Athletics Africa Magazine

Florence Kiplagat did what many undoubtedly felt like doing when she won the senior women’s race at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan, she fainted. After one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the championships, Ethiopia’s Gebre Gebremariam took the Senior Men’s 12km title at Bisharat Golf Club... marking a stunning comeback for the 24-year-old father-of-two whose string of World Cross individual medals from 2002 to 2004 had been followed by four fallow years. More here

The Lagos state government, through the Committee for the Resuscitation of Athletics in Lagos, has reveal plans to restore the state to its former athletic glory. Speaking at the launch of the Sydney Bialosa Asiodu Athletics Foundation at the Metropolitan Club, Kofo Abayomi Street in Victoria Island today, Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola said government cannot develop sport alone, but ‘the legitimacy of government, the statue and goodwill of government can attract sponsors and support to get it right'. Read More

Zimbabwean Sharon Tavenga (2:47:18)) has emerge the winner of the women's race at the Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon beating defending champion Samukeliso Moyo (2:50:03) and South Africa Catherine Skosana (2:56.59) to second and third positions respectively. Lesotho’s Nathaniel Lebopo won the men's race in a lifetime best of 2:18:32, with compatriot Lebenya Nkoka (2:18:45) in second place and Ugandan Daniel Kiprop Chepyegun (2:18:56) third. Earlier on South Africa Hendrick Ramaala (29:51) and Lesotho’s Mamarolla Tjoka (35:20) won the men’s and women’s 10km respectively. More here Kenyan Benjamin Mutai clocked a course record of 2:11:01 at the 12th Marathon de Monaco et des Riviera on Sunday. Mutai’s run eclipsed the previous record of 2:11:26 set by another Kenyan, Kenneth Cheruiyot, in 1999. Belaynesh Bekele of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:48:48. More here

Kenya's Benjamin Kiptoo and Ethiopian Firehiwot Dado were the surprise winners of the Acea Electrabel Maratona di Roma on Sunday. Kiptoo, winner of two marathon races in Brescia and Beijing in 2008, went on to smash the Italian all-comers’ record clocking 2:07:17, despite starting as a pacemaker. Dado, who entered the Rome Marathon race with a 2:37:34 PB set in Kosice in 2008, produced a major surprise taking the win in the women’s race, smashing her lifetime best to 2:27:08. Kenyan Martin Lel wins the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon - an IAAF Gold Label Road Race - crossing the line under one hour by four seconds in 59:56. Lel, a three-time winner at the London Marathon and twice in New York, got his third marathon victory after triumphs in 2003 and 2006, three wins, each three years apart. Moroccan Jaouad Gharib was second (59.59), after his third place last year, with Kel's compatriot Robert Cheruyiot fourth in 1:00.05. .

Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie has confirmed his bid to race at the second BUPA Great Manchester Run title on 17 May. The BUPA Great Manchester Run , an IAAF Gold Label Road Race , is one of the world's leading 10 kilometres road races which attracts 33,000 entrants last year. Gebrselassie, 35, who ran the fastest time ever on British roads (27:25) on his Manchester debut in 2005 is arguably the world's greatest-ever distance runner having set a remarkable total of 26 World records/bests in his career. More on www.athleticsafrica.com