Bolt wins in Lausanne

Usain Bolt equalled the best time of the season in winning the 100m at the Diamond League event in Lausanne in 9.82 seconds on his return from injury.
The Olympic and world champion was due to run over 200m but an Achilles tendon problem forced him to switch to 100m.
The 23-year-old was making his first appearance since the World Challenge meet in Ostrava on 27 May, and finished ahead of fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake.
Asafa Powell has also clocked 9.82 seconds this year, in Rome on 10 June.
Bolt, who clocked this year's fastest 200m time with 19.56 seconds in Kingston in May, had not run competitively since developing a tightness in his left Achilles tendon following a 300m race in Ostrava.
"I'm so glad my wound didn't disturb me after having been absent for the last five weeks," said Bolt, who revealed he prepared for the race by listening to Michael Jackson.
"'Billie Jean' put me in the best condition for this race because I was falling asleep in training. I'm very happy because the weather also helped me to run fast."

Michael Schumacher pledges to 'raise game' in Bahrain

Schumacher is 17 years older than 24-year-old team-mate Rosberg Michael Schumacher said he must "raise his game" after Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg beat him in Friday practice at the season's opening grand prix. The German legend, returning to F1 after three years in retirement, was nearly 0.5 seconds slower than Rosberg in both practice sessions in Bahrain. "That is a bit too much for my standards. I've got to raise my game a  bit and I'm sure I'm able to," he said. Rosberg was fastest of all, 0.445secs quicker than McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Schumacher, who was 0.494secs behind Rosberg, had been 0.463secs slower than his team-mate in the first session in the morning. Highlights - Bahrain second practice Afterwards, the 41-year-old seven-time world champion said: "I certainly feel a little bit rusty, certainly on the one-lap issue I can do better. "On long runs and consistent runs things are pretty good, I'm quite happy. I will just use the rest of the weekend in order to tweak out the little bits. "It's not a problem. It's just that for one lap I saw that Nico was four-tenths up and that is a bit too much for my standards. I've got to raise my game a bit and I'm sure I'm able to." Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button was fourth ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Button, who appeared to be very evenly matched with Hamilton, said: "I'm reasonably happy with the car. "It's very difficult because the rear tyres go off quite quickly here, but it's the same for everyone. Highlights - Bahrain first practice "The basic car is quite good. The long runs seem to be reasonably good. There are areas we need to work on with set-up." The Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were seventh and ninth in the afternoon after being fourth and second in the morning. Force India's Adrian Sutil stole the limelight in the morning session, beating Alonso to the fastest time in first practice, heading the double world champion by 0.325secs. Alonso said he had no idea who was in the best shape for Saturday's qualifying session and Sunday's race. "It's still completely unknown," he said. "For sure, out of the four big teams, any can be on pole. And there could be a surprise like Force India, who seem very quick on this type of circuit. "We are in a position to attack 100%. We are confident with the car - we need to make changes to improve the grip but there is nothing wrong." The gap between the fastest and slowest times was even bigger than expected, with Rosberg more than six seconds faster than the quickest car from a new team. That car belonged to Virgin's Timo Glock, who was 0.15secs quicker than his team-mate, the Brazilian novice Lucas di Grassi. Heikki Kovalainen, the quicker of the two Lotus drivers, was two seconds slower than Glock - a margin that is almost certainly not representative of the true performance of the cars. The Hispania team, who arrived in Bahrain having never run their car before, managed to put some mileage on it in the hands of Bruno Senna, the nephew of Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna. But Senna was more than 12 seconds off the pace in what is effectively a shakedown test for the car. Hispania missed all the pre-season test sessions as they battled to get themselves ready in time for the first race, following a change of name and ownership. Senna also suffered a scare when something broke on his car at the end of one of the straights in the closing stages of the afternoon session. His team-mate, the Indian driver Karun Chandhok, did not get out on to the track at all on Friday because the team could not make his gearbox work. It remains to be seen whether Friday's times are a reliable indicator of form, as practice sessions are even harder to read than usual following the banning of in-race refuelling this season. Cars will now go to the grid fully laden with approximately 160kg - about 210 litres of fuel - and teams have to use the practice sessions to learn about the behaviour of their cars and tyres on both heavy and light fuel loads. Cars will qualify with as little fuel as possible before filling up for the start of the race, and finding the best compromise between set-ups for the two conditions will be one of the major challenges of the season. As fuel loads, tyre choice and track conditions can have a dramatic effect on lap times, it makes the list of fastest times in practice virtually meaningless without further analysis.

Rosberg leads Brits, Schumacher at Sakhir

Nico Rosberg led Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button in second practice for the season-opening grand prix at Sakhir, Bahrain.

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• FP2 times & commentary
• Sutil on top as season begins in Bahrain
• Briatore rules out F1 return

It was the second time that returning seven-times champion Schumacher (pictured) was beaten by Mercedes team-mate Rosberg on the Silver Arrows' own return to the sport.
However both drivers will be pleased that they were able to occupy the top places, unlike the morning session.
Hamilton was second, like Schumacher half a second off top spot. Button was 0.2s further back.

Sutil fastest in F1 opening session for Force India

German Adrian Sutil upstaged all four world champions and the top teams on Friday morning when he clocked the fastest time in opening free practice ahead of Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sutil fastest in F1 opening session for Force India

The 27-year-old driver clocked a best time of 1min 56.583sec to come out on top of the timesheets ahead of both Ferraris after an intriguing first session.
This also saw the new Hispania team, with Bruno Senna at the wheel, run in earnest for the first time just hours after being passed safe to take part.
Senna is the nephew of three-times champion Ayrton Senna and it was his debut in F1.
Sutil's best lap left him one-tenth of a second clear of nearest rival and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, making his debut for Ferrari, after his move from Renault.
Alonso's last lap was not fast enough to dislodge Sutil.
Poland's Robert Kubica, who replaced Alonso at Renault after leaving former BMW-Sauber team, was third ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa, in the second Ferrari, making his return for the first time since an horrific accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix last year.
Massa made light of the eye and head injuries that he suffered with a best lap that was just four-tenths of a second off the pace.
Defending drivers world champion Briton Jenson Button was fifth in his first outing with the McLaren team after leaving the former Brawn team, now taken over by Mercedes, ahead of his team-mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion.
The two McLaren men had traded fastest laps early in the session.
Seven-times champion Michael Schumacher returned to action after three years in retirement to clock the 10th best time for the 'new' Mercedes team - the first official entry by the German company since 1955 - but he was outpaced by his 17-years-younger team-mate and fellow-German Nico Rosberg, who was eighth.
Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, of Force India, and Australian Mark Webber, of Red Bull, were seventh and ninth while another German Sebastian Vettel, who finished runner up last season behind Button, was down in 13th place for Red Bull at the end of the morning's running.
The first indications were that he and Webber had demonstrated that the Red Bull team was suffering most from tyre wear, a factor that is likely to be a major issue under this season's revised regulations.
The session began with Italian Jarno Trulli leading the way out in his Lotus, the famous old marque's name returning to F1 for the first time since 1994.
Both Lotus drivers, Trulli and Finn Heikki Kovalainen, took part along with the two Virgin cars and Senna's Hispania machine on a day of high anticipation.

Tsegay takes Lake Biwa crown

                          Yemane Tsegay taking the Lake Biwa Marathon title

Breaking away from the lead pack after 22Km, Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia won the Lake Biwa Marathon on Sunday.

The Lake Biwa Marathon, this year celebrating its 65th edition, is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Although Tsegay, who was fourth at last year’s World Championships, was only 21 seconds behind course course record pace at 30Km, the weather was less than ideal forcing The Ethiopian to slow down in the final part of the race before reaching the finish in 2:09:34. The time was not very fast, but it was fourth straight sub-2:10 run for Tsegay, who has a 2:06:30 career best.

“I want to run the course record, so I increased the pace after the half way, but the weather was not good for me, and I had some problems,” Tsegay said.

Tomoyuki Sato, who was a dismal 31st at the Fukuoka Marathon, came back with a vengeance and finished a strong second with 2:10:07, the fourth fastest time of his career.

“I am happy to be the first Japanese, which was my goal for the day. I am not happy with my time, but I was able to break away from the chase pack despite some bad patches during the race, so it was a good race for me although I won’t give myself an ‘A’ grade,” said Sato.

Abraham Tadesse and Yukihiro Kitaoka ran together during the last part of the race before Tadesse broke away to finisht third in 2:10:46 ahead of Kitaoka, who clocked 2:10:51 in his Marathon debut.

194 runners started the race under light rain. The first notable event was that the pace makers almost forgot to exit the Ojiyama stadium after 1 and ¾ laps around the track. The lead pack of 39 runners passed 5Km in 15:10, on the pre-race plan. After passing the 10Km in 30:21, the first contender to lose contact was Takeshi Hamano, who has a marathon best of 2:09:18.  The 15Km split for the lead pack of 33 runners was 45:35, and it was turning into the race of attrition.  Soon after 20Km (60:41), Masaya Shimizu, fourth last year, started to drift behind the lead pack which now numbered 25. Then with the urging from Tsegay, the pace makers increased the pace (2:54 for 22 to 23Km) and the lead pack started to break apart. Soon three pace makers and Yemane Tsegay led the race, with South African Hendrick Ramaala several metres behind. The pace (2:57 for 23 to 24Km) continued to be hot, and Ramaala was absorbed by the chase pack, which was led by Tomoyuki Sato.

Pace maker Stephen Mokoka dropped out at 25Km (1:15:41) leaving Yemane and two pace makers (Samuel Ndungu and Wilson Chebet) in front with a 10-second lead.

Around 29Km, Ramaala and Tomoya Shimizu began to fall behind the chase pack.  When Ndungu, the pace maker, dropped out at 30Km (1:30:31), Tsegay was now alone, leading the chase pack by 48 seconds. Tsegay continued to lead the race, but he was slowing down markedly, needing 15:40 to cover 30 to 35Km, but still carried a 70-second lead.

With Sato pushing, the remaining pursuers began to gain on Tsegay, but at the same time, the pack was falling apart. First before 37Km, Satoshi Yoshii fell behind, followed by Ken-ichiro Setoguchi and then Naoto Yoneda, leaving just three - Sato, Tadesse and Kitaoka - in the chase. While he kept slowing, Tsegay managed to hold on while the real estate ran out on Sato as he finished second 33 seconds back, but ahead of Tadesse and Kitaoka.

“I am happy to attain my goal of running 2:10 marathon,” said Kitaoka. “I went for a broke from the start. Although it started to get tough after 30Km, I am happy to run the race as if it was an extension of a half marathon.”

Kitaoka was followed by another marathon debutante, Naoto Yoneda was fifth in 2:11:00.

A sense of crisis was rampant in Japanese marathoning circles after last December’s Fukuoka Marathon when Japanese failed to crack top eight. But after the Tokyo marathon where Japanese occupied the top five slots and Lake Biwa where Sato finished second and two debutantes finished fourth and fifth, the future of the Japanese marathon scene is little brighter.


Weather: Rain; temperature: 9.3C; humidity: 87%; wind: 1.5m/s SSW

1. Yemane Tsegay (ETH)         2:09:34
2. Tomoyuki Sato                    2:10:07
3. Abraham Tadesse (ERI)       2:10:46
4. Yukihiro Kitaoka                 2:10:51  Debut
5. Naoto Yoneda                     2:11:00  Debut
6. Ken-ichiro Setoguchi           2:11:44
7. Satoshi Yoshii                     2:12:24
8. Tomoya Shimizu                 2:13:25
9. Munehiro Sugaya               2:15:07
10. Takeshi Ueno                  2:15:26

Kenyan retains HK marathon title despite unpleasant weather

Cyprian Kiogora Mwobi of Kenya holds the trophy during the awarding ceremony of the Stardard Charter Marathon in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 28, 2010. Mwobi claimed the title with 2 hours 20 minutes and 12 seconds. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

HONG KONG, Feb. 28  -- Kenya's Cyprian Kiogora Mwobi retained his title at Hong Kong marathon here on Sunday, but failed to make a new event record due to the hot and humid weather.
Mwobi almost led from start to finish the 42.195 kilometers race in two hours 20 minutes and 12 seconds, over five minutes more than the men's record he set in the 2009 edition.
"It was very tough," he said. "The course here is tougher than the others I have raced, such as Dublin and Macao, and this year's route made it even tougher."
"However, when comparing to the weather, the course is not so tough." He added.
The men's and women's full marathon, starting at 7:15 am, 45 minutes earlier than last year, was carried out under a temperature of 24-25 degrees centigrade and a humidity of 95 percent.
"It was so hot and so humid, that's why I cannot make a better time," said Mwobi.
His compatriot Tubei John Chirchir also remained at the second position, followed by Ser-od Bat-Ochir from Mongolia.
In the women's race, Indonesia's Triyaningsih, 10km winner of the Southeast Asian Games last year, finished first in 2:47:35.
China's Jin Linlin, the third of the Xiamen Marathon early this year, was the second to cross the finish line with a time of 2:48: 40.
Jin, a junior student from Beijing, where is in cold and dry winter, said the weather and tough course made her exhausted at the final 4-5 kilometers.
Japan's Junji Konomi and Kuniko Nakamura took the men's and women's half marathon titles respectively.
According to the newly updated number from the organizing committee, this year's edition recorded a new high of over 52,600 starts in total, and there were 55 runners admitted to hospitals due to heatstroke or dehydration, among which three patients were in critical condition.

Bolt sizzles with sub-44 relay leg in Kingston

                                             Usain Bolt at the 2010 Gibson Relays in Kingston

Kingston, Jamaica – Double sprint World record holder Usain Bolt produced two stunning anchor leg runs, but came up short on one occasion at Saturday’s (27) Gibson Relays in Kingston.

The most impressive of the anchor leg runs came in the 4x400m Relay, which saw him getting the baton in fourth about some 20 metres behind. However, despite making up a lot of ground on the leaders, some of whom he passed, his 43.58 split was not enough as UTech held on for the victory in 3:05.33.

Bolt took his team across the line in 3:05.77 ahead of  the Jermaine Gonzales-led Racers Track Club (3:06.55).

Earlier, Bolt anchored his team to victory in the 4×100m. Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson and Kenroy Anderson were a part of the team with Bolt that ran 38.08 ahead of Racer’s B with Antigua’s Daniel Bailey.

Bolt at the time told journalists, “we just went out to have fun (in the 4×100m). We (Racers Track Club) had two teams in the final, so it wasn’t about proving anything. It was about fun.”

“The real race would be in the 4×400m where sprinters will square off with quarter-milers,” said Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m World records at 9.58 and 19.19.

Meanwhile, UTech with Anneisha McLaughlin and Christine Day, two of Jamaica’s representatives at last year’s World Championships, ran 3:36.21 to beat MVP (3:44.46) in the women’s 4×400m.

Team Bickle USA, an all-star high school girls team from United States, stole the show in the High School section. They first won the 4×800m in a record 8:41.92 ahead of Edwin Allen (8:51.57) and returned to close the show by taking the 4×400m in 3:37.23 ahead of Manchester High (3:39.91).

Vere Technical won the boys’ 4×400m in 3:14.29 while Holmwood took the 4×800m in 7:45.55.

In the 4x100m, Manchester High girls took Class One in 45.52 and St. George’s College the boys’ section in 40.24.

Fujiwara and Biktimirova collect Tokyo Marathon wins

Tokyo, Japan – Running in dismal conditions, Masakazu Fujiwara of Japan and Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia won their respective titles at the 4th edition of the Tokyo Marathon today.

The Tokyo Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Fujiwara, the Japanese marathon debut record holder, clocked 2:12:19 to become the first Japanese male runner to win here. “Because it was so cold, I knew I cannot run fast time. So I concentrated on winning the race,” Fujiwara said.

Biktimirova won the women’s race comfortably in 2:34:39. “Before the race, I was hoping to improve my personal best and that’s why I went out fast. However, because of the weather, I had to give up that goal and go after the win only.”

Cold rain and wind hampered the race throughout and in fact worsened as the race progressed, killing any ambitions for fast performances. The start time temperature was 7 C, but the mercury continued to drop. Arata Fujiwara, who was second in the men’s race in 2008 finished second again, outkicking Atsushi Sato. Sato, one of the pre-race favorite, finished third. Robe Guta was second in the women’s race in 2:36:29, nearly two minutes behind the winner.

How the races unfolded -

Men -

A huge pack of more than 40 passed the first kilometre in just over three minutes. The first 5K, which is mostly downhill, was covered in 15:11 - not very fast for downhill – and the pace slowed even more in the middle of the race. From 15K to 30K the 5K splits barely dipped below 16 minutes. Despite the slow pace, Julius Gitahi, Shigeru Aburaya and Andrey Sokolov fell behind the pace early.

As the leaders passed half marathon point in 1:05:13, the race turned into a one of attrition. At 27K, the lead pack was slimmed down to 24. A kilometre later, Akinori Shibutani surged to move significantly to the front but was soon absorbed by the chase pack. Soon the chase pack led by Salim Kipsang, the defending champion and co-favorite Atsushi Sato, began to stretch out. At about 31.5K, Kipsang made a move to break away and opened a significant gap.

However, the chase pack led by Fujiwara worked their way up to the Kipsang’s shoulder. At the same time, Rachid Kisri, the fastest runner in the field, started to fall behind, reducing the lead pack to eight. Intending to break up the lead pack, Fujiwara surged at 33K to open the gap on Kipsang and Sato. The pace stayed slow, however, and soon Kisri re-joined the leaders. With the runners approaching Tokyo Bay, the wind began to pick up. Although runners took turn in front, it was Kenyan Joseph Mwaniki who did much of the leading. Then Fujiwara threw off his baseball cap and surged hard at 40Km to open a significant gap. Sato tried to stay close, but Kipsang and Kisri seemed to be out of it.

Although he didn’t look very comfortable, Fujiwara continued to pull ahead of Sato and Arata Fujiwara. By 41Km, he was some 30m ahead of the last remaining challengers and continued to pull away. Arata Fujiwara outkicked Sato to finish second.  

“I surged with intent of breaking the lead pack at 33Km,” the winner said. “Then I went to the back of the pack, which was also planned.” Fujiwara’s marathon debut was a sensational one, clocking 2:08:12 at 2003 Lake Biwa Marathon. However, after he joined the Honda track team, by his own admission, he trained too hard and became plagued with injuries. He ran only one other marathon, again at Lake Biwa in 2008, where he was ninth with 2:12:07.

Women –

The lead group of nine which included most of the invited runners, covered the first 5K in 17:34, before reaching the 10Kmarker in 34:56. By 15K (52:04), Bikitimirova broke away from the lead pack and continued to extend her lead through the 35th kilometre. Although the Russian slowed after 35K, she was so far ahead that her victory was sealed.

After losing contact with Bikitimirova, Mizuho Nasukawa, Robe Guta and Julia Mumbi formed the second group. At 25Km, Akemi Ozaki passed all three to move into second position. However, later Ozaki was reduced to a walk and Guta and Olaru began to contend for the second place. Guta moved ahead of Olaru by 35Km and finished second in 2:36:29, 13 seconds ahead of Olaru. Unheralded Maki Kono covered the 35 to 40K split the fastest (19:36) and finished fourth, the first Japanese to reach the line.

Biktimirova said she was comfortable with her run after breaking away from her pursuers.

“I like to run among the men,” she said. “If I am surrounded by women only, I feel like I am surrounded by my rivals. In fact, I would like to thank male runners who ran with me.”
Unlike all other marathons in Japan, prize money in Tokyo is disclosed. Today's winners each won 8 million yen in prize money, plus an additional 3 million yen from Tokyo Metro, for 11 million total on the day, more than USD 120,000.
Click here for race website



Leading Results -
Men:
Masakazu Fujiwara   2:12:19  (15:15, 15:11, 15:25, 15:52, 15:59, 15:56, 15:37, 16:24, 6:40)
Arata Fujiwara   2:12:34
Atsushi Sato    2:12:35
Yuki Kawauchi  2:12:36
Tomoya Adachi  2:12:46
Joseph Mwaniki (KEN)  2:12:53
Rachid Kisri  (MAR)  2:12:59
Takaaki Koda   2:13:04
Salim Kipsang (KEN)  2:13:16

Women:
Alevtina Biktimirova (RUS)    2:34:39
Robe Guta (ETH)      2:36:29
Nuta Olaru (ROU)    2:36:42
Maki Kono       2:39:01
Yang Jing (CHN)    2:41:04
Yumi Sato      2:43:01
Wakana Hanado    2:44:03
Julia Mumbi (KEN)    2:45:11

Splits (Men):
5Km  15:11    Masatomo Sugimoto  
10Km  30:24   (15:13)   Sugimoto
15Km  45:49   (15:25)  Sugimoto
20Km  1:01:41 (15:52)  Cyrus Njui (KEN)
Half  1:05:13
25Km  1:17:41 (16:00)  Elijah Sang (KEN) 
30Km  1:33:36 (15:54)  Akinori Shibutani 
35Km  1:49:14 (15:36)  Arata Fujiwara
40Km  2:05:39 (16:25)  Salim Kipsang (KEN)
Finish  2:12:19 (6:40)  Masakazu Fujiwara

Splits (Women):
5Km  17:34    Alevtina Biktimirova (RUS)
10Km  34:56 (17:22)  Biktimirova
15Km  52:04 (17:08)  Biktimirova
20Km  1:09:30 (17:26)  Biktimirova
25Km  1:27:24 (17:54)  Biktimirova
30Km  1:45:43 (18:19)  Biktimirova
35Km  2:04:46 (19:03)  Biktimirova
40Km  2:25:17 (20:31)  Biktimirova
Finish  2:34:39 (9:22)  Biktimirova

Kitwara and Cheruiyot return to defend San Juan titles - World’s Best 10K Preview

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Sammy Kitwara and Vivian Cheruiyot will race across the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge Sunday (28) evening to defend their titles in The World’s Best 10K in San Juan.

The World’s Best 10K is an IAAF Gold Label Event.

Kitwara to tangle with in-form Kipruto and Kipsang

Kitwara was last year’s road race revelation. First, he handed Haile Gebreslassie a rare defeat at the City-Pier-City Half Marathon. Then, he won the World’s Best 10K and the Peachtree road races. At World’s Best, which has featured such runners as Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat, he ran faster than anyone has before, setting a course record of 27:26.

So far this year Kitwara has been in good form. He was second to Tilahum Regassa at the Zayed International Half Marathon in Abu Dhabi, finishing in 59:34. He was also second to Joel Kimurer at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships.

Yet Kitwara will have his hands full in San Juan. Silas Kipruto, second in 2008 and 2009 returns, as does Wilson Kipsang, who was third last year in San Juan and finished third at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships, just five seconds back of Kitwara. Ethiopia Deriba Merga, the 2008 champ, returns. He is the 2009 Boston Marathon champion and fourth place finisher at the Olympic Marathon in 2008. Merga dropped out of the Ras Al Khaimah last week for unspecified reasons but he is always dangerous.

But perhaps the strongest challenge could come from American Dathan Ritzenhein, who is running in San Juan for the first time. Ritzenhein took a bronze medal at last year’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and should be ready to run the roads in San Juan. He also has plenty of leg speed, clocking a 12:56 for 5000m last fall. Earlier this month Ritzenhein was a convincing winner at the U.S. cross country championships.

As Cheruiyot, Masai and Keitany square off, can Abeylegesse again play spoiler?  – women’s race

Cheruiyot is the woman who dethroned Lornah Kiplagat last year after Kiplagat had virtually put her name on the race. Cheruiyot won last year in 31:12, a PB, and went on to take gold in the World Championships 5000m. Last weekend she was a very close second to Tirunesh Dibaba over two miles in Birmingham at the Aviva Grand Prix, clocking 9:12.35, an indication that there is a lot of speed in her legs at this time.

Cheruiyot will be strongly challenged by a deep field that includes Berlin 10,000m gold medallist Linet Masai, who was also fourth in the 2008 Olympic 10,000 and last week won the Kenyan World championships cross country trials; Mary Keitany, gold medalist at the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships; and Dire Tune, the 2008 Boston Marathon champ who was third last year and has placed fifth at the RAK Half Marathon and third at the Zayed International Half Marathon earlier this year.

Another interesting challenger is Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse, the Olympic silver medalist at 5000m and 10,000m. Abeylegesse has broken 30 minutes in the track and last week she ran the fastest debut half marathon (1:07:07) at RAK.

Come Sunday evening, it could be Abeylegesse’s strength versus Cheruiyot’s speed. 

Kisri versus Sato?- Tokyo Marathon 2010

Tokyo, Japan - The 2010 Tokyo Marathon, the only mass participation Marathon with an IAAF Gold Label in Japan, is scheduled to start at 9:10AM (9:05AM for wheelchair) on Sunday February 28. It is the only major marathon in Japan with the start time in early morning.

Men’s course record under threat?

The course record, 2:07:23 set by Viktor Rothlin set two years ago, could be broken, for three runners with better personal bests will start. The quickest on paper is Rachid Kisri of Morocco with the personal best of 2:06:48 set at the 2009 Paris Marathon. Others who have run fastet than Rothlin’s mark are Kenyan William Kiplagat, who clocked 2:06:50 in Amsterdam back in 1999; and local favourite Atsushi Sato, who ran 2:07:13 at the 2007 Fukuoka Marathon, and will be looking for his first career win.

“This is the 13th marathon of my career, but I have yet to win one,” Sato said. “In Berlin, I was sixth but was not contending for the medal. So on Sunday my goal is to win my first marathon.” 

Although Kiplagat’s personal best is more than a decade old, he has not slowed down much. He clocked 2:07:05 at the 2009 Frankfurt Marathon, his second fastest time. As it turns out, Kiplagat’s first and most recent sub- 2:08 marathon spans a record 10 years. The previous record was jointly held by Stefano Baldini and Khalid Khannouchi, who both recorded their last sub-2:08 nine years after their first. Incidentally, Kiplagat’s 2:07:05 is the fastest ever for a 37- year-old.  So Sunday could be another record setting day for Kiplagat if he runs another sub-2:08 marathon.

At the pre-race press conference today (26), Kisri claimed to be good shape. When legendary marathon runner Toshihiko Seko asked if any particular training session gave a needed confidence boost, Kisri said, “There is a two loop course (total of 34Km at high altitude) in Morocco everyone runs in training. (Two-time World champion) Gharib ran the course in 1:55, where I have covered the same course in 1:54.” 

To the same question, Arata Fujiwara, who finished second two years ago with 2:08:50, said, “My 40Km run on February 3 was a big confidence builder. At 15Km I started to feel bad and started to think about quitting. However, soon, my rhythm returned and I was able to finish the run with 3:10 to 3:20 per Km pace. The fact that I was able to overcome the bad patch during the long run was a big confidence builder.”

Other men’s contenders

Kisri, Kiplagat and Sato are not the only runners capable of breaking the course record.  The defending champion Salim Kipsang, along with Charles Kamathi , Gudisa Shentema and Teferi Wodajo all have personal best under 2:08 making the mark within reach. Kamathi especially has high potential, for he is the 2001 World champion at 10,000m with a 26:59.49 career best. Kamathi has a pair of sub-2:08 marathons (2:07:33 in 2008 Rotterdam and 2:07:48 in 2008 Berlin) to his credit, but considering his personal best at 10,000m as well as his half marathon best of 1:00:22, Kamathi should have much faster marathon in him.

Shentema and Wodajo both recorded their personal bests recently (2:07:34 for Shentema in Paris 2008 Paris and 2:07:45 for Wodajo at Amsterdam 2009) and thus it is possible that they are in an upward spiral and can improve their personal best further. 

Another runner who ought to be able to run faster is Julius Gitahi, a 27:11.17man in the 10,000m with a marathon best of 2:08:57. Gitahi was a superb high school runner while in Sendai Ikue High school, also the alma mater of Olympic Marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru.  Gitahi’s section record in the national high school ekiden still stands, a mark Wanjiru was unable to break.

The most intriguing runner in the field may be Nicholas Kiprono. Although he clocked only 2:17:15 in his only completed marathon, he has three sub-61:02 Half Marathons to his credit in 2009, suggesting he may be ready for a breakthrough.

Guta and Biktimirova the favourites in the women’s race

Turning attention to the women’s side, the favorite may be Robe Guta of Ethiopia, the fastest in the field with 2:24:35.  However, Alevtina Biktimirova, who lost to Dire Tune by two seconds at the 2008 Boston Marathon is quite competitive and could be a surprise.

“I am in the best shape of my life,” Biktimirova said. However, her stated goal was quite modest, saying she is just looking to to improve her time from last year, while defending champion Mizuho Nasukawa and Akemi Ozaki were more aggressive.

“I am getting better and better every day starting in early February,” Nasukawa said. “I am going after my personal best, which is also the course record.” Ozaki is also going after the win and the course record.

Julia Mumbi, a Kenyan who lives in Japan is coached by Yoshio Koide who coached 2000 Olympic Marathon champion Naoko Takahashi, could also be a factor. Nineteen-year-old Yang Jing could be another surprise.

The race starts by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku and runs by the imperial palace, through Ginza, Asakusa and Tsukiji before finishing at the Tokyo Big Sight.  The race starts around 40m above sea level and lose most of the elevation in first 5Km, after which the course is mostly flat except for three bridges after 28Km.

A record 32,000 runners, selected from 272,134 applicants, will start the Marathon while 3000 will participate in the accompanying 10Km road race.  The weather forecast calls for rain, but what can slow down the race is the wind from the sea nearing the end of the race.

The men’s contest is a selection race for the Japanese squad for the 2010 Asian Games. The



Click here for race website

List of Invited Runners:
Men
Rachid Kisri (MAR)  2:06:48  2009 Paris
William Kiplagat (KEN) 2:06:50 1999 Amsterdam
Salim Kipsang (KEN)  2:07:29 2007 Berlin
Charles Kamathi (KEN) 2:07:33 2008 Rotterdam
Gudisa Shentema (ETH) 2:07:34 2008 Paris
Teferi Wodajo (ETH)  2:07:45 2009 Amsterdam
Julius Gitahi (KEN)  2:08:57 2008 Tokyo
Aleksey Sokolov (RUS) 2:09:07 2007 Dublin
Nicholas Kiprono (UGA) 2:17:15 2008 Baltimore

Japanese
Atsushi Sato   2:07:13 2007 Fukuoka
Arata Fujiwara   2:08:40 2008 Tokyo
Yuzo Onishi   2:08:54 2008 Lake Biwa
Kurao Umeki   2:09:52 2003 Berlin
Seiji Kobayashi  2:10:38 2009 Beppu-Oita
Kensuke Takahashi  2:11:25 2009 Tokyo
Shigeru Aburaya  2:07:52 2001 Lake Biwa
Tomoya Adachi  2:11:59 2008 Beppu-Oita

Women
Alevtina Biktimirova  (RUS) 2:25:12 2005 Frankfurt
Robe Guta (ETH)  2:24:35 2006 Hamburg
Julia Mumbi (KEN)  2:26:00 2008 Osaka
Nuta Olaru (ROU)  2:24:33 2004 Chicago
Yang Jing (CHN)  2:36:28 2009 Beijing

Japanese:
Mizuho Nasukawa   2:25:38 2009 Tokyo
Akemi Ozaki   2:27:23 2009 Hokkaido
Miyuki Ando   2:29:07 2008 Osaka
Kaori Yoshida    2:30:58 2008 Nagoya  

Lel and Wanjiru to Battle In New Orleans Half Marathon

New Orleans, USA - 2008 Olympic Marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru will battle head-to-head against three-time London Marathon champion Martin Lel at Sunday’s (28) Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon.

The first Kenyan to win Olympic Marathon gold, Wanjiru set the current World record in the Half Marathon of 58:33 at the 2007 City-Pier-City Loop in The Hague, The Netherlands.

“The timing of the Mardi Gras Half-Marathon is perfect for athletes like me who are preparing for a spring marathon,” said Wanjiru, who will face Lel at the London Marathon on 25 April. “For me it's a great opportunity to see where I am before the London. Really, I am just looking to come and run a solid race and this gives me a great chance to see where I'm at and what condition I am in.”

Lel won the 2005, 2007 and 2008 editions of the London along with the 2003 and 2007 New York City Marathons. His 2008 London victory in 2:05:15 was a course record until Wanjiru broke it last year with his sizzling 2:05:10 run.

Leading the women’s field is Ethiopian Berhane Adere, a two-time winner of the Chicago Marathon. She’ll face New Zealand Olympian Kim Smith, who finished seventh at the World championships over the distance last year.

New Orleans: The Saints are your NFL world champions!!!

The New Orleans Saints, longtime residents of the bottom of the NFL barrel, now stand at the pinnacle of American sports. A thrilling Super Bowl XLIV ended with the Saints on top of the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.
The New Orleans Saints are world champions. That feels so weird -- and so great -- to say.
The Saints got off to a slow start, but they never stopped playing aggressively and with a fierce passion. They were afraid of nothing, they took risks, and they went out and made the plays to beat a great football game.
I'd point to two key plays. First, obviously, was the brain-rattling Tracy Porter(notes) interception of Peyton Manning(notes) that went for a touchdown, and for all intents and purposes, put the game away. It was a shockingly bad throw from Manning and an electrifying return from Porter. That'll go down in the books as one of the great plays in Super Bowl history.
Maybe the real key, though, was the onside kick with which the Saints used to open the second half. The call from head coach Sean Payton took the guts of a thief, and it paid off immeasurably. The Saints never really relinquished momentum after Jonathan Casillas(notes) came out of that pile with the football. To me, that play personifies the Saints and their attitude in this game.
Fans just got their third straight classic Super Bowl. Two years ago, the Giants shocked the world by edging the Patriots. Last year, the Steelers and Cardinals went back and forth in a nail-biter, and this year, the Saints and Colts fought tooth and nail for 60 minutes. The final score might not show a thriller, but this thing was hotly contested until very late in the game. Things turned on one major mistake.
The fact that it was the Saints who won adds to the feeling that we just saw greatness. Between the years of miserable football and what they and their fans went through with Hurricane Katrina, it feels great to see them on top. I'm not a Saints fan, and I can't help but smile right now.

Super Bowl XLIV

Formula 1 adopts new points system for 2010 season

Under new rules the race winner would receive 25 points Formula 1 will have a new points system for the 2010 after an agreement between the governing body (FIA) and the teams. The new system will see places rewarded in a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 sequence. F1 bosses believe a seven-point gap between first and second place, rather than the current two-point separation, will promote a 'race-to-win' attitude. New tyre rules mean drivers must start races on the same tyres they set their grid time in, while 'double diffusers' will be banned from 2011. The Formula 1 Commission, a decision-making forum for the teams and major stakeholders, agreed the amendments to the sporting and technical regulations at a meeting on Monday. The measures will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for final approval within 48 hours, which is usually a formality once all of the parties have agreed on changes. Scoring changes have been suggested several times over the past year and two months ago the F1 Commission initially opted for a 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1 format. However, the disparity of points between the top three was no greater in percentage terms than the 10-8-6 system currently used. Previously, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone tried to introduce a medals system, with the championship being decided by race victories rather than cumulative points, but the idea did not catch on with teams. In order to introduce a further element of strategy, cars running in the final 10-minute qualifying session must start the race on the same set of tyres with which their grid time was set. With re-fuelling banned from this year and the emphasis switching to tyre use, drivers with an aggressive qualifying strategy will likely be compromised early in a race, forcing them into additional stops. The decision to ban the 'split level' or 'double-decker' diffuser will not come into effect this year. The main diffuser will be allowed in 2011, but its permitted height will be reduced from 175mm to 125mm. Diffusers improve downforce by channelling the flow of air smoothly under the car, but in 2009 there was controversy when eventual champions Brawn, Toyota and Williams produced radical versions of their own. Teams unveiling their 2010 cars have been coy about their rear diffusers, sparking fears that a fresh row could erupt when the season starts on March 14 in Bahrain.

Haile Gebrselassie 2:06:09 in Dubai,But The Record still Stand.

2:06:09 can never be deemed a disappointing performance - it's a time that ten years ago would have scared the world record, been comfortably in the top 10 of all time, and would signal a great effort. It's testament to how the marathon has progressed, and to what Haile Gebrselassie has achieved in his running career, that when he achieves this time, it's met with some disappointment.


Gebrselassie spends most of his racing time hunting world records - I've said before what a pity this is and how great it would be to see him take on the likes of Lel, Wanjiru and Kebede, but he has been content, for the last five or so years, to race the clock in a couple of races a year. His first attempt for the last few years has come in Dubai, where huge incentives, both upfront and for winning and breaking records, are a big draw.

And Dubai has been very fast for Gebrselassie - he has run 2:04:53 and 2:05:29 (2nd and 8th fastest ever at the time, respectively). But 2010 has produced the slowest of his three Dubai Marathons, 2:06:09.


Dubai 2010 - close for a short time, then a gradual slide away
And the record was on for a short time only. The graph below shows the kilometer splits, and then I've worked out the projected time at 5km intervals (based on the cumulative time, not the last 5km, note), shown in green where he sped up over the interval, red where the pace slowed.

Remember that the world record of 2:03:59 requires an average kilometer pace of 2:56. Gebrselassie was close to it, but never below it, until 5km had been covered, and his 5km time of 14:54 was 3 seconds per kilometer off that required pace. We've discussed before how incredibly precise the pacing has to be in order to succeed over 42.2 km - it is remarkable. In previous Dubai races, Gebrselassie has gone out much too hard - in 2008, he was on course for about 2:02 after 15km, and then slowed considerably to run 2:04:53.


This time, if there was a pacing error, it was on the slower side of desired, because the early pace was just outside the target - Gebrselassie averaged 2:59 for the first 5km (14:54 split), 2:58 for the second 5km (10 km split of 29:42), but then began to slow progressively. At halfway (1:02:51), his projected time was 2:05:42, which some would say meant the record was still on, but when you need to run the second half of a 2:04 marathon in 61:07, then the record is pretty much gone. That the pace was slowing after 10km is a sign that it was never going to happen today, and from that point onwards, only eternal optimism would have kept record hopes alive.


A race in the final kilometers?

The pace held steady at around 2:58/km from halfway to 35km, and then the pace really did slow down - a series of 3:05 or slower kilometer times and the projected time dropped outside 2:06. It is very interesting to note that Gebrselassie's final kilometer was 2:36, an increase in pace which suggests that he took the foot off the gas in those earlier slow kilometers, because by then the record was clearly gone - it would have required something in the range of 2:50/km for the final 10km to challenge his mark.
Also of interest though, is that he "only" won by 24 seconds today, making this the closest marathon "race" he's run in a while. He may have entered looking for a paced record, but he seems to have found himself in a tight battle at the end.


And, given a final kilometer of 2:36, the 24 second winning margin would have been largely, if not entirely, created in the final kilometer, which means that Gebrselassie was not alone at 40km, and definitely not at 30km. It seems likely, then, that the presence of other runners in a group from 30km onwards, combined with Gebrselassie not feeling quite up to the world record (as shown by the relatively sluggish start, particularly from 10 to 20km), resulted in a tactical race which slowed the pace down in the latter kilometers.

I confess that I didn't see the race, it wasn't televised and SA internet is so poor that watching online doesn't happen at the best of times, so I don't know the circumstances in those middle kilometers. The temperatures and wind certainly don't seem to have been too limiting - the temperature at the finish of the race was 18 degrees with no wind, though the humidity was up at 80%, which may have contributed to that progressive decline.
Nevertheless, it's a good, not great time, for an athlete who has inspired expectations of great every time he runs. It really doesn't help that he only runs in time-trials (with the exception of Berlin last year, where Duncan Kibet might have, but didn't, provide some opposition), and that he talks up the chances every time he races. Before this one, he spoke of perfect preparation, and the ability to run 2:03:30. There's always the proviso that the conditions must be absolutely perfect, and so I suspect in the aftermath of this race, there'll be some problem with the conditions, perhaps that humidity.

More than 300 participants to climb 86 flights in iconic New York City building

New York, USA - Defending champion Thomas Dold of Germany looks to join only two other five-time winners when he headlines the field at the 33rd annual NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up on Tuesday, 2 February.

Dold, 25, who has won the last four Run-Ups, would equal Australian great Paul Crake (1999–2003) and Al Waquie of the United States (1983–87) for most victories in this signature race on the NYRR calendar.

Crake - 9:33 - and Andrea Mayr of Austria - 11:23 - are the men's and women's course record holders.

The Empire State Building Run-Up will test the limits of some 315 competitors from 19 states and 17 countries as they race up 86 flights—1,576 steps—to the outdoor observation deck of the world’s most famous office building and the tallest building in New York City. In 2009, Dold crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, 7 seconds, and three-time winner Suzy Walsham of Sydney, Australia, finished in 13:27.

Dold, who graduated in 2009 from his college in Stuttgart, Germany, is a standout in the sport of professional tower climbing, with a lengthy list of victories around the globe, his own website, and several sponsors. Since December, he has commuted to Frankfurt twice weekly to train at the Main Tower, a skyscraper that is 200 metres tall (52 floors and nearly 1,000 stairs).

Cindy Moll-Harris, 41, of Indianapolis, will once again aim for her fifth title. Moll-Harris is the only woman to have won the race four times (1998, 2000, 2001, and 2003).

Ginette Bedard, 76, of Howard Beach, NY, and Piero Dettin, 72, of Venice, Italy, are the oldest female and male participants entered in the race. On the other end of the age spectrum, 24-year-old Kacie Lauren Fischer of Shell Beach, CA, and 18-year-old Anthony John Scimone of Lakeland, FL, are the youngest competitors.

A total of 288 runners finished the 2009 invitational race, the second-most behind the 2008 event’s 308 finishers.

World record is worth a million to Haile

Haile Gebrselassie at the pre-race press conference for the 2010 Dubai Marathon .

Dubai, UAE - Haile Gebrselassie pronounced his preparation “perfect” for Friday’s Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon (22), but reminded everyone at today’s press conference that all the other elements had to be perfect too, even for an attempt on his World record of 2:03:59, set in Berlin 18 months ago.
“I’ve made sure I’m in perfect shape,” said the 36 year old Ethiopian, who will be running in Dubai for the third year in succession. “But everything has to be perfect, the weather, the pacemakers. If everything is perfect, I can run 2:03:30. I don’t promise, if I promise and fail, we’ll all be disappointed. Two years ago, it was a little bit warm at the end (he ran 2:04:53, then second fastest in history), last year, it was raining (he ‘only’ ran 2:05:29, eighth fastest)”.
He dismissed the notion that his first half in 61min 45sec, 2:03:30 pace, in 2008 might have been too fast. “I didn’t run too fast, I want to do the same on Friday. It’s good the race starts at 6.30(am), but above all, I want to keep to the schedule all the way through. Even if you run the first kilometre to slow, you’re catching up all the way.”
His two victories here have netted him half a million dollars, since the race was upgraded in 2008 with a million dollars prize money, with a first prize of $250,000, for both men and women. But there is also the little matter of a million dollar bonus for a World record, offered by Dubai Holding.
Replying to someone who asked what he might do if he won the million dollars, Gebrselassie first said, “I will tell you after I get the million dollars,” then adding as the laughter died down, “If I could get the record by paying a million dollars, I’d do it”.
Three of the pacemakers who delivered him on schedule to 35km last year, before the rains ruined the record attempt - Fabiano Joseph of Tanzania, and John Kales and Sammy Kosgei of Kenya – are in there again.
And another Kenyan Sammy Korir, who was once second fastest in the world, says that he is not in the field as token opposition. Korir ran 2:04:56, one second behind colleague Paul Tergat’s then World record, in Berlin 2003, but has a dozen sub-2:10 times, more than Gebrselassie.
Korir, 38, finished third here two years ago, and said today, “After my run in Berlin, I had injuries and it was difficult, coming back to racing and then getting injured again. But now I have shown I can run fast, 2:07 again (winning in Seoul 2008), so I am looking forward to the race. Dubai is a very good course for running fast”.
Before the 42.2k on Friday, Gebreselassie went off to tackle the half-mile high Burj Khalifa, as one of the first famous guests up the recently opened world’s tallest tower.
And having reiterated today his desire to run the Olympic marathon in London 2012, the inference is that Haile is not planning to slow down any time soon. So, weather and pacemakers permitting, expect another towering time from the Little Emperor on Friday.

Togo players unanimously decide to stay

The Togo national football side will play in the African Nations Cup in ''memory of the dead'', according to two of the players. It had been thought that Togo would pull out after the attack on their bus on Friday.

GettyImages

The midfielder has spoken out about the situation.

• Togo withdraw from tournament
• Prem bosses want cancellation
• Carter: Attack did irreparable damage
• Paper round: Big shadow over ANC
The players had initially said they did not want to play in the tournament, and the government recalled the team, following the machine gun ambush by Cabinda separatists that killed an assistant coach, squad spokesman and bus driver and left many others injured.
"In memory of the dead, the national team has decided to play in the African Nations Cup," Thomas Dossevi told AFP.
"We are all heartbroken, it is no longer a party, but we want to show our national colours, our values and that we are men. It was a decision taken nearly unanimously by the team which met during the night after having been reassured by the Angolan authorities."
He said the team is "a bit bitter, we are a little disappointed with the Confederation of African Football (CAF)...which couldn't arrange for a postponement of our first match so we could bury our dead."
Dossevi, who plays for French side Nantes, was scathing about CAF. "CAF puts its interests first and not those of the countries," he said. "They did not support us enough."
L'Equipe also quoted midfielder Alaixys Romao as saying the team had agreed to stay in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda for its first Group B match against Ghana on Monday.
"The decision was taken unanimously," said Romao, who plays for French club side Grenoble. "We have just had a meeting of the whole delegation and we will be on the pitch on Monday to face Ghana."
A Togolese minister said on Saturday that the government had decided to pull the team out of the tournament, which starts on Sunday, because of "this dramatic situation".
On Sunday, the country's Prime Minister, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, insisted the players must return home by the end of the day, but it remains to be seen whether the players will agree.
There was further confusion over Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Togo's captain. The player's spokesman had said he would stay with his team, but the club's official website said he was returning home.
"People have died for the African Nations Cup, others have been injured. We can't let them down and leave like cowards," said Romao.
"If we stay here it's for them but also not to give any satisfaction to the rebels. Our government does not necessarily agree with us but we are all determined to play this competition."
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that reserve-team goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, previously reported to have been killed, was in a "stable condition" in hospital in Johannesburg after being shot in the attack.
"He is conscious and in a stable condition," Milpark Clinic president Dr Richard Friedland said on the official website of his club, Pontivy. "He is suffering from two gunshot wounds in the lower back and abdomen."

One dead, nine hurt in attack on African football stars

Gunmen shot at buses carrying Togo's football team to the African Nations Cup in Angola, leaving one dead and nine wounded, but organisers insisted the tournament would go ahead.

One dead, nine hurt in attack on African football stars

Gunmen shot at buses carrying Togo's football team to the African Nations Cup in Angola, leaving one dead and nine wounded, but organisers insisted the tournament would go ahead.
Two players were among the injured, while a driver was killed when gunmen sprayed bullets at the team's vehicles after they had crossed into Angola's restive Cabinda province from Congo-Brazzaville on Friday, according to a Togo official.
Many dived under their seats when the gunfire started. Squad member Thomas Dossevi said the team -- one of the strongest in African football -- had been "fired on like dogs".
Two players -- goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale and defender Serge Akakpo -- were among the wounded, Dossevi told AFP.
"The assailants were hooded and armed to the teeth. We stayed under the seats for 20 minutes. It was horrible."
Two English Premiership players -- Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Aston Villa midfielder Moustapha Salifou -- emerged unharmed from the attack, their clubs said. Related article: English clubs concerned
Angola's government denounced the attack by the separatist Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), and in a statement "reiterated its total commitment to guaranteeing everyone's security".
FLEC, embroiled in a decades-long separatist struggle, said the team's military escorts were the intended target, saying one person had been killed and three seriously injured.
"This operation is only the start of a series of targeted actions that will continue in all the territory of Cabinda," it said in a statement on Portugal's Lusa news agency.
FLEC signed a peace deal with Angola's government in 2006, but in recent months has claimed a spate of attacks on the military and foreign oil and construction workers in the province, which is physically separated from the rest of the country by a strip of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Togo's football federation said members of the team's sporting, administrative and medical staff were injured. All were being treated in a hospital in Cabinda city.
Adebayor, the Togo team captain, said that he would convene a meeting at which the squad would discuss whether or not to stay for the tournament.
"I think a lot of players want to leave," he told BBC Radio Five Live in Britain.
"They have seen one of their team-mates have a bullet in his body, who is crying, who is losing consciousness and everything," said Adebayor, who was shown on Angolan television looking dazed and in tears shortly after the attack.
"We will discuss everything as a team and we will take a decision that we think is good for our career, is good for our life and good for our family," he said.
"If the security is not sure then we will be leaving tomorrow ... I don't think they will be ready to give their life."
His concerns about security echoed across the continent, but organisers said the games would go on.
"Our great concern is for the players, but the championship goes ahead," said Souleymane Habuba, spokesman for the Confederation of African Football.
He said the group's vice president had set off for Cabinda to find out first hand what had occurred, but questioned why Togo had elected to travel by road rather than flying.
"CAF's regulations are clear: teams are required to fly rather than travel by bus," he said.
A member of the local organising committee, Virgilio Santos, said all teams were requested to provide their travel plans.
"Togo was the only team that did not respond and did not notify (us) they were coming by road," he told AFP.
Togo, one of Africa's top sides and who appeared in the last World Cup in Germany, were scheduled to start their campaign against Ghana on Monday in Cabinda.
The other teams in their group are Burkina Faso and the star-studded Ivory Coast squad which includes Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure.
Despite long-running security concerns, oil-rich Cabinda is to host seven Nations Cup matches this month.
Angola as a whole is only just emerging from a 27-year civil war which erupted shortly after it received independence from Portugal and finally ended in 2002.

Insanity In Abu Dhabi As Keitany And Regassa Pounce On $300,000 1st-Place Prizes In Oil Money Half Marathon

International distance running fans and the press buzzed as the Zayed Half Marathon took place today in Abu Dhabi. Race organizers raised a huge prize purse, throwing $300,000 US to the winner of both male and female races with $100,000 to second place and $50,000 to third. The Zayed Half Marathon is dubbing itself the richest half marathon in the world.
Teenager Tilahun Regassa won the men's race over Sammy Kitwara while Kenyan ace Mary Keitany won her 4th-straight half marathon with her 5th career world all-time top-10 at the distance on IAAF approved courses.
Top African Talent Lines Up
Thanks to the huge prize purse, the world's top agents, managers and athletes lined up to take a shot at big paydays. Surprisingly, there was almost zero mainstream press surrounding the event despite millions of dollars on the line. Virtually all of the star runners were of Ethiopian or Kenyan descent.

Warm Weather Race
It's important to note that this race was run during the day and it was quite warm, temperatures were reported to be near 25 Celcius (77° F).

Men's Winner Only 19
The men's winner is 19-year-old Tilahun Regassa of Ethiopia in 59:19. He defeated sensational Kenyan Sammy Kitwara, who has run under 58:52 previously in the half marathon and managed 59:34 on Thursday.
Regassa's previous best victory came in the summer of 2009 at the Cigna Falmouth Road Race (see photo of Regassa waving during the race to the left). Spectators on hand with decades in experience covering the sport were amazed by the teenager's performance on the storied course. Along with the victory in Falmouth, Regassa took 1st at two other big money American road races - Dick's Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder 10k and Ukrop's 10k.
Women's Winner Mary Keitany Unrivaled Again
Most impressive was women's winner Mary Keitany of Kenya who followed her IAAF World Championship Half Marathon win in October with a dominant win in Zayed to pocket $300,000. Her margin was over 2-minutes in front of runner-up Philes Ongori, whose 69:16 earned her a solid $100,000.
According to records on IAAF-certified half marathon courses, it now appears that Keitany has run 5 of the top-10 half marathon times on legal courses in world history.
In 2009, Mary Keitany ran three half marathons in September, October and November and won each in a time between 67:00 and 66:36. She is not simply winning races but destroying the competition by large margins. For example, he won worlds by more than one minute over Ongori.

Keitany - The Next Great Kenyan Marathoner?
Will 2010 be the year for Keitany to make her mark in the marathon? It's hard to imagine she would avoid the longer distance with many of the top marathoners injured or aging. However, with $300,000 paychecks for half marathons, she certainly has no need to move up immediately.
For more on the elite half marathon, see the LetsRun.com message board thread and check back to the homepage as more media reports surface.
 
 Top-10 Results From Abu Dhabi's Zayed Half Marathon
Results .
Men:
1. Tilahun Regassa - 59.19
2. Sammy Kitwara - 59.34
3. Lelisa Benti - 59.59
4. Wilson Kipsang - 60.04
5. Willy Mwangi - 60.07
6. Wilson Chebet - 60.31
7. Kiplimo Kimutai - 60.41
8. Fabiana Jospeh - 60.53
9. Duncan Kibet - 61.00
10. Shumi Eticha - 61.08

Women:
1. Mary Keitany - 67.14
2. Philys Ongori - 69.19
3. Dire Tune - 69.19
4. Eselefech Merga - 69.20
5. Amane Gemale - 69.24
6. Wude Yumer - 69.25
7. Mare Hurssa - 69.38
8. Peninah Arusei - 69.39
9. Teyla Wako - 69.48
10. Lineth Chepkirui - 70.35

Gebrselassie expected to tower over his opponents in Dubai; competitive women’s field

Battling the elements - Haile Gebrselassie en route to his title defence in Dubai in 2009 (organisers)

Dubai, UAE - In the wake of Monday’s opening of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, rising more than 800 metres over the desert floor, the emirate of Dubai awaits the arrival of Haile Gebrselassie, fastest man in the world at the marathon.
Inside a decade, the upcoming Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon (22 January) has gone from a backwater event to become one of the world’s fastest races, and the World marathon record holder has already competed and won here twice.
“Not only has he given us two great races,” said race director Peter Connerton, “the publicity has helped our development. Our participation has doubled since his first run two years ago. I never used to see people running in the street, now I see folks training everywhere.”
“We’re delighted that he’s coming back again, and hopefully it’ll be third time lucky. He went too fast in the first half two years ago, and ran the second fastest in history at the time (2:04:53), and last year the bad weather ruined his (World) record attempt. But he still ran the eight fastest marathon (2:05:29).”
Gebrselassie’s principal opponents this year, Sammy Korir (2:04:56), Tesfaye Tola (2:06:57) and Joshua Chelanga (2:07:05) will hardly be heartened that, despite approaching his 37th birthday (18 April), his speed does not appear to be diminishing. Evidence of which was victory in the New Year’s 8k Silvesterlauf in Trier, Germany, in 22:23 – see ‘Related Content’ under main photo for race report
If the men’s race turns out to be a procession, headed by Gebrselassie again attacking his 2:03:59 World record, the women’s event threatens to be highly competitive. It features winners from the last three years, Bezunesh Bekele (2:23:09), Berhane Adere (2:20:42), and Askale Magarska (2:21:31, all of Ethiopia).
Bekele disposed of Adere in short order in last year’s race (2:24:02 to 2:27:47), and the 26-year-old has asked for a pace to deliver her to a sub-2.20 clocking, which if successful would see her replace the veteran Adere as national record holder.
With last year’s third placer Helena Kirop of Kenya, and two more Ethiopians, Genet Getaneh and Eyerusalem Kuma, all of whom beat Adere in 2009, this will be the race to rank alongside the record chase.

Lilesa and Bayisa lead Ethiopian sweep in Xiamen

Xiamen, China - Rising star Feyisa Lilesa, won the Xiamen International marathon on Saturday (3) followed about a minute later by fellow Ethiopian Negari Getachew Terfa, and last year’s winner, Kenyan Samuel Muturi Mugo.

Another Ethiopian, Atsede Bayisa, made history in this coastal city of 2.3 million by becoming the first foreign athlete to win the woman’s race with a time of 2:28:53.

The Xiamen International Marathon is the first IAAF Gold Label Road Race for 2010.


Lilesa’s time of 2:08:47 broke the course record set last year by Mugo by four seconds. He surprised marathon onlookers when he definitively broke free of a tight-knit group of top runners in the 38th kilometre.                                                                                        

Terfa’s time was 39 seconds slower than last year’s performance as number two with 2:09:40. The Ethiopian’s PB is 2:07:41 in Berlin in September. The 2009 winner, Mugo, fell behind in the last part of the race after leading for at least 10 kilometres ending with 2:10:11.

Lilesa’s Xiamen run, his first in China and only the second in his career, saw him break his own PB of 2:09:12 which he set in his debut in Dublin. But Lilesa was not reveling in his achievement.

“Today, I’m not good. My leg,” Lilesa said as he bent over while being supported by Chinese volunteers who lead him away holding flowers and donning an olive branch wreath. Lilesa’s leg started bothering him about the fifth kilometre, he said. His manager, former Ethiopian marathon runner Haji Adilo, confirmed that he complained about his leg muscles suspecting it came from training on soft grass ahead of the marathon.

“The last kilometres were a bit difficult. It was a bit cold,” explained defending champion Mugo who, the day before, said he planned to do better than last year if the weather cooperated.

About 50,000 runners, the most since the first edition, from 32 countries participated in the 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, and marathon in dry conditions at about 11˚ Celcius.

Lilesa was part of a group of Ethiopian and Kenyan runners that dominated much of the race. From the beginning Ethiopian Berga Bekele, with a 2:09:41 PB from Beijing in October, and Kenyan David Kemboi Kiyeng, who clocked 2:06:26 in Paris last year, led the race.

Both ran together during most of the race with Kiyeng slowing down at the water stands to get two glasses. He would hand one to Bekele before speeding up again ahead of the race.

By kilometre 25 (1:16:30), the elite group was thinned to eight: Kenyans Kiyeng, Mugo and 2008 Xiamen winner Kiprotich Kenei (PB: 2:07:42), and Ethiopians Bekele, Lilesa, Terfa, Abebe Ngewo (PB 2:09:52), and Alemyehu Shumye (PB: 2:08:46).

The pack dispersed by kilometre 30 (1:31:34) with Mugo, Terfa and Shumye one second ahead of Bekele and Lilesa. Kenei fell about a half minute back and Ngewo 40 seconds behind him.

The two pacemakers lost their lead by kilometer 35 and Shumye also fell back to fourth place, 10 seconds behind the three who eventually claimed the podium.

Mugo, Terfa and Lilesa ran as a tight-knit group until kilometre8 when Lilesa surged ahead. Near the 40-kilometre mark at 2:02:18 Lilesa battled on with Terfa while Mugo fell 16 seconds back. 

By kilometre 41, however, Lilesa secured his victory with Terfa lagging 53 seconds behind.

Bayisa dominates – women’s race

Unlike the men’s contest, Bayisa, the Paris Marathon winner in 2:24:42 last year, faced little resistance en route to her 2:28:53 victory.

More than five minutes behind her was Sun Juan with 2:34:12, and just under two minutes later came third place winner, Jin Lingling at 2:36:00.

Bayisa, 22, was running unchallenged by kilometre 27. After the race, she smiled widely and was happy with her performance in her first marathon in China. She’d broken free of two Chinese men who kept up with her until the last kilometre. Bayisa mistakenly took a turn the wrong way when she followed the lead about 100 metres ahead of the finish line until she was redirected for her final sprint.

“I’m very surprised. Two of them won the race,” said Adilo, who als manages Bayisa. Of Bayisa, he said, “She’s afraid to run alone. 1:19 at the halfway mark. After that she continued to push.”

Number two among the women, Sun, has more experience running half-marathons, and was fourth in last year’s Xiamen half-marathon. Sun was a second behind Bayisa for the first half but fell six seconds behind by kilometre 25 and 50 seconds by kilometer 30. Five kilometres later Bayisa had built a two-minute lead.

Third place finisher Jin, 22, broke her own PB by three minutes, set in his race last year. Jin secured third place by kilometer 15 but also fell back significantly by kilometer 25.

World champion Bai Xue ran symbolically for five kilometers after participating in the flame lighting ceremony ahead of the starting gun. Cheng Rong said she did not run due to a leg injury she sustained.



Leading results -

Men
1. Feyisa Lilesa (Eth) 2:08:47
2. Negari Getachew Terfa (Eth) 2:09:40
3. Samuel Muturi Mugo (Ken) 2:10:11
4. Kiprotich Kenei (Eth) 2:10:46
5. Alemyehu Shumye (Eth) 2:11:20
6. Berga Bekele (Eth) 2:13:45
7. Abebe Ngewo (Eth) 2:14:11
8. Yin Shunjin (Chn) 2:14:16

Women
1. Atsede Bayisa (Eth) 2:28:53
2. Sun Juan (Chn) 2:34:12
3. Jin Lingling (Chn) 2:36:00
4. Zhang Junli (Chn) 2:37:04
5. Yue Chao (Chn) 2:42:23
6. Xu Junliang (Chn) 2:43:32
7. Yin Yuan Yuan (Chn) 2:48:37
8. Yang Meng (Chn) 2:51:17