Scorching 58:23 World Half Marathon record by Tadese in Lisbon!

Monday 23/03/2010

Scorching 58:23 World Half Marathon record by Tadese in Lisbon!

Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea smashed the World record in the Half Marathon today, clocking 58:23* at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon.

Tadese, the winner of four successive World Road Running and World Half Marathon titles, eclipsed the mark of 58:33 set by Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru in 2007.

Following the uncooperative weather the day before this IAAF Gold Label Road Race, nobody expected great things from the race today, but the Gods protecting this event came through. After a little bit of fog appeared on Lisbon’s famous 25 Abril Bridge, the sun was smiling through the clouds throughout the race.

So, that was the perfect signal everybody wanted as the race commenced. With the start at sea level (without crossing the bridge) the elite field ran against the clock as the organisers predicted.

By the 10th kilometre (27:53), the race was practically defined. By then, Tadese was running alone against the clock - the rabbits lasted for only nine kilometers – and produced the race of life. So far, that is!

20Km World record first to fall

Inside of World record pace, even when he reached 15Km in 41:33 (four seconds behind Felix Limo’s 41:29 World record set in 2001), Tadese forced the pace to another level. The Half Marathon World record was well within reach when he crossed the 20Km marker in 55:21*, 27 seconds faster then Haile Gebrselassie’s World record of 55:48 set in 2006.

The reigning World silver medallist in the 10,000m forged onward to clock 58:23, smashing by 10 seconds Wanjiru’s mark set at The Hague in 2007.

“I felt very good, and looking for a performance just like that,” said Tadese, who had a previous personal best of 58:59 over the distance set at the 2007 World Half Marathon Championships in Udine, Italy.

“I’m in a good shape. Kilometre after kilometre I achieved more courage and determination and always believed that I can get the world record.”

Afterwards, Tadese opened the window to the near future. “I hope to be in the same shape and to use the same skills to try for the world record in the London Marathon.” Impressed the event’s organisation, Tadese promised to return to what he described as “ a marvelous city and course!”

By the 10th kilometre is was clear that there were two races today, Tadese’s run against the clock, and the one for the runner-up spot. By the 15th kilometre Kenyan Sammy Kitwara, the winner of 2009 Rotterdam Half Marathon and the 2008 Paris Half Marathon, was 24 seconds behind Tadese, and by the finish the margin didn’t change. He was second in 59:47, a personal best, ahead of his compatriot Emmanuel Mutai, the 2009 World silver medalist in the Marathon, who clocked 1:00:03, also a personal best.

Duncan Kibet (1:00:21) was fourth and Gilbert Masai (1:00:28) fifth, both with personal bests.

Two-time World Marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco was still in contention for a podium spot at 15Km, but faded in the waning stages to finish a distant sixth in 1:00:33.

Amid the African domination, former European 10,000m champion “Chema” Martinez of Spain was the first European across the line, finishing 11th in 1:02:52, 46 seconds ahead of the first Portuguese, Hermano Ferreira, who was 13th with 1:03:38.

Arusei dominates women’s race

With the spotlight on the men contest, the women race didn’t get quite the same attention, with the results considerably more modest.

As in the men’s race, Peninah Arusei was in the lead from the early stages, and passed 15Km in 48:14, more than 1:30 ahead of her closest pursuer. The winner of the 2010 Koyang Half Marathon and 2009 Berlin Half Marathon, didn’t falter en route to her 1:08:38 victory, eight seconds slower than American Kara Goucher’s course record set last year. But she was well clear of the runner-up Askale Tafa of Ethiopia who clocked 1:10:46.

Finishing off the podium, at age 40, was local heroine Fernanda Ribeiro. The former Olympic, World and European 10,000m champion clocked 1:12:17.

“It is fantastic being in the podium of a race of this dimension,” said Ribeiro, who is still very much revered in Portugal. “I’m very happy to be here, and achieving this podium for the third time in my career.” In previous appearances, Ribeiro finished second in 1999, third in 2000, and fourth in 2006.

IAAF President Diack pleased with race organisation

Among the guests this year was IAAF President Lamine Diack, who was invited to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the race. Diack was especially pleased to be on hand to witness Tadese’s World record on his first visit to this race.

Among the runners was Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates.

António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF

Leading Results -

Men -
1. Zersenay Tadese ERI 58.23 WR*
2. Sammy Kitwara KEN 59.47 PB
3. Emmanuel Mutai KEN 1.00.03 PB
4. Duncan Kibet KEN 1.00.21 PB
5. Gilbert Masai KEN 1.00.28 PB
6. Jaouad Gharib MAR 1.00.33
7. Gedion Ngatuny KEN 1.01.07
8. Mathew Kisorio KEN 1.01.10
9. Samuel Kosgei KEN 1.01.57
10. Ernest Kebenei KEN 1.02.01
11. “Chema” Martinez ESP 1.02.52
12. Silas Sang KEN 1.02.57
13. Hermano Ferreira POR 1.03.38
14. Alberto Chaíça POR 1.03.52
15. Luís Feiteira POR 1.04.38

Women -
1. Peninah Jerop Arusei KEN 1.08.38
2. Askale Tafa ETH 1.10.46
3. Fernanda Ribeiro POR 1.12.17
4. Maria Jose Pueyo ESP 1.13.21 PB
5. Olga Glok RUS 1.14.00
6. Ksenia Agafonova RUS 1.14.24
7. Elizaveta Grechishnikova RUS 1.14.30
8. Mónica Rosa POR 1.14.35
9. Constantina Dita 1.14.39
10. Cruz Nonata da Silva BRA 1.14.59 PB

Impressive doubling in eThekwini - South African champs

Triple jumper Tumelo Thagane and distance runners Stephen Mokoka and Rene Kalmer stole the limelight at the South Africa Yellow Pages Senior Track and Field Championships in eThewkini over the weekend.

The two day event (20-21 March) was billed as a trial for the Africa Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, in July and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October. Several athletes just out of their junior ranks captured senior titles. Such was the intensity of the contest that only three athletes managed to win two individual titles.

Thagane breaks through 17m barrier in Triple Jump

After many years of showing potential, Thagane finally realised his dream of breaking the 17m barrier. The question was not if he would win, but by what margin would he prevail over the rest of the field. In his final attempt, Thagane had a legal jump of 17.05m to improve on his career best of 16.69m. Thagane is the second South African to surpass the 17m barrier after record holder Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (17.25m).

“Surely, I did not expect such a huge jump so soon,” Thagane said. “I was confident I would win which gave me a relaxed feeling and probably contributed to this huge jump. Now that my dream of a 17 metre jump has been achieved, I can set my sights on breaking the national record and winning some silverware in Nairobi and New Delhi.”

Still on the infield Mokoena prevailed in the Long Jump with a leap of 8.01m. “I feel a little tired after the World Indoor Championships barely a week ago. So I hope to improve my distances as the season unfolds,” said Mokoena.

1500/10,000m double for Mokoka...

The most thrilling event of the championships was the men’s 1500m where Stephen Mokoka prevailed. On Saturday in his heat he surprised his opponents with a sprint for the finish line to set a lifetime best of 3:42.81. Barely 45 minutes later he went on to win the 10,000m in a life time best of 28:18.54. Second placed Gladwin Mzazi (28:20.40) also ran a personal best.

It is the 1500m final on Sunday that had fans guessing who would win. The lead changed several times between Mokoka, Juan van Deventer, Parson Mgagane, Mthombisi Baloyi, Molefe Molefe, Windy Jonas, and Dumisani Hlaselo.

Coming into the home straight Van Deventer looked set to win. However Mokoka moved out to lane four and mounted his devastating sprint for the finish line to carry the day in a life time best of 3:38.55.

“There was a lot of shuffling and elbowing throughout the race and I did not want to trip over and fall,” Mokoka said. “So I had to run carefully. I hope this leg speed will carry me to a good position at the World Cross country Championships next weekend in Poland.”

... and 1500/5000m double for Kalmer

Fresh from her World indoor debut Rene Kalmer began her weekend by winning the 5000m (15:51.32). Then she returned on Sunday to claim victory in 1500m in 4:08.61. Such was the pace that Lebogang Phalula who as second recorded a career best of 4:11.10 from 4:12.34.

“The scorching heat was far too hot for me,” Kalmer said. “So I decided to run a tactical race. Running a marathon (She won her debut at the Soweto marathon last November) has given me enormous strength. I look forwards to fast times in the 5000m this year.”

Elsewhere...

Sunette Viljoen (63.45m) posted her best throw in the javelin this year. The World Student Games, Africa, and Commonwealth Games champion is certain about something. “This year I will break the 65.43m record I set at the World Student Games in Belgrade (Serbia) last year.”

Other notable performances came from Reuben Ramolefi (8:21.74) and Teboho Masehla (10:00.84) in the men’s and women’s 3000m steeplechase respectively and by Mapaseka Makhanya (2:04.07) and Tshamano Setone (13:45.71) in women’s 800m and men’s 5000m. Cornel Fredericks (49.70) won the 400m Hurdles. Ofentse Mogawane (45.91) and Namibian Tjipekapora Herunga (52.59) claimed titles in the men’s and women’s 400m.

Cindy Stewart who took the 100m and 200m titles in 11.57 and and 23.42, was the third double winner of the weekend. Although their efforts were wind assisted defending champions Simon Magakwe (10.22) and Thuso Mpuang (20.57) were worthy victors in 100m and 200m respectively.

Veteran hammer thrower Chris Harmse (73.54m) extended his streak to 15 national titles in a row, a record unprecedented in South African athletics history. “I hope to get up to 77 metres so that I am within the medal bracket at the Commonwealth Games,” said Harmse, who is also the Africa record holder in the event.

Mark Ouma for the IAAF

Mokoka kicks past Juan to secure double

Stephen Mokoka produced a stunning turn of speed to spring the surprise of the meeting and secure a rare double on day two of the Yellow Pages South African Athletics Championships at Kings Park in Durban on Sunday.

Mokoka, who had set a personal best in the 1 500m heats and won the 10 000m final within 90 minutes on Saturday, outsprinted Olympic finalist Juan van Deventer to win the metric mile in 3:38.55, improving his personal record by another four seconds.

After taking control early on, Mokoka was passed by Van Deventer, who dragged the rest of the field past him at the bell, and Mokoka appeared to have fallen out of contention. But with less than 100m to go he tore past on the outside to clinch gold by 0.18 seconds.

"The first lap was slow, so I went to the front and picked up the pace," Mokoka said after the race.

"There was lots of pushing at the front, so with a lap to go I let them go past, but I knew I had enough left to catch them again."

Rene Kalmer added the 1 500m title to the gold she won over 5 000m on Saturday, pulling clear of twin sisters Lebo and Lebogang Phalula to take victory in 4:08.61.

Ruben Ramolefi made a brave attempt at his national 3 000m steeplechase record, but eventually fell well short in a solo effort, while Tebogo Masehla was made to work hard in defence of her women's title.

Ramolefi went out hard from the start in a pre-planned attempt to better his 8:11:63 South African record but, with nobody to help with the pace, he missed the mark by more than 10 seconds, although he retained his national title in 8:21:74. Edwin Molepo was second in 8:38:53.

Two seconds ahead of schedule with three laps to go, Ramolefi said he had taken his foot off the pedal.

"I think I slowed down too much when I realised I was ahead of the plan, and that‘s where I lost it," he said.

"It's very hard to get back on schedule once you fall behind."

Myrette Filmalter almost caused an upset after Masehla also went after her national record of 9:55:11 in the women's race.

She gradually closed the gap which Masehla had opened early on and eventually caught and passed the defending champion going over the water jump with a little less than 1 000m to go.

But Masehla held on and regained the lead on the last lap, pulling away to win in 10:00.84. Filmalter improved her personal best by more than 10 seconds, taking the silver medal in 10:03:07.

Cindy Stewart secured the women's sprint double, winning the 100m in 11.57 and returning three hours later to clinch gold over 200m in 23.42.

Thuso Mpuang retained his men's 200m title in 20.57, narrowly defeating Wilhelm van der Vyver by 0.03 seconds, with Simon Magakwe defending his 100m title in 10.22.

Sunette Viljoen produced the most impressive performance in the throwing events, which were negatively affected by a strong wind, with a 63.45m season's best to win the women's javelin. Tazmin Brits sprung a surprise to take the silver medal (56.18m) ahead of former African champion Justine Robbeson who placed third in 55.90m.

Hardus Pienaar set a season's best to win the men's javelin throw with a best effort of 79.22m, relegating defending champion Robert Oosthuizen to second place with a best of 77.80m.

Commonwealth women's discus champion Elizna Naude was nowhere near top form - falling more than seven metres short of her season's best - but nonetheless won her event comfortably with a best distance of 57.47m.

Another Commonwealth champion, however, fell prey to a new rule that no longer allows athletes a warning in the case of a false start. LJ van Zyl left his blocks early in the men's 400m hurdles final and was forced to watch from the sidelines as 20-year-old Cornel Fredericks secured gold in a personal best 49.70.

Six athletes reached the A qualifying standards in their events for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October, bringing the tally of South African qualifiers to 15, including those who had already met the standards before the national championships.

RESULTS

Men: 100m:
1 Simon Magakwe (ACNW) 10.22
2 Leigh Julius (EPA) 10.31
3 Thuso Mpuang (AFS) 10.36

200m:
1 Thuso Mpuang (AFS) 20.57
2 Wilhelm van der Vyver (BOLA) 20.60
3 Simon Magakwe (ACNW) 20.74

400m:
1 Ofentse Mogawana (ANWN) 45.89
2 Sibusiso Sishi (CGA) 46.09
3 Willie de Beer (AGN) 46.86

800m:
Ettienne Plaatjies (ACNW) 1:47.67
2 William Mothosola (AFS) 1:48.20
3 Jan Masanamela (AMPU) 1:48.21

1 500m:
1 Stephen Mokoka (AGN) 3:38.55
2 Juan van Deventer (CGA) 3:38.73
3 Pharson Magagane (LIMA) 3:39.50

5 000m:
1 Tshamano Setone (CGA) 13:45.71
2 Elroy Gelant (ACNW) 13:45.84
3 Olebogeng Masire (ACNW) 13:46.32

10 000m:
1 Stephen Mokoka (AGN) 28:18.54
2 Gladwin Mzazi (AVT) 28:20.40
3 Lungisa Mdedelwa (ATRA) 28:32.18

110m hurdles:
Andre Storm (ACNW) 13.86
2 Louw Smit (BOLA) 14.01
3 Ruan de Vries (AGN) 14.19

400m hurdles:
1 Cornel Fredericks (BOLA) 49.70
2 Wouter le Roux (AGN) 50.34
3 Johan Hanekom (AGN) 51.23

3 000m steeplechase:
1 Ruben Ramolefi (CGA) 8:21.74
2 Edwin Molopo (ACNW) 8:38.53
3 Tisetso Masehla (CGA) 8:51.23

20km walk:
1 Thami Hlatwayo (AGN) 1:30:46
2 Pierre de Villiers (CGA) 1:35:26
3 Werner Appel (CGA) 1:35:28

Decathlon:
1 Sors Joubert (BOLA) 7 323
2 Zavion Kotze (ACNW) 6 665
3 Willem de Bruin (CGA) 6 539

High jump:
1 Calvin-Lee Maclangwe (CGA) 2.15
2 Hurbert de Beer (AGN) 2.10
3 Ruan Claasen (CGA) 2.05

Pole vault:
Johan du Plessis (BOLA) 4.80
2 Riaan Botha (AGN) 4.80
3 Eben Beukes (CGA) 4.70

Long jump:
1 Khotso Mokoena (AGN) 8.01
2 Keenan Watson (WPA) 7.75
3 Zarck Visser (CGA) 7.70

Triple jump:
1 Tumelo Thagane (ACNW) 17.05
2 Rodger Haitengi (CGA) 16.14
3 Charles le Roux (AGN) 15.85

Shot put:
1 Roelie Potgieter (AGN) 19.38
2 Burger Lambrechst (AGN) 18.46
3 Orazio Cremona (AGN) 17.87

Discus throw:
1 Victor Hogan (BOLA) 55.93
2 Dean Wattrus (ACNW) 53.60
3 Dewald van Heerden (CGA) 52.69

Hammer throw:
1 Chris Harmse (AFS) 73.54
2 Johan Kruger (BOL) 60.39
3 Douw Steenkamp (AMPU) 60.18

Javelin throw:
1 Hardus Pienaar (AGN) 79.22
Robert Oosthuizen (BOLA) 77.80
3 Tobie Holtzhauzen (ACNW) 71.94

Women: 100m:
Cindy Stewart (EPA) 11.57
2 Carina Horn (AGN) 11.74
3 Stacey Gardiner (INWPA) 11.83

200m:
1 Cindy Stewart (EPA) 23.42
2 Carina Horn (AGN) 23.86
3 Sonja van der Merwe (WPA) 24.30

400m:
1 Estie Wittstock (AGN) 52.72
2 Alet van Wyk (AGN) 53.66
3 Sonja van der Merwe (WPA) 54.06

800m:
Maphaseka Makhanya (CGA) 2:04.07
2 Mandi Brand (CGA) 2:05.90
3 Anuscha Nice (AGN) 2:06.92

1 500m:
1 Rene Kalmer (CGA) 4:08.61
2 Lebogang Phalula (CGA) 4:11.10
3 Lebo Phalula (CGA) 4:13.98

5 000m:
1 Rene Kalmer (CGA) 15:51.32
2 Lebo Phalula (CGA) 15:58.34
3 Thozama April (AGN) 16:12.69

10 000m:
1 Irvette van Blerk (CGA) 34:20.17
2 Thozama April (AGN) 34:35.27
3 Mpho Mabuza (CGA) 35:05.62

100m hurdles:
Rikanette Steen amp (AGN) 13.66
2 Janet Wienand (BOLA) 13.70
3 Janice Josephs (BOLA) 14.13

400m hurdles:
1 Wenda Theron (AGN) 57.32
2 Mariska Meintjies (AVT) 59.51
3 Jana Theron (ACNW) 59.79

3 000m steeplechase:
1 Tebogo Masehla (CGA) 10:00.84
2 Myrette Film alter (AGN) 10:03.07
3 Nolene Conrad (CGA) 10:35.52

20km walk:
1 Susan Swanepoel (AGN) 1:50:22
2 Nomsa Buthelezi (CGA) 1:52:01
3 Michelle Hopkins (CGA) 1:53:19

Heptathlon:
1 Janet Wienand (BOLA) 5 043
2 Bianca Erwee (ACNW) 4 650
3 Bianca Erasmus (AGN) 4 300

High jump:
1 Marcoleen Pretorius (ACNW) 1.75
2 Rene Oosthuizen (AGN) 1.75
3 June Roelofse (AGN) 1.70

Pole vault:
1 Deone Joubert (CGA) 3.80
2 Honorata Saar (AGN) 3.70
3 Monique van Noordwyk (BOL) 3.60

Long jump:
1 Janice Josephs (BOLA) 6.32
2 Delia Smith (AMPU) 6.19
3 Patience Ntshingila (ACNW) 6.18

Triple jump:
1 Patience Ntshingila (ACNW) 12.83
2 Cindy Peters (CGA) 12.68
3 Kelly Kingwell (CGA) 12.23

Shot put:
1 Bianca van Rooyen (CGA) 14.03
Sonia Smuts (AGN) 13.81
3 Justine Robbeson (ACNW) 13.39

Discus throw:
1 Elizna Naude (AGN) 57.47
2 Maryke Oberholzer (AGN) 48.49
3 Simone Meyer (KZNA) 46.59

Hammer throw:
1 Annemie Smith (ASWD) 52.75
2 Karin le Roux (BOL) 52.03
3 Magdaleen Louw (EPA) 50.00

Javelin throw:
1 Sunette Villon (ACNW) 63.45
2 Tazmin Brits (ACNW) 56.18
3 Justine Robbeson (ACNW) 55.90

Kamais and Yamauchi Triumph at NYC Half-Marathon















Peter Kamais of Kenya and Mara Yamauchi of Great Britain won the 2010 NYC Half-Marathon on Sunday morning on a day made for fast, competitive distance running.

Kamais, 33, ran 59:53 to score a surprise victory against a field that included multiple World record-holder and 2007 NYC Half champion Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, who dropped out. Yamauchi, 36, passed Olympic medallist and U.S. Marathon and Half Marathon record-holder Deena Kastor in the 12th mile to take the victory in an event-record time of 1:09:25.

Gebrselassie, the heavy favorite, led the field through a 14:33 opening 5Km, accompanied by Kamais, Moses Kigen Kipkosgei of Kenya, Mohamed Trafeh of the United States, and Bekana Daba of Ethiopia.

Gebrselassie and Kamais gradually pulled away and ran together over the undulating park terrain. But the legendary Gebrselassie, who set the event record of 59:24 here in 2007, didn’t look entirely comfortable, and after exiting the park in the eighth mile he stepped to the side of the road, holding his chest. Kamais surged into the lead.

“After 10K I knew that I’d win this race. I was feeling comfortable,” said Kamais, who ran 27:09 to win the Brabants Dagblad 10K in Tilburg, The Netherlands, last year. He continued unopposed through Times Square, west on 42nd Street to the flat West Side Highway, and south to the finish in Lower Manhattan.

Gebrselassie briefly rejoined the race before dropping out in the ninth mile; he had been suffering from a cold in the days leading up to the race. The race for second place was a nail-biter, with Kigen prevailing over Trafeh by one second, 1:00:38 to 1:00:39, in a sprint finish.

Yamauchi ran a smart, patient race, dropping off the torrid 5:05-per-mile pace set by Kastor early on and then gradually reeling in the American over the final miles.

“My race went from bad to good today,” said Yamauchi, who is based in Japan but has been training in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “When Deena took off, I thought well, that’s too bad. Then, when I saw Deena again, I thought, maybe this isn’t so bad. But I didn’t think it was going to go well until that last long stretch at the end, and I’m really pleased with the time.”

Yamauchi’s winning 1:09:25 put her 18 seconds ahead of Kastor, who tied Catherine Ndereba’s 2006 event-record time of 1:09:43. Madai Perez of Mexico finished a close third in 1:09:45. Yamauchi and Kastor will meet again next month at the Virgin London Marathon; Perez will run the Boston Marathon on April 19.

This was the fifth edition of the NYC Half-Marathon and the first springtime running; the race took place in the summer from 2006 through 2009. A record 11,494 people finished the race.

New York Road Runners (organizers) for the IAAF

Surprise in Seoul – Teimet clocks 2:06:49 – Seoul International Marathon

Kenyan Sylvester Teimet took a surprise and fast victory at the Seoul International Marathon today, clocking a course record 2:06:49.

As promised, the 81st edition of the Dong-A Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race also called the Seoul International Marathon, was a fast one at the top end, with the runner-up Gilbert Kiwa also dipping under 2:07 with his 2:06.59 run. Amane Gobena of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:24:13, well ahead of China’s Zhou Chunxiu who clocked 2:25:01.

The men’s race began with a fast pace from the start with the first 5Km reached in 15:10. Already the second 5Km was enough to drop most runners from the lead group with only nine left in contention after 10Km. The leaders reached the marker in exactly 30 minutes, with the second 5Km run in 14:50. The next 5Km (15:32) was the slowest in the race, leaving the same group of nine at the front.

Two more were dropped by 20Km (1:00:35) with four Kenyans, two Koreans and Yared Asmeron of Eritrea still in the hunt. The next 5Km was the fastest of the race in 14:43 and although the pace dropped a bit before 30Km (1:30:31), only five were running for the win at this stage. With the pace this good, dramatic changes in the lead were afoot. At 35Km only three Kenyans - Teimet, Kirwa and Paul Kirui were left with compatriot David Kiyeng lagging four seconds. Asmeron suffered badly from 30-35km, losing almost a minute, and the Koreans were going downwards fast too.

Again another fast 5km towards the end (35-40Km) in 14:48 saw former World Half Marathon champion Kirui fall back, leaving on Teimet and Kirwa. Some of the leading Koreans who had been amongst the leaders just a while earlier lost two to three minutes during this 5Km.

The 26-year-old Teimet, who finished third in this race last year, dropped Kirwa over the final couple of kilometers to clinch the victory, lowering his personal best by an unthinkable three minutes and four seconds to 2:06:49. Kirwa ran a season’s best 2:06:59 losing by 10 seconds in the end to join Teimet as the first sub-2:07 runners in Korea. The 30-year-old Kirui was third in 2:07:35, his fastest time in three years and David Kiyeng completed a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 with a 2:09:00 season’s best.

Asmeron lost a lot of ground in the second half of the race finishing in fifth place in 2:11:46, The best Korean was Park Young-Min, who clocked 2:12:43 for sixth. Kim Min in seventh and Yu Young-Jin eighth both set personal bests 2:13:11 and 2:13:13 respectively.


32-year-old Kenyan William Kipsang, a winner here five years ago, ran his first marathon since 2008, but didn’t do well finishing well back in 33rd with a time of 2:24:11.

Gobena strikes in 35th kilometer - women’s race

The women’s contest was run with a very even pace which didn’t promise anything like the sub-2:20 Zhou Chunxiu had clocked here before. Still the race started with a pace well below a 2:25 target with the top runners passing 10Km 33:37. But the next 5Km killed the thoughts of a fast time, a minute slower than the first two in 17:50 and at 15Km there were five runners left at the top.

Again the pace picked up a bit during the next 10Km, which first dropped 20-year-old Korean Kim Sung-Eun and then 23-year-old Chinese Wang Xueqin from the leading trio. By 25Km (1:25:03) only the two main favourites - Chinese Zhou Chunxiu and Ethiopian Amane Gobena, who had already won the Osaka Marathon in January – were left. Kenyan Caroline Kilel was already 14 seconds behind the leading pair and lost more than a minute from 25 to 30Km.

Gobena and Zhou were still together at 30Km, but then the 27-year-old Ethiopian made here move gaining a massive 45 seconds before the 35th kilometre to bag her second major Marathon win this year. Gobena lowered her personal best to 2:24:13 with Zhou, not losing more in the last seven kilometres, in second with a 2:25:01 clocking, her fastest time since 2007.

Kilel held on for third in 2:26:58 and Wang Xueqin set a personal best 2:28:17 for fourth. The young Kim Sung-Eun clocked 2:29:27, also a PB, for fifth. Kenyan Martha Komu was sixth in 2:30:36.

Mirko Jalava for the IAAF

Blackburn 1 - 1 Chelsea

El-Hadji Diouf's header earned a point for Blackburn as Chelsea's title aspirations took a blow at Ewood Park.


















Thursday 25/03/2010

Van Zyl back to winning ways

Commonwealth champion LJ van Zyl bounced back from the disappointment he faced at the South African Athletics Championships last weekend, taking revenge over national champion Wouter le Roux by winning the men's 400m hurdles race at the fourth Yellow Pages Series meeting at the University of Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.

In Durban on Sunday, Van Zyl was disqualified after a false start and was forced to watch from the sidelines as Le Roux defended his national crown. But, three days later, he made no mistakes, setting a season's best of 49.45 to beat Le Roux by 0.63 seconds, restamping his authority as South Africa's best one-lap hurdler.

Few others took advantage of the cool and overcast conditions, however, with the nation's top athletes clearly still recovering from the performances they put in at the weekend.

One-lap specialist Estie Wittstock dropped down in distance to snatch the short sprint double.

She won the 100m in 11.75 seconds, with Carina Horn taking second in 11.95 and India's Srabani Nanda placing third a further 0.08 seconds behind. And 90 minutes later, Wittstock returned to add the 200m victory in a time of 23.66, with Namibian Tjipekapora Herunga taking second in 24.14. National champions Simon Magakwe (10.35) and Thuso Mpuang (20.82) won the men's 100m and 200m sprints respectively.

Teenager Rikenette Steenkamp, 17, improved her personal best in the women's 100m hurdles, clocking 13.61 and falling only 0.13 seconds shy of the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard, with Janet Wienand taking seconds in 13.69. South African champion Wenda Theron missed the qualifying standard by 0.39 seconds in the women's 400m hurdles with a season's best of 57.06, easily defeating Olga Razanamalala of Madagascar who placed second in 59.16.

Cindy Peters produced the best jump of her life in the women‘s triple jump, leaping 12.91m to beat national champion Patience Ntshingila by only 1cm.

Windy Jonas tore away from the field to comfortably win the men's 800m by almost three seconds in 1:46.77, relegating Botswana's Onalenna Baloi into a distant second in 1:49.50. And Lebogang Phalula put on a superb display of front running to win the women's 800m in 2:04.59, easily defeating national champion Maphaseka Makhanya, who finished second in 2:06.21, and Rene Kalmer who was third in 2:07.05.

African record holder Sunette Viljoen narrowly edged Justine Robbeson in a closely fought contest in the women's javelin throw, although their performances were poorly affected by the overcast conditions.

Viljoen won with a best effort of 57.82 metres, and Robbeson took second with 57.40m.

The Yellow Pages series now moves on to the fifth event in Stellenbosch on March 30 before the sixth and final meeting in Germiston on April 6.

RESULTS

Men:

100m:
1 Simon Magakwe 10.35,
2 Hannes Dreyer 10.39,
3 Kagiso Kumbane 10.41

200m:
1 Thuso Mpuang 20.82,
2 Snyman Prinsloo 20.95,
3 Hannes Dreyer 20.98

400m:
Sibusiso Sishi 46.32,
2 Sakara America (BOT) 46.40,
3 Thapelo Ketlogetswe (BOT) 46.52

800m:
1 Windy Jonas 1:46.77,
2 Onalenna Baloi (BOT) 1:49.50,
3 Adriaan van Wyk 1:49.57

3 000m:
1 Olebogeng Masire 8:05.12,
2 Mthobisi Baloyi 8:06.39,
3 Gladwin Mzazi 8:06.57

110m hurdles:
1 Andre Storm 13.95,
2 Louw Smit 13.98,
3 Ruan de Vries 14.00

400m hurdles:
1 LJ van Zyl 49.45,
2 Wouter le Roux 50.08,
3 Kurt Couto (MOZ) 51.18

High jump:
1 Hurbert de Beer 2.10,
2 (tie) Onnanye Ramohube (BOT)/Saloman Tauire

Pole vault:
1 Ruan van Wyk 4.80,
2 (tie) Riaan Botha/Eben Beukes 4.60

Long jump:
1 Keenan Watson 7.89,
2 Zarck Visser 7.55,
3 Stefan Brits 7.53

Triple jump:
Tumelo Thagane 16.78,
2 Roger Haitengi 16.38,
3 Apelele Rasmeni 15.50

Shot put:
1 Roelie Potgieter 19.02,
2 Orzio Cremona 18.93,
3 Burger Lambrechts 18.73

Hammer throw:
1 Chris Harmse 72.82,
2 Kristiaan Bekker 64.94,
3 Johan Kruger 64.57

Women:

100m:
1 Estie Wittstock 11.75,
2 Carina Horn 11.88
3 Srabani Nanda (IND) 11.95

200m:
1 Estie Wittstock 23.66,
2 Tjipekapora Herunga (NAM) 24.14,
3 Bevan Smith 24.28

400m:
1 Alet van Wyk 53.65,
2 Sonja van der Merwe 54.90,
3 Eugenie Wicksell 55.46

800m:
1 Lebogang Phalula 2:04.59,
2 Maphaseka Makhanya 2:06.21,
3 Rene Kalmer 2:07.05

3 000m:
Irvette van Blerk 9:46.13,
2 Thozama April 9:51.30,
3 Christine Kalmer 9:52.05

100m hurdles:
1 Rikenette Steenkamp 13.61,
2 Janet Wienand 13.69,
3 Erika Kleynhans 14.26

400m hurdles:
1 Wenda Theron 57.06,
2 Olga Razanamalala (MAD) 59.16,
3 Jana Theron 59.51

Pole vault:
1 Deone Joubert 3.75,
2 Honorata Saar 3.60,
3 Nishikori Creighton 3.60

Triple jump:
1 Cindy Peters 12.91,
2 Patience Ntshingila 12.90,
3 Matsi Dikotla 12.58

Shot put:
1 Lizaan Jordaan 13.01,
2 Sonnika Knoetze 13.72,
3 Bianca van Rooyen 13.88

Javelin throw:
1 Sunette Viljoen 57.82,
2 Justine Robbeson 57.40,
3 Gezelle Bernard 52.13