 2:30:12 and 29-years old Russian Yelena Sokolova with PB 2:31:54.
LJUBLJANA (SLO, Oct 25): New course records at 14th Ljubljana Marathon, in both cases also the fastest ever recorded times in Slovenia. Kosice course record holder William Biama of Kenya won here with 2:10:12 ahead of Moldavian Iaroslav Mushinschi who improved the national record to 2:10:15. It is also fourth best European time of the year 2009. Third William Kipchumba achieved 2:10:52 ahead of Sammy Chumba with the same time. But even higher quality was the female winner Caroline Cheptanui who in her fifth marathon improved dramatically from 2:32:52 to 2:25:24. It is also 13th best perfomer in the world this year. Ukrainian Tetyana Filonyuk who is Rome second placer this spring also clocked life-time best 2:26:55 as second. Ethiopian Selomie Getnet achieved 2:31:15 PB as third. National titles went for 12th Roman Kejzar (2:19:24) and 11th Daneja Grandovec (2:52:14).
CASABLANCA (MAR, Oct 25): Kenyan Hillary Kipchumba won the second Casablanca Marathon and clocked in hot weather new personal best 2:12:37. Kenyan Sammy Rotich was second (2:13:36) ahead of another Kenyan Amos Tirop (2:13:57). Ethiopian Amane Chewo clocked 2:34:32 to win the women category. Also other podium places for Ethiopia. Yeshi Esayais (2:36:09) and Tigist Abdi (2:39:38). Fifth Austrian Eva Maria Gradwohl, Austrian sources are informing about 2:40:21, the event website says 2:42:22.
LAUSANNE (SUI, Oct 25): Az 17th Lausanne Marathon wins for Ethiopian Weyessa Urgessa in 2:21:00 and Poland´s Joanna Chmiel-Gront in 2:54:59.
BILBAO (ESP, Oct 24): Kenyan Thomson Cherogony won the 2nd Bilbao Night Marathon (start at 8.15 pm) in rain with 2:14:10. 40 000 spectators saw second Jonathan Kipkosgei (2:16:47) and third local star “Chema†Martinez clocking 2:17:17. In total 1600 runners participated.
OTHER RACES
PORTSMOUTH (GBR, Oct 25): British runner Mo Farah made a spectacular recovery to score a thrilling victory at the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth, writes David Martin. Farah in the best ever finish to the 10 miles race recovered to win ahead of Stephen Mokoka (South Africa, 46:26) by a second in a time of 46:25 with Luke Kibet the 2007 world marathon champion third in 47:16. Farah now the UK‘s third fastest performer, insisted: „The crowd made a big difference for me, they kept cheering my name – it‘s a nice feeling particularly in those last two miles.“ Ines Monteiro took a leaf out of the book of fellow Portugese Jessica Augusto‘s winner of last month‘s Bupa Great North Run when spreadeagling the field to win the women‘s event. The European Cross Country bronze medallist who trains with Augusto hit the front immediately and by two miles was 20 yards ahead of her much more fancied rivals including two-time world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba. Monteiro‘s decision to run solo from the start despite the windy conditions paid dividends as she drew further and durther clear of a star studded field to post a national best mark of 52:32. Her confidence and determination eventually saw finish 1:26 ahead of fellow countrywoman Ana Dulce Felix with Australian Benita Willis the 2004 winner, third in 54:41. Ndereba was fifth in 55:28.
MARSEILLE (FRA, Oct 25): Rwandan record holder Dieudonné Disi confirmed his excellent shape when winning the 31st edition of road classic Marseille-Cassis in last 200 metres in 1:00:21. Second Tanzanian Samwel Shauri got 1:00:26 and third Ugandan Martin Toroitich 1:01:06. Best European home Driss El-Himer achieved 1:01:44 as fifth. Ethiopian Meseret Mengistu was the best woman after last weekend win in Reims with 1:10:35 beating Kenyans Helah Kiprop (1:11:01) and Emily Rotich (1:14:27). Best French Delphine Ader was fifth (1:20:35).
HERVE (BEL, Oct 25): National Half Marathon Champions in Belgium were crowned Guy Fays (1:11:20) and Ann Parmentier (1:22:47).
GENT (BEL, Oct 25): With relays started this season´s Lotto CrossCup series in Belgium. In women race Vilvoorde AC with Almenesch Belete won over Daring Leuven and KAA Gent. In men´s race winning Olympic Essenbeek Halle used the service of Pieter Desmet to win with Daring Leuven second and Vilvoorde AC third.
SOFIA (BUL, Oct 25): 27th Sofia Marathon was staged at 25.3 km and the winners were Khristo Stoyanov (1:26:10) and Milka Mikhaylova (1:39:22).
AREZZO (ITA, Oct 25): Half-Marathon winners here from Ethiopia. Seboka Tola won the men race in 1:03:31 with one second over Kenyan Abraham Talam. Female winner Abebech Afewok achieved 1:11:49.
GRODNO (BLR, Oct 24): Belarus runners competed for the national CC titles and European Championships in Dublin selection. Olga Kravtsova won the women 6 km in 20:59 over Irina Podobed (21:04) and Gulnara Vygovskaya (21:11). Igor Teteryukov was the best in men´s 8 km (25:00) over Stepan Rogovtsev (25:05).
ELCHE (ESP, Oct 24): Esteso brothers (Juan and Pedro) finished together the road mile in Elche. Disqualified Worlds finalist (and winner on the track) Natalia Rodriguez of Spain was the best female runner.
BERLIN (GER, Oct 24): WMM winner Irina Mikitenko of Germany won the Berlin leg of Nike+ Human Race clocking 34:56 at 10 km. Kenyan Nicholas Koech was the best man (28:42). In Italian races called also Run 4 Food Ottavio Andriani achieved 31:48 in Rome and Daniele Meucci 31:55 in Padova. Women winners were Bruna Genovese in Padova (36:42) and Rosaria Console in Rome (35:28). In different cities all over the world one million runners participated.
CHENNAI (IND, Oct 24): Former basketball player Om Prakash Singh improved to excellent 20.02 shot put at the National Inter-State Senior Championships. He is now third best ever in India in this event.
CHINESE NATIONAL GAMES
JINAN (CHN, Oct 24-25): Former world champion Liu Xiang won his third National Games gold at 110 m hurdles with 13.34 (-0.9, after 13.75 in heats). Berlin finalist Ji Wei was second (13.42) and Osaka finalist Shi Dongpeng third (13.63). Also third win at this event in a row for Decathlon record holder Qi Haifeng who scored 7941 points. Solid life-time best for 200 m winner Li Mingxuan in 20.79 (-1.4) with third Huang Xiang clocking new Chinese U17 record 20.99. Other wins for Meng Yan at 400 m hurdles (50.04) and Li Shaojie in discus (60.39, fourth gold in a row at the Games). In women events surprise 3 cm improvement for World junior 2006 medalist Zheng Xing-Juan who cleared 195 cm to win the high jump. As usual excellent walk depth, winning Berlin bronze medalist Liu Hong got 1:28:11. World juniors 2008 bronze medalist Li Yanfei improved to 1:28:57 as second and third Bao Yanmin clocked 1:29:17. Fourth with sub 1:30 Wang Shanshan got 1:29:54. Surprise defeat of triple jump record holder and Berlin finalist Xie Limei (14.08, +1.2) to Chen Yufei who improved to 14.11 (-0.2). Another even Asian record holder who failed was pole vaulter Gao Shuying (only 6th with 415) as the gold went to Wu Sha (440). Huang Xiaoxiao achieved her second gold after flat 400 m also at the hurdles (55.49) and Chen Jue won the 200 m in 23.45 (-0.6) PB. Results from Tilastopaja.
OTHER NEWS
MIAMI (USA): Second fastest 100 m sprinter and 2007 World Champion Tyson Gay successfully completed surgery on his injured groin, his manager, Mark Wetmore revealed on Saturday.
He underwent a minor surgery on both sides of his groin in Philadelphia on Friday. He was saying this after his last race in Daegu that he is planning a surgery. “The doctor (William Meyers) was really, really happy with the surgery and Tyson should start walking today,†Wetmore was saying to Reuters. Wetmore said negotiations for Gay‘s participation in the new Diamond League circuit next year were continuing. Both Gay and Bolt are likely to run a mixture of 100 and 200 metres on the world circuit. „The idea is to have both run seven (Diamond League) meets, possibly even eight with a couple of a match-ups between the two throughout the year,“ Wetmore said. „And to put those match-ups on the calendar early. „The plan is to have that done by the IAAF Gala (on November 22 in Monaco),“ said Wetmore, who is also the organiser for the Diamond League‘s New York meeting. Writes Reuters.
KAZAN (RUS): At Russian Sports Industry Forum the main speech was made by Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev. Russian president said in his opening speech that he expects this event to be held annualy and helping the sport as a global player. Russian vice-prime minister Aleksandr Zhukov said that more than 3500 persons are taking part in the forum. Also speaking was IAAF President Lamine Diack who thanked President Medvedev for his support for the sports.
OVIEDO (ESP): Pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva was awarded the annual Prince of Asturia award. It is also called the Nobel Prize of Sports. She was named the number one from strong group of candidates including Hale Gebrselassie, Roger Federer, basketball-player Pau Gazol or FC Barcelona football club. The award is given since 1981 and among the winners are such track greats like Carl Lewis, Hicham El Guerrouj, Sergey Bubka or Javier Sotomayor.
JOHANNESBURG (RSA): Insidethegames.com writes, that IAAF President Lamine Diack must apologise to world 800 metres champion Caster Semenya before the South African Government will open talks, a senior official warned. Butana Komphela, the South African Sports and Recreation Portfolio Committee chairman, claimed Diack would have to say sorry „to Caster Semenya, her family and the people of South Africa“ before any discussions on the issue could take place. Nick Davies, a spokesman for the IAAF, said that it was important consensus to be reached over the results of the sex tests conducted on Semenya, which have been analysed by eight medical experts – four from inside the IAAF Medical Commission and four from outside. Caster Semenya‘s gender is being questioned because her critics are jealous that she broke a South African junior record held by Zola Budd a leading member of Athletics South Africa (ASA) has claimed. Dr Simon Dlamini, the chairman of the ASA finance committee, made the allegation after Harold Adams, South Africa‘s team doctor, claimed that Leonard Chuene had deliberately politicised the row over the world 800 metres champion and tried to sow seeds of confusion to deflect any of the blame away from him. A leaked confidential report from Adams claims that Chuene, the President of ASA, consulted top-level politicians before deciding, against Adams‘s advice, to let Semenya run in the World Championship in Berlin in August even though he knew already there were doubts over her gender.
SYDNEY (AUS): Australian top athletes are considering switching the events. 100 m hurdles olympic medalist Sally McLellan said she wants to try heptathlon next year. It should happen at April National Championships. 400 m hurdles world champion Jana Rawlinson claimed that she could give up athletics after the London 2012 Olympics and try to qualify in the triathlon for Rio 2016.
BARCELONA (ESP): The football stars of FC Barcelona supported the European Athletics Championships Barcelona 2010 after a training session taking pictures with Barni, the event’s mascot, today. Some of the team’s best players, Messi, Xavi and Puyol as well as head coach Pep Guardiola and the club’s director of public relations Manel Estiarte, now also join Barni’s photo album next to an uncountable number of famous, national and international, stars.
NEW YORK (USA): New York City Marathon background news from Race Results Weekly. Stuart Weiss has joined the ING New York City Marathon as the event‘s new medical director, replacing Louis Maharam, who resigned late last month.This year‘s race will have over 40,000 runners on the starting line, the largest-ever marathon in history. While there are other marathons with over 40,000 entrants, only about 75% of them actually get to the race and thus cannot be counted as having participated. The largest-ever marathon in history was the 2007 ING New York City Marathon with 39,265 starters and 38,607 finishers.
CORRECTION
JINAN (CHN): The result of young Lu Monjia in the women long jump (674) is third ever best in the U17 category. And the best by Heike Daute is 691 and not 702 which was wind-aided.
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