LIMO AND CHEROMEI WITH ALL-COMERS
RECORDS

PRAGUE (CZE, Apr 2): Hervis Prague Half-Marathon saw
record-breaking performances in both the men’s and women’s contests.  The 13th edition of the IAAF Gold Label road
race in the Czech capital also saw a record 7229 finishers in warmer weather
than expected. Kenyan Philemon Kimeli Limo clocked 59:30 to get the win,
becoming the first man to break the one hour mark for a half-marathon on Czech
soil.  After a 28:06 opening 10-K, Limo
pulled away from rivals Titus Masai, Azmeraw Bekele, Henry Chirchir, and Edward
Muge in the next 5
kilometers, splitting 13:50 for that segment.  By the time he hit the finish tape in Old Town Square, he
had a 55-second gap on Ethiopian Bekele (1:00:35) and Kenyan Masai (1:00:40),
who finished second and third, respectively. Informs RRW. Limo’s background in
cross country running – he was seventh in the recent IAAF World Championships –
served him well. And so did his ambition. His only previous half-marathon (on his
first trip outside Kenya)
was exactly a year ago, 61.25
in Milan.
“But I knew I could run under 60 minutes because my training has been
wonderful,” he said immediately afterwards. “But I think I can do even better
than that”. Adds Pat Butcher. Limo is 73rd ever runner with sub one hour time.
Best non-African was Austrian Gunther Weidlinger as 9th (1:03:47). Lydia
Cheromei, also of Kenya,
dominated the women’s race.  She came
through 10 kilometers
in 32:05 with Kenyan compatriot and two-time Prague Half-Marathon champion Rose
Kosgei three seconds behind her.  But
like Limo, she stepped up the pace and ran 15:45 for the next 5-K, and opened
up a 30 second lead.  That gap continued
to widen to the finish, where she stopped the clock at 1:07:33, also a Czech all-comers
record.  Cheromei who was considered
super talent at age of 13-14 is now in second part of her career following the
birth of daughter Faith, now five. She has returned as a marathon runner, with
a best of 2.23.01 in Dubai
in January. Kosgei slipped to third (1:09:33), and second place went to Ethiopia’s
Belainesh Gebre in 1:09:17. Best European was French marathon record holder
Christelle Daunay as 5th (1:11.22) beating former World CC Champion Emily
Chebet (6th, 1:12:00). Both Limo and Cheromei earned € 2000 in prize money, event
record bonuses of € 3000, and € 10,000 time bonuses for breaking 60:00 and
68:33, respectively. 

MCCORORY 50.50 WORLD LEAD

GAINESVILLE (USA, Apr 1): Florida Relays started
in windy conditions with impressive 200 m world leads for Maurice Mitchell (20.36,
-0.2) and 400 m
specialist Natasha Hastings (22.77, +1.7). Behind her junior Aurieyall Scott
improved to 22.98. Another superb world leader and career best was registered
for Francena McCorory in the 400
m with 50.50 ahead of Shana Cox (51.46) and Mary
Wineberg (51.85). Impressive 45.46 for versatile Christian Taylor ahead of
Calvin Smith jr. 45.89. NCAA Champion Jeff Demps clocked windy 10.07 (+2.2) in
his race, Christopher Davis posted the best legal time and personal best 10.25
(+1.7) in another one. Former Haiti representative Barbara Pierre was the
fastest in the 100 m
(11.59, -1.4) as NCAA Champ Lakya Brookins was third (11.64) and long jump
world champion Brittney Reese fifth (11.77). Another top name competing was
400mHurdler Bershawn Jackson in the 800 m (1:53.40), fastest Sharif Webb improved
to 1:47.19. In highly anticipated 110
m hurdles David Oliver did not compete, his training
group colleagues dominated. Joel Brown won with 13.55 (+0.2) ahead of Jamaican
Dwight Thomas 13.58 and olympic medalist David Payne 13.63. Jamaican Leslie Murray posted the fastest
50.62 in
the 400 m
hurdles, sub 48 runner Johnny Dutch won his race in 51.09. Croatian Martin
Maric impressed with 64.49 discus and Ignacio Guerra achieved new national
record for Chile
in javelin 78.69. Fast high school 100 m times, in girls section Octavious Freeman
achieved 11.29 (-0.6) and in the boys race Marvin Bracy 10.26 (+2.1).

OTHER NEWS

SHANGHAI (CHN): Former hurdles world record holder Liu Xiang was
confident at Friday´s press conference before the Samsung Diamond League meet
(May 15) when his duel with David Oliver was announced. “I think I will be just
competing with myself as David is in such a good form, but I think I still have
a chance. Shanghai
is my hometown and I will always run my best here. 12.90 is not impossible for
me,” he was quoted as saying. China
will have in each event at least 2 athletes, in women discus confirmed is Li
Yanfeng, Asian Games winner. Ticket prices start from 60 yuan (US$9), which is
the same as last year. Chinese media are informing.

LONDON (GBR): The British Olympic Association’s (BOA)
legal claim for more money from London 2012 was branded by Sebastian Coe as a
“spurious case” which has already been demolished by the International Olympic
Committee (IOC).  In a further escalation
of the dispute, the London 2012 chairman made little effort to hide his
contempt for the BOA nor its chief Colin Moynihan, who earlier this week had
claimed that the dispute had not affected personal relations between him and
the former double Olympic 1500
metres champion. Coe even refused to confirm whether or
not he would allow Moynihan, the BOA chairman, and the its chief executive Andy
Hunt to rejoin the London 2012 Board once the dispute is settled. Writes
insidethegames. 

KYIV (UKR): In the “Heroes of Sports Year” celebration evening athletics
got two awards in the National Theatre. 200 m Barcelona
medalist Yelizaveta Bryzgina was awarded the “Sensation of the Year” title and
former olympic winner in sprints Valeriy Borzov is the “Best organizer of the
Year”.

ZURICH (SUI): Weltklasse Zurich 2010 informed about
850 000 Swiss Francs profit within the total budget of 8.75 millions. Swiss
media are reporting the figure form the General Assembly of the VfG LCZ the
organising body of the leading one day meeting in the world. The total assets
of the VfG LCZ are at 4.68 million SF level. The growth was just over 350,000
Swiss Francs. The largest revenue item at the meeting in 2010 formed the
sponsorship (5 millions) and ticket sales (2.1 million). On the expenditure
side athletes cost made 2.45 million but because of absences of the stars like
Usain Bolt, Kenenisa Bekele or Yelena Isinbayeva it was less of 770 000 SF as
planned.

MADRID (ESP): World indoor medalist from Doha last year Spanish
runner Sergio Sanchez is “ashamed” to wear his country’s colors in
international competitions because of recent doping scandals. Media are
informing. He was reported to say that the country’s image had been damaged due
to cases like “Operation Galgo,” a doping investigation into Spanish athletics
that led to 14 people being detained. Sanchez was also critical of Spanish
Sports Minister Jaime Lissavetzky, who he says is responsible for awarding grants
to athletes implicated in Galgo while others – including himself – are not
given any state funding.

AUCKLAND (NZL): Shot put super talent and holder of
world bests in categories of U15, U16 Jacko Gill leads the first selection of New Zealand athletes for the IAAF U17 World
Championships in July in Lille.
In total five boys and five girls were so far selected. The policy allows later
nominations and the selectors may add other athletes following North and South
Island Secondary Schools Championships. Informs New Zealand Athletics.

JOHNSON CITY (USA):  The management company Total Sports US
announced the addition of Canada’s
Sam Effah (Nike) to it’s list of global talent. Effah, from Calgary, Alberta,
owns a personal best of 10.06 over 100 meters – the fourth fastest time in
Canadian history. In 2009, he ran a leg on the Canadian 4 x 100 meter relay team that
finished 5th at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

RESULTS

LYSS (SUI, Apr 2): European marathon champion Viktor Rothlin won the
Swiss road 10 km
title after tight battle (29:35.3) with Kenyan guest Abraham Tandoi (29:35.8).
Good win in his London Marathon preparation. Female title for Sabine Fischer in
33:04.

KINGSTON (JAM, Apr 1): Moncton 5th placer Ristanana Tracey improved
at Jamaican Schools Championships to excellent 55.81 (also a meet record) at 400 m hurdles. In the 100 m finals in the oldes
boys category Jazeel Murphy got the gold medal with 10.48 (-1.2). In the girls
U19 race Deandre Whitehorne achieved 11.54 (-1.0). Impressive the 11.80 for 14
years old Shawna Helps (-1.2), also to note 10.73 for 16 years old Deshawn Jackson against -1.5
wind. In the long jump 16 years old Clive Pullen leaped to 744 (+3.4).

GERMISTON (RSA, Apr 2): New talent is emerging in South African sprint.
21-years old Lebogang Moeng. He started with athletics training last year in
July and on Saturday at National U23 Championships he posted in 200 m heats from lane 1 more
than impressive 20.59 (+1.5). His first competition ever was registered in
January this year in Pretoria.
His main event should be the 400
m.

LUBBOCK (USA,
Apr 1): US discus thrower
Becky Breisch had a good series of throws at Texas Tech University with  three long fouls. Her measured marks were
62.49, 62.30 and 63.33. Aretha Thurmond finished second place with also solid
63.19.

STARKVILLE (USA, Apr 1): Antwon Hicks posted
13.59 (+0.8) hurdles time at the Bulldog Twilight Invite. 400 m specialist Tavaris Tate
achieved 20.88 (0.0) in the 200
m.

OREM (USA,
Apr 1): Zack Loyd registered 20.21
in the shot put at the UVU Collegiate Invitational.

NAROK (KEN, Apr 1): The Nation informs that more than 1500 athletes
turned up at the Narok TTC for the second NBK/Athletics Kenya weekend meeting
with Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop setting the crowd ablaze with his
characteristic salute as he won the men’s 800 m heat on a grass track in 1:50.5. Job
Kinyor won the first heat in 1:50.1. Olympic gold medalist at 800 m Pamela Jelimo was
second in the first heat of 200
m (26.7), but did not finish the 1500 m. Former national
cross country champion Gideon Ngatunyi of Police won the 5000 m preliminary race in
14:19.2 followed by William Malel (14:24.4) and Commonwealth Games gold
medalist in steeple Richard Mateelong (14:31.1).

VELENJE (SLO, Apr 2):  Clear
national CC Champions in Slovenia were Mitja Kosovelj in men´s 10 km (31:07) and Lucija
Krkoc in women´s 5 km
(17:27).

CORRECTION

ATHENS (GRE): Please correct the story about
financial difficulties of SEGAS as follows: SEGAS is unable to meet its
financial obligations to all involved parties only for the forthcoming U/18
interclub championships, which are scheduled for this weekend in various venues
all over Greece.

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