Moses Mosop and Liliya Shobukova takes Chicago titles

Moses Mosop  2:05:38

Kenya's Moses Mosop broke the men's course record by four seconds in 2:05:38 and Russia's Liliya Shobukhova set a personal best by nearly two minutes in the fastest time by a woman this year, 2:18:20, to triumph in the 34th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (9).

Running in war and sunny conditions - 64 degrees F at the start, near 70F at the finish for the leaders - "The Big Engine," as the other Kenyan runners have nicknamed Mosop, finished a dominating year and Shobukhova laid claim to the designation as a favourite for the women's Marathon title in next summer's London Olympics.

Both dominated their respective genders, decimating the competition to the point where the only question in the later stages of the race was how fast their finish times would be.

The men's pacemakers ran a relatively uneven pace for the first 15 kilometres of the race, playing catch up after each slow mile, noted American Ryan Hall, who despite running his third best time of the nine marathons he's run, was only able to finish fifth in 2:08:04. "Our splits were pretty much all over the place," said Hall. "(The pace makers) would see the (slow) split and they'd hit it. You can't expect it to be totally perfect like a metronome."

Mosop's coach, Renato Canova, said that the erratic early pace and two significant surges during the race by runner-up Wesley Korir (2:06:15) may have contributed to Mosop's slow final 5-K. "He was running slower than Shobukhova," said Canova. Mosop said he slowed because he missed getting fluids at the aid stations several times during the race, during the first 5-K and later at 40-K. Canova and Mosop both agreed that Mosop's training build up prior to the race was sub par, judging that Moses was 80-85% of his potential going into the race. "He paid," said Canova of his athlete's weak last 5-K, "because he's not prepared."

After running a 30,000m World Record on the track in Eugene in June, Mosop didn't run at all in July because of an injury to his Achilles tendon, and in August was only able to run slowly "like an amateur," said Canova, because an unusual amount of rain made the muddy, red clay roads in Kenya too slippery. It was only by the sixth of September that Mosop was able to return to training full speed, his coach said. "We need two months (of solid training) before a marathon to prepare (adequately)," said Canova.

"There are no secrets (to training). You need to use 80% of training to support the 20% of specific training (needed to perform to your potential)," he added. Essentially, Mosop had only had the "general" training or 80% of that formula and no specific training going into the race, Canova said. Though Mosop had concerns because he still had tenderness in the tendon going into the race, he only had a few twinges during the race and was not slowed by the healed injury. He was able to withstand the surges Korir threw at him, the last coming around the 30-K mark when Korir broke the pack of five leaders apart.

"I had to break up the group," said Korir. "I don't have that good of a kick. Before the race I talked to my coach (Ron Mann) and he said maybe 18 or 19 miles to put a move in. I knew Moses was going to come back. My goal was to break it up and work for a position on the podium."

Mosop did indeed come back and ran the fastest 5-K split of the race during between 30 and 35 kilometres(14:29) to open a 26 second lead over Korir and 42 seconds over third place finisher, Kenyan Bernard Kipyego (2:06:29).

"If this is 80%," said NBC television commentator Toni Reavis while watching Mosop crush the field, "I'm frightened."

Mosop will collect $190,000 - $100,000 for the win, $50,000 for a course record, and $40,000 for a sub-2:06. After running the second fastest time ever for a Marathon in his debut in Boston (2:03:06) and the 30,000m World Record on the track, Mosop has had one of the fastest and most successful years ever. His two Marathon times combined are the fastest ever run in a single year. When asked what he thought he could have run if he had been fully prepared for Chicago, both he and his coach said that 2:02 was within Mosop's capabilities.

Kenyans swept the top three spots at Chicago for the sixth time.

Shobukhova in total command – women’s race

There was no such flux in the woman's race as Shobukhova methodically pursued her pre-race goal of a sub 2:20 marathon, deviating from her past habit of running conservatively through the half, then attempting to run a negative split over the final 13.1 miles.

"My coach (who is also her husband, Igor Shobukhov) said to run sub-2:20 you have to change your tactics. We decided to go out fast right away," Shobukhova said. Aiming for a first half of 1:09:30, she ran 1:09:25, and still was able to finish faster with the second half only taking 1:08:55.

Women's runner-up Ejegayehu Dibaba of Ethiopia (2:22:09), who was running her first road race ever, was only able to hang with Shobukova through almost 25-K, but her time was still the third fastest ever for a women's debut Marathon.

A calf injury a week before the race concerned Dibaba, but didn't impact her race. Shobukhova, who trained at altitude for the first time prior to Chicago (she had done it twice before the Virgin London Marathon, but never in the Fall), the build up was perfect, aimed at running 2:19. Instead she surprised even herself by breaking her own personal record by nearly two minutes, the Russian women's record for the Marathon, and the second fastest time ever by a woman in Chicago. The time makes her pretty much a lock for a spot on the Russian Olympic team, her primary goal going into the race. For the win Shobokhuva won $140,000 -$100,000 for the win and $40,000 for a sub-2:20. Her time is the fourth fastest of all time, with only Paula Radcliffe's three races times from 2:15:25 to 2:17:42 in front of her. Shobukhova is the third woman to run under 2:20 this year and the 12th ever to do it.

A record total of 37,400 runners started the event and the second highest number of finishers were expected, said executive race director Cary Pinkowski at an afternoon press conference before all the runners had completed the course. One runner died during the event, collapsing within 500 yards of the finish, according to race medical director Dr. George Chiampas.

Patrick Makau 2:03:38 Marathon World record in Berlin

                                            2:03:38  World Record by Patrick Makau in Berlin Marathon 2011




The 38th BMW Berlin Marathon lived up to all expectations, with the seventh World record in 13 years, this time for defending champion Patrick Makau of Kenya, who first broke Haile Gebreselassie, then took the Ethiopian legend’s World record from him, with 2:03:38*.

Such was the damage done behind him when Makau streaked away after 27 kilometres, that one of the pacemakers, also a Kenyan, Stephen Chemlany hung in and finished second, in 2:07:55; with another Kenyan, Edwin Kimaiyo third in 2:09:50 at this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Gebrselassie, who stopped in discomfort when Makau surged away, recommenced and briefly reclaimed second place, but eventually dropped out at the 35 kilometre point.

There was another Kenyan success in the women’s race. Florence Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion, who had dropped out of her only previous Marathon, in Boston in April, was never headed.

World record holder, Paul Radcliffe, returning from childbirth and a barren two years competitively, stayed with Kiplagat for 12 kilometres, before gradually dropping away. Kiplagat won by almost as big a margin as Makau, with her 2:19:44. Radliffe was passed by the steady starting local hero, Irina Mikitenko at 33 kilometers, and the German went on the take second, in 2:22:18, with Radcliffe a creditable third in 2:23:46.

Makau makes the break in 27th kilometre - Men's race

The men’s race was forecast to be a duel between the elder statesman Gebrselassie, aged 38, and the young pretender, 26 year old Makau; so it turned out, briefly, but not before an intriguing prelude to halfway and beyond, when the pair were led by half a dozen (Kenyan) pacemakers, and accompanied by Kimaiyo, John Kyui and Emmanuel Samal, also all Kenyan.

Setting out with the intention to pass halfway in 62 minutes, the group prepared the path for Makau’s eventual double triumph by going through the ‘half’ in 61:44. Gebrselassie was always at the head of the group in the lee of the pacers throughout this early stage. He only began to concede the ‘lead’ between 24 and 25 kilometres, and that proved to be a sign of things to come.

At 26 kilometres, Makau decided he’d had enough of the procession. His initial acceleration dropped his trio of colleagues- Kyui, Kimaiyo and Samal – and then he got to work on Gebrselassie. Makau spurted past the pacemakers, and began weaving across to the road, in an obvious attempt to unsettle the Ethiopian master.

Preview men's Berlin Marathon 2011

Haile Gebrselassie and  Patrick Makau at the pre race press conference in Berlin


First, on Thursday, came women’s World record holder, Paula Radcliffe, ready to revive a flagging career in Sunday’s 38th BMW Berlin Marathon. Later that day, the German Pope arrived, and drove part of the Marathon course, en route to say mass in the Olympic Stadium. Then today, Friday, came the heavenly twins of men’s marathoning – World record holder and living legend Haile Gebrselassie, and last year’s winner at this IAAF Gold Label Road Race, Patrick Makau, out to strengthen his tenuous grasp on the current world number one ranking.

At 38 years of age, Gebrselassie is by far the more experienced. As he reminded today’s press conference, he first ran in Berlin (in an ekiden, a Marathon relay) in 1992, the same year that he won a World junior championships double, 5000/10,000m on the track. Subsequently, after two Olympic golds, a series of World titles and records, he turned to the Marathon, and after a hesitant start, third in London 2002, he went on to eight victories in nine completed marathons, including four wins and two World records here in Berlin, the second one, in 2008, being the ground breaking 2:03:59.

With a list of achievements like that, surely only advancing years could undo him? But Makau could well help the process along. One of the younger generation of East African runners, who have gone directly to the Marathon (since prize money on the track is at such a premium, with so many good rivals), the 26-year-old Makau has built a brief but superlative Marathon career, two wins in four completed races with, like Haile, an average of under two hours and six minutes.

As a reference point, this correspondent first attended the Berlin Marathon in 1998, when Belayneh Dinsamo’s World record was reduced, by Ronaldo da Costa of Brazil from 2:06:50 to 2:06:05.

It’s fitting that this anticipated duel on Sunday should be between representatives of Ethiopa and Kenya, the East African highland nations who have come to define distance running in recent decades. Both men summed up the rivalry succinctly, the elder statesman, Gebrselassie saying, “We need each other,” while pretender Makau said, “One wins one day, the other wins the next.”

But who is going to win the day after, that’s to say, on Sunday?

Both men are coming off questionable performances, Gebrselassie having dropped out of last autumn’s New York Marathon, while Makau suffered a bad fall in the London race in April, although he did rally to finish third in 2:05:45!

It was telling that Gebrselassie kept saying that his time on Sunday was more important than the victory. “This is part of my plan for the London Olympics. I have to qualify for London, so I’ve come here, not necessarily for the win, but for the time.”

But if that was dedicated to giving Makau a false sense of security, the Kenyan riposted, “I’m not under pressure, because I’m running with the champion. I’ve done just a few marathons, Haile has done many marathons with fast times. It’s an opportunity for me to learn and get more experience.

“Last year, conditions were not favourable. This Sunday looks as if the weather will be good, so I’m hoping to do better.”

He won last year in heavy rain, which bunched his sodden socks inside his shoes within ten minutes of the start; but he still prevailed in the final kilometre over colleague Geoffrey Mutai, in 2:05:08. If he is as good as his word, then it will take Gebrselassie at his best to beat him on Sunday.

Having attended numerous of Gebrselassie’s highly entertaining press conferences, of which this was one more, your correspondent was unkind enough to remind him that he has frequently said that the day an athlete announces his/her retirement, even if it is for a future date, the date of the announcement is actually the day that they retire in their mind. After the disappointment of New York last November, Gebrselassie did exactly that, announced his retirement. So?

True to form, he claimed an exemption. “It was not in my plan.  I was upset, I didn’t plan to retire. New York was complicated.”

He was back on more solid ground when someone asked why, when he already had two Olympic golds at 10,000m, he wanted to win a Marathon gold.

“The Marathon medal is the most important,” he replied, “especially for Ethiopians, historically, ever since Abebe Bikila won in 1960. If you go home to Ethiopia after a race, and say you won, people will say, was it a Marathon? You say, no, it was a 10k, and they say, oh….”

Well, it’s Marathon on Sunday, and there are a half dozen pacemakers, prepared to go to 30 kilometres or more in pursuit of a 2:05 or faster.

There is an outside chance that one of the other leading entrants, Felix Limo of Kenya, Driss El Himer of France or South African Hendrick Ramaala could win. But their sub-2:07s date back five years and more.  Realistically, the race is between Gebrselassie and Makau.

And may the better man win.  iaaf

Men's 4x100m Relay - Final - 37.04 World record for Jamaica!

Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrate victory and a new world record in the men's 4x100 metres relay final

Daegu, Korea – It took until the final event, it took until Usain Bolt’s final run, but finally a World record was set in the Daegu 2011 World Championships as Jamaica extended its dominance of the men’s 4x100 metres relay.

But the nightmare continues for USA, which ran a world-leading time in the heats but then failed to complete the final as Darvis Patton collided with Britain’s anchor, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, as he came in to make the final change to Walter Dix.

Patton sprawled to the track, tried unavailingly to get up, and watched despairingly as the rest of the field set off on the final leg. Great Britain & Northern Ireland failed to finish the race. Trinidad and Tobago, who beat Jamaica in the heat, was also inconvenienced, finishing sixth.

Ironically, Patton and Dix came into the squad for the final, replacing Maurice Mitchell and Travis Padgett who ran the last two legs in the heat. But the US big two never got to connect.

The result was that the capacity crowd saw Bolt belt down the home straight in splendid isolation, nothing to beat but the World record 37.10 Jamaica had set in winning the 2008 Olympic final. He flashed across the line, the time flashed up – 37.04 World Record. Pandemonium reigned.

Ironically, Bolt got two individual World records in Berlin two years ago but Jamaica missed the World record in the relay. Here, his individual performance was marred by his disqualification in the 100 metres and he won the 200 in a ‘mere’ 19.40, just the fourth-fastest performance ever.

Now, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Bolt had closed the championships in the best possible way – a World record.

Jamaica was never going to lose, as the race was run. The changes were crisp and the first three runners had already built a lead for Bolt – not that he needed any help. The only last-leg heroics required were to break the record – and he delivered.

The misfortune for USA and Great Britain handed the silver medal to France, Teddy Tinmar, Christophe Lemaitre, Yannick Lesourd and Jimmy Vicault getting the baton around in 38.20.

The bronze medal went to St Kitts and Nevis, a finalist for the first time, and including the ageless Kim Collins, the individual 100 metres bronze medallist, in its squad. Jason Rogers, Collins, Antoine Adams and Brijesh Lawrence clocked 38.49, 0.02 slower than the national record in the heats, but who cares when a medal is there at the end of it.

Jamaica has now won the 2008 Olympic and 2009 and 2011 World titles since the USA last came home first in the Osaka 2007 World Championships, and has set the past two World records in doing so. Despite injury putting Asafa Powell out of the championships, the Caribbean powerhouse shows no sign of running out of steam, or sprinters.

The USA, by contrast, has failed to get out of the heats in three out of the past four global championships – the 2005 and 2009 World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games – and now failed to finish in Daegu.

It is truly a nightmare that shows no sign of ending.

Kenya's Abel Kirui wins world title in men's marathon

Abel Kirui celebrates winning his second World Marathon title 

DAEGU, South Korea, Sept. 4 -- Kenyan runner Abel Kirui retained his world title in the men's marathon here on Sunday after finishing the 42.195-kilometer race in two hours, seven minutes and 38 seconds.

The 29-year-olds now owned the two fastest time in the Worlds history as he set a championships record of 2:06:54 in his debut in Berlin two years ago.

"It is very special moment for me to win the second world title. It is a good sign before the Olympic Games," Kirui told a press conference.

His fellow Kenyan Vincent Kipruto, a newcomer to the world championships, crossed the line second 2:28 minutes behind, which is the biggest margin in the Worlds history.

Ethiopia's debutant Feyisa Lilesa, losing the silver medal battle in the final 1km, broke another medal sweep from the Kenyans by taking the bronze medal in 2:10:32.

The first final in Daegu on last Saturday had saw the Kenyan women making the first ever marathon medal sweep in the championships history.

Kirui pulled away early from a leading pack of three Kenyans and one Ethiopian after half way mark and ran all the way alone to finish home with his seasonal best time.

"Comparing to Berlin, it was very similar race but it was getting very hot in the end," he said. "I am happy we managed to win the long distance races in Korea. Kenyans were runing well and that gives me a lot of motivation for the next races."

Kipruto, the world's third fastest man this year, who clocked 2:05:33 when finishing runner up at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, said he was happy to secure a 1-2 finish for Kenya.

"I was ready for the final kick, I tried to increase the pace progressively and I left Lilesa behind me," said the 23-year-olds. "Our country should be proud of our success."

"I think I can run even better than this and I hope to do something good in the Olympics 2012," he added.

Lilesa, 21, noted that the weather condition was very difficult for him.

"It was very difficult for me even from the start because of the weather conditions," said Lilesa, adding that the only difference between Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes was that "where we train there is much colder than where the Kenyans train".

"I tried to get a good position from the beginning," he said when referring to the silver medal battle. "Once the Kenyan took the lead, I was fighting for the second place. I was able to keep it for a long time but in the end I lost it. Just until kilometer 41, I thought I was second, but just after that I could not maintain the position, and so I am bronze."

With the two medals, Kenya has temporarily moved to the second place in the tally with 16 medals in total while their previous best in a world championships was 13 medals in Osaka 2007.

German man, Italian woman win 2011 Taipei 101 Run-up



Runner Thomas Dold, of Germany, gives a double thumbs up.



TAIPEI -- German Thomas Dold regained his title in the annual running race to the top of the Taipei 101 skyscraper Sunday in a time of 11 minutes and 19 seconds.

Dold, who won the race in 2008 and 2009, beat the defending champion Marco DeGasperi of Italy, who finished this year's climb up the Taipei landmark's 2,046 stairs in 11:31.

Chen Fu-tsai was the top finisher among Taiwanese competitors in a time of 12: 47, placing him sixth overall.

In the women's division, Italy's Valentina Belotti took the title in 13 minutes and 51 seconds, one second ahead of Antonella Confor, also of Italy and Eunice Nyawira Muchiri from Kenya was Third in a time of 14:30.

Lee Hsiao-yu of Taiwan, last year's runner-up, finished in ninth place this year with a time of 16:52.

African Paralympic gold medalist Henry Wanyoike, who is visually impaired, participated in the race for the first time and completed the run in a time of 16:19.

The oldest participant in the race, 94-year-old Peng Hung-nian, also made it to the finish line, reaching the summit in 53:38.

It was the seventh consecutive year the Taipei resident joined the race and he vowed to continue to participate until the age of 101.

A total of 6,000 people, the highest turnout ever, took part in the race, which culminated a series of events that raised NT$2.45 million (US$85,505) for visually impaired people in Taiwan, the organizers said.

The donation will go to the Taipei-based Parents' Association for the Visually Impaired, the Hsinchu-based Recording Books Service Center for the Blind, and visually impaired athlete Lin Shin-wei of Taiwan, who is preparing for the Paralympic Games, they said.

Race results

Men
1. Thomas Dold (GER) - 11'19"
2. Marco De Gasperi (ITA) - 11'31"
3. Fabio Ruga (ITA) - 11'59"
4. Jonathan Wyatt (NZL) - 12'18"
5. Clement Dumony (FRA) - 12'31"


Women
1. Valentina Belotti (ITA) - 13'51"
2. Antonella Confortola (ITA) - 13'52"
3. Eunice Nyawira (KEN) - 14'30"
4. Melissa Moon (NZL) - 14'54"
5. Cristina Bonacina (ITA) - 15'11"

Olympic champion Wanjiru dead at 24

Olympic Champion 2008

Olympic Marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya has died, apparently from a fall from a balcony at his home. The news was reported to Race Results Weekly in a telephone call by Shadrack Biwott, the former University of Oregon Duck who had spoken to his brother, marathoner Duncan Kibet, in Kenya.

"He jumped out of a balcony and they tried to revive him, but he didn't make it," said Biwott.

Federico Rosa, Wanjiru's manager, confirmed his client's death via a text message. No other details about his death are available at this time.

Wanjiru won the Olympic marathon title in Beijing in 2008 with an Olympic record performance of 2:06:32. His other marathon victories included Chicago in 2009 and 2010, Fukuoka in 2007, and London in 2009. Wanjiru was the World Marathon Majors points champion for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons, and had a career best time of 2:05:10. He was also the former world record holder for the half-marathon with a 58:33 personal best.

After winning last October's Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a thrilling sprint finish over Ethiopian Tesgaye Kebede, Wanjiru faced several difficulties.

Last December, he was arrested at his home in Nyahururu and charged with threatening his wife, striking a security guard, and possessing an illegal AK-47 rifle. Wanjiru was released on bail, and his wife later withdrew her charges against him, but he still faced the weapons charge, however.

In January, Wanjiru was also involved in a car accident on the Nairobi-Nyahururu road, rolling his four wheel drive vehicle several times trying to avoid an oncoming truck. He avoided serious injury in the incident, but later withdrew from April's Virgin London Marathon with a knee problem.

American marathoner Ryan Hall reacted to the news of Wanjiru's death on Twitter, posting, "Incredibly sad news about Sammy. I am shocked and saddened."

Its really sad indeed  for athletics.

Kiprotich and Tola the surprise winners, Gebrselassie cruises 1:00:18 in the Half Marathon in VIENNA CITY MARATHON, AUSTRIA

Haile Gebrselassie clocks 1:00:18 over the Half Marathon in Vienna 
Vienna, Austria - John Kiprotich of Kenya and Ethiopian Fate Tola were the unexpected winners of the 28th Vienna City Marathon on Sunday (17) while Haile Gebrselassie clocked 1:00:18 in the Half Marathon.

Running in fine conditions, the 22-year-old Kiprotich improved his personal best by more than seven minutes and clocked 2:08:29. Patrick Ivuti took second with 2:08:41 and Evans Kiplagat was third in 2:09:22. Isaac Macharia (Kenya) also broke 2:10 with 2:09:43 to finish fourth in a race in which Kenyans took the first eight places.

It was different story in the women's race where Tola, 23, took the victory for Ethiopia after she drew away from Portugal's Ana Dulce Felix in the closing stages of a thrilling race. Tola clocked a personal best of 2:26:21 while Felix was nine seconds back in 2:26:30. Kenyan Peninah Arusei, who had long been in the lead, was third with 2:27:17. For the first time in the history of the race five women ran under 2:30. Genet Getaneh (Ethiopia/2:28:08) was fourth and Elza Kireyeva (Russia/2:29:41) finished fifth.

In the Half Marathon, Gebrselassie, the World record holder in the Marathon, was chasing the elite marathon runners, who had started two minutes earlier. he had already caught and passed the leading group between kilometres 11 and 12 and ran the rest of the distance alone at the fromt.

“My time is okay," said Gebrselassie, whose performance was an Austria all-comers record. "It is not so easy to break one hour if you are running alone and without pacemakers.”

More than 300,000 spectators lined the streets, many who had come to witness the great Ethiopian running through their Austrian capital. Fitting to the occasion organisers had put down a red carpet on the final 100 metres of the race, which finished at the Wiener Hofburg.

                                            John Kiprotich triumphs in Vienna Marathon          


Men's race -

In the first part of the men’s race the favourites somehow did not quite adapt to the pace. That caused the rabbits to be a couple of seconds ahead of the lead group again and again. Even at the half way mark, which was reached in 1:03:53, they were three seconds ahead of those who should have been with them. Nonetheless the course record, which Kenyan Abel Kirui established three years ago with 2:07:38, was still within reach.

But somehow the experienced Kenyans like Ivuti, Nicholas Chelimo and Paul Kirui concentrated on a tactical race and were not interested in increasing the pace. By the 30Km mark (1:31:31) the course record was more or less out of reach. Additionally the two remaining pacemakers, Nicholas Kiprono and Joseph Ngolepus, had dropped out. By 35Km the lead group of eight was reduced to four: Ivuti, Kiplagat, Joseph Maregu and Kiprotich. Maregu and Kiplagat could not keep up much longer and it was then that Kiprotich applied the pressure on Ivuti. With four kilometres to go the 22 year-old started to open a decisive gap.

“This was only my second marathon. If I had had more experience maybe I would have taken the initiative earlier,” said Kiprotich, who has a half marathon PB of 59:23. He easily surpassed his previous best of 2:15:51 from Frankfurt in 2009.

Women's race -

The women’s race developed completely differently with debutante Arusei running fast right after the start. She was soon all on her own and reached the midway point in 1:12:11. At 25Km (1:25:18) Arusei was still on pace for a 2:24 finish and she was 1:14 ahead of Felix, Tola and Getaneh, the fastest in the field pre-race with a PB of 2:26:37. But before 30Km Arusei clearly began to slow and her advantage started melting quickly in the sun.

While Getaneh began to falter as well Felix, who had her own pacemaker in front of her, Tola overtook Arusei at around 37Km. There was a tough fight for victory between Tola and Felix. At the beginning of the final kilometre the young Ethiopian, who had come to Vienna with a personal best of 2:28:22, could break away. “After half way I knew that I would have a chance,” said Tola.
 
Combining all the events the 28th edition of the Vienna City Marathon had 32,542 entries. This is the second highest figure in the history of the event. 8,044 runners had entered the marathon.

Kenyans win Virgin London Marathon 2011 titles

All alone - Emmanuel Mutai dominates and dazzles with a 2:04:40 race record in London 

Mary Keitany of Kenya celebrates her victory in the women's race at the London Marathon. 

Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai and Mary Keitany produced two superb performances at the 2011 Virgin London Marathon today to win the men's and women's titles by impressive margins.

Mutai smashed the course record with a dominating performance that left the defending champion Tsegaye Kebede floundering in his wake, while Keitany won the women's race in a time only world record holder Paula Radcliffe has ever beaten on the London course.

A year ago, Mutai made a late surge to finish second, but this time he left little to chance, bursting away after 20 miles and powering home in the last six mile to win in 2:04:40, half a minute quicker than Sammy Wanjiru's record from 2009, making Mutai the fourth fastest man in history.

"Since I've come to run in London I have twice finished fourth and last year I was second," said the 26-year-old who also picked up a silver at the World Championships and was second in New York last November.

"This year I have come back and my dreams have come true. I so much wanted to win a major marathon and this time I did it."

Keitany also made a dramatic burst to leave defending champion Shobukhova and a clutch of highly talented rivals in her wake. The world half marathon record holder strode home alone in 2:19:19 to move alongside Irina Mikitenko as the equal fourth fastest woman in history.

After smashing the world half marathon record earlier this year, Keitany has announced herself on the marathon stage in superb style, improving her lifetime best by nearly 10 minutes.

Behind the winners, three-times London winner Martin Lel made a remarkable return to marathon running to take second in the men's race in a sprint finish ahead of 2010 Berlin champion Patrick Makau.

Both recorded 2:05:45, a time only 30 seconds outside his Lel's personal best. It was an astonishing performance from the former champion as he was only added to the entries three weeks ago and hasn't run a marathon since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

As for Kebede, he had to be satisfied with fifth in 2:07:48 after Mutai ground his dreams of a world record into the London dust.

Shobukhova rallied in the final stages of the women's race to take second in 2:20:15, while Edna Kiplagat added a place on the London podium to the New York title she won last year, taking third in 2:20:46.

David Weir made history in the wheelchair races, becoming the first man ever to win five men's titles.

The Briton powered home in 1:30:05 ahead of Swiss world record holder Heinz Frei, while American Amanda McGrory outsprinted Shelly Woods to regain the women's title she won two years ago in 1:46:31.

London Marathon 2011- Top 10  Results

Men

1. Mutai, Emmanuel (KEN)  02:04:40
2. Lel, Martin (KEN)      02:05:45
3. Makau, Patrick (KEN)  02:05:45
4. Dos Santos, Marlison Gomes (BRA)  02:06:34
5. Kebede, Tsegaye (ETH) 02:07:48
6. Gharib, Jaouad (MAR) 02:08:26
7. Bouramdane, Abderrahime (MAR) 02:08:42
8. Safronov, Dmitry (RUS)  02:09:35
9. Bat-Ochir, Serod (MGL) 02:11:35
10. Shelley, Mike (AUS) 02:11:38

Women

1. Keitany, Mary (KEN)  02:19:19
2. Shobukhova, Liliya (RUS)  02:20:15
3. Kiplagat, Edna (KEN)  02:20:46
4. Bekele, Bezunesh (ETH)  02:23:42
5. Baysa, Atsede (ETH)  02:23:50
6. Akaba, Yukiko (JPN)  02:24:09
7. Mikitenko, Irina (GER)  02:24:24
8. Augusto, Jessica (POR)  02:24:33
9. Kebede, Aberu (ETH)  02:24:34
10. Konovalova, Mariya (RUS) 02:25:18

Hamilton Rallies To Win In China

Lewis Hamilton was victorious in China.

SHANGHAI — Britain's Lewis Hamilton dramatically ended world champion Sebastian Vettel's dominant start to the 2011 season when he drove to a spectacular victory in a thrilling Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 26-year-old McLaren driver, world champion in 2008, surged through the field on fresh tyres in the closing stages before brilliantly passing the German with less than five laps remaining.

The win in Shanghai was the 15th victory of Hamilton's Formula One career and brought Vettel's recent winning streak to an end.

"I am absolutely overwhelmed," Hamilton said, after tactically outsmarting the 23-year-old German who had pitted earlier and whose worn-out treads could not keep pace with the Briton.

"It feels like a long time since I was sitting here. I will continue to push and am looking forward to many more (victories) like this," Hamilton added.

Vettel started on pole but lost the lead at the first corner to Hamilton's McLaren team mate and compatriot Jenson Button, who finished an ultimately disappointing fourth.

Vettel admitted that Red Bull's long-stop strategy had failed but he paid tribute to Hamilton's victory.

"We probably tried too hard staying on two stops," said Vettel, winner of the season's opening races in Australia and Malaysia.

"The middle stint should have been longer, but then you find yourself on the hard tyre and I saw Lewis coming closer and closer.

"We made a couple of mistakes and we had some problems, but still we finished second so I am very happy for that. Congratulations to Lewis and McLaren."

Vettel leads the title race with 68 points with Hamilton second on 47 and Button third on 38.

There was also joy Sunday for Australia's Mark Webber who started a humiliating 18th on the grid but finished third behind his Red Bull teammate after a near-wondrous final push, before poking fun at his colleague.

"Congratulations to Lewis. It was good that someone finally (beat Vettel)," Webber joked.

German Nico Rosberg, one of several drivers who looked a possible winner after leading during the race, brought his Mercedes home in fifth place ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari and his team mate, two-times champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso who was seventh.

On a clear day of blue skies and mild temperatures, there was drama for Hamilton before the start when his car failed to fire up in the McLaren garage, forcing it to be rapidly stripped down and repaired. He only made it to the grid with 35 seconds to spare.

But Hamilton remained calm and made a good start from third place on the grid, moving up into second after pole-sitter Vettel struggled to pull away.

As the field jostled for places in the opening laps, Button settled down in front ahead of Hamilton and Vettel.

On lap 14, when it seemed that the McLaren team was delaying too long on a pit-stop, Vettel passed Hamilton on the Shanghai circuit's long straight, before diving into the pits behind Button.

But Button, the 2009 champion, then made a rookie's error when he pulled his McLaren up in the Red Bull pits, and had to be waved away by their mechanics having lost precious seconds before he moved forward to his own team's slot.

This was perfect for Vettel who pulled out ahead of a red-faced Button. This left Hamilton leading, but he was unable to resist the Ferraris of Massa and Alonso before pitting, along with Massa at the end of lap 15.

This left Alonso in the lead until he pitted and Rosberg took over at the front, having made an early stop. Massa rejoined in seventh.

Rosberg enjoyed a lead of more than four seconds ahead of Vettel until he pitted again after 25 laps alongside Hamilton and Webber, Button having pitted one lap earlier.

All of this chaotic action left Vettel out in front leading Massa by three seconds at the half-way mark of the 56-laps race.

Vettel made his second stop after 31 laps to give Massa the lead ahead of Rosberg and then the Brazilian himself pitted after 33 laps and emerged on a set of hard tyres.

But Hamilton clawed his way back and having sped his way through the field he passed Vettel at turn six on lap 52, going on to win.

Defending title holders, deep fields and potential domestic victors set-up marathon classic in Boston - PREVIEW

Boston, USA - The 115th Boston Marathon, the second stop of 2011 for the World Marathon Majors which takes place on Monday (18) could feature the fiercest battle ever over the classic 42.195 kilometre course from Hopkinton to Boston's Back Bay. 
The Boston Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
Defending champions Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya and Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia lead deep international fields which also hold the potential of home country victories by Ryan Hall, Kara Goucher or Desiree Davila.  An American has not won Boston since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach in 1985.

Handicapping Boston is particularly difficult because the race is run under championship conditions without pacemakers.  Moreover, the course's challenging hills late in the race have neutralized some of history's best runners, and weather conditions fluctuate greatly from year to year. 
MEN
In last year's contest, Kiprono Cheruiyot decided to key off of then defending champion Deriba Merga, following the front-running Ethiopian through the first half in 1:03:27 before stepping on the gas and smashing Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot's 2006 course record by over a minute.  Kiprono Cheruiyot's 2010 winning time of 2:05:52 represented the fastest-ever marathon in history run without pacemakers.

"I am happy to come back to Boston because last year, and 2009, my preparation was good," the 22-year-old said yesterday.  "I am happy because the race I did last year was my fastest.  I am happy because I am the defender."

Kiprono Cheruiyot needs to rally back from a sub-par performance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon last October.  He was dropped from contention after halfway, and came home sixth in 2:09:28, more than three minutes behind race champion Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya.  But Kiprono Cheruiyot, who will be competing in Boston for the third time, spoke confidently yesterday.

"I remember the course for this is the third time for me," he explained.  He added: "The course is like my training back in Kenya (where he practices on hills)."

Kiprono Cheruiyot is facing a loaded field with another dozen men with sub-2:08 credentials (six sub-2:07).  From that group, Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai, who ran two very fast marathons in 2010 (2:04:55 at Rotterdam and 2:05:10 at Berlin) may be the strongest.  Also in this group are compatriots Gilbert Yegon (2:06:18), and Evans Cheruiyot (2:06:25), plus Ethiopians Tadese Tola (2:06:31), Bekana Daba (2:07:04), and Abreham Cherkos (2:07:29).

But Kiprono Cheruiyot's biggest rival for the USD 150,000 winner's check may be ING New York City Marathon champion Gebregziabher Gebremariam.  The tall Ethiopian has keen competitive instincts and a strong finishing kick, qualities not reflected in his 2:08:14 personal best.  Recently second at the NYC Half-Marathon on March 20, Gebremariam has only competed in one marathon.

America's hopes in the men's race ride on the slender shoulders of Ryan Hall from Big Bear Lake, Calif.  The self-coached Hall, 28, with a 2:06:17 personal best, is already the fastest American ever at Boston.  He ran 2:08:41 at last year's race, finishing fourth after falling well behind early in the second half.  He was also third in 2009. 

"I remember being out there last year, when the times were tough, and thinking, 'Oh man this isn't going well,'" Hall said yesterday.  "And [this year] I'll know I am going to finish up.  I've been out there and guys have pulled away from me, both the times I've raced, and I've come back and finished very well, some high finishes.  I know I can finish high up in this race regardless of my fitness going into it."

WOMEN
Teyba Erkesso, who surged away from the women's field early last year and made a long solo run to victory in 2:26:11, may be affected by a sore left ankle. 

"I am very happy to be back in Boston, but shortly before I came here, I had a slight problem with my ankle, and for that reason I am not feeling so great," she said yesterday.  "I had a problem with it before, but when I was training, about five days before I came here, I twisted it during training, and it gave me a lot of pain.  I actually have a lot of pain with it when I walk."

Regardless of the condition of her ankle, Erkesso faces a very strong field.  Eleven women have broken 2:26 during their careers, and a total of 21 women have broken 2:30.  Two athletes who have been out of action last year, Kenya's Catherine Ndereba (2:18:47 PB) and Russia's Galina Bogomolova (2:20:47), have the best overall credentials (Ndereba was twice world marathon champion and Bogomolova is the former Russian national record holder).

But Kenya's Sharon Cherop (2:22:43), and Ethiopia's Tirfi Tsegaye (2:22:44) and Merima Mohammed (2:23:06) are all rising stars.  Other established players include 2008 Boston champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia (2:23:44), Kim Smith of New Zealand (2:25:21), and Caroline Kilel of Kenya (2:23:25).

American fans have high hopes for both Kara Goucher (2:25:52 PB) and Desiree Davila (2:26:20).  Goucher, 32, from Portland, Ore., will be running her first marathon since giving birth to her first son, Colton, last September.  She ran a solid tune-up race at the NYC Half (third position, 1:09:03), and feels that coach Alberto Salazar has prepared her well for Boston.  She said yesterday that she thinks she knows what it takes for an American to win.

"I think this is what it takes," she said.  "It takes someone who just ran 2:26 to come to Boston, it takes an Olympian to come to Boston, and this is what it takes.  If we can keep doing this, and having a good, strong American field every time, it's gunna happen.  But you can't just have one person, you need more than one person."

Davila, 27, from Rochester Hills, Mich., is a versatile athlete who made the final of the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships at 3000m.  Coached by Kevin and Keith Hanson, she sees herself primarily as a marathoner, especially after becoming the #4 American of all-time last October in Chicago.

"I'm a pure marathoner," she said yesterday in an interview. "If you look at my half-marathon times compared to anyone else in this room, I'm not in the same ballpark as them."

Defending champions Kebede and Shobukhova have tough task in London – PREVIEW

London, UK – Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede will target Haile Gebrselassie’s World record when he defends his Virgin London Marathon title on Sunday (17) while reigning women’s champion Liliya Shobukhova is confident she can break the 2:20 barrier in her third appearance at this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Both dominated their races here last year and will start as favourites to retain their titles. But race director David Bedford has again put together two fields packed with enough talent to give them a severe test.

In brief, the men’s race features three of the top five from the Beijing Olympics and all three medallists from the 2009 Berlin World Championships; the three 2010 European Championships medallists; the fastest man in the world last year; the third and fourth fastest men of all time; and no fewer than seven athletes who have run 26.2 miles quicker than two hours six minutes.

Throw into the mix eight of the top 10 finishers from London last year, and an intriguing return from injury for Martin Lel, the three-times London winner who’s been out of action for two years, and you have quite a race. Indeed, the only name missing from Sunday’s line-up will be that of the Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru, who withdrew three weeks ago with a knee injury.

The women’s race is equally loaded containing no fewer than 13 athletes who have run quicker than 2:24, including the Olympic champion, Constantina Dita, the reigning champions from Berlin and New York – Aberu Kebede and Edna Kiplagat –the 2010 Paris champion Atsede Baysa, and the World Half Marathon record holder, Mary Keitany.

The line-up includes the top five finishers from the 2010 London contest, plus the 2008 and 2009 London champion, Irina Mikitenko, and the 2007 champion, Zhou Chunxiu.

Confident Kebede

Despite the quality of opposition, however, the returning champions seemed equally confident about their chances on Sunday.

Despite rainy conditions, Kebede finished just nine seconds outside Wanjiru’s course record last year in 2:05:19, and promptly claimed he would have run 2:04 in better weather. This week he reiterated that promise, and added another, that he would chase Gebrselassie’s world mark of 2:03:59.

“I said it’s possible to run 2:04,” said the super confident Kebede today. “If the weather is nice it’s possible to run 2:04 here, or even 2:03. If the body is healthy, and the weather good, I think on Sunday I will run the world record.

“I think will improve my time from last year and, yes, even a world record is possible.”

Among those who’ll be out to stop him, are four Kenyans who have quicker PBs – James Kwambai, the third fastest man in history thanks to his 2:04:27 in Rotterdam two years ago; Patrick Makau, the fastest man in the world last year; world champion Abel Kirui, who challenged Kebede until the final five miles last year; and Lel, who ran 2:05:15 on his third London victory in 2008.

Kirui learned from his ‘mistake’

Lel is understandably cautious about his prospects here after missing the last couple of years with hip injuries, saying he’s “just happy to be running again”, while Kirui vowed to learn from his “mistake” 12 months ago when he was goaded into taking the fight to the plucky Ethiopian.

“My mistake last year was to push with Kebede,” said Kirui. “The day before the race we were challenging each other about who was going to win. We were mocking each other. So in the race, when the two of us were together, I thought, ‘I have to beat him’. But it was too much for me.

“This time I will control myself so I can finish better. Of course, I hope to win, so I am not going to worry about the world record. If I am in a position to do well, if my body feels good and the weather is ok, then there is no obstacle to doing it here.”

Kirui's personal best currently stands at 2:05:04, set when he finished third in Rotterdam in 2009, a time that makes him ninth quickest in marathon history. The 28-year-old also ran brilliantly to win the World title that year, but he has never won a major city race having finished second in Berlin in 2007 and ninth in New York last November.

Kirui’s rashness allowed another Kenyan, Emmanuel Mutai, to come through for second in 2010, followed by the ever-green Jaouad Gharib. Both will be in the hunt again this time. Mutai followed up his London podium place with another in New York last November, when he was second again, while Gharib went on to win the Fukuoka marathon last December.

The 38-year-old Moroccan, who won two World titles in 2003 and 2005, claims he is in better shape than ever and highly motivated to win here for the first time in seven attempts.

At the other end of the age scale, Ethiopia’s 20-year-old rising star, Bazu Worku has been forced out with food poisoning. But others who may feature include Morocco’s Abderrahim Bouramdane, who was fourth on his London debut in 2010, and Viktor Röthlin, the Swiss runner who recovered from serious illness to take the European title in Barcelona last August.

Shobukhova targeting 2:20 barrier

If anything, the women’s race is even harder to call. Shobukhova’s second win in Chicago last October means she sits supreme as the current Marathon queen. Indeed, she pocketed half a million dollars last year as the 2009/10 World Marathon Majors champion.

It’s not money on Shobukhova mind ahead of Sunday, however, but finishing times as she seeks to become the 10th women in history to complete 26.2 miles under 2:20.

“Of course it will depend a lot on the weather, but with the quality of the field we have here, I think I can run sub-2:20,” she said. “My training has been going really well, in Portugal and at home in Russia, so I am confident.”

Mikitenko – ‘I’m much more prepared now’

It could be argued that Shobukhova’s 2010 victories came in an “off year” for Mikitenko who was forced to drop out in London with a shin injury, and finished fifth in the Windy City. The German certainly seems revived this term, and after three months altitude training at a new base in South Africa, the former Kazakhstani has arrived in London looking tanned and sounding confident.

“Training has gone very well and I’m really looking forward to the race,” she said. “I must say quite a few athletes here have a chance of winning. When you come to London you know you're in for a tough race.

“I really don’t like to compare my form with my previous races here, but I know I am much more experienced now. I know London well, I know the course. I’m much more prepared this time.”

Mikitenko is one of two in the field who have run sub-2:20 before, thanks to her 2:19:19 German record. The other is Zhou, whose PB stands at 2:19:51. The Chinese athlete is also in good shape after she retained her Asian Games title on home soil last November.

But there’s quality right through the field here, including Shobukhova’s compatriot Inga Abitova, who finished strongly to take second place last year just ahead of Aselefech Mergia.

Mergia is one of five talented Ethiopians, including Kebede and Baysa, plus Bezunesh Bekele and Askale Tafa, who were fourth and fifth respectively a year ago.

Kenya’s hopes rest with Edna Kiplagat and Keitany, who took first and third in New York last November, the latter on her marathon debut. Keitany believes she has learned valuable lessons for her second marathon outing.

“I learned that the marathon is very tough and you need to do a different type of training,” said the 29-year-old. “It’s a long distance, not just 21km but two times that distance, so it needs a lot of endurance.”

Then there’s the experienced Dutchwoman, Lornah Kiplagat, the former World Half Marathon and World Cross Country champion, who was fifth here in 2007, and the emerging Russian Mariya Konovalova, third in Chicago last October.

Yukiko Akaba leads the Japanese challenge hoping to improve on her sixth place last year. Akaba has been joined by seven of her compatriots who are racing in London for places on Japan’s World Championships team following cancellation of the Nagoya International Women’s Marathon on 13 March due to the earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan two days earlier.

One of those running, the 2009 Tokyo marathon champion, Mizuho Nasukawa, lost a school friend in the disaster, as well as weeks of training time.

“She had two daughters and when they found her body she was holding one of her children who had died,” Nasukawa revealed. “Her husband and other daughter managed to escape.

“My spirit was completely broken and I was shocked when I heard my friend passed away. We were team-mates in high school ekiden road races.

“I could not concentrate on my training after hearing the news, but a lot of my team-mates and the people where I live supported me and helped me overcome how I was feeling.

“I realised coming to London and doing my best through my running would be the best way to remember my friend.”

Yurika Nakamura, a former winner of the Nagoya marathon, added: “I hope in some way, by running here, we are contributing to the recovery of Japan’s spirit.”

The romantics will be hoping for a Japanese victory on Sunday. But the realists’ money will be on Shobukhova and Kebede, and two cracking races.

Kenyan runners win 2011 Kaohsiung International Marathon

Kenyan runners took the top prizes in both the men's and women's categories of an international marathon held in southern Taiwan on Sunday.

Alex Melly crossed the finish line of the Kaohsiung International Marathon Mizuno Cup in Kaohsiung City in a time of 2 hours, 20 minutes and 48 seconds to take the men's race.

Another Kenyan Richard Mutua Mutisya, last year's winner, finished second in a time of 2:28:49.

Susan Jemutai Chepkwony won the women's race in 3 hours, 8 minutes and 12 seconds.