by Larry Eder
EME NEWS (APR 21, 2013) ROAD
Kebede for second time
LONDON (GBR, Apr 21): Denied the chance to compete in the Olympic Marathon here last August, Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede got a well-deserved victory on the Mall at the 33rd Virgin London Marathon in a come-from-behind effort. Informs Race Results Weekly. Just over 35,000 runners started today’s race. With ideal conditions bright sun accompanied by cool temperatures organizers had their eyes on a new world record in the men’s race. Athletes knew that the early pace would be fast, but when the two-mile mark was hit in 9:22 and 5-K in 14:22 (on schedule for a 2:01:15 finish time) athletes realized that the pace was simply too fast. In the 10 km still 2:02 pace with 28:56. Pacemaker Kigen went through halfway in a blistering 1:01:34, and 25-K in 1:12:58, running the 5 kilometers from 20 to 30-K in 14:30. Shortly after that, four men got away from the rest of the field: Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai and Stanley Biwott and Ethiopians Feyisa Lilesa and Ayele Abshero. Kebede found himself 19 seconds behind the leaders by the time he crossed the 30-K mark. However, his confidence was actually on the upswing. “I had a little pain in my side during the early part of the race, but as time went on it got better and better,” Kebede said. He won in 2:06:04 (his second win here after 2010), the slowest winning time in six years. Emmanuel Mutai would finish second in 2:06:33, and Ayele Abshero third in 2:06:57. Fourth Feyisa Lelisa 2:07:46 and fefending champion Wilson Kipsang as fifth 2:07:47 lost a toenail during the race and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda finished sixth; he had stayed behind the lead pack for most of the race in 2:08:05. Top European Spanish Ayad Lamdassem 2:09:28 as 10th in great personal best. World record holder Patrick Makau was 11th in 2:14:10.
P. Jeptoo 2:20:15 WL
LONDON (GBR, Apr 21): In the women’s contest, Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo ended up a runaway winner in a race which was marred by a fluid station accident which ended Olympic champion Tiki Gelana’s chances for victory after she fell hard and was knocked out of contention. Writes Race Results Weekly. The two pacemakers in the women’s race, Kenya’s Valentine Kipketer and Helah Kiprop, went hard from the gun, but the contenders chose not to follow them. By the 10-K mark the pacers were well up the road. Soon, the race then came down to four: the two Kiplagat’s, Jeptoo and Melkamu. Edna Kiplagat, the reigning world champion, and Jeptoo, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, upped the pace, running 16:04 from 25 to 30-K. That was too hot for Florence Kiplagat and Melkamu, and it quickly became a two-woman contest. Jeptoo, who runs with an unusual knock-kneed style, kept pressing the pace, and soon Kiplagat had to let go. Jeptoo had a 17-second lead by 35-K, and by the time she hit the finish line in 2:20:15 she had built a final gap of 1:17 over Kiplagat, four seconds better than Mary Keitany’s runaway victory last year. Missing her personal best time by just one second, she immediately fell to her knees, pressed her hands together, looked to the sky and offered a prayer. It is also a world leader. Edna Kiplagat was timed with 2:21:32 and surprisingly, Japan’s Yukiko Akaba finished third in 2:24:43, the first Japanese woman to reach the podium in London. Atsede Baysa and Meselech Melkamu finished fourth and fifth in 2:25:14 and 2:25:46. Sixth Florence Kiplagat 2:27:05 and best European Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia 8th in 2:30:02. The top home country athlete was Scotland’s Susan Partridge who clocked a personal best 2:30:46 (9th) and qualified for the British team for the IAAF World Championships in August by running sub-2:31. As 10th South African wife of hurdler LJ Van Zyl was Irvette Van Zyl in personal best 2:31:26. Gelana finished 16th in 2:36:55.
Farah experience
LONDON (GBR): Olympic winner Mo Farah was the talk of the town in the build-up to the marathon following an announcement in February that he would contest only half of the course before completing the full distance in 2014. For Farah, this year was all about gaining experience in marathon running and he came off the course just before the halfway point feeling good about the experience, “I felt good. The crowd were absolutely awesome. They just want to make you go. I really got excited in the middle of the race, but you have to let the guys do their race. It’s their race. The biggest challenge is really picking up your drinks, make sure you have good fluids. I stopped one time and had to go back. It’s really hard. I need to do a lot more training.” He was timed at 28:56 in the 10 km. Farah also explained some earlier reports that he came too late for the start: “Just to clarify, I had breakfast at 5am today, my comment about sleeping in was just a joke. I was one of the first bus.” From Athletics Weekly and British Athletics website.
E. Kipchoge great debut 2:05:30
HAMBURG (GER, Apr 21): 2003 World Champion at 5000 m Eliud Kipchoge who just last year debuted at the half marathon achieved another breakthrough performance. He debuted in marathon when winning the Haspa Marathon Hamburg in excellent and fastest of the weekend 2:05:30. It is also a new course record and 7th fastest debut ever. “I promised a course record and I did it. It was great to have all the people along the course supported me,” said a delighted and slightly releived Kipchoge after his victory, informs the IAAF. Second Ethiopian Limenih Getachew in 2:07:35 PB in his second marathon and third Kosice last year winner Lawrence Kimaiyo of Kenya 2:10:27. Top European as 5th Marius Ionescu of Romania in 2:13:33, personal best. The women’s race was won by Lithuania’s Diana Lobacevske in 2:29:17 with Switzerland’s Maja Neuenschwander second in 2:30:50 PB and Kenyan Priscilla Lorchima third 2:31:23 also PB. Fourth top German Lisa Hahner 2:31:49.
New WMM leaders
LONDON (GBR): With their victories in London Tsegay Kebede and Priscah Jeptoo now top the points table for the 2012/2013 World Marathon Majors championships. Kebede has 60 points to second place Wilson Kipsang (36) and Kenya’s Wesley Korir (27). Jeptoo has 50 points to lead Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo (40) and 2012 Boston Marathon champion Sharon Cherop (35). The series resumes with the IAAF World Championships in Moscow in August. From RRW.
OTHER MARATHONS
WARSZAWA (POL, Apr 21): Ethiopian Sisay Lemma won the first edition of Orlen Warsaw Marathon in 2:09:02. Second Elias Kemboi of Kenya 2:09:49 and third the top favorite, former world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco 2:10:11. Under 2:11 also Nicholas Manza 2:10:33 and David Cherono 2:10:56. Top European Ukrainian Dmytro Baranovsky as 7th in 2:12:46. Polish title for 8th Arkadiusz Gardzielewski 2:13:43. Another home favorite Henryk Szost was trying until the 35km then faded to 31st (2:41:47). Kenyan Milka Jerotich as top woman achieved 2:28:23 ahead of Belarus Maryna Damantsevich 2:33:00 and best home runner Olga Kalendarowa-Ochal 2:34:25.
NAGANO (JPN, Apr 21): With heavy rain shifting to snow overnight and wind and below-freezing temperatures throughout the morning the 2013 Nagano Marathon had the kind of race conditions you would not wish on anybody, but although the course record was never an option civil servant runner Yuki Kawauchi did what he had to do to secure his third marathon in four starts so far this year, crossing the line in 2:14:27 more than a minute ahead of runner-up Russian Alexsey Sokolov 2:15:31 to become the first Japanese man to win in Nagano’s 15-year history. Third Hirokatsu Kurosaki 2:17:28. Atsushi Fujita was a non-finisher. Alone after only 5 km, Natalia Puchkova from Russia was just off her PB as she s
oloed a 2:30:40 victory in the women’s race almost two km ahead of her closest competition. Second Kenyan Beatrice Jepkemboi 2:36:51 and third top Japanese runner Seika Iwamura 2:41:19. Writes Brett Larner.
ENSCHEDE (NED, Apr 21): 25-years old Kenyan Isaac Kosgei won the 45th edition of Enschede Marathon in 2:09:17. He was followed by other two Kenyans on the podium, second Josephat Kiprono 2:09:34 and third Patrick Cheruiyot 2:09:48. Fourth Julius Korir 2:10:36. No European went under 2:40. Dutch Ines Van Rinsum was the best woman in 3:00:13.
LINZ (AUT, Apr 21): Kenyan Robert Kwambai won in 2:09:21 the 12th Borealis Linz Donau Marathon ahead of his team-mate Evans Cheruiyot 2:09:57. Third Ethiopian Fikre Assefa 2:10:23 in his debut at the distance. Fourth top Austrian Gunther Weidlinger with 2:15:04, he just missed his aim of 2:15. Moldova´s Natalia Cerches won the women category in 2:33:53 ahead of Kenyans Jane Rotich 2:35:46 and Emily Rotich 2:38:56. German Irina Mikitenko topped the half marathon in 1:14:00. In total 16 400 runners in all races, 100 000 spectators.
PADOVA (ITA, Apr 21): Brazilian Olympic 8th placer Roberto Paula won the 14th edition of Maratona S. Antonio in 2:13:00. Second Kenyan Paul Kibet Kosgei 2:14:36 and third and fourth Italians in good times. Domenico Ricatti 2:15:16 PB and Giovanni Gualdi 2:15:32. Moroccan Janet Hanane won the women category in 2:36:18 ahead of Ukrainian Tetyana Vernyhor 2:36:36 and Ethiopian Aynalem Woldemichael 2:39:27.
ANNECY (FRA, Apr 21): One of the oldest marathons in France the one in Annecy celebrated its 34th edition with around 3000 participants. Kenyan John Mutai won with 2:15:15 ahead of Ethiopians Mengesha Wosene 2:16:34 and Girma Tilahun 2:20:34. Tigist Worku from Ethiopia was the best woman 2:47:34.
NANTES (FRA, Apr 21): Ethiopian wins at the Marathon de Nantes. Wendimu Adamu clocked 2:20:30 and Jemila Shure Wortesa 2:36:45.
ANTVERP (BEL, Apr 21): Abdelhadi El Hachimi (38) won for Belgium the Antwerp Marathon in 2:12:53. Second Kenyan Kenneth Korir 2:13:50 and third another Belgian Florent Caelen 2:18:20. Next target for El Hachimi is 10 000 m on the track. Top woman Belgian Luise Deldique achieved 2:52:36.
BEOGRAD (SRB, Apr 21): Kenyan Edwin Kiptum won the 26th Beograd Marathon in 2:19:33. Serbian star Olivera Jevtic was the top woman in 2:36:09 and fulfilled Moscow standard. Legendary Carl Lewis was a special guest. Some 2400 runners from 40 countries participated.
LA CORUNA (ESP, Apr 21): Javier Guerra debuted in marathon at Maratona Atlantica, also national championships in 2:12:20 and won his ticket to Moscow. Second Pedro Nimo 2:14:54 and third Javier Diaz 2:18:09. Maria Jesús Gestido clocked 2:40:22 personal best to win the women race and national title.
CAGLIARI (ITA, Apr 21): Moroccan Hicham El Barouki won in 2:16:47 the 4th edition of the Cagliari Solidarita Marathon. Top woman Roberta Ferru 2:49:16.
THESSALONIKI (GRE, Apr 21): Ethiopian Metaferia Teklu Geto repeated his last year win at the 8th Alexander The Great Marathon in 2:19:29. Best Greek third Antonis Papadimitriou 2:27:10. Greek Champion Magdalini Gazea was the top woman in 2:41:26 ahead of Romanian Luca Maria Magdalena 2:48:46.
HALF MARATHONS
IVRY SUR SEINE (FRA, Apr 21): The 28th edition of Humarathon had 2500 participants at the half marathon distance. Ethiopian Dawit Weldeselasie won in 1:01:07 ahead of Kenyan Geoffrey Kenisi 1:01:21 and another Ethiopian Mohamed Burka 1:01:33. Kenyan Gladys Kipsoi was the top woman in 1:10:08 ahead of Leonidah Mosop 1:10:11 and Cynthia Jerotich 1:10:17.
NICE (FRA, Apr 21): Ethiopian Dino Sefir won the Nice Half-Marathon in good 1:00:30 after 28:42, 43:02 and 57:25 splits. Second Kenyan Yusuf Biwott who debuted at the distance with 1:00:33 and close fight for third as Ethiopians Mule Washum and Adugna Bikila were timed with the same 1:00:35 as third and fourth. Pre race favorite Ezekiel Chebii was fifth 1:01:00. James Theuri as best French clocked 1:04:18 as 14th. Olympic medalist Elvan Abeylegesse from Turkey as top woman achieved 1:10:32 in her second race at the distance this year after 13th position in Ras-Al-Khaimah in February. Second Kenyan Gladys Chemweno debuted in 1:11:35 and Mary Wachera 1:13:21.
TORINO (ITA, Apr 21): In the 14th Torino Half Marathon Kenyan Nicholas Togom posted 1:02:24 over his team-mate Wilson Kebenei 1:02:42. In women category Goretti Jepkoech clocked 1:12:19 ahead of Italian Fatna Maraoui 1:12:58.
GENOVA (ITA, Apr 21): Winners of the 9th Half Marathon di Genova were Moroccan Samir Jouaher 1:03:25 and Kenyan Hellen Jepkurgat 1:12:54.
YANGZHOU (CHN, Apr 21): 2008 Olympic steeple runner Ethiopian Yakob Jarso in new course record 1:00:39 won the Yangzhou International Half Marathon three seconds ahead of Kenyan Nicholas Kipkemboi 1:00:42. Surprise third for Eritrean Nguse Tesfaldet in life-time best 1:00:46. Fourth pre-race favorite and last year second Silas Kipruto 1:00:52 and last under 61 another Kenyan Luka Lobiwan 1:00:53 as fifth. Ethiopian win also on the women side by Worknesh Degefa 1:08:43 another course record and two seconds over Tadelech Bekele 1:08:45 life-time best and Yebrqual Melese (both Ethiopia also) 1:09:02 PB. Fourth home runner Yang Dingrong 1:13:23 (also the national title) personal best. Fifth best Kenyan Alice Mogire 1:15:25 ahead of former marathon world champion Catherine Ndereba 1:17:54. From Tilastopaja.
CORRECTION
GAINESVILLE (USA): Running here 54.64 in the 400 m was not Christine Ohuruogu but her sister Vicky.
NOTE
BOSTON (USA): Ricky Simms points out the real situation, it was not as described by Irish media: “I was in the athletes hotel with many other athletes and agents on Monday when the explosion went off – it is more that 100m away from the finish.”
