KENYA AND ALGERIA WINS

HANNOVER (GER, Apr 27): Kenyan Henry Chirchir won a thrilling sprint finish at the TUI Marathon Hannover in 2:11:30. The Kenyan took his first marathon victory in windy conditions just a stride ahead of 40 year-old Francis Bowen who was given the same time. Evans Ruto, winner of the Hannover Marathon in 2009, completed a Kenyan sweep in 2:11:34. Fourth Martin Kiprugut 2:11:37 and best European Abdelhadi El Hachimi running for Belgium in 2:14:14 as 8th. Souad Ait Salem took the women's title in 2:33:09. The Algerian led throughout the race and was more than two minutes ahead already at 25 k. Nadeshda Leonteva of Russia and Bornes Kitur of Kenya closed the gap over the last stages but could not reach the winner who suffered from blisters. Leonteva finished second in 2:33:32, Kitur clocked a personal best of 2:33:50 for third place in her first marathon outside Kenya. German favorite Lisa Hahner gave up after 45 minutes of running. Problems with the plantar fascia in her right foot made stopped her. A record number of more than 18,157 runners entered the various events of the TUI Marathon Hannover. The event is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race. From Race News service.

SANG BEATS D. WOLDE

ENSCHEDE (NED, Apr 27): Kenyan Elijah Sang won the 46th Enschede Marathon in 2:10:22. Second Ethiopian former World youth track medalist Dawit Wolde in debut at the distance 2:10:42. Third Dutch Abdi Nageeye with top debut in marathon 2:11:33. Fifth Julius Korir 2:12:02. Women winner Reina Visser was born in Enschede, she clocked 2:42:06. Dutch Ingrid Prigge clocked new national record for the age category 50+ with 2:52:47 as third in women overall ranking.

CHEBII DEBUT IN 2:09:15 COURSE RECORD

MADRID (ESP, Apr 27): Ezekiel Chebii (59:05 half marathon runner) debuted in marathon with a win in Madrid in new course record 2:09:15. Second Lawrence Kimaiyo (Kosice winner 2012) 2:10:17 and third Daniel Kiprop Limo 2:12:14 making it full Kenyan podium. Fourth Samuel Getachew of Ethiopia 2:15:26. Best European was Spanish Modesto Alvarez as 8th in 2:28:37. Best woman Alem Fikre from Ethiopia achieved 2:32:11 beating Kenyan Sara Jebet 2:33:38 and another Ethiopian Ayimot Shewe 2:36:02. Best European Yulia Korepanova 5th 2:42:28 and best Spanish Cristina Gonzalez 7th in 2:54:55. Half marathon top positions for Chema Martinez 1:07:59 and Vanessa Veiga 1:18:16, 10 km winners were Arturo Casado 31:07 and Isabel Macias 36:02.

OTHER MARATHONS

ALBI (FRA, Apr 27): Stanley Kiprotich of Kenya won the Albi Marathon in 2:16:27. Ukrainian Vita Poteryuk as best woman improved her best to 2:38:49.

KYIV (UKR, Apr 27): Dmytro Pozhevilov 2:30:21 and Larysa Labartkava 2:54:23 became the winners of Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon. Anatoliy Demyda 1:10:43 and Olena Fedorova 1:26:34 topped half-marathon race. Yuriy Blahodir 33:35 and Olha Yarotska 38:44 ewrw first to finish at 10km.

PADOVA (ITA): St. Antonio Marathon here had Kenyan Pharis Kamani winning in PB 2:12:03. Second Brazilian Franck Caldeira 2:12:04. Home Italian women win by Fatna Maraoui 2:36:32 ahead of Portugal´s Vera Nuners 2:39:30. Ethiopian Tesfalem Gebreareth clocked 1:02:30 to win the half marathon.

LA CORUNA (ESP, Apr 27): Rafael Iglesias won the 3rd Maraton de A Coruna in 2:15:56. He wanted to attack the Zurich standard 2:13:00.

ST. WENDEL (GER, Apr 27): Another Kenyan marathon win of this Sunday as Dickson Terer topped the St. Wendel Marathon in 2:13:28 ahead of Jack Muthee 2:16:55. Michaela Schedler as best woman got 2:49:00.

BIG SUR (USA, Apr 27): Just a few days after running the Boston Marathon, Michael Wardian surged ahead of the Big Sur International Marathon elite pack and won in 2:27:45. Nuta Olaru (originally of Romania) as best woman got 2:53:15 (was 10th overall).

ANTVERP (BEL, Apr 27): Also here at the DVV Antverp Marathon Kenyan win for Moses Mwarur in 2:15:09. Second James Emuria 2:15:25 and third Belgian Jesse Stroobants 2:18:39 in debut. Top woman was Trui Depondt of Belgium 2:54:36. In total 2200 participants.

BEOGRAD (SRB, Apr 27): Kenyan Bernard Talam won the 27th Suisse Gas Beograd Marathon in 2:14:35 PB. In total 3600 runners from 50 countries participated. Special guest was 400 m hurdles world record holder Kevin Young from USA. Also remaining places on the podium for Kenyans Paul Samoei 2:15:50 and Edwin Kitum 2:21:50. Valerie Jemeli Aiyabei topped the women in 2:37:07 over Hellen Kimutai 2:42:24 and Ethiopian Ayano Buli 2:43:45. Fourth place and Balkan title for home Ana Subotic 2:44:03. Male Balkan champion was Vitali Georgita of Moldova 2:31:24.

ANNECY (FRA, Apr 26): Ethiopian Legese Lamiso wont thr 35th Marathon Lac du Annecy in 2:16:53. Second place for Kenyan Eliud Sugut 2:16:53 and third another Ethiopian Deriba Demisse 2:17:02. Women race had Irene Chepkirui from Kenya as winner in 2:36:27. Second Belgian Hanna Vandenbussche 2:45:02. Some 3000 runners participated in rainy weather.

NANTES (FRA, Apr 27): French Larbi Es Raidi won the 34th Nantes Marathon in 2:16.09, followed by Ethiopian Moti Mekonen 2:16:10. Women winner Ethiopian Tizita Terecha got 2:34:34. In all races 7000 participants.

OTHER ROAD RESULTS

DES MOINES (USA, Apr 27): More than 7000 runners took to the streets of Des Moines on Sunday morning for the Hy-Vee Road Races at the Drake Relays. Despite a one-hour delay due to a brief thunderstorm, the competition was fast and fierce as the field competed for 140 000 USD in prize money. Mosinet Geremew, a native Ethiopian, was the first men's finisher in 1:03.34. Kenyan Kimutai Cheruiyot finished just behind the leader in 1:03.35. The women's race saw Morocco's Rkia El Moukim pull away from the field by more than 20 seconds to win in 1:11.18. Kenya's Risper Gesabwa finished second in 1:11.41, the fastest half marathon time of her career. From the meet website.

VANCOUVER (CAN, Apr 27): Kenyan Paul Kimugul won the Vancouver Sun 10 km road race in 28:59 ahead of Dylan Wykes 29:11. Rachel Cliff as best woman got 33.14.

EDINBURGH (GBR, Apr 27): Two weeks after his marathon debut Chris Thompson won the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run at 10 miles in 49:36. Second Lee Merrien 49:54. Gemma Steel topped the women category in 56:06 ahead of Susan Partridge 56:25.

MONTREAL (CAN, Apr 27): Canadian half marathon champions at Montreal HM Eric Gillis 1:04:28 and Rachel Hannah 1:13:38.

BARCELONA (ESP, Apr 27): Abdelaziz Merzogoui won in 4:16 the road mile Milla Sagrada Familia in historical part of Barcelona. Second Adel Mechaal 4:19 and third Artur Bossy also 4:19. Solange Pereira as top woman got 4:49.

NICE (FRA, Apr 27): Fast times at Nice Half Marathon. First six Kenyans clocked sub 1:02 times. Kennedy Kipyeko 1:01:31 ahead of Charles Ogari 1:01:33 and Isaac Birir 1:01:34. They were closely followed by Kiprop Lami 1:01:36, Lawi Kiptui also 1:01:36 and former track top runner Vincent Chepkok 1:01:39. Best non-Kenyan was Ethiopain Girma Mitke as 8th 1:02:08. Former World CC participant and 27:01 track runner Gideon Ngatuny was 10th in 1:03:35. Janet Kisa was the best woman in 1:11:01 beating Ukrainian Olha Skrypak 1:13:09.

OSLO (NOR, Apr 26): Sindre Buraas won in 29:39 the Sentrumsløpet at 10 km in Oslo.

STAVANGER (NOR, Apr 26): Marathon runner Urige Buta won the 8.2 km Siddisløpet in 24:09. In fourth place Jakob Ingebrigtsen (born in 2000) in 25:59. He is the younger brother of Henrik and Filip and observers say the most talented.

LOVERE (ITA, Apr 27): Kenyan winners at the 4th Sarnico Lovere Run at 26 km. Bernard Kiplagat 1:15:43 and Rebecca Korir 1:29:29.

AARGAU (SUI, Apr 27): Portugal runner Bruno Albuquerque (lives in Switzerland) won 10 miles road race here in 50:36.

ISTANBUL (TUR, Apr 27): Bahar Dogan won the women category in Istanbul Half Marathon in 1:16:33. Best male was Ethiopian Alemu Regasa 1:05:20.

LAUSANNE (SUI, Apr 26): Kenyan Bernard Matheka was the best at the Lausanne 20 km road race in 1:01:11 over Evans Koskei 1:01:55 and Eritrean Tolossa Chengere who lives in the country in 1:02:14. Jida Belaynesh as best woman achieved 1:10:25.

ROERMOND (NED, Apr 27): Koskei Kiprotich won the Roermond City Run over 10 miles in 49:04. Second Korir Kipkoech 49:31 and third Moroccan Lahlal El Hassan 50:11. Kenyan Daisy Jeptoo was the best woman in 59:00 course record. 2700 participants were registered and prominent starter was 1992 Olympic 800 m winner Ellen van Langen, currently one of the top global track agents and organisers.

CHIA (ITA, Apr 27): Kenya's Raymond Komen won the 3rd annual Chia Laguna Half-Marathon. He covered the hilly and windy course in 1:09:19. Italy's Claudia Pinna won the women's race in 1:19:38. From RRW.

IRUN (ESP, Apr 27): First edition of half marathon winners were Moroccans Abdelhadi El Mouaziz 1:06:41 and Maajida Maayouf 1:22:03.