Athletics Briefs: Kwambai wins in Padova, Kaki up for Doha 1500m and more...

PADOVA (ITA, Apr 22): Kenyan Robert Kwambai with 2:09:24 missed the course record by 12 seconds at the 13th Maratona di Santo Antonio in Padova , Italy. Same as it was last year, Ben Chebet was second in 2:10:01 and Brazilian Roberto Paula was third with a lifetime best 2:10:23.  Fourth was Ethiopian Worana Tumicha 2:10:53 and fifth Eritrean Sium Kiflom debuting with 2:11:09.

Brazilian Marily dos Santos as best woman achieved 2:31:55 ahead of Kenyan Fridah Domongole 2:34:49 and Elfnesh Melaku 2:36:43.

KRAKOW (POL, Apr 22): Kenyan Peter Kariuki won the 11th Cracovia Marathon in 2:12:11 ahead of second placed Edwin Kirui of Kenya (2:12:37) and third placer Faustine Musa of Tanzania (2:13:02).

ANTVERP (BEL, Apr 22): Antverp Marathon had in Paul Kiprop also a Kenyan as winner in 2:15:38. Second Belgian Lander Van Droogenbroeck 2:16:49.

GENOVA (ITA, Apr 22): Kenyan Philemon Kisang clocked 1:03:33 to win the 8th Half Marathon in Genova, Italy ahead of Moroccan Ahmed Majef (1:03:35). Rwanda´s Claudette Mukasakindi was best woman (1:15:06).

BONN (GER, Apr 22): Kenyan wins at the 12th Bonn Marathon. Stephen Cheokopol 2:16:52 and Hellen Kimutai 2:47:01.

BEOGRAD (SRB, Apr 22): Kenyan James Kiptum Barmasai won the 25th Beograd Marathon in 2:16:01. Other runners could not go under 2:20. In women category Kenyan win by Mary Ptikany in 2:42:50 ahead of Ezre Gulu of Turkey who won the Balkan title too in 2:57:10.

DOHA (QAT): Former world indoor champion and Sudanese 800m record holder Abubaker Kaki after competing in the 1500m at the Samsung Diamond League opener in Doha on May 11 will travel to the US for a training camp and will be competing at the Pre Classic in Eugene in his first 800 m of the year on June 2.

GABORONE (BOT): As was expected, Botswana’s world champion at the 400m Amantle Montsho, dominated the annual Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) awards. She also recieved the Sports Woman of the Year award. Montsho, who is currently based at the high performance centre in Senegal, won both awards for the third time in a row. Montsho is to debut internationally this year at Kawasaki IAAF World Challenge meet on May 6.

GABORONE (BOT, Apr 21): The Botswana National Championships held at the University of Botswana stadium saw Yatea Kambepera setting two new national sprint records. At the 100 m 10.36 and at the 200 m 20.63.

(Info courtesy Alfonz Juck/EME News 2012)