by Larry EderThe roads are very crowded this weekend, as runners of all shapes and sizes, from Columbus, Ohio to Beijing, China lined up and ran or walked 26.2…..
EME NEWS (OCT 19, 2008)
TOP MARATHONS
REIMS (FRA, Oct 19): Kenyan David Kiyeng won the 25th Reims marathon in new course record and personal best 2:07:53. Last year he was also the best and achieved the former event best 2:09:08. Great times also for second John Komen (2:08:06, PB first time sub 2:10) and third Vincent Kipruto (2:08:16, PB). Under the previous record also fourth David Kemboi (2:08:40) and last sub 2:10 was Alex Kirui with 2:09:37 PB in debut. Kenyan also dominated the women field with Agnes Kiprop (2:32:37 in debut), Rael Nguriatukei (2:39:15) and Susan Kurui (2:47:20). Rwanda´s Dieudonne Disi repeated his half marathon win with 1:02:04, this time beating Samuel Kosgei of Kenya only by one second (1:02:05). Ethiopian Asefa Aselefech was the best woman in 1:11:00. Home Simon Munyutu was best at 10 km (29:55).
BEIJING (CHN, Oct 19): Kenyan men dominated the Beijing Marathon. 29-years old Benjamin Kiptoo who won in April the Brescia Marathon won in 2:10:14. Luka Chelimo as second achieved PB 2:10:30 and Simon Wangai as third 2:10:52. On the other hand home chinese women were the best. Still 19 years old Bai Xue who competed at Olympics in 10 000 m (21st) clocked 2:26:47 to beat title defender Chen Rong (2:28:25) and 18 years old world junior best holder in marathon Zhang Yingying (2:28:52). Kenyans followed with Hellen Kimutai fourth (2:29:19) and Alice Chelagat fifth (2:31:40). In total 30 000 runners competed at a course from Tiananmen Square with finish in Olympic Sports Center. For winners 20 000 USD.
DRESDEN (GER, Oct 19): Phaustin Baha Sulle is back with a win. Running a course record of 2:13:03 the 26-year from Tanzania set the highlight of the 10th edition of the Morgenpost Dresden Marathon. There was a surprise in the women’s race, which was won by 23 year-old last year second Remalda Kergyte (Lithuania) in 2:38:48 PB. Altogether 7017 athletes took part in the jubilee race, which had almost ideal weather conditions. Kenyan Pharis Kimani held on for second and a personal best of 2:14:40 in his second marathon. Vasyl Remshchuk (Ukraine) took third in 2:17:27, also a PB. The women’s favourite Fabiola John (Tanzania) already had a big lead early in the race. The 23 year-old, who had been second in Edinburgh in 2005 and has a personal best of 2:34:41, passed the half way point in 1:17:40 in Dresden. While she was well ahead of Remalda Kergyte (1:19:31) at that stage of the race, she started loosing ground soon afterwards. In the end Fabiola John had to be content with second place in 2:40:53.
AMSTERDAM (NED, Oct 19): Kenyan Paul Kirui won the 33rd Amsterdam Marathon with a final time 2:07:52. The world half marathon champion from 2004 did not come close to Haile Gebrselassie course record 2:06:20 as 24 000 runners participated. He won his first marathon since 2004 when he debuted at the distance. Second Ethiopian Chala Dechase debuted into great 2:08:31. Third was 2004 winner here Robert Cheboror of Kenya (2:09:13). Under 2:10 also Jonathan Kosgei (2:09:22) and Jackson Koech (2:09:42). „When I heard, after 37 kilometres, that the second group were coming closer, I decided to go away by myself,” said Kirui who placed fourth in last year’s race. Lydia Cheromei making her debut did it in brilliant style winning by almost five minutes in fast 2:25:57. The 25-year-old Kenyan easily dismissed the challenges of the Ethiopian pair of Adenech Zekiros and Marta Markos who clocked 2:30:17 and 2:32:32. Best Europeans were home runner Hugo Van den Broek (14th in 2:13:51) and Sweden´s Lena Gavelin as 8th (2:38:44). Former track world medalist John Kibowen in his second marathon was 8th (2:11:28, but has 2:11:04 from April in Paris) and Helsinki 2005 5k world champion Benjamin Limo debuted as 12th in 2:12:46.
OTHER RESULTS
GUADALAJARA (MEX, Oct 19): The 25th Guadalajara Marathon brought new course records. Winning Kenyan Christopher Toroitich clocked 2:13:59. He won here also in 2005. Former Houston Marathon winner Margarita Tapia of Mexico was the best woman with another event best 2:38:12.
ECHTERNACH (LUX, Oct 19): Poland win at marathon here with Przemyslaw Rosewski (2:22:11), national champion was third Chris Krombach (2:33:07).
DES MOINES (USA, Oct 19): Kenyan Geoffrey Kiprotich won the IMT Des Moines Marathon with 2:23:55 and Wendy Terris (39) as best woman clocked 2:49:37.
COLUMBUS (USA, Oct 19): 28-years old 2:15 runner Josh Ordway won the Columbus Marathon after 2:23:03 and Dani Prince clocked a PB of 2:48:56 as best woman.
CREMONA (ITA, Oct 19): Kenyan Elya Meli won the 7th Cremona Half Marathon in 1:02:33 beating his country-mate Richard Sigei clearly (1:03:40). Olympic marathon 14th placer Anna Incerti achieved 1:11:26 as best woman.
ST. DENIS (FRA, Oct 19): Ethiopian Demise Tsega won the 15th St. Denis Half Marathon with a time of 1:03:22. His country-mate Ashu Kasim was the best woman (1:15:27).
MADRID (ESP, Oct 19): Kenyan Erik Kibet won the 28th 10 km CSIC road race in Madrid clocking 29:40. Veteran marathon runner Fernando Rey was second (29:53). Kenyan Lean Jerotich was the leading woman (33:37). In total 4500 participants.
MONTEREAU (FRA, Oct 19): Kenyan Josphat Mugaka won the 10 km here after 28:42 and ahead of Samuel Kamau (28:46). Agnes Barsosio as best woman achieved 32:58.
DONOSTIA (ESP, Oct 19): Kenyan Francis Komu won the 12th 15 km road race near San Sebastian with 45:15.
OEIRAS (POR, Oct 19): Spanish winner Chema Martinez at 10 km road race „Carrera del Tajo” near Lisboa. His time 29:46 ahead of home Helder Ornelas (30:30) and another Spanish star Jesus Espana (30:36). Sandra Teixeira achieved a home win in women category (35:23) ahead of Leonor Carneiro (36:38) and triathlon Olympic medalist Vanessa Fernandes (36:52).
VALLECAS (ESP, Oct 18): Nuria Fernandez won the 7th Villa de Vallecas road mile closely over Margarita Fuentes-Pila as both clocked 4:56. Ethiopian Gebremehdin Mekonnen was the best male runner in 4:20 over Sergio Sanchez (4:22).
SCANZOROSCIATE (ITA, Oct 19): Belarussian Ivan Trotskiy won the 11th walking meet here after 4:04:17 at 50 km. Fresh Ukrainian champion Oleksiy Shelest was second (4:17:38). Elena Ginko of Belarus was best woman at not too often staged 50 km for women with 4:18:53. Holder of world best Sweden´s Monika Svensson was second in 4:22:20 (she achieved here last year 4:10:59).
GUTU (ZIM, Oct 18): Kelvin Pandison (1:06:04) and Varaidzo Shindi (1:24:20) claimed victory in the Dr Simon Muzenda memorial half marathon in Gutu on Saturday. Eight athletes and four officials from the Zimbabwe Alloys Mines escaped death by a whisker when a vehicle they were travelling in en route to Gutu overturned and rolled three times after the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve. One of the injured is the treasurer of the Zimbabwean federation, Salatiel Zangure, the Sunday News informs.
SEOUL (KOR, Oct 19): Japanese Ryochi Sekiya won the IAU 24 hours World Challenge Final (unofficial World Championships) as he achieved 272.443 km. Second was French Fabien Hoblea (266.152). Japan also won the team title ahead of France and Russia. French women were the dominating factor. They won the team competition (Japan second, Germany third) and also got the full podium. Anne-Marie Vernet won (238.762) ahead of Anne-Cecile Fontaine (238.328) and Brigitte Sec (229.818).
BRATISLAVA (SVK, Oct 19) Title defenders are leading after first stage of Samsung Supermaraton (in total 321 km in five stages). Poland´s Jaroslaw Janicki achieved after 92 km from Vienna, Austria to Bratislava, Slovakia 6:31:26. Second and third are Hungarians Ferenc Biri (6:32:51) and Attila Vozar (6:33:47). German Maria Bak leads (7:36:40) after first stage over Russians Lyudmila Kalinina (7:43:52) and Galina Yeryomina (7:59:54). Second stage on Monday has 84 km from Bratislava to Gyor, Hungary.
Special thanks and permission from Alfons Juck.
Runblogrun.com encourages you to check out the sites of Shooting Star Media, inc. (www.shootingstarmediainc.com): American Track & Field (www.american-trackandfield.com), Athletes Only (www.atf-athlete.com), California Track & Running News (www.caltrack.com), MIssouri Runner & Triathlete (www.morunandtri.com), Latinos Corriendo(www.latinoscorriendo.com), Coaching
Athletics Quarterly (www.coachingathleticsq.com), and USATF Fast Forward (www.usatf.org). All of the above magazine websites can be found at RunningNetwork.com (www.runningnetwork.com).
