EXHIBITION OPENED THE DOORS

BARCELONA (ESP): Ahead of the Official Opening Ceremony on Monday evening the IAAF Centenary Historic Exhibition in the Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch, Barcelona, opened its doors on Saturday for the first time to the general public. From an empty space, the temporary exhibition room of the Museum has been transformed in 5 days into an exhibition containing a collection unique in our sport’s history. An 8 lane sprint straight has been laid and marked out, 8 main displays (lanes) some up to 4 meters in height and 12 meters in length have been constructed on it and around the room, and 15 glass display cabinets have been filled with historic artifacts. On Monday evening the Exhibition will be officially opened by IAAF President Lamine Diack and the Deputy Mayor of the City of Barcelona Maite Fandos i PayÅ•, who will be joined among others by 1976 and 1977 IAAF World Cross Country champion Carmen Valero, 1992 Olympic 1500m champion Fermin Cacho, and 3-times IAAF World 800m champion Wilson Kipketer. The first 400 people to enter the exhibition were given an adidas bag as a gift, along with the souvenir leaflet in four languages (English, French, Spanish and Catalan) which is available to all visitors.

AWARDS NIGHT IN MALTA

ST. JULIANS (MLT): Great Britain’s Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah were recognised as winners of the 2012 European Athlete of the Year Awards while Sweden’s Angelica Bengtsson and the Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslák were presented with the European Athletics Rising Star Awards by European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz during the ceremony that was the highlight of the three-day annual European Athletics Convention. More than 270 key decision makers from the 50 European Athletics Member Federations had gathered for the annual meeting. Informs European Athletics. “It’s a great honour to win the European Athlete of the Year Award. I am very excited. I would like to thank everyone who has voted for me,” said Ennis. “It has been a great year with the Olympics. It’s a pity that I could not be in Malta in person to collect my award, since I have started my winter training, but my coach (Toni Minichiello) will be there to receive it on my behalf. Next year my main goal is the World Championships in Moscow. 2014 will be a big year too, I am preparing for the European Athletics Championships in Zurich. That will be my main focus for the year,” she added. British middle distance star Farah, who is based out of Portland in the United States, could not attend the Awards Night due to his training commitments. IAAF vice president and London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe received the award on his behalf. “I am delighted to be voted as the European Athlete of the Year for 2012. I have always enjoyed competing at the European championships and this year a victory in Helsinki put me in the right frame of mind ahead of the Olympics. In the coming years I want to win as many medals as I can, so I will keep competing at the Europeans. Next year, the European Athletics Team Championships are in Gateshead and I am looking forward to that,” said Farah. Two other important presentations were also made at the Gala. Norway’s Charlotte Svenson received a plaque as the overall winner of the 2012 European Athletics Innovation Awards for her project entitled “Ung:Leder – To create the Volunteers of Tomorrow”. Tina Torop of Estonia and Slavko Crne of Slovenia received the first two of the European Athletics Coaching Award from President Wirz as representatives of the 51 award winners from 30 countries.

CHUMBA 2:05:46 COURSE RECORD

EINDHOVEN (NED, Oct 14): Kenya’s Dickson Chumba set a new course record when he won the 2012 De Lage Landen Marathon Eindhoven (29th edition) in a personal best of 2:05:46. Chumba, 25, took two seconds off the previous course record of 2:05:48 set by Kenya’s Jafred Kipchumba in 2011. It is Chumba’s second victory in his six marathons, also winning last year in Rome. He also has three second-place finishes to his name. “However, I am disappointed I didn’t run under 2:05,” said Chumba, who was on course to break that barrier until 39km, when he started to tire. Personal bests also for second Franklin Chepkwony 2:06:11 (first sub 2:10). Third pre-race favorite Eric Ndiema 2:06:17 (missed his PB by 10 seconds) and fourth another top entry Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia in 2:08:01. Under 2:09 still fifth Francis Bowen 2:08:21, Solomon Kiptoo 2:08:30 (started as pacemaker) and Stephen Tum all from Kenya 2:08:39. Ethiopia’s Aberume Mekuria took the women’s race in a personal best of 2:27:20. Second Dutch Miranda Boonstra 2:28:18 and third another Ethiopian Dinkenesh Mekasha 2:30:31. Dutch titles for Patrick Stitzinger (2:16:51, 18th overall) and Boonstra.

TWO COURSE RECORDS IN KOLN

KOLN (GER, Oct 14): New course records highlighted the RheinEnergie Koln Marathon. Kenyan Paris Marathon first placer Alfred Kering won and bettered the course record by one minute to 2:07:37 ahead of Limenih Getachew from Ethiopia 2:07:39 PB and Duncan Koech 2:07:53 PB. The Ethiopian Getachew lost his route in last meters, otherwise he would win. Also close fourth Laban Mutai 2:08:01, another personal best. Best German Falk Cierpinski was 14th (2:18:52). Also women race brought new course record (improvement from first edition 2:27:29) as Hellen Kiprop won in 2:25:34. Second and third Ethiopians Shetayo Bedasa 2:27:29 and Makda Harun 2:29:32. Best European Russian Nadezhda Leontieva as 5th (2:35:51). Sabrina Mockenhaupt won the half marathon in preparation for NYC Marathon in 1:16:40.

BOLT AT NBC SNL

NEW YORK (USA): „Saturday Night Live” at NBC parodied the vice presidential debate with a little help from the world’s fastest man. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt dropped by the NBC sketch show’s mock debate after Taran Killam, playing Mitt Romney’s running mate, Paul Ryan, claimed he won the 100-meter race at the London Olympics. Ryan has been criticized for exaggerating his marathon time.

OTHER MARATHONS

TORONTO (CAN, Oct 14): Ethiopian Bethone Warga won the Scotiabank Waterfron Toronto Marathon in 2:10:36. John Kiprotich being in leading trio of runners made an unexpected switch backwards for the water and lost his position and ended third in 2:11:30. Second another Kenyan Kenneth Kimutai 2:11:20. Best Canadian Matt Loiselle ended 7th (2:16:24). The 28 years old New Zealander Mary Davies surprised everybody with great win and personal best 2:28:57. Kenyan Agnes Kiprop who was leading from 16 to 41 k faded at the end, but managed second in 2:29:32 ahead of Ethiopian Radiya Adilo 2:30:49. Best Canadian Krista Duchene 2:32:15 as fourth.

MUNCHEN (GER, Oct 14): German national champions were crowned at Munich Marathon. Susanne Hahn clocked 2:32:11 clearly ahead of Monika Heiss 2:45:11. Men´s race was tighter. Jan Simon Hamann debuted in 2:19:46 over Sven Weyer 2:21:57.

POZNAN (POL, Oct 14): Kenyan Edwin Yator won the 13th Poznan Marathon in 2:16:16. Second place for Edwin Kirui 2:17:38 and third best Polish runner Adam Draczynski 2:18:30. Sviatlana Kovgan of Belarus was the top woman in new course record 2:35:08 (improvement by 20 seconds) ahead of Arleta Meloch 2:41:12.

GRAZ (AUT, Oct 14): Another Kenyan marathon win at Graz Marathon in good weather as Peter Mutitu Kariuki improved the course record to 2:11:17. Second Geoffrey Ngugi was also better as former event best with 2:12:17. Top woman Esther Wanjiru clocked 2:40:03. Olympian at 1500 m Andreas Vojta won the City Run at 11.5 km (35:44). In all races 10 187 participants.

CARPI (ITA, Oct 14): Maratona d´Italia winner Sisay Lemma Kasaye of Ethiopia achieved 2:11:58. Way back second Migidio Bourifa is also Italian Champion in 2:20:45. Ivana Iozzia was the top woman and national gold medal winner in 2:35:08 ahead of Ethiopian Megersa Tafa 2:38:41.

MELBOURNE (AUS, Oct 14): Australian runners Scott Westcott, Lauren Shelley and Jane Fardell have ensured their selection for the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow after strong performances at Medibank Melbourne Marathon. The mass participation event incorporated the Australian Marathon Championships and for the first time, included the Selection Trial for the World Championships team next year. Westcott ran 2:16:00 to place third overall as the first Australian. The overall race winner was Kenyan Jonathon Chesoo in 2:12:35, with his countryman John Kyui finishing just two seconds in front of Westcott in 2:15:58. Shelley was the winner of the women’s marathon in 2:36:29, earning the Australian title. Fardell took the silver medal in 2:37:54, just two weeks after running 2:45 a marathon in Berlin. Informs Athletics Australia.

ESSEN (GER, Oct 14): The winners of jubilee 50th Essen Marathon are Daniel Schmidt in 2:23:00 and Silke Optekamp in 2:45:03.

OTHER RESULTS

BERLIN (GER, Oct 14): World record holder Leonard Komon won the Berlin Lauft – Asics Grand 10 k in 27:46. His world record is better by one minute (26:44). Second Richard Mengich ten seconds behind (27:56) and third David Kogei 27:56 also. Top European Roman Romanenko of Ukraine was 8th (30:03) and German steeple specialist Steffen Uliczka 10th (30:10). Anna Hahner won the women race in 33:50 ahead of Czech Lucie Sekanova 34:23.

TRENTO (ITA, Oct 13): Kenyan Edwin Soi won Giro di Trento 10 km road race in 28:43 ahead of Moroccan talent Edris Mukhtar 28:45 and olympic bronze medalist from London Thomas Longosiwa 28:48. Best Italian Andrea Lalli was fourth 28:59, Daniele Meucci 6th (29:24) and cross king Sergiy Lebid 10th (29:37).

PARIS (FRA, Oct 14): Burundi´s Ezechiel Nizigiymana won the 20 km of Paris in 58:12. Second Evans Kiplagat four seconds behind (58:16) and third Alfred Cherop 58:21. In women race Kenyan Cynthia Jerotich won in 1:05:35 ahead of double olympic medalist Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey 1:05:42 and Gladys Kipsoi 1:07:01. In total 21 000 participants.

GRONINGEN (NED, Oct 14): 2008 Olympic steeple winner Brimin Kipruto won the Groningen 4 miles race in 17:13 one second ahead of world junior 10 000 m champion Yigrem Demelash 17:14 and Alamirew Yenew 17:28. Interesting to see Vincent Chepkok of Kenya 6th (17:40) and 7th Olympic 1500 m sixth placer Gebremedhin Mekonnen as 7th (17:51). Jesper van der Wielen was the best non-African as 10th (18:04). Olympic finalist Viola Kibiwott as the best woman achieved 19:31 over Hyvin Jepkemoi 19:46 and World junior medalist Ruti Aga of Ethiopia 19:50. Best European Lauren Howarth from Britain was timed with 20:18 as 6th.

CARDIFF (GBR, Oct 14): The Cardiff Half Marathon had 18 000 participants and 30 000 spectators on the streets. Susan Partridge won the women category in 1:11:10 PB over the Kenyans. Second Eunice Kales 1:11:54 and third Edinah Kwambai 1:12:11. In the men race top three Kenyans: Andrew Lesuuda 1:02:21 beating John Kales 1:03:21 and Edwin Kiptoo 1:03:25.

PORDENONE (ITA, Oct 14): Solomon Kirwa Yego clocked 1:01:34 to win the half marathon here. Second Henry Kibet 1:02:38. In women race Hellen Jepkurgat got 1:12:28 ahead of Alice Kibet 1:12:30.

PISA (ITA, Oct 14): Another solid half marathon in Italy. Julius Rono won in Pisa with 1:03:29 and Moroccan Janat Hanane 1:12:46.

NDALAT (KEN, Oct 13): African CC Champion Joyce Chepkirui won the 8 km CC race on Saturday in 26:02. During the race held at Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat home village, Beatrice Jepkemoi second 26:38 and Irine Jebet third 26:52. In the junior women’s 6km race Mercy Chebwogen, the reigning World Youth 3000 m champion, dethroned World Junior cross-country champion Faith Chepg’etich in 19:38 over 19:59. In senior 12 km new name Isaac Korir won in 34:41 over Hillary Kemboi 34:52 and Daniel Sale 34:59.

MAR DEL PLATA (ARG, Oct 13): Braian Toledo won the javelin at Argentinian junior championships with 76.40 m.

VILLA DI SERIO (ITA, Oct 14): Italian walking champion for first time at 50 km is Federico Tontodonati in 3:51:37. Second Teodorico Caporaso 4:00:57.