Alan Webb, 2009 USA Outdoor, photo by PhotoRun.net.

Track & Field News editor Garry Hill notes that he would prefer a world championships every year, giving his favorite sport ten days each year to nominate the best in athletics! E. Garry Hill makes some sense with this one! What do you think (send us your opinion to runblogrun@gmail.com.) And also remember to subscribe to Track & Field News, the bible of our sport (www.trackandfieldnews.com).

Congrats to Alan Webb who set a course record at the Applied Technology Silicon Valley in 13:34, with Galen Rupp in 13:39, and Scott Bauhs in 13:47! Also, congratulations to CTRN contributor Mark Winitz who put together an amazing field in both the men and women’s 5k
in San Jose, CA yesterday.

Alan Webb is now being coached by Alberto Salazar, and training with Galen Rupp. Webb, the current record holder in the high school mile and the American record holder in the mile as well, is on the comeback trail. We wish him much luck. A great interview, and a favorite of many in the sport, Alan is running well once again, under Salazar’s watchful eye.

The Asian Games are down to one more day of track & field. Some strong performances. Biggest revelation: India will be a track and field super power in the not too distant future! Some stunning performances from the Indian women’s team!

EXCELLENT
MEN´S 10 000 M
IN CHINA

GUANGZHOU (CHN, Nov 26): Last full day of
athletics (on Saturday both marathons remain) registered at Asian Games five
Games records. Sensational the 10
000 m race where Bilisuma Shume (Ethiopian origin)
improved dramatically from 28:45 level to 27:32.72 win and event best for
Bahrain. World medalist James Kwalia of Qatar made for pace (13:46 5km, ended
7th), his team mate Essa Ismail pushed from 7-9 km and got silver in
27:33.09. Third title defender and 5k winner Hassan Mahboob of Bahrain
(27:40.07). Also women 5000 m
brought gold for Bahrain
when 1500 medalist Mimi Belete won in 15:15.59, her personal best. Silver and
Indian record for 10k winner Preja Sreedharan (15:15.89) and bronze for Kavita Raut
also of India
(15:16.54). Japanese Kayoko Fukushi paced through the race and ended fifth
(15:25.08). Chinese sprinters won the 4×100 m in national and games record
38.78 ahead of Chinese Taipei 39.05 (also NR), Thailand 39.09 and India 39.10.
But in the women short relay Thailand
prevailed for first time since 1978
in 44.09. China
second 44.22 ahead of Japan
44.41 and Vietnam
with national record 44.77. In 4×400 m relays both winning teams scored triple
titles in a row. Men of Saudi Arabia
in national mark 3:02.30 beating Japan
3:02.43 and China
3:03.66 (national record). Women of India
in Games record 3:29.02 beating Kazakhstan
3:30.03 and China
3:30.89. In four technical events Japan´s World bronze medalist Yukifumi
Murakami improved his javelin best from Berlin
qualification by 5 cm
to 83.15 win in second attempt. Second Korean Park Jae-Myong (79.92) and bronze
for Rinat Tarzumanov of Uzbekistan
(79.65). Li Yanxi defended his title from Doha 2006 in triple jump for China with
16.94 (+1.2). In close contest silver for Yevgeniy Ektov of Kazakhstan
(16.86, +1.2), bronze for Cao
Shuo (16.84, +0.9) and without medal remains Indian record
holder Renjith Maheswary (16.76, +0.8). Uzbekistan celebrated first women
high jump gold since 1994. Svetlana Radzivil cleared 195 cm for gold, new event
best. Second Nadezda Dusanova also from Uzbekistan 193. Bronze for Anna
Ustinova of Kazakhstan
(190) on count-back over home Zheng Xingjuan (190). Saudi Arabian Sultan
Al-Hebshi defended his shot put title with another Games record 20.57. Silver
for home Zhang Jun (19.59) and bronze for pre-Games list leader Chang Ming
Huang of Chinese Taipei (19.48).

HILL
SPEAKS FOR WORLDS EVERY YEAR

MOUNTAIN VIEW (USA):
World Championships every year. That is the way for future by Garry Hill, the
editor of Track and Field News in his latest editorial. “The Diamond League has
been a promising creation, and lots of regional pride was certainly felt by
those who enjoyed the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, but I’m
sorry, that’s just not the same. I want 10-odd days every year in which there
are long sessions devoted to nothing but crowning the best athlete on the
planet in each of the 40-plus disciplines. After Daegu ’11, London
’12 & Moscow
’13, that’s what I want to see come 2014, not a year where the sport suddenly
takes its foot off the accelerator,” writes Hill.

CHARLEMONT
HIGH AFTER ASAFA

KINGSTON (JAM): Asafa Powell staged the first
award function for his recently founded ‘Asafa Powell Foundation’. Powell was
present at the ceremony in the Courtleigh Hotel to give cash awards and sports
gear to a number of high school athletes who excelled in competition this year
at the Gibson Relays and Boys and Girls Champs report trackalerts.com. The
biggest single beneficiary of the foundation, which gives out cash awards, was
St Jago High’s 14-year-old Kevaughn Rattray, who broke the Boys Class Three
100m record at the Boys and Girls Championships. He received $30,000. Writes Jamaica
Observer. Powell’s alma mater, Charlemont High, is suppose to change its name.
It should be Asafa
Powell High
School.

PYREK
IS GREAT DANCER

WARSZAWA (POL): Pole vault
world medalist Monika Pyrek is very succesfull in Poland´s version of Star
Dance competition. On Sunday she will participate in the finals of the contest
in the country. In case of win she would be first sportswoman to do so. In the
finals Pyrek will perform Cha-Cha and Tango. Her partner will be either Robert
Rowinski (recently became ill) or Krzysztof Hulboj. Pyrek who has 482 cm best did not compete
because of injuries this year either in Doha nor
in Barcelona.

OTHER NEWS

BARCELONA
(ESP): The European Athletics CEO Conference begins Saturday in Barcelona, Spain,
with the theme of the weekend “Orchestrating Success: Strategy and Leadership
in Athletics Organisations.” Stuart West of the Loughborough
University Business
School in England will make the first
presentation to European Athletics Member Federation presidents and general
secretaries with a talk on building strategy for success. John Antonakis of the
University of Lausanne
in Switzerland will discuss
success through high-impact leadership on Saturday afternoon followed by a
workshop on developing personal leadership, with groups led by Antonakis and
Jean-Philippe Bonardi of the University
of Lausanne. Jari Töykkä,
the head of marketing and promotions for the 2012 European Athletics
Championships in Helsinki,
will brief the delegates on the progress of the flagship European Athletics
event. Informs European Athletics.

PARIS (FRA): French hurdler
Fadil Bellaabous is still unsure about his participation at the 2011 European
indoor championships in Paris.
The 400m hurdler, who set a personal best of 49.13 this year, underwent surgery
after the European championships in Barcelona
in which he had finished a disappointing 8th in the final. Bellaabous
considered running the 800m at the European indoor championships but has not
yet been able to return to training after his surgery he confirmed in an
interview for athle.com.

FRANKFURT
(GER): All doping samples taken during the Frankfurt Marathon on October 31st
have returned negative announced the IAAF and the organization. The Frankfurt marathon hasn’t had a doping case since its
start in 1981 confirmed organizer Jo Schindler.

LONDON (GBR): Heptathlon world and European
champion Jessica Ennis is considering doubling up in the heptathlon and
4x100metres relay at the London Olympics, but only if the extra relay training
sessions do not interfere with her main gold medal campaign. Writes The Telegraph.
The double with 100 m
hurdles is no longer likely because of time-table issues.

LONDON
(RUS): Multiple pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva will support Russia’s 2018
Football World Cup. She should be part of the delegation which will present its
bid on December 2. England,
who are also seeking to host their first World Cup since 1966, also have an
athletics influence in the shape of two-time former Olympic 1500m champion and
skilled politician IAAF Vice-President Seb Coe, who is a board member for the
bid. Adding to the athletics theme the 2000 Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman
will also be championing the cause of her native Australia to host the 2022
tournament. Confirms Spikes.

WASHINGTON
(USA):
Nigerian media are informing that Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) signed
a sponsorship deal with sports wear manufacturing giant Nike. The deal, which
will see the firm kitting Nigeria,
and also offering lavish bonus for Nigerian athletes that excel in
international events, was signed on behalf of the AFN by its President, Chief
Solomon Ogba.

LONDON
(GBR): Britain’s Minister
for Sport and Olympics Hugh Robertson has looked to cool the escalating row
between himself and Sergey Bubka by claiming the Ukrainian’s recent comments
regarding London’s
athletics legacy are perfectly acceptable. Informs insidethegames.

CLAREMONT
(USA):
Olympic decathlon winner Bryan Clay ran the Claremont Turkey Trot. As he said
on his twitter, he was running with his wife. “Great way to start the day,” the
twitter message says.

PREVIEWS

FIRENZE
(ITA): More than 10 000 runners from 57 countries will compete at 27th Firenze
Marathon seeing historical places like the statue of Dante Alighieri through
viale Michelangelo etc. Kenyany Ben Kipruto (2:09:42) with Kenei Kiprotich
(2:07:42) and Ethiopian Teshome Gelana (2:07:37 this year winning in Houston) are the top
favorites. The course record 2:08:40 of James Kutto in 2006 will be under
threat. The same for women´s fastest time 2:28:15 of Slovenian Helena Javornik
back in 2002. Here Rome marathon winner
Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia
(2:25:38), Hungarian Aniko Kalovics (2:26:44), Russian Alena Samokhvalova
(2:28:47) and 6th from World Half Marathon Championships in China Meseret
Mengistu of Ethiopia
to be considered. Among the participats the mayor of the city Matteo Renzi and
former Formula 1 pilot Alex Zanardi who is competing with hand-bike.

LLODIO (ESP): World CC silver
medalist Teklemariam Medhin of Eritrea
is the top name of Sunday´s 27th Cross Internacional de Llodio (EA CC Permit).
At 9.7 km
against him his team-mates Samuel Tsegay and Kidane Tadese with Kenyan Josephat
Kiprono Menjo. Women top name at 7.6
km is home Rosa Morato who won silver medal at last
European CC event a year ago. Against her Italian Elena Romagnolo, Analia Rosa
of Portugal, Lebogang
Phalula of South Africa.

LEFFRINCKOUCKE (FRA): The Cross
de l´Acier (EA CC Permit) will have even more stronger international
participation headed by world champion Joseph Ebuya and title defender
Ethiopian and Diamond League winner Imane Merga at 9.9 km.Merga is known person
here, he goes for fourth win in a row. French runners will be represented by
Abdellatif Meftah, El-Hassan Lahssini, Badre-Dine Zioini, Loïc Letellier,
Morhad Amdouni and James Theuri. In the women 6.5 km race Kenyan world
champion Linet Masai and other two medalists from Ethiopia Meselech Melkamu and
Wude Ayalew will run. Also Margaret Muriuki with Ejegayehu Dibaba should be
counted. French participation is headed by Fatiha Klilech-Fauvel, Laurane
Picoche, Carine Pasquier and Samira Mezeghrane. Other race of the Suinday in France, the Sud
Ouest CC in Gujan Mestras will have many of top home runners competing. Driss
El Himer, Yohan Kowal and Denis Maynaud among men and on the women side Sophie
Duarte with Kenyan Martha Komu.

TILBURG
(NED): A big field of Dutch and Belgian elite runners prepare for this
weekend’s edition of the International loket.nl Warandeloop in Tilburg (EA Cross Country Permit). A large
number of races will be run on November 27th, while the elite races are held on
November 28th. Favorites for the 10K Crossgala are Atelaw Bekele from Belgium, Mustafa Mohamed from Sweden and from
The Netherlands Michiel Butter and Gert-Jan Wassink. In the women’s 8100m
Crossgala Adrienne Herzog is ready to show her great form. Also in the race are
Belgian trio Almensch Belete, Veerle De Jaeghere en Xenia Luxem as well as
Danish Maria Sig Moller. The U23 10K has an exciting Belgian-Dutch duel with
Belgian Jeroen D’Hoedt en Dutch Abdi Nageeye. The race will be used also as
European Trials for German runners. Over 70 German athletes will travel to Tilburg to defend their
qualification with Verena Dreier and Melanie Schulz leading the women’s field
and Steffen Uliczka and Christoph Lohse the men’s team.

BUDAPEST (HUN): Already on Saturday in
Nepliget Park Hungarian CC Championships will be staged along with EA Permit
races. Women at 6 km
and men at 9 km.

CONDINO (ITA): The 34th edition
of the Cross Valle del Chiese will be for the Italian athletes the last cross
country race to qualify for the European Cross Country Championships in
Albufeira. Favorites to make the men’s team are Gabriele De Nard, Bernard
Dematteis, Stefano La Rosa
and Yuri Floriani. On the women’s team Valentina Belotti, Valentina Costanza
and Emma Quaglia will fight for their spot. The junior race will be highlighted
by Federica Bevilacqua, who just one week ago managed the win at the IAAF Cross
Country permit in Soria.

LIVERPOOL
(GBR): Stephanie Twell a three-time former junior gold medallist wishes to be
considered for the Aviva Great Britain side for next month’s European Cross
Country Championships – but will miss the trial race on Saturday. Twell along
with Freya Murray the in-form Scot who is injured will be absentee at the
McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge incorporating the European Cross Country
Trials at Sefton Park,
Liverpool. The Commonwealth Games bronze
medallist is focusing on her training but wishes to be considered for the
Championships in Albufeira, Portugal on December 12, although Murray, has already ruled
herself out. Writes David Martin. The first major head-to-head of the domestic
cross country season will see Hayley Yelling-Higham defending her title with
her sister-in-law Liz Yelling also in the field. European Championships track
finalists Hatti Dean and Lisa Dobriskey are also expected to start at the
Merseyside venue. The senior men’s race is potentially wide open as Ryan McLeod
and John Beattie both coached by John Nuttall, return from a Kenyan training
camp to face Scott Overall the winner of last weekend’s Corta Mato Cidade De
Amora Cross International in Portugal.

RESULTS

MANCHESTER
(USA, Nov 25): Both Sally
Kipyego of Kenya (24:07) and
Mourad Marofit of Morocco
(21:38) overwhelmed their rivals, winning their respective divisions of the
Manchester Road Race. It was the 74th edition of America’s most venerable
Thanksgiving Day road race, run over a hilly 4.784 mile course on a
seasonally cold and cloudy day. Second place in women category for Delilah
DiCrescenzo, the American steeplechaser who lives in New York City (24:49). Miler Amy Mortimer
finished three seconds behind DiCrescenzo and proclaimed after the race that
she was now a 5000 m
runner. Informs RRW.

SAN JOSE
(USA, Nov 25): US mile record-holder Alan Webb set a new mark
during a 5 km
race in downtown San Jose
with 13:36. At Silicon Valley Turkey Trot second Galen Rupp achieved 13:39.
Third Scott Bauhs got 13:47.

SAD NEWS

DURHAM
(USA): Bob Wheeler, a member
of the Duke Sports Hall of Fame who participated in the 1972 Olympic Games,
passed away late last week in Mountain
View, Calif. He was
58. Informs Duke website. Inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1989,
Wheeler also was a member of the U.S.
Olympic team, competing in the 1500
m at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.