ODRIOZOLA RE-ELECTED

MADRID (ESP): IAAF Council member Jose Maria Odriozola remains President of Spanish Athletics Federation RFEA for next four years until 2016. He won the elections with 96 votes against 44 by the other candidate Vicente Ano. The 73-years old official was first elected RFEA head in 1989. Odriozola is the 20th Spanish athletics president and the one who is in the office for the longest time.

ARRON IS PREGNANT AND IS RETIRING

PARIS (FRA): French media and IAAF are confirming that top female sprinter Christine Arron, the European 100m record holder at 10.73 and a winner of nine medals at major international championships, announced her retirement at age 39. “It is the decision to have another child that led me to call this decision, not because I feel too old or because I lost motivation”, explained Arron, who is four months pregnant. Her last competition of the career is the Liege meeting in Belgium early July this year where she was 5th in 11.58. Her last big championships were European Championships in Helsinki where she was 5th with the French 4×100 m team.

CHEPKOK AND CHERONO

VENTA DE BANOS (ESP, Dec 16): Kenyan wins at the 33rd edition of Venta de Banos Cross Internacional (EA CC Permit). 2011 World CC medalist Vincent Chepkok won the men 10.68 km in 35:20 ahead of Kenneth Kipkemoi 35:33 and best home runner Antonio Pentinel 35:48. Former world junior champion Mercy Cherono was the top woman at the 6.64 km in 24:33. Second Briton Hannah Walker in strong field with 24:56 beating Eritrean Nazaret Weldu 25:07 and best Spanish Alessandra Aguilar 25:09. Moroccan Malika Asahssah was fifth 25:11 ahead of Italian Nadia Ejaffini 25:35 and Kenyan Lydia Chepkurui 25:52. Former steeple world champion Marta Dominguez was 13th (26:22).

AMOS COMPETING FIRST TIME SINCE LONDON

LUSAKA (ZAM, Dec 14): Sensational Olympic silver medalist and World junior record holder in the 800 m Nijel Amos competed for first time since London and won the 400 m at the African Zone Six Games in 46.40. Only 16 years old Loungo Mathluka of Botswana won the women 200 m in 24.03 (0.0). Please also note that the timing was ok at the event and discount the last remark in EME NEWS about hand timing. That means also the fast times of South African junior sprinter Akani Simbini 10.19 (+1.3) at 100 m and 20.68 (-1.9) at the 200 m are valid. Also to note the 1250 m altitude of Lusaka which is favorable for sprints.

OTHER NEWS

LONDON (GBR): Athletics Weekly writes that next year’s London Diamond League could be held at the Olympic Stadium despite news that work on the venue will not start until next autumn. Britain’s premier event is scheduled to be held at Crystal Palace as usual and UKA has already begun selling tickets. However, last week the London Legacy Development Corporation, which takes over the running of the Olympic Park today, said it was exploring the possibility of holding sporting events and concerts next summer. Since then UKA has held brief discussions over the idea of staging the capital’s Diamond League meeting there on July 26-27. But a spokeswoman said: “UKA has not committed to anything as we are waiting for LLDC to confirm details and the possibilities that may be open to us.” Day two of the Diamond League marks the first anniversary of the London Olympics opening ceremony.

BRIDGETOWN (BAR): Hurdler Ryan Brathwaite was crowned the Digicel 4G Athlete of the Year at the Barbados Olympic Association Christmas Dinner and Awards Ceremony. In front of a large gathering at the hotel’s Needham’s Point Ballroom, the 2009 110 Metre Hurdles World Champion also walked away with the President’s Award. He won both awards after placing fifth in the Olympic final. Carribbean Sports Network informs.

LONDON (GBR): Theredpages.co.uk says that 2008 400 m Olympic winner LaShawn Merritt has signed to Wilhemina Models under its Fitness division. The Olympian is represented by the agency exclusively for fitness and sports modeling endorsement opportunities. He comments: „I’ve always had a love for fashion and a desire to be a part of the industry. With the Fitness division at Wilhelmina, I look forward
to channeling my expertise in athletics in a creative and exciting way.”

YOKOHAMA (JPN): Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium has been officially confirmed as the venue for the 2018 World Cup final, FIFA announced. The Luzhniki, which was opened in 1956 and has a 90,000 capacity, will also stage the opening match and a semi-final following approval by FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee, who are meeting on the eve of the Club World Cup final. St. Petersburg will stage the other semi-final. Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi were approved as venues for the 2017 Confederations Cup, also to be held in Russia as a warm-up for the following year’s World Cup, FIFA said. The Luzhniki Stadium will join the select group of arenas to host both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics and final of the World Cup alongside Wembley in London, the Olympiastadions in Berlin and Munich and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The Stadium, which also is due to host the Rugby World Cup sevens and World Athletics Championships next year, is currently at the centre of a debate about whether it should be demolished and rebuilt or renovated. A decision is due early next month.

OTHER RESULTS ROAD AND CC

YECLA (ESP, Dec 16): Top Spanish runners won the 30th Cross Nacional Fiestas de la Virgen in Yecla. Lidia Rodriguez who was 21st at European CC event achieved 20:15 at the 6 km distance. Carles Castillejo was the best at 10 km in 30:30 with Moroccan Zitane Ouais second 30:42 and Sergio Sanchez third 30:59.

SENDAI (JPN, Dec 16): The team of Universal Entertainment won the Japan Corporate´s Women Ekiden in a final time of 2:17:35. Second Denso 2:18:27 and third Dai-Ichi Life 2:18:29.

HOFU (JPN, Dec 16): Only two weeks after finishing sixth in 2:10:29 at Fukuoka Marathon, Yuki Kawauchi, won 43rd Hofu Yomiuri Marathon in 2:10:46. It was his eighth marathon (plus one 50Km) of the season. Kenyan Dishon Maina was second in 2:12:25 and third Taiga Ito 2:14:00. Best woman Emiko Hirai 2:45:44. Brett Larner notes on his blog that further back in the field, 59+ world record holder Yoshihisa Hosaka made his own comeback after missing the age 62 record last year, knocking 20 seconds off Manuel Rosales’ longstanding age 63 world record of 2:46:50 with a new mark of 2:46:30.

KISUMU (KEN, Dec 16): The 7th edition of the Safaricom Kisumu Marathon saw new faces emerging as winners with Daniel Kipkorir Kilimo 2:14:26 on the men side. Former Amsterdam Marathon champion from 2007 Magdalene Chemjor at age of 34 made a comeback with 2:31:32 women win. Caroline Chepkoech clocked 2:31:44 for second place with Wilson Yegon (2:14:48) for second place in the men’s race.

PISA (ITA, Dec 16): Kenyan Jason Lokwatom won the Pisa Marathon in 2:19:45. Top woman Claudia Dardini achieved 2:43:11.

ISSY LES MOULINEAUX (FRA, Dec 16): Kenyan Isaac Mwangi won the traditional pre-Christmas race the 36th Corrida d´Issy les Moulineaux with 29:37 at 10 km. Second Geoffrey Kenesi 29:59 and third Justus Moranga 30:09 completing the Kenyan podium. Top woman was Russian Oksana Semyonova in 35:48.

ZURICH (SUI, Dec 16): Kenyan Patrick Ereng won the 36th Zurich Silvesterlauf at 8.8 km in 24:58. Second in Switzerland living Eritrean Abraham Tadesse 25:01 and third another Kenyan Jacob Kendagor 25:13. Top European was the Swiss Marathon star Viktor Rothlin as 5th in 25:33. Sixth another home runner Philipp Bandi (25:57) who at age of 35 at the end of his career won the Swiss Series Post Cup. In women 6.3 km another Kenyan win for Cynthia Kosgei 20:38 beating Caroline Chepkwony 20:40 and Sudanese Durka Frey 20:53. Top Swiss runner Fabienne Schlumpf was fourth 20:57. Fifth Mirja Jenni (21:02) is also women Post Cup winner.

SAO PAULO (BRA, Dec 16): African wins at the 46th Sargenot Gonzaguinha road race at the 15 km. Ethiopian Belete Terefe clocked 45:33 to win the men division and Kenyan Edna Mukhwana the women in 55:03.

GETAFE (ESP, Dec 16): Jose Ignacio Diaz won the 15th edition of the Trofeo de Marcha AD Cerro Buenavista in 42:33 at the 10 km. Maria Jose Poves as top woman clocked 46:14 ahead of Julia Takacs 46:34.

OTHER RESULTS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR

DUBAI (UAE, Dec 14-15): Iran was the cop country at West Asian Athletics Championships with 16 gold, 16 silver and 10 bronze medals. Mohamed Samimi won the discus for Iran with 62.38 m. Lelia Rajabi women shot put 16.96.

VIENTIANE (LAO, Dec 15-16): Top result from the Asian University Games was the 10.44 (+1.1) at the 100 m by Gary Yeo Foo Ee from Singapore. Also to note 52.53 women discus by Subenrat Insaeng of Thailand.

IZMIR (TUR, Dec 15): New Turkish shot put girls youth record by 16-years old Emel Dereli with 19.41 (3 kg). Her previous mark was 18.79 from last winter, she was 8th at World Junior Championships in Barcelona.

SANTA FE (ARG, Dec 15): Olympic finalist German Lauro still has good shape and achieved 20.46 in shot put here. It is his 3rd best career mark, the top two are from Olympic Games in London.

GENEVA (USA, Dec 15): Solid times by former global relay medalist Mary Wineberg at the SPIRE Collegiate Season Opener in Ohio. She clocked 24.08 at 200 m and 53.06 at the 400 m.

PAROW (RSA, Dec 15): South African Summer Series ended here with the third meet and Shaun De Jager clocked impressive 36.90 at the 300 m Hurdles. Roscoe Engel won the 150 m in windy 15.51 (+3.7) and the 300 m in fast 33.40. Second only 0.01 behind was Rosswell Ndlovu 33.41. World junior javelin medalist Morne Moolman (18) achieved good quality 75.58 win.

REIMS (FRA, Dec 16): Olympic triple jump 6th placer Benjamin Compaore achieved 16.14 at a local indoor meet.

EPINAL (FRA, Dec 16): World junior record holder Angelica Bengtsson of Sweden who trains in France cleared at a local indoor meet 424 in the pole vault.

VALLADOLID (ESP, Dec 15): Fastest Spanish sprinter Angel David Rodriguez got 6.76 at the 60 m here with faster 6.72 in heats. He made for headlines when he offered a challenge to beat Cristiano Ronaldo in sprint recently.

VIENNA (AUT, Dec 16): Premiere of indoor marathon at Fair Center in Vienna. Dick Demeter from Linz clocked 2:23:55 as winner with Verena Nefischer with 2:56:12 as top woman. The runners were competing in 15 Celsius temperature at even course and of course no wind.