Athletics Africa Magazine

Double Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia has been added to the women’s 10,000m at the 38th Prefontaine Classic on June 1, named in honour of the late Geoff Hollister. The entry list shows it will be like Ethiopian women trials for Olympics, with her team-mates Sule Utura, Wude Ayalew, Belaynesh Oljira, Tigist Kiros, Aheza Kiros, Worknesh Kidane and Aberu Kebede also in the race. Already PreClassic will host the Kenya’s Olympic trials selection race in the men’s 10,000 metres. Kenyans in the competition will be Pauline Korikwiang, Lineth Chepkurui, Lucy Kabuu, Pauline Njeri and Margaret Wangari. JOHANNESBURG (RSA): Legendary 800m world champion Maria Mutola has predicted her new protege Caster Semenya can smash the women‘s 800m world record. Mutola said Semenya would have smashed the women‘s 800m world record had it not been for the gender controversy which erupted after her world title win at Berlin in 2009. "She ran 1min 55.45 when she was 18" Mutola, wh...

ROTTERDAM (NED): Top kenyan athletes Moses Mosop, Sammy Kitwara and Peter Kirui have been previously announced for the ABN AMRO Rotterdam Marathon on April 15. But organizers now also confirm the participation of top Ethiopian runners such as Getu Feleke (2:05.16) and Yemane Adhane (2:06.29). Both athletes are feeling very good and are hoping to gain qualification for the London Olympic Games when running in Rotterdam, what means they are aiming to break the 2:04.23 that compatriot Ayele Abshero ran in Dubai earlier this year. Also in the race are Maroccan Rashid Kisri (2:06.28) and Kenyan athlete Stephen Kibet (2:09.27). Organizer Mario Kadiks added that Moses Mosop is taking his marathon world record attempt so serious that he has checked the marathon course on March 5th while taking notes of how to run the course best. DAKAR (SEN): 400 m world champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana made her season‘s debut on 100m (11.64w) at the national Ligue de Dakar. Her 100 m national rec...

VIDEO: Interview - Muriel Ahouré (CIV) SILVER MEDALLIST, 60m Women, IAAF World Indoor Championships Istanbul 2012.

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 las...

KARLSRUHE (GER, Feb 5): Sunday´s IHM Meeting of Karlsruhe confirmed stellar women 3000 m line-up. World record holder and world indoor champion Meseret Defar after winning in Boston will clash with Kenyan Sylvia Kibet and home rival and world medalist Meselech Melkamu. Kibet is also twice World medalist at 5000 m and current meet record holder with 8:41.24 since 2010. Defar who was regular name in Stuttgart in the past will have her debut in Karlsruhe. LONDON (GBR, Feb 6): Golden Globe and BAFTA Award-winning actor Clive Owen is to host the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards. Kenyan long distance athlete Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the World Championships in Daegu last year, is a leading contender for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, with also Carmelita Jeter shortlisted for the award. For the men’s award Usain Bolt is the only athlete on the list reports Insidethegames. VADODARA (IND, Feb 5): Ethiopian Andulam Shiferaw won the Internat...

Weekend Athletics Round-up MARRAKECH (MAR, Jan 29): Kenyan Stephen Tum won the 23rd Marrakech Marathon in fast 2:08:51. Second Ethiopian Gezahegn Girma 2:09:29 ahead of another Kenyan Daniel Rono 2:09:50. Home women win for Soumiya Labani in 2:34:56. Solid times also in half marathon when Girma Berhanu achieved 1:01:59 ahead of Rachid Kisri 1:02:17 and best woman Malika Asahsah 1:11:14. In total 7000 participants. NAPOLI (ITA, Jan 29): Napoli Marathon winners were veteran Ornella Ferrara in 2:41:10 and Moroccan Nasef Ahmed 2:18:54. ELDORET (KEN, Jan 29):   Edwin Kipyego won the 21st edition of the Discovery Half Marathon in 1:02:30.   Last year London marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai was 6th in 1:02:55. OSAKA (JPN, Jan 29): In half-marathon wins for Takaki Koda 1:03:54 and Maiko Murayama 1:12:46. ALMERIA (ESP, Jan 29): Moroccan Abdelhadi El Mouaziz won here the 15th half-marathon in 1:03:24. Best woman was from Ukraine Olha Ochal in 1:12:47. BO...

LONDON (GBR): Insidethegames writes that Kenenisa Bekele is so upset about what has happened that he is reportedly considering running for another country. Bekele's manager Jos Hermens, who has also guided the career of Bekele's fellow Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, his predecessor as Olympic 10,000 metres champion and world record holder, told insidethegames: "I have just spoken to Kenenisa, who is back home, and he is so upset about the whole thing that he is saying 'Let me run for another country'. He says the first time he knew anything about it was when he saw the reports on Ethiopian TV. He said to me 'I have not been shown any respect'. He has told the federation he does not want to train on the Mondo track at the national stadium because it is too hard and it could lead to injury. Kenenisa and Haile were among several athletes who asked the authorities not to lay a hard track there three years ago, but they were ignored. This is ...

ROVERETO (ITA, Jan 15): Ethiopian wins at jubilee 35th Cross della Vallagarina (EA CC Permit). Kinde Atanau was the best in men´s 8.69 km in 25:27 ahead of Haftu Fikadu 25:36 and Mokashaw Kassa 25:43. Multiple European CC gold medalist Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine was the best European in 26:10 as 5th. Best Italian Gabriele De Nard as 8th (26:17). Afera Godfay got another top position when winning the 5.59 km in 19:16 ahead of Gidey Roman 19:19 and third best European home runner Agnes Tschurtschenthaler 19:38. HAMILTON (BER, Jan 13-15): Tesfaye Duba of Ethiopia won the marathon during the Bermuda Race Weekend in 2:24:17, best woman was Russian Elena Orlova in 2:46:34. Dube also won the mile 4:19.0, here the best woman Jamaican Korene Hinds 4:57.0. LE MANS (FRA, Jan 15): The 31st edition of the biggest cross country in France, the Cross Ouest France saw last year world junior champion Caleb Ndiku of Kenya winning the men´s 10.4 km in 29:32. Second Mike Kigen 29:36 and third Samue...

ROTTERDAM (NED):  Organizers of the 32nd ABN AMRO Rotterdam Marathon on April 15 have announced their first three stars of the race. Race director Mario Kadiks is hoping the fast course in Rotterdam could produce a world record and has invited Kenyans Moses Mosop , who debuted in Boston last year in 2:03.06 and later won Chicago in 2:05:37. Other top names are Peter Kirui who debuted last autumn in Frankfurt (2:06:31) with beeing 6th in Daegu 10 000 m earlier. Top debut is expected from fast road runner and World half marathon medalist Sammy Kitwara (road bests 27:11 at 10 km and 58:48 at HM). The course will be remeasured before the race and athletes will start 30min earlier than in previous years. JOHANNESBURG (RSA): South African running legend Hendrick Ramaala has quit the Athletics South Africa (ASA) administration to get his running career back on track. This comes after ASA board appointed former banker Frik Vermaak as new chief executive of the...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the exclusive terrestrial television, and non-exclusive radio and mobile platform broadcast rights in Sub-Saharan Africa for the London 2012 Olympic Games to Octagon . IOC President Jacques Rogge said, “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Octagon and look forward to working with them over the coming months to ensure a comprehensive broadcast of the Games in the region.” IOC Executive Board member, Richard Carrión , who led the negotiations, said, “This is a new approach for broadcast rights in this region for the IOC. Our new partner Octagon has acquired the rights and will now begin to look for broadcast partners, who will be able to utilise a broadcast feed tailored for Sub-Saharan African viewers. "We will be working closely with Octagon to ensure that the widest possible audience has access to the London 2012 Olympic Games.” Qondisa Ngwenya , MD Octagon Africa, explained, “Octagon Africa is ex...

The Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) has formally announced the launch of their new website  in time for next year's Olympics.  The NOC yesterday said the site was developed for the committee by Faze Internet Ltd, a UK based internet company. The company will also ensure day-to-day maintenance and further development of the site. Elated by the development, NOC President, Engineer Sani Ndanusa said:  “We asked for a web presence that would benefit our many stakeholders and one that might also grow with us as an organisation over the coming years. "What you see now is the first stage which gives us the opportunity to showcase the sponsors we are soon to announce and new and interesting stories on our athletes. "In the coming months our web portal will back-up our social media communications and be the centre of some exciting audio and video content.” For the NOC Secretary-General, Tunde Popoola, the site will give sports fans ample opportunity to follow the act...

CSP Sunday Bada The Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) , Chief Superintendent of Police Sunday Bada has died at the age of 42 after he slumped at the National Stadium in Lagos on Monday evening. According to the IAAF Council Member, Maria Wophill, who's also the Secretary General of the AFN, "It is with deepest sadness, that we announce the sudden death of our amiable Technical Director, Chief Sunday Bada, CSP (MON) Who passed on to glory on 12/12/2011." Sunday Bada won three medals at World Indoor Championships, including a Gold medal at Paris 1997 . He also won silver medals at the 1993 (Toronto) and 1995 (Barcelona) competitions CSP Bada was also part of the Nigerian 4x400m relay quartet that won the silver medal behind the United States at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but was later elevated to Gold medal after two of the American athletes failed dope tests. Nigeria established a national record time of 2 minutes and 58.68 secon...

London 2012 Olympic Park The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) today reduced the qualifying standards in six event disciplines for athletes aiming to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London next summer. The events are the 400m (Men & Women) and 400m Hurdles, 5000m, Javelin Throw & Shot Put for Women. An IAAF statement reads: Following a study on the approved Qualification Standards for the Athletics Competitions of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012 (3 to 12 Aug), the requirements in six event disciplines have been eased. The London 2012 Qualification Standards, originally approved by the IAAF Council in April 2011, were reviewed by the Technical Delegates on the basis of the results of the 2011 IAAF World Championships, Daegu, Korea (27 Aug to 4 Sep), and the overall 2011 world season lists, with adjustments made to help ensure that the correct number of athletes will be entered in each event for next year’s Olympic ...

Courtesy IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled “Show Your Best”, an integrated communications campaign inviting people around the world to demonstrate their best. Entrants will be given the chance to be part of a global Olympic TV spot and to win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as a host of other prizes. To see the initiative, go to: www.olympic.org/showyourbest Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, said: “We wanted to create a campaign that would reach and engage young people – by building a correlation between “Olympic best” and everyone’s personal best. Not everyone can be an Olympic athlete, but everyone can strive to be their best at something. This campaign celebrates that effort.” The IOC is working with Olympic broadcast partners worldwide to promote the initiative through a broadcast spot depicting some of the greatest Olympic moments of all time. Complementing these iconic performan...

Everyone's personal best is worth celebrating, no matter what it is. Show Your Best and you could win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games

MAPUTO (MOZ, Sep 15): Nigeria was the best country in athletics at All-African Games with 21 medals (10-6-5). Second Ethiopia 6-7-7 and third Kenya 5-5-7. In total 22 countries won medals in athletics. During last day the most sensational win was by Kenyan in javelin. Julius Yego improved the national record with 78.34 m. Kenyans also won the 4x400 m in 3:03.10. Caleb Ndiku was the best in the 1500 m (3:39.12) ahead of Collins Cheboi 3:39.72. But in 5000 m Uganda celebrated as Moses Kipsiro won in 13:43.08 ahead of Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew 13:43.33. In half-marathon Ethiopia ruled. Desisa Lelisa 1:04:31 was the best and and in women race Mare Dibaba 1:10:47 ahead of Mamitu Daska 1:10:52. Irene Jelegat won the 1500 m for Kenya in 4:13.67. Nigeria won three golds. Oludamola Osayomi was the best in the 200 m (22.86, +1.9), Ajoke Odumosu in the 400 m hurdles (56.26) and the relay team clocked 3:31.21 to win. Mohamed Younis cleared 225 national record to win the high jump, Luvo ...

DAEGU (KOR): The 2011 IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011 are the third occasion that the IAAF has employed an Injuries and Illnesses Surveillance study at the biennial World Championships, which is the pinnacle competition of the IAAF World Athletics Series of events. The injury prevention study which is in line with the IOC Medical Commission’s own efforts was first put into place during the 11th edition of the IAAF World Championships in Osaka 2007 and was repeated in Berlin 2009. Surveillances have also been done in 9 other IAAF competitions including editions of the World Indoors, World Junior and World Youth Championships. It is of great importance to learn more about athletes´ injuries and illnesses incurred during the period of the Championships especially when we learn that nearly 10 out of each 100 competing athletes suffered a sport injury during both Osaka 2007 and Berlin 2009. Furthermore, close to 7 out of each 100 competing athletes suffered an illness during Ber...

SOUTH AFRICA : Caster Semenya's manager says the global 800m champion will only defend her title in Daegu, South Korea next week if she can handle the emotional difficulties with which she is faced. “It's whether she handles the emotion that will determine how she does,” Jukka Harkonen was quoted. USA: US top sprinter Walter Dix is ready to challenge Usain Bolt and other Jamaican sprinters. “I’m enjoying myself in Korea,” he said. “My goal is to win in the 100, 200, and 4x100-meter relay to come out with triple golds, a triple crown and that’s what I’m focusing on,” Korean media are saying. ETHIOPIA: “I’m ready for the challenge and looking forward to it,” Kenenisa Bekele said while travelling to Daegu from Seoul. Dressed in a designer brown jacket and jeans, the usually reclusive Kenenisa would not be drawn to speculate on his chances, only waiting for the men 10000m final where he is seeking a fifth straight crown. Informs capitalfm.co.ke. JAMAICA: Defending champi...

Doreen Amata-Igbokwe - Nigerian high Jumper Nigeria and reigning All Africa Games high jump queen, Doreen Amata-Igbokwe, soared into a new 1.95m season's best at the 33rd Eberstadt High Jump meet, a European Athletics Outdoor Permit event in Germany on Saturday and revealed her target is to break the 2m barrier which no Nigerian high jumper has ever achieved. The mother of one who last month reclaimed the national high jump title she lost without a fight last year due to procreation also by her feat in Germany equalled the three year-old national record she set in Abuja on July 3,2008. “I’m really delighted that everything is coming into place for me. I have been training very hard and I believe I will join the league of 2m jumpers very soon,” revealed an ecstatic Amata yesterday after she returned to her base in Italy. “I believe in my ability and I am definite this year will be the year I will break that barrier. It is top of my wish-list for the year and God is already...

Ethiopian Gudisa Shentema wins 2011 Hamburg Marathon HAMBURG (GER, May 22): Ethiopian Gudisa Shentema has won the 2011 Hamburg Marathon clocking 2:11:03 ahead of Kipsang Kipkemboi 2:11:18 and Johnston Maiyo 2:11:27, with Bellor Yator fourth in 2:11:30. Fatuma Sado Dergo of Ethiopia debuted in 2:28:30 and was the best woman in 20 degrees warm weather. Second was 18-years old Halima Hassen of Ethiopia 2:32:42 (PB)and third was Kenyan Joyce Kandie (2:33:05). KASSEL (GER, May 22): Kenyan wins at Kassel Marathon. Julius Mariuki with 2:13:00 and Jacqueline Nytepi 2:40:01. RIGA (LAT, May 22): Kenyan Julius Kuto won the Riga Marathon with 2:15:48. Best woman was Ethiopian Desta Girma 2:37:15. NAIROBI (KEN): Kenyan athletes want Athletics Kenya to set up a counseling and investments advisory body to help upcoming runners to manage their earnings. Boston marathon champion Moses Tanui is one of many athletes who have spoken up to urge the Kenyan federation to take responsibility of ...