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2007
A Look Back, A Look Ahead
2007 was a great year for distance running. Take The Magic Step® team members and friends reflect on the most memorable races and pick races in 2008 they look forward to the most.
Martin Lel to Defend London Title
Defending champion Martin Lel of Kenya returns to the London Marathon in April for the third time. He will compete against a high-class field.
European Cross-Country: Home Win for Dominguez, Seventh Title for Lebid
With his seventh European Cross-Country triumph, Sergey Lebid of Ukraine regained his title and continued his winning streak. The women’s race was decided by the Spaniard Marta Dominguez.
Sammy Wanjiru Wins Fukuoka in Fabulous Marathon Debut
Sammy Wanjiru ran a world-class debut for the marathon in Fukuoka. The Kenyan won the historic Japanese race in a course record of 2:06:39, which was also the third fastest marathon debut of all time. Only his compatriot Evans Rutto (2:05:50) and Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie (2:06:35) have run faster in their first attempt. (Technically, Gebrselassie had already run a marathon as a teenager.) Wanjiru improved the course record of the Japanese Atsushi Fujita, which had stood for seven years, by 12 seconds.
Japan Overtakes Kenya to Win Chiba Ekiden
Thanks to a strong performance at the end, Japan’s team came from behind to take the Chiba Ekiden race. The hosts finished this most prestigious marathon relay race in 2:05:56. It was the first time that there were no separate men’s and women’s races at the event; instead, mixed teams covered the 26.2-mile distance. The men took the first, third and fifth legs (5K, 10K, 10K), while the women covered the second, fourth and sixth legs (5K, 5K, 7.195K).
Strong Comeback by Mizuki Noguchi in Tokyo
Two weeks after the successful return to the marathon of the world record holder Paula Radcliffe, the reigning Olympic champion, Mizuki Noguchi, made a similarly impressive comeback. More than two years after her last marathon, the Japanese star won the Tokyo Marathon in convincing style in a course record of 2:21:37. Following this performance the 29-year-old, who ran an Asian record of 2:19:12 in Berlin in 2005, can expect to be selected for the Olympic Marathon in Beijing next year.
Marathon Organizers Meet in Marathon: Returning to Roots, Focusing on Future
What better place than Marathon, Greece for marathon organizers from around the world to match minds? On the first weekend in November, that’s exactly what happened in the birthplace of the classic race, when the Greek village hosted the first Marathon Symposium of the Association of International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS). Held on the day before the Athens Classic Marathon, the topic of the symposium was 2Marathon: Past – Present – Future.” AIMS cooperated with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the Athens Marathon, the Greek athletics federation SEGAS and the city of Marathon to stage the symposium, which will now be an annual event.
Races Without Rabbits Hair-Raising in New York
Paula Radcliffe and Martin Lel can win big-city marathons with or, like today at the New York City Marathon, without pacemakers. Both races today came down to two-person duels over the final half mile that were clear victories by the finish. Radcliffe finally broke Gete Wami while reentering Central Park, and then flat-out sprinted the last 200 meters to win in 2:23:09. Lel kicked strongly with 400 meters to go to break Abderrahim Goumri and win by 12 seconds in 2:09:04.
Hall Crushes Competition at U.S. Marathon Trials
Ryan Hall produced one of the most memorable American marathons in recent years to dominate this morning’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City. With a 4:32 18th mile, Hall broke up a lead pack of five, and then ran a string of 4:50 miles to win by more than 2 minutes in 2:09:02 in just his second marathon. Also in his second marathon, Dathan Ritzenhein ran a 3-minute personal best to take second in 2:11:07. Brian Sell came from 8th place at halfway to take the coveted third spot, which he didn’t claim until 35K.
Incredible Marathon Weekend on Tap in New York City
Marathon fans would be hard-pressed to find a more exciting place to be this weekend than New York City. On Saturday, the best American men will vie for the three spots on the Olympic team that will contest the marathon next summer in Beijing. The following day, the New York City Marathon will feature a deep international field, including the post-childbirth marathon return of world record holder Paula Radcliffe, and 37,000 runners traversing the city’s five boroughs. Take The Magic Step™ will be in New York City to provide race-day reports for both marathons.
Wilfred Kigen Runs Course Record, Melanie Kraus Achieves Sensational Win in Frankfurt
Wilfren Kigen achieved the crowning performance in the history of the men’s race in the oldest city marathon in Germany: the 32-year-old Kenyan sped across the finish line of the 26th Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon in the city’s festival hall in 2:07:58. It was the first time that anyone had run under 2:08 in Frankfurt, and was the eighth fastest time in the world this year. Kigen improved his own course record by 33 seconds from his time in 2005.
Fast Times at Amsterdam Marathon
Once again the Amsterdam Marathon produced high-quality performances in the men’s race. Emmanuel Mutai achieved a surprising victory in highly favorable weather conditions, clocking the second fastest time of the year. The Kenyan crossed the line in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium in 2:06:29, improving his personal best by more than 6 minutes. Only Haile Gebrselassie, with his 2:04:26 world record at the Berlin Marathon, has run faster this year.
Lornah Kiplagat Runs Two World Records at World Championship Half Marathon
Lornah Kiplagat, born in Kenya but running for the Netherlands, achieved the crowning performance at the World Half Marathon Championships in Udine, Italy. The 32-year-old not only won the gold medal but also broke world records for 20K and the half marathon. Kiplagat’s time of 66:25 was 19 seconds faster than the 66:44 Elana Meyer (South Africa) had run in Tokyo eight years ago. On the way to a triumph that earned her a total of $80,000, Kiplagat went through 20K in 63:21. That was 24 seconds faster than her own world best, which she set in the World Road Running Championships in Hungary a year ago.
Haile Gebrselassie: “I can’t run slowly”
On the last day of September, Haile Gebrselassie set a world record of 2:04:26 at the Berlin Marathon. The 34-year-old Ethiopian improved the old mark of his Kenyan rival Paul Tergat, who had run 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003, by 29 seconds. Take The Magic Step™ spoke with Gebrselassie soon after he broke his long-sought record.
Ivuti, Adere Win Hot, Dramatic Chicago Marathon
Two dramatic finishes, a record 45,000 registrants and heat marked the 30 th edition of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. In uncommonly high temperatures paired with high humidity, the winning times were accordingly slower than usual in Chicago. At the 8:00 a.m. start, the temperature was already 78 degrees, paired with 80 percent humidity. As the temperature continued to climb to near 90 degrees, race director Carey Pinkowski and his medical director decided to end the race. Runners who hadn’t reached the halfway mark by 11:45 were ushered off the course, and others still on the roads were urged to drop out or walk in. Less than 25,000 finished. Unfortunately, Chicago was the second major marathon severely affected by heat this year—in the spring, the Rotterdam Marathon was canceled.
Chicago Marathon Features Defending Champions, Field of 45,000
The 30th edition of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, which will be held on Sunday, has a record number of registrants, 45,000 runners. Even if “only” 35,000 of those registrants finish, this year’s Chicago Marathon would be among the six biggest marathons ever.
Gebrselassie Breaks World Record in Berlin Marathon
n his eighth marathon Haile Gebrselassie finally fulfilled a big marathon dream: The 34-year-old Ethiopian broke the world record at the real,- Berlin-Marathon, clocking 2:04:26, surpassing the mark of Paul Tergat (Kenya), who ran 2:04:55 in 2003 in Berlin. “It was something very special today, because this is the marathon world record! That is something different in comparison to the 5,000 or 10,000, because the marathon is the king of the distance races,” said Gebrselassie after improving the world record by 29 seconds.
Haile and Wami With Different Goals in Berlin Marathon
For the first time in five years both of last year’s winners at the real,- Berlin Marathon will defend their titles. In 2002, Naoko Takahashi repeated her victory, while defending champion Joseph Ngolepus (Kenya) did not play a major role in the men’s race. This should not be the case this year, because the title holder is Haile Gebrselassie. Both the Ethiopian, who has set 23 world records, as well as his compatriot Gete Wami ran personal bests last year at Berlin (2:05:56 and 2:21:34, respectively).
Tadesse wins Dam tot Dam’ Race Ahead of 35,000 Runners
Zersenay Tadesse (Eritrea) won the Dam tot Dam’ Run, which attracted 35,000 participants on Sunday. The 23rd edition of the traditional Dutch 10-mile race went from Amsterdam to Zaandam. Tadesse was a clear winner in 45:32, while Ethiopian Belaynesh Fikadu took the women’s title in 52:58.
Good Weekend for KIMbia on U.S. Roads
KIMbia runners ran well at two U.S. road races on Sunday. Simon Ndirangu and Richard Kiplagat took the first two spots at the CVS Downtown 5K in Providence, Rhode Island. Earlier in the morning, Tom Nyariki, John Yuda and Charles Munyeki placed second, third and sixth, respectively, at the Philadelphia Distance Run, and Edna Kiplagat finished third.
Meseret Defar Runs World Best in Brussels
Meseret Defar crowned the 31st van Damme Memorial meeting in the Golden League in Brussels with a world best for 2 miles. In front of a capacity crowd of 47,000, the 23-year-old ran 8:58.58, the first time a woman had gone under 9:00. It was the fourth time Defar set a world best this year, the others being 3,000m indoors, an earlier record for 2 miles and 5,000m in Oslo.
Kibowen, Johnson Win in Sheffield
John Kibowen and Benita Johnson were the winners of the Great Yorkshire Run over 10K in Sheffield. Both finished well in front of the field in the race held in the north of England. Kenyan Kibowen, twice the world cross country champion, had little trouble winning in 28:40 over Australian Andrew Letherby (29:04) and Ethiopian-born Brit Tomas Abyu (29:19). In fifth was marathoner Jon Brown (29:28), who was unable to start the London Marathon this spring because of breathing problems.
World Championships: Ndereba Wins Marathon for Second Time
Kenyan Catherine Ndereba has become world marathon champion for the second time since 2003. The 35-year-old runner, who has also won silver at the Olympics and the 2005 World Championships, won in Osaka in a time of 2:30:37. She defeated Chinese Chunxiu Zhou, who was on top of the world rankings with her time of 2:20:38 following her triumph in London in April.
World Championships Special: Bernard Lagat Takes Unique Double in Osaka
Four days after his emphatic win in the 1,500m, final Bernard Lagat made athletics history on the final day of the World Championships in Osaka’s Nagai Stadium. The 32-year-old became the first athlete to take the 5,000m as well as the 1500m in the history of the championships. He prominently joins two of the greatest runners ever, who have achieved this feat at the Olympics: Finland’s legend Paavo Nurmi did it in 1924, and Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj repeated it 80 years later.
World Championships: Bekele Defends Title, But it’s Getting Closer
With two laps to go in the 10,000m final at the World Championships in Osaka, it looked like the seemingly impossible was about to happen—Kenya’s Martin Mathathi had increased the pace, and the defending champion and world record holder Kenenisa Bekele seemed on the verge of getting dropped. The Ethiopian has never lost a 10,000m race since his first one in June 2003. But now he was running a couple of meters behind Mathathi and fellow Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine. Yet somehow, in the last lap, Bekele found new life and another gear, and moved from third to first place. With a time of 27:05.90, he took his third consecutive world title at the distance. Sihine took second in 27:09.03, as he did in the last Olympics.
Eunice Jepkorir: Kenya’s Women Steeplechasers are Catching Up
Kenya is closing the gap in the women’s steeplechase. “I believe we are getting there. Obviously it will be difficult to beat the Russians, but we are coming nearer already,” said Eunice Jepkorir after taking the bronze medal in the 3,000m steeplechase in 9:20.09 minutes behind Russians Yekaterina Volkova (9:06.57) and Tatyana Petrova (9:09.19). The 25-year-old Kenyan battled with the Russians for much of the race, but then dropped back with about 600 meters to go.
Lagat Wins First 1500m Gold for U.S. in 99 Years
Representing the U.S. for the first time in a major competition, Bernard Lagat won the first American gold medal in the event at the Olympic or World Championships level since Mel Sheppard won the 1908 Olympics. With a great kick at the end of the race, Lagat finished in 3:34.77 minutes ahead of defending champion Rashid Ramzi and Shedrack Kibet Korir.
Bernard Lagat: Proud to Win for America
The former Kenyan Bernard Lagat is the new 1500m world champion. His is the first 1500m gold for the U.S. at a major championships in 99 years. The 32-year-old, who ran for Kenya at the Olympics in 2004 and finished second there, won a tight race in Osaka in 3:34.77.
World Championships Special: Viktor Röthlin: “If you can dream it, you can do it”
Viktor Röthlin produced a major surprise at the World Championships in Osaka, when he snatched a bronze medal in the marathon on Saturday, clocking 2:17:25 in extreme weather conditions. The 32-year-old had already won the silver medal at the European Championships a year ago and had improved his Swiss marathon record to 2:08:20 this spring, when he took the Zurich Marathon. Take The Magic Step™ spoke with him after his race in Osaka.
Hiromi Ominami, Nelson Kiplagat take San Diego
Japan’s Hiromi Ominami and Kenya’s Nelson Kiplagat won the 30th edition of the San Diego Half Marathon. The jubilee event drew a record field of 7,633 runners. The decisive moment in the men’s race came at 15K, when 27-year-old Kiplagat pulled away from his fiercest rival, Tesfaye Girma. The Ethiopian, who has a personal best for the distance of 61:24, could not respond due to stomach problems. Although he lost a lot of ground, Girma still took second in 66:20 minutes. Kiplagat finished in 64:25. Kenyan Josphat Ndeti came in third with 66:41.
World Championships: Kibet wins Marathon Gold
Luke Kibet is the new world marathon champion. The Kenyan, whose biggest triumph had been his victory at the Vienna City Marathon this April, braved what were probably the toughest conditions a world championships marathon has ever seen. The 24-year-old clocked 2:15:59 and was well ahead of Mubarak Hassan Shami (Qatar/2:17:18). It was the biggest gap for a winner of a world championship race since the meet began in 1983. Kibet’s victory was also noteworthy because it was the first Kenyan world championships marathon victory in the men’s race since Douglas Wakihuri’s, who won in Rome 1987. Switzerland’s Viktor Röthlin won bronze in Osaka, finishing in 2:17:25.
World Championships: Goucher Snatches Bronze, Dibaba takes 10,000m Despite Fall
irunesh Dibaba achieved a spectacular hat trick at the World Championships in Osaka: Although only 22 years old, the Ethiopian won gold for the third World Championships in a row-and that despite falling in the middle of the 10,000m. She clocked 31:55.41 and will now try to defend the 5,000m title she won in 2005. Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse won silver in 31:59.40, while Kara Goucher (USA) sensationally took the bronze in 32:02.05.
Micah Kogo, Catherine Ndereba take Falmouth
The pre-race favorites won Sunday’s Falmouth road race, which runs just more than 7 miles along Cape Cod in Massachusetts, from Woods Hole to Falmouth. In a rare U.S. road appearance, Kenya’s Micah Kogo won the men’s race, while his compatriot, Catherine Ndereba, took her fourth women’s title in seven tries, clocking 36:31.
Gebrselassie Runs Course Record at New York City Half Marathon
In his first - but, organizers hope, not his last - race in New York City, Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie won Sunday’s New York City Half Marathon in 59:24. The race in New York was a perfect test for the 34-year-old during his training for the Berlin Marathon on September 30. After a successful return to track racing earlier this summer, during which he broke 27:00 for 10,000m, and broke world records for 20,000m and one hour, Gebrselassie showed that he still is a major force on the roads, where he wants to achieve his next great objectives: the world marathon record and the Olympic title.
Bekele, Mutola Run World-Leading Times in Spain
Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele and Mozambique’s Maria Mutola ran world-leading times for 5,000m and 800m, respectively, at a meet on Saturday in Zaragoza, Spain. With their times of 12:49.53 and 1:58.21, the two veterans showed that they’re in familiar, world-beating form leading up to the World Championships in a few weeks.
André Pollmächer Beats the European Champion
When Jan Fitschen was the surprise 10,000m winner at last August’s European Championships—four years after Olympic champion Dieter Baumann retired—no one thought that Germany’s distance-running fortunes had suddenly reversed. Even in the hour of his biggest triumph, Fitschen acknowledged that he had just had the race of his life, and estimated his chances in regards to this year’s World Championships. His judgement has been confirmed, as the European champion has not attained even the needed qualifying mark for the World Championships.
Webb Breaks 25-Year-Old American Mile Record
At a low-key meet in Brasschaat, Belgium on Saturday, Alan Webb ran 3:46.91 to break Steve Scott’s American record for the mile. Scott ran his best of 3:47:69 in 1982—one year before Webb was born.
KIMbia’s Ndirangu Returns with Win at Crazy 8’s 8K
KIMbia’s Simon Ndirangu returned to the U.S. with a bang on Saturday night, winning the Crazy 8’s 8K, in Kingsport, Tennessee, in 22:16. Ndirangu’s time at the nighttime race was only 13 seconds off the world road best for the distance, set at Crazy 8’s in 1996 by fellow Kenyan Peter Githuka.
Olympic Champion Noguchi wins Sapporo Half Marathon
The Olympic Marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi won Sunday’s Sapporo Half Marathon in Japan for the second year in a row. The Japanese star’s winning time of 68:22 was only 8 seconds off of her course record. It’s likely that Noguchi will now prepare for the Tokyo Marathon in November, where she has the chance to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. That may well lead to a match-up with the previous Olympic Marathon champion, her compatriot Naoko Takahashi.
24,000 Run Through London 48 Hours After Terror Threats
Just 48 hours after two cars were found loaded with explosives in London, 24,000 runners took to the streets of the English capital, and ran on some of the roads that had been closed during Friday’s scare. Most of the runners, however, were more concerned about the rain that had flooded England over the past week. Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini (Italy) and Hilda Kibet (Kenya) ran through the rain and wind to win the London 10K.
After Successful Spring, KIMbia Road Racers Should be Hot this Summer
KIMbia’s road racing squad had a fabulous spring, winning most of the major American road races. They look to carry that momentum through the heart of the summer circuit, starting with next week’s Peachtree 10K in Atlanta on Independence Day.
Great Performances by Flanagan and Kastor at U.S. Nationals
Shalane Flanagan produced the best distance performance at the U.S. outdoor championships, which concluded yesterday in Indianapolis, and which also served as the trials for the World Championships, which will begin in Osaka, Japan at the end of August. Flanagan, who won the national 3,000m indoor title earlier this year, won the 5,000m in 14:51.75. She was well ahead of Jennifer Rhines (15:08.53) and Michelle Sikes (15:09.28), who just finished her college career and now runs for KIMbia.
Meseret Defar: “In Ethiopia, we learn how to overcome”
Meseret Defar improved her own world record for 5,000m to 14:16.53 at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway on June 15. Her new record is an impressive 8 seconds faster than her previous one. Take The Magic Step™ spoke with the Ethiopian 5,000m Olympic champion soon after her race.
Meseret Defar Breaks 5,000m World Record in Oslo
Meseret Defar continued the world-record tradition at Oslo, Norway’s Bislett Games with a 5,000m world record clocking 14:16.63. Including Defar’s mark, 64 world records have been set at the Bislett Games.
A Year After European Championship, Jan Fitschen Struggles
Before the beginning of the recent Askina Meeting in Kassel, Germany, organizers escorted their stars in limousines around the track. But the master of ceremonies forgot to introduce one athlete: Jan Fitschen. Somehow this lapse is symptomatic for the season so far for the European 10,000 m champion from Gothenburg. Not even little things go right for Fitschen.
Victories for Lornah and Edna Kiplagat in New York and Wisconsin
Lornah Kiplagat won an impressive start-to-finish victory in New York. The Kenyan-born athlete, now representing the Netherlands, won the women-only 10K in Central Park in 32:10. In doing so, the 33-year-old achieved a hat trick, having also won the race in 2003, 2005 and 2006. In the 36 years of the race, only two women [...]
Benita Johnson Wins Freihofer’s Run for Women
Six weeks after finishing a disappointing seventh in the London Marathon, Benita Johnson is back with a victory. The Australian, who had been one of the favorites in London but faded due to cramps, took the Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, New York. Johnson won the 5K in 15:22, and missed the two-year-old course record of Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui by just four seconds.
Gebrselassie Breaks 27:00 in Track Comeback
Ethiopia’s running star Haile Gebrselassie returned to the track in impressive fashion on Saturday, breaking 27:00 for 10,000m for the eighth time in his life. The 34-year-old, who had originally bade farewell to track racing with his fifth place in the 10,000m at the 2004 Olympic Games, achieved a time of 26:52.81. This was good enough only for fifth place in a strong field. Victory went to his compatriot Sileshi Sihine in 26:48.73, ahead of the Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge (26:49.02) and Moses Mosop (26:49.55). Ethiopians dominated proceedings in the 10,000m, with seven runners in the top ten finishers.
AIMS Celebrates a Quarter-Century of Running History
Twenty-five years ago, big running events were increasingly being established all over the world. At the time, the U.S. and England were a few steps ahead of other countries in putting on mass events—the 1981 New York City Marathon had almost 15,000 participants, and the race was televised by ABC for the first time, while at the inaugural London Marathon that year, 20,000 people applied for one of the 8,000 available numbers.
Meseret Defar Breaks Another World Record
For a second time this year, Ethiopian Meseret Defar has broken a world record. The 23-year-old ran two miles in 9:10.47 at Sunday’s Adidas Track Classic in Carson City, California. The old mark of 9:11.97 minutes was set by American Regina Jacobs eight years ago.
Katie McGregor Takes U.S. 25K Title
Katie McGregor took the 30th edition of the River Bank Run 25K in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, thereby winning the national championship for the distance. In her her debut at 25K, the 29-year-old clocked 1:25:53, the fifth fastest performance in American history, and won comfortably ahead of Russia’s Tatiana Chulakh (1:28:33).
Flomena Chepchirchir Surprises at Berlin 25K
Flomena Chepchirchir was the surprise winner of yesterday’s Berlin 25K, which was, not surprisingly, once again dominated by Kenyan runners. The 25K was the main race among others in the Run Berlin, which drew 9,044 participants from 42 nations.
Rodgers Rop Wins Hamburg, Luke Kibet Takes Vienna
Two Kenyans produced top results in two major European marathon races on Sunday: Rodgers Rop won the Hamburg Marathon by in 2:07:32, and his countryman Luke Kibet clocked 2:10:07 in warm weather conditions in Vienna.
Chelanga Wins Heatwave Marathon in Rotterdam
Joshua Chelanga won the marathon in a Rotterdam heatwave. The Kenyan coped best with unusually warm conditions with a temperature of above 80 degrees at the end to win in 2:08:21.
World Marathon Majors Becoming a Formula 1 of Running
Since it was launched last year, the World Marathon Majors series has added even more attraction to five of the greatest marathons in the world: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. After the inaugural year of the series, the race directors of the WMM announced some impressive figures: 154,596 runners finished their races; 6.6 million spectators lined the five courses; and charity running raised more than $110 million. The economic impact for the five WMM cities reached $400 million. Add to that the stellar elite fields of each race, the scoring system and different courses, and the WMM is on its way to becoming running’s answer to Formula 1 car racing.
London winner Zhou Chunxiu: “I will aim for Paula Radciffe’s world record”
In London, Zhou Chunxiu became the first Chinese runner to win a major international marathon. The 28-year-old clocked 2:20:38 to beat a world-class field. Zhou’s personal best is 2:19:51, set last year in Seoul; the time makes her the eighth-fastest woman in history. Take The Magic Step
In London, First Big Chinese Marathon Triumph
A female Chinese runner stole the show from the star runners in the most prestigious race of the year to date: 28-year-old Zhou Chunxiu won this morning’s London Marathon with the fastest time of the year, 2:20:38. Before today, there had never been a victory by a Chinese woman or man at any of the World Marathon Majors races (London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York), or in the marathon at the Olympics or World Championships.
Shami runs world season’s best in Paris
Mubarak Shami (Qatar) won the Paris Marathon in 2:07:19, the fastest time in the world this year. Despite temperatures above 70 degrees, the former Kenyan won by more than two and a half minutes over the Ethiopian Gashaw Melese (2:09:53). Daniel Rono (Kenya) was third in 2:10:28.
Cheruiyot, Grigoryeva Win Wacky-Weather Boston Marathon
On a cold, rainy, windy day, Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot and Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva won the 111th Boston Marathon in the slowest times in decades. Both broke their final competitors on the short uphill on the Massachusetts Pike overpass in the 25th mile en route to winning times of 2:14:13 and 2:29:18. By way of comparison, Cheruiyot’s course record, set last year, is more than seven minutes faster.
Deena Kastor: “My goal is to win Boston”
Deena Kastor ran the fastest marathon in the world last year when she won the London Marathon in 2:19:36. Her time was an American record, and made her the first American to break 2:20. On Monday Kastor will be among the big favorites at the 111th Boston Marathon. Recently the Boston race organizers arranged a phone interview with the 34-year-old bronze medal winner of the Olympic marathon in 2004.
KIMbia’s Ndirangu Wins Second Race in U.S.
KIMbia’s Simon Ndirangu won his second U.S. road race in as many weeks on Saturday. A week ago, the Kenyan won the Carlsbad 5000, in California, in his debut on the road in America; this time, he won the Borden Uptown 8000 in Dallas, Texas.
Marathon Spring: Highlights in Boston, London, Rotterdam and Hamburg
April is traditionally the biggest marathon month of the year, but this year the top spring races over the classic 26.2-mile distance are grouped closer than ever. Over three weekends in the second half of the month, more than 150,000 will take part in various mass races around the world; 96,000 applied to run in the Flora London Marathon alone. London, Boston and Rotterdam traditionally have the strongest fields of the spring races. In recent years Hamburg and Paris have also consistently produced high-class results, and the Vienna Marathon has also risen to the fore on the scale of international events.
KIMbia’s Samuel Ndirangu Wins Carlsbad 5000 in U.S. Debut
Samuel Ndirangu won Sunday’s Carlsbad 5000, in Carlsbad, California, in 13:28. In his first U.S. race, the KIMbia runner easily handled his closest competitors, Mexicans Juan Luis Barrios (13:32) and David Galvan (13:42).
Bekele Stumbles, Tadesse and Kiplagat Win World Cross Country
n tropical heat and humidity, Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse and Holland’s Lornah Kiplagat won the senior races at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya. Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, who was seeking an unprecedented sixth long-course title, instead faltered in the heat and stepped off the course 800 meters from the finish.
Another World Half Marathon Record for Sammy Wanjiru
Sammy Wanjiru has improved his world record for the half marathon, set just five weeks ago, by 18 seconds. The 20-year-old was a clear winner of the Pier-City-Pier race in The Hague, Netherlands in 58:35.
Perfect Boston Dress Rehearsal for Rita Jeptoo in Lisbon
Kenyan Rita Jeptoo won the top-class Lisbon half marathon on Sunday and clocked the fastest women’s time at the distance since September 2003. In the Portuguese capital, the 26-year-old crossed the finish line in 67:05, improving the world’s season’s best of Japanese Kayoko Fukushi (68:00) by 55 seconds. Jeptoo’s time was a personal best by almost three minutes. She’ll try to defend her title at the Boston Marathon next month.
Kastor, Keflezighi Capture U.S. 15K Titles
Olympic marathon medalists Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi won the U.S. 15K road championships on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida. In warm, humid conditions, Kastor ran 47:21, just six seconds off her American record. Keflezighi easily handled pre-race favorite Ryan Hall with a time of 43:40 for his sixth win here.
Fred Mogaka Wins L.A. Marathon, $120,000
Kenya’s Fred Mogaka has won “The Challenge” at the Los Angeles Marathon. As in the past years, the race organizers offered the overall winner a six-figure prize purse. To make it a true challenge between the best male and female athletes, the elite women begin their race 20 minutes ahead of the men, and the first finisher wins the bonus. Mogaka overtook the women’s leader to collect the $100,000 bonus, in addition, he collected $20,000 and a car for winning the men’s race.
A Double for Chojecka at European Indoors
Poland’s Lidia Chojecka achieved a double victory at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England. One day after her comfortable 1,500m victory in 4:05.13, she won the 3,000m race. With a time of 8:43.25, she defended the title she had won two years ago in Madrid. With a long final sprint the 30-year-old left her rivals without a chance. Marta Dominguez (Spain/8:44.40) finished second, while Italian Silvia Weissteiner produced a national record of 8:44.81 and surprisingly took the bronze medal. Sabrina Mockenhaupt (Germany) finished fourth with a personal best of 8:45.77.
Daniel Njenga Wins the New Tokyo Marathon
Daniel Njenga has won the new Tokyo Marathon. The 30-year-old Kenyan crossed the line in 2:09:45, well ahead of Tomoyuki Sato of Japan, who ran 2:11:22. Another Japanese, Satoshi Irifune (2:12:44), took third place. In wet weather conditions, Njenga, who has a personal best of 2:06:16, broke away from the leading group at 25K.
Russian 4×800m Women Team Runs World Record
Over the weekend, a Russian 4×800m women’s relay team broke the world indoor record in this rarely run event. During the Russian championships in Volgograd, Anna Balakshina, Natalya Pantelyeva, Anna Emashova and Olesya Chumakova clocked 8:18.54 for the distance. They were slightly faster than another Russian team that held the previous record of 8:18.71 since 1994.
Wanjiru Breaks Gebrselassie’s Half Marathon World Record
Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya broke the world half marathon record with a scintillating display of front-running in the Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates. Wanjiru, just 20 years old, clocked 58:53, and in the process retrieved the world record, taken from him by Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, who ran 58:55 in Phoenix, Arizona a year ago. Then officially a junior, Wanjiru had set the previous record one year earlier, with 59:16 in Rotterdam.
Gebrselassie, Kastor and London, New York Took Top Spots in 2006
Other than in Japan, prime marathon season hasn’t started yet, so it’s a good time to survey what happened in 2006. The winning times of Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin and Deena Kastor in London were the fastest marathons of last year. Gebrselassie’s 2:05:56 in September was the seventh-fastest performance of all time and the only sub-2:06 in 2006. Gebrselassie also had 2005’s fastest time, with his 2:06:20 victory in Amsterdam.
Fujita Wins in Oita, Barus in Eldoret
Winter is prime time for high-quality Japanese marathons. Just one week after the Osaka Marathon for elite women, the 56th Beppu Oita Marathon took place. This time Japan’s male runners had a chance to qualify for the world championship marathon, due to take place at the end of August in Osaka. Former Japanese marathon record holder Atsushi Fujita won comfortably, and is expected to be selected for the Osaka squad.
Meseret Defar Breaks 3,000m Indoor World Record in Stuttgart
Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar has broken the 3,000m world indoor record. In Stuttgart on Saturday night, the 23-year-old clocked 8:23.72 and improved the year-old mark of Liliya Shobukova by more than four seconds. Defar, the reigning Olympic 5,000m champion, ran faster indoors on Saturday than she ever has outdoors.
Hara Wins in Osaka, Shibui Latest to Fail to Qualify for World Champs
Three Japanese women marathoners ran under 2:20 in the last six years, and two of them became Olympic champions. It’s now quite possible that none of them will be on the start line for the World Championships in Osaka in August and September. Naoko Takahashi won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000, and a year later in Berlin became the first woman to run under 2:20 (2:19.46). In November in the Tokyo marathon, she failed to qualify for the World Championships. Mizuki Noguchi became Takahashi’s successor at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and then ran in Berlin in 2005 an Asian record of 2:19.12. She will run London in April, and in so doing passed up the chance of a place at the World Championships. Yoko Shibui ran 2:19.41, also in Berlin, in 2004. Now her disappointing tenth place in the Osaka marathon on Sunday means she has failed to claim a place in the starting line-up for the World Championships.
Tirunesh Dibaba Breaks World Indoor 5,000m Record
irunesh Dibaba highlighted the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Saturday with a world record over 5,000m. The Ethiopian, only 21, improved her own mark with 14:27.42. Two years ago at the same meet, she ran 14:32.93. With this indoor world record she delivered further proof that she is certainly capable of breaking the outdoor world record, given she was a mere three seconds outside it in Boston.
Interview with Elana Meyer: “I Love Being Fit”
Now 40, Elana Meyer retired from international competition in 2005 after a long career that included an Olympic silver medal. She’s finding new mountains to conquer, in some cases literally, as she’s planning to summit Mt. Everest. Learn about Meyer’s broad approach to fitness, her work on behalf of children’s fitness and her thoughts on how sport and politics mix in this interview.
Bekele Makes it 30 Cross Country Wins in a Row
Kenenisa Bekele has stretched his unbeaten run in cross country to 30 races. On Sunday in Seville, Spain, the Ethiopian won this event for the third time, beating his younger brother Tariku, who celebrated his 20th birthday on race day, by two seconds. The Olympic 10,000m champion and world record holder clocked 31:05 for the 10.8-K course. One of the few Kenyans who have beaten Bekele in a 5,000m track race had no chance in Seville: Abraham Chebii came in third, 25 seconds behind the winner.
Ryan Hall Breaks One-hour Barrier and U.S. Half Marathon Record
With a 59:43 clocking at the Houston Half Marathon, American Ryan Hall provided the first big surprise of the year in international road running. The 24-year-old Californian broke the U.S. and North American records for 13.1 miles; the old U.S. record, 60:55, was set by Mark Curp 22 years ago in Philadelphia.
Olympic Champion Noguchi Shows Fine Form, No World Record for Kipchoge
Japan’s Olympic Marathon champion, Mizuki Noguchi, won the Miyazaki Half Marathon over the weekend, beating her nearest rival by more than two and a half minutes. The 28-year-old, who was so successful at the half distance before she ran her first marathon that she was nicknamed “The Queen of the Half Marathon” in Japan, ran 68:30, despite windy conditions. Her countrywomen Marina Haga (71:01) and Hiroko Miyauchi (71:11) took the next places.
Kipchoge’s New Year’s Eve Bombshell: Kenyan breaks Gebrselassie’s 10K World Record in Madrid
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge brought the running year of 2006 to a close with a bang. The 22-year-old set a world record for 10K at the high-quality New Year’s Eve race in Madrid. The 5,000m world champion in 2003 became the first to achieve a sub-27:00 clocking on the road with a time of 26:55. Kipchoge improved the world record set by Haile Gebrselassie in Doha, Qatar in 2002 by seven seconds, although the times in Madrid await official confirmation.
