by Larry EderSergiy Lebid won the SPAR Euro CC for the 8th time! His win, by eight seconds over Mo Farah has put him a rarefied list of the cross country royalty.
In the U.S. McMillan Elite and Boulder Running/adidas won the men and women’s club titles at the USATf Club XC Champs in snow and wind!
Then, on the other side of the world, Patrick Ivuti, 2007 B of A Chicago Marathon winner, took the Honolulu marathon in 2:14 on a typical humid and hot Hawaii day.
EME NEWS (DEC 14, 2008)
UNBELIEVABLE LEBID WINS FOR 8th TIME
BRUSSELS (BEL): Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid is a real cross country king. He won today in Brussels in heavy conditions at 15th edition of the European event his 8th title. That is really something special. At 10 km he clocked 30:49 and was faster than Mo Farah of Great Britain by 8 seconds (30:57). Bronze medal for steeple specialist Mustafa Mohamed of Sweden (31:13). Only fourth the best Spanish runner Ayad Lamdassem (31:17) and fifth best home runner Pieter Desmet (31:19). Sixth place for another steepler French Boubdallah Tahri (31:21). Team title for Spain (39) ahead of France (49) and Great Britain (54).
Kenyan born Hilda Kibet won for Netherlands the women 8 km race at European Cross Country Championships in Laken Park. With 27:45 she beat by 9 seconds Jessica Augusto of Portugal (27:54) with her team-mate Ines Monteiro third (28:02). Portugal won clearly the team title (29) ahead of Great Britain (49) and France (78). Olympic steeple winner Gulnara Samitova-Galkina of Russia was 12th (28:40). In women U23 race 8 seconds win for Florida State University Dutch student Susan Kuijken (21:02). Briton Sarah Tinstall was second at 6 km (21:10) ahead of Russian Yuliya Zarudneva (21:24). Title defender Ancuta Bobocel of Romania was only fifth (21:43). Great Britain won again in this category the team title (29) ahead of Russia (44) and Germany (57). Total British success in junior race as the team scored perfect 10 points with having top six places. Stephanie Twell won this race for the third time in a row with 13:28 at 4 km. Best non-British was Russian Yekaterina Gorbunova as 7th (14:12). Other medals for Charlotte Purdue (13:39) and Lauren Howart (13:55) and for teams of Ukraine (58) and Russia (62).
Italian 2006 junior champion Andrea Lalli won the U23 8 km race in 24:56. Last year bronze winner British Andy Vernon was third (25:04) and Turkish 11th from Olympic Games Selim Bayrak third (25:17). Great Britain was the best team (19) beating Italy (42) and France (62). In junior 6 km race French success. Florian Carvalho after last year silver won this time clocking 18:42 ahead of 17 years old Sondre Moen of Norway (18:46) and another French runner Hassan Chahdi (18:49). France scored 50 points to win the team title ahead of Norway (51) and Great Britain (52).
In the team medal ranking Great Britain clearly prevailed with 12 medals (4-5-3), more than the year before in Toro (4-2-2). Second France has 2-1-3 and third Netherlands 2-2-0 followed by Portugal 1-1-1. In total as in 2007 12 countries medalled. Spain had only one, gold in men team competition.
IVUTI AND SHIMAHARA
HONOLULU (USA, Dec 14): The 36th Honolulu Marathon registered Kenyan male win for 2007 Chicago number one Patrick Ivuti who clocked 2:14:35. Also in other places Kenyans followed – the multiple winner Jimmy Muindi was 5th (2:21:43). Second Stephen Njoroge got 2:17:41 and third Pius Muasa Mutuku 2:17:51. Japanese women dominated as third from this year Chicago Kiyoko Shimahara achieved 2:32:36 beating Casablanca winner Kaori Yoshida (2:34:35). Third place for Kenyan favorite 2:26 runner Alice Timbilili (2:37:31). Only fourth best Russian Olesya Nurgalieva (2:39:13) followed by top favorite Alevtina Biktimirova (2:45:06). First place prizes were 40 000 USD. As local media are informing, the race started at 5 am with 23 230 entrants. Rain had stopped at the start, but picked up dramatically 25 minutes into the race. It continued for about an hour.
KIMAIYO SUB 2:10
MONTERREY (MEX, Dec 14): New course record at Monterrey Marathon by Kenyan Hillary Kimaiyo in 2:09:54. His previous best was 2:11:14 from 2007 and he already won this year the Mexico City Marathon. His team-mate Christopher Toroitich was second with 2:11:59 and third the best home runner Procopio Franco (2:17:02). Olympian Dulce Maria Rodriguez was the best woman in 2:33:28 (for her season best) ahead of Patricia Retiz (2:38:09) and Sara Cedillo (2:40:40).
OTHER RESULTS
MELBOURNE (AUS, Dec 14): Beijing Olympian Chris Erickson has automatically qualified for next year’s world athletics championships, taking out the Australian 50 km walk title in Melbourne in 3:55:28. Informs Athletics Australia. Battling strong winds and driving rain at Fawkner Park, Erickson sliced nearly three minutes from his personal best. The event doubled as the selection trial for next year’s world championships in Berlin and the winning time was well under the A-qualifying time of 3:58:00. Beijing silver and bronze medalist Jared Tallent walked the opening 30km of the event as a training effort, clocking 2:00:32 for 30km, and was more than a lap ahead of Erickson when he left the circuit. Nathan Deakes, as the defending 50km walk world champion, is eligible for a wild card entry into the event in Berlin, meaning that Australia can field up to four competitors in this event. Jared Tallent is an automatic selection for both events in Berlin following his medal winning efforts in Beijing and teammate Luke Adams has also achieved the A-qualifying time for both walks.
ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX (FRA, Dec 14): Kenyan Samuel Kamau won the Corrida d’Issy-les-Moulineaux 10 km in 29:11, ahead fellow countrymen Josphat Muragat (29:25) and Abrahm Kiprotich (29:45). Emilie Rotich dominated the women’s event in 33:44, while Kenyan-born French Margaret Maury took second place in 35:42.
YECLA (ESP, Dec 14): Spanish wins against strong African runners at 26th Yecla Cross Country race. Marta Dominguez beat at 6 km in close finish the Olympic steeple medalist Eunice Jepkorir of Kenya. Both were timed at 24:21. In men´s 10 km race Alberto Garcia was with 34:36 clearly better than Kenyan Kiprono Menjo (34:49) and Eritrean Kidane Tadese (34:49) with track European Champion Jesus Espana fourth (35:22). Some 2500 runners competed.
BURLADA (ESP, Dec 14): Ethiopian wins at 17th Cross Hiru-Herri in Burlada. At men´s 9.52 km Gebreghiabher Gebremariam achieved 30:52 ahead of Eliseo Martin (31:03) and Morrocan Khalid El Amri (31:25). Werknesh Kidane dominated the women´s 5.82 km in 21:39 beating Zulema Fuentes-Pila (21:48).
ZURICH (SUI, Dec 14): Marathon world medalist Viktor Rothlin scored a win in his last winter race. He won for first time in his career the 32nd Silverster race in Zurich (he was previously three times second). At 8.8 km he achieved 25:20 and was faster by 1.3 than Kenyan Hosea Tuei (25:21.3), third place for Simon Tesfay of Eritra (25:34.6). Rothlin will soon start his preparation for London Marathon. Swiss Sabine Fischer was the best woman as she defended her last year win at 6.3 km with 20:50.4. Second Kenyan Emily Biwott achieved 21:08.0. It was also last race of national series Post Cup which was won by Philipp Bandi and Angeline Fluckiger-Joly.
REGGIO EMILIA (ITA, Dec 14): Morrocan Hamed Nasef won the 13th marathon here after 2:17:25. Second Italian Giorgio Calcaterra clocked 2:20:04. 2:40 runner Giustina Menna was the best woman in 2:52:09 ahead of Hungarian Zsuzsanna Vajda (2:53:20).
CORIGLIANO (ITA, Dec 14): European Indoor Champion Cosimo Caliandro tried a Half-Marathon at 10th Stracorigliano race in 1:05:26 win.
GIFU (JPN, Dec 14): Toyota Industries coached by legendary coach Yoshio Koide won the 28th All Japan Corporate team Women’s Ekiden Championships with 2:14:17. It was their first victory in the six stage marathon distance ekiden championships for Toyota Industries. They were sixth two years ago, in their first ekiden championships, but failed to qualify for the championships last year. In sunny weather second Mitsui Sumitomo (2:14:53) and third Hokuren (2:15:19). Yoko Shibui ran 31:41 third 10 km stage for Mitsui Sumitomo
NYERI (KEN, Dec 14): Peter Muriuki won the 21 km race here after 1:01:52. Winfrida Kwamboka was the best woman in 1:16:47. The event was organised by world champion Catherine Ndereba.
SKALICA (SVK, Dec 13): Poland´s Jakub Burghardt won the traditional 12 km race which was started in Hodonin (Czech Republic) and ended in Skalica (Slovakia). His time 38:43 ahead of Czech Petr Mikulenka (39:23) and another Polish runner Bogdan Dziuba (39:43).
SION (SUI, Dec 13): Ethiopian wins at traditional Christmas race here. Tolossa Chengere clocked 19:52 to win the men´s 7 km and Tsige Worku 16:08 at 5 km. Former Olympic winner Derartu Tulu was second (16:17).
KISII (KEN, Dec 13): 2006 World Junior Cross Country champion, Mangata Ndiwa appears to be making a successful transition to the seniors men’s division, as he won the senior races at the fourth meet of the 2008/09 Athletics Kenya Cross Country series. At 12 km he achieved 37:10.0 ahead of Olympic brinze medalist Micah Kogo (37:15.3). Informs IAAF. The senior women’s 8km title fell to Irene Limika (8 km, 29:02.2) with Jackline Chebii (6 km, 20:44.7) and Japheth Korir (8 km, 24:12.0) taking the junior titles under scorching heat. The next race of the six-meet series sponsored by the Kenya Commercial Bank will be run on December 27 in Nyahururu, central Kenya.
SPOKANE (USA, Dec 13): McMillan Elite and Boulder Running Company/adidas easily took the respective men’s and women’s titles Saturday at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships at Plantes Ferry Recreation Park in Spokane. Informs USATF. Saturday’s races were held under windy and blustery conditions, with a light dusting of snow that accumulated the night before. Two-time NCAA Division II cross country champion Scott Bauhs, representing Transports adidas Racing Team eased his way into the lead in the open men’s ten kilometer race, then held off a late challenge by Andrew Carlson of McMillan Elite to win his first national championship as a professional, clocking 30:47 to Carlson’s 30:49. In what can be best described as a race of attrition, Rebecca Donaghue survived the heavy winds and the early challenge of a group of four runners, including Toni Salucci, Kara June, Alisha Williams, and Jennifer Donovan to win the national title in a time of 21:38 at 6 km.
OTHER NEWS
MADRID (ESP): Jose Maria Odriozola (69) was elected for sixth time president of Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA). He continues in the top position in Spain since 1989. The current IAAF Council Member got 90 percent of the votes. As athletes were voted into the leading body runner Roberto Garcia and High Jumper Javier Bermejo.
MINNEAPOLIS (USA): Twin Cities Marathon, Inc., the Minneapolis not-for-profit which organizes the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, has been awarded various USA road running championships over the next several years, including the first-ever USA road mile championships. All of the championshpis were awarded at the recent USATF convention in Reno, N.V.
The championships are as follows: USA Road Mile Championships (Men & Women): 2009 – 2012, USA Women’s Marathon Championship: 2009, USA Men’s 10 Mile Championship: 2009, USA Men’s Marathon Championship: 2010, USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship: 2010, SA Masters Marathon Championships (Men & Women): 2009 – 2015. Informs Race Results Weekly.
LEVERKUSEN (GER): Javelin European Champion Steffi Nerius achieved the Felix-Award for the best coach. She guided the preparation of paralympian shot putter Mathias Mester who in Beijing a silver medal.
Special thanks to EME News, Alfons Juck.
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