by Larry Eder
EME NEWS (OCT 29, 2012)
Sandy bringing difficulties
NEW YORK (USA): Hurricane Sandy will have passed by the time the New York City Marathon begins next Sunday, but preparations may be affected by the storm. Informs New York Times. The Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff race in Central Park was run as scheduled Sunday. But runners from overseas planning to arrive in New York several days before the race may have to make alternative plans as flights in and out of the area’s airport are most likely to be delayed. Compounding issues, subways, trains and buses were being shut down starting late Sunday and it was unclear when service would resume. The runners’ exposition at the Javits Center is expected to open as planned on Thursday.
Women title to be decided
NEW YORK (USA): With Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai enjoying an insurmountable lead in the men’s 2011-2012 World Marathon Majors Series as the result of victories at the 2011 Boston and ING New York City Marathons, and the 2012 BMW Berlin Marathon, the women’s title, and equal share of the $1 million prize purse, is up for grabs at the 2012 ING New York City Marathon. The women’s Series is down to three contenders-Kenyans Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, and Sharon Cherop-with Kiplagat and Cherop toeing the line on Sunday hoping to overtake an idle Keitany. As it stands, Keitany is perched atop the leader board with 65 points highlighted by back-to-back victories at the 2011 and 2012 Virgin London Marathons. She’s followed by Kiplagat (50 points), the 2011 IAAF World Champion in the marathon, and Cherop (45 points), winner of the 2012 Boston Marathon. In order for Kiplagat or Cherop to unseat Keitany and claim the $500,000 prize, nothing short of victory on Sunday will do. While a second-place finish by Kiplagat would equal Keitany with 65 points, Keitany owns the tie-breaker with victories over Kiplagat at the last two London Marathons. If the two contenders finish off the top of the NYC podium, Keitany would join Mutai in being crowned champion of the 2011-2012 WMM Series. WMM are informing in a release.
Makau says the story is false
NAIROBI (KEN): AIPS website writes in a story from Kenya that world marathon record holder Patrick Makau and his compatriot Beijing 800m Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo have been linked to doping by the German Broadcaster Hajo Seppelt who in May this year shocked the athletics world with his damning report. According to the report aired on German TV during a sports show ‘Sportschau’ last May, the journalist linked some Kenyan runners to blood doping,then only mentioning that there were ‘Olympic champions’ and ‘top marathoners’. But in an interview withathleticsillustrated.com which was published last week barely a week after Athletics Kenya boss Isaiah Kiplagat had issued stern warnings to foreign coaches and journalists apparently operating illegally in Kenya, Seppelt went ahead and mentioned Makau and Jelimo. Kenyan media are reporting that Makau has rubbished reports linking him with a Nairobi clinic alleged to be supplying banned substances including blood booster EPO. In a statement emailed to Capital Sport Makau said that the informations from German journalists were mere fabrications. “I personally have no knowledge if the story has any validity, but I know that nothing in it has anything to do with me. The story falsely associates me with a particular retail store (located in the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi) and claims that I am a direct customer. This is not correct. I have never been on the premises. The only thing in that shop that suggests that I have anything to do with the store is an old national newspaper clipping with my photo, taped to the wall, together with many other clippings of other athletes’ races,” recent Frankfurt winner said.
Farah and Ennis
LONDON (GBR): Insidethegames informs that British Olympic champions Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis were named Athletes of the Year by the British Athletics Writers’ Association (BAWA) at the organisation’s 50th annual awards event. It is the third year in succession that these two athletes have picked up British athletics’ top prize, and both have now been named Athletes of the Year four times by the sport’s leading writers. Neither winner could be present at the lunchtime ceremony at London’s Tower Hotel, but Ennis’ coach Toni Minichiello was there to accept his athlete’s award on her behalf, while Alan Watkinson, the school teacher who discovered and nurtured the teenaged Farah, collected the men’s award for his former pupil. Olympic long jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford was runner-up and high jumper Robbie Grabarz was third after winning a bronze medal in London. Christine Ohuruogu was runner-up in the vote after winning a silver medal over 400m at London 2012, while the world indoor triple jump champion, Yamilé Aldama, was third. The season’s sprint sensation Adam Gemili won the Jim Coote Memorial Award for junior men. The Lillian Board Memorial Award for junior women went to Katarina Johnson-Thompson who won the world junior long jump title in Barcelona before finishing 15th in the heptathlon at London 2012. The Ron Pickering Memorial Award for Services to Athletics was presented to veteran athletics writer Mel Watman, a founding member of BAWA and the organisation’s Honorary President.
Coach Tessema is having top results
NIJMEGEN (NED): The fast marathon debut by track runner Meselech Melkamu was special in Frankfurt. Her management company Global Sports Communication informs in a release that she is training in the group of Getaneh Tessema in Addis Abeba. This training group already had many successes this year. First of all the victory of Tiki Gelana in the London Olympic marathon. Followed by the victories of Hailu Mekonnen and Etalemahu Kidane in the Hengshui Lake International marathon, Atsede Baysa and Tsegaye Kebede both won Chicago marathon in a new personal bests 2:22:03 and 2:04:38. Aberu Mekuria won the women’s race in Eindhoven marathon and Shitaye Bedaso was second in Koln marathon. Limneh Getachew made a great debut in Koln by finishing second in 2:07:39. Another talented athlete from this training group, Meseret Hailu won the World Half Marathon Championships in Bulgaria. Only two weeks later she won Amsterdam Marathon in a new course record and personal best of 2.21.09. In the men’s race Assefa Bentayehu made a great debut by finishing second in 2.06.22. Also debutants Feysa Bekele and Abraham Girma ran 2.06 in Amsterdam. According to Meselech Melkamu the key to success of coach Getaneh Tessema is only working hard and training together every day so they can help and motivate each other to improve. Olympic marathon Champion Tiki Gelana will run the New York City Marathon next Sunday.
Eriksson new UK head coach
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): UK Athletics has on Monday named Peter Eriksson as the newly appointed Olympic Head Coach. Eriksson, who will move on from his role as UKA’s Paralympic Head Coach with immediate effect, has worked for the governing body since January 2009. As Paralympic Head Coach he masterminded a dramatic rise in performance of the British Team, finishing second in the medal table in the 2011 World Championships and third at the London Paralympic Games Eriksson has been an integral part of UKA’s 2012 Task Force, the group set up by CEO Niels de Vos following the Beijing 2008 Games to deliver improved medal success in London. Since his arrival in 2009 he has been working alongside Performance Director Neil Black and the outgoing Olympic Head Coach, Charles van Commenee.
Lebedeva one more year
VOLGOGRAD (RUS): Long Jump Olympic champion from 2004 and five-time triple jump World Champion Tatyana Lebedeva decided to stay in athletics for another year. The 36-year old Russian
performed in London at her fourth Olympics but was not as successful as she expected and was 10th in the final. “After London’s result I wanted to retire immediately. But now I have healed all my body and soul injuries and made decision to stay in athletics for one year more” Lebedeva said to Russian media. She wants to World Athletics Championships in Moscow but only in case she will be in reasonable shape. “I’m not aiming on victories, superb results or medals at any cost. I want to continue my career and jump to enjoy it. I want to compete in some Asian and American countries I never visited before.” At the same time Lebedeva will continue her work as Volgograd Regional Duma deputy and as vice-president of All-Russian Athletics Federation.
Samitova-Galkina until Rio
MOSCOW (RUS): Steeplechase Beijing Olympic winner and world record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina informed Russian media she would like to prolong her athletics career till Rio 2016. This year 34-years old Russian went through first round at London Olympics this but didn’t finish in the final. “I had injured feet and hip adductor muscles in London so I couldn’t show my real shape and good result. I even thought to finish my career after London but some things were changed for better. Now I’m thinking it would be great to try to prepare for Rio. But my nearest goal is World Championships in Moscow next summer,” she said. After London she has changed the coach and joined the former steeple runner Sergey Yepishin group. “I’m still very motivated in sport despite what I already achieved. I was unsuccessful at all three World Championships I have competed. Moreover I never ran at European Championships. There are many peaks yet for conquest.” Galkina-Samitova also confirmed that she hasn’t serious plans for 2013 Indoor season. “We are not targeting special winter preparation. Most likely I’ll compete at National Indoor Championships but I’m not sure about distance yet. Maybe it’ll be 3000 or 5000m or 2000 m steeple,” she was quoted as saying from her mountain training camp in Kislovodsk.
OTHER NEWS
LONDON (GBR): International sports marketing group Chime Communications is set to take over the management consultancy firm of Sebastian Coe in a deal that could earn the London 2012 chairman GBP 12 million. Informs insidethegames. Coe’s firm, the Complete Leisure Group Limited (CLG), owns all the rights to his income streams over the next 15 years including commissions, royalties and consulting income. The deal means Chime, which made over GBP 30 million from a number of contracts on London 2012, will acquire Coe’s 93 per cent interest in CLG. The deal is also set to see Coe become chairman of Chime’s sports marketing arm, CSM Sport & Entertainment, with the current chairman Alan Pascoe to become President.
BERLIN (GER): Magazine for men GQ voted discus olympic winner Robert Harting as Man of the Year. He recieved the award last Friday during a gala evening. He was tied the award with two tv presenters.
ROMA (ITA): Current president of FIDAL Franco Arese informed in a letter the board of the federation that he is not intending to bid for another term as president at the National Assembly on December 2. He was for first time elected in 2004 and again in 2008. The reason is his current health situation but he also said he wants to continue with his commitments in athletics. The assembly will be held in Milano and possible bidders for president are current vice president Alberto Morini and Alfio Giomi.
INDIANAPOLIS (USA): USATF informs that 2012 Olympic 10 000 m silver medalist Galen Rupp will lead a strong contingent to Chiba for the traditional Chiba Ekiden on November 23. On the men’s side Rupp will be joined by the 2012 U.S. 25 km champion Joseph Chirlee and Jake Riley, who was a six-time All-American during his time at Stanford. The women’s team will include eight-time NCAA Division II Champion Neely Spence, the recent USA 10 km champion Chelsea Reilly, and University of Toledo senior Emma Kertesz.
HOUSTON (USA): The Houston Marathon Committee has teamed up with MarathonGuide.com to offer a record 264 500 USD in prize money for next January’s Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, including a dedicated marathon purse of 18 000 USD for USA athletes. The events will take place on Sunday, January 13. The winner of the Chevron Houston Marathon will be awarded 40 000 USD in 2013, up from 35 000 this year. Informs RRW.
AUCKLAND (NZL): From Tuesday available will be the autobiography of shot put olympic and world winner Valerie Adams with the title “Valerie”. NZ media are informing that from the breakup of her marriage to falling out with her longtime coach to losing to a drug-cheat at the Olympics all is described in her story. She wrote the book with help from Phil Gifford.
RESULTS
DUBLIN (IRL, Oct 29): Irish media are informing that Kenyan Geofrey Ndungu defended his Dublin Marathon win in 2:11:09. Second Robert Kipchumba 2:11:27 and third Ethiopian Abdisa Bedada 2:11:31. Top home runner Paul Pollock from Belfast improved to 2:16:30 what is also World Championships 2013 qualifier. The women’s race was won by another Kenyan, Magdalene Mukunza in 2:30:47, second Faith Chernaoi 2:31:10 and third Russian Natalya Puchkova 2:31:43 with best home runner Maria McCambridge getting 2:35:28. A total of 14 535 athletes took to the Dublin roads with over 5000 charities being represented.
DIJON (FRA, Oct 28): European champion Christophe Lemaitre is still running. In winter conditions at French National Club Championships (U23) he clocked impressive 10.15 aided by +3.6 wind.
MENDOZA (ARG, Oct 28): Brazil was the top country at 21st South American Youth Championships with 372 points ahead of Argentina and Chile. In octathlon Brazilian Jefferson de Carvalho Santos scored 6141 points. Arturo Deliser from Panama clocked in the 200 m 21.31. In total five meeting records were registered, in this list also 13.63 by David Franco from Colombia at 110 m hurdles.
LOS ANGELES (USA, Oct 28): Fernando Cabada won the 3rd Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon in 1:04:56. In the women’s race, crowd favorite and American marathon and half-marathon record holder Deena Kastor led through the 9-mile mark before Mary Akor, who won last Sunday’s Des Moines Marathon in a course record 2:35:01, took the lead on an uphill section of the course to pull away and win by 32 seconds in a personal best 1:14:19.
LUCKNOW (IND, Oct 29): Navjeet Kaur Dhillon is already a popular name among the young athletes around the discus throwing circle. With a bronze medal from last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games already in her kitty, the Punjab girl had no second thought about winning the event and hence set her sights only on the record. This time she achieved new national discus youth record 49.54 at the national junior championships. Ankit Kumar got national youth walking record at 5000 m with 22:17.15. Informs Murali Krishnan.
BILA TSERKVA (UKR, Oct 26-27): Ukrainian CC Championships were the last stage of national selection for December European Cross Country Championships in Budapest. Viktoriya Pohyrelska won both 3 km (10:08) and 6 km races (21:38) in U23 category. The best woman in senior group on 3 km distance became marathon runner Kateryna Stetsenko 10:22. Olha Kotovska won 8km with 29:08. Close finish in men 10 km. Ihor Heletiy finished ahead Bohdan Semenovych (both 31:04) and Dmytro Lashyn (31:18). On the short course (4km) Roman Pasichnyk achieved 12:08. Yehor Zhukov (12:21) was the best at the same distance in U23 category. 8km U23 winner was Ivan Strebkov 25:27. Dmetro Siruk finished second (25:33) ahead of Andriy Strazhynskyy (25:35)
AREZZO (ITA, Oct 28): Ethiopian Abera Chane won the 14th Maratonina Città di Arezzo in life-time best 1:01:11. Second Kenyan Solomon Kirwa Ye
go 1:02:02 and third Henry Kibet 1:02:31. Eunice Chebet as top woman got 1:14:47.
TULSA (USA, Oct 27): RRW informs about close finish here between Julius Kogo and Samuel Ndereba, with Kogo getting the nod in 44:36 at the 35th Tulsa Run at 15 km. Second Ndereba also 44:36 and third Robert Letting 44:38. Hellen Jemutai was th best woman in 51:13.
MONTEREAU (FRA, Oct 28): Les Foulees Monterelaises at 10 km winners were Ethiopian Tsegaye Mekonnen 28:36 and Mary Wacera of Kenya 31:28. Fast times also for second Alfred Cherop 28:43 and 18-years old Kenyan Goreti Chepkoech 31:31. From Race Results Weekly.
