by Larry Eder
Markos Geneti, 2010 Carlsbad 5,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
2004 World Indoor Champs bronze medalist at 3,000 meters and 2005 World Champ participant at 1,500 meters, Markos Geneti has always had leg speed. But today, he showed that he has the endurance, and guts to risk it all. Today, Markus Geneti took the lead early from course record holder Wesley Korir and just kept running. Geneti passed the women, who had a lead of 17 minutes three seconds (part of the $100k gender challenge), just passed the 20 mile mark. His country person, Buzenesh Deba, took Geneti’s move as inspiration, to move past Amy Hastings, a US marathoner, who was on a roll, leading most of the Honda LA Marathon. Hastings was not done, and fought back, never giving up. Deba went by Hastings at 22 miles and won the race, in her personal best (after nine marathons) of 2:26.34. Hastings held on to run a 2:27:03 for second place.
But it was Markos Geneti’s day! Taking $100k for the Gender Challenge, $25k for the win, and a new Honda, Markos Geneti showed that speed sure helps, even when one is cross flooded streets in Brentwood!
Kenya wins 6 out of 8 gold medals, but Merga gets the main one
PUNTA UMBRIA (ESP, Mar 20): It was nearly as big Kenyan festival as last
year in Poland. But the main men´s race at 39th IAAF World CC
Championships was won by Ethiopian Diamond League winner Imane Merga.
Kenya got 11 medals (6-3-2), last year it was all 8 golds and in total
13 medals. Ethiopia was better than in 2010 with 2-4-1. Third Uganda
0-1-2 ahead of USA 0-0-2 and Japan 0-0-1, in total five countries
getting podium places. This time no medal for Eritrea (last year 2
silvers). Best European placing was the 14th position of Briton
Charlotte Purdue in women race, best European teams in two cases Great
Britain fifth in junior girls and women races. In comparison to 2010
again fifth team position was the best, but in Bydgoszcz Hilda Kibet
achieved better individual position for Europe (10th in women one).
Merga won at 12 km in 33:50 with Kenyan Paul Tanui winning the battle
for the silver medal and arriving at the finish two seconds in arrears
of Merga 33:52. Vincent Chepkok, last year’s second fastest man over
5000m, was third in 33:53 while the team gold medal was clinched for
Kenya, when Mathew Kisorio finished fourth in 33:55. Kenya’s team
triumph means that they have now won for the last six years and 24 out
of the last 26 years. Ethiopia was second over Uganda. Two other points
worth mentioning are that Eritrea’s 2010 silver medallist Teklemariam
Medhin finished 14th after being part of the leading pack during the
first third of the race while the first European across the line,
getting plenty of cheers from the appreciative 20,000-strong crowd was
Spain’s Ayad Lamdassem as 16th (35:12). Best European team Spain (8th).
Vivian Cheruiyot in battle of two world champions beat Linet Masai in
women 8 km (24:58-25:07). US Shalane Flanagan at the end beat Ethiopian
co-favorite Meselech Melkamu (25:10-25:18). Flanagan is the first
non-African medalist in this event since 2004. Kenya over Ethiopia in
teams and US third from Bahrain and Great Britain as best European
squad. Charlotte Purdue was European leading finisher in 14th place
(26:03). World champion at 1500 metres Maryam Jamal was 23rd (26:39) and
Euro winner at the same distance Nuria Fernandez just one place behind
as 24th (26:39 too). Geoffrey Kipsang was nobody’s favourite to win the
junior race, after finishing fourth at his own national trials last
month, but the 18-year-old Kenyan showed what a difference a month of
dedicated preparation can make with a stunning display of gun-to-tape
front running and 22:21 at 8 km. Thomas Ayeko was surprise Ugandan
silver winner (22:27) with Patrick Mutunga third (22:32). Isaiah Koech
who broke indoor junior bests this year was 10th (23:10). Best European
Briton Jonathan Hay as 39th (24:35). In teams Kenya over Ethiopia and
Uganda, with GBR best European as 10th. Faith Chepngetich sprinted to
victory in the junior women’s event a sparkling sprint under a brilliant
sun (6 km in 18:53). A year ago, the barefoot runner lost the
individual bronze medal to team-mate Purity Rionoripo in the final
sprint to the line. This time, she again went barefoot. Ethiopian pair
Genet Yalew and Azemra Gebru were behind her (18:54 for both). Ethiopia
regained the team title (only team title for them this year) from Kenya
and Japan. Also here Great Britain was best from Europe: Emilia Gorecka
individually (15th, 20:03) and the team as fifth. Individual winners
in the senior men’s and women’s races earned $30,000, and the top senior
teams received $20,000. With help from IAAF.
World junior record for Sirmais
SOFIA (BUL, Mar 20): Cold weather and blowing wind continued also on the
second day of 11th European Cup Winter Throwing in Sofia. The top
highlight was new javelin world junior record by Latvian Zigismunds
Sirmais (18) with 84.47 m. Former mark of Andreas Thorkildsen was 83.87
from 2001. It was a nice technical first effort of the young athlete,
who beat the favorite Ukrainian Oleksandr Pyatnitsa (81.96) and another
junior, Russian Valeriy Iordan (79.49 pb). Sirmais was sixth in world
all time junior list before Sunday with 82.27 m. “My mother said that I
can throw my best when the weather is cold (today in Sofia the
temperature was 7ºC). I felt very relaxed and I took all my efforts in
the first attempt. It was precise technically and my dream came true. I
expected that record, I prepared very well for the contest. Andreas
Thorkildsen is my favorite and I’m very happy that I could beat his best
junior result. I aim to win gold at junior championships in Tallinn
this summer,” said the new record holder. After a foul in her first
attempt the former world record holder Tatyana Lysenko bettered with
each of her next four throws to snatch the victory with season best
(73.70). Although European champion Betty Heidler promised on Sunday
that she will throw over 75 m, the contest didn’t start properly for
her. All her six efforts were over 70 m, but she was not pleased with
the surface of the circle and best of 72.71. The younger of two sister
Marghiev – Zalina – won the bronze for Moldova with her first effort
(71.96). In the U23 contest the twice world and European junior and
youth champion Bianca Perie of Romania had only one valid throw (67.38)
in second round, but it was enough for victory over world junior
champion from Moncton Britain Sophie Hitchon (64.16). The battle between
Bosnian Hamza Alic and Portuguese Marco Fortes was thrilling with both
making their bests in fourth round of shot put and only 3 cm separated
Fortes from the victory: 20.18 vs. 20.21 of Alic. In the U23 javelin
Ukrainian record holder Dmytro Kosynskyy lead the contest with 79.90 in
his first effort until fifth round when Turkish record holder and
Medditeranean champion from 2009 Fatih Avan made his big strike – 80.19 –
new national record for men. Russian Olesya Korotkova won women discus
(60.20) over Romanian favorite Nicoleta Grasu (59.44). In the U23
competitions Yekaterina Strokova was the best in discus for Russia
(55.56) and Siarhei Bakhar in shot put for Belarus (18.29). Team titles
in senior categories for men of Russia (ahead of Ukraine and Italy) and
women of Germany beating Russia and France. In the U23 categories men of
Ukraine won ahead of Russia and Finland and in women summary Hungarian
women over Ukraine and Russia. With help from Aleksandar Vangelov.
Goumri and Guta
SEOUL (KOR, Mar 20): Morocco’s Abderrahim Goumri fighted with heart in
rain
and chilly weather to win the 82nd Seoul International Marathon in
2:09:11 to get 80 000 USD first place prize money. Home runner Jeong
Jin-Hyeong was second in PB of 2:09:28 ahead of Russian Oleg Kulkov who
posted European leading of 2011 and equalled his best 2:10:13. Title
defender Kenyan Sylvester Teimet did not finish the race. Robe Guta of
Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:26:51, ahead of
China’s Wei Yanan 2:27:13 and South Korea’s Chung Yun-Hee in
2:32:26. Fourth Gladys Tejeda posted new national record for Peru
2:32:32. Former world champion Lidia Simon of Romania who planned to run
last Sunday in Nagoya was a non-finisher. 2010 winner Amane Gobena was
only 10th in 2:37:31. Organizers say about 14,750 people took part in
the race.
Tadese close to his WR
LISBON (POR, Mar 20): Five times IAAF world champion in different events
Zersenay Tadese showed excellent shape at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon
with attacking his own world record set in the same race a year ago
(58:23). In his splits 14:01 and 27:42 at 5km and 10 km he was close to
world record pace, but little behind. The Eritrean track olympic
medalist was for most of the race alone and clocked second fastest ever
58:30 against the wind. Kenyan John Mwangangi was second (1:00:30) and
Silas Sang third (1:00:38). Best European was home runner Luis Feitera
as 11th (1:04:18). Ethiopian Berlin and Rotterdam marathons winner and
former World Half Marathon medalist from 2009 Aberu Kebede clocked
1:08:28 to win the women category. Second Portugal´s Ana Dulce Felix
achieved 1:08:33 what is new national record and European leader of 2011
at the distance. Third Kenyan Grace Momanyi in her fourth half-marathon
for first time dipped under 1:10 with 1:08:41.
Dado hattrick
ROMA (ITA, Mar 20): Women winner achieved higher quality time at 17th
Roma Marathon as Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia posted 2:24:13, it was her
life-time best, second best ever at the race and third win here in a
row. She was running last meters without shoes to remember the legendary
Abebe Bikila at Rome Olympic Games 1960. Second and third were also
Ethiopian runners, Goteitom Haftu in 2:26:21 (career best) and Haile
Kebelush 2:27:39. Italian Rosaria Console was fifth as best European in
good quality 2:29:15 (her best is 2:26:45 from Berlin 2009). Kenyan
surprise male winner was Dickson Chumba in his third marathon. He
improved so far with every race, now his best stands at 2:08:45. Last
year winner Siraj Gena was second (2:09:21) and another Ethiopian
Abdulahi Dawit Shami third (2:09:42). “I worked as a gardener before I
starting running in 2008 under the guidance of Italian coach Claudio
Berardelli in Kapsabet,” said Chumba for IAAF. No male European clocked
under 2:20. No less than 14,000 runners started the race, while about
85,000 runners took the streets to take part in the 4Km Fun Run, informs
IAAF.
Impressive Geneti
LOS ANGELES (USA, Mar 20): Ethiopian Markos Geneti won in 2004 world
indoor bronze at 3000 m and in 2005 represented his country at the World
Championships in Helsinki in the 1500 m. On Sunday he debuted in
marathon and won the 26th LA Marathon in superb course record and second
fastest of the year 2:06:35. It is also 6th best marathon debut ever
and 15th best course record (third best in USA behind Chicago and
Boston). And that all happened despite cold weather and heavy rain.
Geneti won 25 000 USD and a 2011 Honda Insight EX Sedan, plus 100 000
USD for the gender bonus after passing the women before the 20-mile
mark. Second Kenyan Nicholas Kamakya 2:09:26 ahead of team-mates Laban
Moiben 2:13:12 and title defender and previous course record (2:08:24 in
2009) holder Wesley Korir 2:13:23. Bizunesh Deba, also from Ethiopia,
won the women’s division with a time of 2:26:34, her life-time best. It
was her 9th marathon since 2009 and all were completed in the USA.
Second Amy Hastings debuted at age of 27 in excellent 2:27:03. Third
another Ethiopian Mare Dibaba clocked 2:30:25. Russian Yulia Arkhipova
was fifth (2:33:55). NBC local writes that the race started at Dodger
Stadium on nearly-dry pavement, but soaking rain and driving winds
developed a half hour into the race. There was ankle-deep water in
Brentwood, and cold, wet winds lashed the finish line. Spectator turnout
along the route, from Dodger Stadium to downtown Los Angeles, and then
west to Santa Monica, was significantly lower than in years past, no
doubt due to the weather. Some 25 000 runners participated.
World leader for a junior
LUGANO (SUI, Mar 20): Fast walking races at the Lugano Trophy, 9th
Memorial Albisetti (EA Walking Permit) in Switzerland. Chinese 18-years
old junior world record holder at 10 km Wang Zhen clocked world leading
and third fastest ever 20 km for a junior 1:18:37. Second Chu Yafei
improved to 1:18:38 and third Chen Ding to 1:19:39. Fourth best
non-Chinese was Tunisian Hassanine Sbai with new national record
1:20:19. Fifth best European Ireland´s Robert Heffernan (1:20:54) ahead
of Ukrainian Nazar Kovalenko (1:21:34). Interesting to note the 19th
place of Spanish veteran and former 50 km world champion Jesus Angel
Garcia (1:24:35). Asiang Games winner Liu Hong was the best woman at 20
km in 1:29:29, meet record. Second Russian Tatyana Sibileva 1:30:37
ahead of another Chinese Gao Ni 1:30:46 (personal best). Ana Cabecinha
of Portugal was fourth (1:31:08) and Czech Zuzana Schindlerova improved
her best to Daegu qualifier 1:32:10.
OTHER RESULTS
READING (GBR, Mar 20): Kenyan wins at 29th Reading Half-Marathon with 16
000 participants. Simon Kasimili clocked 1:03:08 ahead of Edwin Kipyego
1:03:09. In women standings Edith Chelimo 1:11:22 ahead of Briton Liz
Yelling 1:12:00.
VICENZA (ITA, Mar 20): Kenyan Paul Koech won the 11th Stra Vicenza Del
Palladio 10 km in 29:47. Giovanna Epis of Italy was the home women
winner (34:21).
PISTOIA (ITA, Mar 20): Daniel Kipkirui achieved 1:03:23 to win the 24th
Half Marathon di Pistoia. In women race Kenyan Lucy Wambui achieved
1:11:56.
LEON (ESP, Mar 20): Doha world indoor medalist at 3000 m Sergio Sanchez debuted here in the half-marathon with 1:05:02 win.
VIRGINIA BEACH (USA, Mar 20): US Chris Erichsen improved to 2:18:24 in
winning the Shamrock Marathon here. 28-years old Michelle Suszek from
Nevada was the best woman in 2:43:35.
CHENGDU (CHN, Mar 20): Two interesting results from second day of
Chinese National GP indoor meet in women events. Doha world indoor
finalist Zheng Xingjuan cleared 192 in the high jump and Li Yanmei
registered 14.16 in the triple jump.
BUENOS AIRES (ARG, Mar 19): South American record holder Jennifer Dahlgren achieved 70.90 in women hammer here.
MONTE CARLO (MON, Mar 20): To continue the philosophy of the Marathon
across three countries, the Fédération Monégasque d’Athlétisme with the
assistance of the Principality of Monaco, the Italian city of
Ventimiglia, the French cities of Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin, have
developed the Monaco Run a race line along the seaside and its
breathtaking scenery, with a departure from the center of Ventimiglia in
Italy and a finish at the heart of the Principality of Monaco on the
Port Hercule, for 23.8 km. This time with a start in one country, a
second crossed and the finish in a third, the runners have really done a
unique race in the world. Organizers are informing in a release.
Moroccan Tarik Marnhaoui won in 1:18:52. On the women side Italian
Ornella Ferrara was the best in 1:30:43. In the 10 km new course record
29:38 for Lahcen Amguil.
