by Larry Eder
Martin Lel, Flora London winner for 2005, 2007 and 2008, will not be running in 2009, due to a nagging injury. Photo by PhotoRun.net.
EME NEWS (APR 25, 2009) UPDATE
LEL WILL NOT RUN
LONDON (GBR): Defending champion Martin Lel has been forced to withdrawn from chasing a record fourth victory in tomorrow‘s Flora London Marathon with a hip injury. Writes David Martin. The 30-year-old Kenyan who was confident of improving the three wins achieved by Mexico‘s Dionicio Ceron between 1994 and 1996, had an MRI scan last Wednesday which revealed soft tissue in his right side. However it was felt the problem would not prevent him competing but after a late fitness test this afternoon he has been advised to withdraw by medical staff. Lel said: “I am very disappointed not to be able to compete for my fourth Flora London Marathon title but I need to be cautious. The injury is not serious but the pain means I wouldn’t be at my best tomorrow.†Lel‘s absence will leave Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru who believes he can smash the world record to lead the Kenyan challenge to retain the title ifor a sixth consecutive year. Winner‘s purse us USD 55 000 and a world record bonus of USD 125 000. London marathon can also break some statistical landmarks. For example in number of sub 2:06:35 per year. In 2008 the record number of runners was 10 (12 performances), but this year already 9 runners went under 2:06:35 and that could go on Sunday.
RESULTS
PODEBRADY (CZE, Apr 25): Slovak European 2006 sixth placer Matej Toth confirmed his excellent shape at the European Athletics Walking Permit meeting (77th edition) in Czech Republic. He won the 20 km in new PB 1:20:53. It was his third win here: “I was dreaming about sub 1:21 after my national 50 km record. I was tired only at the end but last year win was tougher,†said Toth. Italian Jean-Jacques Nkoulikidi was second in 1:23:55. Slovakia won the team competition with 4 points because Anton Kucmin ended as third (1:25:19, PB). Czech Champion Roman Bilek clocked 1:31:11 as tenth and got after 50 km also the title at 20 km. Zuzana Schindlerova defended her 20 km Czech women title but was also overall winner in 1:35:04. In good duel second place for Italian Gisella Orsini (1:35:59) ahead of Slovak Maria Galikova (1:36:40). For Schindlerova the European U23 Championships in Lithuania are the most important. Junior races winners were Italians Riccardo Macchia (43:13) and Antonella Palmisano (48:02). In the team competition behind Slovak men the order was Italy (6), France (17), Sweden (21), Czech (21), Belarus (25), Lithuania (28) and Ireland (35). In the women teams Italy won (7) ahead of Slovakia (9), Switzerland (11), Czech (13), Lithuania (19) and France (28). Junior winners were boys and girls of Italy.
BUCURESTI (ROU, Apr 25): Home Romania dominated the Balkan Walking Championships with 38 points ahead of Greece (34) and Turkey (32). 32 years old Olympian Ana Maria Groza won the 20 km and for third time in her career achieved sub 1:30 time. After 2000 and 2004 it was this time 1:29:56. Young home male Dragos Neacsu (22) improved from 1:26 best to winning 1:23:21 in men´s 20 km. Two event records in junior competitions. Adriana Turnea of Romania clocked in junior girls 46:19 at 10 km and Greek Ekaterina Theodoropoulou achieved 23:25 in youth 5 km.
ZITTAU (GER, Apr 25): Clear win for Andre Hohne at German Walking Championships as he clocked 1:24:50 at 20 km and the second placer was nearly five minutes behind. He defended his title as Sabine Krantz in women race (for the sixth time) in 1:36:49. She wants to attack the Berlin standard in Sesto San Giovanni early May.
ZHUKOVSKIY (RUS, Apr 25): Rybakov twins ruled at Russian CC Championships. Yevgeniy and Anatoliy were top two at 8 km with identical 23:36. Aleksandr Krivchonkov won the shorter 4 km in 11:17 ahead of Pavel Naumov (11:20). Yelizaveta Grechishnikova was the best in women´s 6 km (20:06). Twelve seconds behind was Natalya Novichkova (20:18).
CHULA VISTA (USA, Apr 24): In discus paradise US Jarred Rome won with 65.14 ahead of Dutch Eric Cadee who improved to excellent 64.42 and qualified for World Championships. Third Australian Ben Harradine got 63.80. Becky Breisch won the women competition (61.24).
SIENA (ITA, Apr 25): 2000 olympic hammer medalist Nicola Vizzoni achieved good 77.99 here. His next competition will be the Meet to honor Kamila Skolimowska in Warszawa on May 2.
MADRID (ESP, Apr 24): Spanish junior Javier Cienfuegos improved again the national U19 hammer record with 6 kg implement to excellent 80.24 m. His former mark was 76.51 m. In the all-time list only five throwers are better with world junior record 82.62 by Russian Yevgeniy Aydamirov in 2006.
SPANISH LEAGUE (Apr 25): Spanish Clubs League started on Saturday. Discus record holder Mario Pescante achieved in Alicante 59.50 m. In Valencia High Jump national best holder Ruth Beitia went over 187 and tried at 193. Beatriz Pascual went the 5000 m walk in 21:41.56. The events will continue also on Sunday.
HAMMARBY (SWE, Apr 25): During first day of Swedish CC Championships the favorite Mustafa Mohamed won the 4 km in 11:02. At the same women distance the winner was Ulrika Johansson clocking 12:51.
LAUSANNE (SUI, Apr 25): One week after winning the Bern Grand Prix Kenyan John Mwangangi dominated also the 20 km in Lausanne. Here 17 045 runners participated. He clocked new course record 1:00:29. Interestingly judo bronze winner from Beijing Sergei Aschwanden clocked 1:47:16 and prepares for marathon debut in New York. In women race Kenyan Jane Muia achieved 1:09:56.
LUZERN (SUI, Apr 25): Kenyan win also at 32nd Luzern City Run with Stanley Salil. He needed for 8.71 km 24:50. Best European Briton Nick McCormick was as fourth 28 seconds behind, Austrian Martin Proll was sixth (39 seconds behind the winner). In women 4.25 km race British win for Helen Clitheroe (13:16) ahead of Slovenian Torino 1500 m bronze winner Sonja Roman (13:24) and Dutch Adrienne Herzog (13:26).
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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