Monday, February 08, 2010

News of Note: 1 February - 8 February

Interesting happenings in the world of Ethiopian running:

Burka, Mesfin, and Gobena grab Ethiopian victories (2 February 2010) - A look back at the previous weekend's Ethiopian victories.
Fast 5000s in Boston - Dibaba dominates, Lagat breaks US record (7 February 2010) - Tirunesh Dibaba won the women's 5000-meter race in a world-leading time, but failed to set a third World record. Kalkidan Gezhagne beat Genzebe Dibaba in the women's 3000m. In the men's race, American Bernard Lagat passed fellow American Galen Rupp and Ethiopians Dejen Gebremeskel and Bekana Daba with 1.5 laps to go, breaking Rupp's American record in the men's 5000-meter run. Dejen came in second and Bekana third.
Jones-Ferrette shocks with 6.97 dash in Stuttgart (7 February 2010) - Meseret Defar won the women's 3000m in the third-fastest time ever, less than a second off the World record she set three seasons earlier. Deresse Mekonnen won with men's 1500m with a personal best, and Gelete Burka took the women's race with another world-leading time. Laverne Jones-Ferrette from the US Virgin Islands clocked the first sub-7.00 in a decade during the women's 60m. Also see No record for Defar, but triple Ethiopian triumph in Stuttgart

Other interesting running news:
Kipkorir prevails at Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon (7 February 2010) - Kenyans Jonathan Kipkorir and Daniel Njenga take 1-2 at the 59th Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon.


Monday, February 01, 2010

News of Note: 25 January - 31 January

Ethiopian sweep at Marrakech Marathon (1 February 2010) - Yared Daganw Sharew clocked a career best, beating fellow Ethiopian Gebressellassie Tsegay Reda in the men's race of the Marakech Marathon. Ethiopian Gelaw Tsega was victorious in the women's race, beating Kenyan Georgina Rono and Ethiopian Gebre Zebenaye Moges.

With late race charge Gobena triumphs in Osaka (31 January 2010) - Ethiopian Amane Gobena became the first Ethiopian to win the Osaka Ladies Marathon, with a personal best of 2:25:14.

Mesfin comes of age with 21st birthday victory at Cinque Mulini (31 January 2010) - Humegaw Mesfin of Ethiopia won the 78th Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona, Italy. Humegaw recently made headlines when he beat Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam on 10 January in Amorebieta, Spain.

Defar and Dibaba To Take Separate Cracks At 5000m Indoor World Record (28 January 2010) - Meseret Defar, Ethiopia's most decorated indoor runner, has two world record attempts lined up--the world indoor 3000m on 6 February and the 5000m on 10 February. Tirunesh Dibaba will make a world record attempt at the 5000m on 6 February.


Other interesting running news:




Monday, January 25, 2010

News of Note: 18 January - 25 January

Gelana shocks with 2:07:37 victory as course records tumble in Houston (18 January 2010) - An Ethiopian sweep of the Chevron Houston Marathon was celebrated on 17 January, with Teshome Gelana taking the men's race and defending champ Teyba Erkesso the women's race, both setting new course records.

Gebrselassie fights off back pain and late race challenge to collect third Dubai victory (21 January 2010) - Haile won the Dubai Marathon for the third straight year, but did not achieve his World record attempt. Ethiopian Mametu Daska was the surprise winner of the women's race, over favorites Bezunesh Bekele (4th) and Askale Magarsa (6th). Check out the race in pictures, and read about how Wanjiru wants to grab crown from ‘King Haile’
Jelila continues winning streak, unknown Jida takes shock men’s title - Sululta Cross Country (24 January 2010) - The 3rd Sululta Cross Country meeting took place in Sululta, the fourth part of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation's domestic cross country series. Koreni Jelila, winner of the 2009 Great Ethiopian Run 10K, too the women's senior titile, while unknown Gishu Jida won the men's senior race over favorite Abera Chane.

Komon and Goshu the convincing victors at Elgoibar Cross Country (25 January 2010) - Ethiopian Ferhiwot Goshu won the women's race over Kenyan Ann Karindi Mwangi, while Leonard Patrick Komon of Kenya was the winner in the men's race.


Other interesting running news:

Monday, January 18, 2010

News of Note 11 January - 18 January

The latest happenings in the world of Ethiopian running:

Ebuya, the modest prince who dethroned King Kenny (11 January 2010) - A look at Joseph Ebuya of Kenya, who beat Kenenisa Bekele by a a shocking 36 seconds in Edinburgh.

Ethiopians set course records at Houston Marathon (17 January 2010) - Ethiopian Teyba Erkesso defended her title and broke the women's course record, while fellow Ethiopian Teshome Gelana surprised by setting a record time in the men's race. Also check out Gelana shocks with 2:07:37 victory as course records tumble in Houston

Ethiopian sweep at the Cross della Vallagarina (17 January 2010) - Ethiopia took the win in both the men's and women's races, with Abere Chane and Asmeraworch Bekele victorious.

Komon takes down Gebremariam, business as usual for Masai in Seville (17 January 2010) - Kenya’s Leonard Komon and Linet Masai won the men's and women's races at the 28th ‘Cross Internacional de Itálica', with Ethiopia’s reigning world champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam finishing sixth.

Ndiso and Urgesa take Mumbai titles (17 January 2010) - Newcomers Ethiopian Bizunesh Urgesa and Kenyan Denis Ndiso beat the defending champions and top contenders at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. Bizunesh led an Ethiopian sweep, with defending champion Haile Kebebush taking second and Ethiopian women taking the top 10.

Kastor, Bairu, And Naser Set Course Records At P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona (17 January 2010) - Ethiopia’s Terfe Yea won his second P.F. Chang’s title, while fellow Ethiopian Taaybe Naser set a course record in the women's race with a time of 2:30:39.

Going the distance: Bekele and Dibaba out to maintain domination (18 January 2010) - Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba spoke to Nicola Bamford of Sky Sports about their goals during 2010.

Monday, January 11, 2010

News of Note 4 January - 10 January

Exciting week in the world of Ethiopian running:

Gebrselassie expected to tower over his opponents in Dubai; competitive women’s field (5 January 2010) - A look ahead at the 22 January Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

Cherkos and Kalovics take the honours at the 53rd Campaccio XC (6 January 2010) - Reigning World Junior 5000m champion Abraham Cherkos Feleke from Ethiopia won the Campaccio International Cross Country race in Italy. Previous Ethiopian winners include Haile Gebrselassie (1994), Fita Bayesa (1995), and Kenenisa Bekele (2002).

Fast wins for Keitany and Regassa in Abu Dhabi Half (8 January 2010) - Kenyan's Mary Keitany and Tilahun Regassa of Ethiopia clocked fast victories at the Zayed International Half Marathon in Abu Dhabi. Tilahun set a new career best at 59:19. Also see Zayed Half Marathon Results, Recap, Controversy

Ebuya despatches Bekele, 4th, with ease; Business as usual for Dibaba in Edinburgh (9 January 2010) - In a surprise upset, Kenyans Joseph Ebuya and Titus Mbishei beat eleven-time World Cross Country champion Kenenisa Bekele at the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country. Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba won the women's race.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Mesfin out-sprints World champion Gebremariam in Amorebieta (10 January 2010) - Humegaw Mesfin defeated fellow Ethiopian and reigning World Cross Country champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam in a shocking finish at the 56th Cross Internacional Zornotza.

Monday, January 04, 2010

News of Note: 28 December - 3 January

Breaking record is on Gebrselassie’s mind (29 December 2009) - Haile Gebrselassie reveals the training schedule he has in place to prepare for a bid to beat his own marathon world record in Dubai.

Supremacy battle between Kenya, Ethiopia in running continues (31 December 2009) - A look at 2009's mid, long distance, and road race results for Ethiopian and Kenya.

Gebrselassie leads Ethiopian victories in New Year races (1 January 2009) - Haile Gebrselassie wins in Trier; Emebet Anteneh finished second in the women's race. Sule Utura wins the women's race in Bolzano, with Imane Merga taking second in the men's race. Abera Chane and Asmerawork Bekele won the men's and women's races in the Austrian San Silvestre.

Ethiopian runner wins Luanda's yearend marathon (1 January 2010) - Ali Mohamed wins Angola's 10 kilometre yearend race.

Ethiopia’s African meet misses CAA label (1 January 2010) - For the fifth year, the Pan African category B athletics meeting in Addis Ababa has missed the Confederation of African Athletics three-tier competition standard.

Lilesa and Bayisa lead Ethiopian sweep in Xiamen (2 January 2010) - Feyisa Lilesa is victorious in the men's race, followed by Negari Getachew Terfa; Ethiopian Atsede Bayisa becomes the first foreign runner to win the women's race.
Bekele back in the mood for Edinburgh International Cross Country race (3 January 2010) - Interview with Kenenisa Bekele, in which he discusses training with his younger brother Tariku as he aims for his fourth victory in Edinburgh.

Thursday's Abu Dhabi Half is Loaded - A look at the competition in the 2010 Zayed Half Marathon, to take place on Thursday, 7 January.


Other Interesting Running News:

Monday, December 28, 2009

News of Note: 21 December - 28 December

Yelling to take on Dibaba in Edinburgh (21 December 2009) - Briton Hayley Yelling will race against reigning Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba at the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country permit race on 9 January 2010.

Packed domestic season in 2010 (24 December 2009) - The Ethiopian domestic circuit will feature no fewer than 20 competitions in 2010. In addition, Ethiopians will take part in a number of international competitions around the world.

Bekele Targets 3,000 Meters World Indoor Record (25 December 2009) - Kenenisa Bekele hoping to set a fourth world indoor record next year in Birmingham, England. 3,000 meters is the distance he ran to win his only world indoor title in 2006.

Abyu renews rivalry with Gebrselassie (26 December 2009) - British marathoner Tomas Abyu, originally of Ethiopia, will race against his "hero" Haile Gebrselassie at the 2010 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 22.

2009 - End of Year Reviews - IAAF
The revolution in the marathon - 2009 produces an unprecedented explosion in record times (28 December 2009) - 20 different male runners - from just three countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Morocco - ran sub-2:07 marathons in 2009.


Monday, December 21, 2009

News of Note: 14 December - 21 December

Ethiopian Running News:

Burka lines up indoor races to tune up for world title defense (15 December 2009) - Gelete Burka has indoor races lined up in Stockholm, Karlsruhe, Birmingham, and Stuttgart before she races in the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha (7-9 March 2010) in defense of her title.

Tirunesh Dibaba Will Return to Reebok Boston Indoor Games (16 December 2009) - 5000 and 10,000-meter gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on 6 February 2010. In her 2007 appearance at the Games, she set an indoor 5000-meter world record (14:27.42).

Barros, Gobena, and Akaba Will Race at Osaka Women's Marathon (17 December 2009) - Amane Gobena, who set a sub-2:27 best in 2009 at 2:26:03, will race in the 31 January 2010 Japanese marathon, along with two other women whose sub-2:27 bests were set in 2009 - Yukiko Akaba of Japan (2:25:40) and Marisa Barros of Portugal (2:26:03).

Bekele and Dibaba announce busy starts to 2010 (21 December 2009) - Ethiopia’s Olympic 5000m and 10000m double winners Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba have a number of races lined up in the early part of 2010.

Other interesting news:
'African runners are excelling because they are natural athletes' (15 December 2009) - Gebreegziabher Gebremariam talks about why be believes African runners are natural athletes.


Usain Bolt sets world alight again (17 December 2009) - Overview of major running news in 2009.


Monday, December 14, 2009

News of Note: 7 December - 14 December

Ethiopian Running News:

Rotich and Toroitich collect Marathon wins in Las Vegas (7 December 2009) - Kenyans won the December 6 Rock 'n Roll Las Vegas Marathon, with Ethiopians Terefe Yae and Assefa Tesfaye coming in second and third in the men's race, and Serkalem Abrha and Adanech Zekiros third and fourth in the women's race.

Beating the conditions, Manza and Cheptonui take Montferland 15Km wins (7 December 2009) - Kenyan Nicholas Manza wins with a time just two seconds shy of the course record of 42:36 set by Haile Gebrselassie in 2007. Kenyan Wilfred Murgor and Ethiopian Ayele Abshiro round out the top three finishers in the men's race.

Kebede sets record for Marathon triple (8 December 2009) - Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede, 22 years old and a marathon runner for only two and a half years, has achieved the fastest average for three marathons in one calendar year: 2:06:24 for 2009.

Gebrselassie and associates to establish a high altitude training camp (8 December 2009) - Haile Gebrselassie, Belay Welasha and Ethiopian-born Canadian Joseph Kibur have begun construction of a modern athletics village in Sululta, 11km north of Addis Ababa this week.

World record ratified (14 December 2009) - 30km 1:27:49 Haile Gebrselassie ETH, Berlin, GER, 20 Sep 09

Bekele lines-up once more for Edinburgh XC (14 December 2009) - Kenenisa Bekele will attempt to regain the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country title by returning to race in the IAAF XC Permit race in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, UK on 9 January 2010.


Other running news:

Monday, December 07, 2009

News of Note: 30 November - 6 December

An exciting week for Ethiopian runners!

Ethiopian double at Obudu International (1 December 2009) - Ethiopia's Habtamu Fikadu and Mamitu Deska win the 5th Obudu International Mountain Race in Nigeria on November 28.

Wanjiru and Mikitenko to defend their London titles (2 December 2009) - Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru will race in a competitive men's field which includes Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, who was second in London last year.

Merga plans world 15km record attack in the Netherlands (2 December 2009) - Deriba Merga will attack on his own world 15km record at the 14th Wincanton Montferland Run in the Netherlands.

Ethiopia - Gebrselassie targets record in Dubai (2 December 2009) - Haile Gebrselassie will return to Dubai in January, to defend his title and looking to break the world record at the 2010 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

2:05:18 course record and personal best for Kebede in Fukuoka (6 December 2009) - Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede successfully defended his title as Fukuoka Marathon champion, setting a new course record and personal best. Full results
Temam and Tadesse take Beirut Marathon titles (6 December 2009) - Ethiopia's Mohammed Temam wins the BLOM Beirut Marathon. Kenyan Eston Ngira and Ethiopian Abraham Yilma take second and third.
Gebremariam out-sprints Medhin, while Cheruiyot breezes in Alcobendas (6 December 2009) - Gebregziabher Gebremariam, Ethiopia's World Cross Country champion, wins the 28th ‘Cross Internacional de la Constitución’ in Madrid.

Ethiopians Girma-Bekele and Deba win men's, women's CIM (6 December 2009) - Tesafaye Girma-Bekele and Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia win the California International Marathon in Sacramento.


Monday, November 30, 2009

News of Note: 23 November - 30 November

Interesting happenings in the world of Ethiopian running:

Crazy about running – facts and figures from the 2009 Ethiopian Airlines Great Ethiopian Run (24 November 2009) - A number of records were broken at this year's Great Ethiopian Run, which had three times as many participants as its first year.

Haron Lagat, Alemtsehay Misganaw Win 73rd Manchester Road Race (26 November 2009) - Ethiopian Alemtsehay Misganaw wins the women's race, while Kenyan Haron Lagat takes the men's race.

Comfortable victories for Gebremariam and Masai in Soria (29 November 2009) - Reigning men's World Cross Country champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam wins at the Cross Internacional de Soria.
Fekadu and Deska complete Ethiopian double in Nigerian mountain race (29 November 2009) - Ethiopians Habtamu Fekadu and Mamitu Deska win the 2009 Obudu Ranch Mountain race in Nigeria. Ethiopians Mastawet Tufa and Meselech Hileyesus took second and third in the women's race.

Kipruto holds off Kosgei by a second in Florence (29 November 2009) - Results of the 26th Florence Marathon. Kenya takes first and second in the men's race, with Ethiopian Assefa Reta Girma taking third.

Other interesting running news:





Monday, November 23, 2009

News of Note: 16 November - 22 November

Interesting happenings in the world of Ethiopian running:

Jelila and Regassa win 10km in Addis Ababa (22 November 2009) - Koreni Jelila and Tilahun Regassa both won in new course records at the Ethiopian Airlines 2009 Great Ethiopian Run 10km.

Previous Coverage:


Bolt and Richards are World Athletes of the Year – 2009 World Athletics Gala (22 November 2009) -Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Sanya Richards named the Male and Female World Athletes of the Year 2009.


Chane and Jelila grab shock victories in Sendafa XC (16 November 2009) - Abera Chane beat favorite Imane Merga, who finished fourth; Koreni Jelila was victorious over favorite Sule Utura, who finished third.

Former Olympic champion leads Ethiopian team in Obudu (18 November 2009) - Accomplished long distance runner Meseret Defar will run the Obudu International Mountain Race and lead the Ethiopian runners at the first African mountain running championships.


Ethiopia's Kenenisa voted for 2009 "Heroes of Running" (20 November 2009) - Kenenisa Bekele one of six inspirational individuals chosen for honor by Runner's World magazine.


Gebremariam and Augusto the victors in Oeiras (21 November 2009) - The IAAF Cross Country Permit Season opens with a victory by Ethiopian Gebregziabher Gebremariam at the Oeiras Cross Country.

Stars come out as IAAF Diamond League is launched in Monaco (22 November 2009) - Kenenisa Bekele one of 9 IAAF Diamond League Ambassadors. The IAAF Diamond League hopes to see greater frequency of competition between the big names.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Great Ethiopia Run


19 Year old Tilahun Regassa won the men's race and improved the course record by almost 30 seconds. Earlier this month Tilahun had finished 4th in the Delhi half Marathon. Deriba Merga winner of the Delhi half was a DNF in this race. Tilahun has had a great year on road races this year winning numerous races.


In the women's race, 23-year-old Koreni Jelila improved the course record by more than 40 seconds. Koreni was the suprise winner of the Sendafa Crosscountry race last week.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

News of Note: 9 November - 15 November

Interesting happenings in the world of Ethiopian running:

Radcliffe comes as guest appearance to 2009 Great Ethiopian Run (10 November 2009) - British runner Paula Radcliffe makes her first trip to Ethiopia, as a guest of the 2009 Great Ethiopian Run taking place on 22 November.

Like An Airline: A Behind-The-Scenes Look Into What It Takes To Set An Elite Marathon Field (10 November 2009) - A look at some of the variables in play leading up to the 2009 ING New York City Marathon, which had an abnormal number of withdrawals.

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele nominated for IAAF Athlete of the Year (13 November 2009) - Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele is one of the 5 male finalists for IAAF Male Athlete of the Year. The other finalists include Usain Bolt of Jamaica, Tyson Gay of the United States, Steven Hooker of Australia and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway.

Men’s course record set in McDonald’s Half Marathon (14 November 2009) - Nicholas Kurgat of Kenya set the course record in the men’s division with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, 2 seconds. Alemtsehay Misganaw, a native of Ethiopia, won the women's division.

Basweti captures second consecutive SunTrust Marathon title (15 November 2009) - Kenyan Jynocel Basweti wins the SunTrust Richmond Marathon.
Kenyan men, Russian women dominate field (15 November 2009) - Gilbert Koech of Kenya wins the second annual Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon.

Chane and Jelila win Sendafa cross country meeting (15 November 2009) - Abera Chane and Koreni Jelila win at the kick off of Ethiopia’s domestic cross country season.

Dibaba shatters 15Km World record in Nijmegen! (15 November 2009) - Tirunesh Dibaba broke the women's 15km world record at the Zevenheuvelenloop 15Km in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, clocking 46:28 in her first road race since 2005. Her husband Sileshi Sihine won the men's race in 42:14.


Other interesting running news:

India’s grand old marathon man completes 98th run (9 November 2009) - Ashis Roy, age 77, finished his 98th race in Harrisburg and plans to run his 100th marathon in Mumbai Jan 17, 2010.