by Larry Eder
Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba run 2:08:07 PB at the Xiamen Marathon, on January 2,2011. Photo courtesy of IAAF.org and Xiamen race organizers
EARLIEST FAST TIME INTO THE YEAR
XIAMEN
(CHN, Jan 2): The earliest fastest time into a year was clocked on
Sunday at 9th Xiamen Marathon. Robert Kipchumba won here in new course
record 2:08:07. Also 2:08:07 by Jackson Kipkoech was clocked at TÃberias
Marathon 2009, but that was 6 days later on January 8. Former world
junior track and CC champion Kipchumba improved in his third career
marathon, previous top mark 2:09:56 as 8th in Rotterdam 2009. Second was
Ethiopia’s Mesfin Hailu Lemma in 2:09:50 as debutant. Also third place
for Ethiopian Alemayehu Shumye (2:09:58). Kosice 2010 winner Gilbert
Chepkwony was fourth in 2:10:19. Ethiopians ruled in women race when
Amane Gobena got 2:31:49 and Alemitu Abera 2:31:54. Best home runner
Wang Jiali was third (2:32:00). IAAF writes that the winners will each
take home 40,000 USD with Kipchumba collecting an additional 20,000 USD,
that is 500 USD for each second he ran under the previous course
record. In all, more than 62,000 runners from 40 countries (expected was
even more 80 000) and regions participated in the morning’s races in
this Chinese coastal city of 2.5 million.
DEJAEGHERE STILL WINNING
HULSHOUT
(BEL, Jan 2): Belgian runner Veerle Dejaeghere (37) won the 5th leg of
Belgian Series LottoCrossCup in 21:36 ahead of Ethiopian Almensch Belete
(21:50) and another home runner, marathon specialist Xenia Luxem
(22:00). Only fourth best Kenyan Caroline Chepkwony at 6 km (22:04).
Kenyan Gideon Kipketer won the 9.5 km men´s senior race in 28:22.
Ethiopian Ferku Feyisa was second (28:46) ahead of Kenyan Daniel Chebii
(28:48). Best European was Belgian Jeroen D´Hoedt as 5th (28:51). Series
leaders (only for Belgian runners) are Veerle Dejaeghere (92 points)
and Jeroen D´Hoedt (105 points). 6th leg is planned for Hannuit on
February 13.
SEVEN DIFFERENT WORLD NUMBER ONES
MOUNTAIN
VIEW (USA): Track and Field News published on its website names of
athletes who are the number ones in their events as per the famous
rankings of the magazine. In comparing with similar rankings of
Athletics International (published by Athletics Weekly) there are
different names heading the rankings only in six men and one women
event. Allyson Felix leads not only the 400 m ranking but also the 200 m
whereas AI has Veronica Campbell-Brown as the leader in the deuce.
Interestingly also men´s 200 m has different world number one. AI goes
for Usain Bolt but TFN for Walter Dix (AI has him third). In men´s
steeple number one position goes by TFN to Paul Kipsiele Koech, AI went
for Ezekiel Kemboi. In the 50 km walk TFN has as number one Slovak Matej
Toth, AI the Euro winner Yohan Diniz. Last three differences are in
technical events. In jumps it is also because the US magazine counts the
indoor season while AI not. TFN has as number one in high jump Ivan
Ukhov (AI Aleksandr Shustov), Teddy Tamgo in triple jump (AI goes for
Philips Idowu). The last one is men´s hammer with AI going for Euro
Champ and Continental Cup winner Libor Charfreitag, but TFN having
Japanese Koji Murofushi. In all other events (men and women) the number
one athletes are the same by TFN and AI.
WANJIRU RECONCILED WITH HIS WIFE
NAIROBI
(KEN): The Nation writes that Olympic marathon champion Samuel Kamau
Wanjiru and his wife Tereza Njeri have reconciled a day after their
marital differences exploded into alleged death threats. The two
separately said family members from both sides intervened to reconcile
the marathoner and the mother of his two children. Wanjiru, who was at a
construction site in Nakuru where he was supervising building of a
commercial structure, said they were back together and there was
optimism of his wife withdrawing the complaint she had filed with
police, resulting to his arrest and arraignment in court.
OTHER NEWS
DOHA (QAT):
Former runner Jama Aden who will this week pick up an award in Dubai as
the best coach in the Arab sporting world, believes Qatar – whose
athletics team he runs – is now ready to stage the Olympic Games after
earning the right to host the 2022 World Cup finals. Writes
insidethegames. “Qatar put such good effort into hosting the 2022 World
Cup finals, and when the decision was made Doha was going crazy for so
many days,” Aden said. He coached Abukaker Kaki to two world indoor 800
metres titles, Ahmed Ismail to olympic medal and has this year guided a
new generation of young Qataris to international medals. It is expected
that Qatar will bid for Olympic Games 2020.
KINGSTON
(JAM): Jamaica Observer writes that from a purely Jamaican perspective,
this year is poised to be brimful of excitement in sport. Indeed, this
high-achieving nation can look forward to a sumptuous serving of
international athletics, cricket, football and netball that should
enhance the global position of our stars while functioning as a
yardstick to national progress.The ICC World Cup, the IAAF World
Championships, the FIFA Under-17 World Championships, the CONCACAF Gold
Cup and the World Netball Championships are all set to unfold before
hungry eyes — hopefully, with Jamaica in the thick of things — in what
could be another momentous year in our already storied history.
FRANKFURT
(GER): German newspaper Welt am Sonntag is quoting world record holder
Usain Bolt as saying he might end his career in 2016. That could mean
still ahead of him two more Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro
and three world championships in Daegu, Moscow and Beijing. After London
2012 his new ambitions could be with 400 m and/or with long jump.
MADRID
(ESP): European 1500 m champion Nuria Fernandez plans to run at World CC
Championships in March in Punta Umbria. But she undergoes turbulent
times due to her connection to Operation Greyhound in Spain. Minutes
after she finished second at San Silvestre Vallecana race she was asked
for the doping control. “I’m very happy because I’ve also lowered my
mark by ten seconds. Now I want to focus on the cross,” Fernandez was
quoted by Spanish media and added reffering to the Greyhound: “Let’s see
if this is all finished and I can work in peace.”
HAVANA
(CUB): Hurdles world record holder Dayron Robles is again ready to
compete and prepares for short indoor campaign in Europe. His coach
Santiago Antunez informed that he plans to run in Stuttgart, Lievin,
Birmingham and Stockholm during the European indoor season. Robles as
reigning world indoor champion has two main goals for 2011, the World
Championships in Daegu and Pan-Am Games in Guadalajara.
KAMPALA
(UGA): Uganda’s former world 3000 m steeplechase champion Dorcas
Inzikuru concludes 2010 on a compassionate note at the Pader Charity
10km Run in Corner Kilak, in Gulu district northern Uganda today Friday.
A Goodwill Ambassador with ABC Children Aid, the event is aimed at
inspiring hope among orphans in a part the country afflicted by decades
of armed conflict. Until very recently the people of Corner Kilak have
never know peace since President Yoweri Museveni shot his way to power
in 1986. “My goal is to cultivate among these children an interest in
sports. The youth in his place need to know that they can make some out
of their lives by participating in sports,” says Inzikuru per local
media. Inzikuru recently won the 10 000m, 3000 m steeplechase and half
marathon at the t East Africa Inter-University Championships at Kenyatta
University in Kenya.
AUCKLAND
(NZL): Shot put olympic gold medalist Valerie Adams and middle distance
runner Nikki Hamblin were nominated, along with 12 others, and have been
selected as finalists for the Sportswoman of the Year title. The other
finalists are Joelle King (squash), Alison Shanks (cycling) and Casey
Williams (netball). Super talent in shot put Jacko Gill is one of the
four finalists for the emerging talent award which includes a $15,000
sporting scholarship.
RESULTS
TOKYO (JPN, Jan 2): Toyo University was the first day of Hakone Ekiden (college teams) winner in 5:29:50 at total of 108 km.
TOKYO (JPN, Jan 1): Ken Akashi won the 59th New Year walking in 1:24:55 at 20 km, best woman at 10 km was Kumi Otoshi (45:13).
SAD NEWS
BUDAPEST
(HUN): In last hours of the 2010 the death of former EAA Council Member
Mihály Nyerges was unfortunately registered. It happened only some
weeks before his 65th birthday after serious illness. He was national
team member in decathlon, also general secretary of Hungarian Athletics
Federation MASZ and dean of the Physical Education University and later
worked as teacher there. He was EAA Council member from 1988 until 1995.
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