February 2006
5 FEB | 12 FEB |
17 FEB | 18 FEB | 19 FEB |
25 FEB | 26 FEB | 28 FEB
5 FEBRUARY 2006: BEPPU-OITA MAINICHI MARATHON, JAPAN
Ten years after setting a course record of 2:08:30, Gert Thys scored his second victory
in this 55th edition of the race writes Ken Nakamura. A lead group of 15 formed at
5km and held together past halfway. At 25km the group began to thin out, and when Benson
Cherono upped the pace at 29km only five runners were left - and Cherono himself dropped out
just after 30km. Thys broke away on his own in the 33rd kilometre with a 2:59 split, and ran
from 30-35km in 15:07 to lead by over a minute.
MEN (ONLY):
1 Gert THYS RSA 2:09:45
2 Tomoyuki SATO JPN 2:11:46
3 Benjamin KIPCHUMBA KEN 2:13:11
4 Yohei SATO JPN 2:13:18
5 Mohammed OUAADI FRA 2:13:23
6 Takehisa OKINO JPN 2:14:52
7 Kentaro ITO JPN 2:15:42
8 Noriyuki MIZUGUCHI JPN 2:16:05
9 Kodai FUKUNADA JPN 2:16:48
10 Ombeche MOKAMBA KEN 2:17:37
5 FEBRUARY 2006: KAGAWA-MARAGUME HALF MARATHON, JAPAN
In her half marathon debut Kayoko Fukushi set a new Asian record of 1:07:26, finishing 90m
ahead of Olympic Marathon Champion Mizuko Noguchi writes Ken Nakamura. Fukushi led all
the way in this 60th edition of the race, passing 15km faster than Elana Meyer's world best
time. Her marks at both 20km (1:03:41) and Half Marathon were the fastest ever recorded by an
Asian runner on an unassisted course [Masako Chiba's times of 1:03:14 and 1:06:43, set in
Tokyo in 1997, were run on a course with an overall elevation loss of 33m].
MEN
1 Takayuki MATSUMIYA JPN 1:02:13
2 Samuel MUTURI KEN 1:02:14
3 Kensuke TAKEZAWA JPN 1:02:26
4 Kazuo IETANI JPN 1:02:26
5 Kosuke NAKAHIGASHI JPN 1:02:27
6 Tomoya SHIMIZU JPN 1:02:28
7 Hiromichi UEKI JPN 1:02:41
8 Kenji NOGUCHI JPN 1:02:49
9 Masayoshi YAMAOKA JPN 1:03:06
10 Du-Hang LEE KOR 1:03:19
WOMEN
1 Kayoko FUKUSHI JPN 1:07:26
2 Mizuki NOGUCHI JPN 1:07:43
3 Mara YAMAUCHI GBR 1:09:24
4 Harumi HIROYAMA JPN 1:10:59
5 Mika HIKICHI JPN 1:11:03
6 Ikuko NAGAO JPN 1:11:59
7 Mary WANGARI KEN 1:11:59
8 Akemi OZAKI JPN 1:12:05
9 Yuko SATO JPN 1:12:08
10 Masayo KOBAYASHI JPN 1:12:19
5 FEBRUARY 2006: PACIFIC SHORELINE MARATHON, USA
In all, over 750 finished the Marathon and nearly 5,500 the Half Marathon.
MEN:
1 Hector LOPEZ USA 2:32:29
2 Jose ORTIZ USA 2:33:01
3 Robert LEONARDO USA 2:47:23
4 Brett LAWRIE USA 2:47:23
5 Gary LEON USA 2:50:40
6 Joseph PENDLETON USA 2:50:55
7 Josh BAKER USA 2:52:35
8 Jack PREUS USA 2:54:32
9 Brian BERGT USA 2:54:57
10 Toru SAWAI USA 2:55:00
WOMEN:
1 Nadia NOORZAI USA 2:57:22
2 Julie DUKES USA 3:24:04
3 Maureen PENIUK CAN 3:28:26
4 Reyana EWING USA 3:29:45
5 Lauren KEARNY USA 3:32:46
6 Jennifer STOCK USA 3:32:58
7 Juliet MORGAN USA 3:34:30
8 Monica FOX USA 3:36:17
9 Andreas GUSTAFSSON USA 3:36:38
10 Nicole LEGACKI USA 3:36:49
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 Sergio REYES USA 1:06:37
2 Justin PATANANAN USA 1:06:51
3 Fidele BAREGENESABE USA 1:06:53
WOMEN:
1 Sylvia MOSQUEDA USA 1:15:08
2 Magdalena BOULET USA 1:16:47
3 Heather GIBSON USA 1:18:59
Top
12 FEBRUARY 2006: STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG MARATHON
The Honourable Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, flagged the runners off on the
famed Nathan Road in Kowloon. The steep inclines in the marathon's course make it a world
class challenge for running enthusiasts from all over the world. In total, 40,000 people took
part in the three events that make up the Hong Kong Marathon. It is the biggest sporting
event in the city, up from 30,000 last year.
MEN:
1 Simon BOR KEN 2:14:18
2 Stephen NDUNGU KEN 2:15:23
3 Taye MOGES ETH 2:17:48
4 Eric CHEPKWONY KEN 2:17:55
5 Noah BOR KEN 2:18:17
6 Meshack KOSGEI KEN 2:18:41
7 Emmanuel KOSGEI KEN 2:18:53
8 Daniel KIPRUGUT KEN 2:19:58
9 Noah TALAM KEN 2:20:16
10 Wilson CHEPKWONY KEN 2:20:23
WOMEN:
1 Dire TUNE ETH 2:35:15
2 Measo ARSEDE ETH 2:41:04
3 Nina KOLYASEVA RUS 2:42:17
4 Yanyan DAI CHN 2:43:42
5 Tadelech BIRRA ETH 2:46:31
6 Malin EWERLOF SWE 2:47:16
7 Lucia SUBANO KEN 2:53:57
8 Karen HASLETT GBR 2:54:05
9 K G S CHANDRANI SRI 2:58:16
10 Olena FADEYEVA UKR 3:11:00
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Ka Ho CHAN HKG 1:13:45
2 Ka Man GI HKG 1:14:11
3 Ryuichi KAMOTA JPN 1:14:23
WOMEN:
1 Tegla LOROUPE KEN 1:22:31
2 So Liang TOH HKG 1:25:04
3 Brigitte NIEDERBERGER SUI 1:27:20
12 FEBRUARY 2006: TOKYO INTERNATIONAL MARATHON, JAPAN
In windy conditions Ambesse Tolossa made a decisive surge at 36km to win the race, just two
seconds short of his personal best writes Ken Nakayama.
Before the race home favourite Toshinari Takaoka doubted that 2:09 would be fast enough to
win, and so it proved. The first half of the race, with the prevailing wind, was run at 3
minutes/km pace. A pack of 20 at 5km reduced only slightly to 16 at 15km (45:04). After the
turnaround point the pace slackened into the headwind, but two pacemakers continued to lead
until 30km (1:31:00). After that there remained a group of only four runners.
Takaoka moved first, just before 36km, but not decisively. Irifune was dropped, but Tolossa
counter attacked just 600m later and by 40km led by over 100m. Sammy Korir, second fastest
marathoner ever, had moved into third place a further 26 seconds behind. It stayed in that
order to the finish line, but the gaps between the leaders grew larger.
MEN (ONLY):
1 Ambesse TOLOSSA ETH 2:08:58
2 Toshinari TAKAOKA JPN 2:09:31
3 Sammy KORIR KEN 2:10:07
4 Satoshi IRIFUNE JPN 2:10:47
5 Yi-Yong KIM KOR 2:11:28
6 Toshiya KATAYAMA JPN 2:14:36
7 Seiji KOBAYASHI JPN 2:16:52
8 Manabu ITAYAMA JPN 2:17:01
9 Akinori SHIBUTANI JPN 2:17:36
Top
17 FEBRUARY 2006: EGYPTIAN MARATHON
MEN:
1 Hassan MARZOK EGY 2:35:47
2 Mohamed EL-HOSEANEE EGY 2:39:53
3 Mohamed EL-SEWAITEE JOR 2:40:27
WOMEN:
1 Suzette VERMAAK RSA 3:10:06
2 Zohra MERABET ALG 4:03:50
3 Lubna MAHMOUD EGY 4:03:50
LUXOR RUN 22.3km
MEN:
1 Fuaad ABO-BAKR QAT 1:10:55
2 Yousuf KADER QAT 1:10:58
3 Ahmed MAWAD EGY 1:14:41
WOMEN:
1 Margit HADZIHASKIC GER 1:43:27
2 Gillian COWELL GBR 1:43:50
3 Jutta LUX GER 1:46:16
RAMSES RUN 11.3km
MEN:
1 Mokhlad EL-ETABEE KSA 36:30
2 Aman AWAD QAT 36:45
3 Gomah OMAR QAT 36:48
WOMEN:
1 Abeer EL-GHOOL JOR 1:00:55
2 Bettina KEUHNAPFEL GER 1:13:17
3 Claire WILLIAMS GBR 1:14:30
17 FEBRUARY 2006: STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON, UAE
What was once a phenomenon—a pacemaker winning a marathon—is turning into a habit
writes Pat Butcher. Since the first major upset, in Los Angeles over a decade ago,
it has happened regularly. Joseph Ngeny did the trick in Dubai.
Ngeny was only in the race because it had been postponed from 6 January, following the
death of the ruler, Sheikh Makhtoum. He was due to pace to 30km, but approaching 27km, he
called to organisers "I can finish?". So reassured he shot away from the pack and
was heading for a course record time, although the rising heat and humidity prevented that
possibility.
The six weeks postponement meant that the weather was much hotter than usual, with
temperatures rising towards 30°C. Ngeny's effort tailed off considerably in the final
kilometres.
He still had over a minute to spare on Ethiopian Giday Amha, who improved one place from
last year. Elias Kemboi finished fastest of all, taking out five rivals in the last 5km.
Last year Delilah Asiago had been on her way to victory when she succombed to stomach pains
and vomiting in the final 800m and was passed by Ethiopian Diribe Hunde. She made no mistake
this time. After a slowish first half, with six women still in contention, Asiago forced the
pace throughout the second half, leaving one of the favourites, Shitaye Gemechu behind at
29km, and won easily. A course misdirection in the final stages allowed Kenza Wahbi to
overtake co-favourite, Luminita Talpos of Romania.
MEN:
1 Joseph NGENY KEN 2:13:02
2 Giday AMHA ETH 2:14:25
3 Elias KEMBOI KEN 2:15:01
4 Darwit TRFE ETH 2.15:07
5 Julius KIPKEMBOI KEN 2:15:34
6 Ahmed JABER QAT 2:16:36
7 Henry CHERONO KEN 2:16:50
8 Wilson KIPRONO KEN 2:16:54
9 Fased AWERSON ERI 2:17:34
10 David KIRUI KEN 2.19.55
WOMEN:
1 Delilah ASIAGO KEN 2.43.09
2 Shitaye GEMECHU ETH 2.45.34
3 Kenza WAHBI MAR 2.48.47
Top
18 FEBRUARY 2006: MYRTLE BEACH MARATHON, USA
MEN:
1 David KAWA USA 2:32:48
2 Howard NIPPERT USA 2:36:12
3 Joerg SCHMIDT USA 2:36:43
4 Jeff JACOBS USA 2:37:04
5 Paul DEATON USA 2:38:49
6 Christian PRIMAS GBR 2:41:21
7 Brian KISTNER USA 2:44:14
8 Stephen SYKES USA 2:46:18
9 Ronnie DELZER USA 2:48:10
10 Roger SCOTT USA 2:48:14
WOMEN:
1 Luanne COULTER USA 2:55:51
2 Hope HALL USA 3:07:10
3 Megan WEIS USA 3:08:02
4 Amanda CHARLTON USA 3:08:32
5 Anne-Wyman CIPOLLA USA 3:09:51
6 Mary TOOHILL USA 3:10:49
7 Jennifer CURTIN USA 3:16:26
8 Sharon MARKS USA 3:18:32
9 Julie BLEDSOE USA 3:18:41
10 SuAnne HALL USA 3:20:11
Top
19 FEBRUARY 2006: XXVI MARATHON POPULAR DE VALENCIA, SPAIN
The main player in the race was the wind. All the conditions were set for a new course
record, with a large contingent of elite runners from Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco, but the
wind intervened from the very start. The record of 2:13:02 proved unassailable under these
conditions. Even so, this made for an interesting contestas a dozen runners stuck together
up to 30km, after which Tesfaye Dirba struck out alone for victory. Behind him the group
broke up and each trailed in individually as best they could.
The women's race was not strong, but it turned into a surprisingly close contest as
Teresa Gacia finished 100m ahead of Briton Lucy Townsend.
The race attracted over 3000 entries of whom nearly 2500 finished, cheered on their way
by what seemed like the entire population of the city.
MEN:
1 Tesfaye DIRBA ETH 2:14:23
2 Mouhcine AKHOUDAOUI MAR 2:15:27
3 Elias CHEBET KEN 2:15:42
4 Paul GAITHO KEN 2:16:19
5 Jonathan KIBET KEN 2:16:31
6 Zerihum AMBAYE ETH 2:18:17
7 Elias Kimeh CHELANGA KEN 2:18:26
8 Lenar KHUSNUTDINOV RUS 2:19:16
9 David CHEPKWONI KEN 2:20:25
10 Jackson KIPCHUMBA KEN 2:21:22
WOMEN:
1 Teresa GRACIA ESP 2:57:02
2 Lucy TOWNSEND GBR 2:57:25
3 Julia WYDRA GER 3:06:44
4 Ma. Esther BALAGUER ESP 3:07:06
5 Rosa GUILLAMON ESP 3:10:17
6 Vicenta FERRER ESP 3:16:37
7 Eva AGEA ESP 3:17:23
8 Ma. Jose MIGUEL ESP 3:17:37
9 Ma. Carmen VALLEZ ESP 3:17:48
10 Ma. Antonia SERRANO ESP 3:21:52
19 FEBRUARY 2006: OHME-HOCHI 30km ROAD RACE, JAPAN
MEN:
1 Takashi OTA JPN 1:30:48
2 Kenjiro JITSUI JPN 1:31:44
3 Takayuki OTA JPN 1:32:09
4 Peter GILMORE USA 1:32:56
5 Jin-peng BAI CHN 1:33:34
6 Hiroshi YAMADA JPN 1:33:59
7 Nobuhiro GOTO JPN 1:34:29
8 Takuma SASAYA JPN 1:34:53
9 Shingo IGARASHI JPN 1:35:00
10 Satoshi HARADA JPN 1:35:06
WOMEN:
1 Miao-Miao YI CHN 1:45:22
2 Chika HORIE JPN 1:46:06
3 Eri OKUBO JPN 1:46:33
4 Yoshimi HOSHINO JPN 1:47:15
5 Shin-ei KAN CHN 1:51:23
6 Risa MIZUTANI JPN 1:55:14
7 Chizuru KAKEZUKA JPN 1:56:15
8 Izumi OKA JPN 1:57:56
9 Makiko IWAMURA JPN 1:58:02
10 Aimi ISHIDA JPN 1:58:10
Top
25-26 FEBRUARY 2006: IAU 24hrs WORLD CHALLENGE, TAIWAN
Previous winners from the last few years lined up alongside promising newcomers in Taipei
among teams from 20 countries. The course was a 1km loop, slightly undulating, around a park
by the riverside on the north edge of Taipei. ChampionChip timing kept both athletes and
spectators up to date with distances covered but from mid-race rain set in for the duration.
It only eased off for the last few hours.
The race started steadily, but some of the leading runners weren't there to stay. Rudy
Afanador (USA), Janos Bogar (HUN) and Mario Pirotta (ITA) lasted at the front for the first
three hours, covering 38km, before Afanador faded (he dropped out after 7 hours). Pirotta
took over the lead for next 3 hours (73km) but there were changes behind him. Hoblea (FRA)
led briefly at 7 hours, but then a previous winner, Ryoichi Sekiya (JPN), ominously eased
into the lead at 8 hours (95km) and never relinquished it. After 12 hours he was 6km ahead
(145km), and at 18 hrs (188km) second-placed Hoblea was 14 km behind. At 20hrs Sekiya (JPN)
was 17km ahead but the minor medal places were changing all the time. Bychov (RUS) was lying
second (211km) but in third Mohamed Magroun (FRA) had come through strongly in the second half
and he eventually overhauled the Russian.
The women's winner took longer to emerge. Defending champion Lyudmila Kalinina (RUS) took
the lead at 3 hours, and at 6 hours (70km) she led Brigitte Bec (FRA) by 3km and Sumie
Inagaki (JPN) by 4km. Galina Erimina and Irina Reutovitch were close behind.
Kalinina was still running very strongly after 12 hours (131km), and was 8th overall.
Inagaki was second, still only 4km behind. Third was Kimi Noto (JPN), with Galina Eremina
(RUS) on the same lap at 125km.
By 18 hours Inagaki, the winner in 2004, had overtaken Kalinina and led her by a kilometre.
Noto was third, 7km behind. With the next runners being Galina Eremina and Irina Reutovich,
Russia was in the lead in the team race. The medal positions remained unchanged over the final
6 hours. Inagaki's time would have put her in eighth position overall. Russia, placing four in
the top ten, easily won the team race.
MEN:
1 Ryoichi SEKIYA JPN 272.936km
2 Mohamed MAGROUN FRA 248.563km
3 Vladimir BYCHKOV RUS 246.098km
4 Osvaldo BELTRAMINO ITA 245.698km
5 Masayuki OTAKI JPN 244.572km
6 Fabien HOBLEA FRA 243.709km
7 Kenji OKIYAMA JPN 238.061km
8 Enrico BARTOLINI ITA 235.100km
9 Kwangbok KIM KOR 233.522km
10 Andrei KAZANTSEV RUS 233.415km
TEAMS:
JPN 708.359
FRA 654.100
ITA 651.468
WOMEN:
1 Sumie INAGAKI JPN 237.144km
2 Lyudmila KALININA RUS 231.356km
3 Kimie NOTO JPN 229.146km
4 Galina EREMINA RUS 223.208km
5 Irina REUTOVICH RUS 216.913km
6 Karen Marie BROEGGER DEN 213.427km
7 Carolynne TASSIE NZL 212.348km
8 Shu Jung CHIOU TPE 206.287km
9 Janneke CAZEMIER NED 203.625km
10 Rimma PALTEVA RUS 202.705km
TEAMS:
1 RUS 671.477km
2 JPN 654.555km
3 FRA 596.172km
TAIPEI OPEN 24hr RACE
MEN:
1 Motohisa TADOKORO JPN 235.054km
2 Hiroyuki NISHIMURA JPN 228.071km
3 Ryoichi SATO JPN 205.770km
WOMEN:
1 Sharon GAYTER GBR 214.568km
2 Yasuko KANEHIRA JPN 208.810km
3 Emi KATO JPN 193.324km
Top
26 FEBRUARY 2006: PHILIPPINE MARATHON FOR THE PASIG RIVER
Gripping drama characterized this second marathon edition in Metro Manila. In the midst of
the country's political turmoil, the marathon nevertheless started and ended without a hitch.
The top two men are in-house athletes of the Philippine Army, who, at that time, were under
red alert following a Presidential Proclamation placing the entire country under a "State
of National Emergency."
On the women's side, youth triumphed over experience when Jhoan Banayag, of the University
of the East Athletics Team, won over a veteran field which included last year's winner Maria
Estela Mamac-Diaz.
This was the first time, including the first four years when the road race was known as
the Pasig River Heritage Marathon, that an international-calibre runner was among the 903
starters. Robert Njoroge Wambugu flew in barely four hours before the gun with little more
than a pair of training shoes. Fellow competitor Cesar Bollecer of Direct Link Running Club,
showing the visitor the unique Filipino brand of hospitality, exchanged running shoes with
him on the start line, but the drama did not end there.
Njoroge, benefitting from his extensive international exposure, immediately took the lead.
But after two of the course's nine bridges, jet lag, lack of sleep and the warm weather began
to tell on his legs, allowing the locals to catch up and pull away. Dropping to a 10th-place
finish, Wambugu vowed to be back to redeem himself in next year's edition.
The marathon is an advocacy project of the Clean & Green Foundation Incorporated on
behalf of the Philippine Government's Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. It seeks to
harness the people's participation in the long-running Pasig River rehabilitation program.
The Pasig River is the Philippines' most historical and important inland waterway, which
runs from east to west dividing Metropolitical Manila into north and south areas. The
country's history in the last 400 years is closely intertwined with the river, spanning
Spanish, British, American and Japanese colonial occupations, revolutions, world wars, and
local uprisings. Located along its banks are the Filipino's most historical districts,
buildings and sites.
MEN:
1 Cresciano SABAL PHI 2:26:13
2 Bernardo DESAMITO PHI 2:30:29
3 Memerto CORPUZ PHI 2:32:24
4 Regelio de Leon SARMIENTO PHI 2:35:28
5 Rodolfo TACADINO PHI 2:36:02
6 Allan BALLESTER 2:37:00
7 Jujet DE ASIS PHI 2:37:24
8 Michael CANILLO PHI 2:38:11
9 Wilson MANINGKIL PHI 2:39:26
10 Robert WAMBUGU KEN 2:40:00
WOMEN:
1 Jhoan BANAYANG PHI 3:02:37
2 Flordeliza CARREON-CACHERO PHI 3:09:13
3 Ailene TOLENTINO PHI 3:09:28
4 Ma. Estela MAMAC DIAZ PHI 3:09:42
5 Liza DELFIN PHI 3:24:22
6 Merlita ARIAS PHI 3:34:17
7 Mila PAJE PHI 3:37:04
8 Marychiel MINAS PHI 3:41:18
9 Joanne MANANGAT PHI 3:43:58
10 Genevieve DELA PENA PHI 3:44:39
26 FEBRUARY 2006: 4TH KILIMANJARO MARATHON, TANZANIA
This fourth edition of the race attracted large numbers of entrants from around the world
and the region. The marathon had 297 runners, the half 475, and the fun run 715 - a total of
1487. Conditions were near-perfect, although it got hot later in the day. Kilimanjaro was in
view for most of the morning, covered with fresh snow. Local children and adults alike got
into the swing of things - clapping both the fast and slower runners, often jogging along
beside runners, chatting and offering encouragement.
There were 99 women in the half marathon and fuly 119 runners were over 40. Joram Mollel,
a 70-year old Tanzanian came in at 2:13.
Many top Tanzanians used the race as a training run for the Commonweath Games Marathon in
March. But on the social running side, a lot of people came in in the last hour, who had
been having fun on the route, running with the kids, stopping to chat and take pictures of
Kilimanjaro, and even having a beer. Many of these social runners remained in Tanzania,
on safari, climbing Kilimanjaro or relaxing on Zanzibar - good for tourism.
At the finish acrobats, traditional dancers and a band entertained the crowd.
MEN:
1 Daniel ROTICH KEN 2:18:32
2 Musa KANDA KEN 2:19:18
3 John TUBEI KEN 2:19:20
4 Oswald KAHURUZI TAN 2:20:31
5 Jonathan CHERONO TAN 2:21:02
6 Samuel LIMO KEN 2:21:26
7 Alex SANKA TAN 2:22:22
8 Robert KOMEN KEN 2:22:25
9 Joseph RUTTO KEN 2:22:44
10 Paulo SUMAYE TAN 2:23:27
WOMEN
1 Margreth KIPLAGAT KEN 2:58:37
2 Farida GUSS TAN 2:59:26
3 Emily CHEPTUIYA KEN 3:00:37
4 Seoflesina SUMAWE TAN 3:06:44
5 Naomi MWIHAKI KEN 3:19:10
6 Thea MUSHY TAN 3:35:39
7 Magdalena DIBWA TAN 3:41:18
8 Aisha CHULLO TAN 3:47:32
9 Vanda AMOS RSA 3:54:53
10 Chris WALTER TAN 4:01:30
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Martin SULLE TAN 1:04:03
2 Jackson MARWA TAN 1:04:44
3 Peter SULLE TAN 1:05:42
WOMEN:
1 Neema AKDNAY TAN 1:16:45
2 Shaury RUHAMA TAN 1:17:47
3 Sara RAMADHANI TAN 1:19:10
26 FEBRUARY 2006: VERDI MARATHON, ITALY
MEN:
1 Francesco BENNICI ITA 2:14:54
2 Giorgio CALCATERRA ITA 2:22:02
3 Marco ORSI ITA 2:22:04
4 Marco D'INNOCENTI ITA 2:23:46
5 Mario ARDEMAGNI ITA 2:27:48
6 Glauco NEDROTTI ITA 2:30:27
7 Pasquale CASTALDO ITA 2:31:29
8 Andrea MARESCA ITA 2:34:00
9 Valerio BONINCI ITA 2:39:21
10 Alessandro RETTINI ITA 2:40:03
WOMEN:
1 Natalia BRUNIKO ITA 2:49:57
2 Antonella BENATTI ITA 2:56:03
3 Annamaria CASO ITA 3:01:22
4 Alessandra PREZZI ITA 3:02:08
5 Giovanna CAVALLI ITA 3:02:17
6 Aurora PASQUINO ITA 3:08:33
7 Elena SIMSIG ITA 3:09:21
8 Lara MUSTAT ITA 3:11:06
9 Ma Luisa COSTETTI ITA 3:16:36
10 Paola RAMPONI ITA 3:17:28
26 FEBRUARY 2006: MARATON DE LA CUIDAD DE SEVILLA, SPAIN
There were a record 2934 entries in this XXII edition, of which 2444 started and 2416
finished. The streets were full of people wanting to encourage them. Foreign participation
was strong: 287 runners from 34 different countries, including 44 from Britain, 39 from
Portugal, 29 from Italy and France, 21 from Sweden and 18 from Germany. In the men's race a
group of four stayed together until past halfway before breaking up. Among the women it was a
very much more clear-cut race after Maria Abel dropped out just past the halfway point, leaving
Tina Maria Ramos to take a comfortable win.
MEN:
1 Christoph KIPKOECH KEN 2:19:12
2 Leonard KIPYEGO KEN 2:20:47
3 Fikadu BEKELE ETH 2:21:42
4 Alexander BOLKHOVITIN RUS 2:23:32
5 Juan GARCIA ESP 2:26:49
6 Francisco RAMIREZ ESP 2:28:38
7 Moumou EL HADI MAR 2:31:09
8 Ricard BERRAR ESP 2:31:14
9 Javier CASTANO ESP 2:32:46
10 Jaume GARCIA ESP 2:35:23
WOMEN:
1 Tina Maria RAMOS ESP 2:40:20
2 Michaela MCCULLUM GBR 2:42:44
3 Katalin FARKAS HUN 2:44:51
4 Oxana KHOKHOLOVA RUS 2:48:18
5 Rosa Ma ESCOBAR ESP 3:15:52
6 Blanca HINOJOSA ESP 3:18:43
7 Dolores JIMENEZ ESP 3:18:58
8 Araceli FERNANDEZ ESP 3:19:31
9 Stefanie WALTER-SPIRGI GER 3:21:41
10 Natividad ZAPLANA ESP 3:26:35
26 FEBRUARY 2006: WORLD'S BEST 10km, PUERTO RICO
A record number of 13618 runners participated, coming from 10 countries and 30 provinces
and states.
MEN:
1 Wilson KIPROTICH KEN 27:44
2 Gilbert OKARI KEN 28:04
3 Samuel WANJIRU KEN 28:09
4 William CHEBON KEN 28:15
5 Patrick IVUTI KEN 28:38
6 Linus MAITO KEN 28:39
7 Reuben CHEBILL KEN 28:40
8 John KORIR KEN 28:44
9 Samuel RONGO KEN 28:49
10 Robert CHERUIYOT KEN 28:56
WOMEN:
1 Lornah KIPLAGAT NED 30:50
2 Susan CHEPKEMEI KEN 32:08
3 Zhor EL KAMCH MAR 32:19
4 Birhan ADERE ETH 32:55
5 Tatyana PETROVA RUS 33:01
6 Jelena PROKOPCUKA LAT 33:03
7 Hilda KIBET KEN 33:07
8 Natalya BERKUT UKR 33:33
9 Adriana PIRTEA ROM 33:49
10 Lioudmila KORTCHAGUINA CAN 34:31
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28 FEBRUARY 2006: SAHARA MARATHON, ALGERIA
This race was probably the best one yet, thanks to the weather, to the large participation
and to the very good cooperation of the Saharawi writes Mattia Durli. The race was
held on the usual course, from L'Ayounne to Smara refugee camps, although it had been planned
to run it within the borders of Western Sahara, at Tifariti. This idea was abandoned less than
a month before the race, and although it was difficult to communicate the change of plan, no
one complained.
It is still hoped that a future marathon will be held in Tifariti, but only when the
Saharawi themselves move there for the UN referendum. This would give the Sahara Marathon in
Tifariti a real meaning.
Race day gave perfect weather — sunny with a little bit of wind. There were no problems
with water and no medical problems. All together 250 took part and came from many countries.
Apart from local Sahrawis, most were from Spain and Italy. There were 80 in the marathon, and
many girls took part in the 5km.
Two-time world marathon champion Abel Anton ran in the half marathon and spoke about the
Saharawi camps at the press conference.
The Children's race was something awesome. Almost 1000 kids took part in the 800m race,
running along Baker Road to finish at the Smara Club. They were divided by age groups and
according to schools. Each kid ran with the AIMS T-shirt and received the medal at the end,
plus some small prizes like candies, drawing tools, colours, small toys etc.
They then entered the Smara Club where they received water and oranges. At the end we made a
small show with clowns and music for all of them.
All this took place against the background of severe flooding only two weeks before the
race. The situation is bad but morale is high; there were no deaths and only two injured. As
yet there are no epidemics. Most of the houses have been destroyed by the rains but for the
Saharawi the most important things are the tents, and they are still in good condition.
The race raised 12000 Euros for the projected sports centre. Construction was stopped
because of the flood but it should be finished soon (pictures will be posted on the website).
More than 1000 Euros of medicines were brought to the Dhakla hospital by the Sahara Marathon.
A lot of sporting materials (balls, shoes, etc.) came from donations, and more of this
material will be sent in the next truck caravan to go to the camps.
MEN:
1 Ramon SAINZ ESP 3:06:08
2 Inaki ARANA ESP 3:01:17
3 Claudio BOTTONI ITA 3:13:43
4 Joan PEREZ ESP 3:18:42
5 Mostafa MOHAMMED SAH 3:21:03
6 Ivars EGLITIS LAT 3:24:58
7 Villiam LANDI ITA 3:33:09
8 Rafael MARTINEZ ESP 3:33:50
9 Abdulah BUTALHA SAH 3:34:50
10 Dadah LKINTI SAH 3:39:43
WOMEN:
1 Emanuela BERARDI ITA 4:17:40
2 Linda HEWING GBR 4:35:36
3 Lucia CALERO ESP 4:47:16
4 Sabrina CAMPALDINI ITA 4:54:01
5 Lia TOSCAN ITA 5:54:22
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Michael COLLINS IRL 1:25:33
2 Juan IBANEZ ESP 1:27:33
3 Raul FUENTES ESP 1:27:40
4 Abel ANTON ESP 1:33:11
WOMEN:
1 Rosario MONTERO ESP 2:02:17
2 Mireia SIMON ESP 2:22:06
3 Araceli JUANOLO ESP 2:31:34
4 Isabel SANCHEZ ESP 2:31:34
February 2006
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