Tom Bedford, Dave Bedford, Brendan Reilly, photo by PhotoRun.net

Dave Bedford must be grinning ear to ear today! The toughest team to make in 2012 may be the Kenyan Marathon team, where twelve were invited to get involved. The shoot out will be at 2012 Virgin London, where four to six of the possible members will put it all on the line. It could take a new world record to make the Kenyan Olympic marathon team!

The sponsorship imbroglio is getting ” tiresome” per several of our sports sponsors. “We welcome new sponsors, we just want to make sure that all sponsors will honor the same rules. That simple.”

I have spent last two days at Outdoor Retailer, Winter Market. Great to see so many friends, new and old. Brooks has become that brand that, focusing on its core business, has tripled its business since 2001. Focus is key in this business climate. Note that the six or seven brands that are thriving are focused on their own unique mission. ” Anyone silly enough to take Nike on, or try, head on, is, well, just asking for it.” noted one keen observer.

RBR expresses strong concern over the Ethiopian Federation verbal warfare with over thirty of its elite athletes. Hopefully, the Federation will see that while, yes, they can find people to run, not using their elite of elite athletes will only hurt Ethiopia and their countrymen and women will wonder why their great athletes, who they take much pride in, did not represent them in various events. We hope that cooler minds prevail. 

In Salt Lake City airport, for some more travel. Wishing all a great weekend, and my father, Stanley Eder, a belated birthday. 

4 FROM 6 PRE-SELECTED KENYANS IN LONDON

LONDON
(GBR): Reigning World Marathon Majors men’s champion Emmanuel Mutai will defend
his Virgin London Marathon title on Sunday, April 22, race director Dave
Bedford announced. Mutai will be just one of six exceptional Kenyan men who
will compete in the race, all of whom hope to solidify their place on their
country’s Olympic team. Mutai–who is not related to the Boston and ING New York
City Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai–scored a magnificent victory at
London last year, smashing the course record by 30 seconds and clocking
2:04:40, a personal best. He won by 65 seconds, an astonishing gap for
such a high level race. Behind Mutai, Kenyan compatriots Martin Lel and
Patrick Makau sprinted for second place, with Lel finishing just half a stride
up on Makau, who would later set the world record of 2:03:38 at the BMW Berlin
Marathon last September. Both men will return to London to compete again this
year, Bedford said. The three other Kenyans slated to compete are BMW Frankfurt
Marathon champion Wilson Kipsang, reigning and two-time world champion Abel
Kirui, and the 2011 IAAF World Championships marathon silver medalist Vincent
Kipruto. This are four runners from 6 Kenyans pre-selected for London Games.
Other two are Moses Mosop (Rotterdam) and Geoffrey Mutai (Boston). In addition
to the Kenyan squad who will run in London, Bedford also announced 11 other
Africans who are all capable of winning the race. The cream of that crop are
Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede and Feyisa Lilesa, both of whom have world championships
bronze medals; Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib, twice the world marathon champion and
an Olympic silver medalist; and Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, the world record
holder for the half-marathon. Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, twice the
ING New York City Marathon champion, is the lone elite men’s entrant from the
Americas. Finally, 11 British men were named, each of whom has a chance to
make their Olympic team by being the first Briton over the finish line under
2:12:00. The best men Bedford named from that group are Lee Merrien (2:14:27
PB) and Ben Whitby (2:15:09). Informs Race Results Weekly.

BANNED
ETHIOPIANS

ADDIS
ABABA (ETH): Ethiosports.com informs that the Ethiopian Athletics Federation
(EAF) said that it has indefinitely banned 35 athletes, including Olympic
Champions Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, for failing to report to camp in
preparation of the 2012 London Olympic Games, said technical director Dube Jilo
in an interview with Sheger FM 102.1. He said that discipline shall not be
compromised and warned that there are capable athletes in the country who can
fill in the vacant spots. However, the ban would be reconsidered as soon as the
athletes report for training, he said. Jilo further noted that a number of
coaches and athletes managers were also banned for failing to present their
credentials to the federation as the rules stipulate. Kenenisa Bekele said for
agencies that he is injured and could not come to the camp. Banned except of
Kenenisa Bekele frong long distance runners Sileshi Sihine, Tariku Bekele,
Tilahun Regassa, Dino Sefir, Ayele Abshiro, Getaneh Molla, Lelisa Desisa and
Hunegaw Mesfin. On the women side except of Tirunesh Dibaba also Meselech
Melkamu, Wude Ayalew, Firehiwot Goshu, Ruth Aga, Kidist Lema, Waganesh Mekasha
and Tsigereda Girma. From 1500 m runners reigning World indoor champion
Kalkidan Gezahegn and Tizita Bogale. From steeple runners Etenesh Diro, Mekdes
Bekele and Hiwot Ayalew. From Marathon runners Abraham Cherkos and females
Mamitu Daska, Tiki Gelana, Mare Dibaba, Koreni Jelila, Bizunesh Bekele, Aberu
Kebede, Aselefech Merga, Merima Mohammed, Atsede Habtamu, Shitaye Bedasso,
Atsede Bayisa and Genet Getaneh. Athletes’ Managers Representatives and coaches
banned include Getaneh Tessema (Gete Wami’s husband), Gemedu Dodofa, Geta Zeru,
Haji Adelo, Elias Kebede and Abraham Shiferaw.

SVOBODA
TO MISS INDOORS

PRAGUE
(CZE): Hurdles European indoor champion Petr Svoboda continues to be unlucky.
After missing the whole summer season of 2011 he will not be able to compete also
during the indoor season 2012. His right achilles is still bothering him after
he started the preparation in October. He will undergo next week a surgery
and hopes to resume training within one month. „Main goals Helsinki and London
are remaining. I would be able actually start the preparation for the
summer earlier than when I would compete indoors,” said the Czech record
holder.

KOMON
THE STAR

ELGOIBAR
(ESP): The European CC Permit race 35th Cross Internacional de Elgoibar „Memorial
Juan Muguerza” will have road world record holder Leonard Komon as the main
star. Also in the field world junior CC winner Geoffrey Kipsang, the 18-years
old Geoffrey Kirui, Paul Tanui on the Kenyan side with Ethiopian Hunegaw Mesfin
and Portugal´s European CC medalist Jose Rocha. From home runners Chema
Martinez and Javier Guerra are the leaders. Kenyans Priscah Jepleting with
Pauline Korikwiang are leading the women field with Ethiopians Wude Ayalew and
Hiwot Ayalew along with Spanish Alessandra Aguilar and Diana Martin.

ISINBAYEVA
TO OPEN HER SEASON

VOLGOGRAD
(RUS): At Saturday´s Governor Cup in Volgograd pole vault queen Yelena
Isinbayeva will open her indoor season. Other top Russian names are sprinter
Yulia Gushchina and pole vaulter Aleksandra Kiryashova. After long travel
Kenyan Ismael Kombich also arrived for the meet to run the 1500 m. Another
special guest is St. Kitts relay world medalist Antoine Adams for the 60 m
race.

LEMAITRE
FOR ROME AND PARIS

PARIS
(FRA): European sprinting champion French Christophe Lemaitre said he has in
his mind two Diamond League meetings for summer, Rome on May 31 (that would be
against Usain Bolt) and home AREVA in Paris on July 6. In his summer schedule
also first round and last round of Club Championships and National Championships
in the middle of June in Angers. He thinks about only one individual event at
each European Championships in Helsinki and Olympic Games in London. Relay is
part of his plans at both top events. For the indoor season he is scheduled for
three events, home meets in Lievin on February 14 and Val du Reuil on February
18 and National Indoor Championships.

SALADINO
FOR SURGERY

PANAMA
CITY (PAN): EME NEWS already reported that long jump olympic winner from
Beijing Irving Saladino will pass the indoor season. Now it is revealed that he
will travel to Colombia to underwent a surgery on his left knee. Since
2009 Saladino struggled with pain and injuries. He hopes to make it on time for
the summer season.

OTHER NEWS

BERLIN
(GER) : Germany’s hurdler Jens Werrman is preparing a comeback after an
Achilles injury kept him out of competition for almost two years. After three
surgeries on his Achilles, Werrman will start training again at the end of the
month and is preparing a warm weather training camp in the United States
in April. The 24 year old has a PB of 13.51 from 2009 reports
leichtathletik.de.

LAUSANNE
(SUI): With the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki just over
five months away, European Athletics is launching the online media
accreditation procedure for written press and photographers. Organizers have
worked out country quotas for written press and photographers based on
attendance at previous European Athletics Championships.

LOS
ANGELES (USA): World champion sprinter Carmelita Jeter will be presented with
the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year award during the seventh annual LA
Sports Awards on March 15th. The LA Sports Awards are presented by the Los
Angeles Sports Council to celebrate the greatest moments of the year in sports
in the Los Angeles/Orange County area.

LONDON
(GBR): UK Anti-Doping has confirmed that Bernice Wilson has been given a four-year
suspension following an anti-doping rule violation. Wilson tested positive for
the anabolic steroids testosterone and clenbuterol on 12 June 2011 and was
provisionally suspended from all competition on 9 July 2011. The British
sprinter now is banned from participation in sport up to and including 8 July
2015.

LONDON
(GBR): Professor David Cowan, whose team from King’s College, London will be
operating the London 2012 anti-doping laboratory, has warned that competitors
in key Olympic sports such as cycling and athletics could face retrospective
sanctions for doping infringements, even if they do not test positive at the
Games. Cowan will oversee the analysis of at least 6,250 urine samples during
the period of the Olympics and blood samples from 20 per cent of competitors ,
more than at any previous Games, and as many as his team normally process in a year
reports Insidethegames.

LONDON
(GBR): Malaysia’s Prince Tunku Imran, the new President of the Commonwealth
Games Federation (CGF), has claimed that giving flexibility to host cities of
the Commonwealth Games is helping to create more interest in bidding for
prestigious competition. A number of countries have already expressed a provisional
interest in hosting the event in the near future, including South Africa,
Canada and New Zealand according to Insidethegames.

KINGSTON
(JAM): Veronica Campbell-Brown looks set to walk away with her fourth RJR
Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the year award in the last six years, while
the Sportsman of the Year award will trigger another Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake
showdown at aceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus. Other female nominees include WBC
Junior Featherweight champion Alicia Ashley, Pan American Games 200m individual
medley silver medallist Alia Atkinson, 400m hurdles Diamond League winner
Kaliese Spencer, and World Championships 400m hurdles silver medallist Melaine
Walker. Bolt and Blake take on Cricketer Marlon Samuels, who scored over 600
runs in regional first-class competition, Asafa Powell, Lerone Clarke, the Pan
American Games 100m champion and boxer Nicholas Walters reports The Jamaica
Gleaner.

KARLSRUHE
(GER): European 100m champion Verena Sailer is set to compete at the IHM Indoor
meeting in Karlsruhe on February 12th (IAAF Permit). The German athlete is
returning to competition after an Achilles injury slowed her down in 2011.
Sailer is one of many top German stars competing such as Ariane Friedrich,
Carolin Nytra, Silke Spiegelburg, Martina Strutz, David Storl and Jennifer Oeser.

BUDAPEST
(HUN): Once again London Marathon is ranked as the Nr.1 marathon of the year
while the top road running race was New Delhi Half Marathon – according to the
All-Athletics.com Competition Rankings. The most Top-100-ranked marathons (12)
were organized in the United States while USA and France had the most Top-100
races (16-16) in the Road Running category. To see more check with www.all-athletics.com.

NEWCASTLE
(AUS): American throwers Mike Hazle and Russ Winger will lead the international
challenge at the Hunter Track Classic on Saturday as Australian athletes
descend on Newcastle (NSW) for continuing preparation for the Qantas Melbourne
Track Classic and Nomination Trials. In the discus, Winger may have a tougher
battle to beat world championship finalist Benn Harradine. The men’s 1500m
field has been boosted by the inclusion of British Commonwealth Games 1500m
finalist Nick McCormick, 30, who has a personal best of 3:35.74 and last
season competed at the European Indoor Championships. Informs Athletics
Australia.

WUPPERTAL
(GER): World medalist Martina Strutz will be the star of 25th edition of
Wuppertal jumping meet on Saturday. Nearly 1000 spectators will see her duel
with Lisa Ryzih, Kristina Gadschiew and Julia Hutter. In men´s high jump Russian
Daegu silver winner Aleksey Dmitrik will open his season against Brits Robbie
Grabarz and Samson Oni, Slovak Peter Horak and Germans will be headed by Eike
Onnen.

FRANKFURT
(GER): Germany announced its team for the Aviva Match in Glasgow on January 28.
European medalist from Barcelona Carsten Schlangen runs the 1500 m, talented
hurder Gregor Traber is selected for 60 m hurdles and Karsten Dilla who already
cleared 572 last weekend is selected for the pole vault. In the women team top
long jumper Bianca Kappler, the olympic finalist.

MOSCOW
(RUS): Tatyana Lebedeva and other top russian athletes like high jumper Andrey
Silnov underwent a special bath in the ice hole of Moscow river. The
Ephiphany bath was performed in Odintsovo district. It was done according to a long
and old tradition which says the the baptismal water has miraculous power.

EDMONTON
(CAN): The World Silver Medalist and current World Number 1 in Shot Put, Dylan
Armstrong has confirmed his participation at the Donovan Bailey Invitational.
Armstrong, will headline a strong field of Olympians who will compete on
June 15th at the inaugural street meet in downtown Edmonton, the day before the
international track competitions are scheduled. “I am very happy to be coming
back to Edmonton, It’s always great to throw at home and this meet is an
important part of my Olympic preparation” Armstrong said. He is scheduled to
open his indoor international season at Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville in
February.

ST
JOHN’S (ANT): Antiguan top sprinter Brendan Christian is currently on island
and holding talks with members of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the
government as they seek to resolve issues that had led to the sprinter
boycotting at least two major international meets last year. Christian had
missed the Pan American Games and World Championships in Daegu. NOC President
Paul “Chet” Greene explained the need to have the athlete come to Antigua and
hold talks with major stakeholders as they seek to have his issues resolved.
Christian is also set to meet with members of the Ministry of Sports and the
Antigua & Barbuda Athletic Association and Greene is hoping to have a firm
handle on the situation.