by Larry EderJoseph Gitau suprised all at the Fukuoka International marathon with his 2:06.58 win. His previous PB was over 2:20!
The surprise from Gitau
FUKUOKA (JPN, Dec 2): In Japan living Kenyan Joseph Gitau won in fast 2:06:58 the 66th International Fukuoka Marathon (only men). It was a big surprise as his previous best was not under 2:20. Two top names mentioned before the race dropped out, legendary Haile Gebrselassie at 32nd km and Kenyan debutant Martin Mathathi at 38th km. In good conditions second Japanese Hiroyuki Horibata just missed automatic Japan World Championships selection time 2:08 with 2:08:24 PB and third Poland´s Henryk Szost scored a great position in fifth fastest time of the year by an European runner 2:08:42. Sub 2:10 also for fourth Arata Fujiwara of Japan 2:09:31. Also to note 7th place for US Mohamed Trafeh in debut 2:11:41. Former winner Ukrainian Dmytro Baranovskyy was at the top until half-way with 1:03:48 (finished 11th in 2:13:23) and Gebrselassie was leading at 30 km in 1:30:38. “I will check out the problem and run another marathon, since I feel in good shape. At 32km, I could not lift my left leg properly anymore and I had to stop. My training went well and I had no indication for this. I felt good and easy during the race;the pace was fine. After 25km my left upperleg started slowly to cramp up,” the legendary Ethiopian explained on his twitter.
G. Mutai course record
HEERENBERG (NED, Dec 2): World leader and Berlin marathon winner this year Geoffrey Mutai won the 17th Montferland Run in his first 15 km only race in new course record 42:25 (14:29, 28:42 splits at 5 km and 10 km). Second last year winner and former course record holder Philip Langat who also went with 42:26 under his former top mark (42:34). Third Getu Feleke of Ethiopia 42:53 and fourth Dawit Wolde 43:47. Only sixth Mutai´s rival from Berlin this year Dennis Kimetto 45:13, seventh top European Urige Buta of Norway 45:46 and eighth best home runner Patrick Stitzinger 46:18. Chicago Marathon winner Atsede Baysa was the top woman after 49:15 beating Kenyan Lucy Macharia 49:56 and home Marieke Falkmann 54:21.
OTHER MARATHONS
SHANGHAI (CHN, Dec 2): New course records at Toray Shanghai Marathon. Kenyan Sylvester Teimet clocked 2:09:01 as top male runner with Teferi Kebede of Ethiopia close second 2:09:03 and this year Paris winner Stanley Biwott third in 2:09:05. Under 2:10 also fourth South African Olympian Stephen Mokoka 2:09:43. Olympic fourth placer from Beijing 2008 Deribe Merga was running his first marathon since March 2011 and was 10th (2:21:14). In women category Soul winner of this year Feysa Tadesse of Ethiopia improved not only the course record but also her life-time best to 2:23:07. Second Xiamen winner of this year Ashu Kasim 2:24:09 and third Kenyan Margaret Arai in huge PB 2:24:17 (did not had sub 2:30 before). Merima Hasen of Ethiopia was fourth 2:25:21 and fifth Sechale Delasa also from Ethiopia in great debut 2:26:27 and last under 2:30 another Ethiopian Goitetom Haftu 2:28:38. With help from Alberto Stretti and Mirko Jalava.
SINGAPORE (SIN, Dec 2): IAAF informs that Kenyans Kennedy Kiptoo and Irene Jerotich won the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore in 2:17:21 and 2:37:54. Event record holder and 2007 World Champion Luke Kibet was second in 2:17:26 and third Barbao Kiprono 2:17:31. In women race second Flomena Cheyech 2:37:57 and third Russian Alina Prokopeva debuting in 2:38:34. The race started at 5am with 53 000 in all races.
PUNE (IND, Dec 2): Another weekend win for Kenyans as Luka Chelimo won the gruelling men’s race in the 27th edition of Pune International Marathon which ended at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in course record 2:13:03. Simon Kiprugut was second in 2:14:09 and Danile Aschenik of Ethiopia third in 2:14:44 PB. Fast course record in women half marathon when Kenyan Pauline Kaveke improved to 1:08:37.
MACAU (MAC, Dec 2): Ethiopian Haile Gemeda won in 2:23:56 the 31st Macau Galaxy Marathon ahead of Kenyan Duncan Koech 2:24:00 in tough conditions. Also in women category Ethiopian win for Aheza Kiros 2:50:10 beating team-mate Tsega Gelaw 2:51:04.
MAZATLAN (MEX, Dec 2): Kenyan James Maunga won the 14th edition of the Gran Maratón Pacifico in 2:14:56. Second Stephen Njoroge 2:15:46 and third Benjaminj Kiplimo 2:17:45. US Mary Akor was the top woman in 2:48:31.
OTHER NEWS
ZAGREB (CRO): Discus olympic winner Sandra Perkovic was awarded the Croatian Athlete of the Year female award for 2012 at a ceremony in Zagreb on Saturday. On the men side two names were awarded, both throwers discus thrower Martin Maric and shot putter Nedzad Mulabegovic. During the ceremony also awards for 2011 were given, for Blanka Vlasic and Nedzad Mulabegovic again. Ivan Ivancic got the coach award for 2012 and Josko Vlasic with Bojan Marinovic for 2011. Top club for both years is Dinamo Zrinjevac. In 2012 the juniors of the year are pole vaulter Ivan Horvat (silver at World Junior Championships in Barcelona) and high jumper Lucija Zupcic.
MILANO (ITA): New president of Italian athletics federation FIDAL is Alfio Giomi. At the national assembly of FIDAL in the elections he got 60.7 percent of votes ahead of the second candidate Alberto Morini (39.3). The 64-years old Giomi was already vice-president during the presidency of Gianni Gola. Franco Arese the current president did not bid for another term due to health reasons. Marathon olympic winner Stefano Baldini will be responsible for youth in Giomi´s team.
DAYTONA BEACH (USA): Stephanie Hightower won re-election for a second four-year term as USA Track & Field President. After being first elected in 2008, Hightower won re-election over Matt Rigby by a final total of 454 to 83 during the USATF Annual Meeting at the Daytona Beach Hilton. This will be Hightower’s final term as President as the position is limited to two terms. USATF also elected former president Bill Roe as the organization’s long distance running chair. Roe defeated Glenn Latimer by a final count of 81-67. The Athletes Advisory Committee (AAC) was also busy establishing new positions. Event leaders are for sprints Wallace Spearmon and Jeneba Tarmoh, for vertical jumps Jeff Hartwig, with Melinda Owen, for horizontal jumps Will Claye and Tiombe Hurd, for middle distances Will Leer and Anne Shadle, for long distances Brandon Bethke with Ann Gaffigan, for hurdles Terrence Trammell with Christine Spence, for multi-events Trey Hardee and Hyleas Fountain and for throws Kibwe Johnson with Loree Smith. At-Large included are Brad Walker and Alice Schmidt. Chair of AAC is Jon Drummond, his vice-chair Allen Johnson. Informs USATF.
DAYTONA BEACH (USA): Awards give during the meeting Association of the Year was Missouri Valley, among others Harrison Dillard Award went to hurdles world record holder Aries Merritt. In women’s Track & Field the C.C. Jackson Award was given to Jenn Suhr (field) and Allyson Felix (track). A trio of sites were determined for youth championships for the 2014 cross country and track and field seasons. Myrtle Beach, S.C., will host the Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, Bloomington, Ind., will play host to the Youth Outdoor Championships and Houston, Texas, will host the Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships. From USATF.
DAYTONA BEACH (USA): The USA Track & Field Board of Directors has announced three new members, while four members have renewed their four-year terms at the conclusion of the USATF Annual Meeting. New to the boa
rd of directors are Fred Finke, Becky Oakes and top sprinter Darvis “Doc” Patton. Approved by the Nominating and Governance Panel to renew their terms were current board members Eve Wright and Ken Taylor; the Athletes Advisory Committee also renewed the term of Aretha Thurmond as their board representative. In its meeting Sunday morning, the board of directors re-elected their officers: Chairman Stephanie Hightower, Vice Chair Steve Miller, Treasurer Ken Taylor and Secretary Darlene Hickman. Larry James was re-appointed as board counsel. Writes USATF website.
LONDON (GBR): Insidethegames informs that the suspension for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has moved a significant step closer after it was confirmed that Lalit Bhanot will be unopposed as secretary general at the organisation’s election on Wednesday (December 5) following the withdrawal of his rivals. Bhanot spent 11 months in custody last year following corruption charges linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Abhay Singh Chautala, the chairman of the Indian Amateur Boxing Association, is also set to be elected unopposed for the IOA President’s post after his main rival, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Randhir Singh, pulled out claiming that he had been the victim of a “slanderous campaign” against him. The IOC had already threatened the IOA with suspension because of alleged Government interference in the election and are now set to impose the ban when its ruling Executive Board meets in Lausanne next Tuesday and Wednesday (December 4-5).
KUWAIT CITY (KUW): President of the Kuwait Sports Journalists’ Association and AIPS Vice-president Faisal Al Qanai will head the continental body AIPS Asia for the next four years. Mr Al Qanai was elected unopposed at AIPS Asia’s 16th Annual Congress at the Radisson Blue Hotel today in Kuwait City. Informs AIPS.
OTHER RESULTS
ELDORET (KEN, Dec 2): World Youth bronze medalist Gideon Kipketer and Commonwealth Youth champion Stacy Ndiwa won the senior men and women’s races at the sixth edition of the Tuskys Wareng cross country. Kipketer clocked 36:05 at 12 km ahead of Clement Lagat 36:05 and third Hosea Nailel 36:08. Ndiwa was timed with 27:31 beating Pamela Lisoreng 27:33 and Georgina Rono 27:44. Junior winners were Agnes Chebet at 6 km (20:48) and Kiprono Bett (8 km 24:24).
BURLADA (ESP, Dec 2): Steeple olympic bronze medalist Abel Mutai won the 21st edition of Cross Hiru-Herri at 10 km. He was timed with 30:24 just ahead of Ivan Fernandez (also 30:24). Third Daniel Mateo 30:31 and fourth Eliseo Martin 30:32. Ethiopian Trihas Gebre won the women 6.12 km in 20:37, second top Spanish Estela Navascues 20:48.
YOKOHAMA (JPN, Dec 1): At Nittai University Distance meet Ethiopian Luel Gebrselassie won the 10 000 m in 28:11.07 ahead of Kenyans Micah Njeru 28:12.06 and Johnson Kiumbani 28:16.88. Kumiko Otani from high school level won the women 5000 m in 15:31.65.
KOSA (JPN, Dec 2): Kenyan Enock Omwamba won the traditional 10 miles race in 46:25 ahead of Tomohiro Shiiya 46:26, third Yusuke Hasegawa 46:31.
HOBART (AUS, Dec 2): Taylah Sengul has increased the national girl’s under 18 shot put record at the Australian All Schools Championships with 17.18 m. After three days of competition at the Domain Athletics Centre, New South Wales were crowned winners of the Championship Cup with a final point score of 773.50 ahead of Victoria and Queensland.
BUENOS AIRES (ARG, Dec 1): New Argentinian junior discus record for Juan Solito 56.37 m with 1.75 kg implement. Informs Track in Sun blog.
WINSTON SALEM (USA, Dec 1): 21 years old high jumper Kris Kornegay-Gober improved at this indoor opener to 224 cm.
ITHACA (USA, Dec 1): Spanish student in USA Bruno Hortelano clocked at Cornell Relays new national best at 300 m with 33.94.
CLEMSON (USA, Dec 1): Also here at Orange and Purple Winter Classic fast indoor 300 m by La´Mont Jackson 33.89. But the top mark of the day went to hurdler Spencer Adams who is outdoor NCAA bronze medalist from last summer. He improved his best to international class time 7.62 at 60 m hurdles. In the women 300 m Dezerea Bryant got 38.36 ahead of Kendra Harrison 38.38 (also winner of 60 m hurdles in 8.19).
BOONE (USA, Dec 1): Serbian record at 55 m hurdles at Appalachian Invitational as Milan Ristic clocked 7.21.
NAMPA (USA, Dec 1): Jackson’s Open meet saw new name jumping into region of top times. 20-years old JUCO athlete Daveon Collins improved here to 20.98 at the 200 m.
