Athletics Africa Magazine

DUBLIN (IRL, Mon 25): Course record for both the men’s and women’s winners at 31st adidas Dublin Marathon on Bank Holiday day. Kenyan Moses Kangogo Kibet and Russian Tatyana Aryasova, who both ran “negative split” races achieved that. Kibet was with four other contenders at the half-way point (1:05:22), and five other contenders at 30 km (1:32:24). He then quickened his pace to cover the second half of the race in 1:03:36 and won by 46 seconds in 2:08:58; course record holder Aleksey Sokolov finished fifth in 2:10:31 as best European. Second Ethiopian Fikadu Kedir (2:09:44), third and fourth Kenyans Maurice Mutinda (2:10:25) and Jonathan Chesoo (2:10:27). PORTSMOUTH (GBR, Oct 24): Cross World Champion Joseph Ebuya won the 21st Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth. He clocked new course record at 10 miles 45:16 (before 45:56). Second steeple record holder Saif Saeed Shaheen of Qatar 46:37 and third Vincent Yator, another Kenyan 47:28. Fourth best European Briton World Indo...

BUCURESTI (ROU, Oct 17): Kenyan Duncan Koech (2:11 PB) won the 3rd Bucuresti City Marathon in 2:13:59 ahead of his team-mate James Cheruiyot 2:15:33. Belarus Svetlana Kovgan won the women category after 2:35:13. DES MOINES (USA, Oct 17): Kenyan James Kirwa won the Des Moines marathon in a lifetime best 2:14:23. Belarus runner Alena Vinnitskaya, 37, was the best woman in 2:41:23. GYEONGJU (KOR, Oct 17): Former Kosice marathon winner Dejene Yirdawe of Ethiopia won the 2010 Gyeonghu International Marathon in good 2:09:13. Second Abdellah Falil of Morocco improved to 2:09:24 and third Kipchirchir Kimali as unknown debuted at the distance with 2:09:44. AMSTERDAM (NED, Oct 17): The 35th edition of Amsterdam Marathon registered new course record and personal best for Ethiopian Getu Feleke 2:05:44 (before 2:08:04). His mark is the 30th fastest performance and 19th best performer ever. In ideal weather second Wilson debuted at the distance with extraordinary 2:06:12, the second faste...

BEOGRAD (SRB, Oct 13): Josphat Menjo of Kenya capped a historic breakthrough season by winning the Belgrade Race Through History this afternoon, taking five seconds from the long standing course record, with 16.53 for the six kilometre lap around the Kalemedgan fortress in the Serbian capital. Menjo, 31, outsprinted compatriots Eliud Kipchoge (16:55) and Stephen Tum (16:56), who finished second and third, while Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar, in the first road race of his eventful career just outleaned Kenya-based New Zealander Jake Robertson for fourth (16:57). Robertson was timed at 16:58 ahead of best European Laszlo Toth of Hungary (17:00). Such was the quality of the field for the sun-soaked race, rather than the threatened rain, that the top five ran faster or equal to the record of 16.58, set by Brahim Lahlafi of Morocco at the inaugural event in 1996. NEW DELHI (IND) : In final medal rankings of athletics at Commonwealth Games Kenya is the leader with 11-10-8 (in total 29 medals...

CHICAGO (USA, Oct 10): Olympic gold medalist Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru defended his Bank of America Chicago Marathon title with a furious finishing kick to pass Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede in one of the race’s greatest finishes. The 23-year-old Kenyan won in 2:06:24. Kebede was 2nd in 2:06:43 and Ethiopian Feyisa Lilesa was 3rd in 2:08:10. Wesley Korir, a Kenyan living in USA clocked 2:08:44 for fourth ahead of other Kenyans Vincent Kipruto 2:09:08 and Robert Kipruto Cheruiyot 2:09:28. EINDHOVEN (NED, Oct 10): Former track world champion Charles Kamathi won the Eindhoven marathon in pretty fast 2:07:38. In close finish the same time also for second Nicolas Chelimo 2:07:38. Third Paul Biwott achieved 2:07:40 and fourth Yared Dagnaw of Eritrea career fastest 2:08:13. Three more Kenyans dipped under 2:10. CARPI (ITA, Oct 10): New course record at 23rd Maratona d´Italia (Memorial Enzo Ferrari). Kenyan Paul Kosgei who is former world half-marathon champion achieved 2:09:00 what is also his lifeti...

AMSTERDAM (NED): Tariku Bekele has been announced as one of the favorites for the Dam tot Damloop in Amsterdam on September 19th. Bekele will replace Sileshi Sihine, who had to withdraw from the race. Previously announced were Moses Masai and Dutch top athletes Koen Raymaekers, Rens Dekkers and Patrick Stitzinger. In the women’s race Lornah Kiplagat and Hilda Kibet will toe the starting line. ABUJA (NIG): Former world junior champion and Nigerian relay member Uchena Emedolu has been banned by the Nigerian national sports commission. Emedolu allegedly dropped the baton on purpose at the 2008 African championships. “One cannot understand why Uchenna Emedolu decided to frustrate his teammates at the championships. The dropping of the baton was not just once” Director General Patrick Ekeji was quoted in Vanguard Nigeria newspaper. NAIROBI (KEN): Eliud Kipchoge has been called up to replace Edwin Soi in the 5000m at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in India. African champion Soi has pull...

GABORONE (BOT): Botswana´s 800m Olympian Onalenna Baloyi is reported to have failed a doping test and has been suspended for two years and will miss Commonwealth Games in India. In last edition 2006 in Melbourne he was a finalist. Baloyi clocked this year 1:46.32 and has a personal best of 1:46.06 from 2005. The country's top Olympic official, Mmegi Serufho said on Friday the positive test could have been avoided if Botswana had better facilities at home. PHILADELPHIA (USA): Olympic medallist and multiple world record holder Meseret Defar will make her half-marathon debut at the ING Rock ‚n‘ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon on Sunday, September 19, organizers told Race Results Weekly earlier this week. For Defar, 26, the race will be more than twice as long as her previous longest race on the roads, the World‘s Best 10-K in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2007. The two-time Olympic Marathon silver medallist Catherine Ndereba, Ethiopia‘s Derartu Tulu and Werknesh Kidane are also in th...

World 800m record holder David Lekuta Rudisha returned to a rousing reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi after an historic stint in Europe where he broke the world 800m records twice in one week. NTV brings you the homecoming reception.

NAIROBI (KEN): The World record holder and African champion at 800m David Rudisha will skip the Commonwealth Games due in Delhi next month, citing fatigue, reports The Nation . “I have come to realise that, in this profession, you do not need to wait for your body to tell you when to stop but rather have the instict to stop when it is required,” he was quoted. Athletics Kenya (AK ) has since agreed to the request and settled on Abraham Kiplagat, second at the national trials, to fill the place. AMSTERDAM (NED): Kenyan Moses Masai and Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine are the big names announced for the Dam tot Damloop in Amsterdam on September 19th. Masai won the World’s Best 10K in Puerto Rico earlier this year while Sihine is slowly building his career in road racing after being a double Olympic silver medalist on the track. In the women’s race, which starts exactly 5.46 minutes before the men’s race, Lornah Kiplagat and Doris Changeiywo have high hopes of winning the race. Also Hilda Kibet ...

"Last year I had a bad time in Berlin. The weather was not very good, and I did not make it into the final. So I did not want to talk too much about the world record before the race. But today I knew it is my day. I trained very hard, the weather was good. I told the pacemaker to run the first lap under 49 seconds. He did a great job," said Rudisha. Results: 800m Men - ISTAF Berlin 1) RUDISHA, David Lekuta (KEN) WR 1:41.09 2) LALANG, Boaz Kiplagat (KEN) 1:44.34 3) KIPLAGAT, Abraham (KEN) 1:44.49 4) MANZANO, Leonel (USA) PB 1:44.56 5) KIVUVA, Jackson Mumbwa (KEN) 1:44.91 6) KSZCZOT, Adam (POL) PB 1:45.07 7) ALI, Belal Mansoor (BRN) 1:45.28 8) MUTUA, David Mutinda (KEN) PB 1:45.97 9) YEGO, Alfred Kirwa (KEN) 1:46.84

Buoyed by a successful football World Cup in South Africa, sprint legend Frankie Fredericks pledged today to do all he could to make an Olympics on the continent a reality, AFP reports. The Namibian four-time Olympic silver medallist, in Singapore to offer advice to youngsters competing at the inaugural Youth Olympics, told AFP he was determined to play his part. "I will take up the challenge of improving athletics in Africa and take up the international challenge to make changes," he said. Fredericks, chairman of the International Olympic Committee's Athletics Commission, told AFP his mission included securing the Games for an African nation. "It would be nice to share our culture, to share our vuvuzelas, to share our food, to share the way we do things with the world," he said. "I do think we should get a chance to host the largest event in the world." The race to stage the 2020 Olympic Games opens next year, with South Africa set to throw its hat in...

It's only three days until the inaugural Youth Olympic Games ! This Saturday, 14 August 2010, some 3,600 talented young athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 from around the world will be eagerly awaiting the start of the opening ceremony of the first ever edition of the Youth Olympic Games. All of them will have travelled to Singapore to participate in a high-level sporting competition which mirrors the Olympic Games sports programme. The Youth Olympic Games, which will run from 14 to 26 August, differs from any sporting event that has come before it. They will feature exciting new sporting events, cultural and educational activities supported by a number of enthusiastic mentors, will use social media extensively to reach out and spark the interest of young people around the world. The Youth Olympic Games are, in a word, unique. The first Summer edition will be broadcast on television in over 160 territories across all five continents by the IOC’s rights holding broadcast partne...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded broadcast rights for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympic Winter Games to teleSUR, it was announced today. teleSUR has acquired over-the-air television, cable television and radio broadcast rights in Venezuela. IOC President Jacques Rogge said, “Through our partnership with teleSUR we will be able to provide coverage to sports fans in Venezuela of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games this August, the London 2012 Olympic Games and the first-ever Youth Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck in 2012.” IOC Executive Board member Richard Carrión, who led the negotiations, said, “I would like to place on record my thanks to teleSUR for their cooperation in making this agreement possible and I look forward to working closely with them over the coming years.” The President of teleSUR, Andrés Izarra, said “Venezuela has significantly improved its performance in international s...

LIGNANO (ITA, Jul 18): At 21st edition of international meet in this sea resort, the highlights in the men's 400m was not the win of American Jamaal Torrance (45.85) but in the third place South African 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius clocked a second career best time of 46.02 ( His life-time best was 46.02 seconds obtained on July 8 in Celle Ligure, Italy. He is based through summer in Italy (since May in Grosseto) and his next race is planned for August 8 in Nottwil, Switzerland at EA Classic Meeting. Rising U.S. star David Torrence ran an 800 meter personal best as second in 1:45.97 behind Mor Seck of Senegal (1:45.81). Jamaican talent Carrie Russell won the 100 m in close duel with US Mershevet Myers (both 11.22). NCAA Champion Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria improved her career best in the 200m with 22.71 (-0.1). She also placed 2nd in long jump (6.53m) beaten by American Funmi Jimoh (6.58m). Tiffany Ofili of USA won the 100 m hurdles in 12.85 (+0.7) beating Jamaican...

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...

Kenyan Daniel Chebii won the 10 miles in Bern in 48:52. Runner up Vasil Matviychuk from Ukraine (49:12) narrowly beat Eritrean Simon Tesfaye (49:22). Kenyan Paul Kipkorir was fourth in 49:29. In the women’s race Hungarian Aniko Kalovics easily won from Kenyan Tabita Gichia with 56:02 over 57:48. Olympic champ Nancy Lagat won her event the 1500m in 4:44.8 during second day of Kenyan Army Forces Championships. Former world steeple bronze medallist Jeruto Kiptum was second in 4:45.5 while Ines Chenonges third in 4:46.0. Lagat also won the 800 m (2:08.4). Jackson Kivuva secured a gold in the 800 m in 1:47.6 and coming in second to Gideon Gathimmba in the 1500 event (3:47.2). Gathimba achieved 3:46.8. World XC Champion Joseph Ebuya, who after collapsing in 10,000m race recovered 24 hours later to win the 5000 m in 13:46.7. The men steeple racee was a closely contested affair but the honours went to Linus Chumba who was timed 8:29.0. Chumba’s team-mate Abraham Chirchir managed 8:29.6 to clai...