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2008
Sergiy Lebid Shines for the Eighth Time in Brussels
Sergiy Lebid of the Ukraine not only competed in all 15 European Cross Country Championships, he also owns now with this year’s eighth win more than half the individual titles.
Ethiopian Breaks the Course Record at the Fukuoka Marathon
The 21-year-old Ethiopian, Tsegay Kebede, triumphed at the Fukuoka Marathon with a course record-setting time, while World Marathon Champion Luke Kibet and Edith Masai of Kenya prevailed at the Singapore Marathon in extreme heat.
Gebrselassie Wins in the Land Down Under
Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia won the 15K Great Australian Run in commanding style on Sunday in Melbourne. The women’s race was decided by Catherine Ndereba of Kenya.
Duncan Kibet Sets New Course Record at the Milan Marathon
The ninth annual Samsung Milan Marathon was held on Sunday. Nearly 6,000 runners from 61 countries competed in it—setting a turnout record. In the men’s race, the favorite, 30-year-old Duncan Kibet of Kenya, smashed the course record. He crossed the finish line in 2:07:53 hours.
A Surprise Winner for Final Tokyo Women’s Marathon!
A 30-year tradition came to a close Sunday in Japan when Tokyo hosted its last running of the Women’s Marathon. Yoshimi Ozaki won the race in blistering 2:23:30 hours—the ninth-fastest marathon run this year.
Perseverance Pays Off in Athens for Lekuraa
It’s hard enough to run a marathon healthy. Running one sick while winning the whole thing and setting an event record: is that even possible? It is. It happened Sunday at the 26th Annual Athens Marathon.
Former Champs Reign in New York
Even though world-class marathons last over two hours, watching one is hardly boring; and certainly not predictable. At today’s ING New York City Marathon, this was the case. In the men’s race, after 24 long miles, the 2nd place finisher at last year’s NYC Marathon, the famous Moroccan, Abderrahim Goumri—the owner of the sixth-fastest marathon time in the world—was virtually assured of the win.
Rivals and Old Friends Toe the Line in the Big Apple
How can anyone forget it: that famous finish at the 2005 ING New York City Marathon—a finish that came down literally a fraction of a second between the former world-record holder, Paul Tergat, and the 2004 New York Marathon champion, Hendrick Ramaala? Their exciting rivalry continues this year as both Ramaala and Tergat return for a friendly rematch.
Cheruiyot Breaks Course Record; Mockenhaupt Triumphs in Frankfurt
The young Kenyan, the debut marathoner, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, set a course record of 2:07:21 hours to win the 27th edition of the Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon. It was an incredible race! Seven runners dipped under 2:10—unprecedented in the marathon’s history.
A Great Day for Kenya: Kirui and Cheromei Win in Amsterdam
Kenyan runners led the way at the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday. They ran on a flat course famous for incredibly fast times. The 2004 World Half-Marathon champion, Paul Kirui, claimed the men’s title in 2:07:52. Lydia Cheromei (running her marathon debut) won the women’s race in 2:25:57.
A Kenyan Duel to Remember at this Year’s Chicago Marathon
When Sammy Wanjiru set that famous breakneck pace in the Olympic Marathon this past summer—a pace so fast in the 75-degree temperatures that no one predicted he could hold it—he unknowingly set a new precedence for warm-weather marathoning. On Sunday, 26-year-old Kenyan, Evans Cheriuyot, reinforced this notion in the 31st running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon by clocking a 2:06:25 in unseasonably warm and humid temperatures (over 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the finish).
Exciting Duels, Fast Times, and Cooler Conditions in Store for Chicago
The Chicago Marathon this Sunday boasts one the deepest elite fields in the world. It’s a huge marathon and a popular one as well. By April 23, all 45,000 entries were purchased—the fastest the marathon has ever sold out in its 31-year history. On Sunday, there are likely to be around 35,000 finishers.
Ethiopians Victorious at the Great North Run
Ethiopians dominated at the Great North Run on Sunday. Tsegay Kebede won the men’s race, running 59:45, while Gete Wami overcame thigh problems in the last 6 kilometers and won the women’s race by a narrow margin in 68:51.
Gebrselassie Sets World Record, Mikitenko Under 2:20 Hours in Berlin
One of the greatest runners of all time, Haile Gebrselassie, stunned the world on Sunday by becoming the first person ever to run under 2:04 in the marathon. In front of a million spectators at the 35th running of the real-Berlin Marathon, the Ethiopian runner won the marathon and bettered his own world record by [...]
Haile Gebrselassie and Irina Mikitenko Poised for Big Races in Berlin
Anniversary races have traditionally yielded outstanding results in the long, prestigious history of the real- Berlin Marathon: a marathon that attracts nearly 41,000 runners from 107 countries. Ten years ago, in the 25th anniversary of Germany’s largest race, Brazilian runner Ronaldo da Costa set a world record. Da Costa crossed the finish line (then still [...]
Fall Marathon Preview
The 35th real-Berlin Marathon this Sunday marks the start of the fall marathon season—a season filled with many decisive races that will determine who will win the World Marathon Majors (WMM) Series.
One of the favorites competing in the Berlin Marathon is German runner, Irina Mikitenko. If she manages to win, Mikitenko will add another 25 [...]
Huge Turnout and High Energy at the 24th Annual “Dam tot Dam” Race
An amazing 35,000 runners participated in the largest race in Holland on Sunday: the 10-mile “Dam tot Dam,” a flat and fast loop course that runs from Amsterdam to Zaandam.
At the front of the race, was a strong contingent of Kenyans. First place in the men’s race went to newcomer Sammy Kitwara who crossed the [...]
Meseret Defar Redeems Herself at the World Athletics Final
24-year-old Ethiopian distance runner Meseret Defar won the 5,000m on Saturday and the 3,000m on Sunday at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany.
Pamela Jelimo Wins Big in Brussels
At the start of the 2008 track and field season, 18-year-old Kenyan runner, Pamela Jelimo, was practically unknown. But that has since changed. Of the thirteen 800-meter races that she’s competed in this year, she’s won them all. Last month, she won a gold medal in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Then, Friday night in Brussels, she won the AF Golden League.
Pamela Jelimo Continues Victorious Record Sequence in Zurich
Pamela Jelimo continued her record setting pace in Zurich eleven days after her 800m victory in the Olympics. The 18-year-old Kenyan won at the AF Golden League meeting in Switzerland by delivering an African and world junior record as well as the fastest time of the year in this prestigious event.
Olympic Special: Viktor Röthlin Again Top Non-African Marathoner
In the Olympic marathon in Beijing, Viktor Röthlin once again proved his unique status among non-African marathon runners. As was the case a year ago at the World Championships in Osaka, where he won the bronze medal, the 33-year-old Swiss was the first finisher not born in Africa, this time taking sixth in 2:10:35.
Olympic News: Sammy Wanjiru—Kenya’s Pride in the Marathon
Sammy Wanjiru has literally run his way to the status of a Kenyan folk hero. The 21-year-old became the first Olympic marathon champion from his country on Sunday. In the final event of Beijing’s Olympic track and field competition, Wanjiru set an Olympic record as he finished in 2:06:32 hours in front of 60,000 spectators who were gathered in the Olympic stadium that morning.
Olympic News: Bekele Does the Double; Yego and Lagat Win for Kenya
A day after the triumph of his compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba, Kenenisa Bekele followed suit by winning his second gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Six days after his victory in the 10,000m, Bekele took the 5,000m as his finishing kick once again proved unbeatable. The Ethiopian set a new Olympic record as he crossed the finish line in 12:57.82, five seconds clear.
Olympic News: Tirunesh Dibaba Makes Olympic History with Double Win
Tirunesh Dibaba has made track and field history in the Beijing Olympics. Barely one week after taking the 10,000m, the 23-year-old Ethiopian won the 5,000m in 15:41.40 as she made a decisive final burst after a slow, tactical race.
Olympic News: Favorites Falter in 800m
The Olympic semi-finals of the men’s 800m produced several surprises. The big favorite, Abubaker Kaki (Sudan), failed to reach Saturday’s final. The 19-year-old world junior record holder and world indoor champion lost contact with the leaders with around 250 meters remaining on the second lap and finished last in 1:49.19. The race was won by Nabil Madi (Algeria) in 1:45.63 while the two Kenyans, Wilfred Bungei (1:46.23) and the reigning world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego (1:44.73), won the other races.
Olympic News: Bekele and Lagat in 5,000m Final
The world record holder Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) and the world champion Bernard Lagat (USA) reached the 5,000m final. In what promises to be a spectacular race on Saturday, joining Bekele, who has already won the 10,000m gold in Beijing and Lagat, are the Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge (2003 world champion), Thomas Longosiwa and the fast finishing Edwin Soi (winner of the IAAF World Athletics Final 2007).
Olympic News: Rashid Ramzi Wins 1500m by Narrow Margin
Rashid Ramzi is the new Olympic 1500m champion. The 28-year-old Bahraini won his first Olympic gold in 3:32.94 over the Kenyan Asbel Kiprop (3:33.11) and the New Zealander Nick Willis, who was a surprise winner of the bronze medal in 3:34.16.
Olympic Special: Two Women Make Sports History
One youngster and one veteran won women’s gold medals in groundbreaking style earlier this week. First the 30-year old Russian Gulnara Galkina-Samitova broke the 9:00 barrier in the 3,000m steeplechase. One day later, 18-year-old Pamela Jelimo of Kenya won the 800m in African and world junior record time.
Olympic News: Two Golds for Kenya Within 20 Minutes
It was the day of days for Kenyans in Beijing—within 20 minutes on Monday evening, they won two golds as well as another two medals. Ninety thousand spectators celebrated the athletes’ achievements.
Olympic News: Bekele Retains Title, Galkina Breaks 9:00 in Steeplechase
Kenenisa Bekele has retained his title as Olympic 10,000m champion in emphatic style. Watched by another capacity crowd of 90,000 in the Beijing Olympic stadium, he set an Olympic record of 27:01.17 in winning over his compatriot Sileshi Sihine (27:02.77) as well the Kenyans Micah Kogo and Moses Masai, who were both credited with the same time (27:04.11).
Olympic Special: Constantina Tomescu-Dita Wins Marathon Gold
Constantina Tomescu-Dita is the new women’s Olympic marathon champion. The 38-year-old Romanian won in commanding style in 2:26:44 after a solo run in the second half of the race.
Olympic News: Kenyans Run into Finals
Monday could be Kenya’s best day at the Olympic Games in Beijing. That’s when the finals of the men’s 3,000m steeplechase and the women’s 800m take place. Kenyans will have five athletes in the two finals, including the favorites for gold in both.
Shalane Flanagan: “I want to inspire young people”
Shalane Flanagan achieved the greatest success of her career at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The 27-year-old American won the bronze medal in the 10,000m in front of 90,000 in the Olympic stadium in the Chinese capital. It was only the second medal for an American woman in a long-distance track race at the Olympics.
Tirunesh Dibaba Wins a 10,000m Rich in Records
The Olympic track competition could hardly have begun in better style—about 90,000 spectators in Beijing witnessed one of the highest quality women’s 10,000m races of all time. Although the world record remained intact, never before have two women runners gone under 30 minutes in one race. In a thrilling duel, Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) ran an African and Olympic record of 29:54.66 to win her first Olympic gold.
Olympic Special: Dibaba-Defar Duel Over 5,000m?
Track and field is underway in Beijing! Here’s a look at the women’s distance events.
Olympic Special: Highlight of Bekele-Lagat 5,000m Match-Up
Swimming and gymnastics are great, of course, but for us, the “real” Olympics get underway on Friday, with the first track and field events. Today, we’ll look at the men’s distance races. Check back tomorrow for a preview of the women’s events.
Olympic Special: Advantage for China in the Women’s Marathon?
Will there be a gold medal for China this coming Sunday for the first time in Olympic marathon history? Zhou Chunxiu and perhaps Zhu Xiaolin surely have a chance in Beijing to fulfill this Chinese dream. They belong to a large group of favorites, which include the British world record holder Paula Radcliffe, the Kenyan [...]
Olympic Special: Haile Gebrselassie Competes in his Fourth Games
Haile Gebrselassie is perhaps the greatest runner of all time. The Ethiopian has broken 18 official and seven unofficial world records in his career, and has won two Olympic and four World Championship titles at 10,000. That puts the 35-year-old Ethiopian hero at least on a par with the legendary Finn Paavo Nurmi, who in a career lasting until the 1930s set 35 world records, or Emil Zatopek.
Olympic Special: Kenya Hopes for First Marathon Gold
Drama and sensation—no other marathon race offers these elements as much as the Olympics. At the Olympic Games it’s always hard to accurately predict the medalists over 26.2 miles. Taking place in the heat of summer and often run over undulating courses, the outcome has its own particular rules.
Seldom do the pre-race favorites win. In [...]
Olympic Special: 100 Years of the Marathon Distance
Even at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the marathon was the cornerstone of track and field competition. But what is today the classic distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) was not run for the first time until the 1908 Olympics in London.
Mikitenko Out, Radcliffe In Olympic Marathon
Irina Mikitenko has been forced to withdraw from the Olympic Games. Back and pelvic problems have brought the German marathoner, who in top form might have been a medal contender, to a halt. Her victory in the London Marathon in April against many of the top Beijing entrants had established her among the world elite. [...]
Tola Surprises Makau in New York
Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia, just 20 years old, has sprung a surprise win at the New York City Half Marathon. He beat the favorite Patrick Makau of Kenya in the sprint to the line in 60:58. In the women’s race Kenya’s world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba won for the second time since 2006 in 70:19. Despite warm, humid weather in New York, 10,564 runners took part.
Jelimo Breaks Another Record
After wins in Berlin, Oslo, Rome and now Paris, the 800m runner Pamela Jelimo remains in the hunt for the AF Golden League jackpot. At just 19 years of age the Kenyan has to win in the post-Olympics meets in Zurich and Brussels to have a share in the $1 million jackpot.
Pamela Jelimo Continues Undefeated Season
Kenya’s shooting star of the year remains in the hunt for the jackpot in the IAAF Golden League
Lagat Double Caps U.S. Olympic Trials
In the final event of the U.S. Olympic Trials, Bernard Lagat secured his shot to repeat his double victories at last year’s World Championships.
U.S. Olympic Trials Resume Thursday
When the second half of the U.S. Olympic Trials begins on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon, it’s hard to imagine the meet topping the excitement of its first half. But it sure will be fun to watch and find out.
Olympic Trials Should Produce Strongest U.S. Distance Squad in Years
With fields featuring past championship medalists, veterans aiming for one last national team and young, hungry up-and-comers, the distance races at the U.S. Olympic Trials will lack neither quality nor drama.
Dire Tune Breaks World Record for One-Hour Run
One week before her 23rd birthday, Dire Tune ran to her third big success of the year at a meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The Ethiopian broke Tegla Loroupe’s world record for the one-hour run, covering 18,517 meters to better Loroupe’s mark by 177 meters.
Dibaba Fever Hits Oslo: World Record for 5,000m
Tirunesh Dibaba provided the crowning moment of the AF Golden League Meeting in Oslo with a world record over 5,000m. On a warm summer night in Norway the 23-year-old stormed to the fantastic time of 14:11.15 in front of around 15,000 ecstatic spectators at the legendary Exxon Mobil Bislett Games. Dibaba’s new mark took more than 5 seconds off the time set in Oslo last year by her compatriot Meseret Defar.
Jelimo Storms to African 800m Record
The current star of the middle distances is just 18 years old, comes from Kenya and goes by the name of Pamela Jelimo. Last week she ran a sensational 800m world junior record in Hengelo (1:55.76), and has now improved that mark by more than three-quarters of a second with a 1:54.99 at the DKB-ISTAF meeting in Berlin’s Olympic stadium.
Pamela Jelimo Sensational in Hengelo
As expected, Ethiopians dominated the eagerly anticipated long-distance races at the Hengelo meeting in the Netherlands. While Kenenisa Bekele won the 5,000m, his compatriot Sileshi Sihine took the 10,000m from Haile Gebrselassie, who took a major step towards Olympic selection. But a Kenyan woman stole the show: 19-year-old Pamela Jelimo produced a breathtaking 800m, storming across the line in 1:55.76.
Double KIMbia Triumph at Bay to Breakers
KIMbia runners took the top spots in the men’s and women’s races at the venerable Bay to Breakers 12K in San Francisco. John Korir and Lineth Chepkurui triumphed over the massive field of 65,000 in the 97th edition of the hilly race.
Noguchi Wins Last Test before Beijing
Mizuki Noguchi, the 2004 Olympic marathon champion, won her last test race before she has to defend her title in Beijing in August. The Japanese won the half marathon in Sendai, Japan in a fast 68:25. In the men’s race, the Kenyan Harun Njoroge won in 61:55, five seconds ahead of Japan’s Yusei Nakao. Third was Kazuo Ietani (Japan) in 62:05.
Peninah Arusei Breaks Course Record in Berlin 25K
There was a Kenyan double victory in Berlin’s traditional 25K. While Samuel Karuku came through surprisingly to win in the high-class time of 1:13:49, his countrywoman Peninah Arusei set a course record with 1:24:10. Taking into account the two winning times, this edition of the Berlin 25K was the best yet for quality since the race was first held in 1981. The new organizers, Berlin Runs, recorded a total of 8,142 participants from 23 countries.
Kirui Crowns Vienna’s Jubilee with Course Record
Once again Kenyan runners proved their dominance in taking the first eight places—including a course record—in the 25th edition of the Vienna City Marathon. In a fitting tribute to the jubilee edition of the event, Abel Kirui clocked 2:07:38 when he crossed the finish line on the Heldenplatz, achieving the first sub-2:08 time in the event’s history. He made a substantial improvement on the time of Morocco’s Lahoucine Mrikik, who won in Vienna with 2:08:20 in 2006.
Mikitenko is WMM Surprise of the Spring
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) achieved ever-increasing public profile following the spectacular finale to the first series in New York last November. On that occasion the Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot and the Ethiopian Gete Wami were acclaimed as the first series winners. Each received a check for $500,000.
Closest Women’s Finish in Race History Highlights Boston Marathon
A thrilling side-by-side duel between Dire Tune and Alevtina Biktimirova resulted in the closest women’s race in Boston Marathon history on Monday, with Tune sprinting away only in the last couple hundred meters to win by 2 seconds in 2:25:25. Robert Cheruiyot had no such company over the last third of the race, and finished in 2:07:46 to become the youngest four-time winner at Boston.
Expected Winner Wins Marathon Trials in Unexpected Fashion
Deena Kastor won Sunday’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, as pretty much the entire city of Boston expected her to. But the Olympic bronze medalist did so in a manner no one had discussed in all of the pre-race predictions—by having to overcome a two-minute gap past halfway after failing to recognize who exactly the early frontrunner was.
Lel, Mikitenko Impressive Winners in London
The Kenyan Martin Lel has won one of the best marathons of all time. In London he triumphed in 2:05:15, the fifth fastest time ever recorded. Irina Mikitenko (Germany) created a sensation in winning the women’s race in 2:24:14.
The Marathon Month of April: Highlights Every weekend
From London to Boston or from Rotterdam via Hamburg and Vienna – the top marathon races come thick and fast in April as in no other month. In these classic races, five-figure fields can be expected as well as times that lead the international rankings by the top athletes. The London Marathon has in recent years been the yardstick in terms of quality of entry and results.
Kenyans Musyoki, Arusei Win with Fast Times in Berlin
In its 28th edition, the Berlin Half Marathon once again produced top-class winning times. The defending champion, Patrick Makau Musyoki, won the biggest and most prestigious German half marathon in 1:00:00. Beaten in the tightest of finishes was Eshetu Wondimu (Ethiopia), who crossed the finish line a second behind. The women’s winner Peninah Arusei achieved the third fastest time in the world this year, as well as the third fastest performance in the history of the race, with 68:22.
Bekele Almost Loses Shoe, Still Wins World Cross Country
En route to another unique achievement, even a sudden handicap failed to stop Kenenisa Bekele. At the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, the Ethiopian had to stop in the 12K after he almost lost a shoe. Nonetheless, by the finish Bekele had won the long-distance event at these championships for the sixth time, making him the only person to do so.
Bekele, Tadesse Rematch Highlight of World Cross Championships
When Kenenisa Bekele arrives in Edinburgh this week, he won’t be able to get away from Zersenay Tadesse. An advertising banner for the World Cross Country Championships 74 yards wide and 19 yards high has been hanging in the city center since mid March. Right in the middle of this giant banner is a 13-yard meter high figure of Tadesse, the runner from Eritrea who will be the defending champion in Scotland. This picture has bad memories for Bekele.
Wilson Kiprotich Dominates in Dallas
An 8K in Dallas produced some top-class performances on Saturday. Wilson Kiprotich and Rose Kosgei ensured that Kenya scored a double triumph, winning in 22:18 and 26:02, respectively. In ideal weather conditions, Kiprotich set off in pursuit of the world best time of 22:04. He took the initiative from the start and, passing 5K in 13:43, was making excellent time in the race.
Gebrselassie Wins in Lisbon, Misses World Record
Haile Gebrselassie won the Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday in a world leading time of 59:15 by a clear margin over the former 10,000m world champion Charles Kamathi of Kenya. Kamathi finished in 60:45. The fastest woman in Lisbon was Salina Kosgei in a speedy 69:57. In a sprint finish the Kenyan had just two seconds’ advantage over her compatriot Pamela Chepchumba.
World Record Came as Bonus for Soboleva
After winning the 1,500m final at the World Indoor Championships with a world record of 3:57.71 in Valencia, Spain on Sunday, Yelena Soboleva explained that she had not thought about the record during the race. “I was only aiming for gold, not for the record,” the 25 year-old Russian explained to reporters.
Debut Win for Nakamura in Nagoya, Takahashi Falls Apart
There were two big surprises at the Nagoya Marathon, the last Japanese selection race for the Olympic Games: Yurika Nakamura came through to win in her debut, while the national heroine Naoko Takahashi had a nightmare experience. Nakamura, just 21, ran 2:25:51 in good conditions and finished well ahead of her compatriots Yoshimi Ozaki (2:26:19) and Yuri Kano (2:26:39).
Soboleva Crowns Indoor Championships with 1500m World Record
Surprises, top-class races and even a world record – the finals of the track events on the last day of the World Indoor Championships in Valencia had everything. The highlight was the women’s 1500m final. It was no tactical race as so often in the past, but a final with the pace getting faster and faster as Yelena Soboleva crowned the championships with a world record.
Meseret Defar Completes World Indoor Hat Trick
For the third time in succession the winner of the gold medal in the women’s 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships bears the name of Meseret Defar. The Ethiopian was a convincing winner of the title in Valencia in 8:38.79. The 24-year-old certainly didn’t have to go all out to leave her rivals well behind. Her compatriot Meselech Melkamu was second in 8:41.50. Third place was taken by the Moroccan Mariem Alaoui Selsouli, who won her first major medal in 8:41.66. “We wanted to win gold and silver for Ethiopia and we did it. We want to do exactly the same in Beijing this summer,” said Melkamu.
Shami Wins Lake Biwa Marathon
Less than a year after his lone defeat in the marathon, Mubarak Shami is back in the winner’s circle. The Kenyan-born athlete, who for the last few years has been running for Qatar, won the 63rd edition of the Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan in the fast time of 2:08:23. In the elite men-only race, Yared Asmeron (Eritrea) improved his best time by around seven minutes and took second place in 2:08:34 ahead of three Japanese.
Kiplagat Continues Winning Streak in Puerto Rico
Lornah Kiplagat won the World’s Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the fifth straight year on Sunday night. The native-born Kenyan, who now runs for Holland, ran the course in a fast 31:02. After a dramatic finish, the Ethiopian Deriba Merga ran 28:03 to win the men’s race. Despite dropping out of the Dubai Marathon last month with a calf injury, Kiplagat seemed at full strength in San Juan.
Röthlin Wins in Tokyo, Bekele Breaks World Record in Birmingham
Viktor Röthlin has celebrated the greatest victory of his career in Tokyo. The Swiss won the prestigious Tokyo Marathon in the first-class time of 2:07:23. This meant the 33-year-old improved his own national record of 2:08:20, set last year in Zurich, by almost a minute. For the first time this edition of the Tokyo Marathon was not an elite men’s race, but an event for mass participation.
Fast Times in United Arab Emirates, World Record in Moscow
Just three weeks after the Dubai Marathon with Haile Gebrselassie, a second road race in the United Arab Emirates has made headlines: at the second edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, four runners went under the auspicious one-hour barrier. In so doing, the race confirmed its high-quality results of the previous year when Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) set the then fastest performance of all time with 58:53.
Lagat Gets Sixth Millrose Victory
Bernard Lagat won the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the 101st edition of the Millrose Games in the fastest time of the still-new indoor season. On the tight, narrow 150-meter track of Madison Square Garden, the American ran 3:57.51 in front of 12,500 spectators.
Meseret Defar Begins Olympic Year With World Record
Meseret Defar has begun the Olympic year right where she left off last year—with a world record. The 24-year-old Ethiopian covered the rarely run distance of 2 miles at the Boston indoor meeting in 9:10.50. With that time, Defar bettered the old mark, set by the American Regina Jacobs at the same meeting six years ago, of 9:23.38. Defar’s time brings the indoor 2-mile standard much closer in line with the world indoor marks for 3,000m and 5,000m.
Haile Just Misses Million Dollar World Record in Dubai
On Friday, Haile Gebrselassie failed in his attempt to break his own world record for the marathon despite perfect weather conditions on the flattest course in the world. The Ethiopian missed out on the biggest prize money in the history of distance running when he overshot his mark of 2:04:26 by just 27 seconds.
Dire Tune Runs Leading Time at Houston Marathon
Dire Tune has not only successfully defended her title at the 36th edition of the Houston Marathon, but her big personal best has moved her closer to the top echelon of women marathoners. Just 22 years old, the Ethiopian won the race in a course record of 2:24:39, providing the top performance of the event, which also included the U.S. half marathon championships. Kenyan David Cheruiyot won the men’s marathon in 2:12:31.
Unrest in Kenya Affects Running Stars
The unrest in Kenya following the disputed presidential election of Mwai Kibaki has also affected its country’s running stars. An Olympic competitor beaten to death, a world champion injured and a world junior cross country champion unable to make the journey to a race in Europe – those are only three ramifications of the violence and chaos holding sway in the western part of the country.
Kenyan Double in Bolzano
With Kenyans once again dominating the road running scene in 2007, it was only fitting that the year finished for them in the same style. Athletes from the top running nation in the world celebrated a double win at the highly rated New Year’s Eve race in Bolzano: first Sylvia Kibet won the 5K in 16:01, and then Edwin Cheruiyot Soi took the men’s 10K in 28:50.
