Monday, September 28, 2009

Cape Town marathon photos!

Wigan 3 - 1 Chelsea Wigan produced a massive shock with a victory over 10-man Chelsea which ended the Blues' 100% record and knocked them off the top of the Premier League.


















































George Mofokeng made his come back into the top class, when he took the tape in Nedbank Cape Town City event to record a time 2:14:20 seconds. Early leader Odwa Tunyiswa used the ideal racing conditions to pull a large bunch through the first 10km in 32 minutes 27 minutes. The sustained pace saw the pack whittled down to six including Tunyiswa, George Mofokeng, Mike Fokoroni, and David Ngakane by half way which they completed in 1:08. At this stage the defending Champion Motlokoa Nkhabutlane and his Lesotho colleagues remained in the chasing pack. As the pace eased Mofokeng and Zongamele Dyubeni, a training partner of Hendrick Ramaala, put in a series of surges to break free as the race headed back towards the Salt River circle. Sensing an opportunity to take the race by the scruff of the neck, Mofokeng prized free on the way through the City centre and opened a lead of 200 metres over Dyubeni as he went through the Waterfront. Nkhabutlane initiated his typical late charge from 31 kilometres putting Mofokeng’s one and a half minutes under pressure from the hard chasing Lesotho athlete. Fokoroni, who had caught Dyubeni with five kilometres left, was unable to hold off the rampaging Nkgabutlane who finished only 31 seconds adrift and bettered his 2008 winning time by 18 seconds. Whereas previous years had been dominated by foreign athletes, Nkgabutlane was the only non South African to make the top ten which was closed in under two hours 19 minutes. “I’m very pleased. The last two years I’ve struggled with injury, the new training has paid off,” said Mofokeng explaining, “I’m a front runner, when the pace eased I knew if I took the lead they would not catch me.” “We will definitely be inviting George to join the performance squad in the preparation for the 2012 Olympics,” said Molatelo Malehopo the ASA General Manager following Mofokeng’s victory.

 











Sharon Tavengwa defended her title but not without a few anxious moments. The Zimbabwean was the main instigator in the large group that opened their racing on a two hour 40 minute schedule. Despite a slowing in pace many were shed from the pack leaving only six to go through half way in a more realistic one hour 24 minutes. By Salt River, Tavengwa and Powerade’s Mpho Mabuza were replicating the men’s stratgey to ease away from the competition going through the 27km mark. The Zimbabwean had the lead by the Waterfront and seemed to have it sewn up, but the fast early pace came back to haunt her as the covered the final four kilometres. Nedbank’s Tshifhiwa Mundalamo first overhauled Mabuza before upping her pace to hunt down Tavengwa who was forced to checked behind as her lead was being etched away. A dogged kick for the line secured the Zimbabwean her title in two hours 47 minutes and eight seconds, nearly five minutes slower than her 2008 win while Mundalamo simply ran out of distance to finish only 16 seconds later. To the local crowd’s pleasure Bulelwa Mtshagi from the Celtic Harriers club secured third in 2:47:38, with Mabuza hanging on for fourth nine seconds later. “The incentives are there to assist South Africans improve their performance. Clearly this is having an effect” continued Malehopo in regards to the top performances which saw all the top ten women finish under two hours 55 minutes. The Cape Town event attracted just under 3000 runners including Germans, Japanese and a group of more than 40 businessmen from Rotterdam Running Ambassadors.

RESULTS MARATHON Men 1 George Mofokeng (South Africa) 2:14:20; 2 Motlokoa Nkhabutlane (Lesotho) 2:14:51; 3 Mike Fokoroni (Zimbabwe) 2:15:12; 4 Raphael Segodi (South Africa) 2:16.58; 5 Thanduluntu Magqaza (South Africa) 2:17:22; 6 Vincent Sang (Kenya) 2:17:29; 7 Gilbert Mutandiro (Zimbabwe) 2:17:33; 8 Wellington Chidodo (Zimbabwe) 2:18:12; 9 David Ngakane (South Africa) 2:18:22; 10 Molanlehi Bokaako (South Africa) 2:18:28 Women 1 Sharon Tavengwa (Zimbabwe) 2:47:08; 2 Tshifhiwe Mundalamo (South Africa) 2:47:24; 3 Bulelwa Mtshagi (South Africa) 2:47:38; 4 Mpho Mabuza (South Africa) 2:47:47; 5 Paulina Njeya (South Africa) 2:48:20: 6 Dineo Lebotha (South Africa) 2:50:59; 7 Nodofhiwa Mandiwana (South Africa) 2:51:14; 9 Puseletso Maema (South Africa) 2:52:22; 10 Annelie Roffey (South Africa) 2:54:05 10 KILOMETRES Men 1Sibusiso Nzima (South Africa) 29:18; 2 Coolboy Ngamole (South Africa) 29:31; 23 Lukets Swartbooi (Namibia) 29:38; 4 Shaun Zuzani (South Africa) 30:13; 5 Peter Tsawayo (Zimbabwe) 30:20; 6 Folavio Sehohle (South Africa) 30:28; 7 Antony Godongwana (South Africa) 30:30; 8 Unathi Phezolo (South Africa) 30:48; 9 Tom Lusaseni (South Africa) 30:50; 10 Dicardo Jackobs (South Africa) 30:58; Women 1 Lebo Phalula (South Africa) 33:08; 2 Annerine van Schalkwyk (South Africa) 33:29; 3 Lebogang Phalula (South Africa) 34:33; 4 Tebogo Masehla (South Africa) 35:14; 5 Thozama April (South Africa) 35:44; 6 Nandipha Dywili (South Africa) 36:15; 7 Lusanda Bomvana (South Africa) 37:32; 8 Rene de Bruin (South Africa) 38:31; 9 Lemo Chaka (South Africa) 39:14; 10 Nomsa Ntselthe (South Africa) 39:38






WPA uploaded their Cape Town marathon photo's!













































NT uploaded her Cape Town marathon photo's!


































































IOL uploaded their Cape Town marathon photo's!



















Durbanville uploaded their Cape Town marathon photo's!














Bellville uploaded their Cape Town marathon photo's!





















Three-time reigning champion Tadese set to defend titles in Birmingham – World Half Marathon Monte-Carlo – Heading the Entry List for the IAAF / EDF Energy World Half Marathon Championships which take place in Birmingham, UK on 11 October 2009, is three-time reigning champion Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea. The World Half Marathon is the fifth and final IAAF World Athletics Series competition of 2009, and will bring together many of the world’s best road runners to contest this annual event. Tadese won the first of his titles in Debrecen, Hungary in 2007, at the briefly (for two years) renamed World Road Running Championship, over the distance of 20km. He repeated his success the following year over the half marathon in the northern Italian town of Udine setting his personal best of 58:59 which still stands as the seventh quickest run of all time on courses applicable for record purposes. The manner of the Eritrean’s third victory last year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a picture of brilliance. Tadese’s run was a solo venture of athletics magnitude, breaking away from a quality field after just 5km to win the first prize of US$30,000 in a time of 59:56, nearly two minutes ahead of his closest challenger, Patrick Makau Musyoki (1:01:54) who had also been a silver medallist in 2007. Makau, the world’s fastest in 2009, is not in the Kenyan line-up this time but in the shape of Sammy Kitwara the winner of the Rotterdam Half Marathon in a PB of 58:58, the second fastest time of 2009, they still have a man more than capable of giving Tadese a run for his money in Birmingham. Kenyan men have won nine of the 17 individual titles so far contested including victory at the inaugural World Half Marathon Championships which were also hosted in the UK on Tyneside in 1992. Tadese, the former World Cross Country champion, has had a bit of an up and down year with his bronze medal finish at the World Cross in Amman in March followed up by the disappointment of his ‘did not finish’ in what was his marathon debut in London in April, and back up again to the elation of his World Championships silver medal over 10,000m (26:50.12) behind Kenenisa Bekele in Berlin. Already the only three-time male winner of the World Half Marathon title, can Tadese make it number four on 11 October in Birmingham? Chris Turner for the IAAF 


Athletics SA loses road-running sponsor Athletics South Africa (ASA) plunged further into turmoil on Thursday when Nedbank pulled its sponsorship of the annual Matha Series races, the backbone of road running in the country. The bank sponsors 10 races on the ASA calendar -- which incorporate the national marathon, half-marathon and 10km championships -- and has played a massive role in raising the profile of the sport in South Africa. But with ASA boss Leonard Chuene and the rest of the board in hot water over their handling of the Caster Semenya gender controversy, the bank has opted to distance itself from the federation. Nedbank said in a statement that it had terminated the five-year sponsorship deal a year early "in agreement" with ASA. The sponsorship deals will stand for the last two remaining races this season -- the Matha Series half-marathon in Polokwane on Saturday and the Soweto marathon on November 1 -- but next year ASA will need to find a replacement, which is likely to be a difficult task considering the problems with which the federation is currently faced. "Nedbank's dissatisfaction with the quality of delivery by ASA of some events in the City Marathon and Matha Series over the past years is well known and the negotiations to end the contract had commenced well before the start of the current controversy surrounding ASA," the bank said in a statement. "The decision for an early termination was further compounded by the disrupted sporting calendar and logistical challenges facing South Africa during 2010. "Nedbank takes great pride in the delivery and quality of its selected sponsorship properties and felt that the unfortunate negative situation that ASA has recently placed itself in could result in substantial reputational risk on the Nedbank brand. It is inappropriate for us as sponsors to continue with our partnership with ASA in the current climate. "We will monitor the situation closely though for the time being all talks of Nedbank's continued support of road running through ASA beyond 2009 have been suspended." Andy Scott, head of Nedbank Group Sponsorships, said the bank would, however, continue to support road running in South Africa through the Nedbank Running Club, which has produced some of the country's leading athletes since its inception in 2007. "As a bank that strives to be highly involved in the communities in which we operate Nedbank remains committed to road running at large in South Africa," said Scott. -- Sapa

 
Athletes set to turn on ASA and Chuene The country’s athletes and athletics clubs are set to speak out against Athletics South Africa and its embattled president Leonard Chuene for the handling of the Caster Semenya saga.
Top current and former athletes are meeting about the matter in Pretoria on Saturday. No ASA officials will be allowed at the meeting. A Johannesburg athletics club is also planning a motion of no confidence against Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) as the union’s representatives did not have a mandate from the clubs to support Chuene. CGA is the biggest athletics province in the country. Geraldine Pillay, a former Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete, is one of the organisers of the meeting. She took the gloves off on Tuesday and called on athletes that have represented South Africa since 1994 to attend the meeting. She said that the athletes would issue a statement after the meeting. It will be sent to ASA, Government and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). “If the athletes tell us they are happy with how Chuene and the management of ASA handled the issue, that is what we will write in the statement,” said Pillay. Another athlete, who preferred to remain anonymous, noted that everyone except Semenya herself had had something to say about the issue. Pillay did not hold back on ASA. “Athletics is about athletes. Athletes are supposed to be ASA’s biggest asset, but they are not,” she said. She first realised as an athlete and later as a TV commentator that “for most of ASA’s management everything is just about the party”. “They hang out all day in the VIP tent, where nothing but eating and drinking is done. A world record can be set, but they will only learn about it later on TV news,” said Pillay. “I struggle to believe Chuene that he had Semenya’s interests at heart.” Beeld has learned that the only people who stood up against Chuene at the ASA meeting was former Olympic athlete Arnaud Malherbe and Western Province athletics boss adv. James Evans. Malherbe, a former captain of the South African athletics team, wanted the meeting to discuss the Semenya saga, but it was not allowed. Chuene chaired the meeting. Richard Mayer, chair of Johannesburg athletics club Lydiard, wants to bring the motion against CGA. Mayer, who is an attorney, wants CGA to explain to clubs how they can support “the lies and dishonest actions of ASA”. There is also unhappiness in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng North about why representatives did not stand up against Chuene. Ockert Cilliers, one of the country’s top 400m hurdles athletes, said the actions by Chuene and ASA management would make it a “big embarrassment to pull over a green and gold vest” again. Llewellyn Herbert, a former Olympic bronze medallist in this event, said that Chuene should be sacked.

Ramaala bemoans sponsor pull-out South Africa's leading road runner, Hendrick Ramaala, said he was "upset" on Thursday after Nedbank withdrew its sponsorship of the Matha Series, but added that he couldn't blame the sponsor.
The bank said in a statement that it would pull its five-year sponsorship of 10 races on the Athletics South Africa (ASA) calendar a year early, although it would finance the last two races of the season, a half-marathon in Polokwane on Saturday and the Soweto Marathon on November 1. ASA are embroiled in a gender controversy surrounding world 800-metre champion Caster Semenya and the bank said it wanted to distance itself from the federation while calls are made for ASA president Leonard Chuene's head. "I'm surprised, I thought (Nedbank) might wait until this issue was sorted out," Ramaala said on Thursday. "But you can't blame the sponsor. Nobody wants to be associated with negative publicity. "And you know who gets hurt in the end? The athletes. We always get hurt in these sutuations. "For me it's just sad because this whole situation could have been handled better." Ramaala, who will line up for the New York marathon on November 1 in an attempt to regain the title he won in 2004, said the drama surrounding Semenya had negatively affected athletics in the country. "I'm concerned about the sport. This Caster Semenya issue has taken over athletics," Ramaala said. "The testing on her should have been done in private, in secret with the stakeholders - the stakeholders being Semenya, ASA and the IAAF, and perhaps Sascoc and other sports federations. "This should never have come out in the public eye and it is time for this situation to be sorted out. "People need to make decisions. We can't afford to wait because the sport needs to move on and grow. "We need sponsorships coming into athletics, not going out, and I think ASA need to focus on what they are there for - to develop the sport. "This has become about politics and egos, it's no longer about the issue itself, and the sport doesn't count anymore." Ramaala, a qualified lawyer, said he had no intention of getting involved in ASA's current debacle, but slammed administrators for dragging him into it. "This issue had nothing to do with me, but now that Nedbank has dropped its sponsorship, they have made it personal. "The athletes do everything we can and we train very hard. We've done nothing wrong, and Semenya has done nothing wrong. "If people had admitted their mistakes in the beginning, this would all have been sorted out by now, but nobody wants to take the blame and it's always the athletes who get hurt."

Goodbye Readers by Kari Peters Thanks for your support, dedication and passion for running. Today is my last day at Runner's World and I can't believe that this term is about to come to an end. It was almost a year ago that Mike Finch called me to let me know that I had gotten this job. And what a job it has been. Imagine working in a field that you love, on a brand that you're passionate about, with a team that you admire. So why am I venturing off? I follow Zoe Koplowitz's saying, "Have a dream, make a plan, go for it. You'll get there, I promise." Who is Zoe? An Achilles Track Club member with multiple sclerosis. My dream was to work on many different websites, primarily looking at their usability, and from tomorrow I will be living my dream. I studied it, I went for it and I got it! So today I bid you all a fond farewell and urge all of you to remember Zoe's words - in your running and in your life. Have a dream. Make a plan. Go for it. You'll get there!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Gebrselassie takes fourth Berlin Marathon title!

Monday 21/09/2009

Had a slow start at this weekend's Beachcomber 15km but enjoyed the run despite battling in the end.

Gebrselassie takes fourth Berlin Marathon title

Berlin, Germany - Haile Gebrselassie took the real,- Berlin Marathon in 2:06:08, missing his own world record of 2:03:59 after slowing considerably during the final seven kilometres today.

But the great Ethiopian still broke a World record in the German capital*. He had passed the 30km mark in 1:27:49. This time is still unofficial since official hand timing results were not available immediately after the race. Berlin race director Mark Milde had foreseen the possibility of a 30km record and had placed official timekeepers at that mark.

The real,- Berlin-Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Race.

While Haile Gebrselassie became the first runner to win the Berlin Marathon for a fourth time (Uta Pippig, Renata Kokowska and Ingo Sensburg have three wins) Atsede Besuye made it an Ethiopian double triumph in Berlin. She took the women's race in a personal best of 2:24:47. Silvia Skvortsova (Russia) finished second with 2:26:24, while Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia) took third in her debut in 2.26:38.

The much anticipated duel between Duncan Kibet (Kenya), who remained the world leader this year with his 2:04:27 from Rotterdam, and Haile Gebrselassie had come to an early end, when the Kenyan dropped out after 30k. He had lost contact with the World record holder earlier in the race.

A record number of 40,923 runners from 122 nations had entered the 36th edition of the Berlin Marathon. Around one million spectators lined the streets. Weather conditions were very good for much of the race, though it got warm during the final stages with temperatures above 20° Celsius in the sun.

Men’s Race: Haile on World record pace for long period

A group of seven pacemakers guided the two favourites Haile Gebrselassie and Duncan Kibet to split times that were well in schedule for a World record. The leading group passed 10km in 29:15 and 15 k in 43:58 minutes. This pace as well as the half marathon time of 61:44 minutes was good for an estimated finish of 2:03:30. But before the half way point was reached there was a surprise. From 19 kilometres onwards Duncan Kibet could no longer keep up with the speed of the leading group. He dropped back further and further and finally ended his race at the 32km point. Kibet suffered a hip problem which he developed during the race.

But Kibet’s problems had no influence on the pace of the leading group. Especially Kenyan half marathon runners John Kales and Sammy Kosgei did a great job, constantly clocking kilometre splits of around 2:55, 2:56 minutes.

The 30km point was reached after 1:27:49. While Kales had stopped his pacemaking job at 29km Kosgei carried on to 32km. It was shortly afterwards when Gebrselassie suddenly ran into problems, which had nothing to do with the withdrawal of the pacers. The Ethiopian’s step looked much more heavy during the final seven kilometres. Now Gebrselassie needed well over three minutes for a kilometre. The 40th kilometre was probably the slowest he ever ran in a marathon: 3:19 minutes.

But at that time the World record had been out of reach for a while.

“Already after 33 kilometres I knew that I would not be able to break my world record today," confirmed the winner. "It simply got too warm. Suddenly I felt very tired, although I had been very well prepared for this race. But I have learnt today that it is not possible to run a World record in temperatures of 17 degrees Celsius or more. It may have been a bit of a mental problem as well. My head said to my body that it is getting too hard now. It felt as if I would run into unknown territory,” confirmed Gebrselassie, who earned 50,000 Euros for the win plus 30,000 of time bonuses.

Then he turned to Mark Milde and said: “If Mark would allow me to come back next year I will be back!”

Asked if he might give up on attempting to attack his World record in future Gebrselassie answered: “Come on, this is not a serious question. I will not stay home and sleep!” Talking about his future goals before the race Haile Gebrselassie had said: “I want to further improve my World record and win the gold at the London Olympics in 2012.”

Francis Kiprop meanwhile had shown a very strong race in Berlin on Sunday, when he was the fastest runner of the field in the second half. He covered this part in 62:46 minutes and achieved a personal best of 2:07:04. After the 35km mark it looked as if Kiprop might be even in for a major upset. At 25km he had still been 2:28 minutes behind Gebrselassie, but at 35km the Ethiopian’s advantage had been cut to 1:35. But then Kiprop could not quite keep his pace as well and so in the finish 56 seconds separated the two. Though when Gebrselassie learnt at the press conference how well Kiprop had done he congratulated Francis Kiprop and said: “You should have run with me!”

“Running in the chasing group we were a bit too slow in the first part, so I was not able to catch Haile,” said 27-year-old Kiprop. “But nontheless I am satisfied, because I clocked a personal best.” The Kenyan had travelled to Berlin with a PB of 2:08:30.

Women’s Race: Ethiopians dominate, but not Magarsa

As expected the Ethiopian women dominated the race in Berlin. But as in the men’s race there was an unexpected casualty of a favourite: Ethiopia’s Askale Tafa Magarsa, who had clocked a PB of 2:21:31 behind Irina Mikitenko (Germany) in last year’s race in Berlin, and at first had been in the leading group. But at half way she was already more than a minute behind. Shortly afterwards she dropped out. The three Ethiopian leaders – Genet Getaneh, Atsede Besuye and Mamitu Daska – reached that point in 1:12:29.

After the 30km mark Mamitu Daska dropped back first, then five kilometres later Besuye was all on her own, when she had left Getaneh behind as well. The 21-year-old took the race with a personal best of 2:24:47.

There was plenty of action behind her, where Russia’s Silvia Skvortsova made up a lot of ground and came through to second in 2:26:24. While Mamitu Daska was third (2:26:38) Italy’s Rosaria Console also finished strongly, taking fourth place with 2:26:45. The first four women clocked personal bests.

"I am happy to have reached my goal and achieved a time of sub 2:25. From 30 k onwards I had problems with my left big toe, but despite this I felt strong and confident,” said Atsede Besuye.

JΓΆrg Wenig for the IAAF

*World record subject to usual ratification procedures

RESULTS

Men
1. Haile Gebrselassie ETH 2:06:08
2. Francis Kiprop KEN 2:07:04
3. Negari Terfa ETH 2:07:41
4. Dereje Debele Tulu ETH 2:09:41
5. Alfred Kering KEN 2:09:52
6. Girma Assefa ETH 2:09:58
7. Eshetu Wondimu ETH 2:12:28
8. Atsushi Fujita JPN 2:12:54

Women
1. Atsede Besuye ETH 2:24:47
2. Silvia Skvortsova RUS 2:26:24
3. Mamitu Daska ETH 2:26:38
4. Rosaria Console ITA 2:26:45
5. Genet Getaneh ETH 2:27:09
6. Leah Malot KEN 2:29:17

World Marathon Majors
Standings of the 2009-2010 Series:

Men
1. Samuel Wanjiru KEN 65 points
2. Haile Gebrselassie ETH 50
3. Tsegaye Kebede ETH 35
4. Deribe Merga ETH 30
5. Emmanuel Mutai KEN 26
Martin Lel KEN 26
Robert K. Cheruiyot KEN 26

Women
1. Irina Mikitenko GER 75 points
2. Dire Tune ETH 40
3. Salina Kosgei KEN 30
Alvetina Biktimirova RUS 30
Constantina Dita ROM 30
6. Xue Bai CHI 25
Lidiya Grigoryeva RUS 25
Paula Radcliffe GBR 25
Atsede Besuye ETH 25

ANC slams IAAF, wants Chuene fired

South Africa's ruling ANC said on Sunday it was "disgusted" by the way international and South African athletics bodies had handled the case of world champion runner Caster Semenya, who is undergoing gender tests.

"The ANC is appalled by the manner in which both the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) and the ASA (Athletics South Africa) have handled the issue," African National Congress Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said.

South Africa's sports ministry has called for ASA chief Leonard Chuene to be fired for lying about whether gender tests were carried out on Semenya before August's world championships.

"ASA is not handling that matter with the necessary honesty and transparency," Mantashe told a news conference. "We are also disgusted by the way the IAAF handled the matter. We think that the issue was handled in the most insensitive way."

Chuene admitted on Saturday that Semenya had been subjected to gender tests before the tournament, something he had previously denied. He said he had lied to protect the 800m gold-medallist's privacy.

"We do not agree with Mr Chuene's insistence that he lied in Ms Semenya's interest, in fact we are of the view that his lies were to Ms Semenya's detriment," Deputy Minister of Sport Gert Oosthuizen said in a statement.

"In light of this, we now request the membership of ASA to not only take disciplinary action against Mr Chuene, but to fire him from his position as the president of ASA. If they fail to do so, they will be running the risk of being led by a liar."

Chuene, who has apologised for the incident, was not immediately available to comment.

Sprinters shine in Shanghai

American sprinters Tyson Gay and Carmelita Jeter overshadowed Liu Xiang's comeback performance in Shanghai on Sunday when they recorded the second fastest men's and women's 100m races in history.

Jeter, the bronze medallist at last month's world championships in Berlin, blasted the blue riband event at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in 10.64 seconds, 0.01sec faster than the disgraced Marion Jones.

But her time was still a way off the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who set the world record of 10.49sec.

The 29-year-old Jeter, now working in California with famed coach John Smith, has enjoyed a fantastic season in which she has seen her times increase as the months went by.

The absence of Jamaican triple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt counted for little in the men's 100m, where Gay powered to an impressive victory in 9.69sec, the joint second fastest time in history (with Bolt).

The American took advantage of a 2.0 m/s tailwind, the maximum limit for a 100m to be considered eligible.

Gay, who finished second behind Bolt when the latter set his world record run of 9.58sec in Berlin, beat home Jamaica's former world record holder Asafa Powell, who finished in 9.85sec with American Darvis Patton in third at 0.04sec.

Bolt had been due to compete in Shanghai but pulled out, citing fatigue.

Liu Xiang, the Athens Olympic champion, thrilled his hometown crowd in his much-anticipated comeback after his pull-out from the 110m hurdles at the Beijing Games.

The stadium erupted as Liu and Terrence Trammell, the world number two, crossed the finish line neck-and-neck, both registering a 110m hurdles time of 13.15sec, with the American credited with first place ahead of Liu.

Liu, 26, exploded out of the starting blocks, racing for the first time since he limped out of the Bird's Nest last year during qualifying heats, leaving fans heartbroken.

"His result is beyond our expectations," Liu's coach Sun Haiping told reporters after the race.

The former world champion and former world record holder vowed before the race that he would soon be "ready to bring home the glory for China once again".

"Being back on the track today is a pivotal step for me," Liu said in a statement.

Liu's strong performance contrasted with Chinese athletics officials attempts before the race to manage fans' expectations.

"I'm confident and optimistic that I will soon make a full recovery and be ready to win again. I need to be patient and not expect too much, too quickly," Liu said before the race.

Liu had an operation in the United States in December to repair the Achilles tendon that forced his dramatic Olympic withdrawal and has been training in secret in Shanghai over the past few months.

His compatriot Shi Dongpeng placed third in the race ahead of four-time world and 1996 Olympic champion Allen Johnson.

In the field, Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva triumphed but failed on a third attempt to clear what would have been a world record of 5.07m.

She placed first with a height of 4.85m ahead of Poland's Anna Rogowska at 4.60m.

RESULTS

Men

100m
1. Tyson Gay (USA) 9.69sec
2. Asafa Powell (JAM) 9.85
3. Darvis Patton (USA) 9.89

200m
1. Wallace Spearmon (USA) 20.57
2. Kim Collins (SKN) 20.90
3. Shawn Crawford (USA) 21.04

400m
1. Lashawn Merritt (USA) 45.28
2. Robert Tobin (GBR) 45.49
3. Gary Kikaya (CGO) 45.63

800m
1. Augustine Choge (KEN) 1.45.10
2. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) 1.45.68
3. Bram Som (NED) 1.45.78

Long Jump
1. Dwight Phillips (USA) 8.36
2. Godfrey Mokoena (RSA) 8.27
3. Christian Reif (GER) 8.09

Sex, lies and funny money

Athletics South Africa is experiencing a serious financial crisis and failed to brief the council on the federation’s financial status last week, the Mail & Guardian has been ­reliably told.

It has also emerged that controversial ASA president Leonard Chuene has allegedly been drawing a salary of R35 000 a month. Board members and the president are elected to their positions and should therefore not earn a salary.

They are reimbursed only when they submit receipts for expenses incurred on ASA duty.

To compound their problems ASA on Wednesday had to apologise to the ANC Youth League who were upset that Chuene had misled them. The league’s president Julius Malema had all along defended Chuene, saying he was being attacked by white critics.

A senior athletics boss who spoke to the M&G on condition of anonymity said: “Chuene is an employer and an employee and that cannot be ­possible. The federation is in a financial crisis, which is why they can’t produce audited financial statements.

“They have a cash flow problem. Yet Chuene illegally draws a salary and [he] travelled with his personal assistant, Humile Bogatsu, to Berlin. She went as assistant manager to Team South Africa.

“People are focusing on the Caster Semenya saga when the core issue is financial mismanagement by ASA and its president. When you earn a salary you will be under pressure to deliver and that’s happening with Chuene. He has to deliver at all costs. On top of the salary he gets benefits. He earns a salary that he cannot account for,” said the official.

ASA responded to the allegations. “ASA is not in a financial crisis. ASA is a non-profit organisation and any surplus funds arising shall be used for the benefit of athletics in South Africa. Chuene is not earning a salary. He is receiving an allowance in line with the general corporate governance principles. This is a normal practice in companies and other sport formations.”

Nedbank, once one of ASA’s biggest sponsors, has withdrawn from its R17-million-a-year deal with the association for the 2010 season. The sponsorship covered the Nedbank City Marathon and Matha Series in Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga.

Friday 25/05/2009

Ethiopians dominate at Clearwater runs

It was an Ethiopian clean sweep in the Clearwater 10 and 21 kilometre run from the popular shopping complex on the West Rand.

Maru Ondo (ADT) won the half marathon on a tough course in near perfect, overcast conditions with a time of 70 minutes on the dot, his countrymen and ADT club mate Degene Asafa repeated the feat with a win in the 10 kilometre clocking 31:34.
The international visitors also did the deed in the shape of Gethun Wordofa who, not only claimed the first veteran home in the 10km but also managed to outrun the youngsters claiming third overall, with a time of 33:13.

They were separated by the son of 1996 Olympian Jan Tau, E Eugene Tau who clocked 31:42 for his second place.











Victory in both the female races went to home girls Irvette van Blerk (83:07) and Rene Kalmer (38:02) who train on the route regularly.

For Kalmer, the Beijing Olympian, it was a matter of setting things straight after she was beaten in last years run by Ethiopian Taemo Shamye.

"I needed to get that one back. It is not nice to be beaten on your home turf," said the likable former school teacher.

The remainder of the podium for the half marathon was occupied by Marelise Retief (Nedbank) in second with Victoria Ngobese (SAPS) third in 1:40:12.

RESULTS:

Men - 21km
Seniors: 1 Maru Ondo (ADT) 70:00; 2 Simon Peu (Bon) 72:41; 3 Patrick Kenyane (Nedbank) 72:53; 4 Simon Segau (Dis
covery) 74:52; 5 Sello Monama (Nedbank) 75:16
Veterans: 1 Elias Mabane (Temp) 77:17
Masters: 1 Sefora Levy (SAP) 92:00
Grand Masters: 1 Pele Tshinkundalema (Yebo) 96:21

Women - 21km
Seniors: 1 Irvette van Blerk (Nedbank) 83:07; 2 Marelise Retief (Nedbank) 85:32; 3 Victoria Ngobese (SAPS) 1:40:12; 4 Sjeanne Cawdry (Temp) 1:42:24; 5 Claire Nicholson (RH) 1:43:26
Veterans: 1 Annetjie Strydom (Nedbank) 1:53:03
Masters: 1 Joan Lombard (RH) 2:05:22
Grand Masters: 1 Marilyn Moore (Breakthru) 2:08:30

Men - 10km

Seniors 1 Degene Asafa (ADT) 31:34; 2 Eugene Tau (Vaal Tech) 31:42; 3 Gethun Wordofa 33:13; 4 Peter Mogorosi (Krugersdorp) 33:18; 5 Malusi Dalindyebo (Eskom) 35:00
Veterans: 1 Gethun Wordofa (ADT) 33:13; 2 Willy Bernhardt (MP) 40:15
Masters: 1 Andre Jansen (GS) 38:14
Grand Masters: 1 Don Charles (Brotherhood) 39:46; 2 Wilson Netshisaulu (RAC) 46:26

Women - 10km

Seniors 1 Rene Kalmer (MP) 38:02; 2 Sarah Mahlangu (MP) 43:27; 3 Lesley Train (Nedbank) 44:16; 4 Sandra du Plessis (RH) 45:45; 5 Janine Cloete (Khosa) 46:39
Veterans: 1 Sarah Mahlangu (MP) 43:27; 2 Linda van der Gryp (Krugersdorp) 48:07
Masters: 1 Linda Potgieter (Phobians) 47:29
Grand Masters: 1 Pam Immelman (Nedbank) 62:38

Monday, September 14, 2009

Mlambo wins Pietermaritzburg Spar 10km!

Monday 14/09/2009

Started training again after a 2 week layoff. I haven't being sick since being on the high fibre diet and medication but the weight I've put on and rest means I may miss the Winelands marathon.

Mlambo wins Pietermaritzburg Spar 10km

The diminutive Poppy Mlambo beat over 2 300 runners to win Sunday's Spar Ladies 10km race in Pietermaritzburg.

Mlambo who was a late entry to the event from Gauteng and local favourite Tanith Maxwell led from the gun. At the first steep descent it was clear that South Africa's leading lady marathoner, Maxwell, was still feeling her Berlin Championship race in her legs.
"I thought I had recovered enough but the legs were flat as soon as I tried to run the hills," said the 33-year-old who found herself 100 metres off the pace as Mlambo pulled away just before half way.

Nedbank's Mlambo spent much of the final three kilometres checking the gap over her shoulder before racing in to the oval to cross the finish line in 36 minutes and three seconds.

"My body is still very stiff from yesterday (SA Cross country) but I knew Tanith would still have Berlin in her legs, so I just kept ahead of her" said Mlambo.

"Even though this is not part of the Grand Prix, I love this event and the course"

A discrepancy with the timing apparatus resulted in the organisers and officials agreeing that Mlambo's time would equal the course record held by Maxwell, and amending all prize giving times by 39 seconds.

Maxwell's Boxer club mate Janene Carey had also raced in Saturday's SA Cross Country Championships in Tshwane but was able to finish a clear third in 38 minutes 15 seconds.

Maxwell had fallen during her warm up ran 36 minutes 24 seconds for her second place.

"The fall never really impacted. I knew that as long as I kept moving the ankle I should be OK, but will probably feel it tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday," said the Kloof-based athlete. "Poppy deserved her win today, she has been training hard for the half marathon at the high altitude camp."

Mlambo is part of the team named to compete in the World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham UK next month.

Maxwell's mother kept winning ways in the family, taking one hour six minutes and 37 seconds to complete the course for top spot in the 60 plus category.

This year's race attracted all ages of runners with considerable increase in the number of younger runners with Nisipho Khuzwayo leading the juniors home in the 10k in 49 minutes 46 seconds, only a few strides ahead of Thembeka Bhengu.

More at : Women’s race draws 1000s of colourful women: moms, grans, tots and their friends

OPEN

1. Poppy Mlambo (Nedbank)00:36:03

2. Tanith Maxwell (Boxer)00:36:24

3. Janene Carey (Boxer)00:38:15

AGES 40-49

1. Joanne Piper00:50:02

2. Kathy Kruger00:51:25

3. Lizell Pienaar00:55:26

AGES 50-59

1. Sandy Fismer (Hilton Harriers)00:46:41

2. Debby DeKoning00:48:51

3. Judith Grove00:50:22

AGES 60+

1. Jenny Maxwell Westville01:06:37

JUNIOR

1. Nisipho Khuzwayo00:49:46

2. Thembeka Bhengu00:49:50

WALKERS

1 Maryna Gray01:03:20

2. Babongilie Memela01:08:13;

3. Sharon Fuchs01:08:13

WPA uploaded photo's of the Bike Tekkie 10km run












































Photo-finish victory sees Felix prevail over Richards - 22.29 to 22.29sec! - IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final










Thessaloniki, Greece - Three-time World 200m champion Allyson Felix of the US made it a three-peat at the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final too as she added the 2009 200m title to her victories of 2005 and 2006 here in Thessaloniki.

Both Americans clocked 22.29 with Felix being given the win by seven thousands of a second.

Olympic bronze medallist Kerron Stewart who won silver in the shorter dash at the World Championships in Berlin was third once again at 22.42 with Berlin bronze medallist Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in fourth at 22.45.

Men

100 1, Tyson Gay, United States, 9.88. 2, Asafa Powell, Jamaica, 9.90. 3, Darvis Patton, United States, 10.00.

400 1, LaShawn Merritt, United States, 44.93. 2, Chris Brown, Bahamas, 45.49. 3, David Neville, United States, 45.60.

800 1, David Lekuta Rudisha, Kenya, 1:44.85. 2, Gary Reed, Canada, 1:45.23. 3, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, South Africa, 1:45.53.

3 000 1, Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, 8:03.79. 2, Bernard Lagat, United States, 8:04.00. 3, Sammy Alex Mutahi, Kenya, 8:04.64.

400 Hurdles 1, Kerron Clement, United States, 48.11. 2, Isa Phillips, Jamaica, 48.72. 3, L.J. van Zyl, South Africa, 48.74.

Springboks beat All Blacks to win Tri-Nations


Springboks celebrates their Tri Nations win in HamiltonThe dominant Springboks held off a late All Blacks charge for a 32-29 victory here Saturday to secure the Tri-Nations rugby crown for the first time in five years.



Tuesday 15/09/2009

Hendrik Ramaala : Is it at all discouraging to go to a marathon and see kids you have never seen before and then run so fast?

Whenever I come into a marathon, I have to believe I can win, no matter who’s gonna run, be it a 2:03 or a 2:05 guy. At the marathon we are all equal at the starting line. The belief keeps me going. You hear like “this guy is a 58 minute half marathoner” or “a 60 minute half marathoner”. But this is the marathon! Let’s see what happens after 30k. If you don’t respect the distance, it’ll mess you up.

Catherine Ndereba : When the going gets tough in a race, what’s your mental strategy?

The word of God helps me to keep on going. I encourage myself a little bit.

I have this lovely phrase in the book of Isiah chapter 40: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

If the going gets tough, I remind myself that I can do all things. Not because of me but because of who is in me, Jesus Christ. The bible says in the book of Habakkuk chapter 3:19 “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”

So when I remember that the Lord is my strength and I don’t have anything left, I remind myself that I have somebody much, much greater than me who makes me to be able to move.

Thursday 17/09/2009

NT uploaded some photo's of her ultra Karoo run in Lainsburg.















Friday 18/09/2009

Gebrselassie meets Kibet in possible epic Berlin Marathon battle










The two-fastest marathon runners of all time - Haile Gebrselassie from Ethiopia (2:03:59) and Duncan Kibet of Kenya (2:04:27) - are slated to face off at the real,-Berlin Marathon on Sunday, September 20.

Gebrselassie, a three-time Berlin champion, has established two world record times at the race in consecutive years (2007 and 2008). Unlike the 36-year- old Gebrselassie, Kibet, 31, only has one year of marathon running under his belt, yet he has drawn attention thanks to his 2:04:27 at the Rotterdam Marathon earlier this year.

On the women's side, last year's runner-up, Askale Tafa Magarsa from Ethiopia owns the fastest entry time at 2:21:31, while countrymen Atsede Habtamu Besuye (2:25:17) and Genet Getaneh (2:26:37) own the next two fastest times.

The men's field this year features 11 sub-2:10 marathoners, while the women's side features 9 sub-2:30 runners.

Already in its 36th year, the real,-Berlin Marathon has become known as one of the world's fastest courses. Since 1998, six world records have been broken. The course begins and ends at the Reichstag as it loops around the historic city before culminating with a pass under the Brandenberg Gate during the last mile. Last year's race boasted 35,783 runners and this year over 40,000 are expected to run.

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