byLarry EderFernando Cabada won the US title held on the Mediatronic Twin Cities Marathon course, in rainy and wind swept conditions, in 2:16.32. In the accompanying Womens 10 Mile Championship, Kara Goucher ran an uncontested 53:16, as she prepares for her marathon debut on the ING New York City course on November 2, 2008…
EME NEWS (OCT 6, 2008)
CABADA WINS US MARATHON TITLE
MINNEAPOLIS (USA, Oct 5): Fernando Cabada (26), who struggled for last months won the men’s USA marathon championship in rainy Twin Cities Marathon. His winning time was 2:16:32 and prize 25 000 USD plus 2000 USD in American development funds. As per media reports in last months a partier but decided to give up drinking for two months in preparation for the race. Second Matt Gabrielson achieved 2:17:38 (16 750 USD). They both also qualified for Berlin World Championships 2009. Russians dominated the women’s race, which attracted more of an international field because it did not serve as a U.S. championship. Olga Glok (25) won in 2:32:38 while Silvia Skvortsova (33) ended with 2:32:39 as second.
The weekend’s events also included the USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship where 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Outdoor 10 000 m bronze medalist Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) cruised to her first USA road title in 53:16. Katie McGregor was second (55:04) with Kelly Liljeblad third in 57:06. Goucher and McGregor are in full preparation for New York Marathon.
LITHUANIAN WIN IN UKRAINE
IVANO-FRANKIVSK (UKR, Oct 4-5): Lithuanian walker Donatas Skarnulis won the Ukrainian 50 km walk championships with good 3:56:55. The national title went to second Oleksiy Shelest (4:01:45). During the 12th international walking meet Lyudmila Shelest won the 20 km for women with 1:37:15. Interesting times for young Ukrainian walkers Ihor Lyashenko (born 1993) with 44:43 at 10 km and Galina Yakovchuk (born 1992) 23:54 at 5 km.
WEIDLINGER PLANS MARATHON DEBUT
WIEN (AUT): Top European distance runner Austrian Gunther Weidlinger plans his marathon debut next spring. He also thinks about attacking the national record 2:12:22 by Gerhard Hartmann back in 1986. Since early November he will have his preparation in Australian altitude place Falls Creek.
ROP THE TOP NAME
FRANKFURT (GER): The nop name announced for Frankfurt Marathon in two weeks will be the Kenyan Rodgers Rop (32) who won back in 2002 Boston and New York. Last year winner and course record holder Wilfred Kigen (2:07:58) gave the priority this year to New York. Other top name is Benson Barus with 2:08:34 who just last weekend in Italy improved his half marathon best to 59:41. Other top Kenyans are Benjamin Maiyo (2:07:09), Stephen Kiogora (2:09:21) and William Kiplagat (2:06:50).
Unfortunately Susanne Hahn one of home female favorites will be not able to compete due to injury. The other three top home runners remained with Melanie Kraus, Claudia Dreher and recently in half marathon improved Sabrina Mockenhaupt.
RESULTS
FREIBURG (SUI, Oct 5): Kenyan John Mwangani won the 75th Murten-Freiburg road race at 17,17 km with 52:08.2. In Switzerland living Ethiopian Tolossa Chengere was second (52:41,5). Also Kenyan win in women competition for Helen Musyoka who achieved 1:01:10.2.
PESCARA (ITA, Oct 5): Kenyan Salomon Rotich clocked good 2:12:58 to win the Maratona Mediterranea here. His teammate Joshua Kipchumba Rop was second (2:17:02). Italian female win here by Silvia Luna (2:53:55). In half marathon Rachid Kisri clocked 1:02:39 and Vincenza Sicari 1:14:42.
EGNA (ITA, Oct 5): Good quality winning time also at Sudtirol Marathon for another Kenyan Julius Kirwa Choge achieving 2:12:12 ahead of his country-mates Daniel Koech Kipkemboi (2:12:46) and Philip Kanda Kipkoech (2:15:38). Half Marathon registered Kenyan male win for David Cherono (1:03:27) and Swiss Sabine Fischer (1:13:26).
GUAYAQUIL (ECU, Oct 5): Wins for home runners at 4th Guayaquil Marathon. 27 years old Byron Piedra defended his title from last year with PB 2:20:42. Interestingly he competed at Olympic Games in Beijing at the 1500 m. 34 years old Sandra Ruales was the best woman with 2:50:40. She clocked her best in Beijing beeing 43rd with 2:35:53.
COLOMBO (SRI, Oct 5): The Colombo marathon winner in Sri Lanka was home Ajith Bandara after 2:25:25. Kenyan women win for Eveline Kimwei (3:00:39).
MILANO (ITA, Oct 5): Kenyan Jackson Kirwa Kiprono clocked excellent 27:50 to win the Nella Deejay Ten beating Wilson Kebenei (28:29). Mercy Kibarus was the best woman (32:33) before Margaret Okayo (32:45).
ROVERETO (ITA, Oct 5): Another fast 10 km road race at 61st Giro Podistico here by Ethiopian Gemechu Feysa 27:37 beating Kenyans Mark Bett (27:52) and Isaac Tanui (28:02).
BREDA (NED, Oct 5): Kenyan Boniface Biwott won the 23rd Singelloop in Breda (Half Marathon) after 1:02:02 beating Joseph Kiptoo (1:02:07) and Felix Keny (1:02:08). Best European was the French runner Hassan Beckanouch (1:04:04 as seventh). Kenyan Beatrice Omwanza was the best woman (1:13:29) ahead of her country-mate Emily Chemutai (1:13:31), best European Czech Petra Kaminkova as fifth (1:16:16).
NANCY (FRA, Oct 5): Kenyan Nicolas Manza clocked 1:01:21 to win the Half Marathon here ahead of another Kenyan Musou Mwanzia (1:03:48).
PORNICHET (FRA, Oct 5): French runner female Stephanie Briand clocked 2:43:46 to win here the Marathon „de la Cote d´Amour”.
WIEN (AUT, Oct 4): Kenyan Geoffrey Gikuni-Ndungu won the 60th version of oldest road race in Austria (Hohenstrassenlauf) with new course record 42:12 at 14.3 km.
OGRE (LAT, Oct 5): At Janis Dalins Memorial walking race at 30 km Ingus Janevic clocked 2:19:48 and Agnese Pastare solid 2:34:13.
CHIASSO (SUI, Oct 5): Italian Mirko Dolci won the 20 km race at international walking meet with 1:27:43 ahead of Slovakian Olympian Milos Batovsky (1:28:21). Women´s 10 km also brought Italian win for 19 years old Eleonora Giorgi (47:21) beating Maria Galikova of Slovakia (47:42) and home Marie Polli (48:08). Part of the event was also international four countries match dominated by Ireland (49) before Netherlands (30), Denmark (26) and home team of Switzerland (25). Overall Team winner was Slovakia.
BLOEMFONTEIN (RSA, Oct 4): Favorites Hendrick Ramaala (35) on men side and Rene Kalmer as best woman dominated the Nedbank and Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) Matha-series half marathon (21,1 km). Ramaala´s time was 1:03:55 ahead of Masilo Matjiane of Lesotho (1:03:56). Kalmer defended her last year title with 1:14:25 beating Mamarallo Tjoka of Lesotho (1:15:07).
SAN JOSE (USA, Oct 5): Competing in ideal running conditions, Gilbert Okari of Kenya broke away from the lead pack at mile nine and cruised to victory at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in San Jose. His winning time was good 1:01:46 ahead of Morrocan Ridouane Harroufi (1:01:57). Just one second behind was third Moses Kigen (1:01:58). On the women’s side, Yuri Kano of Japan took a sizeable lead after mile 11 on the way to her victory (1:10:03). Azalech Masresha of Ethiopia finished second with a time of 1:10:36. Kenyan Ann Kosgei took third in 1:11:53. Sally Meyerhoff, USA, finished forth and was the first American women to finish in 1:12:52.
JALASJARVI (FIN, Sep 25): In additional result information great improvement for 26 years old finnish discus thrower Raine Munukka to 62.40 m in his first 60+ competition.
OTHER NEWS
PARIS (FRA): 2006 400 m European champion Marc Raquil has been back to training since mid-August after a motorcycle accident early July. The 31 year-old, who has not yet decided if his future is to be on the flat or the hurdles, plans to compete at least until 2010 and the European championships in Barcelona. Despite not being an indoors specialist, he also thinks of entering the European indoor championships in Torino next March – L’Equipe informs.
LEON (ESP): Spanish shot put record holder Manuel Martinez announced that he will start a new athletics club in the city of Leon. It is connected to a training center which should be finished by February 2009.
LISBOA (POR): Portugal will be represented in Rio de Janeiro at IAAF Half Marathon World Championships next weekend by female runner Dulce Felix.
BRUSSELS (BEL): The track at „Koning Boudewijnstadion” will be renewed for 2.5 millions Euro. Informs Belgian media. It should be ready for next years Memorial Van Damme one of the top meetings in the world which is planned for September 4 as Golden League final. The current track is 12 years old with 10 years beeing usual period of service.
VILNIUS (LTU): Eimantas Skrabulis remained the President of Lithuanian Athletics Federation after elections held during the weekend. Eugenijus Burokas will continue as general secretary. Vice-president is Nijole Medvedeva.
BATON ROUGE (USA): LeJuan Simon, who won three All-America honors for the LSU track and field team and was crowned the NCAA Indoor triple jump champion in 2004, died on Wednesday night at his home in Baton Rouge at the age of 27. As the university informs, at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships he led an unprecedented 1-2-3 LSU sweep in the triple jump to spearhead the Tigers to victory with their last NCAA team championship. He also achieved his PB in that meet with 17.05 and represented Trinidad and Tobago at 2004 Olympic Games. His latest competitions are dated from 2007. His Long jump PB was also excellent with 801 from 2004. He died last week due to complications with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, a condition that creates additional pressure in the pulmonary artery responsible for supplying blood and the necessary oxygen to the lungs. The cause for the disease is generally unknown.
NAIROBI (KEN, Oct 4): Kenya´s Olympic and Paralympic heroes, who between them won 23 medals, including 10 gold, have received a special welcome home to their home town. Informs insidethegames.com. A convoy of 40 cars were met by huge crowds in Eldoret, where the majority of Kenya’s successful distance runners are based. The team were led by Wilfred Bungei and Pamela Jelimo, who won the gold medals at the Olympics in the men and women’s 800 metres.
They were joined by Kenya’s other Olympic medallists, including Nancy Lagat, the women’s 1500m champion, one of five golds won by Kenyan runners in the Olympics, where overall they won a record 14 medals. Several members of the successful Paralympic team, who won nine medals, including five gold, were present. After being driven through the town a celebration event was held at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium and entertained by Douglas Wakiihuri, the former world marathon champion, who is now a singer.
Used with permission of Alfons Juck.
