HABTAMU 2:25:28 COURSE RECORD

TOKYO (JPN, Feb 26): Ethiopian Atsede Habtamu ran 2:25:28 to win the Tokyo Marathon in women's course record. Second Yeshi Esayas from Ethiopia improved to 2:26:00 and third was Kenyan Helena Kirop 2:26:02. Fourth placer Eri Okubo ran a PB of 2:26:08, faster than the winning time at the Yokohama International Women's Marathon Olympic selection race. Despite her time being faster than Yokohama winner Ryoko Kizaki's mark Okubo will not be a contender for the London Olympic team as the Tokyo Marathon does not count in the Japanese women's Olympic selection procedure, informs Brett Larner. Russian Tatyana Arkhipova was best European as 5th in 2:26:46. Personal bests for 9th placer Adriana da Silva of Brazil 2:29:17 and 10th Sumiko Suzuki 2:29:26. Kenyan Michael Kipyego was the winner in 2:07:37 beating Japanese Arata Fujiwara who clocked PB 2:07:48 ahead of Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich 2:07:50. Breakaway men's leaders Haile Gebreselassie and Hailu Mekonnen of Ethiopia faltered after hitting the hills in the last 6 km, Gebrselassie finishing 4th in 2:08:17 and Mekonnen fading to 8th (2:09:59) with Gebrselassie saying he had back trouble on the downhills and was unable to keep it together. European champion Viktor Rothlin clocked excellent 2:08:32 as fifth, his third fastest ever. More personal records for Japanese runners Kazuhiro Maeda 2:08:38 as 6th and Takayuki Matsumiya 2:09:28 as 7th. Domestic pre-race favorite Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.) appeared to be straining after only 5 km and fell out of the main pack just past halfway, unable to reclose with a strong finish as his Olympic dream came to an all-but-sure end with his 14th-place 2:12:51 finish. Adds Brett Larner. The former world champion and world record holder Gebrselassie told reporters: "I could run another marathon in two weeks. I felt fantastic here for the first 30 kilometers then had some problems at the end of the race. Sometimes you are too ambitious. This can happen. My target was 2:05 today but it didn't work out that way. On the last downhill, I started to get some pain in my back." With the help from David Martin and Brett Larner.

 

WL: CLAYE 17.63 AND FAULK 7.40

ALBUQUERQUE (USA, Feb 25): Running a flawless race, Bernard Lagat won his third consecutive USA indoor 3000 m during first day of national championships serving as world indoor trials. Lagat thrilled the crowd at the Albuquerque Convention Center (2037 spectators) with a blistering 25.42-second last lap and clocked 7:47.54, the fastest winning time at these championships in five years. Taking the altitude into account even more impressive. Lopez Lomong was second 7:51.75 clearly over Galen Rupp 7:57.36. In the women's 3000 m, world 1500 m champion Jenny Simpson got an easy win in 9:19.15 off of a very slow early pace. Jackie Areson, last year's NCAA indoor 5000m champion for the University of Tennessee, won the battle for second over Sara Hall, passing Hall with 110m to go, and qualifying for her first IAAF World Indoor Championships (9:20.61 over 9:21.87). But the best mark of the day came in men´s triple jump as world medalist Will Claye achieved in second round world leading 17.40, improved to 17.44 in third and even more 17.63 in fourth. It is his overall PB and 14th all-time indoor performer. Second world champion Christian Taylor achieved 17.21 from short approach (14 strides) and his 6th attempt foul was unoficially mentioned as 17.82. Jenn Suhr confirmed her position with 467 first attempt clearance, then tried at meet record 490. Second Mary Saxer beat on count-back Lucy Janson (both 462) and will travel to Turkey. Jesse Williams also won clearly the high jump with 229 and might be the only US competitor in Istanbul, second Jamie Nieto over Keith Moffat (both 226). In the triple jump Amanda Smock won with 13.77 but has entry standard from last summer with 14.18. Amber Campbell achieved meet record in weight throw 24.78 and beat world best holder Brittany Riley 23.88. High quality also the 24.57 by male winner AG Kruger. Young walker Trevor Barron improved the meet record in the 3000 m race to 11.36.27. From heats to note the excellent world leading 7.40 by Dexter Faulk in the 60 m hurdles, it is the fastest heat ever at US Indoors. Impressive also Justin Gatlin 6.51 and Tianna Madison 7.10 in 60 m heats, fastest 400 m times in the first round 51.33 by Sanya Richards-Ross and 46.26 by Frankie Wright. With help from RRW and USATF website.

 

BLAKE 4X100 M AND 4X400 M RACES

KINGSTON (JAM, Feb 25): The 100 m world champion Yohan Blake showed good early shape at the 36th Gibson Relays inside the National Stadium, as he ran a strong anchor leg for Racers Lions to win the 4x100 m in 38.48, beating Racers Track Club (38.76 seconds) and MVP, which finished third in 38.77. Blake run anchor leg (taking the baton from Mario Forsythe, before him running Kimari Roach and Remaldo Rose), while MVP was leading after Nesta Carter and Michael Frater gave them a good advantage. Earlier Blake clocked a 45.3 split in the 4x400 m when Racers Lion won in 3:05.95. Javere Bell opened with 46.7 to Warren Weir who did 45.8 and Demar Murray 47.6. In the women's event, Racers with four national representative Shereefa Lloyd, Rosemarie Whyte, Davita Prendergast and Ristananna Tracey won in 3:31.51. Kenroy Anderson won the 100 m in 10.32 over Sheldon Mitchell 10.33. World University Games winner Hansle Parchment won the 110 m hurdles in 13.79 against -1.4 wind. With help from TrackAlerts.

 

PISTORIUS STARTED HIS SEASON

GERMISTON (RSA, Feb 25): Hammer World record holder Betty Heidler of Germany achieved 72.29 as guest during Yellow Pages Interprovincial meet. Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius started his outdoor season with 22.03 (+2.0) in the 200 m. He was also part of the SASAPD relay team clocking 42.50 as 7th what is faster than current paralympic world record. Fastest in the 200 m was Thuso Mpuang with 20.84 (+1.4). In the 100 m with ideal +2.0 wind Kagiso Kumbane won with lifetime best 10.27 over Gideon Trotter 10.29. Burger Lambrechts achieved good 20.12 in the shot put and Zarck Visser bettered his best in the long jump with 796 (-1.2). Pierre de Villiers won the 3000 m walk in 11:40.2 over Poland´s Grzegorz Sudol 11:42.7.

 

 

 

US COLLEGE SATURDAY INDOOR (Feb 25)

 

 

COLLEGE STATION: At Big 12 Trinidad´s Deon Lendore improved to 46.33 in the 400 m. Ricky West won the 800 m in 1:47.81 and Erik Kynard cleared 227 in the high jump. Solid women sprints as Kamaria Brown improved to world leading 22.86 in the 200 m. Ashley Collier won the 60 m in 7.25 and Diamond Dixon the 400 m in 52.55.

 

LINCOLN: Harun Abda showed impressive shape at Big Ten Championships. He clocked two excellent personal bests, 600 m in 1:15.86 (coming into top ten of all-time) and 46.51 in the 400 m. Jamaican Andrew Riley scored a great double with 6.62 at 60 m and 7.62 at 60 m hurdles. Kind Butler won the 200 m in 20.92. Christina Manning won two out of her 3 individual events. 60 m in 7.23, hurdles in 7.95 and was second in the 200 m (23.43) beaten by Ashley Spencer 23.24.

 

LEXINGTON: During Saturday at SEC Championships Jeff Demps achieved 6.54 in the 60 m heats, Torrin Lawrence 46.01 in 400 m heats (oversized track here). Marquis Dendy improved to 806 in the long jump. Slovenian Tina Sutej cleared 455 in the pole vault, that is new Slovenian indoor record.

 

BOSTON: Kemar Hyman of Cayman Islands won the ACC 60 m in fast 6.58. Maurice Mitchell was the best in the 200 m 20.93. In women sprints wins for Dezerea Bryant 7.25 and 23.26. Brianna Rollins took the 60 m hurdles in 8.07 over Bridgette Owens 8.08.

 

CHADRON: At RMACXChampionships Jamaican Indira Spence achieved 7.65 at 55 m hurdles.

 

ALBUQUERQUE: Charles Silmon scored a 6.72 and 21.04 sprint double at the Mountain West Conference.

 

SEATTLE: Amaechi Morton used the oversized track here and clocked 46.16 to win the 400 m at the MPSF Championships. Lawi Lalang of Kenyan also impressive 7:44.48 in the 3000 m. Ryan Milus got the 60 m but was not faster than in heats with 6.65. Brigetta Barrett cleared 193 in the women high jump.

 

BOSTON: At the New England Championships Anthony Davidson posted 1:01.61 in the 500 m and Selasi Lumax 1:47.34 PB in the 800 m.

 

 

 

OTHER RESULTS

 

 

FUKUOKA (JPN, Feb 25): Suguru Osako won the Fukuoka International Cross-Country in 30:27 at 10 km beating Yuki Sato in close finish (also 30:27). Hitomi Niiya was the best in women 6 km (20:18) ahead of Kenyan Grace Kimanzi (20:38).