by Larry Eder
Kszczot with some indoor races
BYDGOSZCZ (POL): European indoor and U23 Champion Adam Kszczot of Poland
was in good training over two weeks in Spain (Andalucia) with young
Wojciech Jarosz. Next camp will be staged in Monte Gordo, Portugal and
then Potchefstroom in South Africa. He plans indoor meetings, but not
World Indoor Championships. For summer main goal is Olympic Games in
London and because of this he will most probably pass on European
Championships in Helsinki. Kszczot improved to impressive 1:43.30 in
2011 and was 6th in Daegu at World Championships. Informs PZLA website.
His 1:43.30 is 10th best European of all-time and best since 2002.
Fujita no for Fukuoka
FUKUOKA (JPN): Brett Larner informs that the organizers of the Fukuoka
International Marathon announced that former national record holder
Atsushi Fujita, with a PB of 2:06:51, has withdrawn from its invited
athlete field due to pain in his right Achilles tendon. This year’s
Fukuoka is the first domestic selection race for next year’s London
Olympics (December 4).
Powell at least PB
KINGSTON (JAM): Asafa Powell said for Trackalerts that he decided to run
indoor races for first time since 2004 because training is going well.
“I think I could do great things indoors,” said the popular sprinter.
More details are not known yet, which races he might choose and also
whether he will compete in Istanbul at World Indoor Championships. About
the possibility to attack the world indoor record he said: “I do not
know, maybe. But I want to improve my personal best.” That time is 6.56 from 2004.
Edwards President of Wenlock
LONDON (GBR): Insidethegames informs that Sydney 2000 Olympic triple
jump champion Jonathan Edwards has been named as the new President of
the prestigious Wenlock Olympian Society in Shropshire. The iconic
Society was founded in Much Wenlock back in 1850 by the legendary Dr
William Penny Brookes to run the Wenlock Olympian Games. It was this
event that inspired Brookes’ friend Baron Pierre de Coubertin to create
the Olympic Movement, including the first Modern Games at Athens in
1896. Edwards, who also still holds the triple jump world record which
he set in 1995, has been the vice-president of the Wenlock Olympian
Society but has accepted the post of President after the previous
incumbent Roy Rogers died suddenly in April this year at the age of 79.
TOP RESULTS (Liverpool, Basel, Kenya, etc.)
LIVERPOOL (GBR, Nov 26): Andy Vernon won the senior men’s race of the
McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge Series incorporating the European Cross
Country Trials at Sefton Park at 9.8 km with 29:19. Second Mark Draper
(29:22) ahead of Ryan McLeod (29:24) and miler Andy Baddeley (29:26). In
closer women race Hatti Dean won at 8.1 km in 27:05 four seconds ahead
of Gemma Steel (27:09). Distant third Freya Murray (27:32), former track
world junior champion Stephanie Twell was 5th (27:37). In mild but
increasingly windy conditions, the McCain under-23 titles went to the
highly impressive Hannah Walker overall fourth with 27:32 (eighth on the
track over 5000 m at the European Under-23 Championships) and Mitch
Goose (overall 12th in 29:55) who, following a 40th place finish in last
week’s NCAA Championships, returned to the UK in a bid to make the team
for Velenje. The junior events were won by Aldershot, Farnham and
District duo Emelia Gorecka (4.4 km in 14:54) and Jonny Hay (6.7 km in
20:23), both coached by Mick Woods, who will be looking to translate
their top European finishing positions in the 2011 IAAF World Cross
Country Championships into gold medal performances in Slovenia. With
help from UK Athletics website.
SZENTENDRE (HUN, Nov 26): Hungarian CC Championships at the Skanzen
Museum of Szentendre were also EA Permit race and test event before 2012
European CC Championships at the same place. Former US collegian and now
2:16 marathon runner Tamas Kovacs won the men´s 8.675 km in 27:35.
Second Sandor Szabo (27:46) and third Adam Kovacs (27:52). European U23
finalist from 2009 Monika Nagy was the best in women 6.08 km (21:59)
clearly beating favorite Andrea Szederkenyi-Takacs (22:36) and Reka
Czebei (22:57). The event was also selection race for Velenje European
CC Champs in December.
CLERMONT FERRAND (FRA, Nov 26): Kenyan wins at 54th cross de Volvic in
France. Paul Melly achieved 22:47 at 7.39 km for men. Second French
runner Nassir Dawud (22:49) and third Eritrean Estifanos Tewelde
(22:51). Lucy Macharia won women 4.86 km in 16:53 ahead of marathon
runner Martha Komu (17:09) and Eritrean Mekdes Woldu (17:09). Best
French runner was miler Fanjanteino Felix as 6th (18:29).
MT. ELGON (KEN, Nov 26): The Nation writes that Timothy Kiptoo and
Phanancier Jemutai won the senior races in the fourth leg of Kenya
Commercial Bank and Athletics Kenya Cross Country series in Mount Elgon.
Homegirl Jemutai, the Chepkoilel meeting winner, stunned a stellar
line-up in the women’s senior race, winning it in 29:30.1. She was ahead
of World Junior 3000 m steeplechase champion Purity Cherotich (30:49.5)
and Elizabeth Chemutai (31:10.1). Kiptoo, second in Chepkoilel two weeks
ago, beat former World Cross silver medallist Titus Mbishei as he made
his intentions for next year’s Africa Cross Country gala in Cape Town
clear. Kiptoo produced a solid run to win in 38:38.5 ahead of Mbishei
(39:11.9), Tanui (39:24.5) and Stephen Arita (39:32.5) followed. World
Cross runner Alice Aprot (sister of Joseph Ebuya, 6 km in 21:56.0) and
new talent Leonard Barsoton (8 km, 25:16.7) were the best in the junior
races at the windy Kapsokwony High School course.
BASEL (SUI, Nov 26): Traditional winners at road races in Switzerland.
Eritrean Tadesse Abraham was the best in men´s 10 km in 28:42 at the
29th Basel City Run. Second place for Kenyan Bernard Matheka (28:44) and
third Tesfay Felfele of Eritrea (29:10). Best European French Zouhair
Oumoussa was 6th (29:18) and best Swiss Philipp Bandi 8th (29:32).
Marathon European champion Viktor Rothlin in his first race after NYC
Marathon finished 13th (29:54). Kenyan Jane Muia finished on top in
women´s 7.8 km (25:39). Second place for current top Swiss female
distance runner Patricia Morceli-Buhler (25:43) and third Ethiopian
Tsige Worku (25:56). Nearly 8000 entries were registered.
DUDINCE (SVK, Nov 26): Recently London bound marathon runner Katarina
Beresova won her third CC Slovak title in Dudince with clear win at 4 km
in 14:29. The traditional walking place staged the Slovak cross country
championships and saw Jaroslav Szabo achieving a double at 4 km (12:34)
and 6 km (29:13). Juraj Vitko was second in milers race (12:37) and
Jozef Urban in the longer one (29:14) just ahead of Slovak marathon
champion Imrich Pastor (29:16).
BIALYSTOK (POL, Nov 26): Lukasz Oslizlo won the Polish U23 CC title at 7
km in 21:11. Best woman in U23 Championships was Matylda Slezak with
14:32 at 4.5 km. Senior championships will be held in March.
HACHIOJI (JPN, Nov 26): Kenyan Paul Kuira clocked very solid life-time
best 27:40.60 at 10 000 m during the Hachioji Distance meet. Three more
runners dipped under 28 minutes. Second Japanese Tsuyoshi Ugachi
27:40.69 (improving his PB 27:41.97 from May in California), third
Chihiro Miyawaki 27:41.57 (20 years old, first time under 28) and fourth
Kenyan Alex Mwangi 27:51.98.
MANAGUA (NCA, Nov 25): Fast 100 m winner at U15 Central American
Championships in Nicaragua. Arturo Deliser from Panama at age of 14
years (born in 1997) clocked new meet record 11.11 (-0.6) during first
day of the event.
