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1 APRIL 2012: POZNAN HALF MARATHON, POLAND

MEN:
1  Solomon KIPTOO                 KEN  1:02:00
2  Tola BANE                      ETH  1:02:28
3  Edwin KIPTOO                   KEN  1:03:00
4  Paul Kemboi KIPTOO             KEN  1:03:32
5  Stephen CHELIMO                KEN  1:06:11
6  Michael KARONEI                KEN  1:06:16
7  John Kibichiy TANUI            KEN  1:07:17
8  Lukasz GURFINKIEL              POL  1:08:04
9  Pawel TARASIUK                 POL  1:10:30
10 Marcin KONIECZNY               POL  1:12:21

WOMEN:
1  Lucy NJERI                     KEN  1:10:26
2  Nadezda TRYLINSKAJA            RUS  1:12:14
3  Gladys KIPROTICH               KEN  1:13:09
4  Aleksandra DULIBA              POL  1:14:43
5  Olena SERDIUK                  POL  1:19:06
6  Hadas MOSER                    POL  1:21:57
7  Antonina RYCHTER               POL  1:23:41
8  Elzbieta WOJCIECHOWSKA         POL  1:25:33
9  Malgorzata SOBANSKA            POL  1:27:47
10 Julia DOBIEZYNSKA              POL  1:29:29

1 APRIL 2012: VATTENFALL BERLIN HALF MARATHON, GERMANY

Denis Koech upset compatriot and reigning World Champion Wilson Kiprop, beating him by just one second. It was the first time Koech had gone under the hour. The women’s race was just as close, with Philes Ongori beating Helah Kiprop by one second. A record 29,246 runners had entered this 32nd edition of the race.

A lead group of eight men ran the first 10km into the wind and passed in 28:26 minutes against the planned 28:00, but the pace picked up in the second half. With 3km to go five runners were still together but then Denis Koech, running only his second race outside Kenya (in his first he won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 1:00:34), surged strongly. He ran the next kilometre in 2:42, but Wilson Kiprop held on right through to the finish straight. "I was not confident of beating him" said Koech - but he did. Kiprop also ran a personal best and for the first time ever five men went under the hour. Koech’s winning time is the third fastest in the event’s history and the fourth fastest in the world this year.

In the women’'s race Philes Ongori, Helah Kiprop and debutant Caroline Chepkwony ran together almost the entire way. It was only in the final 2km that Chepkwony slipped back and left Ongori and Kiprop to duel it out. Sixth placed Andrea Mayr (AUT) ran a national record of 1:11:49.

MEN:
1  Denis KOECH                    KEN    59:14
2  Wilson KIPROP                  KEN    59:15
3  Exzekiel CHEBII                KEN    59:23
4  Pius KIROP                     KEN    59:25
5  Paul KIPCHUMBA                 KEN    59:53
6  Leonard LANGAT                 KEN  1:00:05
7  Nicholas KIPKEMBOI             KEN  1:00:16
8  Joseph KIPTUM                  KEN  1:00:26
9  Gideon KIPKETER                KEN  1:00:35
10 Josphat KAMZEE                 KEN  1:02:56

WOMEN:
1  Philes ONGORI                  KEN  1:08:25
2  Helah KIPROP                   KEN  1:08:26
3  Caroline CHEPKWONY             KEN  1:08:36
4  Karolina JARZYNSKA             POL  1:10:56
5  Vicoty CHEPKEMOI               KEN  1:11:13
6  Andrea MAYR                    AUT  1:11:49
7  Beata NAIGAMBO                 NAM  1:12:40
8  Krisztina PAPP                 HUN  1:12:53
9  Silke OPTEKAMP                 GER  1:16:45
10 Worknesh DEGAFA                ETH  1:16:48

1 APRIL 2012: ALEXANDER THE GREAT MARATHON, GREECE

MEN:
1  Teklu Geto METAFERIA           ETH  2:18:44
2  Dimitrios TSIOUNIS             GRE  2:36:38
3  Antonis PAPADIMITRIOU          GRE  2:38:28
4  Evangelos SKLAVOUNIS           GRE  2:43:56
5  Grigoris SKOULARIKIS           GRE  2:45:14
6  Dimitrios FOUKAS               GRE  2:46:47
7  Apostolos TSIANAKAS            GRE  2:47:31
8  Nikolaos KOSTAKIS              GRE  2:51:10
9  Georgios SIKALOS               GRE  2:52:15
10 Christos VOUTSELAS             GRE  2:52:18
 
WOMEN:
1  Alina NITULEASA                ROM  2:56:33
2  Chara SKOULARIKI               GRE  3:07:46
3  Vaso STAVROU                   GRE  3:13:17
4  Evangelia DELI                 GRE  3:27:02
5  Zinia SANOUDOU                 GRE  3:29:40
6  Eirini GIOTI                   GRE  3:34:14
7  Eleonora GRAMMATIKAS           GRE  3:39:56
8  Eleni KALLIA                   GRE  3:42:33
9  Evangelia SALPEA               GRE  3:43:03
10 Irena MALIMPORSKA              GRE  3:45:08

1 APRIL 2012: MEDIO MARATON VILLA DE MADRID, SPAIN

In the 12th edition Eliud Kipserem established a new course record in narrowly beating his compatriot Benson Keri. Around 18,000 entered the event and the associated 5km race. There were 13,700 finishers in the Half Marathon. Jane Mwikali and Ana Dias were neck and neck for almost the entire race, but in the last few hundred metres in Retiro Park, Mwikali stole a march on her rival and won by a couple of seconds. Sixth-placed Vanessa Viega was the first Spanish woman to finish, and she will represent Spain in the London Olympic Marathon.

MEN:
1  Eliud KIPSEREM                 KEN  1:02:08
2  Benson Olena KERI              KEN  1:02:13
3  Mohammed BLAL                  MAR  1:02:46
4  Abdelhadi EL MOUAZIZ           MAR  1:03:30
5  Hailesmes Kel MULATU           ETH  1:04:11
6  Abderrahim EL ASRI             MAR  1:04:44
7  Hassane AHOUCHAR               MAR  1:04:50
8  Sammy KIGEN                    KEN  1:04:58
9  Abderrahim EL JAAFARI          MAR  1:05:06
10 Tolossa CHANGARE               ETH  1:05:10

WOMEN:
1  Jane MWIKALI                   KEN  1:13:16
2  Ana DIAS                       POR  1:13:18
3  Marta TIGABEA                  ETH  1:13:43
4  Fatima AYACHI                  MAR  1:14:50
5  Nancy Langat CHENMUTAI         KEN  1:14:57
6  Vanessa VIEGA                  ESP  1:15:31
7  Pilar VINUELA                  ESP  1:16:05
8  Maria Luisa MADERA             ESP  1:19:43
9  Recuerdo ARROYO                ESP  1:20:22
10 Elena UGENA                    ESP  1:21:34

 

1 APRIL 2012: SEMI MARATHON INT'L DE RABAT, MOROCCO

MEN:
1  Julius Arile LAMERINYANG       KEN  1:01:07
2  Mekelinyang Pkumin LORTENYANG  KEN  1:01:08
3  Gebremedin GEBRE               ETH  1:01:23
4  Robert KAJUGA                  RWA  1:01:51
5  Victor KIPCHIRCHIR             KEN  1:01:56
6  Anthony Kiplangat MARITIM      KEN  1:02:27
7  Khalid SADDEN                  MAR  1:02:29
8  Jackson Kibet LIMO             KEN  1:02:30
9  Dereje HAILEGIORGIOS           ETH  1:02:55
10 Ziray HAILEKIROS               ETH  1:03:02

WOMEN:
1  Waganesh MEKASHA               ETH  1:11:11
2  Mercy Jemutai TANUI            KEN  1:11:19
3  Marisa BAROS                   POR  1:12:01
4  Birhane Ababael YESHANE        ETH  1:13:00
5  Maqlika BELFAKIH               MAR  1:13:08
6  Soumiya LABANI                 MAR  1:13:18
7  Hind MCHACHTI                  MAR  1:15:55
8  Susan Jesang TANUI             KEN  1:16:42
9  Kiross KIBA                    ETH  1:16:56
10 Kebira ELGMIRI                 MAR  1:18:54

1 APRIL 2012: CSOB BRATISLAVA MARATHON, SLOVAKIA

Strong winds could not deter a record entry of 7800 registered runners from 47 countries, with more than 2000 in the half marathon. This was an increase of 1200 (15%) over the previous year.

MEN:
1  Micah Kiplagat SAMOEI          KEN  2:21:09
2  Elisha Kiprotich SAWE          KEN  2:21:43
3  Oleg GUR                       BLR  2:22:14
4  Adam KOVACS                    HUN  2:22:27
5  Erkolo ASHENAFI                ETH  2:25:04
6  Ales MIKO                      CZE  2:28:05
7  Bogdan DZIUBA                  POL  2:28:48
8  Tamas Janos NAGY               HUN  2:30:03
9  Imrich MAGYAR                  SVK  2:31:02
10 Daniel ORALEK                  CZE  2:35:27

WOMEN:
1  Lucy Wambui MURIGI             KEN  2:42:41
2  Reka BATAI                     HUN  2:46:15
3  Lilian KOECH                   KEN  2:49:32
4  Jana DORAZILOVA                CZE  2:59:52
5  Ivana MARTINCOVA               CZE  3:05:32
6  Katalin FARKAS                 HUN  3:09:12
7  Radka PAULINYO                 SVK  3:16:48
8  Svatoslava KACIROVA            CZE  3:17:35
9  Karin RUSS                     AUT  3:18:55
10 Zsuzsanna HARSANYI             HUN  3:19:20

1 APRIL 2012: mds - MARATON DE SANTIAGO, CHILE

MEN:
1  Peter Lemayian NKAYA           KEN  2:12:52
2  Miguel Angel ALMACHI           ECU  2:15:02
3  Benjamin KIPLIMO               KEN  2:15:28
4  Edson Amaro DOS SANTOS         BRA  2:16:20
5  Julius Kibet KOSKEI            KEN  2:17:30
6  Isaack WAWERU                  KEN  2:20:55
7  Leonardo Fabian TENEPAGUAY     ECU  2:22:42
8  Francisco Javier MENDEZ        CHI  2:22:55
9  Franklin JIMENEZ               PER  2:24:54
10 Juan Carlos HERNANDEZ          COL  2:26:46
                                  
WOMEN:                            
1  Natalia  ROMERO                CHI  2:34:55
2  Erika ABRIL                    COL  2:36:09
3  Naomi JEPNGETICH               KEN  2:36:55
4  Erika Alejandra OLIVERA        CHI  2:37:41
5  Hyvon NGETICH                  KEN  2:43:48
6  Hortencia ARZAPALO             PER  2:46:02
7  Claudia Milena TANGARIFE       COL  2:52:24
8  Vianca Nataly PEREIRA          BOL  2:54:51
9  Indira Paola ESPANOL           COL  2:57:20
10 Benita GRAS                    CHI  3:04:26

1 APRIL 2012: PUNTA CANA HALF MARATHON, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MEN:
1  Jorge TORIBA                   DOM  1:10:54
2  Alfonso PAULA                  DOM  1:11:27
3  Christopher MARTINEZ           DOM  1:13:29
4  Eddy RAMOS                     DOM  1:14:51
5  Domingo ESPINAL                DOM  1:14:59
6  Oscar DE LA ROSA               DOM  1:17:17
7  Lewis CHALK                    DOM  1:17:52
8  Jorge MENDEZ                   DOM  1:19:33
9  Antonio DE LACRUZ              DOM  1:19:41
10 Freddy Soto THORMANN           DOM  1:19:50

WOMEN:
1  Dahania CITY                   DOM  1:28:58
2  Raquel CLARK                   DOM  1:35:22
3  Yarisel ROMERO                 DOM  1:35:59
4  Mindri GARCIA                  DOM  1:39:58
5  Elizabeth NYITRAY              DOM  1:40:34
6  Rovana LAMPERT                 DOM  1:42:50

10km
MEN:
1  Jose RUBIERA                   DOM  32:28
2  Edwin DUVAL                    DOM  32:50
3  JuanOlalis ALMONTE             DOM  33:20

WOMEN:
1  Jordania DIAZ                  DOM  41:23
2  Maria MANCEBO                  DOM  42:13
3  Vicky MARTINEZ                 DOM  49:46

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6 APRIL 2012: DEAD SEA ULTRAMARATHON, JORDAN

MEN:
1  Hayel MSALEM                   JOR  2:53:52
2  Suliman AL ZBOON               JOR  3:23:49
3  Sulaiman AL SOBHI              KSA  3:27:10
4  Tim DREW                       GBR  3:28:53
5  Majdi OWEED                    JOR  3:42:37
6  Waldemar MICHEN                GER  3:46:01
7  Othman OKLEH                   JOR  3:47:05
8  Anas ZGHOOL                    JOR  3:49:35
9  Ibrahim AL ANBAR               JOR  3:50:55
10 Qusai ALGOTY                   JOR  3:51:30

WOMEN:
1  Catherine TODD                 GBR  4:14:04
2  Rosalie HAUSNER                GER  4:19:19
3  Elizabeth LAUGHTON             GBR  4:26:36
4  Grit SEIDEL                    GER  4:54:13
5  Lesley JONES                   GBR  4:55:06
6  Josefina ANTILA                FIN  5:22:36
7  Noor Maryam RABI               JOR  5:50:02
8  Juliette WANNEBROUCQ           FRA  6:22:07
9  Suneela KATIKALA               IND  6:57:03

MARATHON
MEN:
1  Fathi SLIMAN                   JOR  2:31:41
2  Abdullah MARZOOQ               JOR  2:33:54
3  Ahmad NASER                    JOR  2:40:16

WOMEN:
1  Nahedah AL BAWAT               JOR  3:19:00
2  Ghorod AL DGHEMAT              JOR  3:20:37
3  Nour AL BAKOUR                 JOR  3:21:47

Top

7 APRIL 2012: TWO OCEANS MARATHON 56km, SOUTH AFRICA

MEN:
1  Stephen MUZHINGI               ZIM  3:08:08
2  Henry MOYO                     MAW  3:08:35
3  Collen MAKAZA                  ZIM  3:08:45
4  Gert THYS                      RSA  3:09:42
5  Bongumusa MTHEMBU              RSA  3:10:16
6  Mthandazo QHINA                RSA  3:11:00
7  Tsotang MAINE                  LES  3:11:51
8  Lucas NONYANA                  RSA  3:12:03
9  Odwa TUNYISWA                  RSA  3:12:50
10 Kimutai LEZAN                  KEN  3:12:58

WOMEN:
1  Elena NURGALIYEVA              RUS  3:41:55
2  Natalia VOLGINA                RUS  3:45:29
3  Devon CROSBY-HELMS             USA  3:47:30
4  Mamorallo TJOKA                LES  3:48:50
5  Samukeliso MOYO                ZIM  3:49:10
6  Adinda KRUGER                  RSA  3:50:13
7  Lizih CHOKORE                  ZIM  3:52:26
8  Ntombesinthu MFUNZI            RSA  3:52:39
9  Mundalambo TSHIFHIWA           RSA  3:53:00
10 Paulina NJEYA                  RSA  3:53:29

HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1  Xolisa TYALI                   RSA  1:04:54
2  Joel MMONE                     RSA  1:05:01
3  Lucky MOHALE                   RSA  1:05:09

WOMEN:
1  Rene KALMER                    RSA  1:15:02
2  Irvette VAN BLERK              RSA  1:16:22
3  Rutendo NYAHORA                ZIM  1:18:30

7 APRIL 2012: UVU NORTH POLE MARATHON, NEUTRAL POLAR OCEAN

MEN:
1  Andrew MURRAY                  GBR   4:17:08
2  Luis Alonso MARCOS             ESP   4:19:38
3  James MATTHEWS                 AUS   4:41:01
4  Hirofumi ONO                   JPN   5:07:05
5  Greg SWAN                      AUS   5:13:39
6  Ian AYLING                     GBR   5:52:04
7  Cees HARDEMAN                  NED   5:56:05
8  James ALDERSON                 AUS   6:06:38
9  Vlado STARESINIC               CRO   6:11:22
10 Lars Samo TOBIASSEN            GLD   6:20:28
                                        
WOMEN:                                  
1  Demeiza FARR                   AUS   6:06:36
2  Rebecca NEWMAN                 GBR   6:11:39
3  Julie BRAILSFORD               GBR   6:14:40
4  Marianna ZAIKOVA               FIN   7:03:36
5  Rhoda JONES                    USA  11:41:26

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8 APRIL 2012: DAEGU INT'L MARATHON, KOREA

MEN:
1  David Kemboi KIYENG            KEN  2:07:57
2  Gilbert Chepkwony KIPTOO       KEN  2:08:16
3  Benson BARUS                   KEN  2:08:36
4  Abdelaziz ENNAJI               MAR  2:08:49
5  Yusuf SONGOKA                  KEN  2:09:08
6  Ahmed BADAY                    MAR  2:09:16
7  Mohamed EL HACHIMI             MAR  2:09:40
8  Abraham TADESSE                ETH  2:10:26

WOMEN:
1  Alemitu Abera BEGNA            ETH  2:24:57
2  Mulu SEBOKA                    ETH  2:27:38

Top

14 APRIL 2012: PARDUBICE WINE HALF MARATHON, CZECH REPUBLIC

MEN:
1  Mike Kiprop CHERUIYOT          KEN  1:06:34
2  Vit PAVLISTA                   CZE  1:07:05
3  Jakub BAJZA                    CZE  1:07:09
4  Kenneth KIPKOSGEI              KEN  1:07:10
5  Jan KREISINGER                 CZE  1:07:44
6  Jiri VOJAK                     CZE  1:08:00
7  Kamil KRUNKA                   CZE  1:09:20
8  Petr LOSMAN                    CZE  1:10:09
9  Frantisek MAHOVSKY             CZE  1:10:16
10 Ales MIKO                      CZE  1:10:18

WOMEN:
1  Petra PASTOROVA                CZE  1:18:18
2  Marta FENCLOVA                 CZE  1:22:14
3  Jindriska MARTINKOVA           CZE  1:23:28
4  Tereza ZUZANKOVA               CZE  1:23:50
5  Daniela HAVRANKOVA             CZE  1:25:49
6  Denisa KOZAKOVA                CZE  1:25:55
7  Lenka KRALOVA                  CZE  1:26:09
8  Katerina KREIGELOVA            CZE  1:26:41
9  Ivana MARTINKOVA               CZE  1:28:48
10 Laura MATULOVA                 CZE  1:29:59

Top

15 APRIL 2012: VIENNA CITY MARATHON, AUSTRIA

Photos: VCM/Jean-Pierre Durand

Henry Sugut set an Austria all-comers record in winning the 29th edition, while Fate Tola (Ethiopia) defended her women's title. Haile Gebrselassie beat Paula Radcliffe in the OMV Champions Race over the half marathon distance. Organisers registered a record total of 36,157 runners. Radcliffe got a 7:52 minutes head start in the half marathon chase race against Gebrselassie, calculated on the personal best times of the two athletes. Gebrselassie closed the gap quickly. Radcliffe's advantage was down to 3:42 at 9km and after 15.3km he overtook her. Radcliffe had suffered bronchitis in the past two weeks and was clearly not at her best. She ran 72:03 against Gebrselassie's 60:52.

Henry Sugut's sub-2:07 win was clearly the performance of the day. He had won in 2010 and is the first man to repeat a victory in Vienna since 1992. After a first half of 64:18 the pace picked up. Art 30km (1:30:19) Sugut, John Kiprotich, Gilbert Kirwa, Gilbert Yegon and Willy Kibor formed the leading group. Sugut, who had entered the race with a personal best of 2:08:21, made a decisive move at 38km to drop the others.

In the women's race Fate Tola led from the start. The 24 year-old, who is a training partner of Germany's marathon record holder Irina Mikitenko and lives in Germany, ran her personal best in Vienna last year with 2:26:21, ran an even pace throughout. She led by 49 seconds at halfway and although the chasing pair reduced this to 18 seconds at 30km she increased her advantage to 30 seconds by 35km.

MEN:
1  Henry SUGUT                    KEN  2:06:58
2  Gilbert YEGON                  KEN  2:07:38
3  John KIPROTICH                 KEN  2:07:44
4  Gilbert KIRWA                  KEN  2:08:09
5  Willy KIBOR                    KEN  2:08:32
6  John KOMEN                     KEN  2:09:24 
7  Geoffrey NDUGU                 KEN  2:10:00
8  Artur KOZLOWSKI                POL  2:10:58
9  El-Hassane Ben EL-KHAINOUCH    MAR  2:11:06
10 Arkiadusz GARDZUELEWSKI        POL  2:11:34

WOMEN:
1  Fate TOLA                      ETH  2:26:39
2  Olga GLOK                      RUS  2:27:18
3  Helalia JOHANNES               NAM  2:27:20
4  Olha KALENAROVA-OCHAL          POL  2:31:33
5  Lydia RUTTO                    KEN  2:31:37
6  Maryna DAMANTSEVICH            BLR  2:32:18
7  Nonata Da Silva CRUZ           BRA  2:32:46
8  Anastassia DASHKEWICH          BLR  2:34:11
9  Tanja EBERHART                 AUT  2:43:59
10 Natalia STEIGER                AUT  2:54:14

15 APRIL 2012: ABM AMRO ROTTERDAM MARATHON, NETHERLANDS

Photo: Orange Pictures

Ethiopians scored a spectacular double in a windy and rather cool 32nd edition writes Wim Van Hemert. Yemane Adhane won the men's race in 2:04:48, while Tiki Gelana became the fourth fastest woman of all time with her 2:18:58 victory.

At halfway a rather big group went through in 1:01:38, six seconds inside world record schedule. By 25km (1:13:00) Adhane and Getu Feleke, still being paced, were seven seconds clear. After pacing ceased at 30km they worked together, passing 35km in 1:42:33 but the world record was slipping away from them although they claimed after the race not to have had anything more than a fast time on their minds. Moses Mosop was 25 seconds behind at 35km and could not close as they passed 40km. Adhane moved ahead in the final kilometre to win by about 20m.

Tiki Gelana, 24, was in a class of her own. She had a lead of five seconds after only 5km and simply strode further ahead as the race progressed.

MEN:
1  Yemane ADHANE                 ETH  2:04:48
2  Getu FELEKE                   ETH  2:04:49
3  Moses MOSOP                   KEN  2:05:02
4  Stephen KIBET                 KEN  2:08:05
5  Stephen CHEMLANY              KEN  2:10:07
6  Koen RAYMAEKERS               NED  2:10:35
7  Dylan WYKES                   CAN  2:10:47
8  Mariusz GIZYNSKI              POL  2:11:20
9  Ignacio CACERES               ESP  2:11:58
10 Rachid KISRI                  MAR  2:12:17

WOMEN:
1  Tiki GELANA                   ETH  2:18:58
2  Valeria STRANEO               ITA  2:23:43
3  Merima HASEN                  ETH  2:25:47
4  Miranda BOONSTRA              NED  2:27:32
5  Lanni MARCHANT                CAN  2:31:51
6  Heleen PLAATZER               NED  2:31:51
7  Krista DUCHENE                CAN  2:32:05
8  Wilma ARIZAPANA               COL  2:34:11
9  Ivana SEYKIROVA               RUS  2:34:23
10 Yamna OUBOUHOU                FRA  2:35:48

15 APRIL 2012: PARIS MARATHON, FRANCE

Photo: Vincent Lyky

Despite wind and cold new records were set writes P-J Vazel. The wind was blowing strongly yet the pace was fast from the start, with a large group passing 10km in 29:21.

At halfway (1:01:51), the race was 55 seconds inside course record pace yet the group remained large. Pacemakers stopped after 25km (1:13:40) except Limo who was leading a group of eight runners along the Seine embankment. When Limo stepped aside Stanley Biwott took up the running.

By 14km to go, all the pacemakers had stopped and Stanley Biwott took the lead, followed by Ethiopians outsiders Raji Assefa (2:10:48) and Sisay Jisa (Marathon debut). Biwott reached the 30km in 1:28:04. His rivals fell away but Biwott did not let up until the final uphill towards the finish in the Avenue Foch, where he visibly slowed — but his victory and the course record were secure.

Behind him the two Ethiopians sprinted the last 100m as Assefa took second place and smashed his personal best by more than four minutes.

Race favourite Tirfi Beyene justified expectations from the start. She gradually increased the pace (35:02 at 10km, 50:26 at 15km), leading four women including a surprising Sultan Haydar, whose first marathon was 2:35 in Istanbul last year.

By halfway (1:10:45), Beyene was still 45s behind course record schedule, but surged into a clear lead after 25km and kept the pressure on, knowing that only a sub-2:20 time would guarantee her an Olympic place.

Well behind, Haydar, visibly exhausted, improved her lifetime best by more than 10 minutes in a national record for Turkey.

MEN:
1  Stanley BIWOTT                 KEN  2:05:11
2  Raji ASSEFA                    ETH  2:06:23
3  Sisay JISA                     ETH  2:06:26

WOMEN:
1  Tirfi BEYENE                   ETH  2:21:39
2  Sultan HAYDAR                  TUR  2:25:07
3  Makda HARUN                    ETH  2:26:46

15 APRIL 2012: BARCLAY'S MILANO CITY MARATHON, ITALY

MEN:
1  Daniel Kiprugut TOO            KEN  2:08:39
2  Nickson KURGUT                 KEN  2:08:43
3  Biru Gemechu WORKU             ETH  2:08:48
4  Elijah Kipruto SANG            KEN  2:11:44 
5  Berhanu Shiferaw TOLCHA        ETH  2:11:54
6  Franck CALDEIRA                BRA  2:12:03
7  Lahcen MOKRAJI                 MAR  2:14:13
8  Ancelmo Damiao DE SOUSA        BRA  2:14:14
9  Giovanni GUALDI                ITA  2:15:25
10 Wissem HOSNI                   TUN  2:16:35

WOMEN:
1  Irene Jerotich KOSGEI          KEN  2:31:07
2  Emma QUAGLIA                   ITA  2:31:15
3  Nebiat HABTEMARIAM             ETH  2:38:09
4  Emebet Etea BEDADA             ETH  2:42:02 
5  Esther HILDAGO                 ESP  2:42:25
6  Mihaela Maria PRUNDUS          ROM  2:45:38
7  Claudia GELSOMINO              ITA  2:49:48
8  Lara MUSTAT                    ITA  2:55:24
9  Martina SOLIMAN                ITA  3:03:28
10 Simona GUILIANI                ITA  3:06:24

15 APRIL 2012: XIII SAO PAULO INTL. MARATHON NESTSHOES CORPORE, BRAZIL

MEN:
1  Silvaldo Santos VIANA          BRA  1:08:14
2  Gilson Rodriues DE MIRANDA     BRA  1:08:36
3  Fredison Carneiro COSTA        BRA  1:09:22
4  Manuel Alves DA SILVA          BRA  1:10:23
5  Marildo Jose BARDUCO           BRA  1:10:41
6  Jose Luis DA SILVA             BRA  1:10:50
7  Antonio Jose DA COSTA          BRA  1:11:03
8  Antonio Soares FILHO           BRA  1:11:46
9  Antonio Carvalho FERREIRA      BRA  1:12:16
10 Fernando Beserra DA SILVA      BRA  1:12:24

WOMEN:
1  Paloma VASCONCELOS             BRA  1:30:50
2  Francine do Amaral LOPES       BRA  1:31:45
3  Lindinalva Saraiva DA SILVA    BRA  1:32:08
4  Carla Giorgi FERREIRA          BRA  1:33:34
5  Raquel BOMBARDELLI             BRA  1:33:36
6  Daniele RAGUZA                 BRA  1:34:59
7  Maria Ferreira SOUTO           BRA  1:35:45
8  Angelina Cardoso MACHADO       BRA  1:35:51
9  Simone Leite MANOCCHIO         BRA  1:37:08
10 Marina de Salles OLIVEIRA      BRA  1:38:10

15 APRIL 2012: NAGANO OLYMPIC COMMEMORATIVE MARATHON, JAPAN

MEN:
1  Francis KIBIWOTT               KEN  2:09:05
2  Silas SANG                     KEN  2:09:10
3  Moses KANGOGO                  KEN  2:10:53
4  Alexey A. SOKOLOV              RUS  2:10:59
5  Kiyokatsu HASEGAWA             JPN  2:16:03
6  Ryoichi MATSUO                 JPN  2:18:15
7  Shunsuke SAKAI                 JPN  2:18:39
8  Atsushi HASEGAWA               JPN  2:19:12 
9  Akinori OBARA                  JPN  2:20:23
10 Koji SATO                      JPN  2:20:36
 
WOMEN:
1  Pauline WANGUI                 KEN  2:34:22
2  Belaynesh Gebre ZEMEDKHUN      ETH  2:35:19
3  Rose NYANGACHA                 KEN  2:36:18
4  Lauren SHELLEY                 AUS  2:37:13
5  Sayuri BABA                    JPN  2:37:38
6  Chihiro TANAKA                 JPN  2:42:34
7  Manami TAKEUCHI                JPN  2:42:57
8  Yuko MACHIDA                   JPN  2:43:19
9  Anastasia NDEREBA              KEN  2:43:33
10 Risa Hagiwara                  JPN  2:43:56

15 APRIL 2012: VANCOUVER SUN RUN 10K, CANADA

MEN:
1  Kelly WIEBE                    CAN  29:13
2  Kip KANGOGO                    KEN  29:14
3  Matt LOISELLE                  CAN  29:18
4  Eric GILLIS                    CAN  29:30
5  Rejean CHIASSON                CAN  29:38
6  Hosea Kibet RUTTO              KEN  29:49
7  Willy KIMOSOP                  KEN  30:20
8  Samuel PAWLUK                  CAN  30:56
9  Kevin FRIESEN                  CAN  31:00
10 Benjamin THISTLEWOOD           CAN  31:01

WOMEN:
1  Natasha FRASER                 CAN  34:12
2  Melissa TODD                   USA  34:39
3  Kate BAZELEY                   CAN  34:51
4  Marilyn ARSENAULT              CAN  35:03
5  Anne-Marie MADDEN              CAN  35:12
6  Kathy BUTLER                   GBR  35:14
7  Lucy SMITH                     CAN  35:23
8  Lisa HARVEY                    CAN  35:36
9  Catrin JONES                   CAN  36:08
10 Melissa ROSS                   CAN  36:30

16 APRIL 2012: 116th BAA BOSTON MARATHON, USA

Photo: Alan Brookes

The "beach day" weather threatened to be the main story, but two new champions battled the heat in thrilling, tactical races to carry the day writes Alan Brookes. There were 26,700 entrants from 91 countries. Organizers offered to defer entries until next year, but 22,426 started. From 22°C at the Start, it rose to over 30°C for the masses finishing.

Geoffrey Mutai started as favourite after his 2:03:02 "fastest ever" last year on the "assisted" course but he stepped off the course at 30km with cramps, unable to hang onto a surge by fellow-countrymen Levy Matebo and Matthew Kisorio. Eventual winner Wesley Korir, said that when the trio surged before Heartbreak Hill, he decided to let them go: "it was too hot, too hard. I thought it would be better to be conservative." After 20 miles, he said "it just happened. Bernard Kipyego and I worked together. I saw the third guy and bit by bit it just happened". By the time he caught Matebo, Korir was getting cramps. "I had to slow down a bit and my energy picked up. I was careful". Korir, who was on scholarship in Kentucky ran 2:13:53 in the mass race as a non-elite runner at Chicago in 2008, went onto place 6th in Chicago in 2009, 4th in 2010, and 2nd last Fall in a personal best of 2:06:15. He married Canadian distance runner Tarah McKay at Louisville, and they have an infant daughter, Mckayla. He had their names written on all of his drink bottles to think of them and inspire him. Matebo pulled away again as Korir cramped, but Korir surged away over the final mile in the battle of attrition.

The Women's race was also a tactical battle, with last year's third-placer, Sharon Cherop, running a smart race for victory — sprinting away from her friend Jemima Jelegat in the final 300m. Cherop, who won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2010, also took the bronze medal at the IAAF World Championships Marathon in Daegu last summer. "Last year, I didn't know exactly where the Finish line was, and I mis-timed my finish". This time, Cherop was content to stay in a pack of five that included Jelegat, Georgina Rono, Diana Chepkemoi Sigei and New York City Marathon winner, Ethiopian Firewot Dado. As Cherop cranked it up over the Newton hills, Sigei fell off, then Dado. When it came to the final sprint she surged ahead: "I knew where I was this year" she said.

MEN:
1  Wesley KORIR                   KEN  2:12:40
2  Levy MATEBO                    KEN  2:13:06
3  Bernard KIPYEGO                KEN  2:13:13
4  Jason HARTMANN                 USA  2:14:31
5  Wilson CHEBET                  KEN  2:14:56
6  Laban KORIR                    KEN  2:15:29
7  Michael BUTLER                 NED  2:16:38
8  David BARMASAI                 KEN  2:17:16
9  Hideaki TAMURA                 JPN  2:18:15
10 Mathew KISORIO                 KEN  2:18:15

WOMEN:
1  Sharon CHEROP                  KEN  2:31:50
2  Jemima JELEGAT                 KEN  2:31:52
3  Georgina RONO                  KEN  2:33:09
4  Firewot DADO                   ETH  2:34:56
5  Diana SIGEI                    KEN  2:35:40
6  Rita JEPTOO                    KEN  2:35:53
7  Mayumi FUJITA                  JPN  2:39:11
8  Nadezdha LEONTEVA              RUS  2:40:40 
9  Svetlana PRETOT                FRA  2:40:50
10 Sheri L PIERS                  USA  2:41:55

Top

22 APRIL 2012: 10th ZURICH MARATHON, SWITZERLAND

Despite the testing weather, more than 7600 starters made it to the finish and Swiss national champion Maja Neuenschwander was fast enough to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Heavy rain fell only fifteen minutes into the race and did not stop for most of the elite race. Slower runners were even caught in a hailstorm although they also enjoyed some sunny intervals on their way around Lake Zurich. In the men's race a large group of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners gradually reduced to a face-off over the last few kilometres between Franklin Chepkwony, Shadrack Kemboi, Hailu Begashaw and Tesfaye Girma Bekele. Chepkwony proved strongest, breaking away to win in the penultimate kilometre.

In the women's race Maja Neuenschwander was seeking an Olympic qualifying time, having missed out by a few seconds in Berlin. She battled the elements and was more than a minute inside the required time. The race went to Workenesh Tola, who was not in need of a fast time, and so marked Neuenschwander until the penultimate kilometre when she strode away to win by 140m.

MEN:
1  Franklin CHEPKWONY             KEN  2:10:58 
2  Shadrack KEMBOI                KEN  2:11:11 
3  Hailu BEGASHAW                 ETH  2:11:14  
4  Tesfaye Girma BEKELE           ETH  2:11:28
5  Bernard Kipkemoi ROTICH        KEN  2:13:02
6  Hussein RUTTO                  KEN  2:13:51
7  Wilfred Kibet KIGEN            KEN  2:14:47
8  Kamau Michael CHEGE            KEN  2:15:32
9  Samson Mungai KAGIA            KEN  2:15:59
10 James Kipkosgei ROTICH         KEN  2:17:17

WOMEN:
1  Workenesh TOLA                 ETH  2:31:24 
2  Maja NEUENSCHWANDER            SUI  2:31:56
3  Sheni Tigist ABDI              ETH  2:34:40 
4  Jasmin NUNIGE                  SUI  2:44:29
5  Olivia KURTZ                   SUI  2:50:13
6  Julie FREUDIGER                SUI  2:51:08
7  Lucia MAYER-HOFMANN            SUI  2:53:25
8  Karin JAUN                     SUI  2:53:37
9  Denise ZIMMERMANN              SUI  2:55:22
10 Carmen BAHLER                  SUI  2:56:26

22 APRIL 2012: BELGRADE MARATHON, SERBIA

MEN:
1  James Kiptum BARMASAI          KEN  2:16:01
2  Henry Kipyego KEMBOI           KEN  2:22:52
3  Charles Kiprono ROTICH         KEN  2:23:11
4  Daniel Kiplimo BETT            KEN  2:24:48
5  Muslu ERCAN                    TUR  2:28:15
6  Hristo STEFANOV                BUL  2:28:42
7  Ioannis PAPADOPOULOS           GRE  2:29:47
8  Mustafa SHABAN                 BUL  2:31:23
9  Ilor KELEZI                    ALB  2:41:30
10 Milos MITRIC                   SRB  2:55:26

WOMEN:
1  Mary PTIKANY                   KEN  2:42:48
2  Giulu ESRA                     TUR  2:57:08
3  Vanja SUPIC                    SLO  3:26:53
4  Lidija MIKLOS                  SRB  3:27:25
5  Jelena BREZAK                  CRO  3:29:14
6  Dina PINTARIC                  SRB  3:35:27
7  Ljiljana HARDING               SRB  3:39:01
8  Tanja RADUMILO                 SRB  3:44:00
9  Jozica SIFTAR                  SLO  3:44:45
10 Olivera CIRKOVIC               SRB  3:46:24

HALF MARATHON
MEN: 
1  Kristijan STOSIC               SRB  1:10:12
2  Par PAPANDREOPOILOS            GRE  1:11:36
3  Molis MILANOVIC                SRB  1:12:28

WOMEN:
1  Ana SUBOTIC                    SRB  1:24:34
2  Mariana CEGAR                  SRB  1:25:53
3  Danijela BARAC                 SRB  1:27:08

22 APRIL 2012: ENSCHEDE MARATHON, NETHERLANDS

MEN:
1  Ishimael BUSENDICH             KEN  2:09:09
2  Julius KORIR                   KEN  2:09:13
3  Moses KURGAT                   KEN  2:09:59
4  Alebachew DEBAS                ETH  2:10:06
5  Kilplimo KIMUTAI               KEN  2:12:45
6  Bertram KETER                  KEN  2:13:37
7  Musa BABO                      ETH  2:14:49
8  Kipsang KIPKEMOI               KEN  2:15:55
9  Joash MUTAI                    KEN  2:18:46
10 Donald SAMBU                   KEN  2:20:38

WOMEN:
1  Konstantina KEFALA             GRE  2:41:01
2  Ingrid PRIGGE                  NED  2:55:42
3  Arenda ABBINK                  NED  3:04:01
4  Sophie DE KEERSMAEKER          BEL  3:23:32
5  Ida VERDUIN-BOONE              NED  3:25:56
6  Alien KRUIZE                   NED  3:27:56
7  Gerry VISSER                   NED  3:29:52
8  Monique KROPMANS               NED  3:34:01
9  Ingrid KLAASSEN                NED  3:37:57
10 Gea SIEKMANS                   NED  3:38:29

HALF MARATHON 
MEN:
1  Caspar KIELMA                  NED  1:12:15
2  Leon SANDERMAN                 NED  1:12:58
3  Caimin STEVENS                 NED  1:14:20

WOMEN:
1  Jacqueline RUSTIDGE            NED  1:21:50
2  Brigit LANDEWE                 NED  1:26:04

22 APRIL 2012: CRACOVIA MARATHON, POLAND

MEN:
1  Peter Kariuki WANJIRU          KEN  2:12:11
2  Edwin KIRUI                    KEN  2:12:37
3  Faustin Mussa STAREHE          TAN  2:13:02
4  Andrei SERGEEV                 RUS  2:17:46
5  Sammy Kipkorir KIBET           KEN  2:20:54
6  Denis Mwanzia MUSSAU           KEN  2:20:54
7  Oleksij RYBACZENKO             UKR  2:26:06
8  Illya ZMAZNEV                  RUS  2:27:31
9  Victor ROGOVOI                 UKR  2:31:28
10 Vasilij HEDUEDEN               RUS  2:32:41

WOMEN:
1  Lucia KIMANI                   BIH  2:36:54
2  Anastasya ZUYEVA               RUS  2:40:41
3  Agnieszka CIOLEK               POL  2:41:32
4  Volha REZKAYA                  BLR  2:46:05
5  Natalia SOLOVEYEVA             RUS  2:50:37
6  Mariya MALYSHEVA               RUS  2:58:19
7  Agnieszka CADER                POL  2:59:16
8  Jutka HUDAKOVA                 SVK  3:07:30
9  Beatrice Chebet SERONEI        KEN  3:08:04
10 Barbara GRUCA                  POL  3:17:01

22 APRIL 2012: MARATONA SANT'ANTONIO, ITALY

Photo: Photosprint

Lucky for some: In the 13th edition Robert Kwambai Kipkorir defeated 2009 winner Ben Chebet to win his debut marathon writes Diego Sampoalo. In the women's race Marily Dos Santos improved her best time by over three minutes to defeat debutante Frida Domongole.

The race passes through six towns before reaching the finish line in Padua. At 15km (46:07) seven men went clear and after 30km it was down to four (1:31:58). Kwambai and Chebet surged ahead at 31km amd battled it out until 35km when Kwambai broke away, running two kilometres at sub-three minute pace. His second half was 1:04:26, but he missed the course record by 12 seconds.

The decision to change the course last year paid off. There was no course record this year but there was good depth to results; the first four men dipped under 2:11.

Four women led through 15km in 53:30: Marily Dos Santos, Frida Domongole, Ethiopian Elfenesh Melaku and Brazilian Michele Das Chagas. They passed halfway in 1:15:20. Das Chagas dropped back before 25km and by 30km it was a battle between Dos Santos and Domongole. From 36km Dos Santos started to pull away for an unchallenged win.

MEN:
1  Robert KWAMBAI                 KEN  2:09:14
2  Ben Chebet KIPRUTO             KEN  2:10:02
3  Paulo Roberto PAULA            BRA  2:10:23
4  Tumicha WORANA                 ETH  2:10:53
5  Kiflom SIUM                    ERI  2:11:09
6  Genemo Gerju GESERA            ETH  2:15:42
7  Asefa Abtamu WAKEYO            ETH  2:15:53
8  Elson Alex Gracioli            ITA  2:20:56
9  Alberto MONTORIO               ITA  2:22:28
10 Vito SARDELLA                  ITA  2:26:37

WOMEN:
1  Marily DOS SANTOS              BRA  2:31:55
2  Frida DOMONGOLE                KEN  2:34:49
3  Elfenesh Melaku YADO           ETH  2:36:43
4  Michele DAS CHAGAS             BRA  2:42:55
5  Mateja KOSOVELJ                SLO  2:43:03
6  Silvia SERAFINI                ITA  2:44:29
7  Aleksandra FORTIN              ITA  2:50:13
8  Stefania SATINI                ITA  3:02:33
9  Maria Cristina ORLANDI         ITA  3:02:39
10 Marianna MAIORINO              ITA  3:04:18

22 APRIL 2012: ROCK 'N' ROLL MADRID MARATHON, SPAIN

Photo: Mareas

Kenya's Patrick Korir and Margaret Agai took surprise wins at the 35th edition, Korir in a sprint finish and Agai by a two-minute margin writes Emeterio Valiente.

Conditions were good (11-16°C) but the course has some tough uphill sections towards the end. By 10km (30:52) Mexico's Alejandro Suárez was the only non-African in the large leading pack. Erick Kibet paced to halfway in 1:04:52, on course record schedule. At 27km defending champion Moses Arusei lost ground as a lead group of four emerged. Mark Tanui made most of the pace, while Korir ran at the back of the group. Enock Mitei broke away to hold a 10-second advantage over Cherogony and Korir at 40km. But the tough closing section changed everything as the chasing pair reeled him in with 350m to go and Korir's late burst of speed took him to victory. Cherogony's third place completed a full set of podium positions over the last three years.

A powerful East European entry in the women's race was reduced to only the early leader Lithuania's Diana Lobacevske and Russia's Marina Kisileva, but late entry of Margaret Agai and Ethiopians Roman Gebregessese and Tigist Gebayahu bolstered the field. It was the African trio, plus Tigist Worku who took charge in the mid stages as Lobacevske dropped back. With Halfway passed in 1:15:30 and Agai setting a relentless pace, Worku fell back at 30km, followed soon after by Gebeyahu. Agai finally pulled away from Gebregessese after 35km.

MEN:
1  Patrick KORIR                  KEN  2:12:07
2  Enock MITEI                    KEN  2:12:13
3  Thompson CHEROGONY             KEN  2:12:14
4  Mark TANUI                     KEN  2:12:23
5  Hailu DOGAGA                   ETH  2:13:15
6  Paul KIRUI                     KEN  2:14:09
7  Moses ARUSEI                   KEN  2:16:41
8  Felix LIMO                     KEN  2:20:06
9  Tilaun ALIYEV                  AZE  2:20:15
10 Isaac KOSGEI                   KEN  2:20:33

WOMEN:
1  Margaret AGAI                  KEN  2:32:23
2  Roman GEBREGESSESE             ETH  2:34:40
3  Tigist GEBEYAHU                ETH  2:36:31
4  Dailin BELMONTE                CUB  2:41:07
5  Marina KISILEVA                RUS  2:42:36
6  Tigist WORKU                   ETH  2:43:30
7  Irene LORENZO                  ESP  2:55:38
8  Cristina ROZALEN               ESP  2:55:51
9  Nancy LANGAT                   KEN  3:03:19
10 Paqui FUENTES                  ESP  3:03:31

22 APRIL 2012: STEINMETZ GABORONE MARATHON, BOTSWANA

MEN:
1  Felix KIPKORIR                 KEN  2:16:25
2  Benjamin SEREM                 KEN  2:16:46
3  Jobo KHATOANE                  LES  2:16:49
4  Tsepho RAMARENE                LES  2:16:51
5  Ramolefi MOTSIELOA             LES  2:18:03
6  Paul Kipngeno KORIR            KEN  2:19:14
7  Raobene RAMOSEKA               BOT  2:20:23
8  Mike WEDSTONTEBULO             MAW  2:20:36
9  Ndabili BASHINGILI             BOT  2:21:00
10 Kelebonye SEMBUWA              BOT  2:21:35

WOMEN:
1  Samukeliso MOYO                ZIM  2:48:29
2  Ntahleng MASAILE               LES  2:54:03
3  Maleboheng MOFATA              LES  2:59:43
4  Solotate ONKEMETSE             BOT  3:05:48
5  Margareth MAHOHOME             ZIM  3:08:58
6  Tina MEKGWE                    BOT  3:52:48
7  Alice MATIMBA                  BOT  3:56:05
8  Vanessa MAEDER                 RSA  4:23:14
9  Martinette WIESE               NAM  4:27:46
10 Emily GREENBERGER              BOT  4:29:53

22 APRIL 2012: DVV ANTWERP MARATHON, BELGIUM

MEN:
1  Paul KIPROP                    KEN  2:15:38
2  Lander VAN DROOGENBROEK        BEL  2:16:49
3  Florent CAELEN                 BEL  2:22:53
4  Tim STESSENS                   BEL  2:23:24
5  Eric KERING                    KEN  2:27:53
6  Ralf PREIBISCH                 NED  2:38:51
7  Maarten VAN DER DONCK          BEL  2:39:11
8  Wout MOREEL                    BEL  2:39:32
9  Nid RUMPHAKWAEN                BEL  2:41:48
10 Bart CATTEAU                   BEL  2:42:40

WOMEN:
1  Ange DAMMEN                    BEL  3:01:59
2  Kelly WILLIS                   BEL  3:03:13
3  Sophie VAN BIERVLIET           BEL  3:08:00
4  Miecke DUPONT                  BEL  3:09:42
5  Chantal MARZOCCHI              ITA  3:13:17
6  Aimee VAN ONGERVALLE           BEL  3:14:10
7  Veronique COENE                BEL  3:14:45
8  Carine VAN HOODONCK            BEL  3:17:33
9  Christel VOCHTEN               BEL  3:18:10
10 Nicole VERMEERSCH              BEL  3:18:20

22 APRIL 2012: SANTIAGO CORRE 10km, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MEN:
1  Alfonso Paula ACOSTA           DOM  32:19
2  Jesus RAMIREZ                  DOM  33:30
3  Juan Odalis ALMONTE            DOM  32:36
4  Ivan Perez FELIX               DOM  32:51
5  Rosa TORIBIO                   DOM  32:53
6  Matias EURIDY                  DOM  33:22
7  Pe Herrera OLIVAREZ            DOM  33:58
8  Frank Wils BOBADILLA           DOM  34:06
9  Francisco VASQUEZ              DOM  34:15
10 Marte Jose RUBIERA             DOM  34:26

WOMEN:
1  Dei Padilla SANCHEZ            DOM  39:56
2  Deyanira DIAZ                  DOM  42:30
3  Jeifi Vargas PENALO            DOM  42:46
4  Reynalda VILLORIN              DOM  43:08
5  Feliz Montero DE CIA           DOM  44:13
6  Soranyi RODRIGUES              DOM  46:18

Top

29 APRIL 2012: HASPA MARATHON HAMBURG, GERMANY

Shami Dawit of Ethiopia and Rael Kiyara of Kenya both won by attacking between 30-40 km, writes Pat Butcher. Both went on to break the course records. Dawit was already close to the lead at that point and ran away to win by over a minute. Kiyara was a minute behind, and closed on her runaway rivals like an avenging angel and winning by half a minute.

From the start, despite the windy conditions, the old records were destined for the dustbin of history. A group of fifteen men and one of six women kept together through the first half and helped to lessen the effects of the wind. With it at their back over the stages, both winners said they barely noticed it. Dawit had finished one second behind Dadi Yami in Dubai in January, and that second seemed to convince everyone that Yami was the big favourite in Hamburg. He certainly played that role by ignoring the pacemakers and going to the front himself. Dawit surged silently to draw level at 30km and then ran 29:07 for the next 10km, leaving Yami in the dust.

Kiyara played a waiting game. While Valentine Kipketer raced through the half in 1:10:24 with Netsanet Abeyo right behind, Kiyara was in seventh in 1:11:43. But the field fell apart in front of her and she moved into third by 30km. She later said that was the point she thought she could win. "The others started much too quickly," she said, "so I decided to run my own pace". She passed Abeyo at 40km.

MEN:
1  Shami DAWIT                    ETH  2:05:58
2  Dadi YAMI                      ETH  2:07:01
3  Augustine RONO                 KEN  2:07:23
4  Shumi DECHASA                  ETH  2:07:56
5  Ahmad ABDULLAH                 QAT  2:08:36
6  Fikadu LEMMA                   ETH  2:09:50
7  Paul BIWOTT                    KEN  2:10:14
8  Essa RASHAD                    QAT  2:10:52
9  Mustafa MOHAMED                SWE  2:12:28
10 Cosmas KIGEN                   KEN  2:12:50

WOMEN:
1  Rael KIYARA                    KEN  2:23:47   
2  Netsanet ABEYO                 ETH  2:24:12
3  Etalemahu KIDANE               ETH  2:25:49
4  Beatrice TOROITICH             KEN  2:27:41
5  Valentine KIPKETER             KEN  2:28:02
6  Robe GUTA                      ETH  2:29:22
7  Dinkenesh MEKASHA              ETH  2:29:56
8  Malika ASAHSSAH                MAR  2:30:23
9  Natalia SOKOLOVA               RUS  2:35:31
10 Mona STOCKHECKE                GER  2:43:11

29 APRIL 2012: NICE INT'L HALF MARATHON, FRANCE

MEN:
1  Bernard KOECH                  KEN    59:57
2  Titus MASAI                    KEN  1:00:29
3  Tesfaye ABERA                  ETH  1:00:32
4  Abraham GEBRETSADIK            ETH  1:00:34
5  Andualem SHIFERAW              ETH  1:00:40
6  Reuben LIMO                    KEN  1:01:32
7  Merkebu AYELE                  ETH  1:01:45
8  Lema TOLA                      ETH  1:02:08
9  Ladan WANJIKU                  KEN  1:03:32
10 Justus MORANGA                 KEN  1:03:36

WOMEN:
1  Gutemi IMANI                   ETH  1:11:11
2  Pauline NJERI                  KEN  1:13:42
3  Mercelyne ONDIEKI              KEN  1:13:53
4  Svetlana PRETOT                FRA  1:15:23
5  Catherine BERTONE              FRA  1:18:23

29 APRIL 2012: BIG SUR INT'L MARATHON, USA

In a day that combined sunshine, fog and heavy winds nearly 9,000 runners braved the elements to run the Marathon and shorter distance events on California's scenic Big Sur coastline. Strong winds of more than 45kph plagued the runners between 10-20km, confirming the appropriate name of Hurricane Point. Fog shrouded the course for several miles, but runners enjoyed sunshine for the last 16km of the race.

It was only when the fog cleared that Adam Roach could see Christian Mocko and Jesus Campos up ahead and thought "Hey, I've got a chance". Just past 30km, Roach surged past Mocko. "I was saving my energy for the downhills. I knew it'd be a tough course", he said. While the leading three jockeyed for position, at times they also had to battle winds gusting up to 60kph.

Nuta Olaru easily won the women's title despite battling stomach pains that twice forced her to stop completely. Her Big Sur debut smashed the competition which included 1574 women of the total 3357 finishers.

MEN:
1  Adam ROACH                     USA  2:32:25
2  Christian MOCKO                USA  2:34:11
3  Jesus CAMPOS                   USA  2:37:08
4  Oswaldo LOPEZ                  USA  2:41:30
5  Chris CALZETTA                 USA  2:41:47
6  Andrew PARSEL                  USA  2:43:33
7  Martin CONRAD                  USA  2:47:15
8  Crispin LAZARIT                USA  2:48:37
9  Xiao WANG                      USA  2:49:12
10 Ben CLARKE                     USA  2:49:24

WOMEN:
1  Nuta OLARU                     ROM  2:50:08
2  Amy LANE                       USA  3:09:42
3  Cassandra ALRED                USA  3:11:43
4  Cindy LYNCH                    USA  3:13:30
5  Melissa LONGLEY                USA  3:14:32
6  Carolyn THOMPSON               USA  3:16:33
7  Heather MORGAN                 USA  3:20:51
8  Chevaun TARRACH                USA  3:21:54
9  Jennifer CHERLAND              USA  3:22:21
10 Rhonda GLASS                   USA  3:22:28

29 APRIL 2012: METRO GROUP MARATHON DUSSELDORF, GERMANY

MEN:
1  Seboka Diriba TOLA             ETH  2:08:27
2  Duncan KOECH                   KEN  2:08:33
3  Abraham KIPROTICH              FRA  2:08:35
4  Marcin CHABOWSKI               POL  2:10:07
5  Evans RUTO                     KEN  2:10:10
6  Nahashon KIMAIYO               KEN  2:10:28
7  Abraham KIPKOSGEI              KEN  2:10:40
8  Yuki KAWAUCHI                  JPN  2:12:58
9  Joseph NGENY                   KEN  2:13:39
10 Mitei KIPLANGAT                KEN  2:13:52

WOMEN:
1  Agnes Barsosio JERUTO          KEN  2:25:49 
2  Natasha STARAVOITAVA           BLR  2:27:24
3  Melkam GISAW                   ETH  2:27:50
4  Volha DUBOVSKAYA               BLR  2:28:08
5  Haile Kebebush LEMA            ETH  2:29:02
6  Anna HAHNER                    GER  2:30:14
7  Tantu Eticha JIMMA             ETH  2:30:53
8  Jane ROTICH                    KEN  2:31:06
9  Ummu KIRAZ                     TUR  2:38:06
10 Katerina BERESOVA              SVK  2:41:31

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