byLarry EderRunning a tough race at real,-Berlin, Irina Miktienko became the first German women to break two hours, twenty minutes in the marathon!
EME NEWS (SEP 28, 2008) UPDATE
MIKITENKO EQUALS WAMI
BERLIN (GER): Irina Mikitenko has gone into the lead in the second season of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) 2007-2008 with her victory in the real, – BERLIN MARATHON. The German now has 65 points after a fantastic race in the German capital where she won in 2:19:19. She is now equal first place alongside Gete Wami for the season. Mikitenko has also taken the lead for the third WMM Series in 2008-2009 with 50 points from two races. Berlin organizers are saying in their release.
A really exciting contest is developing in the women’s competition for the second season of 2007-2008. Gete Wami must finish second or better in New York to improve her points’ total for the season. The Ethiopian has already taken maximum points from four races so finishing third, fourth or fifth would not benefit her. She was second in London in 2007, first in Berlin in 2007, second in New York in 2007 and third in London 2008.
There still remain the Chinese Chunxiu Zhou and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya who, if they win in Chicago or New York, could overhaul the rest and take the lead. However, after winning medals in the Olympic Marathon (silver for Ndereba, bronze for Zhou), neither has made any announcement about entering either of these races.
If the women’s competition should finish with Mikitenko and Wami level on points, then the win-loss ratio would be taken into account: even this would not produce a result since the Ethiopian finished ahead of the German in Berlin a year ago and the positions were reversed in London . At present, factors such as how many races runners have done to achieve their points’ total, how far in front of one another they’ve finished in terms of places or time in the relevant WMM races are not in the WMM rules. It would be up to the race directors to work out how they decide the winner.
In the men’s rankings Haile Gebrselassie, who improved his own world record with 2:03:59 in Berlin , has moved up to third with 50 points for the 2007-2008 season. But the Ethiopian has no chance of winning the overall WMM title. The Kenyan Martin Lel leads with 76 points and the only man who could overtake him is his compatriot Robert K. Cheruiyot, depending on whether the latter wins in Chicago or New York . But so far he has made no announcement about running either of those races on 12 October or 2 November. Haile Gebrselassie certainly has excellent prospects for the 2008-2009 season. He has 25 points, the same as Robert K. Cheruiyot, behind the Kenyan pair of Sammy Wanjiru (40 points) and Martin Lel (26).
Current Standings in the second WWM Series 2007-2008:
MEN
1 Martin Lel (KEN) 76 points
2 Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) 55
3 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 50
4 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 40
4 Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 40
6 James Kwambi (KEN) 31
WOMEN
1 Irina Mikitenko (GER) 65 Points
1 Gete Wami (ETH) 65
3 Chunxiu Zhou (CHN) 50
4 Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 41
5 Constantina Dita (ROM) 35
6 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 30
6 Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) 30
8 Dire Tune (ETH) 25
8 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 25
8 Berhane Adere (ETH) 25
Current Standings in the third WMM Series 2008-2009
MEN
1 Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 40 Points
2 Martin Lel (KEN) 26
3 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 25
3 Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) 25
5 Jaoud Gharib (MAR) 15
5 Abderrahim Bouramdare (MAR) 15
5 James Kwambai (KEN) 15
WOMEN
1 Irina Mikitenko (GER) 50 points
2 Dire Tune (ETH) 25
2 Contstantina Dita (ROM) 25
4 Askale Tafa Margasa (ETH) 16
RESULTS
MARATHONS
TORONTO (CAN, Sep 28): Ethiopian Mulu Seboka clocked first ever sub 2:30 at 9th Toronto Marathon with 2:29:06. Title defender and another Ethiopian Asha Gigi achieved 2:33:24 with Kenyan Caroline Cheptanui third (2:34:27). Briton Kim Hawke as 6th was timed at 2:44:56. The winner will get the same 20 000 USD as the Kenneth Mungara of Kenya who won the men race after 2:11:01. For the last year Prague winner another interesting triumph. Second Peter Kiprotich achieved 2:11:03 and third Ethiopian Amersisa Ketema 2:11:52 (PB). Title defender John Kelai of Kenya was 5th (2:12:43).
GENEVE (SUI, Sep 28): Ethiopian Tesfaye Eticha won the 4th Geneve Marathon for the fourth time with new course record 2:14:23. Eticha lives in Geneve. Second Kenyan Philipp Muia achieved 2:15:36. Ethiopian win also in women section by Addis Gezahegne (2:46:57). In total 3241 participants were registered.
WARSZAWA (POL, Sep 28): Young Ethiopian Alemayehu Shumye (20) clocked new course record 2:11:50 to win the 30th jubilee Flora Warszawa Marathon. Second Kenyan Michael Karonei got 2:13:17 and third Tanzanian Disdery Hombo 2:13:41. Best European was Poland´s Pawel Ochal as fourth (2:14:29) ahead of former steepler Rafal Wojcik (2:16:29). Experienced Malgorzata Sobanska did the same in women category as she also clocked new course record 2:31:20 beating Ethiopians Tadelech Birra (2:35:20), Etaferahu Tarekegne (2:36:21) and South African Tanith Maxwell (2:36:38).
BYELAYA TSERKEV (UKR, Sep 27): Oleksiy Ribalchenko won the Ukrainian marathon title with 2:18:13 ahead of Mykola Yukhimchuk (2:18:48). Olena Biloshchuk was the best woman after 2:39:51.
ZARAGOZA (ESP, Sep 28): Ethiopian Neguse Rege won the 2nd Maraton Expo Zaragoza clocking 2:13:25. Home win for Teresa Pulido in women section after new course record 2:33:07. In total 1500 participants was a increase by 300 in comparison to inaugural edition.
LIMONE SUL GARDA (ITA, Sep 28): Kenyan Philemon Serem won the 2nd Lake Garda Marathon with 2:25:56. Best woman home Monica Carlin (37) got 2:46:35.
HALF-MARATHONS
LISBOA (POR, Sep 28): Kenyan Silas Sang won the Half-Marathon of Porugal in Lisboa in 1:01:26. Former world record holder Paul Tergat was beaten to second in 1:01:33 with Samuel Mwangi third (1:01:41). From other top names in preparation for later marathons former world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morroco was 7th (1:02:17) and London winner Martin Lel of Kenya 14th (1:04:02). Former Boston winner Rita Jeptoo was the best woman in 1:09:48 beating team-mates Alice Timbilili (1:10:13) and Salina Kosgei (1:11:10). Best European was home runner Ines Monteiro as fourth (1:11:33).
REMICH (LUX, Sep 28): Kenyan Charles Korir won the 47th Vin de Route HM in Luxembourg with a final time of 1:02:09. Ethiopian Mamitu Daska achieved new PB to win the women category in 1:12:36. Kenyan Anitha Kiptum was second (1:12:53).
UDINE (ITA, Sep 28): Benson Barus clocked fast PB 59:41 to win the 9th Udine Half-Marathon. Also under one hour was second John Kiprotich (59:44 also PB). Hungarian Aniko Kalovics was the women winner (1:10:08) ahead of Ethiopian Mare Dibaba (1:10:32 PB), another Ethiopian Masresha Azalech (1:10:35, PB) and best Kenyan Hellen Kimutai (1:11:05).
TORINO (ITA, Sep 28): Kenyan Meli Tarus won the Torino Half-Marathon after 1:02:59. Kenyan Mercy Jerotich was the best woman (1:12:40).
OTHER RESULTS
PARIS (FRA, Sep 28): Both Kenyan winners defended their last year triumphs at 31st classic 16 km road race Paris-Versailles. Joseph Maregu clocked 46:45 to win over top Rwandan distance runner Dieudonne Disi (47:16) and French Abdelatif Meftah (48:27). Myriam Wangari achieved as best woman 55:56 ahead of another Kenyan Agnes Barsosio (56:38) and home Yamna Oubouhou (56:50).
LIDINGO (SWE, Sep 27-28): National steeple record holder Mustafa Mohamed won the traditional 30 km Lidingoloppet with new national record 1:37:10. Second Kenyan Japhet Kipkorir got 1:37:23. Home winners in women category by Anna Rahm (1:53:20) and Lena Gavelin (1:55:43). In Tjejlopp at 10 km Pauline Njeri of Kenya achieved 34:16 ahead of Annemari Sandell of Finland (34:39). In total 34 475 runners were registered in different categories and races what is new record.
UTRECHT (NED, Sep 28): The 58th Utrecht Singelloop at 10 km registered new course records. Kenyan Sammy Kitwara after Damm-to-Damm win last weekend achieve 27:44 beating his team-mate Joseph Kiptoo (27:51). For Kitwara also sixth fastest road 10 km of the year. Best European was the French Larbi Zeroual in 29:14. Monica Chepkoech clocked 32:01 ahead of Irene Kwambai (both Kenya) who got 32:22.
PRAHA (CZE, Sep 28): Petra Kaminkova won for jubilee 10th time one of the oldest road races in Europe the 112th Bechovice-Praha 10 km. Her time was a modest 36:11. Male winner Robert Stefko did so for 7th time in 31:21 ahead of Pavel Faschingbauer returning from injuries (31:44).
MADRID (ESP, Sep 28): Former track European Champion “Chema” Martinez won the Madrid “Carrera Perfecta Nissan” 10 km road race after 30:21. Amaya Sanfabio was the best woman (38:51). Some 10 000 runners participated.
ST. GALLEN (SUI, Sep 27): Kenyan Mike Tanui won the 8.81 km city race after 26:40.6. Best woman was the Bahraini Sara Aqoop (29:51.8).
BARAKALDO (ESP, Sep 27): Ethiopian Gebremehdin Mekonnen won the 3rd road mile here with 4:33 beating Alvaro Rodriguez (4:37). European CC Champion Marta Dominguez was beaten into second after 5:05 by Natalia Rodriguez (5:04).
BRATKOWICE (POL, Sep 27): Russian Ilya Markov won the international walk meet after 20:02 ahead of Grzegorz Sudol at 5 km distance (20:08) and Rafal Augustyn (20:26).
LODI (ITA, Sep 27): The Italian Club Championships were highlighted by a good 10 000 metres walking race by former olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti who clocked 40:21.31 in Lodi near Milan held on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon. It was the last competition of the year for Brugnetti who finished fifth in the 20 km walking race at the Olympic Games in Bejing.
Hammer throwers showed good form at the end of a very long season. Clarissa Claretti, seventh in the olympic final in Bejing, won the women’s hammer throw with the greatest ease with 68.49 m. Marco Lingua (79.97 this year) took the win with a solid 77.18 in the men’s hammer throw. Filippo Campioli, olympic finalist in Bejing, cleared a winning 2.27 in his third attempt before failing three attempts at 2.31. Former 60 metres world indoor finalist Simone Collio cruised to 10.39 (+2.0 m/s) in the men’s 100 metres.
The women’s team of Sai Fondiaria won the national title for the seventh consecutive year, while the men’s ranking was won by the Assindustria Sport Padova, writes Diego Sampaolo.
Used with permission of Alfons Juck, Publisher of EME News.
For more on the sport, click on www.runningnetwork.com
