by Larry Eder
Ryan Hall, 2011 BAA Boston Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ryan Hall, an iconic US marathoner, who left his coach and training group earlier this year, finished fourth, running the best time EVER for an American ANYWHERE, with his fine 2:04.55!
The facts are that the Boston Marathon 2011 race will go down as the fastest EVER under any conditions. Did the tail wind have something to play with the time? Yep, Did the perfect weather help? Of course.
As the course violates rule 260 of the IAAF rule book, which says that a marathon course can not start & finish more than fifty percent of the distance of the marathon and that the drop in height over the entire course is 138 meters, and limits are 42 meters. This is point to point.
The men’s race was being watched in the media room, however, the women’s race had the media room on its seats!
G. MUTAI FASTEST MARATHON EVER, MOSOP FASTEST DEBUT EVER
BOSTON (USA, Apr 18): Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai
clocked the fastest ever marathon time 2:03:02 to win the 115th Boston Race. He
was supported by tail-wind, his time will not be recognized as official IAAF
World Record, but still will be on the top of the lists. Two reasons for no
IAAF recognition. Point-to-point course and so possibility of big wind-aid
(start and finish should not be apart more than 50% of the distance) and elevation
drop (allowed in marathon 42 m,
in Boston 139 m). The winner of this
years Kenyan World CC Trials Mutai was then 5th in Punta Umbria World CC and
before had 2:04:55 best from last year Rotterdam. He so far finished 6
marathons, his agent is Dutch Gerard Van de Veen. Helsinki 2005 10 000 m world medalist
Moses Mosop debuted also extraordinary as second with 2:03:06. It is the
fastest debut ever. NYC Marathon winner and former World CC gold medalist Gebre
Gebremariam achieved 2:04:54 as third ahead of US Ryan Hall who achieved the
fastest by an American 2:04:58. Another former track star Abreham Cherkos of Ethiopia in his
second marathon improved to 2:06:13 as fifth. Only one without PB in top ten
was sixth Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot with 2:06:43. Under 2:08 also seventh Philip
Kimutai who improved his best by one second to 2:07:10 and Ethiopian Deressa
Chimsa also a PB of 2:07:39. In total 11 runners dipped under 2:10. Best
European was Italian Migidio Bourifa as 14th timed with 2:13:45. Last year
Frankfurt winner Kenyan Caroline Kilel won the women race in superb 2:22:36 but
only two seconds ahead improved US
runner Desiree Davila. Davila is now the third fastest American in history,
behind record-holder Deena Kastor and Joan Benoit Samuelson. Last year Toronto winner Sharon
Cherop of Kenya
was third in impressive lifetime best 2:22:42, fourth another Kenyan Caroline
Rotich in 2:24:26. American Kara Goucher finished 5th in 2:24:52, a one-minute
improvement on her PR. Sixth best Ethiopian of the day and former winner here
Dire Tune in 2:25:08 ahead of Worknesh Kidane 2:26:15 and Colombian Yolanda
Caballero who debuted in fast 2:26:17. Best European was Ukrainian Yuliya Ruban
as 10th in 2:27:00 (PB). In total 16 went under 2:30. First olympic marathon
winner Joan Samuelson was overall 45th in highly respectable 2:51:29 at age of
53. The top 10 performance average of Boston
marathon improved from 2:07:22 to 2:05:39 (fourth best behind Rotterdam,
Berlin and London). The race had 26 964 entrants and 24
385 starters.
E. MUTAI, SHOBUKHOVA LEADING
BOSTON (USA):
After London
and Boston Emmanuel Mutai leads the World Marathon Majors series before the
Autumn decision in the 2010/11 standings with 51 points. Second Tsegaye Kebede
(41) ahead of Geoffrey Mutai (40). Good in race also Patrick Makau and Gebre
Gebremariam with 35 points. Russian Lilya Shobukhova is the clear number one
woman with 65 points and very close to overall win. Second in a tie Edna
Kiplagat with Mary Keitany (35). Then four runners with 25 points (Kebede,
Erkesso, Bekele, Kilel). Still to count World Championships in Daegu and then Berlin, Chicago and New York races.
HAILE IS 38
VIENNA (AUT): “For me running is like my daily
nutrition. You could say I have breakfast, running, lunch, running, dinner,” explained
Haile Gebrselassie on Monday when he is 38 and one day after winning Vienna
Half-Marathon.”I am now confident that I can run a good marathon in autumn. My
time in Vienna
is okay. It is not so easy to break one hour if you are running alone and without
pacemakers,” said the world marathon record holder (2:03:59), who confirmed
that the London
Olympic marathon in 2012 remains his major goal. “From now on it will be all
about preparing for the Olympics in 2012,” said Haile Gebrselassie, who is of course
well aware that the first major task will be qualification. “This is a serious
issue. There are a number of very strong runners in Ethiopia and it is obvious that the
Olympic places will go to the three fastest.” When asked about what sort of
times he thinks will be necessary to secure nomination Haile Gebrselassie
answered: “2:06 will not be enough. I know how strong the others are so I think
I will have to run 2:05 or 2:04 to get to London.”
Organizers are informing, they had even printed a 76 page high quality magazine
about Haile’s life. The title of the magazine is: ,Haile in Wien’
KEITANY PLANS RETURN TO LONDON
LONDON (GBR): Sunday winner Mary Keitany plans to
return to London
next year, but for the Olympic marathon. Third placer Edna Kiplagat confirmed
she thinks about Daegu worlds marathon, Keitany and Shobukhova for the moment
no. Shobukhova has now the best average of top three times since 2008 with
2:20:53. Not only 2:20:46 by Edna Kiplagat best mark for the third place, but
best marks for place for eighth to 20th were set in the London Marathon in
women race. Martin Lel became the fastest 32 years old when he recorded
2:05:45, replacing Paul Tergat’s 2:05:48 from 2002 London Marathon. Top 5
performance average for Mutai after London is 2:06:08, fourth behind
Gebreselassie, Tsegaye Kebede and Wanjiru and ahead of Vincent Kipruto
(2:06:11). Top 10 average for London Marathon has improved to 2:05:21 for men
(third behind Rotterdam and Berlin) and 2:19:22 for women (was already
the best).
POWELL, JETER VS. VCB
SHANGHAI (CHN): Former world record holder Asafa Powell confirmed his
next race for summer season. He will be the star of 100 m at Dunlop Shanghai
Golden Grand Prix on May 15, the second Samsung Diamond League event. Powell
started his season last Saturday with 20.55 at 200 m and plans another 200 m for Kingston IAAF World
Challenge on May 7. Other races known are Rome, Rabat, Birmingham and London. Women´s 100 m will see the clash of
Diamond Race winner Carmelita Jeter and Jamaican world champion 2007 Veronica
Campbell-Brown. The Jamaican leads in their direct clashes (first in 2006)
16:6. Finland´s Tero Pitkamaki will join world and european champion Andreas
Thorkildsen of Norway
in javelin. Informs IAAF. EME NEWS already reported about Dwight Phillips in
long jump and hurdles clash Liu Xiang vs. David Oliver.
NOOL AND SZABO VIEWS
LONDON (GBR): Newly elected European Athletics
council members former olympic gold medalists spoke about their role they want
to have when first time being members of main European athletics decision
making body. Decathlon star Erki Nool said: “I want to support modernisation of
the competition programme. More interesting and innovative approaches to
attract more spectators, but also sponsors. I see also enough space to change
advertising rules so that sponsors in our sport could be more visible. Im also
in favor for example ending the decathlon with Gundersen 1500 m style.” At the same
games Gabfriels Szabo won 5000
m gold and she wants to be involved in programmes approaching
kids and schools. “My goal is to expand school athletics and promotion of our
sport in the youngest generation. We achieved some success in that in Romania. But
let me first see how the council works then I can have more ideas about my
role,” she said.
REESE FOR GUADELOUPE
WALNUT (USA):
World Express Athletic Management’s west coast trip produced world-leading
results for World Champion Brittney Reese. The agency informs. Reese opened the
competition with a solid 6.60m mark to take early lead. After a challenge in
the 3rd round, Reese put the competition away with a 6.82m jump and then
produced the world-leading mark 683
in her final attempt. 2011 is a special season for Reese
as she is graduating from the Univ. of
Mississippi in May and focused on
defending her world outdoor long jump title that she won in 2009 in Berlin. Her next scheduled competition will
be under the warm sun of the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe
on May 7th. On May 14th Reese will graduate and receive her college degree from
the Univ of Mississippi in Oxford Miss.
MALBOUM RE-ELECTED
YAOUNDE (CMR): Hamad Kalkaba Malboum was re-elected
for a third mandate to head the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).
Having been re-elected unanimously, the 22nd CAA Congress has thus demonstrated
its appreciation for the tremendous progress made since he became president of
CAA. He even received a mandate for the selection of the board members, which
he did with a real mix of personalities from the 5 African regions. Hachicha
Fathi, president of the Tunisian Federation of Athletics, made its entry to the
CAA as vice president. The team set up by President Kalkaba should rely on the
experience of members such as David Okeyo from Kenya
or Vivian Gungaram from Mauritius.
Other vice-presidents are Theophile Montcho of Botswana
and Violet Odogwu-Nwajei of Nigeria.
The General Treasurer post goes to Doudou Joof of Gambia. In total 48 out of the 53
IAAF Member Federations were represented. Congress also agreed a motion of
gratitude to IAAF President Lamine Diack and support for a new mandate of
office to be granted to him when elections are held during the next IAAF
Congress in Daegu, Korea this August. Informs IAAF.
SIRMAIS AND PURDUE
LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletics announced that
Zigismunds Sirmais, Latvia’s
junior world record holder in the javelin, and British teen prodigy Charlotte
Purdue have been voted as the European Athletes of the Month for March. The
18-year-old Sirmais produced a throw of 84.47m, a new junior world record, at
the 11th European Cup Winter Throwing in Sofia
and in the process bettered Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen’s record of
83.87m set in 2001. Purdue, the 2010 SPAR European Cross Country Championships
junior women’s champion, finished 14th at the IAAF World Cross Country
Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, in her first major championship in the
senior ranks. Briton Mo Farah, running his first-ever half marathon, clocking a
superb 1:00:23 to win the New York City Half Marathon, finished second in the
men’s poll while the 2010 World Race Walking Cup 50km winner Matej Tóth, who
delighted the local crowd watching the 30th edition of the famous Dudinska
Patdesiatka walking meeting in the southern Slovakian town of Dudince with a
national record of 3:39:46, was voted third. In the women’s poll, Ireland’s Olive
Loughnane, a silver medallist at the 2009 World Championships, who won the
European Athletics Race Walking Permit meeting 20km walk in Dudince with a
season best time of 1:32:40, was voted second. Hungary’s
Anita Márton finished third following her gold medal win in the women’s shot at
the European Cup Winter Throwing in Sofia.
OTHER NEWS
MELBOURNE (AUS): Australian Flame stars Sally Pearson and Fabrice
Lapierre have capped off their outstanding years in track and field by being
named Athletics Australia’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year at an annual
awards gala at Studio 3 in
Melbourne.
Asics Junior Athlete of the Year was walker Dane Bird-Smith. Athletics
International Emerging Athlete of the Year awards went to shot putter Dale
Stevenson and female walker Jess Rothwell.
LONDON (GBR): Insidethegames informs that UK
Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos claims that Britain will retain its influence
on the sport despite its humiliating snub in the European Athletics elections
here today. Britain were left without representation on European Athletics’
ruling Council for the first time since the organisation was formed in 1932
after UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner failed in his attempt to succeed Jonathan
Edwards, the former Olympic triple jump champion who stepped down after serving
for four years. De Vos was also overlooked for the Development Committee while
Cherry Alexander failed to gain election to the Competitions Committee. In
contrast, all of three of the officials that Ireland put forward were elected
(Liam Hennessy to the Council, Pierce O´Callaghan for the Competition committee
and Nick Davis for Development committee). De Vos claimed that UK Athletics’
priority at this Congress – the first time that it has been staged in Britain – had been to promote its bid to host
the 2013 European Team Championships at Gateshead and the 2017 World
Championships at the Olympic Stadium in London.
“The feedback from that everybody has been outstanding,” he said.
LONDON (GBR): During the European Athletics Council
Dr. Gordon Campbell of SPAR was awarded with EA Plaque of Merit. While
recieving the award Dr. Campbell confirmed that SPAR just renewed its
sponsorship for European Athletics until 2015. The cooperation started back in
1996 and brought positive results for both sides.
BERLIN (GER): Former German 400m hurdles champion
Jonna Tilgner (26) gave birth to her first son Lorenz. The 26 year-old is
aiming to return to competition in the hopes of qualifying for the London
Olympic Games writes leichtathletik.de. Her best is 55.71 from 2009.
AMSTERDAM (NED): Following the example of the Utrecht marathon there are
now more running events in The Netherlands that offer a significant smaller
amount of prize money for foreign athletes compared to the prize money for
Dutch athletes. Running events in Groningen, Leeuwarden and Zandvoort
are applying the prize money schedule for their event in the hopes of keeping
the event regional with a regional winner instead of a faster foreign athlete.
LONDON (GBR): World and European heptathlon champion
Jessica Ennis has claimed the pressure of competing at a home Olympics at
London 2012 will have a major effect on the whole of Britain’s team. The 25-year-old
from Sheffield is one of Britain’s
most recognisable athletes and arguably the team’s greatest gold medal
prospect. She admitted there is huge pressure on her specifically to achieve
Olympic gold, but added there is pressure on everyone competing in the British
team at London 2012 and they all must be able to cope with it if they want to
achieve glory in front of a home crowd writes Insidetegames.
LONDON (GBR): Singapore
have become the latest nation to confirm they will train in Surrey
ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games reports Insidethegames.
MELBOURNE (AUS): Following the Australian Athletics Championships,
Australia Athletics has announced its initial team for the IAAF World
Championships in Daegu. Defending world pole vault champion Steve Hooker is the
star and captain of the team that also includes defending world discus champion
Dani Samuels and 2009 world bronze medallists Mitchell Watt (long jump) and the
4x400m team (Ben Offereins, Sean Wroe, Tristan Thomas, John Steffensen). Also
in the team is star athlete Sally Pearson for both the 100m and 100m hurdles
and young debutants Steven Solomon (4x400m) and Caitlin Sargent (4x400m).
DUBAI (UAE): Dubai
has set its sights on becoming the first Arab city to host the Olympics with a
committee meeting Monday to consider a possible bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.
The city-state’s media office said Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum met with the group, urging it to devote its full efforts to the
campaign reports Associated Press.
LONDON (GBR): Latest Pat Butcher blog at www.globerunner.org about two hours
marathon: 20 years? More like 40!
RESULTS
BOSTON (USA,
Apr 17): Photo timing was needed to determine the winners of both the men’s and
women’s divisions of the B.A.A. Invitational Mile here on the streets of Boston. The races were
part of the activity-packed weekend leading up to the 115th Boston Marathon.
Briton Andy Baddeley won in 4:16.7 ahead of talented HS athlete Lukas Verzbicas
4:16.8. The women’s race was just as close, with Anna Pierce, Serbian Marina
Muncan, and Treniere Moser all battling for the win in the final straight.
Muncan was the winner in 4:58.7 ahead of Pierce and Moser (both 4:58.8).
Informs RRW.
BOSTON (USA,
Apr 17): For the second time in three years, a New Englander won the B.A.A.
5-K, run through the streets of Back Bay a day
prior to the 115th running of the Boston Marathon. Ben True, a native of North Yarmouth, Me., and
graduate of Dartmouth
College, broke away from
a pack of six on Boylston Street
just before the finish line in to capture the $5,000 first prize in 14:07. That
was a new course record, breaking the previous mark of 14:29 set by Jarrod
Shoemaker in 2009. The women’s race was won easily by Lineth Chepkurui of Kenya
in 15:52. Writes RRW.
BEKESCSABA (HUN, Apr 17): Canadian guest Rachel Lavellee Seaman achieved
new national 20 km
walk record 1:33:43 winning the 32nd international walking meeting. Second
Viktoria Madarsz claimed the national title with 1:36:22. Male Hungarian title for
Mate Hellebrandt 1:27:07 who was also the overall winner.
LESKOVAC (SRB, Apr 16): Serbian walking title for Predrag Filipovic at 20 km in 1:24:51. His twin
brother Nenad was second (1:27:58).
UPPSALA (SWE, Apr 17): Second day winners at Swedish CC Championships
were Adil Bouafif (12 km,
37:42) and Charlotta Fougberg (8
km, 29:13).
MONTREAL (CAN, Apr 17): Reid Coolsaet won the Canadian
National HM title in 1:04:55. Megan Brown was the best woman after 1:14:09.
VANCOUVER (CAN, Apr 17): Eric Gillis won the 27th
Vancouver Sun Run 10 km
on Sunday in 29:06, it was the first win in 13 years for a Canadian athlete.
The last Canadian to win the Vancouver Sun Run was Winnipeg, Manitoba’s
Chris Webber in 1998. Kenyan Lucy Njeri was the best in women category in 33:41
ahead of best Canadian Paula Findlay
33:47. In total 49 365 runners competed.
MADRID (ESP, Apr 17): Portugal´s Sara Moreira won the
10 km
accompanying race into Madrid Marathon in solid 32:33. Second Ethiopian
Firehiwot Goshu (32:48) and third Moroccan Fatima Ayachi (32:56). Joseph
Kipkosgei as best male runner clocked 28:59 ahead of Spanish Rafael Iglesias
29:12 and US
olympic marathon medalist Meb Keflezighi 29:26 with former European track
champion Jesus Espana 29:49.
ANNECY (FRA, Apr 17): Two new course records at
Annecy Marathon (held since 1980) for Kenyan runners. Benjamin Bitok achieved
2:11:23 and Emily Rotich 2:32:49. Rose Chelimo of Kenya
won the half-marathon (1:12:50), best male here was Ezechiel Nizigiyimana of Burundi
(1:04:37).
WURZBURG (GER, Apr 17): Doris Changeiywo of Kenya won the 23rd Residenzlauf in Wurzburg in world leading
31:26 in the road 10 km.
Her team-mates followed Esther Chemtai (31:27) and Monica Jepkoech (32:23).
World record holder at the distance Leonard Patrick Komon won with new course
record 27:33 (13:46 half). Second Jacob Cheshari (27:57) ahead of Thomas Ayeko
(28:01). Best European was German Martin Beckmann as 18th (29:56).
BELVILLE (RSA, Apr 16): In addition to this regional Yellow Series meet
to note that Caster Semenya not only won the 800 m but was also second in
the 1500 m
(4:20.14). She was beaten by Violet Raseboya (4:20.05). Ruben Ramolefi clocked
fast steeple 8:22:46 and world junior champion Luvo Manyonga leaped to 795
(-1.7) in long jump.
BUENOS AIRES (ARG, Apr 17): Jennifer Dahlgren achieved
during second day of National Championships 70.96 in hammer and
Alejandra Garcia cleared 430
in the pole vault.
MAURITIUS (MRI, Apr 17): African 400 m champion Amantle
Montsho clocked new Botswana
record at 200 m
22.94 during CAA Silver meet category in Mauritius. Impressive also Margaret
Simpson of Ghana
with total of 6134 world leader in heptathlon.
CORRECTION
LONDON (GBR): Corrected women times: Kiplagat
2:20:46, Bekele 2:23:42, Bayisa 2:23:50, Akaba 2:24:09, Mikitenko 2:24:24,
Augusto 2:24:33, Kebede 2:24:34, Pavey 2:28:24, Damen 2:30:00. Total number for
sub 2:30 runners is down to 20.
