KENYAN NAMES FOR MOSCOW

NAIROBI (KEN): Athletics Kenya Thursday officially released the provisional national marathon team for the World Championships in Moscow. Defending champions Abel Kirui and Edna Kiplagat were among the athletes in the team that has six men and a similar number of women. Kirui , who won back-to-back 2009 Berlin and 2012 Daegu World Championships title, the 2013 Paris Marathon champion Peter Some, World 25km record holder Dennis Kimetto (2:06:50) and Mike Kipyego, the 2012 Tokyo Marathon champion, are in the team. Bernard Kipyego and Bernard Koech wraps up the men’s team. In the women’s team are London marathon champion Priscah Jeptoo, the 2008 Amsterdam champ Lydia Cheromei, Lucy Kabuu, who holds the all time ninth fastest time in Marathon with her second place exploits at the 2012 Dubai Marathon of 2:19:34. Others are Jemimah Jelagat, who won the 2013 Rotterdam Marathon in a personal best 2:23:27 in April and Margaret Akai, winner of the Daegu International Marathon in April with personal best of 2:23.28. The athletes, who will not take part in any marathon races until after the World Championships, will proceed to residential camp in Eldoret at the end of this month. Informs The Nation.

ASAFA NOT COMPETING UNTIL TRIALS

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaican sprinting star Asafa Powell will try to be ready for Jamaican Championships/World Trials on June 21-23 after his injury last weekend at all-comers meet. His agent Paul Doyle confirms it was a minor strain, but he will not compete until the Trials. Jamaica has two wild card holders for the 100 m at World Championships (Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt) but only one wild card can be used within IAAF rules.

OLYMPIC NEWS

LAUSANNE (SUI): IOC President Jacques Rogge says more targeted, out-of-competition testing in high-profile sports is needed to catch the drug cheats following a key meeting of sports leaders in Lausanne. The meeting chaired by Rogge included the four IOC vice-presidents in Singapore’s Ser Miang Ng, Germany’s Thomas Bach, Morocco’s Nawal El Moutawakel and Britain’s Sir Craig Reedie. They were joined by the leaders of major International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and other key international sporting groups. Drug-testing strategies were discussed in-depth and although the IOC has declined to release details of the meeting, Rogge revealed that all sides agreed on the need for greater unannounced out-of-competition testing. Informs insidethegames.

ST. PETERSBURG (RUS): Ukraine’s Sergey Bubka, Ireland’s Pat McQuaid, Germany’s Klaus Schormann and C K Wu of Taiwan will stand against each other for just three places on the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) Council at the organisation’s General Assembly in St Petersburg next Tuesday. The ASOIF General Assembly will take place during the 2013 SportAccord International Convention in the Russian city, with the key focus set to be on who will be elected onto the organisation’s ruling seven-member Council. The IAAF Vice-President legendary pole vaulter Bubka is seeking re-election for a second four-year term with his first term now coming to an end. Also high on the agenda at the General Assembly is set to be announcement about how much money the 26 Olympic summer sports federations that participated in London 2012 are set to receive from the Games last year. Writes insidethegames.

DIAMOND LEAGUE NEWS< /span>

OSLO (NOR): The “Dream Mile” is always a feature event at Oslo’s ExxonMobil Bislett Games. It is the most traditional and famous Mile race in the world as it boasts a unique history that is highlighted with great names and performances. In the 80s the British trio of Coe, Ovett and Cram all contested the celebrated Mile race and all established new World Records. Reigning World Champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya is chasing a record three straight victories in the Dream Mile and will be looking to challenge his personal best of 3:48.50. Local interest will be at fever pitch with high expectations for Norway’s young Henrik Ingebrigtsen, the European Champion. In the field also current World Indoor Champion Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco and Kenyans Silas Kiplagat with Nixon Chepseba.

NEW YORK (USA): Needing more time to be at full strength after a hamstring cramp last weekend in the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, Aries Merritt has withdrawn from the adidas Grand Prix on Saturday. “I was looking forward to returning to Icahn Stadium on the new track there, but I won’t be able to make it,” said Merritt, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and World Record-holder. “Ever since my hamstring cramped, I’ve hoped and planned to be back to training by today. I’m feeling better, but I just don’t have time to be ready bySaturday.” Also out of the meet is John Kipkoech, who had been planning to compete at 5000 meters. Added to the meet in that event is American Anthony Famiglietti, a two-time Olympian in the 3000-meter steeplechase.

NEW YORK (USA): Forty-six of the top high school athletes in the country make up the final rosters for the adidas Dream 100 and Dream Mile, to be contested at the adidas Grand Prix in NYC on Saturday. The roster includes eight athletes ranked number one in the country, with several leading the way at more than one distance. Athletes will travel to NYC from 20 states, as well as from Ontario, Canada. The adidas Dream 100 and Dream Mile are again destined to be among the highlights of the adidas Grand Prix. One of the top track-and-field events in the world, the event at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island will feature dozens of international superstars, including 2012 Olympic medalists David Rudisha, Jenn Suhr, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sanya Richards-Ross, Brittney Reese, Michael Tinsley, Javier Culson, Francena McCorory, and Bianca Knight.

NEW YORK (USA): 2011 relay world champion Mershevet Hooker is to open her season after baby break on Saturday at New York Diamond League. In the women 100 m the fastest this year is Trinidad record holder Kelly-Ann Baptiste. Second fastest is the 2005 World Champion Lauryn Williams. Another top season opener will be the one by Olympic winner Sanya Richards-Ross in the 400 m, she will have it tough with world leader and Doha winner Amantle Montsho, British rival Christine Ohuruogu. Waiting for the chance also Novlene Williams-Mills, Francena McCororoy and Jamaican Patricia Hall.

ROMA (ITA): The Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, the fifth leg of the IAAF Diamond League will have as something special women high jump. That is because the still valid world record was achieved in the same stadium back in 1987 by Stefka Kostadinova (209). It will start at 20.15 in front of the Curva Sud near the 100 m finish-line. In the field olympic and world winner Anna Chicherova, against her returning Croatian star Blanka Vlasic, their first duel of the year. On the home side the World junior champion and only 2 meters jumper of last indoor season Alessia Trost. The exclusive 2 meters club will be also represented by two more Russian stars: the reigning Olympic bronze medallists Svetlana Shkolina (PB 2.03) and Irina Gordeyeva, who improved her PB to 2.04 in 2012. Not to be written off will be Sweden’s Emma Green Tregaro, European Outdoor silver medallist with 2.01 in 2010 and European Indoor silver medallist this year in Gotenborg.

COMPETITION NEWS

HALLE (GER): This weekend the traditional throwing meet of Halle will be staged for 39th time. In women hammer world record holder Betty Heidler will clash with Poland´s former world record holder Anita Wlodarczyk (for her season debut). In men shot put world champion David Storl will open his season after passing the indoor season. Men hammer will have Poland´s Pawel Fajdek and Szymon Ziolkowski against best German Markus Esser and Tajikistan´s Dilshod Nazarov. Another reigning world champion in action will be Mathias de Zordo in men javelin. Fresh Diamond League winner Christina Schwanitz competes in the shot put, in women discus 3 strong Chinese throwers will battle with home Nadine Muller. Linda Stahl vs. Katarina Molitor will be the javelin battle as Christina Obergfoll throws at DL in New York City. Senior events will be held on Saturday.

GOTZIS (AUT): The top IAAF Combined Events Challenge meet in Gotzis this weekend should break the current world leads 8390 and 6186. In decathlon top favorites Dutch Eelco Sintnicolaas with French Frank Mayer and strong group of Germans headed by Pascal Behrenbruch. From overseas to note Canadian Damian Warner and US Gunnar Nixon. On the women side world champion Tatyana Chernova will face European Champion Antoinette Nana Djimou, Canadian future wife of Asthon Eaton Brianne Theisen, Ukrainian Hanna Melnychenko and strong groups of German and Dutch competitors.

KLADNO (CZE): 7th edition of TNT Express Meeting in Kladno onJune 8-9 (IAAF CE Challenge) will have as main stars in decathlon Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan (also title defender) and Andrey Kravchenko of Belarus. In women heptathlon Poland´s Karolina Tyminska and home star Eliska Klucinova.

TORINO (ITA): The 14th edition of Memorial Primo Nebiolo on June 8 (EA Premium Meeting) will have local sprinters as stars headed by Michael Tumi who last weekend clocked 10.19. Hurdles main name will be new Cuban star Orlando Ortega who has the second fastest time of the year currently 13.17. He will run against top Italian Emanuele Abate.

MONTREUIL (FRA): The European Classic meet in Montreuil in France on June 3 announced first top names. European Champion Christophe Lemaitre runs the 200 m. Great duel is expected in triple jump when Teddy Tamgho should compete against British Philips Idowu. Russian Diamond Race winner Yelena Sokolova competes in women long jump against French European Champion Eloyse Lesueur. Fast hurdles are expected from home athletes Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Garfield Darien against US Indoor Champion Omo Osaghae. Both men 1500 m and 5000 m are having deep fields able to attack 3:33 and 13:15 as final times.

MANCHESTER (GBR): Superstar Haile Gebrselassie is unlikely to be intimidated by his world class rivals when they clash at the Bupa Great Manchester Run on Sunday. The Ethiopian, who faces some top fellow African performers – including Olympic Marathon bronze medallist Wilson Kipsang, his fellow Kenyan Moses Kipsiro and Stephen Mokoka of South Africa – will instead be inspired by his victory of 12 months ago. „Why do I keep returning to Manchester?” said Gebrselassie. „Quite simple really. It’s a great race over a fast and flat course which lends itself to my style of running. It’s also always a highly competitive race. Nine-time European Cross Country champion Sergey Lebid will also be in action after stepping in as a late replacement for Great Britain’s US-based Chris Thompson an ex-European 10,000m silver medallist. Tirunesh Dibaba, a three-time Olympic Games gold medallist and, along with her cousin Derartu Tulu, arguably the greatest middle distance track performer of all-time, will be an overwhelming favourite to lift the women’s title. Helen Clitheroe, the 2011 champion who has put her marathon debut on hold until the autumn, heads the domestic entries, along with Susan Partridge, who will compete for Great Britain in the World Championships at that distance in August. The pair will be joined by fellow British international Gemma Steel. Overseas challengers include France and Latvia’s best athletes Christelle Dauney and Jelena Prokopcuka. Organizers are informing.

OTHER NEWS

TOKYO (JPN): Athens 2004 Olympic marathon gold medalist and national record holder Mizuki Noguchi (34) left from Tokyo’s Narita Airport on Wednesday for altitude training in Boulder, Colorado. Interviewed prior to her departure, she said that she is aiming to make the 2016 Rio Olympics. Following her withdrawal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics Noguchi struggled with injuries for years, but after a 3rd-place finish at March’s Nagoya Women’s Marathon she made her first national team in ten years, qualifying for the Moscow World Championships marathon squad.

MANCHESTER (GBR): Former world indoor champion British sprinter Dwain Chambers has a new mountain to climb – and this time it has nothing to do with a legal battle to run for his country. The sprinter will end the summer season by spending seven days scaling Mont Blanc in the Alps to raise money for cancer charity Teens Unite. But he will start his season this Saturday at Manchester City Games. “But for me to be satisfied with my career when I do retire I would like to go under 10 seconds again,” Chambers said for express.co.uk.

BEIJING (CHN): Not finishing due to an injury the 200 m in Beijingon Tuesday was Laverne Jones-Ferrette (31) from US Virgin Islands. Her agent Chris Layne explains: „Laverne has been battling Achilles-tendonitis and thought it was making progress it acted up again in Beijing. She will turn her focus to the World Championships in Moscow and try to be healthy and fit for a good showing in August.”

LASSEE (AUT): Kenyan Dickson Terer is the main name for Raiffeisen Schlössermarathon on June 9 in Marchfeld. His best is 2:14:31 from last year, also in the field another Kenyan Daniel Mwangi (best of 2:14:13).

BRUSSELS (BEL): Belgian media suggest triple jumper Svetlana Bolshakova might end her career and start a family after the news broke she needs double surgery on her left foot and right knee. Her coach Michel Boels believes she will shortly make a decision about her future.

BRUSSELS (BEL): Belgian high jump talent Hannelore Desmet ruptured her Achilles tendon and received surgery. Desmet faces rehabilitation of several months and will later make a statement about the decision to continue her high jump career.

PARIS (FRA): Festina has prolonged its sponsorship of the French athletics association for another four years. The company will also be one of the main partners for all national championships and pro athle tour competitions the FFA confirms.

KARLOVY VARY (CZE): Czech Running series will introduce new event this Saturday. The 1st edition of Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon. African favorites are Kenyan Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru (1:01:10) against Ethiopian Alelegn Aguade (1:01:45). In women’s category, the winner’s podium should belong to Ethiopian runner Lemlem Berhe (1:11:50), Zenebu Haftu (1:12:10) or to Iness Chenonge whose personal record is the fastest in the start field. Alongside other athletes, European runners will be represented by Olga Kotovska (1:12:19) from Ukraine and Artem Kuftyrev from Russia

RESULTS

TRIPOLI (LEB, May 19): In the 4th edition of Tripoli Half Marathon Ethiopian Gadisa Shumie won in 1:03:23, in women
race Worknesh Tola 1:15:13.

DOHA (QAT, May 22): During second day of Arab Championships top improvement for Youssef Al-Masrahi of Saudi Arabia at the 400 m with 44.72, his career first sub 45 seconds. He missed the national record of Hamdan Al-Bishi 44.66 from 2000 World Junior Championships only by 0.06. Qatari Samuel Francis confirmed his position in winning the 100 m in 10.31 (-0.8) over Moroccan Aziz Ouhadi 10.38 and Oman record holder Barakat Al-Harthi 10.45. Djibouti star Ayanleh Souleiman won the 1500 m in 3:39.44, Algerian Abdelmajed Touil got the steeple 8:57.92. Algerian African Champs medalist Lyes Mokdel won the 110 m hurdles in lifetime best 13.63 (+0.1) ahead of Kuweiti Abdulaziz Al-Mandeel 13.72. Mohamed Al-Zankawi scored for Kuweit expected hammer win 74.28 beating World junior champion Ashraf Amjad (still a junior) of Qatar 73.17. From women events to note Moroccan Yamina Hjaji winning the hurdles in 13.62 and Algerian Yasmina Omrani scoring 5573 points in heptathlon. Informs Carole Fuchs.

BUSAN (KOR, May 17): The traditional pole vault meet winners were Nikita Filippov of Kazakhstan 530 and US April Kubishta with 420 cm.

SOFIA (BUL, May 23): At New Stars meet national record holder in shot put Georgi Ivanov confirmed his top shape with 20.84 m.