Wesley Korir, 2012 BAA Boston Marathon,

photo by PhotoRun.net

The most iconic marathon of them all, the Boston Marathon will open its registration for 2014 on September 9, 2013. Check the website, www.baa.org, for complete details. Bank of America Chicago Marathon has instituted some smart security measures, mostly common sense, and we suggest you go to www.chicagomarathon.com to read those.

I have not really written much about the Boston bombing, more than anything, because, I did not want to give the murderers any more publicity. As someone who has run every major marathon in the US but Chicago, and has visited up to twenty marathons a year, I believe that marathons are safe. But, one must use common sense. In this day and age, no place is perfectly safe.

I also believe, that if one does not go to major events such as marathons because of fear, then the jerks win.

THIAGO BEATS GERMANS

LEVERKUSEN (GER, Aug 29): Brazilian youngster Thiago Da Silva surprised home favorites and won the Pole Vault Classics in Leverkusen with 582 clearance. That was also new meet record and on count back second World Champion Raphael Holzdeppe also 582. Third Bjorn Otto 570. Thiago was also trying at new South American record mark 588 cm. Holzdeppe passed this mark and went for 594 but in second attempt got a cramp and did not continue to jump. Otto after 570 went straight to 594. Fourth was Tobias Scherbarth ahead of Karsten Dilla, both 560. Katharina Bauer won the women competition 440.

OTHER NEWS

BOSTON (USA): The Boston Athletic Association, organizers of the Boston Marathon, announced that they will expand the field of America’s oldest marathon to 36,000 entrants for 2014, and that registration for the race would open to qualified runners on Monday, September 9. As is tradition, the race will be held on the third Mondayin April–April 21— Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts.

PRAHA (CZE): Special guest at We Run Prague of Nike will be Paula Radcliffe this Saturday in Praha. Among guests also javelin world champion Vitezslav Vesely.

LONDON (GBR): John Regis, the British men’s 200m national record holder believes that 19 year Adam Gemili will break his record, reportsexpress.co.uk. Gemili ran 19.98 in the semi-finals of the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, 0.11 of a second off the national record of 19.87 which was set in 1994. Regis credits Gemili’s attitude, saying “I like Gemili’s attitude. He runs every race like a final, so he’s not giving any chance for errors”. “He’s so young and fearless… I don’t think he even fears (Usain) Bolt”.

LONDON (GBR): Disgraced Canadian Sprinter Ben Johnson is to start a global anti-doping campaign, 25 years after he won his Olympic 100m gold medal, reports sport.bt.com. Johnson, who failed a drug test after his victory in the Seoul Olympics, will go on a world tour to promote the campaign, “Choose the Right Track”, launched by the sportswear manufacturer SKINS. The 51 year old, who will not get paid for his participation, will tour Canada, USA and Japan before finishing his trip at the Seoul Olympic Stadium on September 24th. SKINS Chairman Jaimie Fuller will propose changes to the anti-doping system as part of the campaign. One of these is the setting up of an athlete support council.

GUATEMALA CITY (GUA): A Guatemalan marathon runner tested positive for a banned substance at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, reports prensalibre.com. The 25 year old Jeremiah Saloj tested positive for EPO in two tests conducted in August. He finished 33rd in the World Championships Marathon in 2:20.40.

STOCKHOLM (SWE): Swedish 400 m runner Johan Wissman has struggled this season due to thigh injuries, reports hd.se. The 30 year old says that his main focus is on qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. His season’s best is 46.97, well off his personal best of 44.56 set in 2007.

NEW HAVEN (USA): The USA 20km Championships will be headlined by defending champion and men’s USA Running Circuit standings leader, Matt Tegenkamp, informs USATF. Monday’s (September 2nd) race will also feature Abdi Abdirahman who finished 2nd, behind Tegenkamp, at this year’s USA 10km Championships. Tegenkamp will make his debut in the Chicago Marathon in October and hence is still in a heavy marathon training, running over 100 miles this week, informs race Race Results Weekly. In the women’s race Mattie Suver is the top ranked athlete in the USARC standings, currently sitting in second position. Molly Pritz is the top returner from last year’s race where she finished 2nd.

RESULTS

REDUIT (MRI, Aug 29): First winners at African junior championships includes Ethiopian Haftamnesh Tesfay in girls 3000 m in 9:32.33 ahead of Kenyan Sheila Chepngetich 9:32.97. Kenyan win in boys steeple by Festus Kiprono 8:38.99 clearly over Zewdu Workie of Ethiopia 8:51.73.

LIRA (UGA, Aug 28): East Africa Secondary School Games had Geoffrey Korir winning the boys 10 000 m in meet record 29:41.01. Ugandans revenged well after Ukraine World Youth Championships Stella Chesang destroyed the field to win 5000 m girls race in 16:40.09 to leave Kenyans Everline Chelangat (16.58.00) and Jackline Chepwogen (17:00.00) in second and third positions.

NOVE ZAMKY (SVK, Aug 29): Adam Zavacky clocked 10.44 during Slovak Club Championships. Dana Veldakova was jumping only to win with 13.73. Spartak Dubnica club won again both men and women titles.

ZURICH (SUI, Aug 29): Within the Young Diamonds Challenge before the main programme German Varg Konigsmark won the 400 m hurdles in 49.62 and Swiss Lea Sprunger clocked 23.31 (+1.5) in the 200 m.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
View all posts