by Larry EderAlfons Juck updates us on the world of road racing and race walking from this past weekend. Note the Falk Cierpinski, 22 years of age, and son of two time Olympic gold medalist Waldemar Cierpinski, ran a personal best of 2:15.48 in 22nd at the Hamburg, where David Kipkorir ran a new course record and personal best of 2:07:23.
Note that Bernard Barmesai and Wilson Boit Kipketer, former Olympic steeplechasers, ran in Hamburg. In Vienna, former bronze medalist at the 50k race walk, Aigars Fedejevs, who ran 2:18:19.
EME NEWS (APR 27, 2008)
ROAD SPECIAL
KIPKORIR AND TIMOFEYEVA WINS
HAMBURG (GER, Apr 27): Kenyan David Kipkorir won the Hamburg Marathon and achieved new PB 2:07:23. The Rome winner from 2006 improved from 2:08:38. „I did not expect such a fast race,” he was quoted. Wilfred Kigen was second as last year with 2:07:48 and missed his best by 15 seconds (achieved here last year). Four more sub 2:10 marks for African runners. First Ethiopians Tariku Jifar (2:08:10) and Tessema Abshior (2:08:26) and then two Kenyans Sammy Kurgat (2:08:55) and Laban Kimpkemboi (2:09:46). Four-time winner and course record holder Julio Rey of Spain (2:06:52) was only 16th with 2:13:20 but still was best European. Best German Falk Cierpinski as 22nd (2:15:48, PB), the son of legendary double Olympic gold medalist. Interestingly in the field also two former excellent steeple runners – Bernard Barmasai was 15th (2:13:12) and Wilson Boit Kipketer 18th (2:14:50).
Russian Irina Timofeyeva (38) dominated the women field and improved her best and course record to 2:24:14 (before 2:25:29 from Tokyo 2001). Kenyan Pamela Chepchumba the winner of Milano 2007 and bronze holder from World Half-marathon championships was second (2:28:36) and third Asha Gigi from Ethiopia (2:29:28). Fourth Spanish Yesenia Centeno improved her best to Olympic standard 2:31:16. Great improvement also for Lithuanian Rasa Drazdauskaite to 2:31:59 as sixth. German European Champion Ulrike Maisch gave up after 16 km because she felt tired. More than 23 000 runners competed.
ABEL KIRUI COURSE RECORD
VIENNA (AUT, Apr 27): Kenya’s Abel Kirui won the 25th edition of the Vienna City Marathon with a new course record (before 2:08:20 by Lahoucine Mrikik Morocco since 2006). The 25 year-old Kenyan clocked 2:07:38 and achieved the first sub 2:08 time in the history of the event. The men’s race produced the best ever results of the Vienna City Marathon with three runners finishing inside 2:09. Duncan Kibet was second with 2:08:33 while Paul Biwott (both Kenya) ran 2:08:53. „But running alone it was getting hard. I got tired and it got very warm as well,” said Abel Kirui and added: „Still I have achieved my main goal which was the course record. And I will come back next year to further improve.” He won 15 000 E first place prize and 10 000 E time bonus. Best European was Ukrainian Mihaylo Iveruk (11th, 2:17:42) followed by best Austrian Markus Hohenwarter (2:18:13, PB) and former Olympic medalist in walking (bronze 2000 in Sydney at 50 km) Aigars Fadejevs who improved to 2:18:19.
In warm weather conditions with temperatures over 20 degrees Celsius at the end of the race defending champion Luminita Talpos won again. The 35 year-old Romanian clocked 2:26:43 which is the third fastest ever in the history of the Vienna City Marathon. Tomo Morimoto (Japan) was second with 2:29:01 while Beatrice Omwanza (Kenya) took third in 2:37:36. Best Austrian Ingrid Eichberger as seventh with PB 2:47:07. Adding all running events a record number of 30,072 athletes from more than 100 nations had entered the jubilee edition of the race. The Vienna City Marathon became the biggest running event ever seen in Austria. Around 300,000 spectators – as many as never before – lined the course to watch the race.
MADRID (ESP, Apr 27): Jose Manuel „Chema” Martinez won the 31st Madrid Marathon in 2:12:42. It was first victory ever at this classical distance for the 36 years old former track European champion at 10 000 m. Last Spanish win here was registered back in 2001 by Jose Ramon Rey (2:19:12). Second Kenyan Frederick Cherono was exactly one minute behind (2:13:42). Third Abraham Keter clocked 2:14:48. Next European Larbi Es Raidi from France achieved 2:16:48, just shy of his PB 2:16:30. Kenyan Rael Kiyara won surprisingly the women race in new PB 2:36:15 and beat the main favorite former track Olympic winner Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia who achieved 2:39:38. Tulu competed for first time since New York Marathon in 2005.
PADOVA (ITA, Apr 27): Wins for European countries at St. Antonio Padova Marathon. Kenyan Francis Kirwa who from 2003 represents Finland won and came close to the national record of Janne Holmen from Rotterdam before two weeks (2:10:46) with 2:11:01. Second Italian Alberico Di Cecco (2:13:10) and third best Kenyan Haron Toroitich (2:13:25). Women top two places also for European runners. 36 years old Marcella Mancini achieved 2:35:24 and Spain´s Dolores Pulido 2:39:29 as second.
ENSCHEDE (NED, Apr 27): Unheralded Kenyan Silas Toek debuted at 42 195 meters and won the 40th ING Enschede Marathon. With 2:10:40 he missed the course record of Ethiopian Girma Tola from 2004 only by 7 seconds (2:10:33). Second Sammy Kibet (winner here in 2006) clocked new PB 2:11:49. Close battle for third and fourth place. Ethiopians Tekeste Nekatibebe (PB) and Dereje Tesfaye clocked both 2:12:00. Toek will receive 20 000 E for his position and time. Female winner did not went under 3 hours with Polly Nkambi 3:12:41.
NASHVILLE (USA, Apr 26): Kenyan Sylvester Chebii (2:14:27) and Russian Svetlana Ponomarenko (2:30:33) were the winners at 9th Country Music Marathon. Close women race as the winner (17 500 USD prize) beat Ukrainian Olena Shurkhno (2:33:37) only by 4 seconds.
LUZERN (SUI, Apr 26): Kenyans Nicholas Koech (24:42 at 8.7 km) and Anita Kiptum (13:17 at 4.25 km) won the Luzern City Road Race at 8.7 km. Best Europeans were Austrian Martin Proll as fourth (24:54) and Swiss Sabine Fischer as close second (13:18). Third Hungarian marathon runner Aniko Kalovics (13:23). World championships bronze holder and this year Tokyo marathon winner Viktor Rothlin finished eighth in 25:46. In total 13 983 runners were classified.
LAUSANNE (SUI, Apr 26): In Switzerland living Ethiopian Tesfaye Eticha won the 20 km of Lausanne with 1:02:41. Another Ethiopian Atlaw Amanet finished second (1:03:18).
LYNGBY (DEN, Apr 27): Kenyans Joseph Kemisi (1:03:44) and Julius Mutai (1:03:54) dominated at B.T. Half-Marathon among 7500 runners. Best Danish runner Jesper Faurschou as third (1:04:44) and took the national title. Pauline Njery was the best woman (1:12:47) before Maria Sig Moller (1:14:57).
VILNIUS (LTU, Apr 25): Lithuanian Cross Country national champions are Tomas Matijosius at 5 km (15:58) and Kristina Girtaite at 4 km (14:12).
WALKING ACTION
MORTALAZ (ESP, Apr 26): Spanish European Champion Francisco Fernandez achieved world leading 38:28 at 10 km during the road competition „Grand Prix of Mortalaz” in Madrid region in his preparation for IAAF Race Walking World Cup. Former Russian world champion Ilya Markov was second (39:57) and Helsinki 2005 medalist Juan Molina third (40:08). Norwegian winner of first two this years IAAF Challenge races Kjersti Platzer was the best at 5 km with 22:02 before Lithuanian Sonata Milusauskaite (22:36) and Australian Olympic medalist Jane Saville (23:04), first Spanish walker Rocio Florido as fourth (23:19)
SAN PIETRA CLARENZA (ITA, Apr 25): At traditional international 5th Etna Race Walking event the reigning Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti dominated with 39:51 at 10 km. Second place for Marco Giungi (42:45), former Spanish world champion Jesus Angel Garcia was fourth (42:54) and Ireland´s Colin Griffin fifth (43:05). Belarus Elena Ginko was the best woman (45:33) before home walkers Rossella Giordano (47:31) and Elisabetta Perrone (48:02).
RIO MAIOR (POR, Apr 25): National walking track meet registered fast 10 000 m by Ines Henriques (44:46.34) and also good male mark by Brazilian Rafael Duarte (41:43.54). The 20 000 m were won by Pedro Isidro (1:27:28.8).
RZESZOW (POL, Apr 26): Dudince 50 km winner Grzegorz Sudol won the 5000 m University Championships with 19:38.19.
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EME NEWS is news service relating to the sport of athletics. It is published on daily basis with additional updates, as required. Copyright is held by Alfons Juck, Perinvest SK, a.s., Krikova 10, 82107 Bratislava, Slovakia. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The redistribution and/or direct reproduction of material from EME NEWS is prohibited unless permission is given by c Perinvest SK (such as being included in a subscription agreement).Email to respond: ajuck@rainside.sk
