Haile Gebrselassie, 2011 BMW Berlin, photo by PhotoRun.net

Haile Gebrselassie continues his return to fitness after the Berlin marathon debacle, and is focused on the Tokyo Marathon, which will be held at the end of February. He needs a fast one there to be selected for the Ethiopian marathon team for London 2012.

At the Yokohama marathon, the first of four Japanese Olympic trials selection marathons, Ryoko Kazaki won in 2:26.32 over Yoshima Ozaki, the favorite, who ran 2:26.49. Mara Yamauchi, the British marathoner who resides in Japan, ran a fine 2:27.24 to get her Olympic qualifier, the temperature was quite warm (22 Celsius, 71.6 Fahrenheit).

The 13th Nike Border Clash, held today at the Nike Global campus, had the state of Washington boys and girls cross country teams dominate the Oregon boys and girls over the 4,387 meter course around the Nike campus. Details to come..

Coffee With Larry, Spring marathon season is almost here, Eliud Kipchoge to Boston, Who is the world’s greatest athlete at the World Champs, 1983-2023?

Coffee With Larry, Eliud Kipchoge racing in Boston, Doha opens the Diamond League season, NB Outdoors is June 15-18, 2023, Do you want to run AJC Peachtree run?

Coffee With Larry, Kiplimo and Obiri take chilly United Air NYC Half, Des Linden and Molly Huddle impress, Time to register for AJC Peachtree Road Race, Boston and London marathons just month away!

HAILE
WINS IN 42:42

NIJMEGEN
(NED, Nov 20): Legendary Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie won the 28th
edition of Zevenheuvelenloop (Seven Hills run). He clocked 42:42 at 15 km to
beat Kenyan Vincent Kipruto 43:13 and Eritrean Samsom Gezahai 43:55. The 38
years old Gebrselassie had splits 14:38 at 5 km and 28:35 at 10 km. Patrick
Stitzinger as fourth was the best European and home runner in 44:28 ahead of
Ugandan Peter Kibet 44:30. â€žThe first 5 km were too slow, otherwise I would
break the 42 minutes,” said Gebrselassie who plans his next marathon for
February in Tokyo. It was his third win here after 1994 and 2005. Ethiopian
Waganesh Mekasha won the women race in 48:32 ahead of five Japanese runners. It
was 7th Ethiopian women win in a row since 2005. Second Aki Odagiri 49:42,
third Ayame Takagi 49:43, fourth Erika Ikeda 50:06 and fifth Olympic 2004
marathon winner Mizuki Noguchi in 50:23. It was her first individual race since
2008. Sixth another Japan runner Eri Yagi (51:04) ahead of best Kenyan
Elizabeth Cherono (51:38) and best Dutch Miranda Boonstra (51:38). In total 30
000 runners participated.

KIZAKI
BEATS OZAKI AND YAMAUCHI GETS OLY QUALIFIER

YOKOHAMA
(JPN, Nov 20): First of Japanese olympic qualifying races the 2011 Yokohama
International womenÂ´s marathon was won by Ryoko Kizaki in warm weather (22
degrees) with 2:26:32. “I almost gave up when Ozaki made her move with 2 km to
go, but I kept telling myself not to give up until the last 100m,” said
Kizaki in the post-race interview. World medalist and favorite Yoshimi Ozaki
was second in 2:26:49 and third Briton Mara Yamauchi clocked London standard
2:27:24. Kaoru Nagao, who tried to break the race at 31st km, finished fourth
with 2:29:43. Fifth South African surprise Rene Kalmer who is former track
miler improved her best to 2:29:59. Sixth Ethiopian Robe Guta achieved 2:32:26,
another favorite Kenyan Salina Kosgei was 9th (2:35:26) with another European
Kateryna Stetsenko of Ukraine 10th (2:35:44). Two more Olympic qualifying races
– Osaka in January and Nagoya in March – are scheduled next year, and some of
the biggest names in Japan will be vying for the Olympic team slots. Mizuki
Noguchi, the 2004 Olympic champion will run Osaka, while the Asian half
marathon record holder, Kayoko Fukushi, who was third in Chicago last month,
will run either Osaka or Nagoya. With help from Ken Nakamura.

P.
JEPTOO AND CHEPKOK

SORIA
(ESP, Nov 20): Kenyan day at 18th Cross Internacional de Soria (IAAF Permit CC
circuit). Daegu marathon silver winner Priscah Jeptoo confirmed her favorite
role in the 8 km race and clocked 27:20 to easy win. In cloud but good weather
second another Kenyan Rebecca Cheptegei (28:08) and third best Spanish Estela
Navascues (28:15). MenÂ´s 10 km saw bronze holder from last World CC Champs
Vincent Chepkok dominating with front running in 29:48. Second Spanish Ayad
Lamdassem got 29:53 and third Eritrean Adhanom Abraha (29:58), another home
runner Javier Guerra was fourth. For Spanish runners this was the last
possibility to qualify for European CC Championships in Velenje. Note – times
unofficial.

FIRST
SUB 2:10

CANNES
(FRA, Nov 20): In the fourth edition of Alpes Maritimes Marathon from Nice to
Cannes for first time a sub 2:10 was registered. Kenyan Lukas Kanda
clocked new course record 2:08:40 ahead of Ethiopian Shume Hailu 2:09:07. Two
more runners under 2:10 were third Moses Kurgat of Kenya 2:09:31 and fourth
another Ethiopian Lema Feyisa 2:09:54. In good weather and 11 degrees the
French marathon title went to Alban Chaurin who was 9th overall and also best
European in 2:18:53. Teame Shumeye was the best woman in personal best 2:30:53
ahead of Fita Gadise 2:33:52 and Aberash Tola 2:37:13 making it a complete
Ethiopian sweep. French title for fourth placer Aline Camboulives clocking
2:38:42.

KOECH
AND R. JEPTOO

ELDORET
(KEN, Nov 20): Paul Koech won the KASS marathon (the biggest race in this city)
in 2:15:49 (debut) ahead of Donald Sambu 2:16:23 and Peter Kosgei 2:16:57. Rita
Jeptoo who was fourth in Frankfurt Marathon last month was the best woman in
2:36:15 ahead of Viola Bor 2:41:30 and Faith Cheruto 2:41:42. The winners prize
was 1.5 million Kenyan shilling. In the 12 km races wins for Dennis Kipruto
32:33.5 and Joyce Jepkirui 40:39.3. Jeptoo, who was fourth at the 2008 New York
Marathon before she broke for maternity leave, said: “I am happy to win here at
home as I am used to watching local races only.” Informs Elias Makori.

OTHER RESULTS

BILLANCOURT
(FRA, Nov 20): Ethiopian wins at 15th edition of Boulogne-Billancourt Half
Marathon. Sentayehu Merga Ejigu won in 1:01:38 personal best ahead of Estifanos
Tekelde 1:01:39, third Kenyan Alfred Cherop in 1:04:19. Also in women race
second from Rome marathon this year Haftu Goitetom clocked 1:10:57 PB win over
Adhina Tsehay 1:11:09 (also PB) and Lucy Macharia of Kenya 1:11:16.

PALERMO
(ITA, Nov 20): Kenyan Benjamin Serem won the 17th Palermo marathon in 2:15:15.
Second another Kenyan James Chemchir 2:16:08 and third Ethiopian Werkunesh
Seyoum 2:16:53. In women race an Ethiopian win for Worknesh Shashe 2:45:01.

BULLE
(SUI, Nov 19): Eritrean Tadesse Abraham won the Corrida Bulloise 8 km road race
in 23:29. Best Swiss runner Philipp Bandi was fifth (23:56). Women 6 km winner
Kenyan Jane Muia achieved 20:13 beating Ethiopian Tsige Worku (20:15) and best
Swiss Patricia Morceli-Buhler (20:27). Abraham who lives in Switzerland won the
race for second time and Muia already for third time in a row. Exclusive
starter of the race was European champion Viktor Rothlin.

KOBE
(JPN, Nov 20): Takuya Nakayama, son of Takeyuki Nakayama, 4th in 1988 and 1992
Olympic marathon, won the Kobe Marathon with 2:24:13. He is a 22 years old
college student. Satoko Uetani was the first woman in 2:40:45.

AGEO
(JPN, Nov 20): At the Ageo City Half Marathon, one of the world’s deepest
races, last year’s runner-up Cosmas Ondiba became the first Kenyan man to win
an Ageo title, running 1:02:27 to beat Toyo University sophomore Yuta Shitara
and senior Kento Otsu 2nd and 3rd in 1:02:35 and 1:02:43. Writes Brett Larner.

ISTANBUL
(TUR, Nov 20): Home winners at 56th Omar Besim CC race were among 227
participants Yasin Ceylan at 10 km (31:32) and Nilay Esen in women 8 km
(28:30).

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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