Athletics Africa Magazine

Nigerian   Peter Emelieze - Photo by Tatif c2009 METZ (FRA, Feb 25): Kenyan Bethwel Birgen scored a solid 3:39.21 at 1500m to win during the International Indoor meeting in France yesterday. Second placed Shadrack Korir , 32, also clocked sub 3:40 after two years indoors with 3:39.79. In third position was Yohan Durand (scheduled to run 3000 m at European Championships) 3:42.08 (overall PB) ahead of Russian champion Vyacheslav Sokolov 3:42.94. Nigerian Peter Emelieze won the men´s 60m sprint clocking 6.63 ahead of Ronald Pognon of France (6.69). Also a new Algerian indoor record for Othman Hadj Lazib at 60m hurdles in 7.72. PRETORIA (RSA, Feb 25):   The unexpected highlight at the second Yellow Pages Series meeting in Pretorial yesterday was a new South African 400m hurdles record by LJ van Zyl in 47.66. It was raining heavily before the hurdles (thunderstorm), during race still light rain with wind gusts, wet track and 15 degrees. With the conditions far from ideal, Van

Punta Umbria 2011 logo (IAAF.org) The Athletics Kenya (AK) has selected the team to represent Kenya at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbría, Spain on 20 March 2011. However Kenya's four world cross country champions, who all failed to qualify on Saturday for this year's championships, misses out. Joseph Ebuya, who won the men's title last year, failed to finish as did the women's title holder Emily Chebet while junior champions Caleb Mwangangi and Mercy Cherono finished down the field. Kenya team Senior Men (12km) 1. Geoffrey Mutai 2. Matthew Kisorio 3. Vincent Kiprop Senior Women (8km) 1. Linet Masai 2. Vivian Cheruiyot 3. Prisca Jepteling Junior Men (8km) 1. Isaiah Koech 2. Justin Cheruiyot 3. Philemon Yator Junior Women (6km) 1. Janet Kisia 2. Jepkorir Kipkoech 3. Faith Chepngetich Meanwhile, Paul Tanui leads Kenyan team for the African XC Championships to be held on March 6 in Cape Town, RSA. Others are Stephen

ADDIS ABABA (ETH, Feb 20): Berlin 10000m silver winner Meselech Melkamu won the Ethiopian CC Trials with 21:23 at 8 km in the absence of olympic winner Tirunesh Dibaba. Second was Hiwot Ayalew (24:31) who beat Belaynesh Oljira (24:37) still ahead of Wude Ayalew (24:40) and Genzebe Dibaba (24:48). Men´s 12 km race winner was young Hunegaw Mesfin in 32:20. Second was Diamond League winner Imane Merga 32:33 ahead of Dino Sefer (32:35). Marathon runner Feyisa Lelisa was fourth (32:40). Tesfaye Chernet won boys 8 km junior competition (21:32) and the World Youth 2009 medalist Genet Yalew the girls 6 km (18:27). VERONA (ITA, Feb 20): 30-years old Kenyan Albert Matebor won the 10th Verona Marathon in personal best 2:09:16 (he had 2:09:33 from Frankfurt 2007). Philemon Kipchumba as second achieved 2:11:11. Rebecca Jerotich won in women category with 2:35:56. Here best Italian Monica Carlin was fourth (2:47:06). TRABZON (TUR, Feb 20): Kenyan Moses Too won the 31st Half Marathon of Trab

Dorcus Inzikuru of Uganda wins in Oeiras 2006 (Marcelino Almeida) The Ugandan Athletics Federation (UAF) has named a team of 31 athletes, including former world champion Dorcus Inzikuru, to prepare for the World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbría, Spain on 20 March 2011. The Team list: Juniors: Women: N. Chetagei, V. Chemutai, C. Lometo, D. Sande, S.Chesang, R. Chemutai, S. Ocitiru and R. Naijuka Men: T. Ayeko, J. Araptany, D. Rotich, P. Kipyeko, K. Soyekwa, R. Kiprotich and N. Ayeko. Seniors: Women: A. Negesa, J. Chekwel, D. Chesang, V. Chemos, J. Achola, R. Cheptegei, D. Inzikuru and C. Webombesa. Men: M. Kipsiro, S. Kiprotich, G. Kusuro, M. Kibet, D. Huru, F. Arapsudi, B. Siwa, I. Ayeko.

Bethwel Birgin takes the men's 1500m in a PB 3:35.38 over Mehdi Baala of France (3:35.97) and Ignisious Gaisah of Ghana nicked the men's Long Jump with 7.97m at the 27th BW-Bank Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany yesterday.

Kenya's Ismael Kombich clocked a world leading mark of 3:34.13 in the 1500m at the Belgacom Flanders Indoor Meeting in Gent on Sunday. Results: 1 KOMBICH ISMAEL 3:34.13 2 KOMEN DANIEL 3:35.16 3 KIPRUTO BRIMIN 3:39.07 4 VAN MALDEREN KRISTOF 3:39.88 5 DEMCZYSZAK MATEUSZ 3:43.85 6 NAVA GORAN 3:44.72 7 STUBBE MATTHIAS 3:54.27

Kenya's 17-year-old Isaiah Koech storms to amazing 5000m time (12:53.29) at the PSD Bank Meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany on Friday and new World Lead in 1500m for compatriot Nixon Chepseba (3:34.63). 1 KOECH, Isiah Kiplangat 12:53.29 2 KIPCHOGE, Eliud 12:55.72 3 KOECH, Paul Kipsiele 13:15.64 4 RUPP, Galen 13:21.83 5 GETAHUN, Birhan 13:30.35 6 MUTAHI, Sammy 13:34.32 7 MEUCCI, Daniele 13:50.26 8 WALLERSTEIN, Johan 14:22.19

World Indoor bronze medallist, Ruddy Zang-Milama of Gabon won the women's 60m sprint clocking a season's best 7.15secs ahead of America's Mikele Barber, who timed 7.22 secs at the Russian Winter meeting in Moscow on Sunday February 6th. Results 1) ZANG-MILAMA Ruddy (GAB) 7.15 - SB 2) BARBER Mikele (USA) 7.22 - SB 3) MURINOVICH Natalya (RUS) 7.35 - SB

Little known Ethiopian, Yenew Alamirew, stunned the world by clocking the fourth-fastest time ever for the indoor 3000m, winning in 7:27.80 at the Sparkassen Cup meeting on Saturday.  Only world record-holder Daniel Komen and Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie (twice) have ever run faster indoors. Yenew Alamirew ETH 7:27.80, Augustine Choge KEN 7:28.00 and Eliud Kipchoge KEN 7:29:37 thus became the 3rd, 4th and 5th fastest performers ever on the distance indoors. Results:  1 ALAMIREW, Yenew 7:27.80 2 CHOGE, Augustine 7:28.00 3 KIPCHOGE, Eliud 7:29.37 4 MUTAHI, Sammy Alex 7:44.27 5 MEUCCI, Daniele 7:59.58 6 AMDOUNI, Morhad 8:00.87 7 OVERALL, Scott 8:05.46 8 FERNANDEZ, Alvaro 8:08.93 BIRGEN, Bethwel aufg. KENNOUCHE, Abdelslam aufg.

Daniel Njenga, winning the 2007 Tokyo Marathon. He was second at the 2011 and 2010 editions of the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon  (Kazutaka Eguchi/Agence SHOT) MARUGAME (JPN, Feb 6): Kenyan Samuel Ndungu won the Marugame Half Marathon in 1:00:55 over best home runner Tsuyoshi Ugachi 1:00:58 (his life-time best and 3rd Japanese all-time). In the women´s race Kayoko Fukushi was the best 1:09:00 beating Poland´s Karolina Jarzynska 1:10:36. OITA (JPN, Feb 6): Moroccan Ahmed Baday won the 60th Beppu-Oita Mainichi marathon in personal best 2:10:14. Second was Kenyan Daniel Njenga 2:10:24 and third Kazuhiro Maeda clocking career best 2:10:29. Chiyuki Mochizuki was the best woman in course record 2:39:57. MADRID (ESP, Feb 6) : Moroccan Mohamed Marhum won the Madrid Cross Country race in the Parque de las Cruces in 31:19 at 10.44 km. Ugandan Rebecca Cheptegei was best woman in 22:50 ahead of Maria Jose Pueyo 22:55 at 6.79 km. MERU (KEN, Feb 5): Little known Mary Mananu (21:16) surpri