A weekend of amazing depth. As the US Indoor Champs were taking place on Saturday, with Will Claye’s triple jump clinc (17.25m, 17.40m, 17.44m, 17.63m), Dexter Faulk’s 7.40 for the 60m hurdles, there was a little marathon in Tokyo, Japan.

Haile Gebreselassie leads 2012 Tokyo Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net

With 26 world records, from 1,500m indoors to the Marathon, Haile
Gebrselassie has thrilled fans for nearly two decades. The Little
Emperor has has had moments of great athletic achievements and moments
of great pathos. Haile told RBR that he loves running and will do it
always, but the competition is wearing. He needed to perform well in
Tokyo to be considered for the Ethiopian team.

 

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Haile Gebrselassie, 2012 Tokyo Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net

Jos Hermans, Haile Gebrselassie, 2012 Tokyo Marathon, 02.26.12,
 photo by PhotoRun.net

HABTAMU
2:25:28 COURSE RECORD

TOKYO
(JPN, Feb 26): Ethiopian Atsede Habtamu ran 2:25:28 to win the Tokyo Marathon
in women’s course record. Second Yeshi Esayas from Ethiopia improved to 2:26:00
and third was Kenyan Helena Kirop 2:26:02. Fourth placer Eri Okubo ran a PB
of 2:26:08, faster than the winning time at the Yokohama International Women’s
Marathon Olympic selection race. Despite her time being faster than Yokohama
winner Ryoko Kizaki’s mark Okubo will not be a contender for the London
Olympic team as the Tokyo Marathon does not count in the Japanese women’s
Olympic selection procedure, informs Brett Larner. Russian Tatyana Arkhipova
was best European as 5th in 2:26:46. Personal bests for 9th placer Adriana da
Silva of Brazil 2:29:17 and 10th Sumiko Suzuki 2:29:26. Kenyan Michael Kipyego
was the winner in 2:07:37 beating Japanese Arata Fujiwara who clocked PB
2:07:48 ahead of Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich 2:07:50. Breakaway men’s leaders
Haile Gebreselassie and Hailu Mekonnen of Ethiopia faltered after hitting the
hills in the last 6 km, Gebrselassie finishing 4th in 2:08:17 and Mekonnen
fading to 8th (2:09:59) with Gebrselassie saying he had back trouble on the
downhills and was unable to keep it together. European champion Viktor Rothlin
clocked excellent 2:08:32 as fifth, his third fastest ever. More personal
records for Japanese runners Kazuhiro Maeda 2:08:38 as 6th and Takayuki
Matsumiya 2:09:28 as 7th. Domestic pre-race favorite Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama
Pref.) appeared to be straining after only 5 km and fell out of the main pack just
past halfway, unable to reclose with a strong finish as his Olympic dream
came to an all-but-sure end with his 14th-place 2:12:51 finish. Adds Brett
Larner. The former world champion and world record holder Gebrselassie told
reporters: “I could run another marathon in two weeks. I felt fantastic
here for the first 30 kilometers then had some problems at the end of the race.
Sometimes you are too ambitious. This can happen. My target was 2:05 today but
it didn’t work out that way. On the last downhill, I started to get some
pain in my back.” With the help from David Martin and Brett Larner.

WL:
CLAYE 17.63 AND FAULK 7.40

ALBUQUERQUE
(USA, Feb 25): Running a flawless race, Bernard Lagat won his third
consecutive USA indoor 3000 m during first day of national championships
serving as world indoor trials. Lagat thrilled the crowd at the Albuquerque
Convention Center (2037 spectators) with a blistering 25.42-second last
lap and clocked 7:47.54, the fastest winning time at these championships in
five years. Taking the altitude into account even more impressive. Lopez Lomong
was second 7:51.75 clearly over Galen Rupp 7:57.36. In the women’s 3000 m,
world 1500 m champion Jenny Simpson got an easy win in 9:19.15 off of a very
slow early pace. Jackie Areson, last year’s NCAA indoor 5000m champion for the
University of Tennessee, won the battle for second over Sara Hall, passing Hall
with 110m to go, and qualifying for her first IAAF World Indoor Championships
(9:20.61 over 9:21.87). But the best mark of the day came in men´s triple jump
as world medalist Will Claye achieved in second round world leading 17.40,
improved to 17.44 in third and even more 17.63 in fourth. It is his overall PB
and 14th all-time indoor performer. Second world champion Christian Taylor
achieved 17.21 from short approach (14 strides) and his 6th attempt foul was
unoficially mentioned as 17.82. Jenn Suhr confirmed her position with 467 first
attempt clearance, then tried at meet record 490. Second Mary Saxer beat on
count-back Lucy Janson (both 462) and will travel to Turkey. Jesse Williams
also won clearly the high jump with 229 and might be the only US competitor in
Istanbul, second Jamie Nieto over Keith Moffat (both 226). In the triple jump
Amanda Smock won with 13.77 but has entry standard from last summer with 14.18.
Amber Campbell achieved meet record in weight throw 24.78 and beat world best
holder Brittany Riley 23.88. High quality also the 24.57 by male winner AG
Kruger. Young walker Trevor Barron improved the meet record in the 3000 m race
to 11.36.27. From heats to note the excellent world leading 7.40 by Dexter
Faulk in the 60 m hurdles, it is the fastest heat ever at US Indoors.
Impressive also Justin Gatlin 6.51 and Tianna Madison 7.10 in 60 m heats,
fastest 400 m times in the first round 51.33 by Sanya Richards-Ross and 46.26
by Frankie Wright. With help from RRW and USATF website.

BLAKE
4X100 M AND 4X400 M RACES

KINGSTON
(JAM, Feb 25): The 100 m world champion Yohan Blake showed good early shape at
the 36th Gibson Relays inside the National Stadium, as he ran a strong
anchor leg for Racers Lions to win the 4×100 m in 38.48, beating Racers Track
Club (38.76 seconds) and MVP, which finished third in 38.77. Blake run anchor
leg (taking the baton from Mario Forsythe, before him running Kimari Roach and
Remaldo Rose), while MVP was leading after Nesta Carter and Michael Frater gave
them a good advantage. Earlier Blake clocked a 45.3 split in the
4×400 m when Racers Lion won in 3:05.95. Javere Bell opened with 46.7 to Warren
Weir who did 45.8 and Demar Murray 47.6. In the women’s event, Racers with four
national representative Shereefa Lloyd, Rosemarie Whyte, Davita Prendergast and
Ristananna Tracey won in 3:31.51. Kenroy Anderson won the 100 m in 10.32 over
Sheldon Mitchell 10.33. World University Games winner Hansle Parchment won the
110 m hurdles in 13.79 against -1.4 wind. With help from TrackAlerts.

PISTORIUS
STARTED HIS SEASON

GERMISTON
(RSA, Feb 25): Hammer World record holder Betty Heidler of Germany achieved
72.29 as guest during Yellow Pages Interprovincial meet. Blade Runner Oscar
Pistorius started his outdoor season with 22.03 (+2.0) in the 200 m. He was
also part of the SASAPD relay team clocking 42.50 as 7th what is faster than
current paralympic world record. Fastest in the 200 m was Thuso Mpuang with
20.84 (+1.4). In the 100 m with ideal +2.0 wind Kagiso Kumbane won with
lifetime best 10.27 over Gideon Trotter 10.29. Burger Lambrechts achieved good
20.12 in the shot put and Zarck Visser bettered his best in the long jump with
796 (-1.2). Pierre de Villiers won the 3000 m walk in 11:40.2 over Poland´s
Grzegorz Sudol 11:42.7.

US COLLEGE
SATURDAY INDOOR (Feb 25)

COLLEGE
STATION: At Big 12 Trinidad´s Deon Lendore improved to 46.33 in the 400 m.
Ricky West won the 800 m in 1:47.81 and Erik Kynard cleared 227 in the high
jump. Solid women sprints as Kamaria Brown improved to world leading 22.86 in
the 200 m. Ashley Collier won the 60 m in 7.25 and Diamond Dixon the 400 m in
52.55.

LINCOLN:
Harun Abda showed impressive shape at Big Ten Championships. He clocked two
excellent personal bests, 600 m in 1:15.86 (coming into top ten of all-time)
and 46.51 in the 400 m. Jamaican Andrew Riley scored a great double with
6.62 at 60 m and 7.62 at 60 m hurdles. Kind Butler won the 200 m in 20.92.
Christina Manning won two out of her 3 individual events. 60 m in 7.23, hurdles
in 7.95 and was second in the 200 m (23.43) beaten by Ashley Spencer 23.24.

LEXINGTON:
During Saturday at SEC Championships Jeff Demps achieved 6.54 in the 60 m
heats, Torrin Lawrence 46.01 in 400 m heats (oversized track here). Marquis
Dendy improved to 806 in the long jump. Slovenian Tina Sutej cleared 455 in the
pole vault, that is new Slovenian indoor record.

BOSTON:
Kemar Hyman of Cayman Islands won the ACC 60 m in fast 6.58. Maurice Mitchell
was the best in the 200 m 20.93. In women sprints wins for Dezerea Bryant 7.25
and 23.26. Brianna Rollins took the 60 m hurdles in 8.07 over Bridgette Owens
8.08.

CHADRON:
At RMACXChampionships Jamaican Indira Spence achieved 7.65 at 55 m hurdles.

ALBUQUERQUE:
Charles Silmon scored a 6.72 and 21.04 sprint double at the Mountain West
Conference.

SEATTLE:
Amaechi Morton used the oversized track here and clocked 46.16 to win the 400 m
at the MPSF Championships. Lawi Lalang of Kenyan also impressive 7:44.48 in the
3000 m. Ryan Milus got the 60 m but was not faster than in heats with 6.65.
Brigetta Barrett cleared 193 in the women high jump.

BOSTON:
At the New England Championships Anthony Davidson posted 1:01.61 in the 500 m
and Selasi Lumax 1:47.34 PB in the 800 m.

OTHER
RESULTS

FUKUOKA
(JPN, Feb 25): Suguru Osako won the Fukuoka International Cross-Country in
30:27 at 10 km beating Yuki Sato in close finish (also 30:27). Hitomi Niiya was
the best in women 6 km (20:18) ahead of Kenyan Grace Kimanzi (20:38).