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2009
All Eyes Look to Berlin, as IAAF Trials Begin across the World
Across the world, athletes gear up for the World Championships in Berlin. Kara Goucher wins in the U.S. Women’s 5,000m in Eugene. Linet Masai and Sammy Kitwara secure slots on the Kenyan national team. More results, and the winning times from Seattle’s inaugural half-marathon and the 100K in Torhout, Belgium.
Races to Watch During This Year’s USATF Outdoor Championships
With a trip to the World Championships in Berlin on the line, America’s top athletes have arrived in Eugene, Oregon for the USATF Outdoor Championships. As the excitement builds, Take The Magic Step looks at four races that should prove memorable.
Melkamu Lights up the Track in Utrecht
Last weekend was a great weekend for Ethiopian runners. Meselech Melkamu set a new African record in the 10,000m and Kenenisa Bekele made a victorious comeback in the 5,000m.
Team KIMbia Shines at the 33rd Annual Bellin Run
Team KIMbia ran well at the 33rd annual Bellin Run in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday—finishing first and second in the men’s division and taking second and third in the women’s division. In the 50-54 year-old age group, Joan Benoit Samuelson broke a 20-year-old record.
Kosgei Goes Under 33 Minutes at the New York Mini 10K
Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) will be going for his world record at the Berlin Marathon in September; Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya has decided not to run it and will instead run a fall marathon in the United States. In New York City’s Central Park, Rose Kosgei (Kenya) won the New York Mini 10K in commanding fashion.
Erkesso Overcomes Aches and Pains to Win Freihofer’s Run for Women
The Ethiopian Teyba Erkesso wins one of the largest women’s only races in the world despite a headache and backache. Haile Gebrselassie goes for another one of his world records. In Puerto Rico, KIMbia’s John Yuda places in the top three again, rounding a fantastic running month.
Korir and Petrova Run Outstanding Races in Los Angeles
Wesley Korir of Kenya triumphs at the Los Angeles Marathon, breaking the course record and setting a five-minute personal best. In Ottawa and Boulder, the Ethiopians dominate at the 10K. In London, Mo Farah sets a new British record.
Gebrselassie and Cheruiyot Brave the Winds in Manchester
A summary of the top three road races—Bupa Great Manchester Run, Healthy Kidney 10K and Bay to Breakers 12K—held on 16-17 May.
KIMbia’s Athletic Hopefuls Take to the Roads
An overview of the KIMbia team and their upcoming performances on the U.S. road racing circuit.
Deena Kastor and Micah Kogo Triumph in Edinburgh
Deena Kastor (USA) took the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run (10K) and therewith made a perfect comeback to the international road racing scene. Micah Kogo (KEN) was the winner of the men’s race. In Dusseldorf, David Langat (KEN) and Susanne Hahn (GER) triumphed at the Metro Group Marathon.
Pre-Race Favorites Wanjiru and Mikitenko Triumph in London
Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) won the men’s London Marathon after a thrilling duel with Tsegay Kebede (ETH). His time was a course record and the ninth-fastest marathon in history. In the women’s race, Irina Mikitenko (GER) won for the second straight time—with the fastest time in the world this year.
Big Names, Big Expectations in Store for London
On April 26th some of the best marathoners in the world will toe the line at the London Marathon. Among the favorites in the men’s race will be Martin Lel (KEN) and Sammy Wanjiru (KEN), as well as Irina Mikitenko (GER), Constantina Dita (ROU), Catherine Ndereba (KEN) und Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) in the women’s race.
Merga and Kosgei Crowned in Laurels at the 113th Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon’s historic setting was once again a race of superlatives: it did not just provide the closest finish in history in the open women’s field, but the open men’s field held surprises and twists and turns that kept spectators riveted.
Gilbert Kirwa and Andrea Mayr Win the Vienna Marathon
Gilbert Kirwa (Kenya) won the Vienna Marathon in warm conditions with third-fastest time in its history. In the women’s race, Andrea Mayr celebrated a home win and broke the national record. She is the first Austrian champion in the women’s race since 1987.
The 2009 Boston Marathon Preview
What will unfold when the starting gun goes off and who will cross the finish line as the winner of the 113th running of this storied race? Take The Magic Step® writer Duncan Larkin provides a preview of the top runners facing this challenging course.
Boston Set to Kick Off the World Marathon Majors
The Boston Marathon on April 20th will be the first race in the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series this year. Among the favorites in the men’s race will be Ryan Hall (USA) and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN), as well as Kara Goucher (USA) and Dire Tune (ETH) in the women’s race.
Marathon History as Kibet Sets New Kenyan Record in Rotterdam!
Duncan Kibet triumphed at the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday—he set not only a Kenyan record for the marathon, but also ran the third-fastest time for the marathon ever. The Paris Marathon was taken by Vincent Kipruto of Kenya and Atsede Bayisa of Ethiopia.
April: The Biggest Marathon Month of the Year!
Take The Magic Step® previews the biggest and best marathons being held around the world during the next four weeks.
Africa’s Runners Dominate the World Cross-Country Championships
Once again, African runners have proven their domination of cross country; they decided the outcome in all four races of the World Cross-Country Championships in Amman, Jordan. On Sunday, Micah Kogo (Kenya) set a world record for 10K on the roads in Brunssum, Netherlands—improving the seven-year-old record held by Haile Gebrselassie.
35,000 Runners Battle the Wind in the Tokyo Marathon
In windy conditions, Salim Kipsang (Kenya) and Mizuho Nasukawa (Japan) won the Tokyo Marathon. At the Rome Marathon, Benjamin Kiptoo of Kenya broke the course record. Meanwhile, Martin Lel (Kenya) and Kara Goucher (USA) triumphed at the Lisbon Half-Marathon and gave a clear sign that they are in top form for their April marathons.
Kitwara Edges Out Gebrselassie in the City-Pier-City Half-Marathon
The Kenyan, Sammy Kirop Kitwara, won the 35th “City-Pier-City” half-marathon in The Hague. He won after a sprint duel with Haile Gebrselassie at the finish. In South Korea, the Kenyan, Moses Arusei, and Robe Tola of Ethiopia were the winners at the Seoul Marathon.
Mo Farah Sets New 3,000m Championship Record in Turin
Mo Farah (Britain) won the 3,000-meter final in a championship record setting time at the European Indoor Championships in Turin. The Japanese Yoshiko Fujinaga triumphed at the Nagoya Marathon during which her compatriot and national heroine Naoko Takahashi was running her farewell marathon. Takahashi was the first woman to break the 2:20 hour barrier in marathon.
Paul Tergat Returns to Greatness in Japan
Paul Tergat (Kenya) took the Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan on Sunday—his first win in the marathon since his New York triumph in 2005. Meseret Defar (Ethiopia) won the 2-mile race at the meet in Prague on Thursday and along with that broke her second world indoor record in eight days!
Five Runners Dip under the Hour at the Ras Al Khaimah Half-Marathon
En route to his win at the RAK Half-Marathon, Patrick Makau Musyoki (Kenya) set a world best for 20 kilometers. In the women’s race, Dire Tune (Ethiopia) ran the fastest time this year and broke the course record. This past week in Stockholm, Meseret Defar (Ethiopia) set a new 5,000-meter world indoor record.
A Big Week for Surprises and Broken Records
The French, Mehdi Baala, broke his country’s 1,500-meter record in Karlsruhe, Germany, while Italian runner Elisa Cusma ran the fastest 800-meter time in the world this year and broke the Italian record. In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Galen Rupp ran to a new indoor 5,000m American record.
Indoor Excitement Abounds in Europe and Boston
There were some phenomenal performances indoors this weekend. In Stuttgart, Meseret Defar went after her own 3,000 meter World record and nearly got it, while Bernard Lagat won the men’s 5,000m. In Boston, Shalane Flanagan broke the American record for the 5,000m. And in Gent, Haron Keitany set the fastest time of the year at 1,500m.
Lucky Seven for Lagat at the 102nd Annual Millrose Games
Bernard Lagat made Millrose Games history this weekend when he recorded his seventh win in the mile event. His win tied legendary Irish runner, Eamonn Coghlan’s record for the most wins at Millrose.
Yoko Shibui Makes a Comeback in Osaka
29-year-old Japanese Yoko Shibui took the Osaka Marathon in 2:23:42 hours—a World Championship-qualifying time. Fellow countrywomen Yukiko Akaba (2:25:40/debut) and Yumiko Hara (2:26:57) placed second and third respectively.
Despite the Conditions, Haile Gebrselassie Shows Courage in Dubai
Haile Gebrselassie emerged as the clear winner of the Dubai Marathon, running blazing 2:05:29 hours—in spite of unusual weather in Dubai. There was also a clear-cut champion in the women’s race: Bezunesh Bekele of Ethiopia won in 2:24:02.
Egmond Half Marathon Attracts 13,000 Beach Runners
Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) won the men’s race of the 37th Annual Egmond Half-Marathon in 65:36 minutes. 21-year-old Ethiopian Workitu Ayanu got the better of pre-race favorite, Hilda Kibet, and won the women’s race by a big margin in 1:16:33 hours.
Xiamen Marathon in China Attracts 33,000 Runners
One of the first marathons in 2009, the Xiamen Marathon, was held on Saturday. Samuel Muturi, a Kenyan, won the men’s race and broke the course record in 2:08:51 hours. The 20-year-old relatively unknown Chinese runner Chen Rong took the women’s race in 2:29:52.
