TOP NAMES FOR ATHENS MARATHON

ATHENS (GRE): Organizers of 30th Athens Classic Marathon planned for November 11 announced top names for this years edition. The aim is to attack the event best of Moroccan Abdelkrim Boubker who clocked last year 2:11:40. It should be also noted that Italian Stefano Baldini achieved when winning the olympic marathon in 2004 2:10:55. Returning will be 2010 winner Kenyan Raymond Bett with 2:11:32 best. Other Kenyans are Alex Kirui (2:09:38) and Peter Biwott (2:12:54). From Ethiopians Teferi Wodajo (2:09:51) and Hailu Lemma (2:09:50) and Ukrainian Andriy Naumov (2:11:06). On the women side last year winner Ethiopian Elfnesh Melaku (2:35:25) will return, also Ukrainian Svitlana Stanko (2:31:28). The best time in women race will have Workitu Ayanu of Ethiopia 2:29:25, also to note Belarus Svitlana Kovgan (2:29:37 this year when winning in Brighton). Women course record is 2:31:06 by Lithuanian Rasa Drazdauskaite from 2010.

FARAH A 10-MARATHON DOUBLE IN 2016

LONDON (GBR): Mo Farah may attempt a 10 000 m and marathon double at the 2016 Rio Olympics, according to his coach Alberto Salazar. The 29-year-old, who trains under Salazar in Oregon, won 5000 m and 10 000 m gold at the London Olympics, but has made no secret of his intention to step up to the marathon at some point in the future. “My guess is that he will do a 10-marathon double,” Salazar said. “At Rio, that would be a good shot” according to The Star.

OTHER NEWS

BALTIMORE (USA): World Express Athletic Management informs that it added two new athletes into their roster for 2013. Mark Pryor´s company will have now under contract US Olympian Chantae McMillan (29th ath the Games, improvement to 6188 points in 2012) and Trinidad half-miler Jamaal James (achieved 1:46.88 lifetime best this year).

SOFIA (BUL): Balkan Athletics Championships will be held next year in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The dates are July 27-28. Until then the track at the Beroe Stadium will be renewed. The city is also considering a bid to stage European U23 Championships in 2017.

VALENCE (FRA): The usual end of the season match Decanation will have new teams competing in 2013. Balkan team and Scandinavian team will join USA, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Russia and home France. The date for 2013 is August 31 in Valence near Lyon.

AUCKLAND (NZL): Athletics New Zealand confirmed the appointment of three key roles in the refreshed national office structure. Carl Jackson has been appointed the new Commercial and Marketing Manager, where he will be supported by Brett Addison in the Communications and Membership role. Michael Sharapoff has been appointed to the new role of Community and Participation Manager. Two further positions, Club Development Manager and the Coach and Officials Development Manager will be filled shortly.

JOHANNESBURG (RSA): Race Results Weekly informs that Jan Barnard, one of the best and most versatile distance runners produced in South Africa, passed away on his 83rd birthday last weekend. Barnard was the first South African athlete to rec
eive Springbok (national) colours for all three disciplines of athletics: track, road and cross-country running. The figure three played a big role in his career.

LONDON (GBR): Toni Minichiello says it is business as usual as Olympic gold medal heptathlon winner Jessica Ennis continues her winter training. He said to The Star: “Jess is training hard and going through her programme. It’s business as usual; the same as it is every year at this time of the year.” The long time coach of the golden girl of British athletics is no nearer to finding out if his contract with UK Athletics will be renewed at the end of the year with the sport under the new regime of performance director Neil Black.

MINSK (BLR): Apart of new President Grigoriy Kosyachenko also new head coach of Belarus Athletics Federation was named. It is Alexandr Troshchilo, former 400 m runner, world relay champion for Soviet Union in Helsinki 1983.