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2006
Superb Success for Charity Running in London and Chicago
Two of the world’s greatest marathon events recently announced the amounts raised for charity during their races in 2006. In London and Chicago, $90 million were collected for charities. That impressive figure shows the value these events have besides producing superb races for the elite and fun runners.
London Next Marathon for Olympic Champion Mizuki Noguchi
The London Marathon announced that the 2004 Olympic Marathon champion, Mizuki Noguchi, will take to the streets of London next April 22, heading up a strong women’s elite field. Noguchi said, “The Flora London Marathon brings together the highest level athletes. I have decided to go to London because I want the opportunity to test myself against the best athletes in the world.”
Mubarak Shami and Zhou Chunxiu Win Marathon Golds at Asian Games
Runners from Qatar and Bahrain among the men, and from China and Japan for the women, won gold medals in the running events of these championships, which ended in Qatar on Tuesday.
Mo Farah Stops Sergey Lebid’s Win Streak at Euro Cross
Ten years after Jon Brown did so, another British man is the European Cross Country champion. Mo Farah, who was born in Somalia, put an end to Sergey Lebid’s win streak in the event in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy. Lebed, from Ukraine, hoped to win the title for the seventh time and the sixth in a row, but in the end, he was 30 seconds behind his successor in a well-beaten 12th place.
Salina Kosgei Wins Singapore in Style
Salina Kosgei of Kenya was the star of the show at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon early Sunday morning. Kosgei, 29, was favored to win the women’s race, and the elegant Kenyan delivered the goods in style, breaking the course record by almost three minutes, in 2:31:55 hours, an exceptional time in the conditions—80° F heat and close to 100% humidity right from the 6:00 a.m. start.
Haile Gebrselassie Wins Fukuoka Ten Weeks after Berlin
Ten weeks after his victory in the Berlin Marathon, Haile Gebrselassie has won a second of the marathon classics, and in another world-class time, at that. The 33-year-old Ethiopian, who set the current world best for the year of 2:05:56 hours in Berlin on September 24, won today’s Fukuoka Marathon in 2:06:52. In so doing, Gebrselassie accomplished another unique achievement—never before has a marathon runner twice run such high-class times within ten weeks.
Pacemaker Takes Florence Marathon, Noguchi back to Winning
High-class races took place in Europe, Africa and Asia during the last few days. Florence saw its annual marathon, the Great Ethiopian Run took place in Addis Abeba and the marathon-length-relay ekiden was held in Chiba, Japan. In addition, Mizuki Noguchi, the Japanese Olympic Marathon champion from 2004, won the Shanghai Half Marathon in a course record of 1:09:03 hours.
Lance Armstrong: “I Admire the Runners Even More”
Lance Armstrong rewrote sports history by winning the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 through 2005. Always a competitor, Lance then decided to take on the 2006 NYC Marathon. Take The Magic Step® spoke with Lance soon after his marathon debut.
Shock for Takahashi as Tosa Takes Tokyo
Naoko Takahashi missed qualifying for the World Championships next August in Osaka at the Tokyo Marathon. The Japanese star managed only third place in the capital, clocking a disappointing 2:31:22 hours in the race she entered as the defending champion. Takahashi become an idol in Japan after winning the Olympic marathon gold in Sydney in 2000 and clocking the first women’s sub-2:20 marathon in Berlin a year later (2:19:46). Tokyo’s winner was another Japanese: Reiko Tosa, who placed fifth in the Olympic marathon in 2004 in Athens. She clocked 2:26:15, which might still not be enough for qualifying for Osaka.
Shentema Wins in Trentino, 20-year-old Cheserek Takes Monte Carlo
Seven weeks after finishing second to Haile Gebrselassie with 2:10:43 hours at the Berlin Marathon, Gudisa Shentema (Ethiopia) won the Garda Trentino Half Marathon in Italy, clocking 64:08 minutes. Kenyan Peter Kiplagat was second (64:58), while Russia’s Sergej Zachepa took third (65:08). Elisa Desco (Italy) was the women’s winner in 1:14:58.
Kenyan and Japanese Achieve Victory in Athens Classic
The Athens Marathon is far and away the classic race over 26.2 miles. Yet the Greeks don’t seem to make the most of the unique position of their race—in international terms, the Athens Marathon has no particular significance, and the elite field is of medium quality. Nor is the choice of date exactly ideal: the race took place on the same day as last Sunday’s New York Marathon.
An Interview with New York City Marathon Champion Jelena Prokopcuka
Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka defended her ING New York City Marathon title last Sunday in 2:25:05 hours. She set her personal best of 2:22:56 while winning the 2005 Osaka Marathon, and was 12th in last summer’s European Championships 10,000 meter. Take the Magic Step® talked with her after her victory in New York City.
Dos Santos Wins in New York, KIMbia’s Kiogora Takes Second
Expect the unexpected. With great weather and stacked fields, most commentators expected fast races and close finishes at this year’s ING New York City Marathon. They got neither. But despite the slow pace, the performances were still impressive—especially KIMbia’s Stephen “Baba” Kiogora, who accepted the silver medal from Mayor Bloomberg. Baba dueled world record holder Paul Tergat over the final mile, pulling away in the last 600 meters to finish second in 2:10:06 hours. Tergat finished third, four seconds behind, in 2:10:10. But neither athlete could catch Marilson Gomes dos Santos, who became the first Brazilian to win the New York City Marathon.
Tergat Meets Ramaala again in New York
With almost 40,000 runners and an extraordinarily strong elite field, the ING New York City Marathon will take place this Sunday. Last year, on the difficult and hilly New York course, a thrilling duel for victory developed over the final miles. World record holder Paul Tergat (Kenya/2:04:55) won in 2:09:30 hours. He was just one second ahead of Hendrick Ramaala from South Africa. Both will be at the starting line on the Verrazano Bridge again this year.
Wilfred Kigen of Kenya Repeats Last Year’s Victory in Frankfurt
Kenya’s men set their stamp on the 25th Frankfurt Messe Marathon, while two Europeans sprang surprises among the women. The Kenyan Wilfred Kigen repeated his victory of the previous year, running 2:09:06 hours, the second fastest winning time in the history of the oldest German city marathon. In second place was Moses Arusei in 2:10:30, Francis Bowen took third (both from Kenya) with 2:10:49.
Cheruiyot Falls at Finish, but Wins Chicago; Adere Outsprints Bogomolova
With a cold start, but a steady pace, the 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon ended with some unanswered questions. A big concern at this year’s race was the pacing. In 2005 the pace went out too slow. The year before, too fast. But this year the four pacemakers (all athletes from KIMbia Athletics) were right on pace through 30 kilometers. At the mile mark Richard Kiplagat and Sammy Kipketer towed the field through in 4:50 minutes, which is exactly 3:00 per kilometer—the desired pace. At halfway, Kiplagat and Kipketer brought the field through in 63:10 and then turned the pacing duties over to teammates Luke Kipkosgei and Charles Munyeki.
Kenyans Win in Venice, Pavey Takes Portsmouth
With a new personal best of 2:10:18 hours the Kenyan Jonathan Kipkorir Kosgei won the Venice Marathon on Sunday. In a thrilling finish the winner was just three seconds ahead of Italian Alberico di Cecco. The battle for the third place was also a Kenyan-Italian duel and was won by a Kenyan as well. Paul Lokira was third in 2:11:00 ahead of Migidio Bourifa (2:11:09).
KIMbia Hopes for Best in Chicago Marathon
Sunday’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has a high-class field for its 29th edition, including several strong KIMbia entries. Among the 40,000 participants will be four men whose personal bests are under 2:07 hours, and another three who have already run under 2:08. The women’s field is also excellent, with four entrants with sub-2:22 bests, and two more with sub-2:24 credentials.
Kenyan Double at Amsterdam Marathon
Only in the last few meters inside the Olympic Stadium was the men’s race of last weekend’s Amsterdam Marathon decided. A debutant, Solomon Bushendich, took the 31st edition in 2:08:52 hours. The Kenyan was two seconds ahead of his countryman Bernard Barmasai. Third was Getuli Bayo from Tanzania in 2:10:47. In partly windy conditions, the fastest woman was Rose Cheruiyot (Kenya) with 2:28:26. Second place was taken by her countrywoman Helena Loshanyang, who clocked 2:28:51. Leila Aman (Ethiopia/2:29:32) was third. More than 6,700 runners from 59 nations registered for this year’s race.
The Fire Still Burns: An Interview with Bill Rodgers
Bill Rodgers won the Boston and New York City marathons four times each and was ranked #1 in the world three times. At 58, his competitive juices still flow. But more importantly, Bill has become an elder statesman and ambassador for the sport of running.
Tadesse, Kiplagat Win World Road Running Championships
Zersenay Tadesse (Eritrea) and Lornah Kiplagat (Netherlands) won the inaugural titles at the IAAF World Road Running Championships on Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary. The 20 kilometer race replaced the global half marathon championship on IAAF’s calendar.
Ramaala, Adere Win Great North Run
South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala and Ethiopia’s Berhane Adere won the Great North Run in Newcastle, England on Sunday. With about 50,000 participants, it’s one of the biggest road races in the world. The traditionally high-class half marathon in England’s northeast didn’t produce winning times as fast as in recent years, but hundreds of thousands of spectators experienced thrilling races for victory.
Mile, Marathon Mark Weekend Road Action in U.S.
A world-class road mile and the national marathon championships highlighted weekend road action in the U.S.
Cheruiyot Wins Udine Half Marathon in Fast Time
There was a great half marathon men’s race in Udine, Italy last Sunday. Kenyan Evans Cheruiyot won in 60:18 minutes, scarcely in front of countryman Paul Kirui, who was given the same time. Ahead of five other Kenyans, William Todoo finished third in 60:33. Felix Limo, who is preparing for the Chicago Marathon, was still weak following an illness, and had to be content with eighth place in 63:28. In the women’s race, Hungarian Aniko Kalovics won in 70:30 ahead of Rosaria Console (Italy/71:54) and Simone Staicu (Romania/74:02).
Gebrselassie Wins Berlin, Misses Tergat’s World Record
Haile Gebrselassie won Sunday’s 33rd real,- Berlin Marathon, but he missed Paul Tergat’s world record once again. The Ethiopian clocked the fastest time of the year with 2:05:56 hours, which is an Ethiopian record. Gebrselassie’s time improved his personal best, which had been 2:06:20, but was more than a minute off of Tergat’s mark of 2:04:55, set while winning Berlin in 2003. For now, Gebrselassie will have to be content with being the fifth-fastest marathoner in history, and with having the seventh-fastest time ever. In all, 39,636 runners from 105 nations competed in Berlin, and about one million spectators lined the streets.
Berlin Marathon Features WMM Race, Gebrselassie
The 33rd real,- Berlin Marathon marks the beginning of a promising new era for the largest German marathon. With its 39,636 participants from 105 nations and a series of world-class performances, the Berlin Marathon has already been one of the world’s most spectacular races for the past few years. The founding of the World Marathon Majors (WMM), which the Berlin Marathon is part of with the Flora London Marathon, the BAA Boston Marathon, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon, has only strengthened this position. These five events basically represent the sport’s Formula 1.
Haile: “I will run as fast as I can in Berlin”
Haile Gebrselassie will make his first appearance at the real,- Berlin Marathon on Sunday. The 33-year-old Ethiopian has already set 21 world records in his outstanding career, but the two-time 10,000 meter Olympic champion is still chasing one major goal: the marathon world record of 2:04:55 hours, set by his long-time rival Paul Tergat in Berlin in 2003. The flat course in Berlin gives Gebrselassie a great chance to improve Tergat’s mark. Gebrselassie’s personal best stands at 2:06:20, set when winning in Amsterdam last year. He recently spoke about Sunday’s race.
Shaheen Wins World Cup Double, Mottram Beats Bekele
Saif Saaeed Shaheen doubled, Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar did not compete against each other and each won, and Kenenisa Bekele had to accept defeat at the end of the season—these were the highlights of the IAAF World Cup in Athens this weekend.
KIMbia Runners Excel on Two Continents
KIMbia runners had strong showings at three major races on two continents this weekend: Matt Tegenkamp placed third in the World Cup 5,000 meters in Athens, Greece; Edna Kiplagat was second at the Philadelphia Distance Run (a half marathon) in Philadelphia; and Richard Kiplagat won the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5 Kilometer in Providence, Rhode Island.
Tadesse Clocks Third-Fastest ever Half Marathon in Rotterdam
Zersenay Tadesse ran the third-fastest half marathon ever to win the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday. The 24-year-old Eritrean’s time of 59:16 minutes tied the course record that Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru set while winning the inaugural race last year. At the time, Wanjiru’s mark was a world best, but has since been bettered by Haile Gebrselassie (58:55 in Phoenix) and Paul Kosgei (59:07 in Berlin).
Defar Wins Last AF Golden League Meet in Final Meters
At the last IAAF Golden League meet, in Berlin on Sunday, 20-year-old Ethiopian runner Tirunesh Dibaba could have become the youngest athlete in the series’ history to win the grand jackpot. After winning confidently in Oslo, Paris, Rome, Zurich and Brussels, however, she saw her chance disappear in the final meters of the ISTAF’s 5,000-meter race at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Normally unbeatable in the final sprint, she couldn’t get past her countrywoman Meseret Defar, who ran 15:02.51 minutes to Dibaba’s 15:02.87.
Kenya Breaks Coe and Co.’s 4 x 800m World Record
Quite a few world records were missed at the 30th van Damme Memorial meet in Brussels on August 25, but one all-time best was achieved: a team from Kenya set a new world record at the rarely run 4 x 800 meters relay. Joseph Mutua, William Yiampoy, Ismael Kombich and Wilfred Bungei ran the distance in 7:02.43 minutes, crossing the finish line just in front of the American team, which ran 7:02.82. Both teams broke the 24-year-old world record of 7:03.89, which the British squad of Peter Elliott, Garry Cook, Steve Cram and Sebastian Coe had set in London in 1982.
KIMbia’s Nyariki Wins Inaugural NYC Half Marathon
KIMbia’s Tom Nyariki capped a stellar August by winning this morning’s NYC Half Marathon in Manhattan. In his first half marathon, Nyariki ran 1:01:22 hours to win by six seconds over Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi. Two-time American Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, who ran 27:22 minutes for 10,000 meters on the track earlier this summer, was third in 1:01:34. The three ran together until the final kilometer, when Nyariki surged decisively and permanently gapped first Abdirahman, and then Keflezighi.
Lel Wins, Rabbit Foils Gebrselassie
A small town in the southwestern part of the Italian island of Sicily is the pleasant setting for an annual high-class 10-kilometer race. In warm weather, three strong half marathon and marathon runners dominated this year’s race. In the end former New York City and London Marathon champion Martin Lel took the race. The Kenyan clocked 28:45 minutes and was well ahead of reigning Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (Kenya/29:24) and Hassan Mubarek Shami (Qatar/29:42). Shami was runner-up in last year’s world half marathon championships.
Interview with European Marathon Champ Maisch: “I want to run New York”
Ulrike Maisch won gold in sensational fashion in the marathon at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition to winning, the German ran a new personal best of 2:30:01 hours. It was her second marathon this year, after she had run in Hamburg in April. In November 2004 she had a foot surgery. Take the Magic Step® recently had the opportunity to talk with Maisch about her marathon victory and upcoming plans.
Double for Kipchirchir at African Championships
While the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden produced most of the headlines during the last week, there was also some interesting running at the African Championships, held in Bambous, Mauritius. Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir produced a rare double, first winning the 800 meters in 1:46.62 minutes in front of Ahmed Ismail (Sudan/1:46.65) and Alfred Kirwa (Kenya/1.46.85), and then taking the 1500m. In another close finish, he clocked 3:46.54 to beat Adil Kaouich (Morocco/3:46.72) in a tactical race.
KIMbia’s Okari Defends Title at Falmouth
Gilbert Okari won August 13’s Falmouth Road Race by breaking away from his KIMbia teammate Tom Nyariki in the sixth mile of the 7.1-mile race. Okari’s victory, in 31:53 minutes, was his third consecutive Falmouth title. Nyariki took second in 32:03. KIMbia’s John Korir, who won Falmouth in 1999, 2001 and 2003, was third in 32:39.
Som, Espana and Tomashova Win European Golds
Besides the men’s marathon, there were three other running events on the final day of the European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. In a wide-open men’s 800-meter final, Bram Som triumphed. The 26-year-old Dutch won his first big medal in 1:46.56 minutes, ahead of David Fiegen (Luxembourg/1:46.59) and Brit Sam Ellis (1:46.64).
Dominguez Takes 5,000m, Disappointment for Pavey at Europeans
Jo Pavey had been one of the last hopes for a British gold medal at the European Championships. In contrast to the team’s performance at the meet eight years ago in Budapest, where they won nine events, so far this time they’ve yet to win one. Despite leading most of the way in the women’s 5,000 meter, Pavey, too, came up short, finishing fourth in 15:01.41 minutes.
Stefano Baldini Takes Second European Marathon Gold
Compared to the sensational marathon triumph of Ulrike Maisch in the women’s European Championships marathon, there was little surprise in the men’s marathon race for gold one day later. The heavy favorite, Italian Stefano Baldini, won in 2:11:32 hours. The 35-year-old was also the European champion in 1998, and is the reigning Olympic champion in the event. The silver medalist, however, was a surprise, with Switzerland’s Viktor Röthlin placing second in 2:11:50 ahead of Spaniard Julio Rey (2:12:37).
Ulrike Maisch Sensationally Wins European Marathon
German Athletics has a female counterpart of Jan Fitschen: Four days after the totally unexpected 10,000 meter triumph by Fitschen, Ulrike Maisch was the surprise winner today in the marathon at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Maisch ran 2:30:01 hours, a personal best, to finish well ahead of Olivera Jevtic (Serbia/2:30:27) and Russian Irina Permitina (2:30:53).
Finn Keskisalo Surprises in Steeple
The 3,000-meter steeplechase produced one of the biggest surprises at the European Athletic Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Almost as sensational as Jan Fitschen’s victory at the 10,000m, the Finn Jukka Keskisalo won gold, and once again the favorite Spanish runners were beaten. The 25-year-old Finn took over the lead from José Luis Blanco almost without resistance on the home stretch and clocked 8:24.89 minutes. The Spaniard finished second and Bob Tahri (France) took the bronze medal in 8:27.15.
Former 400m Runner Takes European Gold at 800m
Two years ago, Olga Kotlyarova, then a 400-meter runner, decided out of curiosity to compete at double the distance, and ran a world-class time of 1:57.96 minutes in her first attempt. Now the 30-year-old Russian is the European 800m champion, taking the final in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1:57.38 in her first season of concentrating on the distance. The silver medal was won by her countrywoman Swetlana Klyuka (1:57.48), and third place was taken by Britain’s Rebecca Lyne in 1:58.45.
Mehdi Baala Defends 1500m Title
France’s Mehdi Baala defended his European Championships 1500-meter title in the only running final at today’s meet in Gothenburg, Sweden. The 27-year-old ran 3:39.02 minutes to beat the Ukrainian favorite, Ivan Heshko, who finished second in 3:39.50. Third was Spain’s Juan Carlos Higuero in 3:39.62.
Inga Abitova Wins Top-Class 10,000m European Championships Final, Mockenhaupt Outwits Mikitenko
The first long-distance final at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden produced a superb race. In the women’s 10,000 meters, Russian Inga Abitova won the gold medal by improving her personal best by nearly a minute to 30:31.42 minutes. Norway’s Susanne Wigene produced an unexpected Scandinavian success with a great final sprint, finishing second in 30:32.36. Third was Russian Lidiya Grigoryewa in 30:32.72.
Curious Races
At this season’s Super Grand Prix in Ostrava there were two curious running events. First it was an official who had an impact on the race. Then an athlete made a strange mistake and missed out on a possible good result.
Germany’s Jan Fitschen Surprises with 10,000m Win at European Championships
Four years after Dieter Baumann won a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the European Championships in Munich, another German runner provided a sensation at the current continental championships: 29-year-old Jan Fitschen won the gold medal in Gothenburg, Sweden, with a personal best of 28:10.94 minutes, a victory that could well be the biggest surprise of the whole European Championships.
KIMbia´s Nyariki Wins Beach to Beacon 10K
Tom Nyariki overtook his KIMbia teammate Gilbert Okari to win this morning’s Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Nyariki, who was third at Beach to Beacon last year, won in 27:48 minutes, well ahead of Lawrence Kiprotich (28:04) and Okari (28:09). KIMbia’s Edna Kiplagat placed second in the women’s race in 32:23; the race was won by Russia’s Alventina Ivanova in a course record of 31:26.
Strong U.S. Showing in First Part of European Track Season
With both the European and African Athletics Championships coming up in the second week of August, many Americans are briefly returning home from the European track circuit. Some do so after posting some of the strongest performances by U.S. distance runners on the circuit in years.
Paula Radcliffe Expects Baby, Paul Tergat to Run New York
Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe will probably run her next marathon in fall 2007 at the earliest. England’s top runner has recently announced that she is pregnant. Radcliffe and her partner, Gary Lough, expect their first child in January 2007. Radcliffe set her marathon world record of 2:15:25 hours in 2003 at the Flora London Marathon.
Ethiopians Strong in Rome, Mikitenko German Champion
Once again, Ethiopian runners were the highlights of the IAAF Golden League Meeting in Rome. Having already won this summer in Oslo and Paris, reigning world champion Tirunesh Dibaba took the 5,000 meters in Rome, and proved that, for now, she has the edge against Meseret Defar, the world record holder and Dibaba’s countrywoman. After a moderate early pace, Dibaba was unbeatable during the last-lap sprint, beating Defar by more than a second, 14:52.37 to 14:53.51 minutes.
Mizuki Noguchi in Promising Shape for Berlin
Olympic Marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi showed herself to be in top shape on Sunday. The 27-year-old Japanese, who is preparing for the real,- Berlin Marathon on September 24 as the defending champion, won the Sapporo Half Marathon despite windy weather conditions in a new course record of 68:14 minutes. She bettered the old record set by Olympic marathon runner-up Catherine Ndereba by nine seconds. Ndereba, who won the race last year ahead of Noguchi, also ran in the strong half marathon field, but it wasn’t a good race for the Kenyan. She was only eighth in 71:50.
Makau Wins in London, Shaheen Impresses in Athens
The British 10K in London attracted a field of almost 20,000 runners on Sunday. The participants were raising money for more than 350 charities. Kenyan Patrick Makau won the race in 29:52 minutes. He was well ahead of John Nyasyina (Burundi/30:09) and Helder Orneilas (Portugal/30:48). The women’s race was also won by a Kenyan, as Catherine Mutwa clocked 34:19 for the distance.
Former Champs Win at Peachtree
Kenya’s Martin Lel and Netherlands’ Lornah Kiplagat won their divisions of the Peachtree 10K this morning in Atlanta, Georgia. With a field of 55,000, Peachtree is the world’s largest 10-kilometer race.
Gete Wami Wins Great Women Run in Sunderland
Ethiopian Gete Wami provided the highlight of the past weekend in international road running. The 31-year-old 10,000-meter world champion of 1999 won the Great Women Run in Sunderland. In the home country of England’s Paula Radcliffe, who was beaten by Wami several times on the track but who is far superior in the marathon, the Ethiopian won the 10 kilometers in 33:43 minutes ahead of the Portuguese Analiasa Rosa (33:53) and Wami’s countrywoman Elfenesh Alemu (33:58).
Familiar Faces in New Places at U.S. Championships
The distance ace of the meet was former Kenyan Bernard Lagat, who became a U.S. citizen in 2004 and was competing in his first American championship. On Friday night, just a few hours after winning his 1500-meter semi-final heat, Lagat eked out the win in a hotly contested 5,000m final. He sprinted away from his last challenger, Matt Tegenkamp, in the last half-lap for a 13:14.32 minutes victory. Tegenkamp, who was fifth in the 2001 junior world cross country championship, was just behind in 13:15.00, a 10-second personal best for the KIMbia athlete.
Korir and Kiplagat Win Steamboat Classic
Kenya’s John Korir, who is a member of team KIMbia, took the prestigious Steamboat Classic in Peoria, Illinois over the weekend. He clocked 18:16 minutes for the four-mile race, and was eight seconds ahead of the U.S.’s Josh Moen. It was the second win in as many weeks for Korir, who has been one of the strongest runners on the U.S. road race circuit in recent years. A week earlier, the 30-year-old Kenyan had won the Bellin Run, a 10-kilometer race in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Kiplagat Takes New York Mini 10K, Haile to Run Berlin
Lornah Kiplagat beat a high-class field at New York’s Circle of Friends Mini 10K on Saturday. The former Kenyan, who switched nationality to become Dutch, clocked a fast 31:27 minutes on a hilly course in Central Park. It was Kiplagat’s third victory at the race—the 32-year-old had come to New York as defending champion and also won the 2003 edition.
KIMbia Runners Dominate Bellin 10K
Runners from the KIMbia team took the first two spots in the men’s and women’s races at the Bellin 10-kilometer run in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Kenya’s John Korir and Britain’s Kathy Butler won their divisions at the 30th running of this ever-growing race, but in drastically different fashion.
KIMbia’s Abraham Chebii Breaks US All Comers Record
KIMbia’s runners showed some fine performances on the road and on the track recently. Prominent athletes like Abraham Chebii and Gilbert Okari were in the centre of the focus.
Running News: Defar Runs World Record at 5,000m in New York
An Ethiopian—but not Kenenisa Bekele—produced the first great result of the new season in long-distance track running. At the Reebok Grand Prix meet in New York City on June 3, Meseret Defar became the first African woman to break the world record at 5,000 meters; she clocked 14:24.53 minutes for the distance. The 22-year-old improved the old mark set by Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey by a slight margin of .15 seconds. Abeylegesse, who originally comes from Ethiopia, had run her record in Bergen, Norway, two years ago.
Chicago Marathon Reaches 40,000 Participant Cap
The 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon reached its 40,000 participant cap and has officially closed registration sooner than ever—nearly five months in advance of the October 22 Race. A limited number of entries are still available to runners through the 60 charities affiliated with the 2006 Marathon. International runners can access a limited number of entries through several tour partners.
Double Olympic Champion Hicham El Guerrouj Ends his Career
The best middle distance runner of the last decade has ended his career: Hicham El Guerrouj announced his retirement from the sport at a press conference in Casablanca. The 31 year-old Moroccan holds three world records: 1500 meters (3:26.00 minutes), the Mile (3:43.13) and 2,000m (4:44.79). Hicham El Guerrouj, who was unbeaten in 84 out of 89 competitions at the 1500m since 1986, crowned his career with a double win at the Olympic Games in Athens, taking the 1,500m and the 5,000m.
Japanese Olympic Champion and Last Year’s Winner Mizuki Noguchi Committed to Berlin Marathon
The Olympic Marathon Champion Mizuki Noguchi will run the real,- Berlin Marathon for the second time in a row. The Japanese officially announced her participation at the biggest and most spectacular German marathon, held on September 24. The real,- Berlin Marathon is part of the new World Marathon Majors Series (WMM). The organizers of the 33rd edition of the real,- Berlin Marathon already have 30,000 registrations. Only 10,000 bib numbers are left. As soon as the limit of 40,000 registrations is reached nobody can sign-on anymore.
Irina Mikitenko Wins Avon Running Berlin Women’s Race and Plans Debut in Marathon
The big favorite took hold sovereign: Irina Mikitenko won the 23rd AVON RUNNING Berlin Women’s race. The 33 year-old who finished seventh in the Olympic 5,000 meters in Athens 2004, ran the 10 kilometers in 33:45 minutes. She had a winning margin of exactly one minute to Claudia Dreher (34:45). Third was Magdaline Chemjor (Kenya) in 35:18. Mikitenko then announced that she is planning to run her marathon debut this fall.
Great Times by Patrick Musyoki and Peninah Arusei in Berlin’s 25K
Once again the traditional 25-kilometer race in Berlin produced some very good results. The event that in the eighties was Germany’s first big city road race saw yet another Kenyan winner: Patrick Musyoki won the 26th edition in the second fastest time of the year in 1:14:08 hours. For the sixth time in a row the Kenyans have now taken the 25K of Berlin. As all the other runners the 21 year-old Musyoki finished in the Olympic Stadium in fine but warm weather conditions.
Morocco’s Lahoucine Mrikik Breaks Course Record with 2:08:20 while Japan’s Tomo Morimoto Takes Vienna with 2:24:33
The 23rd edition of the Vienna City Marathon produced one of the best quality races in its history. While the men’s race saw a course record the women’s race was won by a Japanese runner for the first time in the history of the race.
Paul Tergat: “I wish my Berlin record could stay forever—I am sure I will come back to Berlin one day”
Paul Tergat broke the world record at the real,- Berlin-Marathon 2003. His mark of 2:04:55 hours still stands as a record today. Not even his archrival Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) did ever come near to the mark with which Paul Tergat wrote history. Having had to withdraw from the Flora London Marathon last Sunday he gave us the following interview.
Haile Gebrselassie after his WMM Flop in London: “The worst race in my career”
On his way to make his dream come true Haile Gebrselassie had to suffer another setback at the Flora London Marathon on Sunday. The Ethiopian set 20 world records so far in his outstanding career but the 33 year-old now missed the best time for the classic distance of 26.2 miles already for the third time.
