Athletics Briefs: Vivian Cheruiyot PB at World Best 10 km in Puerto-Rico,Habtamu 2.25:28 course record in Tokyo...and more

SAN JUAN (PUR, Feb 26): Kenyan double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot won the World Best 10 km in Puerto-Rico in personal record 30.47 in the 10 km on the road. Her team-mate Linet Masai was third (31:15) beaten by Joyce Chepkirui 31:09. Emily Chebet was fourth 32:03 ahead of Winnie Jepkemoi 32:19.

Kenyan Sammy Kitwara in the men category won this race for third time in 28:02. Second Vincent Chepkok in 28:11 ahead of multiple HM world champion Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea 28:13. Micah Kogo was fourth.

TOKYO (JPN, Feb 26): Ethiopian Atsede Habtamu ran 2:25:28 to win the Tokyo Marathon in women‘s course record. In Second place, Yeshi Esayas from Ethiopia improved to 2:26:00 and third was Kenyan Helena Kirop 2:26:02.

Kenyan Michael Kipyego was the winner in 2:07:37 beating Japanese Arata Fujiwara who clocked PB 2:07:48 ahead of Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich 2:07:50. Breakaway men‘s leaders Haile Gebreselassie and Hailu Mekonnen of Ethiopia faltered after hitting the hills in the last 6 km, Gebrselassie finishing 4th in 2:08:17 and Mekonnen fading to 8th (2:09:59)

LATINA (ESP, Feb 26): Kenyan Edward Kitur won the 7th Latina HM in 1:07:15, best female Saoud Kambouchia of Morocco 1:14:36.

BARCELONA (ESP, Feb 26): Marathon world champion Abel Kirui won the 22nd Barcelona Half Marathon in 1:00.28 what is new course record. More Kenyans followed Jairus Chanchima 1:00:46 and Wilfred Murgor 1:01:02. Linet Chepkirui was the best woman in 1:11:49. Second Emily Samoei 1:11:52 and third Beatrice Jepchumba 1:11:58.

ROMA (ITA, Feb 26): Kenyan Florence Kiplagat clocked fast world leading 1:06:38 ahead of Agnes Kiprop 1:07:22 PB and Tirfi Beyene of Ethiopia 1:07:43 (another life-time best) at the 38th Roma-Ostia Half Marathon. Kiplagat is now third fastest perfomer ever when not counting Lisboa 2001 and South Shields.

Kenyan Philemon Limo was the best male runner in 59:30 beating Ethiopian Shumi Dechasa 59:51 and junior Kiprop Limo 59:55. Best European Vasiliy Matviychuk of Ukraine as 10th 1:02:13 and best Italian Stefano La Rosa as 11th in 1:02:15.

ALBUFEIRA (POR, Feb 26): At the 35th edition of the CC race (IAAF Permit), the men´s 12 km was won by Kiprono Menjo of Kenya in 35:40 ahead of Mohamed Burka of Ethiopia 35.44 and third and national champion Manuel Damiao 35:58. Rui Teixeira was fourth 36:01 ahead of another Kenyan Cyprian Kyui 36:03.

In the women's 8 km race, a Kenyan win for Correti Jepkoech in 26:05 ahead of Latvian Jelena Prokopchuka 26:29 and Dulce Felix with national title 26:33. Fourth steepler Eunice Jepkorir 26:57 ahead of Analia Rosa 26:59 and Salome Rocha 27:01.

[Stories thanks to Alfonz Juck/EME News]