by Larry EderIrina Mikitenko of Germany was made the champion of the World Marathon Majors, and this vote was unanimous. The vote by the five race directors was called for due to the tie mentioned below. The race directors cited that she ran a smaller number of races to achieve her points. More on this tomorrow!
EME NEWS (NOV 2, 2008) UPDATE
MIKITENKO AND NDEREBA WITH SAME POINTS
NEW YORK (USA): Ethiopian Gete Wami was only 6th in New York City Marathon, did not get any points and so must wait on the decision of Race Directors who will get the women 500 000 USD prize money for World Marathon Majors 2007/08. She and German Irina Mikitenko (beeing in NY as guest) is having the same 65 points. Wami could be the winner if first or second in Big Apple, but she was sixth. Also world champion Catherine Ndereba had a chance if winning and Wami not second. But she was only fifth. Overall third is Russian Lidya Grigoryeva (55) and Chinese Zhou Chunxiu fourth (50). Ndereba got one point and with 42 is fifth with Olympic winner Constantina Dita sixth (40).
Kenyan Martin Lel was already a winner before the race with 76 points clearly ahead of Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (55) as both did not run in NYC. Haile Gebrselassie is third with 50 points.
In 2008-09 section the leaders are Irina Mikitenko (50) and Samuel Wanjiru (40).
RADCLIFFE AND GOMES
NEW YORK (USA, Nov 2): Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain retained her title and Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil regained his at the ING New York City Marathon, informs Race Results Weekly. Both winners achieved 8th best results in the history of the event and both will cash 165 000 USD (130 for win and 35 as time bonus).
Radcliffe, who controlled the race from the gun, captured her third victory over the five-borough course in 2:23:56. Unlike in her previous New York victories, Radcliffe was never challenged, finishing well ahead of Russian Lyudmila Petrova, who clocked 2:25:43. Contesting her marathon debut, American Kara Goucher finished third clocking 2:25:53. Kenyan Rita Jeptoo was a distant fourth in 2:27:49. Then followed the WMM contenders 2007 World Champion Catherina Ndereba as fifth (2:29:25) and first WMM winner Gete Wami as sixth (2:29:25). Her teammate and one hour world record holder Dire Tune was seventh (2:29:28) with former world champion Lidia Simon of Romania 8th (2:30:04). Russian Lyubov Morgunova was 9th (2:30:38). Gomes dos Santos, the 2006 winner, came from behind over the last two miles to win handily in 2:08:43 after overtaking Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri, who held on for second in 2:09:07. More than two minutes back, Daniel Rono of Kenya was a distant third in the men’s race, clocking 2:11:22. Former world record holder Paul Tergat was fourth (2:13:10). Best US runner Abdi Abdirahman as 6th (2:14:17), interesting debut in 10th place for Bolota Asmerom (2:16:37). Former winner Hendrick Ramaala was 12th (2:19:11). Former NCAA star Boaz Cheboiywo of Kenya debuted with 2:21:40 (19th). Best European Russian Sergey Kaledin ended 22nd (2:22:34).
BUBKA SATISFIED
SINGAPORE (SIN): IAAF senior vice-president Sergey Bubka has praised Singapore’s preparations for the Youth Olympic Games, which the South East Asia city state will hold in 2010. The Ukrainian headed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission that completed its first visit. Bubka said: „We are impressed with how the preparations have advanced. SYOGOC is very much on track.” The Coordination Commission visited various venues that will stage the 200 events in 26 sports. A master plan proposal for the venues for the Games was put forward by the Singaporean organising committee for approval. The seven members of the Coordination Commission said they were highly impressed by the Youth Olympic Village based at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) campus.
RADCLIFFE SUPPORTS THE STADIUM
NEW YORK (USA): British marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has warned officials that squandering the opportunity to leave British sport with a legacy that could benefit athletics for generations if it did not retain an athletics track at the Olympic Stadium after it has staged the 2012 Games. Informs insidethegames.com. Britain’s greatest ever female distance runner is angry that there is renewed speculation that the track will be ripped up after the 2012 Games and turned into a football stadium for a Premiership club.
FAST YOUTH SPRINTER
TAIAN (CHN, Nov 2): Fast youth sprinter during Chinese Junior and Youth Championships. Only 16-years old Huang Xiang won the 200 m and improved his PB to good quality 21.13 (-0.3) as Tilastopaja reports.
Used with permission of EME News, publisher of Alfons Juck.
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