by Larry Eder
Kebede course record 2:04:38
CHICAGO (USA, Oct 7): Chicago Tribune informs that with a stunning effort over the second half of the race Sunday, Tsegaye Kebede became the first Ethiopian man to win the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and broke the year-old course record by nearly a minute in 2:04:38. It is also fourth fastest time of the year 2012. Moses Mosop of Kenya clocked 2:05:37 last year. Second Feyisa Lilesa 2:04:52. The winner covered the second half in 61:43 after a first half in 62:55. It was an Ethiopian sweep, with Tilahun Regassa third in 2:05:26. The top U.S. finisher, Dathan Ritzenhein, lowered his personal best by more than two minutes to take ninth in 2:07:47 (the third fastest U.S. ever). Last year’s runner-up, Wesley Korir of Kenya, bettered his personal best by two seconds (2:06:13) while finishing fifth. Fourth Sammy Kitwara debuted with superb 2:05:54 as the top Kenyan of the day. Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo raised her arms in celebration, but it was Ethiopian Atsede Baysa who narrowly edged out her in 2:22:03. Only in 2009 were the winners also separated officially by just one second, but the official records do not separate times by less than a second (2:22:04 for Baysa). Third Kenyan Lucy Kabuu 2:22:41 and fourth title defender Liliya Shobukhova 2:22:59 what is European leading time of 2012. Fifth position Caroline Rotich 2:23:22 ahead of Russian Mariya Konovalova 2:25:38. Best US runner Renee Metivier-Baillie 2:27:17 in great debut as 8th. With the help from Chicago Tribune website.
Big pay day for Kiprono and K. Smith
BOSTON (USA, Oct 7): Race Results Weekly informs that with their convincing victories at 12th B.A.A. Half-Marathon here, Allan Kiprono of Kenya and Kim Smith from New Zealand locked up the inaugural three-race B.A.A. Distance Medley title, collecting USD100,000 each, the largest non-marathon prize in all of road running. Kiprono’s time of 1:01:44 was a course record, while Smith’s mark of 1:10:57 was just five seconds off of Caroline Rotich’s event record from 2010. Second Lani Rutto 1:01:55 and third Sam Chelanga 1:03:22. Ireland´s Alistair Cragg was fifth (1:04:10). Ethiopian Aheza Kiros was second woman in 1:12:50.
Chicago stats
CHICAGO (USA): Ken Nakamura stats after Chicago Marathon: with 2:04:38 Tsegaye Kebede ran non-Boston US all comers record. Chicago now has 6th fastest course record. It is now faster than London & New York, among World Marathon Majors. Regassa, with 2:05:26, ran 4th fastest marathon debut. The season 2012 now has 11 sub-2:05 (prev record 7 in 2011), 21 sub-2:06 (prev record 17 in 2011) 37 sub-2:07 (prev high was 36 in 2011) and 69 sub-2:08 (prev high was 64 in 2011). After today, top 10 average for Chicago marathon has improved to 2:05:34, fifth fastest in the world. Kebede’s top 5 average has improved to 2:05:21, 4th best behind G Mutai, Haile, and Makau. Feyisa Lilesa is now the fastest 23 years old, replacing Wanjiru who recorded 2:05:10 in 2009 London. Shobukhova improved her top 5 average to 2:20:48, but she is still 3rd behind Radcliffe and Ndereba. The year has 35 sub-2:24 performances highest ever. Prev high was 29 in 2011. The season has 73 sub-2:26 performances, highest ever; previous high was 69 in 2011.
OTHER RESULTS
GIFU (JPN, Oct 6-7): At 67th National Sports Festival Mahai Sugimachi of Brazil clocked 49.13 at 400 m hurdles. Masashi Eriguchi won the 100m in 10.29 (+0.6). In the 10 000 m track walking Yusuke Suzuki achieved 40:10.16 ahead of junior Takumi Saito 40:11.71.
MARRAKESH (MAR, Oct 7): Winners of the 10 km road race were Hafid Chadi 28:09 and Ethiopian Moges Betlehem 33:19.
SAN JOSE (USA, Mar 7): San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon winners are Canadian Simon Bairu 1:03:28 ahead of Sergio Reyes 1:03:31 and Scott Bauhs 1:04.29. In women, category Clara Peterson 1:12:52.
SOLVANG (USA, Mar 6): Kenyan Silas Kisorio won the Solvang Mile in California with 4:11.65 and got 1000 USD prize.
ZAGREB (CRO, Mar 7): Kenyan Wycliffe Biwot won the 21st Zagreb Marathon in 2:25:08, Serbian Ana Subotic was the top woman 2:43:32.
FRIBOURG (SUI, Mar 7): Kenyan wins at 79th Murtenlauf at 17.45 km. Shadrack Kimaiyo got 54:52 and Nancy Koech 1:03:18.
