by Larry Eder
Mokoka 13:11.44 NR, WL
STELLENBOSCH (RSA, Apr 18): Stephen Mokoka highlighted the second day of the South African Athletics Championships in Stellenbosch with a national record and World lead in the men’s 5000 m to add to his 10 000 m triumph a day earlier. Mokoka smashed the 20-year mark held by Shadrack Hoff as he raced to the line in a time of 13:11.44. Hoff had set the previous mark at 13:14.16 in 1995 in Gateshead. Wayde van Niekerk put in a massive effort to win the 400m in a time of 44.91. Second Jon Seeliger 45.85 PB. In the men’s sprints, Akani Simbine and Anaso Jobodwana took the national titles with Simbine clocking 10.25 (-2.1) in the 100m and Jobodwana sealing a World Championships spot with a 20.35 (-0.1) in the 200m. Another athlete going to Beijing is Sunette Viljoen, who qualified after winning the women’s javelin with a throw of 64.14. In other events, there were wins for Caster Semenya (women’s 800 m, 2:05.05 and 8th in 1500 m 4:29.60), Johan Cronje (men’s 1500 m, 3:37.93 ahead of Dumisani Hlaselo 3:38.38), Lebo Phalula (1500 m, 4:14.43) and Khotso Mokoena (men’s triple jump, 16.63 +1.5). From women events also to note Carina Horn 11.40 (-2.1) in the 100 m, sprint double for Justine Palframan 23.26 (-2.2) and 52.49 and Wenda Nel 55.27 in the 400 m hurdles. From men events LJ Van Zyl got the 400 m hurdles title in 49.29, Andre Olivier 800 m in 1:46.02 over Ryhardt Van Rensburg 1:46.97 (but 1:46.72 in semifinals). Dikotsi Lekopa won steeple in life-time best 8:32.17 and Antonio Alkana hurdles in big PB 13.54 (+0.4). Victor Hogan was the best in discus 62.86 and Mpho Links in high jump 223 PB. National record holder Lebogang Shange won the 20 km walk in 1:23:00 over Wayne Snyman 1:23:42 PB.
Liu Hong and Arevalo
RIO MAIOR (POR, Apr 18): Overseas wins at the 24th Rio Maior Walking Grand Prix, part of IAAF Race Walking Challenge. 2014 Challenge winner Liu Hong of China was the best in women field at 20 km in 1:27:22. Second Italian Eleonora Giorgi 1:28:12 and third another Italian Elisa Rigaudo 1:29:15. Portugal national champion and overall fourth was Ana Cabecinha 1:29:27 ahead of Ines Henriques 1:29:52. American walkers were on the podium in men 20 km. Colombian Eider Arevalo 1:20:41 over Andres Chocho of Ecuador 1:20:56 PB and Brazilian title defender Caio Bonfim 1:21:04. Best European as fourth French Bertrand Moulinet 1:21:10 over Ukrainian 2014 Challenge winner Ruslan Dmytrenko 1:21:25. Also under 1:22 Italian Giorgio Rubino 1:21:38 and Ukrainian Ihor Hlavan 1:21:58. National title for Sergio Vieria as 11th in 1:23:24. From favorites disqualified Olympic medalist Erick Barrondo of Guatemala and Slovak European medalist Matej Toth.
OTHER RESULTS
NAKURU (KEN, Apr 17): World champion Eunice Sum beat in 4:09.7 her rivals Viola Kibiwott, Irene Chepkemoi and Janeth Jepkosgei in the 1500m finals at Afraha stadium in Nakuru at third AK weekend meeting. “I am not shifting from my speciality 800m to 1500m, I am only using the race to prepare myself for Beijing,” Sum said. Kibiwott was second in 4:11.4. Jepkosgei faded to seventh place 4:22.0. The men 1500m race was won by Timothy Cheruiyot in 3:36.3, ahead of Robert Biwott 3:38.0 and Antony Kiptoo 3:38.8. Vedic Kipkoech, a new recruit of Brother Colm’s Iten stable, caused excitement in the 5000m men final by taking on internationals Nickson Chepseba and Jairus Birech. At the end Chepseba won in 13:37.3 over Birech 13:38.4 and Kipkoech 13:42.3.
NAIROBI (KEN, Apr 17): Winners of Kenya Secondary Schools XC Championship were among boys Alfred Barkach 23:30 and among girls Valentine Mateiko 20:18.
SIUNTIO (FIN, Apr 18): Finnish half marathon champions are Jussi Utriainen 1:07:50 and Oona Kettunen 1:15:15.
ALABCETE (ESP, Apr 18): Spanish 10 km road champions are Alejandro Fernandez 30:01 and Paula Gonzalez 34:08.
BRENA BAJA (ESP, Apr 18): Alvaro Rodriguez 4:26 and Solangre Pereira 5:24were the winners of Spanish road mile championships.
PARDUBICE (CZE, Apr 18): Kenyan winners at Pardubice Vine Half Marathon. Hillary Kimaiyo 1:03:22 and Gladys Biwott 1:17:24. Czech titles for fourth Vit Pavlista 1:05:58 and second Ivana Sekyrova 1:18:37. In men race second Moses Komon 1:03:23 and third Paul Kiprop 1:05:53.
ZANIEMYSL (POL, Apr 18): Grzegorz Sudol in 1:24:36 and Paulina Buziak in 1:31:25 won the 13th International Walking Meet over 20 km. Second Genadij Kozlovskiy of Lithuania 1:24:42 and third Rafal Sikora 1:24:54. In women top three second Agnieszka Szwarnog 1:32:16 and Monika Kapera 1:32:29.
BEOGRAD (SRB, Apr 18): Kenyan Silas Sang won the 28th Beograd Marathon in 2:14:43 in rain. Other podium places also for Kenyans Andrew Kiprot 2:16:42 and Julius Korir 2:19:46. Top three in women ranking were Ethiopians. Abebu Adunja 2:33:12 ahead of Wortesa Shume 2:34:23 and Meseret Dekeso 2:43:21. Fourth Turkish Elif Tozlu 2:51:51 and best Serbian Mariana Cegar 6th 3:16:58 and also national champion. Top European in men category was 7th Uzeyir Soylemez from Turkey 2:26:43 and best Serbian Ivan Miskeljin as 12th 2:35:15. In the half marathon home winners Velimir Bojovic 1:08:27 and Ana Subotic 1:17:03.
LA REUNION (FRA, Apr 18): At track meet here Renelle Lamote clocked fast solo over 800 m with 2:02.00. Dimitri Bascou won the 110 m hurdles in 13.71 (-1.6) clearly over Ladji Doucoure 14.18. World and European discus medalist Melina Robert-Michon won her event with 60.45 m. Cameroon record holder Temfack Djoumessi cleared 221 in the high jump.
AYVAHK-BAHKESIR (TUR, Apr 18): Turkey was the best nation at the 14th Balkan Championships in walking with 53 points ahead of Romania 38 and Greece 16. From six winners Turkey had five. Only in women 20 km Romanian winner Andreea Arsine in 1:39:36. Other wins for the home country. Men 20 km Sahin Senoduncu 1:27:30, junior 10 km Muratcan Karapinar 42:26 and Derya Karakurt 49:37 and youth 5 km Abdulaziz Danis 46:13 and Ayse Tekdal national record 23:32.
