by Larry EderThe win by Deena Kastor was anything but usual, but it did show her mastery of the event. Magdelena Lewy Boulet, a fine runner in her own right, leading through 24 miles running as she ran her own race. Blake Russell showed her stength of character and her desire to make the team with her third.
Speaking of strength of character, Stacy Dragila just cleared 4 meters, after numerous surgeries. The Joan Samuelson of the pole vault, Stacy Dragila has championed this event and it would be wonderful to see her over 4.50 meters this year!
EME NEWS (APR 20, 2008) UPDATE
Kastor wins as expected, Lewy-Boulet and Russell also qualified
BOSTON (USA, Apr 20): Olympic bronze medalist from Athens Deena Kastor fulfilled her favorite role and won the US women marathon trials with 2:29:35. It will be her third Olympic team as in Sydney 2000 she was out in heats of 10 000 m. Magdalena Lewy-Boulet who was running in front until two hours and 16 minutes, was clear second with personal best 2:30:19. As Race Results Weekly writes, she was born in Poland and became US citizen on symbolic day September 11, 2001. Third Olympic participant will be Blake Russell who finished third (2:32:40) in her first completed marathon since 2005. All three qualifiers are coming from California. “I accomplished my two major goals coming in to this race. First, to make the team, that was the most important thing, and secondly to win. Blake and Magdalena both gave me a run for my money today. They both looked so great,” she was quoted at USATF website. First non-qualifier was Mexican-born Zoila Gomez as fourth registering new PB 2:33:53. 20 runners went sub 2:40, 98 sub 2:50 and 117 under 3 hours. Inaugural Olympic marathon winner from 1984 Joan Samuelson at age 50 achieved excellent 2:49:08 (position 90). The multi-loop course, created specifically for this event, was different to big marathon.
Oliver world lead 13.08, L. Merritt windy 19.80
GREENSBORO (USA, Apr 19): Fast times at International Friendship and Freedom Games in North Carolina organised by respected coach Brooks Johnson. US Indoor champion David Oliver achieved in finals new PB and world lead at 110 m Hurdles 13.08 (+1.6). “Well, today was one of the best day’s I have experienced thus far in my career. It was a long one that started around 7:45am when I woke up and ended around 5pm when I hopped out of the ice bath at the track,” said Oliver on his blog. Second Aubrey Herring also new life-time best 13.30 and the same goes to double world youth champion 2003 Jason Richardson (13.31). Already in heats Anwar Moore achieved world leading 13.29 (+1.9), he then was not running in the finals. Oliver was faster but his 13.10 were wind-aided (+3.4). Another great time for 400 m world silver holder LaShawn Merritt who achieved at super-fast track here windy 19.80 (+3.2). Also women hurdles pretty quick with Damu Cherry getting 12.82 (+1.6) and Kellie Wells improving to 12.83. Nigerian Osaka semifinalist Damole Osayomi achieved very good 11.18 at 100 m (+1.5), Kendall Stevens was not lucky enough to celebrate new 100 m PB as his 10.13 result was supported with too much wind (+2.7). Mershevet Hooker came close to her PB at 200 m with 22.84 (+2.0). Former world medalist James Carter was again beaten at 400 m Hurdles with 49.88 as second. Win went to 28 years old unattached runner Eric Dudley (49.67). USA White teams achieved three solid relay times. Women 43.09 and 3:29.81 and men 39.07.
Kulkov and Birra winners
ZURICH (SUI, Apr 20): Russian Oleg Kulkov with 2:11:05 and Ethiopian Tadelech Birra 2:32:01 won the 6th Zurich Marathon with more than 4700 participants. Kulkov was the surprise of the race not only he beat all Africans but also due to the fact that last weekend was third at European Cup 10 000 m in Istanbul. His best so far was 2:15:34 from last year. Kenyans next at the podium Edwin Kibowen (2:11:50, PB) and Stanley Leleito (2:13:40). Former world and Olympic 10 000 m medallist Assefa Mezegebu of Ethiopia improved as 6th to 2:14:52. African Games medalist from 2003 Ethiopian Birra achieved clear win, second 26 years Polish runner Karolyna Jarzynska improved dramatically to 2:33:15 (former best 2:49:57) and third first Kenyan Prisca Kiprono (2:34:13). Swiss titles for Tarcis Ancay (14th, 2:22:32) and Maja Neuenschwandner (7th, 2:40:41). Mirja Jenni who hoped for Olympic qualifiying time did not finish. But Marcel Tschopp who represents Liechtenstein clocked as 16th 2:24:10 and that is enough for Olympic participation in colours of his country.
Kipruto 2:13:06 in hot weather
THESSALONIKI (GRE, Apr 20): The third Alexander the Great Marathon in Greece suffered from hot weather (26 degrees) and humidity (82 %). Taking into account the conditions the winning mark 2:13:06 of Kenyan Chebet Kipruto was reasonably good. Second Leonard Kipyego (2:13:17) and third Benson Cheruiyot (2:14:04) made it for all-Kenyan podium. Iaroslav Muschinski from Moldova was the best European with 2:14:57 as fourth. Elizabeth Chemweno defended her last year title here with 2:35:04 as she started in tough weather possibly too fast with 1:14:30 half. Best European Russian Alevtina Naumova as fourth (2:52:15). Winners collected 6500 E and 4500 E (men/women). Participation records were broken with total of more than 2200 in all races and first time over 1000 in marathon.
Chebet and Smolders
ANTWERP (BEL, Apr 20): Kenyan Elijah Chebet won the 2nd ING Antwerp Marathon and missed the course record (2:16:37) with 2:17:56. Also second place for Kenya in person of Elijah Chelanga (2:18:54) and third best home runner Rik Ceulemans (2:19:20). Belgian Anja Smolders repeated last year win but was slower (2:41:19 year ago) clocking 2:43:17. In total 23 000 participants in all races.
Kipchirchir 2:13:04 – course record and personal best
BONN (GER, Apr 20): Another Kenyan win, in Bonn Vincent Kipchirchir in new course record 2:13:04. The former event best holder John Kirui was second (2:13:44). Kenyan win also in women category as Lydia Kurgat achieved 2:37:17. British Emmy Chalk finished second (2:43:10). Top German female runner Luminita Zaituc won the half-marathon (1:15:30) in her preparation for Dusseldorf Marathon. Kenyan Nicolas Koech was the best man (1:03:06).
Dragila starts with four metres
LOGAN (USA, Apr 19): Former Olympic and world champion Stacy Dragila started her summer campaign here with clearing 400 cm. Ghana´s national record holder at 100 m Leonard Myles-Mills (9.98 in 1999) is still running at age of 34 and clocked windy 10.37 (+3.0) to win.
Ndiso 1:00:54
NICE (FRA, Apr 20): Kenyan Denis Ndiso won the 17th Nice Half-marathon in excellent 1:00:54. Robert Kipchumba and Joseph Maregu followed also on high-note (1:00:57 and 1:01:21). Another Kenyan Lydia Cheromei was the best in women category (1:10:59).
Swiss walking record
CHAILLY (SUI, Apr 20): Marie Polli clocked new Swiss 10 000 m walk track record with 46:56.40.
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