Patrick Makau (right) on his way to victory against John Nyasyina in London. © Victor Sailer

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 10-kilometer 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. There was a big gap to second-place finisher Sarah Stradling (Great Britain/37:07).

On the track of the Athens Olympic Stadium, Saif Saaeed Shaheen produced a superb steeplechase race. On Monday night, the former Kenyan, who switched nationalities in 2003 and now competes for Qatar, ran the sixth-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase ever. Shaheen clocked 7:56.32 minutes. His first race at the distance this year suggests that he might well be able to break his world record of 7:53.63 at some stage during this season. Former World and Olympic champion Reuben Kosgei (Kenya) was second in 8:09.79. “It was a difficult race because after a bad start I found my rhythm late,” Shaheen said.

Apart from Shaheen’s impressive performance, there were two very good 800m races in the Athens Super Grand Prix Meeting. Olympic champion Yuri Borzakovskiy won his race by overtaking Wilfred Bungei (Kenya) just before the finish line. The Russian clocked a world-leading 1:43.42, while Bungei ran 1:43.59. Four runners broke 1:44, while in the women’s race, nine athletes clocked sub-2:00 times. Russia’s Olga Kotlyarowa won in 1:57.86.

Masai Doubles at Kenyan Championships

Edith Masai completed a rare double at the Kenyan Championships in Nairobi. First she won the 10,000m on Friday in 32:25.4. Among those beaten were top marathon runners Catherine Ndereba and Susan Chepkemei. On the next day, the 39-year-old Masai added the 5,000m title. Clocking 15:54.0, she beat the Athens Olympic silver medalist at the distance, Isabella Ochichi, by three-tenths of a second. Masai’s achievement was the highlight of the championships. In the men’s events, Mike Kigen won the 5,000m in 13:29.0, just beating Sammy Kipketer by three-tenths of a second. Moses Mosop took the 10,000m in 28:18.1, while Ezekiel Kemboi won the 3,000m steeple in 8:21.9.

New York Road Runners Announce New Half Marathon

New York Road Runners has announced the first NYC Half Marathon, which will be run on August 27. The race has an entry limit of 10,000 runners, and was sold out in a record time of one day. NYRR president Mary Wittenberg said, “Our intention is that this event becomes another international sporting event highlighting the very best of New York City.” The course will lead the runners through Manhattan.