Meseret Defear Debuts with 1:07:44! by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder

EME NEWS (SEP 18-19, 2010)



MLF 10.12 on the street
GATESHEAD (GBR, Sep 18):  In a two hour showcase, defending champions
England edged past Australia on the line to finish with the Bupa Great
North City Games trophy five points to four. It was second consecutive
win for the English team but it was an immense battle and an outstanding
display of athletics for the parochial crowd. Australian Sally Pearson
won the 100 m hurdles in 12.85 and 150 m in 16.86. England had the upper
hand in the men’s sprints, Mark Lewis-Francis running an impressive
10.12 to claim the 100m ahead of Australian champion Aaron Rouge-Serret
(10.30), and Marlon Devonish taking the 150m in 14.88 from Australian
Isaac Ntiamoah (15.34) who will compete in the 4 x 100m in New Delhi.
The action moved onto the street circuit with England taking the first
of two points up for grabs on the road in the women’s 1 mile. The
defending City Games champion Hannah English, completed the picturesque
course in a slick 4:38 with country woman Helen Clitheroe just behind in
4:39. The men’s 2 mile on looked, on paper, to be one of the most
exciting races on the program seeing Craig Mottram winning in 8:31 ahead
of Chris Thompson (8:32) and Andy Baddeley (8:34). In the field the two
nations couldn’t be split with Chris Noffke winning the long jump in
the final round, leaping 7.90m to defeat Greg Rutherford (7.78m) and
England taking a surprise win in the pole vault. In blustery conditions
Luke Cutts  managed to clear 5.20 on his second jump to pip countryman
Steve Lewis on a count back but it was a dirty day for the Australians
with the Northern England breeze playing havoc with both Olympic
champion Steve Hooker and youngster Blake Lucas who couldn’t clear a
bar. With the teams were locked in at four points apiece it was English
captain, Andy Turner who sealed the victory for the home country with a
strong display in the final event on the program. The European 110m
hurdles champion won in 13.40. Writes Athletics Australia.

Home overall winners
BEIJING (CHN, Sep 18): The 2010 IAAF Race Walking Challenge Final in
Beijing turned out to be a show run by the Chinese hosts. Three Chinese
men and two women finished in top four of the 10km races on Saturday
morning on fast courses.  The men’s 10km race was the fastest ever at
this level. Winning time today for 17-years old Wang Zhen was 37:44,
the equal second fastest all-time and junior all-time best. Norwegian
Erik Tysse has the fastest time, 37:33 in Hildesheim 2006 and also
walked 37:44 last year. Chu Yafei was second in 37:57 ahead of Giorgio
Rubino beeing best European and Wang Hao (both 38:00). Luis Lopez was
fifth in 38:10 and Kim Hyun-Sub sixth clocking 38:13. Another young
Chinese, 18-year-old Chen Ding, was seventh 38:23 also surpassing the
previous World junior record and double olympic medalist Jared Tallent
finished eighth in 38:29.  In the women’s race only 13 athletes
started. Russian Tatyana Sibileva won in 41:53, a personal best and
fastest time in the world this year with Liu Hong clocking 42:30,
Melanie Seeger 42:36 for third and Li Yanfei 42:41 for fourth, all
personal bests. The next three places went to Portuguese walkers with
Ines Henriques (43:09), Ana Cabecinha (43:17) and Susana Feitor
(43:41). In ideal walking weather Slovak Zuzana Malikova as 8th clocked
national best 44:12. IAAF Race Walking Challenge winners were Wang Zhen
and Liu Hong of China. Writes IAAF.

Vlasic 197, Lemaitre 10.26 in head-wind
KAWASAKI (JPN, Sep 19): The 23rd Super Meet, the usual end of the
season Japanese fixture was highlighted by 10.26 of French European
Champion Christophe Lemaitre against -1.6 wind in the 100 m and Blanka
Vlasic 197 (and tried at 201) in high jump in her first ever meeting
appearance in Japan. Second Irina Gordeyeva of Russia also good 195. 
Another top star Bershawn Jackson won the 400 m hurdles in easy 49.87.
In the 100 m US Wallace Spearmon was way back as second in 10.47.
Costa-Rican record holder Nery Brenes won the 400 m (46.14) and
Jamaican national best holder Dwight Thomas the 110 m hurdles in 13.46
(-2.7) over US Ryan Wilson. Hiromi Takahari beat on count-back 2007
world champ from Osaka Donald Thomas (both 224) in high jump. Javelin
saw home world medalist Yukifumi Murakami beeing second with good 82.52
and beaten only by Tero Pitkamaki of Finland (83.12). It is third best
ever for Murakami who has two better marks from last years world
championships in Berlin (83.10 in qualification and 82.97 as third in
finals). In other women events former world champion Tianna Madison won
the 100 m in 11.32 (-0.3). Europeans ruled the 800 m with Yelena
Kofanova beating in 2:00.46 the Ukrainian former world indoor medalist
Tetyana Petlyuk (2:01.01). Another European win for Latvian champion
Ieva Zunda at 400 m Hurdles (56.67). US Danielle Carruthers won the 100
m hurdles in 13.14 against -0.7 wind.

Defar debuts with 1:07:44

PHILADELPHIA (USA, Sep 19):  Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar made the most of
her half-marathon debut at the ING Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia
Half-Marathon beating Kenyan road racing ace Lineth Chepkurui in the
final sprint to clock a course record 1:07:44.  Chepkurui, who won the
race in 2006 when it was still called the Philadelphia Distance Run, 
finished just two seconds back, setting a personal best. For Defar the
fifth fastest HM debut as Ken Nakamura confirms. There was a parade of
fast times after the top-2.  Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane clocked 1:08:31
for third, American Shalane Flanagan ran a career best 1:08:37 in
fourth, and New Zealand´s Kim Smith finished in 1:08:40 in fifth. As RRW
writes, the men’s race went to Kenyan Matthew Kisorio in 1:00:16, his
best time ever for the half-marathon distance. Former CC world champion
Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia suffered his first defeat on the roads
this year, fininishing second in a personal best 1:00:25, followed by
Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco in 1:01:33 and unknown Kenyan Peter Some in
fourth in 1:01:35.  Canada’s Simon Bairu rounded out the top-5 in
1:02:08, also a personal best. US top runner Ryan Hall finished outside
the top ten (13th, 1:03:55).

Gebre wins 59:33

SOUTH SHIELDS (GBR, Sep 19):  Marathon world record holder Haile
Gebrselassie dominated the 30th Bupa Great North Run half-marathon in
his first ever appearance at the event.  His 59:33 was the third-fastest
ever on the point-to-point course from Newcastle to South Shields, and
he won by a healthy 50 seconds as Race Results Weekly points out.  
“What I wanted, I wanted to run more faster,” said Gebrselassie speaking
to reporters after the race.  “But, you know at the beginning of the
race I was a bit confused by what Gharib did.” Gebrselassie was
referring to two-time world marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, a
last-minute replacement for Kenya’s Martin Lel who had come down with a
fever.  After a reasonable 4:38 opening mile, Gharib shot ahead and
immediately dropped everyone except Gebrselassie, Kenya’s Kiplimo
Kimutai (who was second here last year in a personal best 59:44), and
American Dathan Ritzenhein.  The second mile clicked off in a swift
4:28, and the race was already on pace for about a 59:30 finish. Second
place went to Kimutai, just as it did last year, but in a slower
1:01:23.  Gharib followed in 1:02:00 and Ritzenhein, who harbored
thoughts of dropping out, pressed on to finish fourth in 1:02:35,
despite experiencing significant pain in his lower legs. Morocco’s
Abderrahime Bouramdane rounded on the top-5, crossing just behind
Ritzenhein in 1:02:40. The women’s race was far closer.  Ethiopian
Berhane Adere put Ana Dulce Felix of Portugal away to get a relatively
comfortable win in 1:08:49 to Felix’s 1:09:01, a personal best.  More
Portuguese runners Marisa Barros finished eight seconds behind Felix,
also getting a personal best, as did fourth place Sara Moreira
(1:10:08). Mara Yamauchi, the home country favorite, placed fifth in
1:10:39.

Suarez and Chernova

TALENCE (FRA, Sep 19): Russian Tatyana Chernova who was leading after
first day was also the overall winner of Decastar meet (started in
1976) in heptathlon with excellent 6453 score. With total of 19 537 she
is also the best in IAAF Combined Events Challenge (the remaining
events outside of Europe will not change this). Second olympic gold
medalist Natalya Dobrynska of Ukraine (6309) is third in the challenge
ranking (19 110). German Jennifer Oeser who did compete in France is
second (19 303). Third place on Sunday for returning Canadian Jessica
Zelinka (6204), fourth Czech Eliska Klucinova (6153, also fourth in
Challenge with 18 608), fifth Poland´s Karolina Tyminska (6099) and
final with 6+ score was Sweden´s Jessica Samuelsson 6058. Cuban Leonel
Suarez was the best in decathlon with 8328 points what helped him to
get into second in the challenge rankings (24 857). Leader and European
Champion Romain Barras was third (8180, did not add to his challenge
score 25 063). German Pascal Behrenbruch still beat him as second
(8202). Fourth place for another Cuban Yordanis Garcia (8174) ahead of
Jamaican Maurice Smith (8157). Europeans followed with Hans Van Alphen
of Belgium (8091) and overnight leader Oleksiy Kasyanov (8032, only
46.48 in javelin). European medalist Eelco Sintnicolaas was 8th with
8018 points. Other Barcelona medalist Andrey Kravchenko pulled out
already during first day. 

ROAD RESULTS


ZAANDAM (NED, Sep 19): Kenyan John Mwangangi won the Dam tot Damloop 10
miles road race in 45:29. Close second Moses Masai by one second in
45:30. Ethiopian Ayele Abshiro was third in 45:33. Hilda Kibet was the
best woman in 51:33 ahead of main home rival Lornah Kiplagat 52:03.
Third Ethiopian Mestewat Tufa 52:43.

ODENSE (DEN, Sep 19): Excellent new course record at Andersen Marathon
as Kenyan Raymond Kandie achieved 2:10:41 as winner. Second Peter Biwott
achieved 2:16:33. Belarus Svetlana Kogan was the best woman after
2:33:21 ahead of Poland´s Agnieszka Lewandowska (2:42:30).

WACHAU (AUT, Sep 19): Kenyan wins at Wachau Half-marathon as Weldon
Kirui achieved 1:01:10 (ahead of Charles Maina 1:01:40) and Mary Naali
1:12:16. Austrian titles for Gunther Weidlinger (7th overall, 1:04:59)
and Andrea Mayr (4th overall, 1:14:21).

KARLSRUHE (GER, Sep 19): Kenyan David Mutai won the 28th Fiducia Baden
Marathon with 2:14:33 ahead of Eric Rotich (2:15:46). Slovak Katarina
Beresova won the half-marathon in personal best 1:14:47.

USTER (SUI, Sep 18): Kenyan Abraham Tandoi won the “Greifenseelauf” at
half-marathon distance in 1:05:03. Swiss title for the overall fifth
European marathon champion Viktor Rothlin (1:05:47). Kenyan Eunice Kales
was the best woman in 1:13:18, with national title going to fifth
overall Ursula Spielmann-Jeitziner 1:18:05.

VALLADOLID (ESP, Sep 19): Kenyan wins at 22nd Half-marathon here as Barnaba Sigei got 1:02:38 and Ruth Matebo 1:14:47.

PUERTO DE SAGUNTO (ESP, Sep 18): Spanish Half-marathon champions are
Jose Rios (overall second, 1:04:46) and Azucena Diaz (1:13:33). Overall
winner Moroccan Youness Ait Hadi got 1:04:40.

SANTANDER (ESP, Sep 18): European 1500 m champion Arturo Casado won the
3rd road mile “Cantabria-Xacobeo” in 4:07. Also in women race the
European champion Nuria Fernandez was the winner in 4:49.

VALLADOLID (ESP, Sep 18): Mayte Martinez won the 4th road mile here in 5:40. Male winner Diego Ruiz got 4:52.

GLEINA (GER, Sep 18): German national title winner at 50 km walking was
Carsten Schmidt in 4:02:51. Overall winner was Italian guest
Jean-Jacques Nkouloukidi in 3:55:40. Junior 10 km title for U17 world
champ Hagen Pohle in 44:29.

BUCURESTI (ROU, Sep 18): Romanian 50 km walk champion was Silviu Casandra with 4:14:15.

TUBINGEN (GER, Sep 19): Titus Kosgei won the 17th road race here at 7.5
km in 21:25, best German Arne Gabius as fourth got 22:13. Simret Restle
was the best woman in 25:13.

LILLEHAMMER (NOR, Sep 18): National CC championships saw at 10 km
21-years Sindre Buraas getting the title in 28:30 ahead of Daabaya
Badhaso (former Ethiopian) 28:31 and Sondre Nordstad Moen 28:38. Clear
women 6 km winner was Karoline Grovdal in 17:09.

TRACK RESULTS


SAO PAULO (BRA, Sep 17-19): Pole Vault Diamond Race winner Fabiana Murer
cleared excellent 470 during the final day of 29th Trofeu Brasil and
tried at new continental record height of 490 cm. Jefferson Lucindo won
after 100 m also the 200 m in 20.75 (-0.9, second Sandro Viana was close
in 20.78). South American record holder at 100 m Ana Silva was the
winner at 200 m with 23.21 (+1.0). Kleberson Davide was the best at 800 m
in 1:46.45 and on Friday was second at 400 m (46.16, beaten only by
junior Hederson Estefani 46.14). In women 400 m Geisa Coutinho got
51.93. Mahau Suguimati won the men´s 400 m hurdles (50.26). In jumps
Hilton Da Silva achieved 16.93 (+1.2) in triple jump and Keila Costa 661
(+0.2) in long jump.

BYDGOSZCZ (POL, Sep 18): Spanish junior boys of Playas de Castellon won
the European Champion Clubs Cup A-group with 95 points. Two points
behind Turkish Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu and third British Shaftesbury
Barnet Harriers (86). Fourth place for Serbian side AC Sirmijum (86),
Czech Sokol Opava fifth (69) ahead of home Zawisza Bydgoszcz (47) and
Italian Atletica Bergamo (44). Best results from Serbian Emir Bekric
51.07 at 400 m hurdles. In junior-girls competition win for Turkish
Fenerbahce in close battle with AC Novi Beograd and Czech Olymp Brno.
All three teams had 80 points and number of individual victories
decided. Fourth was Blackheath and Bromley from Great Britain (62),
fifth Zawisza Bydgoszcz (56) and sixth CA Alicante of Spain (38).
Serbian Amela Terzic won the 3000 m in 9:20.32 and Turkish Kivilcim Kaya
got 61.93 in hammer throw. It should be noted that title defenders from
Moscow, Russia did not participate.

RIETI (ITA, Sep 18): Slovenian club Kronos Ljubljana and Switzerland’s
L.G. Erdgas Oberthrgau won the men’s and women’s contests at the
combined European Champions Club Cup Track and Field Juniors Group B and
C matches in Rieti, Italy, on Saturday. The pair get promotion to next
year’s top flight competition, writes European Athletics. Kronos
Ljubljana ran out comfortable men’s winners with a tally of 140 points
from the 19 events, 25 points clear of Slovakia’s Stavbar Nitra, who
came out in front of the close race for second place with 115 points.
The women’s competition was a much closer encounter with less than 10
points covering the top three teams, but Erdgas Oberthrgau prevailed
with 158 points over Italian Studentesca 150.5, Rotterdam Atletiek 148.5
and Slovak Spartak Dubnica 143.5.

SOMOSKO (HUN, Sep 18): Russians dominated the 23rd edition of Hungarian
square high jump meeting. Sergey Mudrov beat Mikhail Tsvetkov on
count-back as both cleared 227 cm. Third Italian Filippo Campioli 225.
Women winner Ukrainian Oksana Okuneva got 186.

LAGE (GER, Sep 18): At U14 team championships excellent 204 high jump by
Malcolm Bankwitz what means national best in this age category in Germany. World best mark in U14 category is 215 cm.

ALYTUS (LTU, Sep 17): Fast 5000 m track walk by Brigita Virbalyte 21:31.15 what is new national record.

PROSTEJOV (CZE, Sep 19): European leader at 110 m hurdles Petr Svoboda
ended his season with solid meet record here 13.61 (+1.6).

OTHER NEWS


NAIROBI (KEN): The Nation writes about the welcome ceremony for 800 m
world record holder David Rudisha.  “I am happy to return home. I have
been away for long. This is a great feeling,” the champion enthused. In
Nairobi, the police constable was given a grand passage to Wilson
Airport, his motorcade of four limousines, two escort cars in front and
behind and two motorcycle outriders snaking through the Uhuru Highway
and Lang’ata Road morning traffic. He was received by Deputy
Commissioner of Police Jonathan Kosgei and ushered into a Kenya Police
helicopter with fellow athletes Janeth Jepkosgei, Wilfred Bungei, Alfred
Kirwa Yego, Richard Mateelong, Milcah Chemos and his pace setter, Sammy
Tangui. Herding his father’s goats as a boy, Rudisha would always
wonder how it felt to fly, getting excited whenever planes flew past his
village. Rudisha’s entourage, which included Sports Minister Paul
Otuoma, made a stopover in Narok Town, landing at Maasai Girls High
School. He then planted a tree in Narok Stadium.

TULSA (USA): Former worlds top sprinter Mario Jones last month completed
her first season with the Tulsa WNBA club. The 34-year-old rookie Jones
averaged 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and nine minutes a game for the year.
It was a quiet beginning in the WNBA, but she does not hold back on her
desire to be the best. She dreams of making the US team. “I was happy
to make the team,” Jones says for the Daily Telegraph in Australia.

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaica Observer informs about guarded optimism in the
Jamaican camp following release of the 46-member team to represent
Jamaica in track and field at the 19th Commonwealth Games to be held in
Delhi, India next month. Chances for medals should come from Maurice
Smith in decathlon, Dorian Scott in shot put. Women will have 800 m
runner Kenia Sinclair, 400 m hurdler Nickeisha Wilson as head-liners.
Men´s 100 m representatives will be national champion Oshane Bailey, sub
10 runner Lerone Clarke and Rasheed Dwyer. Lanceford Spence, Steve
Slowly and Ramone McKenzie will compete in the 200 m. National record
holder Sheree Francis will fight for medals in high jump.

JOHANNESBURG (RSA): Athletics South Africa’s new board, announced on
Saturday, will concentrate on promoting the sport, administrator Ray
Mali said. The board consists of four athletes. s Blanche Moila, was
first to be elected taking the chair of cross country, while the
province’s president Aleck Skhosana, won his place as chair of the
national road running commission. Having resigned from the interim
committee, both James Evans and Geraldine Pillay were returned to the
board as track and field chair and athlete’s chair respectively. Long
distance runner Hendrick Ramaala and former 400 m runner Arnaud Malherbe
are additional members. Motlatsi Keikabile, Willen Fourie and Peter
Lourens are the other members of the board. Elections were not held for
the post of president and for two positions of the two other board
members who are currently attending disciplinary hearings for a number
of allegations resulting from last year’s handling of the Caster Semenya
gender case and the resulting forensic investigation of ASA. Informs
timeslive.co.za.