CATHY FREEMAN FINISHED A MARATHON

HOBART (AUS, Jan 13): 2000 Olympic winner at 400 m Cathy Freeman succeeded in her bid to run a marathon, finishing 67th female in the 2013 Cadbury Marathon in Tasmania in 4:31.29, having run throughout with training mate former Australian 400m hurdler, Evette Cordy who finished one spot ahead in 4:31.28. Cathy’s original plan was to have debuted in New York in November together with her colleagues from Rob de Castella’s Indigenous Marathon Project but they were all stymied by Hurricane Sandy. Rather extraordinarily there was a possibility earlier this week that this marathon might also have to be canceled due to another natural disaster – the Tasmanian Bushfires. But the fire threat has eased over the last week, the air quality improved and alternate plans were made to cover police resources. Winners were Matthew Fenech 2:28:48 and Natalie Wallace 3:15:42.

ETHIOPIAN RAINY DAY

HOUSTON (USA, Jan 13): In a repeat from last year, athletes from Ethiopia swept all four titles at the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half-Marathon, successfully battling cold temperatures, sometimes heavy rain, standing water, and strong winds. Informs Race Results Weekly. Despite the harsh conditions, Merima Mohammed ran the second-fastest time ever for a woman here, breaking away from compatriot Buzunesh Deba at 33 kilometers and winning in 2:23:37. The 20 year-old, who previously won marathons in Düsseldorf and Ottawa, finished only 31 seconds off of her personal best, despite dealing with a painful injury during the race. Deba, who was scheduled to run the ING New York City Marathon last November before it was canceled in the wake of super storm Sandy, finished nearly a minute back in 2:24:26. Meskerem Assefa, a two-time Olympian and former middle distance track star, ran a solid debut time of 2:25:17. The top American was Tera Moody who finished sixth in 2:39:10. Before her as top European Olena Burkovska of Ukraine as fifth in 2:34:56. Men’s marathon champion Bazu Worku came into today’s race as the fastest marathoner of all-time who had never won a marathon. That changed today as he waxed the field by more than two and one-half minutes, breaking the finish tape next to the George R. Brown Convention Center in 2:10:17. Ethiopian men took the first six places: Teferi Balcha was second in 2:12:50 and Solomon Molla was third in 2:14:37. The top American was Andrew Carlson as seventh in 2:17:16. In the half-marathon, defending champion and reigning IAAF World Championships Marathon bronze medalist Feyisa Lelisa won a two-way battle with Ethiopian compatriot Deriba Merga, who was the marathon champion here in 2009. Lelisa clocked 1:01:54 ahead of Merga 1:02:00 Kenya’s Wilson Erupe, who made up a lot of ground in the second half, got third (1:02:12). Finishing fourth and taking top honors amongst Americans was former Oregon Duck Shadrack Biwott who acquired his USA citizenship last June. He had hoped to run faster than his 1:02:23, but was satisfied given the conditions. In winning the women’s half-marathon, Mamitu Daska became the first woman to win both the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half-Marathon during a career. She won the marathon in 2011 in 2:26:33, then completely dominated the half-marathon here in 1:09:53, beating second place Caroline Kilel of Kenya by more than two minutes (1:11:58). Kenya’s Hellen Jemutai was third (1:12:54).

KUMA AND KIPROP

EGMOND (NED, Jan 13): Ethiopian Abera Kuma won the 41st edition of the Egmond Halve Marathon in good conditions in 1:01:20. It is fifth fastest time here. Second top favorite Vincent Kipruto in 1:01:36 and third Ethiopian Bonsa Diba 1:01:53. Only 6th another pre-race favorite Sammy Kitwara 1:02:25 ahead of top Europeans home runners Michel Butter 1:02:46 as 9th and Khalid Choukoud as 10th 1:02:58. Kenyan Hellah Kiprop was the best woman in 1:10:55. Second position for Flomena Chepchirchir 1:10:56 and third Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese 1:11:14. Top home runner Andrea Deelstra 1:15:12 as sixth.

BURKA AND C. KIPRUTO

ELGOIBAR (ESP, Jan 13): Former middle distance runner Gelete Burka from Ethiopia won the 6.624 km women race at jubilee 70th Juan Muguerza Cross Country here (EA CC Permit). Her time 22:53 ahead of Kenyans Mercy Cherono 22:59 and Irene Cheptai 23:08. Fifth best Spanish Diana Martin 23:17 ahead of Dutch Adrienne Herzog as 6th (23:18). World junior steeple champion Conseslus Kipruto (is still junior in 2013) won the senior 10.796 over good field in 33:15. Second Emmanuel Bett 33:17 and third Spain´s Ayad Lamdassem 33:18. Only fourth road world record Leonard Komon 33:20 and fifth Vincent Chepkok 33:31.

EDRIS ANOTHER JUNIOR WINNER

ROVERETO (ITA, Jan 13): Ethiopian 18-year-old Mukhtar Edris, IAAF World Junior champion in the 5000 m and African Junior Cross Country champion, won at a canter in the men’s 9 km race at the 36th edition of the Vallagarina EA Cross Country Permit meeting in 26:43 beating Italian Stefano La Rosa by 42 seconds. The Italian 5000 m and World University Games bronze medallist edged nine-time European Cross Country champion Sergiy Lebid in a breathtaking final sprint to take the second place in 27:25. Silvia La Barbera held off Valeria Roffino in a all-Italian battle in the women’s 6 km race. La Barbera and Roffino engaged an exciting neck-to-neck battle for win. The race was not decided until the final straight where La Barbera edged Roffino by three seconds with 22:44 for the first Italian win in Rovereto since 2009.

EUROPEAN INDOOR RESULTS (Mutaz 230)

SANTANDER (ESP, Jan 12): European high jump champion Ruth Beitia started her indoor season with 190 cm clearance here.

KRISTIANSAND (SWE, Jan 13): Qatari Olympic medalist Mutaz Essa Barshim started his indoor season in a small meet in Southern Sweden with 230 first attempt clearance. He then tried at 233 cm and the efforts were close.

ANTEQUERA (ESP, Jan 12): Adding to this meet the 800 m by Kevin Lopez 1:47.68.

NOVOCHEBOKSARSK (RUS, Jan 12): Olympic winner 2004 Yuriy Borzakovskiy continues in his racing activities and won the 800 m in 1:50.03 at the Chuvashia Cup. Fast 3000 m by Yelena Korobkina 8:51.87. In the 800 m Yekaterina Poistogova-Zavyalova clocked 2:01.43. In the 200 m Yelizaveta Savlinis beat in 23.55 Kseniya Zadorina 23.86. Anzhelika Sidorova cleared 450 in the pole vault. Irina Yumanova was timed with 21:12.00 in the 5000 m walk.

BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Jan 12): Andrew Robertson won here the 60 m in 6.73 and 2008 olympic finalist Sarah Claxton the 60 m hurdles in 8.24.

OREBRO (SWE, Jan 12-13): Alexander Brorsson won the 60 m in 6.77 and hurdles in 7.86 over two days here.

LA CORUNA (ESP, Jan 12): World junior triple jump champion Ana Peleteiro started with indoor personal best 13.24.

SANDNES (NOR, Jan 12): Lars Vikan Rise scored 5479 points as unofficial Norwegian heptathlon champion.

ANCONA (ITA, Jan 13): Veronica Borsi improved here to 8.16 at 60 m hurdles.

ROMA (ITA, Jan 13): Marzia Caravelli was even faster with two 8.10 times at 60 m hurdles in Casa del Marmo.

MOSCOW (RUS, Jan 13): At Moscow indoor combined events championships Sergey Sviridov scored 5621 points in heptathlon ahead of 2009 World Champion in high jump Yaroslav Rybakov with 5389 points and mainly 219 in the high jump (the best ever indoor heptathlon high jump is 224 cm). In other events Rybakov achieved 7.44 at 60 m, 680 in the long jump, 14.32 in shot put, 8.65 over the hurdles, 440 in pole vault and 3:06.24 in the 1000 m.

SAARBRUCKEN (GER, Jan 13): Italian Paolo Dal Molin won the 60 m hurdles here in 7.77 and improved his best at 60 m to 6.71.

OTHER RESULTS

KYOTO (JPN, Jan 13): Kanagawa won the Inter-Prefecture Women’s Ekiden after 2:14:55 ahead of Hyogo 2:15:18, Osaka 2:15:24 and Chiba 2:15:46.

LISBOA (POR, Jan 13): Manuel Damiao won the Portugal National 15 km road race championships in 45:19 ahead of Youssef el Kalai 45:27 and Jose Rocha 45:39. European medalist
Sara Moreira won the women race in 48:48 over Dulce Felix 49:15 and marathon specialist Marisa Barros 50:06. Maratona won both team titles.

LE MANS (FRA, Jan 13): Kenyan John Kipkoech won the 32nd Cross Ouest with 30:33 at 10.4 km. Second Ethiopian Yimer Ayalew 30:34 and third Ugandan Moses Kipsiro 30:35. Top French runners 12th El Hassan Benlkhanouich 31:46 and 13th Abdelatif Meftah 31:49. Ethiopian steeple runner Etenesh Diro Neda won the women 6.3 km in 20:36 clearly. Second Kenyan Veronica Nyaurai 20:52 and third Sofiya Shemsu of Ethiopia 20:52. Priscah Jepleting was 5th 21:22. From French runner Laila Traby as 6th 21:27, 8th Martha Komu 21:31 and 9th Clemence Calvin 21:32.

VALENCIA (ESP, Jan 13): Morrocan Lasri Abdelghafour in 29:46 and Spanish Isabel Checa in 33:19 won the 10 km Divina Pastora Valencia with 8000 runners.

US INDOOR RESULTS (Saturday Jan 12)

COLLEGE STATION: Prezel Hardy clocked fast 6.64 at the Texas A & M Invitational to win the 60 m ahead of Clayton Vaughn 6.67 and Michael Bryan 6.69. The 2009 World Youth Champion Hardy also clocked indoor PB 20.78 to be the fastest in the 200 m. Still a junior Aldrich Bailey won another section in 21.00. In the olympic development sections world relay medalist Antoine Adam of St. Kitts achieved 6.70 and 21.00. Serbian Bozidar Antunovic got indoor PB in shot put 19.62 and Texas AM clocked 3:06.25 in the 4×400 m. Jamaican 400 m specialist Patricia Hall won the olympic development 60 m in 7.43. Kamaria Brown was the fastest in the 200 m 23.57 and Ashton Purvis clocked 23.58 in another series.

BIRMINGHAM: At Crimson Tide Opener Marcus Rowland won the 60 m in 6.64 over D´Angelo Cherry also 6.64. In the B races Jeffery Henderson 6.67 over Dentarius Locke 6.67. Fast 200 m by Aaron Ernest 20.80. Florida clocked 3:07.59 in the 4×400 m. NCAA 200 m champion Kimberlyn Duncan won the 60 m in 7.39.

LEXINGTON: At Kentucky Invitational on oversized track here Nigerian Noah Akwu scored a good double with 6.74 and 20.91. In the women 60 m Octavious Freeman won in 7.24 (and 7.20 in heats) as her rival Aurieyall Scott clocked 7.23 in heats and then won the 200 m in 23.47 over Freeman 23.79. World indoor medalist at 800 m Erica Moore won the 400 m in 54.03 (indoor PB).

LINCOLN: James White improved to 227 at Holiday Inn Invitational in the high jump.

SEATTLE: Olympic 10 000 m medalist Galen Rupp won here at the oversized track in 3:57.15 over the mile ahead of Don Cabral 4:00.56. In women 3000 m fast time by 16-years old Mary Cain 9:02.10. It is clearly better than US junior record 9:16.59 but due to oversized nature of the track will not be ratified. Second Tara Erdmann 9:02.96 ahead of Treniere Moser 9:03.54 and Canadian Hillary Stellingwerf 9:05.79.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY: Fastest 60 m of the season 6.57 PB by Joe Morris at All-Comers here at the altitude. Second Jeremy Dodson 6.71. Morris also won the 200 m in 21.01 (oversized track).

KENT: Solid results at Doug Raymond Invitational as Brycen Spratling clocked here at the oversized track 20.97 in the 200 m ahead of Kenyan Carvin Nkanata 21.05. Terrence Sommerville won the 60 m hurdles in 7.71 and Derrick Vicars 20.12 PB in the shot put.

MANKATO: Jerrell Hancock won the 300 m here in 33.54.

FLAGSTAFF: NCAA champion Jordan Clarke achieved at Lumberjack Team Challenge 20.59 in the shot put, Ryan Milus clocked 6.71 in the 60 m.

UNIVERSITY PARK: World junior 2010 medalist Casimir Loxsom clocked fast 1:46.98 indoor lifetime best in the 800 m at the Nittany Lion Challenge.

HANOVER: NCAA Champion Abbey D´Agostino was timed with fast personal best 4:34.15 over the mile at the Darmouth Relays.

OTHER NEWS

KONIGSSEE (GER): Former top British sprinter Craig Pickering debuted at the bobsleigh World Cup series in Konigssee, Germany as 19th with John Jackson. Lolo Jones with Jazmine Fenzlater was 10th. Jana Pittman 14th. In the four men competition German team as 3rd had former top hurdler Thomas Blaschek. In British team 10.25 sprinter from last year Joel Fearon. Italy had decathlete William Frullani.

KERICHO (KEN): With a share of the USD 14,118 (Ksh1.2 million) series jackpot up for grabs Kericho was the designated final of the AK Series with Emily Chebet, Hosea Macharinyang, Emmanuel Bett and Roseline Chepngetich accumulating the least points to earn USD 2353 (Ksh200,000) a piece. To qualify, athletes needed to place among the top six in three of the six rounds as well as the final.

MOSCOW (RUS): Happy news from Kseniya Vdovina (the 50.43 400 m runner last year) and Yevgeniy Ryzhov (14:16.67 in the 5000 m). They married recently.