Monday, February 6, 2012
Kenyans, Ethiopians share the spoils at Vadodara Half Marathon
Vadodara Athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya yet again proved their mettle in long-distance running by bagging all the top 10 positions in both men’s and women’s categories of the Vadodara International Half Marathon on Sunday.
While Ethiopia’s Shiferaw Belery and Mekkebu Birkeayele finished first and second respectively in men’s category, Kenya’s Silas Muturi was the third to cross the finish line. Belery and Birkeayele completed the 21-km run in 1:01:02 hours with the former beating his fellow countrymen by fraction of a second while Muturi took 1:01:06 hours.
In women’s category, Ethiopia’s Yeprgaul Melese bagged the first position (1:01:02) followed by compatriot Naomi Jepnejetich, who was fractionally behind her, and Kenya’s Jamila, who clocked 1:01:06.
The top three runners in both the categories took home Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 75,000 respectively.
Interestingly, all the 20 positions in the main events were grabbed by Ethiopians and Kenyans. In the men’s category, first, second, sixth, ninth and 10th positions went to Ethiopians while the rest were bagged by Kenyans.
As many as 34 Ethiopians and 17 Kenyan athletes participated in the event.
Earlier in the morning, Chief Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the race at the Vaccine Ground. More than 40,000 people participated in the event
2012 Kaohsiung International Marathon dazzling achievement
Franis Kibii,Isaac Kimayio and Richard Mutisya
2012 Kaohsiung International Marathon yesterday morning World Games main stadium grand opening run, 0500, the sky is still dark, chilly, but the crowd to participate in the Kaohsiung International Marathon has arrived in the World Games Main Stadium. with the activities of early departure of the MRT classes in full, the dark mass of the crowd will World Games Main Stadium MRT station packed. 6, the opening ceremony debut, First the Shuter Vocational High School competitive cheerleading performances, then led by Shuter teacher of all the contestants to do warm-up operation, drive away the chill, some exercise. 2012 Kaohsiung International Marathon route planning and strive to improve, Kaohsiung National Stadium (World Games Main Stadium) as a starting point, from the World Games Avenue passes through the Kaohsiung Arena, the heart of love, the beautiful island of the MRT stations, 85 building, in love Lantern Festival venue, Lotus Lake, famous attractions, and extends to Tsukuan District mullet cultural centers and oyster Laos with oceanic features regional, domestic and foreign players in a beautiful dawn in Kaohsiung, waterfront, flowers, shade, spacious and comfortable on the road enjoy the Mercedes-Benz, the enthusiasm of feeling along the Residents of the city and the marathon carnival atmosphere throughout the whole city. "Black Corps" Results of the competition, full marathon men by the "Black Army" won the top eight turn Franis Kiptoo Kibii, Isaac Kiplagat Kimaiyo, Richard Mutisya, Fredrick Mwingirwa Mathiu, David Kipkoech, Alex Melly, Kipchumba Elisha, Willy Tanui a total of 790,005 thousand dollar prize taken away, more than half of the total prize money ($ 1.5 million). 9 Taiwan players Jiangjie Wen, 10, Japan's Taira long really. One of the full marathon women's Taiwanese players Li Xiaoyu, two room wide Xia of the Chinese players, three Kenyan athletes, Susan Jemutai 4-10 players are: Jane Pei Yu, Joan Jeruto (Kenya) Wang Wen cents Zhouling Jun, Ke Shuping Gong Yuan Hong, Huang Yan age. Kenyan female athletes to a total of 80 005 thousand dollar prize, plus the bonus of Kenya male athletes, a total of 88 million yuan more than last year's 78 million in prize money.
Harun Njoroge win at Beppu-Oita Marathon
“I am very happy to crack 2:10,” said Njoroge, who runs for Komori Corporation located in Ibaragi prefecture north of Tokyo. It was second straight Marathon victory for Njoroge who won the Hokkaido Marathon last August. Furthermore, in his fifth marathon, Njoroge improved his personal best by more than two minutes. Although his run wasn’t a Beppu-Oita race record, Njoroge’s time was a record for the course which was modified two years ago.
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir of Mongolia closed fast to finish second in 2:11:05,
a 30-second improvement on his personal best recorded in the 2011 London Marathon. A prolific marathon runner, this was Bat-Ochir’s fifth
Marathon in the last 10 months after London, World Championships in Daegu, Beijing and Hofu.
Marathon debutant Yakob Jarso of Ethiopia finished third with 2:11:13. He ran aggressively after 27 kilometres taking the lead several times in his attempt to break away. However at the end, Jarso failed not only to shake off Njoroge, but was unable to keep up with when the Kenyan made a surge of his own.
As Beppu-Oita is popular with Marathon debutants, several runners beside Jarso made this race the venue for their debuts. The first Japanese in the race was Kohei Matsumura who came from behind strongly in the final 5Km to finish fourth with 2:11:52 in his debut.
“It was really tough after 30Km and I could not pick up the pace. I am disappointed that I was not able to finish in top three,” Matsumura said. Yuki Moriwaki finished fifth with 2:11:52, a personal best. In all, the first five finishers either set personal best or made a successful marathon debut.
Desta Gebrehiwet who finished sixth with 2:12:22, was the first runner who failed to set a personal best today. Seventh place finisher Hiroki Kadota and tenth place finisher Takehiro Arakawa also ran their debuts. Jeffrey Hunt, a former steeplechaser, did come from behind as expected, but was only ninth with 2:13:19, his slowest time and lowest placing in his three appearances in Beppu.
The weather was excellent with very low wind and thus fast time was expected. The pace makers led by Takuya Fukatsu did excellent pace making job in the first two-thirds of the race.
The leading pack of approximately 25 runners passed 5Km in 15:15, slightly faster than the scheduled pace of 15:20 for each 5Km organisers had requested. Australian Hunt, as usual, was running in the chase pack. Among the elites Adam Draczynski of Poland began to drift back after 9Km. The pace makers continued their excellent job as the 10Km split was 30:33 (15:18 for the last 5Km), and 22 runners passed 15Km in 45:47 (15:14 for the last 5Km). Several runners, including 2003 champion Ramadhani, started to drift back before 20K (1:01:15) although the pace slowed a bit between 15K and 20Km. Sixteen runners covered the half marathon in 1:04:36.
At 25Km (1:16:40), pacesetter Takuya Fukatsu dropped out leaving two Kenyans with pace making duty. The race of attrition continued and Wakui and Takeuchi, two domestic invited runners, lost contact. After 27Km Jarso moved to the front and started to push the pace. One kilometre segment, from 27 to 28Km, was covered in 2:59, and a few runners dropped off the pace but the lead pack did not totally break up. Past 30Km (1:31:52) Jarso surged hard once again and only Arakawa tried to stay with him. However, soon Njoroge bridged the gap and actually took the lead from Jarso; by 33Km eight runners are back in the pack.
Before 34Km, Moriwaki made his move and pack has reduced to six runners. “None of the surges last very long,” said Shigeru Soh, the first Japanese to crack 2:10 (in Beppu back in 1978), from the TV commentating booth. Soon Arakawa and Gebrehewit started to drift back. Falil and Bat-Ochir also fell back, leaving Jarso, Njoroge and Moriwaki in front by 36Km. Njoroge pushed the pace in the uphill before 37K and Moriwaki was left behind. In the downhill that followed Jarso was also left behind. With every step from then on Njoroge began moving away. Meanwhile Matsumura was gaining on the staggering runners. With two kilometres to go, Matsumura moved up to fourth,. In the final kilometre Bat-Ochir passed Jarso to move into second.
Men -
1. Harun Njoroge (KEN) 2:09:38 PB
2. Bat-Ochir (MGL) 2:11:05 PB
3. Yakob Jarso (ETH) 2:11:13 Debut
4. Kohei Matsumura 2:11:17 Debut
5. Yuki Moriwaki 2:11:52 PB
6. Desta Gebrehiwet (ETH) 2:12:22
7. Hiroki Kadota 2:12:27 Debut
8. Keisuke Wakui 2:12:55
9. Jeff Hunt (AUS) 2:13:19
10. Takehiro Arakawa 2:13:39 Debut
Dereje and Misiker set new course records in Hong Kong
Dejere Abera Outsprint Eliud in Hong Kong
Losing a Marathon by one second last year taught Dejere Abera of Ethiopia a lesson that he put to good use this morning (5), when he won the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon – an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race - by less than a second. Indeed so tight and exciting was the men’s finish that Eliud Cheptei in second place shared Dejere’s winning time of 2:11:27, while two more Kenyans, Cosmas Kyeva and Julius Maisei were just one second each further back.
Dejere improved the long standing course record by one minute and 42 seconds, but his colleague, Misiker Demissie took pride of place in that department when her runaway victory in the women’s race, in 2:30:12, took all of three and a half minutes from last year’s course record.
Given the tough course here, and the inevitable humidity, around 90% at one stage, albeit with reasonable temperatures of 16-19C (61-66F), the times were never going to be of the order of last week’s Dubai record breaking spree. But, like Dubai this was another Ethiopian double header to relish, and remind the Kenyans that they’re not going to get all their own way in Olympic year.
The Hong Kong organisers eschew pacing, but with over a dozen men together at halfway, and eight still in contention past 35 kilometres, combined with some of the most clement conditions in race history, a men’s record was always on the cards. And not before time some would say, Ethiopian Belay Wolashe’s 2:13:09 had lasted since the second edition of the event, in 1998.
When the leading quartet broke away with 40K in sight, it was always Dereje who was forcing it from the front, mindful he said later of that one second defeat in Ottawa last year to Laban Moiben of Kenya. Dereje managed to get a 10 metres lead two or three times in the last kilometre, but though he was pulled back each time, and then balked by an errant cyclist on the last turn into the finish in Victoria Park, he never looked like losing at that point.
“It wasn’t a problem,” said an ebullient Dereje, though it wasn’t clear whether he was talking of the cyclist or the three close pursuers. “I knew by then I could win. This is my first time in Hong Kong, but I love it.” And so he should, his win netted him $50,000 with a five figure time bonuses.
Though Cheptei shadowed him through the finish line, the Kenyan admitted he never felt he could win. “He was too strong, I was trying to go with him, but that was to make sure I stayed ahead of the third guy.” Like several of his compatriots last year, Cheptei paid his own way here, but the $1500 investment paid off handsomely, when he picked up $20,000 and a share of the time bonus.
There was more confusion over Misiker’s change of name than her running tactics. It seems that the Ethiopian had an unhappy time running for Bahrain under the name of Teyba Naser and has reverted to a full Ethiopian name of Misiker Mekonnin Demissie, and has been living with husband Zereu Kelele in Albuquerque, New Mexico for some time.
There was no debate about her victory though. She led from the start, and though she had colleague Shitaye Gemechu and Kenyan Winfred Nyansikera right behind until past halfway, when she accelerated at 30 kilometres, she ran right away from them.
“It’s a very hard course, and it was a little humid, but I thought I could win from 30k,” she said, “I’d like to run Boston now (April), because last year I had to drop out. I’d like to run in the Olympics eventually, but Ethiopia has many strong women. It will have to be the next one in Brazil.”
Both her pursuers had other problems, Shitaye finished with a one shoe full of blood from a toe injury, and Nyansikera had to stop for a vomiting fit. But Shitaye just managed to stay ahead to take second, 2:31:44, to Nyansikera’s 2:31:47.
MEN -
1. Dereje ABERA, ETH 2.11.27 (course record)
2. Eliud CHEPTEI, KEN 2.11.27
3. Cosmas KYEVA, KEN 2.11.28
4. Julius MAISEI, KEN 2.11.28
5. George NGETICH, KEN 2.12.19
6. Lilan KIPROP, KEN 2.12.42
7. Haile HAJA, ETH 2.12.43
8. Nigussie CHALA, ETH 2.13.17
9. Patrick KOECH, KEN 2.13.19
10. Nelson ROTICH, KE 2.13.33
WOMEN -
1. Misiker DEMISSIE, ETH 2.30.12 (course record)
2. Shitaye GEMECHU, ETH 2.31.44
3. Winfred NYANSIKERA, KEN 2.31.47
4. KIM Kum-Ok, DPR KOREA 2.32.48
5. Datu Zehara KEDIR, ETH 2.34.14
6. Viola BOR , KEN 2.37.11
7. Goitetom HAFTU, ETH 2.39.43
8. Malika BENLAFKIR, MAR 2.41.22
9. Mariia TSKAIA, KRG 2.49.41
10. THI Bin Pham, VTN 2.56.11
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