Sunday 18th October 2009

KENYAN Gilbert Yegon produced a stunning debut performance over the 26.1 mile distance to win the ING Amsterdam Marathon setting a new course record.

Yegon completed the course in two hours, six minutes and 19 seconds, and despite suffering from cramp in the closing stages to take one second off the previous record set by Haile Gebrselassie four years ago.

The 21-year-old won ahead of fellow Kenyans Elijah Keitany and Paul Biwott, who clocked times of 2:06.41 and 2:07.02.

England's Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dan Robinson was the first European finisher in 11th position, taking almost a minute from his previous lifetime best time clocking 2:12.14.

Eyerusalem Kuma of Ethiopia claimed the women's title in 2:27.42.

Sunday 25th October 2009

MO FARAH made a spectacular recovery after a slow start to win the BUPA Great South Run in Portsmouth.

The 26-year-old Londoner recovered to win the 10-mile race ahead of Stephen Mokoka by a second in a time of 46min 26sec after a sprint to the line.

Mokoka crossed the finish line in 46.26, while former Marathon world champion Luke Kibet clocked 47.16 to finish third.

Farah win also made him the first Briton to win the Great South Run since Gary Staines scored his third and final victory in 1996.

The victory will serve as a perfect morale booster for Farah, who is aiming to dethrone eight-time SPAR European Cross Country champion Sergey Lebid of Ukraine, at the 2009 edition of the annual meet in Dublin on 13th December.

Farah reflected on his victory: "The boys didn't make it easy at all for me. I think they wanted to get rid of me. Stephen went off and kept pushing and pushing."

Portuguese athlete Ines Monteiro claimed the women's race in convincing style, with a time of 52 minutes and 32 seconds while pre-race favourite, two-time world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba, was a distant fifth.

World Under-23 triathlon champion Hollie Avil on her debut over the distance finished in 18th place as the 19-year-old Loughborough University student clocked 1:01.05.
Leading Results:
Men
1, M Farah (GBR) 46:25
2, S Mokoka (South Africa) 46:26
3, L Kibet (Kenya) 47:16
4, S Overall (GBR) 48:00
5, M Geele (Somalia) 48:00
6, M Fagan (Ireland) 48:26
7, P Wicks (GBR) 48:38
8, H Ferreira (Portugal) 48:50
Women
1, I Monteiro (Portugal) 52:32
2, A-D Felix (Portugal) 53:58
3, B Willis (Australia) 54:41
4, R Kalmer (South Africa) 55:11
5, C Ndereba (Kenya) 55:28
6, M Sig Moller (Denmark) 55:36
7, C Hallissey (GBR) 55:46
8, F Fullerton (GBR) 56:28
18, H Avil (GBR) 1:01.05

Race highlights are available on the following link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/8325328.stm

www.greatrun.org/Results/Default.aspx

Sunday 25th October 2009

MARK POWELL returned to racing alleviating some of the disappointment of having to pull out of the recent Leicester Marathon storming to victory over the 13.1 mile distance in Coventry.

The 30-year-old representing the OWLS was almost a mile ahead of his nearest challengers four-miles from the finish in Leicester looking set for victory when he suffered a near-collapse from dehydration and had to drop out.

However, in Coventry there was a happy ending to the race as Powell crossed the line in a time of one hour 12 minutes 23 seconds to take the victory 22 seconds ahead of fellow county athlete Nigel Stirk (Tipton Harriers).

Full results are available on the following link: http://coventryhalf.com/

Monday 28th September 2009

KATE McCann returned to Leicestershire from her recent trip to Portugal to join the 800 competitors for the Great Kibworth charity run on Sunday (27th September).

The 41-year-old ran in a vest emblazoned with a picture of daughter Madeleine who disappeared whilst on holiday in Portugal on 2007, and would now be six, plus the words "Don't give up on me."

Mrs McCann, a keen runner, finished over the third of a marathon distance, in support of one of her favoured charities Macmillan Cancer Support.

Husband Gerry McCann, also a keen runner, was on hand to support his wife who chose the shorter distance rather than compete in the half-marathon event.

www.macmillan.org.uk

www.findmadeleine.com

Monday 28th September

BEVERLEY Gray representing Charnwood AC secured a fine win for Leicestershire athletes over the half-marathon distance at the bi-annual Great Kibworth Run on Sunday (27th September).

On a beautiful morning in warm conditions for late September the fifth running of the bi-annual event once again gave local althetes an opportunity to fine tune for the upcoming Leicester Marathon in the City event next month.

In the tough demanding half-marathon that includes an undulating opening section with a stiff ascent of Saddington Hill followed by a long drag up from Saddington Valley to Mowsley, Charnwood’s Beverley Gray completed victory in the women’s race as the 32-year-old crossed the line in a time of 1hr 30mins 44secs.

In the men’s race William Nock of Halesowen Athletic & Cycling Club completed victory in 1:18:23 securing the race win and the Vet 40 title in the process, an age category where he is the reigning Worcestershire county cross-country champion.

Second place went to the ever-consistent Wreake Runner stalwart Richard Bettsworth (1:22.56) followed by Dave Pell of West End Runners (1:26.35).

The team prize was retained by the host club Fleckney & Kibworth RC with solid performances from Noel Houlihan (5th 1:26.49), Steve Bishop (6th 1:27.50), Duncan Campbell (16th 1:31.59) and Stacey Voss (22nd 1:34.01), this despite the latter struggling through the race with injury in a time nine minutes slower than his time in last weeks BUPAGreat North Run.

In the equally demanding ‘Third Marathon’ runners were set the task of replicating the formidable Kibworth 6 LRRL Winter League race with the twin Saddington and Gumley Hills plus an additional two miles tacked on around Kibworth village before the field headed out into the countryside. There was a notable victory for local high school teacher John Mullholland in 57:09 followed by Harborough AC and local resident Hugh Delargy in 57:56 and Jon Sutton in 59:06. Kathryn Lovelock won the women’s title in 1:05:04.

The main races were complimented by the traditional two-mile family fun run. Within this the various category winners were:
Ages 15 and over 1st boy Jack Quilter 14:41 1st girl Elizabeth Bettsworth (Wreake Runners) 21:13, Ages 12-14 1st boy George Bettsworth 14:55, 1st girl Emily Hollis 15:21, Ages 8-11, 1st boy Dan Cole 15:09, 1st girl Elise Tear (Fleckney & Kibworth) 17:19, Ages 7 and under 1st boy Will Adams 18:45 1st girl Holly Coulson 21:44.

www.fleckneyandkibworthrunners.co.uk

ANDY Baddeley of Great Britain and Shannon Rowbury of the USA won the 2009 edition of the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile races in central Manhattan, New York City.

In the warm fine conditions Olympian Baddeley clocked a time of 3mins 51.8secs to win the men's international race as the two-time defending 1500m American champion Rowbury prevailed in the women's race in 4:23.3.

A week after winning over the mile at the Great North City Games in Newcastle, Baddeley became the first British winner of the men's race since Matthew Yates way back in 1991 when he edged out Kenya's Boaz Lalang (3:52.0) on the line to take victory.

American Leo Manzano, on his road-race debut, finished third with former double world 1500 and 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat (3:52.7) fourth.

Baddeley commented afterwards: “I know a lot of people start to go with 200 metres left in a road mile, but for me that’s too early…even 100 to go is too early. I was waiting until the last 50, I like being in New York. It’s a good place.”

World championship silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey was bidding to defend her title as Commonwealth champion and Shannon Rowbury pulled clear of the pack in the closing metres but the American crossed the line first to win in 4:23.3.

“This is the best way for me, especially as an American runner, to end my season,” Rowbury said. “I’ve been living in southwest London and racing since the beginning of July, and I’m just really happy to be back in front of an American crowd.”

Loughborough-based Dobriskey held off a fast finishing Sara Hall in a tight photo-finish, both women clocking 4:23.9.

Dobriskey reflected: “I enjoyed my experience here so much last year, and I wanted to do the New Year’s Eve run but I was injured, so NYRR rescheduled my flight for the (Reebok Grand Prix), and I was injured again, so they rescheduled my flight again and finally here I am.”

The United Kingdom 1500m champion Hannah England (4:25.4) and former British 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Barbara Parker (4:35.2) were fifth and ninth respectively. 

Full Results:
Men
1 Andy Baddeley (GBR) 3:51.8

2 Boaz Lalang (KEN) 3:52.0

3 Leonel Manzano (USA) 3:52.2

4 Bernard Lagat (USA) 3:52.7

5 Haron Lagat (USA) 3:53.8

6 Collis Birmingham (AUS) 3:53.9

7 Matt Tegenkamp (USA) 3:54.2

8 Chris Solinsky (USA) 3:54.5

9 Daniel Huling (USA) 3:55.0

10 David Torrence (USA) 3:56.1

11 Will Leer (USA) 3:56.6

12 Tim Bayley (GBR) 3:58.3

13 Jon Rankin (USA) 03:59.0

14 Nate Brannen (CAN) 3:59.1

15 Steve Sherer (USA) 3:59.8

16 Kyle Heath (USA) 4:01.1

17 Rob Myers (USA) 4:02.1

18 Sean Brosnan (USA) 4:04.4

19 Liam Boylan-Pett (USA) 4:04.6

20 Tommy Schmitz (USA) 4:06.0

21 Ricky Soos (GBR) 4:09.5

22 Moise Joseph (HAIT) 4:12.3

Women
1 Shannon Rowbury (USA) 4:23.3

2 Lisa Dobriskey (GBR) 4:23.9

3 Sara Hall (USA) 4:23.9

4 Christin Wurth-Thomas (USA) 4:23.9

5 Hannah England (GBR) 4:25.4

6 Erin Donohue (USA) 4:27.0

7 Mestawot Tadesse (ETH) 4:27.7

8 Amy Mortimer (USA) 4:29.6

9 Barbara Parker (GBR) 4:35.2

10 Sara Vaughn (USA) 4:37.1

11 Marina Muncan (SER) 4:37.3

12 Delilah DiCrescenzo (USA) 4:44.0

Highlights of the races are available on the Video Highlights page.

Wednesday 23rd September 2009

THE 2009 Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships were held on the 17th to 20th September in warm sunny conditions in the stunning surroundings of Keswick in the Lake District.

Athletes from 14 nations competed in three separate disciplines - mountain races, a 100km road race and a 24-hour race.

In the women’s international Uphill-only race to the top of Skiddaw (931m, 3054ft) Anna Frost representing New Zealand won the title clocking a time of 48mins 06secs with England’s Katie Ingram (48:43) and Rebecca Robinson (49:12) finishing second and third respectively to combined with fifth placed Victoria Wilkinson (49:50) securing the team victory for the host nation.

For Scotland Sula Young finished in 11th place as the 30-year-old Beaumont Leys athlete crossed the line in a time of 53:26, whilst, in 15th place 2009 European Mountain Running Championships team bronze medallist Clare McKittrick from Charnwood AC finished in 55.20.
Women Up Hill Only
1 Anna Frost (NZL) 48:06
2 Katie Ingram (ENG) 48:43
3 Rebecca Robinson (ENG) 49:12
11 Sula Young (SCO) 53:26
15 Clare Mckittrick (ENG) 55:20
Team:
1 England 2,3,5, 10pts
2 Scotland 7,8,11, 26pts
3 New Zealand 1,12,14, 27pts
4 Australia 9,17,20, 46pts
5 Wales 19,22,24, 65pts
6 Northern Ireland 25,26,28, 79pts

Full results are available on the following link:
www.cumbriacommonwealthchampionships.org/Results.htm

2009 Saucony Midland AAA Men's 6 Stage & Women's 4 Stage Territorial Road Relays Championships

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Saturday 19th September 2009

BRITISH international Hannah Whitmore was in top form recording the fastest overall individual leg of the day for Charnwood AC as the Loughborough-based club comfortably retained their Saucony Midland AAA 4-Stage Territorial Road Relays title for a remarkable ninth success in their 34-year history in fine style claiming victory as with the past two-years over Bristol & West at Birmingham’s Sutton Park.

The team comprising of world cross-country championships representatives Whitmore and Jane Potter combined with rising star Gemma Steel and England international Sarah Maude crossed the line to break the hour-mark with a time of 59mins 07secs - ensuring victory by a margin of nearly a minute clear of their West Country rivals.

In the Men’s 6-Stage race there was an equally impressive victory for Birchfield Harriers as their powerful squad led by the Kenyan trio of Simon Tanui, Jean Ndayisenga and Zackary Kihara won the battle of the West Midlands top-two clubs securing the title ahead of Tipton Harriers with Bristol & West finishing third.
Women's 4-Stage Race

In the warm late summer September conditions with temperatures hitting a high of 18 degrees for the mid-day start in Sutton Park, the Autumn colours of green and gold were not just reserved for the trees surrounding the picturesque course but they were also in top form on the road as Charnwood’s eight-time champions lined-up to defend their 4-stage territorial title.

The Loughborough-based club began their quest for a ninth title with British international Hannah Whitmore leading off on the opening stage, having secured a top-ten finish at the adidas Women’s 5km Challenge in London’s Hyde Park earlier in the month when facing Kenya’s world champion over the distance, Vivian Cheruiyot, the 25-year-old gave Charnwood a blistering start and in the process building a virtually unassailable lead in the race clocking the fastest overall individual time of the day with a time of 14mins 31secs to hand over to second stage runner Gemma Steel.

Rising star Steel arrived at the event also with a run of top form with recent impressive victories on the road, notably retaining the Leicestershire 10 mile championship a fortnight ago with a new personal best and the 23-year-old duly delivered a fine performance in Birmingham clocking 14:48 to hand over to the experienced Jane Potter on the third leg.

Potter as with Whitmore also gained her first senior international vest debuting for Team GB at this year’s world cross in Amman and the 27-year-old consolidated Charnwood’s advantage with a solid 14:38 to increase their advantage going into the final leg.

Charnwood’s push for an unprecedented ninth title success was truly emphasised as Loughborough University graduate Sarah Maude cruised through the final anchor leg clocking 15:10 leaving the Loughborough club well clear of second placed Bristol with a winning margin of 58 seconds to cross the line in a combined time of 59:07 - fourteen seconds faster than last year’s triumph.

Whitmore reflecting on the teams success commented: “Everyone was really pleased - and I was especially chuffed to get fastest of the day. It would be nice to improve on that time at the Nationals in four-weeks time.”

Bristol despite missing their talismanic British international Kate Reed and Loughborough graduate Amy Chalk in their squad maintained second place throughout the race to finish runners-up in 1:00.05. Birchfield Harriers finished third (1:02.06) to complete the podium line-up.

The Charnwood ‘B’ team finished as with last year in 6th place overall showing their depth of squad with Loughborough University graduates Katie Lomas and Gemma Hillier combined with Beverley Gray and Birmingham University student Clare Mensley, completing the quartet as they finished in a combined time of 1:03.33 also bettering their time of last year.

Charnwood will now look towards the Nike National 4-Stage Relays that take place at the same Birmingham venue on Saturday 17th October where they will face the tough prospect of defending their title against Aldershot, Farnham & District - led by Great Britain’s world junior 1500m gold medallist Steph Twell.
Men's 6-Stage Race

In the Men’s 6-Stage race victory went to Birchfield Harriers boosted by three prolific high quality UK based road-racing Kenyan’s in their squad as Simon Tanui, winner of the Experian Robin Hood half-marathon in 2007, set the Birmingham club on their way to victory with a 17:21 clocking on the opening stage as Peter Whitehouse (19:24), Zackary Kihara, winner of the 2008 Sheffield half-marathon, (17:21), Adam Watt (19:15), Jean Ndayisenga (17:16) and the reigning Midlands cross-country champion James Trollope (18:24) combined to finished in a time of 1:48.51.

Tipton Harriers finished runners-up in 1:49.17 with Bristol & West third (1:49:28) as the Leicester OWLS finished 7th (1:53.02) with Charnwood AC 16th (1:59.13) the Leicester Coritanians 26th (2:02.22) and Harborough AC 39th (2:07.33).
Editors Comment:

There was no electronic timing available on the day in Birmingham - so full individual stage results are limited. Therefore, apologies for a slightly brief report - I was covering the BUPA Great North Games/Run events in Newcastle over a very busy weekend of fixtures in the United Kingdom.

Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following links:

Men 6 Stage

www.race-results.co.uk/results/2009/mcaasm.pdf

Women 4 Stage

www.race-results.co.uk/results/2009/mcaasl.pdf

Above photo by Brian Smith.

2009 BUPA Great North Run

Tyneside

Sunday 20th September 2009

KENYA’s Martin Lel and Jessica Augusto of Portugal were set on their way by rock star Sting as the duo raced to victory at the 29th edition of the BUPA Great North Run with impressive breakaway performances in the Tyneside sunshine.

In the spectacular late summer conditions in the North East under bright blue skies and rising temperatures with a field of over 50,000 runners assembled on the central motorway in Newcastle, the three-time London Marathon champion Martin Lel with a very impressive victory regained the men’s title he last won in 2007 to give the 30-year-old the perfect preparation for November’s New York Marathon where he will chase a third title.

Racing in only his second appearance of the year having won over the 13.1 mile distance in Lisbon back in March, Lel following long term injury problems forced the world of elite distance running to take note as the Kenyan returned to action to claim victory with a superb time of 59mins and 32secs - powering clear over the final mile along the coastal road in South Shields securing the win by a margin of 12 seconds ahead of compatriot Kiplimo Kimutai.

"I'm really pleased to be winning again following my injury problems, the conditions were perfect for racing, my experience came through at the end when I kicked for the line,” a delighted Lel said.

Two-time world marathon gold medallist Jaouad Gharib of Morocco was third in 1:05. Commonwealth bronze medallist Dan Robinson was Great Britain's top finisher in eleventh place in 1:04.14.

Portugal’s elegant cross-country and steeplechase specialist Jessica Augusto broke away early in the women’s race to record the best victory of her career as the Paris-born 27-year-old with a performance reminiscent of American Kara Goucher’s win in 2007 finished with a new lifetime best of 1:09.08, narrowly missing breaking the Portuguese national-record to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Rosa Mota who won the race in 1990.

Augusto commented afterwards: "I'm very happy because I only began to train for this just three weeks ago after the World Championships, my plan was to go with the others but at five kilometres I just went for it."

Augusto simply outclassed Ethiopia's former winner and pre-race favourite Berhane Adere (1:09:42) and her Portuguese team mate Ana Dulce Felix (1:09:48). Local athlete Angela Hibbs from Chester-le-Street was the first British runner home in 13th place in 1:18.27.

Great Britain’s David Weir smashed the men's wheelchair course record by over a minute clocking a time of 41:34, whilst, Amanda McGrory set a new leading mark for the women's event of 49:47 in the absence of defending champion Shelly Woods who decided to compete over the marathon distance in Berlin.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men
1 Martin Lel (KEN) 59:32; 2 Kiplimo Kimutai (KEN) 59:44; 3 Jaouad Gharib (MAR, V35) 60:04; 4 Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 60:59; 5 Jackson Koech (KEN) 61:12; 6 Chema Martinez (ESP, V35) 62:36; 7 Jorge Torres (USA) 62:42; 8 Chala Dechase (ETH) 63:31; 9 Shawn Forrest (AUS) 63:41; 10 Alberto Chaica (POR, V35) 63:49; 11 Dan Robinson (Stroud) 64:14; 12 Lee Merrien (NEB) 64:27; 13 Marcin Chabowski (POL) 64:34; 14 Ian Hudspith (Morp, V35) 64:49; 15 Dmytro Lashyn (UKR) 64:59; 16 Neil Renault (M&M) 65:30; 17 Kevin Skinner (NEB) 65:35; 18 David Wardle (WG&EL) 65:37; 19 Jon Brown (CAN, V35) 65:40; 20 Mark Draper (Bed C) 66:17
Women
1 Jessica Augusto (POR) 69:08; 2 Berhane Adere (ETH, V35) 69:42; 3 Ana Dulce Félix (POR) 69:48; 4 Nikki Chapple (AUS) 70:03; 5 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 70:11; 6 Rose Cheruiyot (KEN) 70:28; 7 Analia Rosa (POR) 70:30; 8 Werkenesh Kidane (ETH) 71:18; 9 Sally Barsosio (KEN) 71:45; 10 Benita Willis (was Johnson) (AUS) 71:57; 11 Lidia Simon (ROM, V35) 72:20; 12 Aniko Kalovics (HUN) 74:21; 13 Angela Hibbs (CleS) 78:27; 14 Nicole Aish (USA) 79:02; 15 Katrina Wootton (Bed C) 79:41; 16 Tegla Loroupe (KEN, V35) 79:41; 17 Jenny Blizard (Roth) 80:33; 18 Collette Fagan (VPCG) 80:37

Full results are available on the following link: www.greatrun.org/Results/Default.aspx

Sunday 20th September 2009

ETHOPIAN superstar Haile Gebrselassie claimed his fourth victory in the Realr-Berlin Marathon but failed to break his own world-record (2:03:59) set in the German capital in twelve months ago.

Having preferred to run in the mass race in Berlin rather than compete in the World Championships last month, Gebrselassie had set new global marks in the previous two editions, but the warm conditions worked against him in the closing miles of the race.

He crossed the finishing line under the Brandenburg Gate clocking a time of 2hrs 06mins 08secs - two minutes and nine seconds outside of his world-record.

Francis Kiprop of Kenya claimed second place, just under a minute adrift as Negari Therfa of Ethiopia was third in 2:07.41. Salford Harrier Tomas Abyu was the leading British athlete finishing 13th in 2:15.35.

Atsede Besuye completed an Ethiopian double by claiming the women's title in 2:24.47. Russia's Silvia Skvortsova was second in 2:26.24, with another Ethiopian, Mamitu Daska, third in a time of 2:26.38. Scotland's Hayley Haining finished 10th in 2:36.08.

Sunday 13th September 2009

ANDY BADDELEY completed victory for Team England at the BUPA Great Capital Run in London's Regents Park in the three-way contest between Australia and a Rest of the World team as Scotland's Freya Murray secured another high-profile victory for the second consecutive week against the former World cross-country champion, Aussie Benita Willis.

The men's race witnessed the main contenders stay together as a group until Australian Collis Birmingham made a significant move at 3km on an uphill stretch of the course.

Olympic 1500m finalist Andy Baddeley, Moumin Geele and Loughborough graduate Chris Thompson managed to respond but the latter two were quickly dropped as it became a personal battle between the England number one and Birmingham.

The duo ran stride for stride coming into the home straight until Baddeley managed to pull marginally ahead in the final 50 metres and win by a second in a time of 13mins 45secs.

Baddeley, who stepped up from his favourite mile distance, said: "I'm happy with this win today, it tells me I am still in good shape."

Freya Murray representing a Rest of the World team against Australia and England, again defeated Benita Willis repeating her success over the Australian who she had beaten over 10km in Sheffield the previous week, although at one stage it looked as if Willis would win after making a surprise break.

Willis opened a gap going into the final kilometre but Murray, after catching her with 400m remaining, hit the front with 250 metre of the race left for another quality perfromance.

Murray, the winner by four seconds in a time of 15mins 42secs, said: "I'm really happy to have won my second BUPA Great Run in as many weeks. I felt good and really enjoyed the park run."

Willis finished well clear of third-placed United Kingdom 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Helen Clitheroe (15:58).

"I am disappointed not to win today but I must be happy with my progression over the last few months and it's great that Australia won the elite women's team race," said Willis.
Leading Results:
1 Andy Baddeley (England) 13:45
2 Collis Birmingham (Australia) 13:46
3 Chris Thompson (England) 13:58
4 Moumin Geele (Rest of World) 14:03
5 Shawn Forrest (Australia) 14:08
6 Scott Overall (England) 14:15
7 Mark Draper (England) 14:18
8 Pete Norwill (Australia) 14:26
9 Mark Kenneally (Rest of World) 14:30
10 Oskar Kack (Rest of World) 14:33
Women
1 Freya Murray (Rest of World) 15:42
2 Benita Willis (Australia)15:46
3 Helen Clitheroe (England) 15:58
4 Nikki Chaple (Australia) 16:03
5 Lara Tamsett (Australia) 16:16
6 Charlotte Purdue (England)16:17
7 Katrina Wootton (England)16:26
8 Eloise Wellings (Australia) 16:28
9 Ilse Pol (Rest of World) 16:36
10 Nicole Aish (Rest of World) 16:58
Ashes Challenge Result:
1 Australia
2 Rest of the World
3 England

2009 Experian Robin Hood Full & Half Marathon

City of Nottingham

Sunday 13th September 2009

KENYA’s Ezekiel Cherop completed his second straight victory over the 13.1mile distance in the space of a week to retain the Nottingham title adding this to victory in Bristol the previous weekend securing a comprehensive win ahead of compatriot and club mate at Birchfield Harriers, Jean Ndayisenga, as Joyce Kirui ensured a double success for Kenya by winning the women’s race.

Alnwick Harrier Dave Kirkland and Jenny Bosman broke the African monopoly in the marathon taking victory for Great Britain as Hendrik Zietsman had to settle for the runners-up position for the second consecutive year in the men’s race with three-time defending champion Pumlani Bangani in fourth.

In near perfect conditions Coventry-based Ezekiel Cherop, a world junior 5,000m bronze medallist, as with twelve months ago was a class apart in the men’s half-marathon race where the Nairobi-born Birchfield Harrier continued his prolific form in 2009 over the 13.1 mile distance having comprehensively won in Bristol the previous week setting a lifetime best (63:26) the 24-year-old pulled clear of the field in Nottingham racing to victory clocking a time of 1hr 05mins 43secs.

This victory was Cherop’s third half-marathon win in the calendar year of 2009 having also won in Milton Keynes – infact he has won all his races entered over the year including the high profile City of Manchester 10km back in July.

Compatriot and team mate Jean Ndayisenga was second in 1:06.35 ahead of Yorkshireman Andrew Pearson (1:07.27), winner of the Leeds half marathon, with the Leicestershire champion Mark Powell (OWLS) securing fourth in 1:09.42.

Joyce Kirui was equally impressive in the women’s race cruising to a fine virtually solo gun-to-tape victory in a time of 1:16.57, this having finished runner-up in the Bristol event the previous weekend and having won the Reading half-marathon title back in March.

Yorkshire’s Sarah Jarvis was second in 1:19.55 with Solihull’s Lucy Flanner third in 1:21.33.

British Masters international Nicki Nealon (Huncote) and previous winner of the marathon, Nicola Clay (Stilton), were next over the line separated by five seconds with Nealon clocking 1:22.30 - a result which combined with Birstall's Zoe Procter in 7th (1:26.24) ensured that the East Midlands squad retained their team title in the 9 region Inter Area Challenge.

With the marathon trophy having rested with the rainbow nation over recent year’s following the domination of the event by South Africa’s Pumlani Bangani, the North East’s Dave Kirkland ensured that in 2009 the Nottingham marathon title was to result in a victory for the host country as the 37-year-old Alnwick Harrier, winner of the Reykjavík Marathon, held off the challenge of last year’s runner-up Hendrik Zietsman to cross the line on the Victoria Embankment in a time of 2hrs 26mins 43secs with Boston’s Geoff Knight third.

Jenny Bosman completed a British double by winning the women’s race in 2:58:17 ahead of Yvonne Cooper representing Bushfield Joggers (3:09.15).

Almost 8,000 runners completed the Robin Hood event this year making this one of the biggest road races in the United Kingdom behind the high profile Flora London Marathon and next weekend’s BUPA Great North Run, the world’s largest half-marathon.

From a domestic point of view the race is extremely popular and in 2005 the event witnessed a record entry of 13,000 runners.

The Robin Hood Marathon was founded in 1981, the same year as the London Marathon and the Great North Run. Back then the race started and finished in the Old Market Square in Nottingham’s City Centre. As the race field increased alongside the events popularity, the start/finish area moved to the present day race site on the Victoria Embankment.

After a successful staging in 2000, the following year's event was threatened after the Nottingham City council pulled out of the organisation of the Robin Hood Marathon. With only 19 weeks until race day, Sweatshop Limited stepped in to save the 2001 event.

In 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 the race was again organised by Sweatshop along a new improved course. The event retains its friendly atmosphere, providing excellent entertainment and facilities on the Victoria Embankment. Most importantly the race caters for every type of runner, from the first timer to the seasoned international, taking in some of Nottingham's most historical landmarks.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following links:

Full Marathon

www.experianfestivalofrunning.co.uk/RobinHoodResults09/FullMarathon09.pdf

Half Marathon

www.experianfestivalofrunning.co.uk/RobinHoodResults09/HalfMarathon09.pdf

Owls John Fraser 10 Mile

(Incorp. 2009 LRRL Summer League)

Countesthorpe, Leicestershire

Sunday 6th September 2009

GEMMA STEEL set a lifetime best and new course record as with fellow Leicestershire athlete Mark Powell successfully retained their individual county 10-mile championships at the OWLS John Fraser event.

Gemma Steel continued to add to her impressive CV as the Leicestershire Winter League champion retained the county 10 mile title by breaking the 60-minute barrier for the first time in her blossoming career as the 23-year-old racing in the famous green and gold of Charnwood AC completed victory with a runaway victory crossing the line in Countesthorpe in a time of 58mins 03secs taking victory by a country mile ahead of the chasing pack finishing in 12th place overall improving on her winning mark of 60:41 twelve months ago.

Steel’s performance on the back of her good summer form, with race wins in Glooston, Hermitage and chasing trains up mountains in Wales, bodes well for the Loughborough-based club as Charnwood look to retain their women’s national and territorial relay titles on both the road and cross-country over the autumn/winter season - major domestic events which are fast approaching on the fixture horizon as the track season in the United Kingdom and Europe comes to a close over the next few weeks.

British Masters international Nicki Nealon representing Huncote Harriers finished a distant second in 62:48 with Leicester Triathon’s Nicola Roder third in 63:28 - one place ahead of Stilton Strider Nicola Clay (63:30).

The Leicester OWLS men’s squad will also look set to mount a challenge for relay honours in the coming weeks and their talisman Mark Powell will be at the forefront for the Wigston club as the 30-year-old ran a solid race to retain his county title, but failed in his bid to win his home race for the second consecutive year as 23-year-old Coventry Godiva Harrier Ben Jones claimed victory with an impressive performance finishing well over a minute ahead of the field in a time of 52mins 06secs – 13 seconds outside of Powell’s course-record of 51:53 set last year.

Nathaniel Walker in the colours of Leicester Triathlon claimed third place in 55:11.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Photo by Dave Lodwick.

Full results are available on the Results Page link: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

Sunday 6th September 2009

WORLD 5,000 metres champion Vivian Cheruiyot landed in the capital and brought with her the top form that witnessed the Kenyan triumph on the track of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium last month to win the adidas Women's 5km Challenge title in London’s Hyde Park – this just 48 hours after competing at the Brussels Golden League meeting when finishing runner-up to Gelete Burka over 2,000m.

The 25-year-old was made to work hard for her victory and the title was decided by a tight sprint finish as Cheruiyot prevailed by just one second ahead of compatriot Linet Masai in a time of 15mins 11secs with Ethiopia's Aderu Kebede third in 15:13.

Cheruiyot’s winning time was outside of Paula Radcliffe's six-year-old course record of 14min 51secs.

Cheruiyot commented: “I felt good but I was a bit tired as I've just come from running in Brussels, I did my best and I didn't struggle with the pace. I just wanted to be sure I could win.”

Surrey’s Justina Heslop from the Clapham Chasers club was the first British athlete home finishing in a well-deserved eighth place as the 30-year-old, winner over 3,000m at the St Mary’s Classic, clocked a time of 16:06.

Charnwood’s British international Hannah Whitmore successfully returned to racing producing a strong performance finishing in 10th place as the 2009 Amman IAAF World Cross Country Championships representative recorded 16:34.
Leading Results:
1 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 15:11

2 Linet Masai (KEN) 15:12

3 Aberu Kebede (ETH) 15:13

4 Inga Abitova (RUS) 15:23

5 Kim Smith (NZL) 15:27

6 Grace Momanyi (KEN) 15:35

7 Dulce Felix (POR) 15:57

8 Justina Heslop (GBR) 16:06

9 Lara Tamsett (AUS) 16:19

10 Hannah Whitmore (GBR) 16:34

Sunday 6th September 2009

SCOTLAND’s Freya Murray secured a superb home win for Great Britain at the high profile BUPA Great Yorkshire Run in Sheffield as the Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Eliud Kipchoge impressively ran solo to take the men’s title for Kenya.

The 25-year-old Chester-le-Street athlete outpaced the former world cross country champion Benita Johnson of Australia to smash her lifetime best crossing the finish line in the steel city with a mark of 32mins 28secs.

A delighted and surprised Murray commented afterwards: “This is my first proper 10km on the roads, I felt really good today, it all just went to plan.

"I'm looking forward to running in London next week over 5k and then I'm going to go over to Ireland and run in Loughrea."

Australian Nikki Chapple was third in 32:41 as top GB junior Charlotte Purdue, a European junior cross country silver medalist, punched above her weight to take an excellent fourth in 33:07, however, British international Kate Reed was forced to pull out of the race with two kilometres to ago sighting Achilles pain - this having missed the winter season due to surgery on the affected area following last summers Beijing Olympics.

The United Kingdom 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Helen Clitheroe, coached by John Nuttall at Loughborough University, was 7th in 33:52.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s race with a fine gun-to-tape victory clocking 28:30 coming home ahead of former Leicester athlete Moumin Geele by a margin of eight seconds with Australia’s Shawn Forest third in 28:43.

Loughborough graduate Chris Thompson was the leading Brit in fifth place with a time of 29:32.
Leading Results:
Men
1 E Kipchoge (Kenya) 28:30
2 M Geele (Somalia) 28:38
3 S Forrest (Australia) 28:43
4 M Mohammed (Sweden) 29:16
5 C Thompson (GB) 29:32
6 P Wicks (GB) 29:46
7 G Weidlingewr (Austria) 29:47
8 R Ribas (Portugal) 29:55
9 D Robinson (GB) 29:56
10 A Jones (GB) 29:59
Women
1 F Murray (GB) 32:38
2 B Johnson (Australia) 32:29
3 N Chapple (Australia) 32:41
4 C Purdue (GB) 33:07
5 L Blomme (Sweden) 33:20
6 J Augusto (Portugal) 33:30
7 H Clitheroe (GB) 33:52
8 S Ward (GB) 34:37
9 I Nilsson (Sweden) 34:44
10 T Loroupe (Kenya) 34:54

Hermitage Harriers 10km

Whitwick, Leicestershire

Sunday 23rd August 2009

AS the focus of the athletics world concentrated on the fabulous drama and spectacular sporting theatre unfolding in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium at the IAAF World Championships - back in the United Kingdom the domestic race calendar continued at pace as Mark Powell (OWLS) and Gemma Steel (Charnwood) raced to victories at the third edition of the Hermitage Harriers Open 10km.

Over a tough undulating course that wound its way through the beautiful countryside of the National Forest in North West Leicestershire, including sections along the disused ‘Ivanhoe’ railway and took in the sights of Mount St. Bernard Abbey, Leicester OWLS Mark Powell continued his positive return to form fitness and winning ways putting the disappointment of his disappointing marathon debut in Edinburgh back in May when the 30-year-old was forced to pull-out of the race in the Scottish capital by completing a fine solo victory clocking a time of 33mins 38secs as he attempted to chase British Triathlete Adam Hickey’s stunning course record of 32:04 set twelve months ago.

Loughborough-based Hickey has been concentrating on the track this year with significant performances over 5,000m, which included winning the Essex county championship title, and decided not run on the roads during 2009.

Powell, who now plans to turn his attention to the 26.1 mile distance at the Leicester Marathon in the City event in October finished well ahead of club mate Jason Williams (34:40) and third placed Cambridge Harrier David Lipscomb (36:19).

With two-time defending champion and course record-holder Felicity Milton (34:56) absent from the event as she prepares for life in America competing on the NCAA circuit at Stanford University in California, Charnwood’s Gemma Steel returned to her former club to complete an equally dominant performance to win the women’s race.

A return that was made quite easy as the 23-year-old Leicestershire road-running league champion is a local resident with the start line almost on her door step and duly won the race by almost a two-minute margin in a time of 36:36 finishing in a strong fourth place overall ahead of Wakefield Harrier Julie Briscoe (38:28) and Zoe Proctor of Birstall (43:20).

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: http://new.hermitage-harriers.co.uk/pdf/HH10K_2009.pdf

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Berlin

Sunday 23rd August 2009 – Women’s Marathon

XUE BAI representing China produced a strong final sprint to win the women’s marathon at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships crossing the line at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gates in a time of 2 hours 25 minutes and 15 seconds.

In very hot conditions on a glorious morning in the German capital with a watching crowd nearing a million people surrounding the four-lap city centre course, the 20-year-old - whose name translates to 'white snow' – finished ahead of Yoshimi Ozaki of Japan (2:25.25) with Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia taking the bronze (2:25.32).

America's 10,000m bronze medalist in Osaka, Kara Goucher, a third place finisher in New York and Boston clocked 2:27.48 to secure 10th place overall.

The pre-race favourites, world record-holder and 2005 champion Paula Radcliffe of Britain and German 2009 world leader Irina Mikitenko did not participate as Radcliffe was not fully fit after foot surgery and Mikitenko withdrew after her father passed away prior to the championships.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results on the following link: http://berlin.iaaf.org/results/racedate=08-15-2009/bydate.html

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships – Berlin 2009

Berlin

Saturday 22nd August 2009 – Men’s Marathon

KENYAN Abel Kirui clocked a championship record of 2hrs 06mins 54secs to win the men’s World marathon title with a strong dominant performance in front of large appreciative crowds surrounding the spectacular four-lap course in Berlin, finishing ahead of compatriot Emmanuel Mutai (2:07.48) and Ethiopia's Olympic bronze medallist Tsegay Kebede (2:08:35).

The 27-year-old Kirui, having decided to run the World Championships rather than chase the big money in Chicago later this year secured only his second victory over the 26.1 mile distance of his career having won in Vienna last year.

In the absence of world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie (2:03.59) preferring to try and break his global mark at the main Realr Berlin - Marathon next month - Kiri facing a field that included Kenya's Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru, Morocco's two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib and Kenya's defending champion Luke Kibet the race promised much for the huge assembled crowd and delivered in style.

Credit has to go to the organizers to base the race in the city centre giving the Saturday morning crowds a chance to feel part of the World Championships surrounding the iconic Brandenburg Gates rather that run the event through the non-descript neighbourhoods where the Olympic Stadium is situated in the west of Berlin out towards Tegel Airport.

The crowd had to wait until the 16km mark before Kebede made the first break to spread out the field as a five-strong lead group broke clear containing the Kenyan trio of Mutai, Kirui and Robet Cheruiyot, Ethiopian one by one they began to drop of the pace over the second half of the race as Mutai and Kirui built up the decisive lead over Boston Marathon champion Merga, fourth at the Beijing Games.

As the race entered the last 5k Kirui moved ahead building a significant and ultimately decisive lead to power home over the finish line that stretched across the central arch of the Brandenburg Gate to take a well deserved victory.

A delighted Kirui commented: “Berlin is my city. I love Berlin and enjoy running here. When I came to Berlin I felt so confident. I smile now because the tiredness is out of me at this moment. For World championships this is a good time.

“The race was very nice for me, very challenging, with a strong field of athletes. The spectators - especially those around the Brandenburg gate - were doing a great job. They gave me a lot of energy. They were really pushing me.

“It was very tactical race and it was quite hard for me to stay calm and control the race. My coach is a great man - we were praying together in the morning and already at that time I was sure we can win this race. I feel I am in a great shape and we were preparing for this during our trainings.”

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results on the following link: http://berlin.iaaf.org/results/racedate=08-15-2009/bydate.html

Friday 21st August 2009

EUROPEAN Mountain Running Championships team bronze medallist Clare McKittrick was on top form once again for Great Britain in the Italian town of Collina last weekend as the Charnwood athlete combine with Angela Mudge and Helen Fines to take victory in the 3 Refuges International Relay event.

McKittrick (leg 1) uphill only - 6.5km and 700m climb, Angela Mudge 4.5km (up and down) and Helen Fines (downhill only) completed the successful British team performance.

There was also further good news for the reigning Midlands Masters cross-country champion as the 37-year-old has been selected to represent Team England in a strong squad at the inaugural Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships that take place in Keswick in the Lake District from 17th-20th September 2009.

A 17-strong team will represent the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team at next month’s World Mountain Running Championships in Campodolocino, Italy.



The senior women’s team will be spearheaded by Sarah Tunstall (Kendal AC), who won bronze at the 2008 European Mountain Running Championships and silver in the Under 23 race at the 2008 European Cross Country Championships.



This will be the first time a team has competed under the GB & NI banner at the championships, after home nations sent separate teams to the event in previous years. 



This brings the World Mountain Running Championships - which takes place on 6th September - into line with IAAF championships.


AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM


SENIOR MEN

Simon Bailey (Mercia Fell Runners); Billy Burns (Salford Harriers); Adam Grice (Leeds City); Adam Osborne (Leeds City); Joe Symonds (Kendal AC); Nick Swinburn (Northumberland)


SENIOR WOMEN

Kate Goodhead (Stroud AC); Katie Ingram (Horwich RMI Harriers); Sarah Tunstall (Kendal AC); Mary Wilkinson (Bingley Harriers & AC)


JUNIOR MEN

Ricky Challinor (Liverpool Harriers); Alexander Hendry (Central AC); Scott McDonald (Central AC); Robbie Simpson (Deeside Runners)


JUNIOR WOMEN

Blue Hayward (Lincoln Wellington); Melanie Hyder (Helm Hill Runners); Heather Timmins (Warrington AC)

2009 New York City Half Marathon

Central Park, New York, USA

Sunday 16th August 2009

PAULA RADCLIFFE returned to racing in emphatic style to win the New York City Half Marathon following a superb runaway performance destroying the field in the Big Apple to take victory in a time of one hour nine minutes 45 seconds - just two seconds outside of the course-record finishing ahead of Mimutu Danska of Ethiopia and Kenya's two-time world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba. The men’s race was won by Ethiopia’s Tadese Tola in 1hr 01min 05secs.

Radcliffe never looked troubled in New York over the 13.1 mile course surrounding Central Park by the foot injury for which she had an operation in March and which saw the 35-year-old pull out of the following month's Flora London Marathon.

The bunion surgery prevented her from training properly until the beginning of June when she moved to her high altitude base in Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees.

The world-record holder will now decide whether to compete at the 12th IAAF World Championship marathon in Berlin next weekend to attempt to repeat her success in Helsinki 2005.

"I don't know," said Radcliffe following the race, "I guess I see how I recover over the next few days, it's a bit tough, but I would say it was more likely than it was last week.

"I am going to get on the plane this evening and arrive in Berlin on Monday morning, but it will be two to three days before one knows if one can run or not.

"The race in its own right has done me good to go out and run competitively, but I have to decide if I have the required strength to go out in Berlin and compete against a high quality bunch of rivals."

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full race coverage is available on demand on the following link: www.nyrr.org/nychalf%5Flive/