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.

Jörg 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