Athletics Africa Magazine

REPORT - KENYA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS/AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS, NAIROBI (KENYA, June 24-26) World champion Vivian Cheruiyot won the 5000m on Saturday at Kenyan National Championships at Nyayo Stadium. But Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo will not defend her Africa title after pulling out of the final of 800m. Her rival and 2007 world champion Janet Jepkosgei was the best in 1:58.95. Former world junior champion Winnie Chebet took the second automatic slot in 2:00.88. The men’s champion over the same distance David Rudisha and Richard Mateelong (steeple) moved a step closer to defending their titles with victory in their respective races. Rudisha won with a fast time of 1:44.23 to beat World and Olympic bronze medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego to second in 1:45.50 while Jackson Kivuva of the Armed Forces was third in 1:45.75. “I eye to challenge Wilson Kipketer’s record one day. But I am happy to have made the Kenya team today and now I will head to Europe to run two races and hope to...

TOMBLAINE (FRA, Jun 25): French Bouabdellah Tahri clocked at Meeting Stanislas de Nancy (part of French Alma Athle Tour) new all-time world best at 2000 m steeple with 5:13.47. Former top mark was 5:14.43 by Kenyan Julius Kariuki back in 1990. In ideal weather conditions Renaud Lavillenie cleared 582 in pole vault ahead of Jerome Clavier (570). Salim Sdiri leaped to 824 (+1.4) in long jump. In the 200 m new European leading time 20.38 by Martial Mbandjock who beat South African champion Simon Magakwe (20.44) and David Alerte (20.49). Leslie Djhone won the 400 m (45.72) and European steeple leader Benabbad Mekhissi won the 1500 m in 3:35.24. Fast also the 13.40 (+1.3) at 110 m hurdles by Garfield Darien beating Dimitri Bascou (13.48). Interesting to see 36-years old US record holder Dominique Arnold finishing 7th in 13.83. In women events fast 100 m by Ruddy Zang Milama of Gabun, she equalled her national record with 11.19 (+0.4). Second Veronique Mang clocked personal best 11.20 and ...

NAIROBI (KEN): Former 800m world champion Janeth Jepkosgei will lead over a thousand athletes as the country selects its best runners for the continental event next month. Jepkosgei, like many other elite athletes, have returned home to fight for places on Kenya team and the trials on Thursday will confirm who is fit enough to wear the national jersey come July 28 to August 1 when Nyayo National Stadium will stage continent’s premier event, the Senior Africa Athletics Championship. The first two athletes across the line will qualify while the third will be picked through the coaches’ wild card. Kenya will select a total of 144 athletes in all events. Jepkosgei will however seek another stage to end any doubt in the simmering rivalry with Olympic Champion Pamela Jelimo. Writes The Nation. World 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot is struggling with a thigh strain leaving Sylvia Kibet, the world silver medallist as the favourite. Linet Masai, the world 10,000m champion will also line up as...

Ethiopia's Imane Merga took a photo finish victory in the men's 5,000m in 13:00.12 ahead of Kenya's Alex Sammy Mutahi who blocked everyone to nick second in a personal best time of 13:00.12. Moses Ndiema Kipsiro of Uganda was third in 13.00.15 with Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia fourth in 13:00.81. A superb controlled run in the women's 800m by Moroccan 'new kid on the block' Halima Hachlaf produces a World Leading time of 1:58.40 ahead of the Olympic Silver and Bronze medallists Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei (1:58.85) and Briton Jenny Meadows (1:58.89); both with 2010 season's best times at the IAAF Diamond League in Rome. Kenya's Augustine Kiprono Choge won the men's 1,500m , despite taken ill earlier, in 3:32.21 ahead of compatriot's Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (3:33.08) and Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono (3:33.89). Antar Zerguelaine of Algeria was fourth in 3:34.82. In the women's Javelin Throw , South Africa's Sunette Viljoen finished se...

DIBABA AT 5K, DEFAR IN THE 1500m in NEW YORK (USA): The revealed start list of adidas Grand Prix in New York on Saturday shows that for example for first time this year main 200 m rivals will clash. World champion Allyson Felix with olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown. A world leader looks like something for sure. Double olympic winner Tirunesh Dibaba will make her track debut 2010 at 5000 m. Her main rival Meseret Defar opted for shorter 1500 m where her best 4:06.12 comes from 2006. But she does not look like favorite there. Olympic champion Nancy Lagat is unbeaten so far, Ethiopian former world indoor champion Gelete Burka added by all top US runners Anna Pierce, Shannon Rowbury and Christin Wurth-Thomas. JELIMO WILL TRAIN AT HOME - NAIROBI (KEN): Olympic 800 m winner Pamela Jelimo after not being satisfied with her marks at meetings end of May continues in training. Her next competition will be the Kenyan Trials at the end of June. After that decision about her racing pr...

LONDON (GBR, May 31): European CC and indoor champion Mo Farah won the Bupa 10 km on the road in new national record 27:44. The official 5km split of 14:09 meant Farah covered the second 5km in 13:35, writes Athletics Weekly . Kenyan Micah Kogo finished second (27:49) and Chris Thompson third (28:17). World half-marathon champion Mary Keitany was the runaway winner in the women’s race and the Kenyan improved her lifetime best performance to 31:06. Fellow Kenyans Doris Changeywo (32:15) and Edith Chelimo (34:30) finished second and third. MARINGA (BRA, May 30): Nigerian Ajoke Odumosu surprisingly won the 400m hurdles in 55.66 over Olympic and World gold medalist Melaine Walker of Jamaica (55.96) as the Brazilian May Tour ended with last fifth meet in Parana State. In the close 800m race, Brazilian Kleberson Davide beat Kenyan Richard Kiplagat (1:46.26 - 1:46.28). Solid 4:09.91 in women 1500 m by Ethiopian Betukan Feyisa. BRUSSELS (BEL, May 30): Alemitu Bekele won the Brussels 20 km i...