Athletics Africa Magazine

Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia winning at the Obudu Mountain Race (LOC) LORCA (ESP, Nov 28): Kenyan Joseph Kipkosgei achieved 1:02:25 to win the 23rd Half Marathon in Murcia region. Best woman Fatima Ayachi was timed at 1:13:54. GUJAN MESTRAS (FRA, Nov 28): Kenyan wins at 37th Sud Oest Cross (times not available). Mary Wangari beat Martha Komu and Ejegayehu Dibaba in women race, with best French steeple specialist Sophie Duarte 5th. In men´s 9.37 km win for Paul Melly over Mesfin Hunegaw of Eritrea and Mohamed Moustaoui of Morocco. Best French Driss El Himer was fourth. CORDOBA (ESP, Nov 28): Erick Kibet as another Kenyan posted similar winning time at 26th Half Marathon of Cordoba 1:02:47. But women winner was faster than in Lorca. Joyce Chepkirui clocked new course record 1:09:36. MT. OBUDU (NGR, Nov 28): Ethiopians Abebe Dinkesa (42:21) and Meselech Melkamu Haileyesus (48:57) claimed the win and the big 50 000 USD prizemoney at the 6th edition of the Obudu International ...

Joseph Ebuya comes home to win the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country ahead of Kenenisa Bekele (Mark Shearman) TERRE HAUTE (USA, Nov 22): NCAA first division CC Championships. Kenyans ruled in men´s 10 km. Defending champion Samuel Chelanga won in 29:23 over Stephen Sambu (29:27)with Luke Puskedra (29:38)in third place. Oklahoma State won the team title (73) ahead of Florida State, Wisconsin and Stanford. BANGKOK (THA, Nov 22): Standard Chartered Marathon was dominated by Kenyans. Winners were Lilan Kiprop in 2:16:10 and Fridah Lodepa 2:42:47. Informs Heinrich Hubbeling. SORIA (ESP, Nov 22): Kenya’s Joseph Ebuya and South Africa’s Dina Lebo Phalula capture victory at the 17th ‘Cross Internacional de Soria’ on Sunday in cold (6ºC) conditions with gusts of wind of up to 20 miles per hour. JOHANNESBURG (RSA): South African media are reporting that following intense pressure from various quarters to hand over the sport back to athletics, Sascoc announced on Friday...

MARSEILLE (FRA, Nov 21): Kenyan Philemon Limo achieved fast 27:58 at 10 km to win the La Provence race. Second Mangata Ndiwa (28:41). Women winner Hilda Tanui posted 33:40. CRETEIL (FRA, Nov 21): Ethiopian wins at Val de Marne CC race. Feyisa Bertukan was the best woman at 5.49 km (19:23) ahead of World junior 1500 m champion Tizita Bogale (19:25). Terefe Terefe was the best male runner at 9.32 km in 28:42 ahead of Kenyan Paul Meli (28:47) and Eritrean Samson Kiflemariam (29:12). VALENCIA (ESP, Nov 21): Kenyan John Mwangangi won the 20th Half Marathon of Valencia in solid 1:01:10 beating his team-mates Gilbert Masai (1:01:18) and Bernard Kipyego (1:02:08). On the women side new course record by Joyce Chepkirui (1:09:25) ahead of Ethiopian Atsede Habtamu (1:09:27) and Italian Anna Incerti as excellent third (1:10:41). PALERMO (ITA, Nov 21): Ethiopian Tsegaye Disasa won the Palermo Marathon in 2:18:57. Ethiopia had also best woman in Amelework Bosho clocking 2:47:50. BARCELON...

Ethiopia legend Haile Gebrselassie announced on Sunday that he will return to running.  The announcement came at a ceremony of the Great Nekemte Run and is confirmed by EthiopiaFirst and a report of Ethiopian TV. The TV report also says his main aim is to run at the 2012 London Games. Gebrselassie making the announcement at the ceremony of the Great Nekemte Run / EthiopiaFirst Haile was one of the honorary guests at the “Great Run in Nekemete” to help the fundraise activities to build Wollega Stadium. He urged all to partake for the completion of the stadium. According to The Guardian , the veteran Ethiopian tearfully announced his intention to retire after pulling out of the ING New York marathon with 10 miles remaining due to a knee injury earlier this month.  But the double Olympic gold-medallist, regarded by many as the greatest long-distance runner of all time, hinted via his Twitter account last week that he may have been too hasty and needed time to consider his...

SAN ANTONIO (USA, Nov 14): Kenyan Edward Tabut won the 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon in 2:17:14. Women’s winner Evelyn Lagat is the sister of US 2007 double world champion great Bernard Lagat and achieved 2:42:43. Scott MacPherson was the best in the half marathon with 1:04:27, best woman Molly Pritz achieved 1:12:14. AJO (ESP, Nov 14): Moroccan Hicham El Amrani won the 6.2 km race at 16th Costa de Ajo road race in 18:01. Second home legend Reyez Estevez got 18:02 and European 1500 m champion Arturo Casado was fourth (18:16). Dutch Adrienne Herzog was the best woman at 2.7 km (8:33). MADRID (ESP, Nov 14): Kenyan Evans Mayoyo clocked 28:33 to win the 31st Carrera Popular de Canillejas-Trofeo José Cano. Second was  Elijah Karanja (28:33) with best Spanish Manuel Penas as fourth (30:08). Women winner Lucy Karimi got 33:43. ORENSE (ESP, Nov 14): Portugal´s Berlin World Championships marathon 6th placer Marisa Barros won the 34th road race San Martino at 10 km with...

NAIROBI (KEN, Oct 31): Little-known David Tumo Barmasai and veteran Helena Kiprop claimed the Sh1.5 million prize (nearly $20,000) as they were crowned winners of the 2010 Standard Chartered Nairobi International marathon.  Barmasai clocked in this conditions impressive 2:10:31 ahead of Philemon Gitia (2:11:11) and Vincent Kiplagat Sittuk (2:12:09).  In women race Kiprop, the Prague Marathon champion, won her first local marathon in also very good 2:31:11. Second was another more than experienced runner Leah Malot 2:33:41 ahead of Frashiah Nyambura  (2:35.09) and Magdalene Chemjor (2:38:19). ATHENS (GRE, Oct 31): The unheralded Raymond Bett of Kenya broke the race record in the Athens Classic Marathon. In the 2500th anniversary year of the Battle of Marathon, Bett clocked 2.12.40, taking two seconds off the time run by his compatriot Paul Lekuraa two years ago.  Pre-race favorite Jonathan Kipkorir was second in 2:14:05 and third Edwin Kimutai got 2:15:...