Saturday, November 12, 2011

Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson are 2011 IAAF Athletes of the Year






Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Sally Pearson of Australia were named the IAAF World Athletes of the Year for 2011 at the 2011 World Athletics Gala held in Monte Carlo yesterday.

Bolt, 25, holder of 100m and 200m world records, who despite being penalised for disqualification due to a false start in defending his 100m world title in Daegu last August, holds a string of achievements including successfully defended his 200m world title in 19.40, 2nd fastest of the year and anchored his Jamaican team to a new world record of 37.04 in the 4x100m relay in Daegu, he is also the world leader in 100m, clocking the fastest time of the year 2011 at 9.76 in Brussels on 16 September.

This is the 3rd title for the fastest man on earth, equalising the record of Moroccan great middle distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj who won this honour 3 times in a row from 2001

Sally Pearson, also 25, World champion in 100m hurdles at 12.28, 4th fastest all time, has been dominating the event this year, winning ten out of her 11 outings while producing 7 of the 11 world leading times of the season.

This is the 1st time she won this glorious trophy on her 1st time being nominated.


Other award winners:

Performance of the Year :
Men – Yohan Blake (JAM) - 200m 19.26 - 2nd fastest in history, Brussels 16 September
Women – Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)
5000m and 10,000m double World Champion

Rising Stars :

Men – Kirani James (GRN), 400m World champion

Women – Christin Hussong (GER), World Youth Javelin Throw champion


Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award :

John Velzian (KEN)


Journalist Lifetime achievement award :

Alain Billouin (FRA)


World Athletics City Award :

Daegu, South Korea


Ref. IAAF


World Athletics Gala on YouTube

Friday, November 11, 2011

Australia's Gold Coast will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games



Gold Coast of Australia has been chosen to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games at a Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis yesterday, beating the only other candidate Hambantota of Sri Lanka by a 43-27 margin.

The Games will be held in April 2018

London beat Doha as host city of 2017 IAAF World Championships




London beat Doha of Qatar in the bids for the right to host the 16th edition of the IAAF World Championships 2017, the result of the selection was announced in Monaco today.

History of the championships:
1st - 1983 - Helsinki
2nd - 1987 - Rome
3rd - 1991 - Tokyo

4th - 1993 - Stuttgart
5th - 1995 - Göteborg
6th - 1997 - Athens
7th - 1999 - Sevilla
8th - 2001 - Edmonton
9th - 2003 - Paris
10th - 2005 - Helsinki
11th - 2007 - Osaka
12th - 2009 - Berlin
13th - 2011 - Daegu

Upcoming:
14th - 2013 - Moscow
15th - 2015 - Beijing
16th - 2017 - London

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Doha and London to bid for IAAF World Champioship 2017 in Monaco tomorrow



London and Doha are in final countdown to bid as host city to the 16th IAAF World Championships 2017 which will be decided in Monaco Friday tomorrow


The 13th edition of the championships was held in Daegu in last Aug/Sept.
The 14th and the 15th editions will be held in Moscow and Beijing in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

IAAF made a U-Turn and Paula Radcliffe's 2:15:25 remains as the oficial Women Marathon World Record





The IAAF have reversed the decision they made 2 months ago of downgrading the 2003 Paula Radcliffe's 2:15:25 women marathon world record to a "World Best" as male pacemakers were used, following a recent meting between the record holder and IAAF.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

"He is capable of running faster than I did in Berlin." said Patrick about Geoffrey

Patrick Makau PB 203:08 (WR)
Geoffrey Mutai, PB 2:03:02

Marathon World Record holder Patrick Makau, 26 of Kenya (2:03:38 Berlin last September) was a spectator at last Sunday's New York City Marathon which was won by his compatriot Geoffrey Mutai, 30 (who ran the fastest marathon ever in 2:03:02 at Boston last April) in 2:05:06 and this was what Patrick said about Geoffrey after the race, quote:

"Seeing my friend run here yesterday, I think he can definitely get the world record,"
"He is capable of running faster than I did in Berlin."

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Magnificent Men’s Marathon Milestone Memories in 2011 Review







What a marvelous 'marathoning' year it was with the conclusion of New York City Marathon yesterday, the finale of the global major marathon events in the 2011 calendar.

The year 2011 so far has seen male professional marathon runners, the Kenyans in particular, progressively challenging the human speed limit to finish the 42.195km distance in astonishing new records upon new records.

As expected the Kenyans continue to dominate in the marathon arena around the world and with their abundant resources of young aspiring runners, and close to 200 men have run sub 2:06, the trend will likely remain in many years to come. The Ethiopians pose to be their worthy rivals thus far.

Highlights of Men's marathons in 2011:

Sub 2:06 Achievers and Ranking of Fastest runners :
All Kenyans unless otherwise stated
in bracket : [World Ranking regardless of conditions]
1. [1] 2:03:02 - Geoffrey Mutai - Boston
18 April
2. [2] 2:03:06 - Moses Mosop - Boston 18 April
3. [3] 2:03:38 (WR) - Patrick Makau - Berlin 25 September
4.
[4] 2:03:42 - Wilson Kipsang - Frankfurt 30 Oct
5. [8] 2:04:40 - Emmanuel Mutai - London 17 April
6. [9] 2:04:53 - Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH) - Boston 18 Apr
7. [12] 2:04:58 - Ryan Hall (USA) - Boston 18 April
8. [17]
2:05:16 - Levy Matebo - Frankfurt 30 Oct
9. [22] 2:05:25 - Albert Matebor - Frankfurt 30 Oct
10. [23] 2:05:27 - Wilson Chebet
- Rotterdam 10 April
11. [26] 2:05:33 - Vincent Kipruto - Rotterdam 10 April
12. 2:05:45 - Martin Lel [16] - London 17 April
13. 2:05:48 - Jafred Chirchir Kipchumba - Eindhoven 9 October


Chronology of some notable New Course Records established:
02 Jan - 2:08:07 - Xiamen - Robert Kipchumba (KEN)
16 Jan - 2:09:54 - Mumbai - Girma Assefa (ETH)
06 Mar - 2:06:13 - Lake Biwa, Japan - Wilson Kipsang (KEN)

20 Mar - 2:06:35 - LA, Los Angeles - Markos Geneti (ETH)
10 Apr - 2:08:08 - Daegu, S. Korea - Yusuf Songoka (KEN)
17 Apr - 2:04:40 - London - Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
17 Apr - 2:10:58 - Madrid - Moses Arusei (KEN)
18 Apr - 2:03:02 (Fastest Ever) - Boston - Geoffrey Mutai (KEN)
03 July- 2:10:01 - Gold Coast - Nicholas Manza (KEN)
25 Sep - 2:03:38 (WR) - Berlin - Patrick Makau (KEN)
09 Oct - 2:05:48 - Eindhoven - Jafred Chirchir Kipchumba (KEN)
09 Oct - 2:05:37 - Chicago - Moses Mosop (KEN)

23 Oct - 2:07:03 - Chosunilbo Chuncheon, S.Korea - Stanley Biwott (KEN)
30 Oct - 2:03:42 - Frankfurt - Wilson Kipsang (KEN)
31 Oct - 2:08:33 - Dublin - Geoffrey Ndungu (KEN)
06 Nov - 2:05:06 - New York City - Geoffrey Mutai (KEN)

(WMM components)

2:05:06 - Geoffrey Mutai won the New York City Marathon in new CR






Geoffrey Mutai, 29 of Kenya, who ran the fastest marathon ever of 2:03:02 in Boston last April, won the ING New York City Marathon today in a new course record of 2:05:06.

Emmanuel Mutai, 26 also of Kenya and Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was 2nd and 3rd in 2:06:28 and 2:07:14 respectively, all the top 3 finishers broke the ten-year old course record of 2:07:43 and won an additional cash bonus of RM70,000 each for breaking the old course record, on top of the placing winnings.

By finishing 2nd in this closing venue of the 2010-2011 World Marathon Majors championship series , Emmanuel Mutai won the title of the 2010-2011 World Marathon Majors series, beating compatriot world recorder holder Patrick Makau, who was leading in the WMM standings before NYC, and won a USD500,000 reward.
(Liliya Shobukhova of Russia is the champion in the 2010-2011 WMM women's competition series which also carries a bonus of USD500,000)


Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia won the women category in 2:23:15 whilst Buzunesh Deba also of Ethiopia finished second in 2:23:19 and favourite Mary Keitany of Kenya was third in 2:23:38.

A record number of 47,107 participants started the race.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Who Are the Finalists of the 2011 Athletes of the Year Awards



The IAAF have announced the following three male and three female athletes who are in contention to win the 2011 World Athlete of the Year during the 2011 World Athletics Gala to be held in Monaco on the 12 of November :

Male:

Yohan Blake (JAM) : sprinter

Usain Bolt (JAM) : sprinter

David Rudisha (KEN) : middle distance in 800m


Female:

Valerie Adams (NZL) : shot-put

Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) : long distance in 5000m

Sally Pearson (AUS) : 100m Hurdles



David Rudisha and Blanka Vlasic of Croatia were last year's winners
.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A Galaxy of Stars to shine at the field of ING New York City Marathon coming Sunday




The 2011 ING New York City Marathon which falls on coming Sunday 6 November will see a strong line up of elite runners :

Men: (Course record - 2:07:43 Tesfaye Jifar [ETH] 2001)
(WR 2:03:38 Patrick Makau [KEN] Berlin 2011)


Geoffrey Mutai (KEN), 29 -- 2:03:02 Boston 2011 - fastest marathon ever run
Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) - PB 2:04:53 Boston 2011
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN),27 - PB 2:06:40 London 2011
Tsegaye Kebede (ETH), 24 - PB 2:05:18 Fukuoka 2009
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH), 21 --PB 2:05:23 Rotterdam 2010
Jaouad Gharib (MOR), 39 -- PB 2:05:27 London 2009




Women: (Course record - 2:22:31 Margaret Okayo (KEN) 2003)

Mary Keitany (KEN), 29 - WL 2:19:19 London 2011, Half Marathon 1:05:50 WR
Caroline Kilel (KEN), 30 - PB 2:22:36 Boston 2011
Buzunesh Deba (KEN), 24 - PB 2:23:31 San Diego 2011
Galina Bogomolova (RUS), 33 - PB 2:20:47 Chicago 2006

The New York City Marathon, run every first Sunday of November annually since 1970 is the largest marathon in the world attracting more than 100,000 applicants for the limited places and and last year saw an all time record number of 44,977 finishers


http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/york-city-marathon-growing-larger-a-two-day-event-article-1.971188