EME
NEWS (DEC 31, 2011) UPDATE

SOI
AND VIVIAN

BOLZANO
(ITA, Dec 31): Kenyan Edwin Soi scored a fourth victory at the 37th
BOClassic New Year’s Eve Run here when defeating Wilson Kiprop and last year’s
winmner Imane Merga in the 10 kilometers road race. Soi clocking a time of
28:16.6 held off Kiprop his fellow Kenyan and reigning World half marathon
champion who recorded 28:17.1 with Ethiopian Imane Merga the World Cross
Country gold medallist finishing in 28:57.9 (foot injury). Fourth Moroccan
Abdelaziz El Idrissi achieved 28:59.9 with best European French Abdellatif
Meftah fifth (29:02.0). Sixth best Italian Stefano La Rosa (29:17.6) beating
terrain king Sergiy Lebid (29:20.2). European 1500 m winner Arturo Casado
finished 11th (30:14.4). World champion Vivian Cheruiyot narrowly defended her
women’s five kilometers crown although made to work hard before ridding herself
of the threat of Afera Godfay almost on the line with Silvia Weissteiner
placing third. Cheruiyot who crossed the line just 0.4sec ahead of her
20-year-old Ethiopian rival (16:03.0 and 16:03.4) with Italy’s Weissteiner
third in 16:14.8, said: „I am happy to have won again because after one month
of training in the course of the preparation for Olympia I am not in top
form.”

TADESE
CR, HAILE FIFTH

LUANDA
(ANG, Dec 31): Multiple Half-marathon world champion Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea
won the 56th Sao Silvestre race in Luanda, Angola. He clocked new course record
27:44 at the 10 km ahead of Ethiopian group. Fifth legendary Haile Gebrselassie
in 28:08 (last year he won here with 28:04.5). Ahead of him Atsedu Tesfaye
second (27:47), Tilahun Regassa third (27:50) and Asmeraw Bekele fourth
(27:53). The winner got first place prize money of 15 000 USD. Also in women
race Ethiopian domination. Meseret Mengistu clocked 32:20 in close finish with
Belaynesh Oljira (also 32:20) followed by Tigist Kiros (32:21) and Abebech
Bekele (32:23). Female winner will be awarded with 10 000 USD.

TARIKU
BEATS KENYANS, CR FOR P. JEPTOO

SAO
PAULO (BRA, Dec 31): The 87th Sao Silvestre in Sao Paulo had record
participation of 25 000 and that even in rain. Tariku Bekele beat strong group
of Kenyans with 43:35. Second Mark Korir 43:58 ahead of Matthew Kisorio 44:12
and marathon specialist Martin Lel 44:28. Fifth Moroccan Najin El Qady 44:32
ahead of Barnabas Kosgei 44:45. Best home runner Damio de Souza 44:53 beating
Marilson Gomes do Santos (45:06). For Bekele who aims for World Indoor
Championships this was his only second ever 15 km on the road. In women
category world marathon medalist Priscah Jeptoo achieved 48:48 (new record at
the new course) ahead of Ethiopian world track medalist Wude Ayalew 48:52.
Third Kenyan Eunice Kirwa 50:58 who beat Italian Nadia Ejaffini 51:19.

KOMON
WINS

PEUERBACH
(AUT, Dec 31): Road world record holder Leonard Patrik Komon won the 31st
Peuerbach Silvester Lauf at 6.8 km in 18:51. Second his younger team-mate
Josphat Bett (18:58) and third Ethiopian Million Yehualashet 18:59. Best
European was home runner Gunther Weidlinger as 5th (19:23) followed by best
German Steffen Uliczka (19:41). Asmera Work-Bekele of Ethiopia won here for
third time in a row at 5.1 km (16:24) after close duel with Eritrean Fikre
Kifle-Alem (16:24). Third marathon runner Irina Mikitenko (16:31) beating best
Austrian Andrea Mayr (16:46).

TIRU
RETURNS WITH A WIN

MADRID
(ESP, Dec 31): Double olympic winner Tirunesh Dibaba returned to racing with a victory.
She won the 47th San Silvestre Vallecana in close finish at the 10 km in 31:30
over another top runner Gelete Burka of Ethiopia (31:30). For Dibaba this was
her first competitive race since August 2010. Third Briton Susan Partridge
32:44 and fourth home star and 2009 world steeple champion Marta Dominguez
32:49. In men´s 10 km surprise winner young Ethiopian Hagos Gebrehiwot with 17
years (27:57) also in close final meters over Eritrean world CC medalist
Teklemariam Medhin (also 27:57). European CC medalist Ayad Lamdassem was third
(28:10) with more home stars following, Chema Martinez fourth (28:34) and Jesus
Espana fifth (28:41).

OTHER RESULTS

AMADORA
(POR, Dec 31): Portugal´s Manuel Damiao won with 29:00 the Sao Silvestre of
Amadora ahead of Eritrean Goitom Kifle (29:02) and Kenyan Evans Kiplagat
(29:44). Marathon runner Marisa Barros was the women winner in 33:23.

LISBOA
(POR, Dec 31): Hermano Ferreira with 30:27 was the best at Sao Silvestre of
Lisboa in 30:27 after close duel with Tiago Costa (30:27). European CC silver
winner from Velenje Dulce Felix was the best woman at 10 km in 33:06 ahead of
Salome Rocha (33:47).

SOEST
(NED, Dec 31): Ethiopian Dawit Wolde won the 31st Sylvestercross in Netherlands
with 34:49 at 10.4 km. Second Dutch Khalid Choukoud in 35:00 and third Belgian
Soufina Bouchikhi in 35:03. Women 6 km saw the win of Belgian veteran Veerle
Dejaeghere (38) with 22:26 at 6 km beating Ethiopian Sifan Hassan (22:36).

BEASAIN
(ESP, Dec 31): Moroccan Abdelhalim Zahraoui was the best at the San Silvestre
de Beasain with 25:59 at 9 km ahead of Ethiopian Tolossa Chengere (26:00) and
another Moroccan Abdelhadi El Mouaziz (26:03). Best Kenyan James Moiben was
fourth 26:05. In women race Tirhas Gebre of Ethiopia was a clear winner in
29:26 ahead of group of Morrocan runners headed by Saida El Mehdi (32:02).

BIETIGHEIM
(GER, Dec 31): German Julian Flugel won the 31st Bietigheim Silvesterlauf with
33:32 at 11.1 km. Best woman was Ethiopian who lives in Germany Fate Tola in
37:28 ahead of Simret Restle (38:08) and Susanna Hahn (38:22).

SOEST
(GER, Dec 31): German marathon runner Sabrina Mockenhaupt won the 30th
Silvesterlauf from Werl to Soest at 15 km in 53:33. Best male was Dominik
Fabianowski (47:47).

TRIER
(GER, Dec 31): More than 10 000 spectators watched the 22th Silvesterlauf in
Trier. Best male runner at 8 km was the winner of Great Ethiopian Run Girmet
Mosinet in 22:37 ahead of his team-mates Tola Bane (22:39), Demelash Yigrem
(22:39) and Dame Taye (22:43). Best European as 5th home runner Arne Gabius
(22:46). Almensch Belete was the 5 km winner also for Ethiopia in 15:56. Second
Corinna Harrer 16:04 ahead of Diana Sujew 16:08 and European junior record
holder Gesa Krause (16:15).

ROMA
(ITA, Dec 31): We Run Roma race winners at 10 km were Andrea Lalli (29:28) and
Valeria Straneo (32:21, second Anna Incerti 32:56).

BARCELONA
(ESP, Dec 31): Carles Castillejo won the 10 km Cursa dels Nassos in 29:29 ahead
of Moroccan Ibrahim Ezzaydouni (29:32). Lidia Rodriguez as best woman achieved
33:24.

CREVILLENTE
(ESP, Dec 31): Moroccan Abdulah Taghrafet won the San Silvestre Crevillente at
10 km in 30:02. Kenyans followed, Hillary Kipchumba (30:07) and Charles
Ngolepus (30:49) with world indoor medalist Sergio Sanchez fourth 30:54. Joan
Chelimo scored a women win in 33:56 ahead of Moroccan Malika Assahsah
(34:02).

VITORIA
(ESP, Dec 31): Ethiopian Marta Tigabea won the 29th San Silvestre
Vitoria-Gasteiz in 18:45 at 5.75 km. Second Agnes Chebet of Kenya (18:58). In
men´s category Eritrean win for Isaak Sibahtu 16:09 ahead of Yonas Kifle 16:29
and Kenyan Eliud Kipserem 16:38.

TRZEBNICA
(POL, Dec 31): Arkadiusz Gardzielewski won the 27th Sylwester Race here in
30:15 at 10 km, best of woman Katarzyna Kowalska got 35:01.

BRZOZA
(POL, Dec 31): Artur Kozlowski was the winner of 5th Sylwester Race also at 10
km in 29:46.

SZYDLOW
(POL, Dec 30): Marathon runner Henryk Szost won the 32nd Sylwester Race at 8.06
km in 22:29. Steeple record holder Wioletta Frankiewicz was the best woman in
26:10.

NEW YORK
(USA, Dec 31): Two athletes training in North Carolina, Landon Peacock of
Blowing Rock and Stephanie Pezzullo of Charlotte, won the 33rd Emerald Nuts
Midnight Run, a four mile road race held here in Central Park at the
stroke of midnight. Peacock clocked 18:35 with Ethiopian who lives in New York
Tesfaye Dube second in 18:38. Pezzullo outlegged rivals Sarah Porter and Carmen
Douma-Hussar in the final mile to win in 21:05, a personal best for the
distance by 55 seconds. Porter as second got 21:17 and Canadian Douma-Hussar
21:26 as third. Informs RRW.

MAEBASHI
(JPN, Jan 1): Seven stage 100 km ekiden to determine the best Corporate team
Men’s Ekiden Champion was won by Nissin Foods in 4:49:32 (course record) ahead
of Konica Minolta 4:50:52 and Asahi Kasei 4:51:16. Yoshihiro Wakamatsu from the
winning team was the best in first 12.3 km stage with 35:55. Kenyans dominated
the second stage with Edward Waweru being the best in 22:29 at 8.3 km ahead of
Paul Tanui 22:31 and Gideon Ngatuny 22:34. Third stage winner Chihiro Miyawaki
clocked 37:52 at 13.6 km. Yuki Sato representing the winners clocked 62:51 in
the longest fourth part at 22 km. Muryo Takase also from Nissin was the best in
stage 5 at 15.8 km (46:16). In the 6th part of the race at 12.5 km the fastest
36:35 for Kazuharu Takai and last part at 15.5 km had Yusuke Takabayashi as the
best (45:16).

OTHER NEWS

BEIJING
(CHN): Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was named Top Athlete of 2011 by Chinese
news agency Xinhua. In the top ten also other two track athletes Sally Pearson
as 8th and Vivian Cheruiyot as 10th.

ASUNCION
(PAR): AIPS America announced the results of the first edition of their awards „Abelardo
Raidi” and “AIPS America” for sports journalists and athletes. Main awards
wento to Cubans Lazaro Borges (pole vault) and Yarelis Barrios (discus throw);
and the Uruguayan national football team, winner of the America Cup of
Argentina 2011.

NEW YORK
(USA): The application for the ING New York City Marathon 2012 will launch on
Monday, January 2, just in time to be a part of 2012 New Year’s
Resolutions, it was announced by NYRR. The 43rd running of the five-borough
spectacle, watched by more than 2.5 million spectators and a global TV
audience, will take place on Sunday, November 4. The application window for the
2012 event will open on Monday, January 2, at 12:00 noon (EST) and close on
Monday, April 23 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). A race record 47,000-plus finishers,
a men’s course record by Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya of 2:05:05, the
surprising triumph by women’s winner Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia in 2:23:15, and
the introduction of exciting new events on Marathon Weekend highlighted the
2011 race.