Haile Gebrselassie has become the first African to sign with the world’s most distributed scotch, Johnnie Walker. Mr. G, the world record holder in the marathon, can now place a small glass (we have not heard if he prefers it on the rocks, or with water) of his favorite scotch on the press table at upcoming events. Is running becoming like golf?

Haile Gebrselassie at real, Berlin, 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.

LEBID
WINS AGAIN

BRUSSELS
(BEL, Dec 19): Fresh nine-time European CC Champion Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine
won the 18th Brussels Iris Lotto CrossCup (IAAF Permit) in snow with 31:27 at 10.5 km. In Laken Park
second Kenyan Isaiah Koech (31:28) ahead of Paul Meli (31:29). Next best
European was home runner Jeroen DÂ´Hoedt as 7th (32:19). Italian Andrea Lalli
was only 13th (32:52). Kenyan Caroline Chepkwony won the womenÂ´s 6 km in 20:35. Here second
IrelandÂ´s Fionnualla Britton (20:37) ahead of Kenyan Prisca Jepleting (20:45).
Fresh European Champion Jessica Augusto was 6th (20:57). Belgian Abdi Nageye
won the short course (3 km) in 9:08.

SAILER
THIRD

BADEN-BADEN
(GER): 100 m
European Champion Verena Sailer was voted third best Sports Woman of the Year
in Germany.
She was beaten only by Maria Reisch of alpine skiing and biathlete Magdalena
Neuner.

HAILE
IS WALKING

ADDIS ABABA (ETH): Running star Haile
Gebreselassie signed a USD 100,000 advertisement agreement with the Johnnie
Walker, the most widely distributed brand of Scotch whiskey, becoming the first
African to advertise the product. Ethiopian media are informing.

RESULTS

TAIPEI
(TPE, Dec 19): Ethiopia’s
Yeshi Esayias Tesemma successfully defended her title in the Taipei women’s marathon in 2:30:37 in an
event which drew more than 100 000 runners, organisers said. Second Yeshimebet
Tadesse Bifa (2:31:09) and third Kenyan Winfridah Nyansikera (2:32:37). Yusuf
Songoka from Kenya
won the menÂ´s race in 2:14:14. Second and third Ethiopians Gebreslassie Tsegay
Reda (2:14:20) and Samuel Woldeamanuel Gebremichael (2:14:23).

RYAZAN (RUS, Dec 18): Mikhail Tsvetkov
cleared here indoors 225 in
high jump.

MOSCOW (RUS, Dec 19): During second day of
students indoor competitions the reigning world junior champion Aleksey Fedorov
leaped to 16.30 in
triple jump.

MAYENNE (FRA, Dec 19): World
junior champion from Moncton Pascal Martinot-Lagarde clocked 7.86 at 60 m hurdles during a local
meet.

YECLA (ESP, Dec 19): Eritrean
Amanuel Mesel won the 28th Cross Fiestas da la Virgen fe Yelva with 30:25
at 10 km.
Second place for Kiflow Sium (30:42) ahead of Swiss Stefan Joly (31:03). In
womenÂ´s 6 km
Moroccan Fatima Ayachi achieved 20:38. Second Bouchra Chaabi ahead of best
Spanish Lidia Rodriguez.

VENTA DE BANOS (ESP, Dec 19):
Kenyan Lucas Rotich won the 10.575
km at Cross Internacional Venta de Banos in 32:20.
Second his team-mate Vincent Chepkok 32:21 with third another Kenyan John
Kipkoech (32:24). Best Spanish fourth placer Ayad Lamdassem (32:34). Jesus
Espana was seventh (33:17) and fresh U19 Euro winner Abdelaziz Merzougui was
11th (33:50). Alessandra Aguilar won the 6.775 km women race in
23:19. Second Nuria Fernandez (23:20) and third Sara Moreira of Portugal
(23:21).

GETXO (ESP, Dec 19): Moroccan
Khalid El-Amri won the Memorial Itziar Lopez de Uralde at 9 km in 26:03. Second Kenyan
Evans Mayoyo achieved 26:05. Lucy Karimi of Kenya was the best woman in 31:02.

LLORET DE
MAR (ESP, Dec 19): Olympic steeple medalist Eunice Jepkorir won the 4th Sant
Silvestre 5 km
road race in 16:34. In menÂ´s competition Mohamed Behmbarka of Morocco won in 14:29 ahead of Angel
Mullera 14:32 with Reyes Estevez beeing fourth (14:41).

ROCHLITZ (GER, Dec 19): Marco
Schmidt won the shot put indoor meeting with 19.94 ahead of Arthur Hoppe 19.64
(new life-time best). Top favorite Ralf Bartels was third (19.51). Christina
Schwanitz was the best woman (17.39).

GETAFE (ESP, Dec 19): The 13th Trofeo de
Marcha had as winners Juan Manuel Molina (42:35 at 10 km) and Julia Takacs
(45:42).

PISA (ITA): The Pisa Marathon planned for
December 19 was cancelled because of weather reasons.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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