On Saturday, while I was up at the NXN event, watching Reed Connor take the boys race and North Spokane take the boys team, and Chelsey Sveinsson won the girls race and Manilus won the girls, Jordan Hasay was winning her fourth Foot Locker Regional competition, a first for anyone, girl or boy.
I am taking a moment to praise Jordan Hasay and the thoughtful development of this athlete. Kudos to the parents for supporting her coach, Armando Siqueros, who, in my mind, is one of the best coaches in our country. Armando uses the Socratic method in his coaching technique. While he has ideas for the workouts and competitions, his overall theme is to give Jordan many different experiences so that she is a well rounded runner. Jordan is a bright young women, who has experienced the hard knocks of the Olympic Trials, the harder knocks of the World Junior champs and will be able to, if she chooses, go to the next level.
This is a combination of things. Jordan is one tough competitor. She also listens to Armando and her parents stay parents and allow her coach to be her coach. Without those lines in the sand, Jordan Hasay could never achieve what she has achieved.
EME NEWS (DEC 7, 2008) UPDATE
TARIKU DEFEATED, MASAI CLEARLY
ALCOBENDAS (ESP, Dec 7): Last this years European Athletics Cross Country Permit race in Madrid area was affected by rain and dominated by Africans. In close finish at 10.1 km surprise winner was Gebregziabher Gebremariam who was better as the top favorite Tariku Bekele by one second (29:08 – 29:09). Third best Kenyan Mark Kiptoo (29:10) ahead of Vincent Chepkok (29:14). Eritrean Kidane Tadese finished fifth (29:22) and another Kenyan Kiprono Menjo sixth (29:46). Only then best home runners followed. Alberto Garcia seventh (29:50) and Jose Rios eighth (30:19). In women´s 5.9 km Kenyan World junior record holder Linet Masai clearly dominated in 18:59 ahead of steeple Olympic medalist Eunice Jepkorir (19:38) and first Ethiopian here Worknesh Kidane (19:50). As fourth best Spanish runner Esther Desviat (20:18). Next EA CC Permit will be held on January 6 in San Giorgio, Italy.
MARATHONS
PUNE (IND, Dec 7): Nelson Kirwa Rotich dominated the 23rd Vodafone Pune International marathon, clocking 2:17:45, ahead of Andrea Silvini Mathiya of Tanzania (2:17:53) and Gudisa Lemesa Angessa of Ethiopia (2:18:12). „It was indeed a tough race for me to come out as the winner as two weeks back I had participated in the Bangkok event”, declared the 27 year old Police officer after the race. Kenyan runners made a cleen sweep in the women’s half marathon. Caroline Kilil won with a handsome lead in 1:10:17 ahead of Agnes Mutane (1:11:48) and Jane Muia (1:12:07), UNI informs. This year’s race was dedicated to honor the victims of the recent terror attacks in Mumbai.
SACRAMENTO (USA, Dec 7): Ethiopia’s Halefom Abebe delivered a finishing kick in ideal conditions to win the 26th California International Marathon with 2:16:42. Russia’s Natalia Sokolova was the best woman after 2:32:01 ahead of her team-mate Galina Aleksandrova (2:37:13). Third place for Ethiopian Abtha Serkalem (2:39:03). Abebe will get 10 000 USD first place prize. Ethiopians prevailed as Tesfaye Gilma was second (2:17:06) still before chasing Kenyans Joseph Mutinda (2:17:11) and Joseph Chirlee (2:17:51).
MACAO (MAC, Dec 7): Ethiopian Tsegay Adhane won the Galaxy Macau International Marathon with 2:15:06. He beat Kenyan Cyprian Kiogora by 6 seconds (2:15:12) with Ukrainian Mihaylo Iveruk third (2:16:49). Chinese Yuan Lili won the women category in PB 2:36:40. North Koreans finished behind her. Yong Ok Song with 2:36:52 and Kum Ok Kim 2:36:55 as third.
LISBOA (POR, Dec 7): Russian Sergey Lukin (33, 2:10:57 PB) won the 23rd Lisboa Marathon with 2:17:40. He was the only one sub 2:20 runner as second Kenyan Johnstone Chebii achieved 2:21:42. Poland´s Dorota Ustianowska was the best woman in 2:47:07 ahead of Russian Oksana Kuzmicheva (2:48:24).
LAS VEGAS (USA, Dec 7): Ethiopian Abebe Yimer who lives in the city won the Las Vegas Marathon in 2:27:27 ahead of Kenyan Geoffrey Kiprotich (2:27:51). Moline Marathon winner Russian Nadezhda Tuptova was the best woman in 2:48:20.
KISUMU (KEN, Dec 7): In hot temperatures (36 degrees) the winners clocked 2:22:01 (George Nchoro) and 2:53:16 (Rose Jebet) at Great Lakes Marathon in Kenya.
OTHER RESULTS
KOSA (JPN, Dec 7): Kenyan Gideon Ngatuny won the Kosa 10 miles road race in Japan with 45:15. It is 6th best all-time performer, the world best beeing 44:23 by Haile Gebrselassie in 2005 (Tillburg). Ethiopian Hailu Mekonnen achieved 45:59 as second.
WALNUT (USA, Dec 5): America’s top junior middle distance runner, Jordan Hasay captured her fourth consecutive Foot Locker Cross Country West Regional Championships title to become the first athlete in championships’s history to win four times in a row. The race was held at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., home of the famoust Mt. SAC Relays. Hasay, running for Mission Prep, was in a pack of five at the 4 km mark when she pushed ahead on a dowhill to break free for the title. She covered the 5 km course in 18:02.
MATARO (ESP, Dec 7): Kenyan Jacob Yator won the Half-Marathon here with 1:02:58 ahead of his team-mate Laban Korir (1:03:18).
CIEZA (ESP, Dec 7): Abraham Chelanga scored another Kenyan win of the weekend in Spain as he clocked 1:03:11 at Half-Marathon. Sarah Kerubo was the best woman with 1:15:44.
AULNAY-SOUS-BOIS (FRA, Dec 6): French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie opened the 1st leg of the French pole vault elite Tour with a bang Saturday night in Aulnay-sous-Bois, improving his personal best from 5.70m to 5.81m. Daniel Dossevi cleared 5.52m while 2007 world silver medallist Romain Mesnil achieved 5.43m. 1996 Olympic champion Jean Galfione also took part in the meet (4.91m). The women’s event was claimed by Marion Buisson with a 4.30m effort, L’Equipe informs.
ANNAPOLIS (USA, Dec 5): French relay olympian Manuel Reynaert clocked in heats and finals twice 6.78 at 60 m here.
GRANOLLERS (ESP, Dec 7): High class fields at Gran Premi de Catalunya in road walking. European Champion and Olympic 7th placer Francisco Fernandez won the 10 km in 41:07. Double Olympic medalist Jared Tallent of Australia was second (41:13) ahead of top Norwegian Erik Tysse (41:19). Former world medalist Juan Manuel Molina of Spain finished fourth (41:30) and another home walker Benjamin Sanchez fifth (41:49). Irish record holder Robert Heffernan was sixth (41:57) ahead of former world champion Ilya Markov of Russia (42:11). German Sabine Zimmer was the leading female walker at 5 km (21:51). She beat Olympic silver holder Kjersti Plätzer of Norway (22:05) with best home Maria Vasco third (22:11). 2004 Olympic winner Athanasia Tsoumeleka of Greece was 9th (24:01).
LONDON (GBR): Latest Pat Butcher´s blog at
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