March 2009
1 MAR | 8 MAR | 9 MAR | 10 MAR | 15 MAR |
22 MAR | 26 MAR | 28 MAR | 29 MAR
1 MARCH 2009: LAKE BIWA MAINICHI MARATHON, JAPAN
Paul Tergat won the 64th edition of the rsce in a relatively slow time writes Ken Nakamura. He surged away from his final challenger,
two-time race winner Jose Rios, at 41km.
It was only Tergat's third career win following his world-record breaking victory in Berlin in 2003 and his win in the 2005 New York City Marathon.
A total of 162 runners started under a sunny sky, and 39 of them passed 5km in 15:10. By 15km (45:22) the lead pack was down to 25 runners. With an
adverse wind the pace slowed, but picked up again after halfway (1:04:18). By 25km (1:16:02) there were still 11 runners left but by 30km, when three
pacemakers pulled out, the leaders were down to Tergat, Rios, Yared Asmeron, Abiyote Guta and Masaya Shimizu. Shimizu led most of the time as the sky
turned cloudy, the temperature dropped and they ran into a headwind. From 30-35km took 16:10, and prospects of a fast time were lost. At 39km Rios picked
it up. Asmeron covered the move immediately with Tergat moving comfortably into third, while Shimizu and Guta fell behind. Tergat took the lead just
before 40km and Asmeron fell back. Then with about 1300m left Tergat surged ahead to win.
Asmeron and Shimizu fought a hard battle for third place, won by Asmerom on the track of the stadium. As first Japanese, Shimizu is selected to the
World Championships marathon team, joining Fukuoka Marathon winner Satoshi Irifune. Three places remain, with one to be decided after the Tokyo Marathon
on 22 March with the other two to be named by JAAF selectors.
Tergat explained the slow winning time as due to jet-lag and the headwind, and complimented Shimizu on his bold front running.
MEN:
1 Paul TERGAT KEN 2:10:22
2 Jose RIOS ESP 2:10:36
3 Yared ASMERON ERI 2:10:49
4 Masaya SHIMIZU JPN 2:10:50
5 Abiyote GUTA ETH 2:11:18
6 Tomoya SHIMIZU JPN 2:12:30
7 Satoru SASAKI JPN 2:14:00
8 Takeshi MAKABE JPN 2:14:34
1 MARCH 2009: MARATO DE BARCELONA, SPAIN
MEN:
1 Johnstone CHEBII KEN 2:14:01
2 Hosea KOSGEI KEN 2:14:06
3 Teshome Gelana ETABA ETH 2:14:32
4 Demelash Denkis HABTE ETH 2:16:35
5 Roger Roca DALMAU ESP 2:17:41
6 Luka KIPTOO KEN 2:18:35
7 Joseph MARENG KEN 2:21:20
8 Rachid NADIJ ESP 2:22:44
9 Belayne BEMIR ETH 2:24:30
10 Victor del Corall MORALES ESP 2:25:31
WOMEN:
1 Tadelech D ZEIT ETH 2:39:43
2 Helen LAWRENCE GBR 2:54:02
3 Paola SANNA ITA 2:55:52
4 Claire MCCARTHY IRL 2:56:02
5 Anna Rosa MORENO ESP 2:57:56
6 Pascale ROTSAERT FRA 2:59:50
7 Laura L CASCAN ESP 3:05:17
8 Sarah KIRILUK BEL 3:05:42
9 Anna Maria CASO ITA 3:05:47
10 Ana C ELIZONDO ESP 3:07:01
1 MARCH 2009: WORLD BEST 10km, PUERTO RICO
MEN:
1 Sammy KITAWRA KEN 27:26
2 Silas KIPRUTO KEN 27:45
3 Wilson KIPSANG KEN 27:45
4 Sammy KOSGEI KEN 27:48
5 Moses KIPSIRO UGA 28:01
6 Kiplomo KIMUTAI KEN 28:04
7 William CHEBOR KEN 28:06
8 Tilahun RAGASSE ETH 28:25
9 Peter KAMAIS KEN 28:28
10 John KORIR KEN 28:35
WOMEN:
1 Vivian CHERUIYOT KEN 31:12
2 Lornah KIPLAGAT NED 31:45
3 Dire TUNE ETH 31:55
4 Shalane FLANAGAN USA 32:25
5 Jane KIPTOO KEN 32:30
6 Ashu KASIM ETH 32:41
7 Beylanesh FEKADU ETH 33:05
8 Irene LIMIIKA KEN 33:20
9 Rehima KEDIR ETH 33:52
10 Teiyba ERKESSO ETH 34:28
1 MARCH 2009: LALA MARATHON, MEXICO
Photos: Alan Brookes
Carlos Cordero's win in the 21st edition of this race stakes his claim to the no.1 ranking among Mexican men writes Alan Brookes. He defeated
local rival Gualberto Vargas by a scant 11 seconds. Joseph Mutinda, foremost of a dozen Mexican-based Kenyans who toed the start line, came in third.
Alejandro Suarez ran a patient and intelligent debut marathon for fourth place, with the promise of more to come.
Margarita Tapia won another good match up by finishing just 35 seconds clear of the vastly experienced Dulce Maria Rodruigez and only 35 seconds
slower than Rodriguez's 2005 course record.
Temperatures in the northern desert city of Torreon cooled from 37°C on Friday to 11°C at dawn on race day. More than 4,100 runners from
every Mexican state lined up at 07:00 in front of the Lala milk factory. Widely considered Mexico's top marathon, Lala is the dairy conglomerate's
gift to the city where it does so much business. Grupo Lala dominates Torreon, with 4,000 employees, of whom a remarkable 3,500 organize the Marathon
as volunteers; another 100+ run the 42km; leaving only about 400 who perhaps sleep through it all. In total, Lala has about 30,000 employees in 24
cities throughout Mexico.
Lala Marathon takes runners on a perfectly flat tour of the desert landscape of this century-old industrial city of 1 million. Around the 10km mark
it crosses into the twin city of Lerdo in the state of Dorango, made famous by John Wayne and John Ford who shot many of their popular Western movies
there. Torreon is like one of those dry "Western" towns with tumbleweed blowing across parched, dusty landscape, but the course ends at the
magnificent Bosque Venustiano Caranza park. Built in the 1940s it is an irrigated green oasis; a haven of peace and tranquility for runners and walkers,
family picnics, football, or romantic liasons. On the first Sunday in March it belongs to Lala Marathon.
The pace slowed after 5km (15:22) and a large group reached halfway in 66:24. Cordero began to assert himself from 20km as he and Vargas went on the
attack. By 30km [1:34:28] six remained tightly bunched in the lead pack, with three others a few metres back. By 36km it was down to Cordero, Vargas and
Mutinda. Cordero made his decisive move at 40km to take the US$15,000 first prize.
Tapia and Dulce Maria Rodruigez battled until 30km, where Tapia moved away to run the last 12km on her own for an impressive victory. Dulce Maria
Rodruigez was a happy second with redemption after a miserable 2:56:21 in Osaka five weeks ago.
One of 12 children, Cordero had never raced internationally before coming home first Mexican in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics last summer. After
working illegally in a chicken processing plant in the US (so he's unlikely ever to get a visa to run there) he returned home to marry, and set up a
grocery store in his hometown. After the race he was surrounded by extended family sporting "Equipo Carlos Cordero" shirts.
Herman Gonsalez Navarro, 82 years old, finished in 6:28 surrounded by a posse of relatives and friends. The park office at the Bosque still has an
old photo on the wall showing Don Herman as a boy, standing next to his father, amongst more than 100 workers who had just completed construction of
the Bosque. Don Herman runs from the Lala factory to the Bosque every year to remember his father.
MEN:
1 Carlos CORDERO MEX 2:12:48
2 Juan VARGAS MEX 2:12:59
3 Joseph MUTINDA KEN 2:13:19
4 Alejandro SUAREZ MEX 2:13:33
5 Christopher TOROITICH MEX 2:13:51
6 Francisco Bautista CUAMATZI MEX 2:14:02
7 George OKWORO KEN 2:15:29
8 Odilon Cuahutle ROJAS MEX 2:15:34
9 Arturo Malaquias DELGADO MEX 2:15:38
10 Isaac WAWERU KEN 2:16:52
WOMEN:
1 Margarita Tapia GARCIA MEX 2:29:35
2 Dulce Maria RODRIGUEZ MEX 2:30:48
3 Jessica Rodriguez GALVAN MEX 2:34:13
4 Paula Apolonio JUAREZ MEX 2:35:21
5 Judith Ramirez HERNANDEZ MEX 2:35:49
6 Sara Cedillo SANCHEZ MEX 2:39:21
7 Gisela Olalde GRANADOS MEX 2:42:39
8 Albina GALYAMOVA RUS 2:44:47
9 Maria Elena Reyna DIAZ MEX 2:52:58
10 Guad alupe ALTUNEZ MEX 2:57:06
1 MARCH 2009: KILIMANJARO MARATHON, TANZANIA
MEN:
1 Emily CHEPUIYA KEN 2:15:25
2 Patrick NYANGELO TAN 2:15:35
3 John SENYA TAN 2:15:35
4 Julius KILIMO KEN 2:16:46
5 Phillip TARUS KEN 2:17:44
6 Julius SEURI KEN 2:18:55
7 Emmanuel NAIBEI KEN 2:19:03
8 Mashaka PAULO TAN 2:19:59
9 Melkiadi BAYO TAN 2:20:52
10 Peter CHEMAOY KEN 2:21:06
WOMEN:
1 Jane NYAMBURA KEN 2:41:30
2 Sally LAGAT KEN 2:50:00
3 Leah KUSAR KEN 2:54:18
4 Irene CHEMUSTO UGA 2:57:11
5 Lydia KURGAT KEN 2:57:22
6 Margaret KIPLAGAT KEN 2:58:31
7 Fabiola WILLIAM TAN 2:59:51
8 Sara KAIUNA TAN 3:00:07
9 Grace MUZAKI UGA 3:01:11
10 Jackline KYTHIA KEN 3:07:28
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Shamwell SHAURI TAN 1:03:47
2 Shamba GITIME TAN 1:04:17
3 Peter MATELONG KEN 1:04:19
WOMEN:
1 Hellen MVGO KEN 1:07:16
2 Mary NAALI TAN 1:07:24
3 Kellen WAITHIRA KEN 1:07:49
Top
8 MARCH 2009: 4TH OEGER ANTALYA MARATHON, TURKEY
In sunny conditions, perhaps slightly too warm to expect record breaking performances, a group was paced through halfway in 66:30 - well within
record breaking schedule. The races followed out-and-back courses along Antalya's scenic Mediterranean coastline with the turning points just a little
beyond the half distance. Although there was almost no wind the pace slowed late on and dropouts left the way clear for John Kioko to ease ahead of the
two remaining contenders, Roman Elfimov and Tesfaye Reta, before entering the Antalya Football Stadium for an assured win. The women's race followed a
similar pattern, although the run-in was a little tighter as Nadezda Semiletova squeezed out a crucial few seconds to finish 50m ahead of Rose Chesire.
MEN:
1 John Musila KIOKO KEN 2:18:00
2 Roman ELFIMOV RUS 2:18:25
3 Tesfaye Bogale RETA ETH 2:18:41
4 Muammer ALTAYNOK TUR 2:32:33
5 Kyyasettin YALCYN TUR 2:36:00
6 Muharrem YILMAZ TUR 2:41:02
7 Murat KAYER TUR 2:44:09
8 Mansuri YUKSEL TUR 2:45:12
9 Olo KARLSEN DEN 2:45:29
10 Nurettin DADIYODLU TUR 2:49:16
WOMEN:
1 Nadezda SEMILETOVA RUS 2:44:19
2 Rose CHESIRE KEN 2:44:28
3 Salome Jerono BIWOT KEN 2:49:29
4 Irina SONGERLAYNEN RUS 2:55:34
5 Lutfiye KAYA TUR 3:10:48
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Moses TOO KEN 1:04:08
2 Hosea Kiplagat TUEI KEN 1:04:14
3 Roman PRODIUS MDA 1:04:30
WOMEN:
1 Bahar DOGAN TUR 1:12:43
2 Mehtap SIZMAZ TUR 1:14:34
3 Emily BIWOTT KEN 1:17:11
10km
MEN:
1 Bekir KARAYEL TUR 29:33
2 Vitalie GEORGHITA MDA 29:46
3 Abdulkadir TURK TUR 29:55
WOMEN:
1 Mariam Tanga DINGO ETH 33:12
2 Sultan HAYDAR TUR 33:32
3 Olesya NURGALIEVA TUR 35:29
8 MARCH 2009: NAGOYA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MARATHON, JAPAN
Yoshiko Fujinaga won the place on offer for the Berlin World Championships by taking the 30th edition of the race by a minute writes Ken Nakamura.
2000 Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi, ran her farewell marathon, finishing 29th in 2:52:23, smiling the whole way, and waving from time to time.
With no official pace maker, Caroline Cheptonui Kilel did most of the early leading, passing 5km in 17:40. Race favourite Bai Xue then took off but
Kilel chipped away at Bai's lead and had caught Xue a kilometre later. Yoshiko Fujinaga joined them upfront, later followed by Hitomi Niiya. This pack
of four passed 10km in 34:34, 35 seconds ahead. Fujinaga then started to drift backwards but never completely lost contact with the leaders. At 15km
(51:47) she trailed by 7 seconds and by 19km she had rejoined them. They passed halfway in 1:13:16 nearly 400m ahead of the chasing group. Fujinaga
drifted off the pace again at around 25km, as did Niiya and both had rejoined Xue and Kilel before 29km. After some jockeying for the lead Niiya took
over, passing 30km in 1:44:38, four seconds ahead of Kilel, who in turn was eight seconds ahead of Fujinaga. From 30-31km was the fastest of the race
(3:18) but Fujinaga was resurgent. At 32.6m she caught the fading Kilel, and Niiya's pace dropped below 3:30 after 32km. Niyya led through 35km in
2:02:17 with Fujinaga 28 seconds behind. A kilometre later the gap was down to 15 seconds, and at 37km Fujinaga passed Niiya. Niiya faded to the extent
that first Chika Horie passed her, and at 40km Yuko Machida also went by.
Although the early pace was not very fast, only Fujinaga did not fade. Niiya finished a disappointed eighth and Caroline Cheptonui Kilel ninth, while
Bai Xue finished back in 13th place with 2:35:17. "Every time I was left behind, I kept on telling myself it will be OK" said Fujinaga.
WOMEN (ONLY):
1 Yoshiko FUJINAGA JPN 2:28:13
2 Chika HORIE JPN 2:29:09
3 Yuko MACHIDA JPN 2:29:35
4 Mayumi FUJITA JPN 2:29:56
5 Kiyomi OGAWA JPN 2:29:58
6 Yumi HIRATA JPN 2:30:16
7 Ayumi NAKAYAMA JPN 2:30:53
8 Hitomi NIIYA JPN 2:30:58
9 Caroline Cheptonui KILEL KEN 2:31:42
10 Yoshie KITOMI JPN 2:32:08
8 MARCH 2009: SEMI MARATHON DE PARIS, FRANCE
MEN:
1 Bado WORKU ETH 1:01:56
2 Fikadu LEMMA ETH 1:02:00
3 Barnabas KOSGEI KEN 1:02:25
4 Luka KANDA KEN 1:02:28
5 Vincent KROP KEN 1:02:54
6 John KORIR KEN 1:03:10
7 Isaac BIRIR KEN 1:03:19
8 Patrick NYAMBANE FRA 1:04:06
9 Philemon KISANG KEN 1:04:32
10 Moses KIBOR KEN 1:05:57
WOMEN:
1 Jelena PROKOPCUKA LET 1:10:43
2 Harun MAKDA ETH 1:10:57
3 Perninah ARUSEI KEN 1:11:38
4 Yamna OUBOUHOU FRA 1:12:23
5 Hafida GADI FRA 1:15:48
6 Margaret MAURY FRA 1:15:48
7 Maja NEUENSCHWANDER SUI 1:16:22
8 Nathalie VASSEUR FRA 1:20:27
9 Marielle THEVENET FRA 1:22:29
10 Riikka HALME FIN 1:23:25
8 MARCH 2009: FERRARA MARATHON, ITALY
MEN:
1 Alberto FELLONI ITA 2:38:30
2 Goran MURIC CRO 2:39:07
3 Martino MASSIGNANI ITA 2:39:22
4 Hrvoje KOVAC CRO 2:39:29
5 Abderrafi BALOUL ITA 2:42:06
6 Reinhold POTOTSCHNIK 2:48:23
7 Marcello COLOMBARI ITA 2:48:47
8 Roberto GAMBA ITA 2:50:35
9 Franco MANZARDO ITA 2:51:05
10 Gianni CARTER ITA 2:51:35
WOMEN:
1 Antonija ORLIC CRO 3:05:12
2 Cristina M ORLANDI ITA 3:07:22
3 Sara FERRARI ITA 3:13:25
4 Simona ROSSI ITA 3:15:45
5 Daniela MOTANARI ITA 3:17:52
6 Ilaria M FOSSATI ITA 3:18:40
7 Chiara PACCHIEGA ITA 3:22:45
8 Stefania CAGNOLI ITA 3:23:57
9 Grazia RANFAGNI ITA 3:25:05
10 Veronica JURISIC CRO 3:25:28
8 MARCH 2009: LAGO MAGGIORE HALF MARATHON, ITALY
With clear skies, 12°C and no wind at all the second edition of the race experienced ideal running conditions in which 1928 runners finished,
up 36% from 2008. There were 16 finishers in the Wheelchair/Hand Bike category and 16 teams competing in the 4-person relay. In all 31 nationalities
were represented.
A lead group of seven ran together before Denis Ndiso dropped back just before 5km and Rachid Kisri a little later. Nicholas Kamakya led the remaining
four runners (there was no official pacemaker) until he apparantly suffered breathing problems at 18km and dropped back. The others kept together until
about 300m from the finish. Ezekiel Jafari prevailed in the sprint finish ahead of Jacob Yator and David Kiyeng by 2 and 3 seconds respectively.
In the women's race Aniko Kalovics overcame last year's winner Melissa Peretti although suffering a slight pull in her left leg.
 
MEN:
1 Ezekiel J NGIMBA TAN 1:00:41
2 Jacob K YATOR KEN 1:00:43
3 David K KIYENG KEN 1:00:44
4 Joel K KIMURER KEN 1:01:00
5 Nicholas M KAMAKYA KEN 1:01:00
6 Rachid KISRI MAR 1:02:15
7 Dennis M NDISO KEN 1:05:31
8 Joachim NISHIRIMANA BDI 1:07:01
9 Mirko CANAGLIA ITA 1:07:25
10 Diego ABBATESCIANNI ITA 1:07:27
WOMEN:
1 Aniko KALOVICS HUN 1:15:21
2 Melissa PERETTI ITA 1:16:08
3 Paola VENTRELLA ITA 1:16:26
4 Gegia GUALTIERI ITA 1:20:16
5 Emanuela BRIZIO ITA 1:21:19
6 Paola FELLETTI ITA 1:22:32
7 Lara MUSTAT ITA 1:22:56
8 Isadora CASTELLANI ITA 1:23:04
9 Joanna DRELICHARZ ITA 1:24:09
10 Daniela MAESTRONI ITA 1:25:21
8 MARCH 2009: KYOTO CITY HALF MARATHON, JAPAN
In his debut half marathon Ryuji Kashiwabara broke away at 4km and ran the rest of the race alone writes Ken Nakamura. Kashiwabara is the
hottest young runner in Japan, having recorded a huge stage best at the Hakone Ekiden, and he took this final edition of the Kyoto City Half Marathon
in impressive style.
MEN:
1 Ryuji KASHIWABARA JPN 1:03:16
2 Atsushi YAMAZAKI JPN 1:03:34
3 Kazuo IETANI JPN 1:03:35
WOMEN:
1 Kasumi NISHIHARA JPN 1:11:58
2 Yumi SATO JPN 1:12:30
8 MARCH 2009: MEIA MARATONA DE SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
Damião Ancelmo de Souza was a surprise winner of the 3rd edition of the race while the women's event was won by the Kenyan favourite Angelina Mutuka.
De Souza began in the second group but from 15km he forced the pace and by 17km he was pushing ahead of the others. There was agrement from those
finishing behind him that the new course, taking in the historical centre of the city, was tough. The women's winner found the course more to her liking
although she had only arrived in Brazil on the Friday and after the race departed for Italy, where she will run a marathon. African women also filled the
next two places ahead of the first Brazilian, Luzia de Souza Pinto.
Marildo José Barduco (32:03) and Josefa Maria da Silva (45:24) won the accompanying "Quarter Marathon" race of 10,550m. In all there were
8,000 starters.
MEN:
1 Damião ANCELMO DE SOUZA BRA 1:05:18
2 Paulo Roberto ALMEIDA PAULA BRA 1:05:20
3 Franck CALDEIRA DE ALMEIDA BRA 1:05:22
4 Giomar PEREIRA DA SILVA BRA 1:05:34
5 Luis PAULO DA SILVA ANTUNES BRA 1:05:49
6 Clodoaldo GOMES DA SILVA BRA 1:06:19
7 Marcos Alexandre ELIAS BRA 1:06:32
8 João FERRERA DE LIMA BRA 1:06:46
9 Gilmar SILVESTRE LOPES BRA 1:07:05
10 Marcos Antonio PEREIRA BRA 1:07:11
WOMEN:
1 Angelina Matheu MUTUKA KEN 1:14:14
2 Milka Jerotich KIPKEROR KEN 1:14:22
3 Sara Ramadhani MAKERA TAN 1:14:46
4 Luzia de Souza PINTO BRA 1:15:37
5 Marizete de Paula REZENDE BRA 1:16:18
6 Sueli PEREIRA SILVA BRA 1:16:45
7 Maria Zeferina BALDAIA BRA 1:17:19
8 Simone ALVES DA SILVA BRA 1:17:47
9 Marizete MOREIRA DOS SANTOS BRA 1:17:52
10 Edielza ALVES DOS SANTOS BRA 1:18:35
Top
9-12 MARCH 2009: 11th 100km del SAHARA, TUNISIA
9 MARCH 2009: STAGE 1 - DOUZ – BIR LECTAYA, 23km
A new route, but the same face headed the race. Jorge Balle, multiple winner from previous editions, took the stage a short distance ahead of Loris
Fanton. A sand storm had buffeted the organisers with fine dust on the day before the race, and the after effects were felt by the runners. However,
on race day the wind had dropped and the 28°C temperature was not too debilitating. The women's race was won by last year's event winner Luisa
Zecchino.
10 MARCH 2009: Stage 2 - BIR LACTAYA – BIR EL GIF, 42km
A very hard day. Despite an 08.00 start temperatures rose above 30°C and there was sand, sand, and more sand. The two first stage winners
repeated, while Jan Petersen and Thomas Barth rose up the overall standings with strong efforts.
11 MARCH 2009: Stage 3 - BIR EL GIF – CAMP BIBANE
The stage traversed some beautiful country on firm tracks with little loose sand until approaching ther high dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental.
The final stretch involved climbing a 50m dune followed by a rapid descent to the camp. Balle continued to dominate the men's race, despite a bold
comeback by Loris Fanton, only a few seconds behind him.
Among the women Luisa Zecchino was equally dominant but the surprise of the day was Alice Modignani's second place (on the left in the photo).
12 MARCH 2009: Stage 4 - CAMP BIBANE – KSAR GILHANE
Jorg Balle took his third consecutive series victory, and fourth in all, showing his great strength in this type of competition. Luisa Zecchino
repeated her win of the previous year, without anyone to rival her, by a 20-minute margin.
A strong headwind made the final stage very tough, but the course was not difficult. Loris Fanton continued his revival with a strong push to finish
alongside Balle in the oasis of Ksar Gilhane.
MEN:
1 Jorg BALLE GER 7:45:06
1:23:10 3:18:13 1:12:16 1:51:27
2 Loris FANTON ITA 8:31:55
1:29:12 3:58:36 1:12:40 1:51:27
3 Jan PETERSEN DEN 8:34:00
1:34:32 3:46:47 1:15:40 1:57:01
4 Thomas BARTH GER 8:35:29
1:31:40 3:51:38 1:14:30 1:57:41
5 Angelo CAVALLARO ITA 8:55:54
1:30:12 3:53:16 1:23:54 2:08:32
6 Alexander LENNEMANN GER 9:11:49
1:38:39 4:05:28 1:19:33 2:08:09
7 Marco BONFIGLIO ITA 9:14:32
1:34:25 3:56:06 1:23:12 2:20:49
8 Enos SALVADORI ITA 9:17:22
1:37:09 4:12:28 1:19:19 2:08:26
9 Hansjoerg DOERIG SUI 9:34:12
1:38:56 4:26:04 1:22:09 2:07:03
10 Massimo RUSSO ITA 9:46:07
1:34:35 4:44:09 1:20:00 2:07:23
WOMEN:
1 Luisa ZECCHINO ITA 9:40:13
1:43:00 4:16:27 1:26:22 2:14:24
2 Adele DE LA REY NAM 10:52:40
1:51:57 4:51:54 1:36:15 2:32:34
3 Rita SERRA ITA 10:57:40
1:55:07 4:49:26 1:39:01 2:34:06
4 Ma Teresa CANNUCCIA ITA 11:02:19
1:53:17 4:55:21 1:35:37 2:38:04
5 Caludia GERLING GER 11:10:37
2:02:10 5:02:27 1:36:57 2:29:03
6 Alice MODIGNANI ITA 11:37:38
1:53:59 5:39:13 1:34:32 2:29:54
Top
10 MARCH 2009: ANTARCTICA MARATHON
MEN:
1 Kornelis BIENNE NED 3:04:50
2 Juan ALEGRE ESP 3:06:35
3 Matthew GUZIK USA 3:19:32
4 Michael CREASON USA 3:38:30
5 Gregg WALCHI USA 3:42:40
6 Terry TURNER USA 3:45:50
7 Nicholas TWOMEY GBR 3:50:48
8 David BRYAN USA 3:57:54
9 Patrick CANDE FRA 3:59:48
10 Gary MORGAN USA 4:03:00
WOMEN:
1 Lisa DEYOUNG USA 4:07:57
2 Connie LUTKEVICH USA 4:14:28
3 Emily CROSS GER 4:24:29
4 Sara AMOROSINO USA 4:27:15
5 Cecile FOUCHARD BERTIN FRA 4:42:25
6 Christina GARLAND USA 4:42:53
7 Susan MCLOUGHLIN CAN 4:48:22
8 Terese GRONDIN USA 4:51:41
9 Karen HOLMBERG USA 4:53:10
10 Cathy POWELL USA 4:55:50
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Javier LEIVA CHI 2:02:31
2 Zoltan TERDIK HUN 2:02:54
3 Roberto PEREZ CHI 2:11:16
WOMEN:
1 Leontina MANNING NZL 2:28:41
2 Laurie MORSE USA 2:32:27
3 Elizabeth CARR NZL 2:36:08
Top
15 MARCH 2009: SEOUL INTERNATIONAL MARATHON, KOREA
Moses Arusei and Roba Tola took advantage of cool (3°C) conditions to win in 2:07:54 and 2:25:37 respectively writes Mirko Jalava.
A group of 15 men passed through 10km in 30:04, but then slowed so that 11 remained in contention at 20km, passed in 1:00:46. There were still seven
runners together at 30km when Arusei made his move. Only Ethiopia's Yirdaw Dejene tried to follow his pace, but at 35km he was 15 seconds down with
third-placed Sylvester Teimet 49 seconds back. With the race decided Arusei continued to forge ahead, posting the second fastest time of his career to
the 2:06:50 he ran in Paris in 2008. It was only his second sub-2:10 time. Dejene, in second, slashed 3:21 from his personal best. Former winner
Jason Mbote came in fourth, behind Teimet. Four-time Olympic marathon runner Bong-Ju Lee finished 14th in 2:16:46.
In the women's race the Chinese favourites were well beaten, ending their four-year winning streak. The 22-year-old Ethiopian Robe Tola came close to
her 2:24:35 personal best set when winning the 2006 Hamburg marathon and far outclassed her opponents. Yanan Wei and Yingying Zhang passed through 15km
alongside her in 50:52, but the 19-year-old star Zhang was then dropped. Robe and Wei passed 20km in 68:14 with Zhang in a chasing group with two Koreans,
Sun-Young Lee and Ho-Sun Park, 80 seconds behind.
The leading duo reached 25km in 1:25:46, two minutes ahead, and Tola then quickly dropped Wei to lead through 35km (2:00:45) by more than a minute.
Lee moved past Wei into second place, and finished with a 2:27:48 personal best, more than two minutes faster than the 2:29:58 which she ran in November.
Ho-Sun Park, in fourth, cut almost nine minutes off her best time.
MEN:
1 Moses ARUSEI KEN 2:07:54
2 Yirdaw DEJENE ETH 2:08:30
3 Sylvester TEIMET KEN 2:10:11
4 Jason MBOTE KEN 2:10:38
5 Young-Jun JI KOR 2:10:41
6 Paul BIWOTT KEN 2:11:03
7 Charles KIBIWOTT KEN 2:11:18
8 Jun-Hyuen HWANG KOR 2:11:39
9 Myoung-Kee LEE KOR 2:13:55
10 Gun-Tae YUK KOR 2:14:58
WOMEN:
1 Roba TOLA ETH 2:25:37
2 Sun-Young LEE KOR 2:27:48
3 Yanan WEI CHN 2:29:00
4 Ho-Sun PARK KOR 2:32:21
5 Yingying ZHANG CHN 2:33:38
6 Yun-Hee CHUNG KOR 2:34:14
7 Shujing ZHANG CHN 2:38:48
8 Jung-Hee HA KOR 2:48:53
9 Son-Jung KIM KOR 2:53:41
15 MARCH 2009: STANDARD CHARTERED STANLEY MARATHON, FALKLAND ISLANDS
After the balmy conditions of last year the event returned to more typically "Antarctic" weather with strong cold wind, light showers and
the temperature moving from 4°C in the early morning to 8°C during the race. Wind speed was around 20km/hour. There was a new record turnout of
58 individual runners, and 64 relay runners.
The crowd and atmosphere during the race and trophy presentation were great for a remote place like Stanley
(population 2000). In the absence of the Governor, the Acting Governor started the race and presented the trophies. A number of Councillors volunteered
as marshals, a few senior government officials ran the marathon and the Chief of Staff of British Forces South Atlantic presented the Inter-Service
trophy to the "Crazy Cats" team.
In its fifth year the Marathon has become the most prominent sporting event in the Falklands, and the only
one with a genuinely international aspect, as evidenced by the podium places going to Falklands-based, UK and Argentinian runners - all inside 2:58. Lee
Pattison finished just five seconds shy of the course record, while the trophy for the first Falklands-born runner went to John Barton (3:29:55). The
event was enthusiastically covered the local media including BFBS TV and almost $5000 was raised for the Standard Chartered nominated charity "Seeing
is Believing".
MEN:
1 Lee PATTISON GBR 2:55:51
2 Hugh MARSDEN GBR 2:57:08
3 Marcelo E DE BERNARDIS ARG 2:57:22
WOMEN:
1 Andrea MASTROVINCENZO ARG 3:12:29
2 Ashton MULLIGAN GBR 3:49:08
3 Carol PECK GBR 4:18:49
TEAM RELAY:
FIFL A STANLEY 3:03:10
CRAZYCATS MPA-FALKLANDS 3:07:47
GLADIATORS MPA-FALKLANDS 3:16:14
Top
22 MARCH 2009: EDP HALF MARATHON OF LISBON
Photos: Marcelino Almeida
Despite high hopes of a new world record in the men's race and conditions good enough for it to have happened, the pace was not quite quick enough.
A group of seven stuck together for the first 11km before Robert Cheruiyot, who had done most of the leading, drew clear with three others: Martin Lel,
Jaouad Gharib and surprise package Gedion Ngatuny. The other surprise was that world record holder Samuel Wanjiru was one of the three dropped at this
point. He maintained contact from a distance, leading the chasing group, but late on in the race seemed to relinquish all ambition for the race. He,
like Lel and others, has a big effort at the marathon coming up.
Cheruiyot continued to lead right up until approaching 20km when Jaouad Gharib made a determined effort to blunt the fearsome finish that Lel usually
unleashes in the finish straight. In fact Lel entered the straight first, was overtaken by Gharib, and only regained the lead about 50m from the line.
The women's race was much more clear-cut, with Kara Goucher leading after the first 5km and building a good lead in the followiung 5km. Thereafter
she maintained her lead while leaving the others to fight for the minor placings.
MEN:
1 Martin LEL KEN 59:56
2 Jaouad GHARIB MAR 59:59
3 Robert CHERUIYOT KEN 1:00:05
4 Gedion NGATUNY KEN 1:00:06
5 Samuel SHAURI TAN 1:00:33
6 Emmanuel MUTAI KEN 1:00:45
7 Samuel WANJIRU KEN 1:01:25
8 David KEMBOI KEN 1:02:53
9 Jose RAMOS POR 1:03:23
10 Joshua CHELANGA KEN 1:03:25
WOMEN:
1 Kara GOUCHER USA 1:08:30
2 Alice TIMBILILI KEN 1:09:00
3 Jane KIPTOO KEN 1:09:07
4 Jelena PROKOPCUKA LAT 1:09:58
5 Leah MALOT KEN 1:11:37
6 Monica ROSA POR 1:14:14
7 Ayanu WORKITU ETH 1:15:03
8 Filomena COSTA POR 1:15:33
9 Galina IVANOVA RUS 1:15:50
10 Natalya VOLGINA RUS 1:16:43
22 MARCH 2009: TOKYO MARATHON, JAPAN
Photos: Yohei Kamiyama/Agence SHOT
Salim Kipsang's winning time was disappointingly slow because of strong wind, especially in the closing stages writes Ken Nakamura. Passing
through halfway in 1:04:15, the pacemakers dropped out at 25km (1:16:13) leaving Dmitry Baranovsky leading a group of 10 runners. At 30km (1:31:46)
Kensuke Takahashi pushed on without taking a drink, and the race was on. Sammy Korir and Kipsang closed up on Takahashi and Kipsang led the other two at
32km with Marathon debutant Kazuhiro Maeda trying to maintain contact. At the 35km aid station Kipsang stumbled and dropped his bottle. Stopping to
retrieve it, he lost several metres at a crucial moment, but came back strongly, catching Korir and Takahashi and surging ahead to win. The 11 million
yen he won was the first official prize money ever awarded for the marathon in Japan (other than at World Championships).
Maeda came through for second place, gaining automatic selection for the marathon team for Berlin. From 30km he was biding his time in fourth place,
only starting to close the gap after Kipsang's break. By 38km he had passed Korir and Takahashi. "I thought the pace was too fast so I ran alone
for a while. I kept plugging away thinking I may be able to catch them," said Maeda after the race. Legendary marathon runner Toshihiko Seko,
who was one of the TV commentators, had predicted that Maeda would be the first Japanese. None of the first three Japanese were invited runners. The
invited Japanese did not fare well.
Mizuho Nasukawa left Shitaye Gemechu and Yukari Saharu just before 30km to win the women's race, setting a new personal best by more than four
minutes. Tokyo is not a World Championships qualifier for the women so she will not run in Berlin. "I was able to run the time I have been told that
I am capable of," said Nasukawa after the race. Another runner trained by coach Koide, Yukari Sahaku, finished second and improved her personal
best by nearly 3 minutes. The experienced Reiko Tosa fell at 5km but recovered well and finished third in the final marathon of her career.
MEN:
1 Salim KIPSANG KEN 2:10:27
2 Kazuhiro MAEDA JPN 2:11:01
3 Kensuke TAKAHASHI JPN 2:11:25
4 Sammy KORIR KEN 2:11:57
5 Kenta OSHIMA JPN 2:12:54
6 Tomoyuki SATO JPN 2:13:12
7 Dmytro BARANOVSKY UKR 2:13:27
8 Asnake Roro FEKADU ETH 2:13:40
9 Kentaro NAKOMOTO JPN 2:13:53
10 Atsushi FUJITA JPN 2:14:00
WOMEN:
1 Mizuho NASUKAWA JPN 2:25:38
2 Yukari SAHAKU JPN 2:28:55
3 Reiko TOSA JPN 2:29:19
4 Alvevtina BIKTIMIROVA RUS 2:29:33
5 Shiytaye GEMECHU ETH 2:29:59
6 Kiyoko SHIMAHARA JPN 2:31:57
7 Hiromi OMINAMI JPN 2:32:11
8 Luminita TALPOS ROU 2:32:22
9 Pamela CHEPCHUMBA KEN 2:32:40
10 Harumi HIROYAMA JPN 2:35:39
22 MARCH 2009: CITY OF ROME MARATHON, ITALY
Photo: Giancarlo Colombo
Benjamin Kiptoo from Kenya and Ethiopian Firehiwot Dado were the surprise winners writes Diego Sampaolo. Starting as a pacemaker, Kiptoo
smashed the Italian all-comers' record to finish as the first of 12 Kenyans who swept the men's race. Dado, who entered the women's race only a few days
previously with a best time of 2:37:34 set in Kosice last year, sliced over 10 minutes off this time to snatch a surprise win. Behind her Tetyana
Filonyuk from Ukraine and Haile Kebebush from Ethiopia also both ran new personal best times.
Pacemaker Festus Langat bolted through the first 10km in 29:48, but by halfway (1:03:55) the leaders were on to a more modest schedule. At 22km
Joseph Ngeny, who had started as pacemaker to the second group, caught up with the leading pack and decided to finish. At 32km Kiptoo, Ngeny, Phillip
Manyim (winner at the Berlin Marathon and second in Rome in 2005) and former World Half Marathon Champion Paul Kirui broke away from the rest of the
field. At 35km Kiptoo and Ngeny pulled away from Manyim by three seconds and from Kirui by five. At 39km Manyim fell apart, fading fom fourth to ninth
place. Kirui managed to overhaul Ngeny in the final 2km to finish second. In third, Ngeny was rewarded with a new personal best. Kiptoo finished very
strongly to post the second best time in the world this year behind Haile Gebrselassie's 2:05:29 in Dubai.
A leading group of nine women went through the 10km mark in 34:33 and halfway in 1:13:06. At 30km (1:44:03) Ukraine's Tetyana Felonyuk, Dado and
Kebebush led Lena Cheruiyot, with Anna Incerti two seconds back in fifth — but she began fading at 32km when Dado upped the pace to break away.
Like Kiptoo, she finished very strongly in the final kilometres, dropping Filonyuk by 45 seconds at 40km. Haile Kebubush's third place improved her
past record in the Rome Marathon where she finished seventh in 2007 and sixth in 2008.
Just after the start of the marathon the 4219.5m Roma fun run (formerly "Stracittadina") started from the same point in front of the
Colisseum. Participation in this race has grown steadily and this year reached 80,400. The route winds through ancient neighbourhoods to finish in a
park up on the "Colle Oppio" hill amidst a city festival with Concerts, exhibitions and dances. Ten separate projects have built participation
among schools, the elderly, church groups, scout groups, the restaurant trade and other sectors, with 34 charities involved. By these means the Roma
Fun Run seems to have become the largest non-competitive run in the world.
MEN:
1 Benjamin Kiptoo KOULUM KEN 2:07:17
2 Paul Kiprop KIRUI KEN 2:08:23
3 Joseph NGENY KEN 2:08:41
4 Hosea Kiprop ROTICH KEN 2:09:47
5 Philip Kiprop SANGA KEN 2:10:09
6 Philemon Kipkirui ROTICH KEN 2:10:26
7 Vincent Kiptoo KIPLAGAT KEN 2:10:33
8 Francis KIPROP KEN 2:11:13
9 Philip Manyim KIPKURGAT KEN 2:11:21
10 Albert Matebor KIPLAGAT KEN 2:11:33
WOMEN:
1 Firehiwot DADO ETH 2:27:08
2 Tetyana FILONYUK UKR 2:27:43
3 Haile Lema KEBEBUSH ETH 2:28:08
4 Jemeli Kimaiyo RISPER KEN 2:29:16
5 Anna INCERTI ITA 2:29:33
6 Lena Jemutai CHERUIYOT KEN 2:30:18
7 Ibina IVANOVA RUS 2:30:21
8 Larissa ZOUSKO RUS 2:31:28
9 Sun WEIWEI CHN 2:32:03
10 Marcella MANCINI ITA 2:33:54
22 MARCH 2009: MONACO INT'L MARATHON, MONACO
MEN:
1 Mutai Ben KIMWOLE KEN 2:11:01
2 Jackson RONO KEN 2:17:50
3 Andrei BRYZGALOV RUS 2:18:04
4 Christopher RUTTO KEN 2:22:45
5 Folisho T TUM ETH 2:25:36
6 Mickael LINDBERG SWE 2:26:27
7 Ramzi MAHOUACHI TUN 2:36:38
8 Laurent LEGLISE FRA 2:37:36
9 Dominic RUTO KEN 2:43:00
10 Andrea ANSELMI ITA 2:45:34
WOMEN:
1 Belaynesh BEKELE ETH 2:48:49
2 Ekaterina FATEEVA RUS 2:51:30
3 Elena KOZHEVNIKOVA RUS 2:52:12
4 Jeanna MALKOVA RUS 2:56:19
5 Julia FERNAS 3:03:15
6 Laura MAZZUCCO ITA 3:03:56
7 Bev GIBSON ITA 3:12:33
8 Karin MEUSER GER 3:22:40
9 Vanessa MEYERS USA 3:23:50
10 Federica BUDONI ITA 3:25:26
Top
26 MARCH 2009: JERUSALEM HALF MARATHON, ISRAEL
 
Three thousand runners participated in the 17th edition, among them 250 runners from the US,
Holland, Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Ethiopia and UK. The first three home were Ethiopian-born Israelis.
MEN:
1 Asaf MEMO ISR 1:08:34
2 Swanach DEATAU ISR 1:08:47
3 Asaf BIMRO ISR 1:09:58
4 Hervee ATLY 1:13:22
5 Alxsee MARCHENKO 1:18:43
6 Yonathan SHERMAN 1:22:57
7 Amnon YOSSEF 1:22:57
8 Roee LULAV 1:23:01
9 Ben FELDLIGHT 1:23:19
10 Matan CASSIF 1:24:48
WOMEN:
1 Kalkidan BALCHA ETH 1:20:38
2 Orna BLAU ISR 1:29:05
3 Dorit SHOVALY 1:31:08
4 Vered OFIR 1:34:28
5 Miryam BAR-ON 1:36:02
6 Keren MERETZ 1:41:10
7 Svetlana BEHMEND 1:41:14
8 Meirav PERRY 1:44:04
9 Stephanie SAFDI 1:45:02
10 Tamar Amiri ASHLAGI 1:45:10
Top
28 MARCH 2009: HERVIS PRAGUE HALF MARATHON, CZECH REPUBLIC
On a cool windless morning in the center of Old Prague 6,500 runners lined up for the start. Conditions were favourable the men's elite field included
two Kenyans, Stephen Kipkoech Kibiwott and Matthew Koech Kipchirchir, with personal bests under one hour. Women's course record holder Caroline Kwambai
led a group of five women who had bettered 1:10:00.
Pacemaker Willy Karikumangi pulled a group of eight men through 5km in 14:15. By 10km (28:17) the lead pack had dwindled to Kipchirchir, Nicholas
Manza Kamakya, and Nicholas Kipruto Koech, all looking comfortable behind the pacemaker. They continued to watch one another as the pace remained
brisk (15km in 42:29). Just past 20km the surprising Koech pulled ahead of Manza and Kirpchirchir, finishing in a course record 1:00:07. The top four
men all broke the old course record as Manza finished just two seconds back in 1:00:09 while Kipchirchir eased in to the finish in 1:00:15, and Stephen
Kibiwott closed well in 1:00:19.
The women's race was as fast and competitive as the men's, as four women also broke the old course record. Rose Kosgei led from the gun, passing
5km 16:15 with Pasalia Chepkorir, and Lydia Njeri Mathati of Kenya in tow. By 10km Kosgei was leading Irene Kwambai by a second, 32:12 to 32:13 but by
15km she had opened up a nine-second lead which she extended to 24 seconds by the finish.
MEN:
1 Nicholas Koech KIPRUTO KEN 1:00:07
2 Nicholas Manza KAMAKYA KEN 1:00:09
3 Matthew KIPCHIRCHIR KEN 1:00:15
4 Stephen K KIBIWOTT KEN 1:00:19
5 Isaac Macharia WANJONI KEN 1:01:32
6 Damian Paul CHOPA TAN 1:01:33
7 Denis Musembi NDISO KEN 1:02:10
8 Charles Nderitu WANJONI KEN 1:02:34
9 Henry KOSGEI KEN 1:02:48
10 Pascal Mombo SARWAT KEN 1:03:13
WOMEN:
1 Rose KOSGEI KEN 1:09:03
2 Irene K KWAMBAI KEN 1:09:27
3 Kipkoech Pasalia CHEPKORIR KEN 1:09:56
4 Worknesh KIDANE ETH 1:09:59
5 Caroline Chepkorir KWAMBAI KEN 1:10:47
6 Lydia Njeri MATATHI KEN 1:11:19
7 Krisztina PAPP HUN 1:13:13
8 Sara Kiptoo JERIWOT KEN 1:14:36
9 Fridah JEPKITE KEN 1:15:52
10 Petra KAMINKOVA CZE 1:15:57
28 MARCH 2009: 37th IAAF WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS, AMMAN, JORDAN
Bisharat Golf Course, 20km outside the Jordanian capital Amman, provided a tough test, surprisingly not that different from the previous year's
Championship in windblown Edinburgh. Overcast with heavy cloud, the temperature was 8°C but the strong westerly wind was chilling.
The sandy course was set amid rolling hills, woods and a little grassland. Recent rain had left mud in some parts of the course while elsewhere it
was hard and stony. The testing ascent at the finish affected the outcome of most of the races.
SENIOR MEN
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam resurrected his career after four fallow years with a thrilling finish in which he bested nine other contenders over the
final climb writes David Powell. The 24-year-old father-of-two, with a string of individual medals from 2002-2004, is married to 2003 senior
women's champion Worknesh Kidane, who was herself on the comeback trail today in the Hervis Prague Half Marathon where she finished fourth in 1:09:59.
Gebremariam ran a cautious race, keeping towards the back of the lead group for most of the way. But when the critical moment arrived he kicked away
to leave Uganda's Moses Kipsiro to take the silver and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese, the 2007 champion, in bronze medal position. Kenya's Leonard Komon and
Mathew Kisorio paid the price for their eager front-running, finishing fourth and sixth.
Kenya took their 22nd team title in 24 years but only just – and their failure to win an individual podium place (Komon led their winning team in)
will hurt. Kenya and Ethiopia both scored 28 points, but the outcome was decided on the fourth and last scorer, in which particular contest Kenya's
Moses Mosop edged out Feyisa Lilesa, 11th to 12th.
After winning the junior title in 2002, Gebremariam added a senior bronze in 2003 and silver in 2004. But in 2005 he failed to finish and in 2006 he
was 13th. He missed 2007 and returned to place 17th in 2008. So it was a triumph of perseverance for Gebremariam who also becomes only the second
athlete after Kenenisa Bekele to have won World Cross individual titles at Junior and Senior level.
For Kenya, the wait goes on for the first men's senior champion since Paul Tergat in 1999, while Kipsiro came tantalisingly close to giving Uganda
its first World Cross champion. He instead had to settle for becoming the country's first medallist at senior level.
1 Gebre-egziabher GEBREMARIAM ETH 35:02
2 Moses Ndiema KIPSIRO UGA 35:04
3 Zersenay TADESSE ERI 35:04
4 Leonard Patrick KOMON KEN 35:05
5 Habtamu FIKADU ETH 35:06
6 Mathew Kipkoech KISORIO KEN 35:08
7 Mark Kosgey KIPTOO KEN 35:11
8 Chakir BOUJATTAOUI MAR 35:12
9 Teklemariam MEDHIN ERI 35:14
10 Hunegnaw MESFIN ETH 35:16
TEAMS:
1 Kenya 28 points
2 Ethiopia 28 points
3 Eritrea 50 points
4 Uganda 65 points
5 Qatar 79 points
SENIOR WOMEN
Right after winning the race Florence Kiplagat promptly fainted writes Len Johnson. It may have been the gruelling run up the punishing hill
to the finish which did her in. The change of elevation left many competitors finishing rubber-legged and light-headed. But at the same time Kiplagat
elevated herself from second to first as she passed teammate Linet Masai up the climb.
For much of the race Masai, fourth in last year's Olympic 10,000m final, had looked the likely winner. At times she led by 50m but the battle for what
seemed likely to be second place between Kiplagat, Ethiopia's Meselech Melkamu and Gelete Burka and Kenya's Linet Chepkurui edged them closer. Like
Tirunesh Dibaba in Edinburgh last year Kiplagat keyed off those immediately in front of her to catapult herself past the leader in the closing stages.
Masai took her defeat with surprising equanimity, the blow softened by the team connection. "I thought I was winning," she said of her
effort, "then Florence won. As long as it was another Kenyan it's okay."
Once Kiplagat had recovered she said she was proud to be the first Kenyan winner since Helen Chepngeno in 1994. "Kenya has not won since 1994;
we are determined to perform at the same level as Kenyan men" said Kiplagat, who turned out to be Kenya's only individual winner on the day.
What seemed to be a close battle for the team trophy went Kenya's way with the one-two finish, and with Lineth Chepkurui tenaciously defending the
fourth place she had held for most of the race. Meselech Melkamu led Ethiopia home with her third bronze medal ahead of Ethiopian trial winner Wude
Ayalew in fifth and Gelete Burka, who faded slightly in the final stages to finish eighth. Pre-race contender Hilda Kibet was well placed at the back
of the leading pack for most of the race, but never quite got into the action, and finished sixth.
Kenya's team gold broke a string of seven straight wins by Ethiopia. Melkamu said the absence of three-time champion Tirunesh Dibaba went a long
way to explaining the team result.
The first half of the race was dominated by New Zealand's Kim Smith who forced the pace through the first two laps but fell away when Masai took off.
She eventually finished a still-creditable 13th, as the first non-African. Portugal packed their four scorers in between 15th and 22nd to take team
bronze.
1 Florence Jebet KIPLAGAT KEN 26:13
2 Linet Chepkwemoi MASAI KEN 26:16
3 Meselech MELKAMU ETH 26:19
4 Lineth CHEPKURUI KEN 26:23
5 Wude AYALEW ETH 26:23
6 Hilda KIBET NED 26:43
7 Ann Karindi MWANGI KEN 26:49
8 Gelete BURKA ETH 26:58
9 Maryam Jusuf JAMAL BRN 27:00
10 Iness Chepkesis CHENINGE KEN 27:00
TEAMS:
1 Kenya 14 points
2 Ethiopia 28 points
3 Portugal 72 points
4 Spain 117 points
5 USA 130 points
JUNIOR MEN
Digging deep into his reserves up the final climb towards the finish, Ethiopia's Ayele Abshero. went one better than he had in Edinburgh last year to
take the gold medal writes David Powell.
Titus Mbishei had perhaps deserved more for it was he who had pushed the pace along for much of the 8km race. But Abshero lived up to his billing
as the pre-race favourite, taking control with a surge up a short hill with 600m to go. Mbishei finished 25m down, but had the satisfaction of leading
Kenya to team gold. Ethiopia came mightily close to ending Kenya's run of 10 successive titles.
While Abshero was runner-up last year behind his compatriot, Ibrahim Jeylan, Mbishei was fifth. After the Eritrean squad had made the early running
Mbeishi tried to draw the finish from Abshero, leading through the second and third laps as Abshero hid himself among the lead group.
Once Abshero had made his surge on the final lap, taking Mbishei with him, only the bronze was left to fight for. Moses Kibet edged out Paul Tanui to
become the first non-Kenya or Ethiopian runner to take an individual medal in this event since a fellow Ugandan, Boniface Kiprop, took bronze in 2004.
Abshero was a comfortable winner but history is not on his side when it comes to a prospective senior title. In the 36-year history of the World Cross
Country Championships only two junior winners have gone on to take the senior title: Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele and Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (who did
so in this year's Championships).
Team bronze medals went to Eritrea, their squad packing well in the teens and led home by Goitom Kifle in 14th. German Fernandez, the world's fastest
ever junior indoor miler, was the first non-African across the line in 11th.
1 Ayele ABSHIRO ETH 23:26
2 Titus Kipjumba MBISHEI KEN 23:30
3 Moses KIBET UGA 23:35
4 Paul Kipngetich TANUI KEN 23:35
5 Japheth Kipyegon KORIR KEN 23:36
6 Atalay YIRSAW ETH 23:38
7 Gashaw BIFTU KEN 23:44
8 Debebe WOLDSENBET ETH 23:52
9 John KIPKOECH KEN 24:00
10 John Kemboi CHERUIYOT KEN 24:08
TEAMS:
1 Kenya 20 points
2 Ethiopia 22 points
3 Eritrea 72 points
4 Uganda 82 points
5 USA 104 points
JUNIOR WOMEN
Genzebe Dibaba imposed herself on a tough course and tough opposition to take her second junior women's title writes Len Johnson.
With older sisters Tirunesh and Ejegayehu absent Genzebe Dibaba made sure the family name stayed on the victory dais by coming out on top after a
race-long battle with Kenya's Mercy Cherono. "I'm even happier than last year" said Dibaba, "because this year's race was extremely
difficult." She meant both the terrain and the tenacious battle that Cherono put up.
Jackline Chebii injected the first surge early in the second lap, but Cherono took over and from there to the finish she went head to head with Dibaba.
Dibaba barged her way out of the pack, clashing arms with both friend and foe, to track Cherono's initial move. Then she took over up the steep hill
midway through the second lap and broke away for a significant lead. Down the long hill starting each lap and along the one flat section of the loop
Cherono fought back, narrowing the gap and then taking the lead on the uphill section.
It was decided on the final climb, a brutal 300m in which the course rises almost from its lowest point some 40m to its highest. Dibaba edged back up,
then away from the Kenyan runner. At the line, she was 20m to the good.
Ethiopia and Kenya tied on 18 points but what tipped the team title Ethiopia's way was final scorer Emebet Anteneh, in seventh, finishing one place
ahead of Kenya's Hilda Chepkemboi Tanui. In the senior men's race the two countries' fortunes were reversed in the same scenario.
The first non-African finisher was Australia's Emily Bricachekin in 11th, with Britons Lauren Howarth and Charlotte Purdue 13th and 14th respectively,
but the Japanese packed well to take the third team place.
1 Genzebe DIBABA ETH 20:14
2 Mercy CHERONO KEN 20:17
3 Jackline CHEPNGO KEN 20:27
4 Frehiwat GOSHU ETH 20:34
5 Nelly Chebet NGEIYWO KEN 20:26
6 Sule UTURA ETH 20:38
7 Emebet ANTENEH ETH 20:42
8 Hilda Chepkemoi TANUI KEN 20:49
9 Meseret MENGISTU ETH 20:52
10 Jackline CHEBII KEN 21:01
TEAMS:
1 Ethiopia 18 points
2 Kenya 18 points
3 Japan 76 points
4 Great Britain 82 points
5 USA 122 points
Top
29 MARCH 2009: PANAMA INT'L HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 William NARANJO COL 1:04:07
2 Diego COLORADO COL 1:04:19
3 Simon SAWE KEN 1:08.06
5 Roy VARGAS CRC 1:09:01
6 Jose Francisco CHAVES CRC 1:09:09
7 Teresin AVILA PAN 1:13:11
8 Agustin ALCAZAR PAN 1:15:20
9 Guillermo RAMIREZ PAN 1:16:21
10 Simon ALVORADO PAN 1:16:50
WOMEN:
1 Sandra RUALES ECU 1:17:47
2 Inglandini GONZALES COL 1:21:06
3 Maria FERRIS PAN 1:21:19
4 Marta Jimenez PORTILLO CRC 1:23:48
5 Esther Julca LOZANO CRC 1:24:53
6 Marisol PALACIOS VEN 1:26:03
7 Iris CAMARENA PAN 1:27:57
8 Francisca FERRIS PAN 1:34:34
9 Iraida MILAN CUB 1:38:01
10 Eira LOPEZ PAN 1:38:44
29 MARCH 2009: TREVISO MARATHON, ITALY
MEN:
1 Migidio BOURIFA ITA 2:14:14
2 Mostafa ERREBAH ITA 2:15:31
3 Giorgio CALCATERRA ITA 2:20:56
4 Hermann ACHMUELLER ITA 2:21:24
5 Said BOUDALIA ITA 2:21:34
6 Filippo LO PICCOLO ITA 2:21:34
7 Linus NILSSON 2:26:21
8 Franco PLESNIKAR ITA 2:26:37
9 Salvatore NICOSIA ITA 2:27:22
10 Enrico VIVIAN ITA 2:27:33
WOMEN:
1 Laura GIORDANO ITA 2:35:36
2 Josephine Njoki WANGOI KEN 2:37:21
3 Ornella FERRARA ITA 2:42:38
4 Veronica VANNUCCI ITA 2:43:22
5 Manuela MANCA ITA 2:48:46
29 MARCH 2009: NOVI SAD HALF MARATHON, SERBIA
Over 400 runners took part in the 16th edition of the race, including the relay runners and came from 13 countries. Additionally, 1000 pupils from
primary and secondary schools, and more than 150 children pre-school age took part in the Joy Race, together with their teachers and parents.
The race started and finished at the very core of Serbia's second city, in the famous city square in front of the City Hall. The course runs mostly
along the Danube, beside newly constructed or reconstructed bridges, through newly constructed city districts, the University campus, along Tanurdziceva
palata, the beautiful old palace that houses the Assembly and Government of Vojvodina, and along the left bank of the river, across the famous
Petrovaradin Fortress. Flowers bloomed all along the course.
MEN:
1 Goran CEGAR SER 1:12:40
2 Aleksander NESEVSKI SER 1:13:15
3 Milos MILOVANOVIC SER 1:13:27
4 Marko MILOVANOVIC SER 1:14:28
5 Zdravko MISOVIC SER 1:14:47
6 Bosko BJELAJAC SER 1:15:39
7 Milos KESIC SER 1:17:45
8 Atila FILEP SER 1:17:48
9 Duka CELJUSKA SER 1:18:24
10 Miroslav MARKOVIC SER 1:18:57
WOMEN:
1 Marijana LUKIC SER 1:21:57
2 Milena SELAKOVIC SER 1:22:14
3 Simona MAXIM ROM 1:30:21
4 Ksenija BODLOVIC SER 1:31:27
5 Ana VUCKOVIC CRO 1:35:21
6 Gordana ODRLJIN CRO 1:39:40
7 Andrea RADISA 1:40:20
8 Dragana SPEHER SER 1:42:16
9 Gordana NOVACKI CRO 1:43:28
10 Ivana PETKOVIC SER 1:43:43
29 MARCH 2009: POZNAN HALF MARATHON, POLAND
MEN:
1 Boniface Wambua NDUVA KEN 1:04:30
2 Elijah MBOGO KEN 1:05:05
3 Witaly SHAFAR POL 1:05:39
4 Piotr DRWAL POL 1:05:56
5 Abraham YATOR KEN 1:06:07
6 Rodoslaw KOLCZYGLOWY POL 1:06:13
7 Mikolay RYABININ POL 1:06:39
8 Rodoslaw DUDYCZ POL 1:07:22
9 Julius Kiprono LAGAT KEN 1:08:18
10 David KIPKOECH KETER KEN 1:08:21
WOMEN:
1 Gladys OTERO KEN 1:14:28
2 Edita LEWANDOWSKA POL 1:14:43
3 Marzena KLUCZYNSKA POL 1:15:15
4 Agnieszka JANASIAK POL 1:18:05
5 Wioletta URYGA POL 1:20:13
6 Antonina RYCHTER POL 1:24:49
7 Monica STRANC POL 1:28:06
8 Grazyna CHUDY POL 1:34:06
9 Aleksandra DZIERZKOWSKA POL 1:34:23
10 Justyna WOLANIK POL 1:35:23
29 MARCH 2009: BRATISLAVA CITY MARATHON, SLOVAKIA
Over 2260 participants, in different categories, turned out at the fourth edition of Bratislava City Marathon. Hungarian Judit Folding-Nagy (43)
set a new course record 2:50:21 to win the women's title, surpassing Dana Janeckova's 2007 mark by five minutes. Local favourite and national marathon
champion Ingrid Petnuchova braved rough weather to finish second behind the veteran Hungarian. Aleksey Haurychenko of Belarus won the men's title in his
20th career marathon, but missed the course record (set by Ukrainian Vasyl Remshchuk in 2008) by 1:57.
The Half-marathon race was organised also as Slovak Championships and the national titles went to Miroslav Vanko (1:06:28) and Janka Zatlukalova
(1:17:40). Ashenafi Erkolo, an Ethiopian living in Hungary was the overall men's winner.
MEN:
1 Aliaksej HAURYCHENKO BLR 2:21:40
2 Krzystof BARTKIEWICZ POL 2:31:38
3 Martin HOLECKO SVK 2:31:47
4 Vladislav LIPOVSKY SVK 2:32:08
5 Peter STEIB SVK 2:32:31
6 Peter TICHY HUN 2:33:14
7 Ratislav GALOVIC SVK 2:37:46
8 Peter PORTASIK SVK 2:40:42
9 Norbert SOMOGYI HUN 2:46:35
10 Jozef SIEGEL SVK 2:46:38
WOMEN:
1 Judit FOLDINGNE NAGY HUN 2:50:21
2 Ingrid PETNUCHOVA SVK 2:51:05
3 Ivana MARTINCOVA CZE 2:54:17
4 Ana HECICO ROM 2:55:18
5 Elena BOLKHOVITINA RUS 2:59:17
6 Natalya LEHONKOVA UKR 3:01:10
7 Erika SZUNYOG HUN 3:20:10
8 Petra GIDAK CRO 3:21:20
9 Anna BALOSAKOVA SVK 3:25:32
10 Lucie PASEVOVA SVK 2:27:34
29 MARCH 209: INCHEON HALF MARATHON, KOREA
MEN:
1 unknown KEN 1:06:04
2 unknown KEN 1:06:07
WOMEN:
1 Sung-Eun KIM KOR 1:14:46
2 Hae-Jin BAE KOR 1:16:12
3 Hye-Jung JUNG KOR 1:17:44
4 Bo-Woo CHOI KOR 1:17:48
5 Jung-Mi SONG KOR 1:18:36
6 Bong-Ha LEE KOR 1:18:45
7 Yoo-Yeon NO KOR 1:19:23
8 Young-Jin KIM KOR 1:19:27
9 So-Jung YANG KOR 1:19:39
29 MARCH 2009: 3rd LIMASSOL INT'L MARATHON, CYPRUS
MEN:
1 Jebel AHMED KASSAHUN ETH 2:30:45
2 Michael KEENAN GBR 2:38:58
3 Elind CHEMWOLO KEN 2:42:06
4 Zerihun LAKEN ETH 2:42:09
5 Dervis ERDEN IRQ 2:44:34
6 Giorgios LOUKAIDES CYP 2:46:51
7 Paniko NEOFITOU CYP 2:55:31
8 Muolo WONBIMAGEIN ETH 2:57:40
9 Kostas PATINIOS CYP 3:08:50
10 Stelios IOANNOU CYP 3:15:10
WOMEN:
1 Alina ISTUDORA ROM 2:46:53
2 Tatiana PEREPEKINA RUS 2:57:57
3 Larissa USACHERA RUS 3:01:46
4 Ioula KANNAVA CYP 3:29:04
5 Emilia CHVETANOVA BUL 3:30:25
6 Cabriela MICHALACHE ROM 4:05:21
7 Maria AVRAMIDOU CYP 4:17:43
8 Irene CHRISTOFI CYP 4:20:19
9 Anni KARAPATAKI CYP 4:44:48
10 Irene KAKOGIANNI CYP 5:00:00
March 2009
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