Patrick Makau and all 6 Daegu champions get wild card entries into Kenyan Olympic squad

Athletics Kenya have announced the automatic qualifications of all the 6 newly crowned world champions at Daegu and new marathon World record holder Patrick Makau (2:03:38 at Berlin last Sunday, pending ratification) to the Kenyan 2012 London Olympics team.

The 6 gold medalists at the World Champions 2011 Daegu are:
Men
800m: David Rudisha
1500m: Asbel Kiprop (defending Olympic champion)
3000m S/C: Ezekiel Kemboi
Marathon: Abel Kirui

Women
5000m/10,000m: Vivian Cheruiyot
Marathon: Edna Kiplagat

Top Contenders for New York City Marathon 2011 November 6

A Galaxy of Stars to shine on the field of New York City Marathon 2011 November 6 which includes:

Men: (Course record - 2:07:43 Tesfaye Jifar (ETH) 2001)
Geoffrey Mutai (KEN), 29 -- PB 2:03:02 Boston 2011 - fastest time ever run
Tsegaye Kebede (ETH), 24 - PB 2:05:18 Fukuoka 2009 , making a debut
Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) - PB 2:04:53 Boston 2011
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN),27 - PB 2:06:40 London 2011
Meb Keflezighi (USA), 36 --- PB 2:09:15 New York 2009
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
Edna Kiplagat (KEN), 32 - PB 2:20:46 London 2011, World champion Daegu
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 is the largest marathon in the world attracting more than 100,000 applicants annually for the limited places and and last year saw an all time record number of 44,977 finishers

Marathon World Record Progression in the last 30 years

Patrick Makau
Paula Radcliffe






1896 Athens Olympics Marathon




History
1896 April 10 - Inauguration of modern Olympics in Athens, Greece when 1st marathon race was run from Marathon Bridge to the Olympic Stadium in Athens, a distance of 24.85 miles (40km) which was won by Spiridon Louis of Greece in 2:58:50

1908 July 24 - 2:55:18 Johnny Hayes (USA) London Olympics - distance was increased to 26.2 miles ( 42.195km) (to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium and after 16 years of heated discussion, this 26.2 mile distance was established at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as the official marathon distance.) This 2:55:18 was the first official time of the 26.2 mile marathon on record.


Marathon world record progression since 1981:

Men (last 3 world records set in Berlin in last 4 years)
2:08:18 - Robert De Castella (AUS) - Fukuoka 1981
2:08:05 - Steve Jones (GBR) - Chicago 1984
2:07:12 - Carlos Lopes (POR) - Rotterdam 1985
2:06:50 - Belavneh Dinsamo (ETH) - Rotterdam 1988
2:06:05 - Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) - Berlin 1998
2:05:42 - Khalid Khannouchi (MOR) - Chicago 1999
2:05:38 - Khalid Khannouchi (USA) - London 2002
2:04:55 - Paul Tergat (KEN) - Berlin 2003
2:04:26 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Berlin 2007
2:03:59 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Berlin 2008
2:03:38 - Patrick Makau (KEN) - Berlin 2011 (at 2:56 pace)

Women: (1 world record in last 8 years)
2:29:57 - Joyce Smith (GBR) - London 1981
2:29:01 - Charlotte Teske (West Germany) - Miami, USA 1982
2:26:12 - Joan Benoit (USA) - Eugene, USA 1982
2:25:29 - Crete Waitz (NOR) - London 1983
2:22:43 - Joan Benoit (USA) - Boston 1983
2:24:26 - Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) - London 1984
2:21:06 - Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) - London 1985
2:20:47 - Tegla Loroupe (KEN) - Rotterdam 1998
2:20:43 - Tegla Loroupe (KEN) - Berlin 1999
2:19:46 - Naoko Takahashi (JPN) - Berlin 2001
2:18:47 - Catherine Ndereba (KEN) - Chicago 2001
2:17:18 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) - Chicago 2002
2:15:25 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) - London 2003 (as at 19 September 2011)

Ranking of World's Fastest Marathon Runners n Finishing Times (Male) As of Berlin 2011

#1 Geoffrey Mutai 2:03:02 Boston 2011
#2 Moses Mosop 2:03:06 Boston 2011 (debut)
#3 Patrick Makau 2:03:38 (WR) Berlin 2011



As of Berlin Marathon 2011 September 25 :

Top 10 Marathon Runners of all time :
1) Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) - 2:03:02 Boston 18 April 2011 (not ratified by IAAF)
2) Moses Mosop (KEN) - 2:03:06 Boston 2011 (2nd) (not ratified by IAAF)
3) Patrick Makau (KEN) - 2:03:38 Berlin 2011 (World Record)*
4) Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - 2:03:59 Berlin 28 Sept 2008
5) Duncan Kipkemboi Kibet (KEN) - 2:04:27 Rotterdam 5 April 2009
5) James Kipsang Kwambai (KEN) - 2:04:27 Rotterdam (2nd) 5 April 2009
7) Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) - 2:04:40 London 17 April 2011
8) Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) - 2:04:53 Boston 2011 (3rd) (not ratified IAAF)
9) Paul Tergat (KEN) - 2:04:55 Berlin 28 September 2003
10) Sammy Korir (KEN) - 2:04:56 Berlin (2nd placing) 28 September 2003

(50% of the above were set in the 1st 9 months of this year including the top 3, 7th n 8th)


Top 10 results (finishing times) of all time
1) 2:03:02 - Geoffrey Mutai 2011 Boston
2) 2:03:06 - Moses Mosop 2011 Boston
3) 2:03:38 - Patrick Makau 2011 Berlin (World Record)*
4) 2:03:59 - Haile Gebrselassie 2008 Berlin
5) 2:04:26 - Haile Gebrselassie 2007 Berlin
6) 2:04:27 - Duncan Kibet 2009 Rotterdam
6) 2:04:27 - James Kwambai 2009 Rotterdam
8) 2:04:40 - Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) 2011 London
9) 2:04:48 - Patrick Makau (KEN) 2010 Rotterdam
10) 2:04:53 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 2008 Dubai
10) 2:04:53 - Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 2011 Boston]

* pending ratification by IAAF

2:03:38 - Patrick Makau is the new Marathon World Record Holder

Patrick Makau became the new marathon world record holder when he won the 38th BMW Berlin Marathon today in 2:03:38, the 5th and 4th consecutive men's world marathon record set on this 'world's fastest course'.

The 26-year old Kenyan shattered the 3-year old record by 21 seconds set right here by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia who surprisingly pulled out to the right side of the road, shaking his hand to indicate breathing difficulties at the 27km mark after Makau took a surge forward, however he continued the race after one minute and remained at 2nd place far behind the leader but finally he DNF with 7km remaining.



Results:
Men
1) 2:03:38 (WR) - Patrick Makau (KEN)
2) 2:07:55 - Stephen Kwelio (KEN) (pacemaker)
3) 2:09:50 - Edwin Kimaiyo (KEN)

Women
1) 2:19:44 - Florence Kiplagat (KEN)***
2) 2:22:18 - Irina Mikitenko (GER)
3) 2:23:46 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR)

***Had Florence Kiplagat clocked faster than 2:17:42, would the IAAF ratify it as the new world record as per new criterion announced 5 days ago since she finished with the pacing of male runners ?

Top Contenders - 38th BMW Berlin Marathon Tomorrow

Patrick won here last year in 2:05:08
2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie broke his own WR here in 2008
Irina and Paula with their bibs
Haile and Patrick with their bibs

'world's fastest marathon course'

2 world record holders, a world champion and an European champion will be included in the following top contenders among the 40,000 starters at the 38th BMW Berlin Marathon which kicks off tomorrow with an expected 1.2 million spectators along the widely considered as the world's fastest 42.195km-marathon course and with live broadcast to over 150 countries:

Men
1) Haile Gebrselassie (ETH), 38 - PB 2:03:59 Berlin 2008 (WR)
2) Patrick Makau (KEN), 26 - PB 2:04:48 Rotterdam 2010 (7th fastest marathoner all time)
3) Gilbert Yegon (KEN), 23 - PB 2:06:18 Amsterdam 2009

Women
1) Paula Radcliffe (GBR), 37 - 2:15:25 (World Best) London 2003 ; 2:17:42 (WR) London 2005
2) Irina Mikitenko (GER), 29 - PB 2:19:19 Berlin 2008
3) Nayla Yulamanova (RUS) - 2:26:01 (European champion)
4) Florence Kiplagat (KEN), 24 - 2010 World Half Marathon champion - marathon debut

Gebrselassie is seeking his 5th victory here after having won 4 times in a row in the real,-Berlin Marathon
2006 in 2:05:56
2007 in 2:04:26 (WR)
2008 in 2:03:59 -- current WR
2009 in 2:06:08
(beginning this year the auto giants BMW is the new title sponsor of Berlin Marathon, replacing their long association with real,-)

Last year's winners:
Men : Patrick Makau (KEN) ---- 2:05:08
Women : Aberu Kebede (ETH) - 2:23:58.







Some info on Berlin Marathon:
Capacity: 40,000 - Inaugural Race: 1974 - Largest Field : 35,913 finishers in 2008
Prize Money: $340,000 ($64,000 each for the male and female champions)
An IAAF Gold Label Road Race n a component of World Marathon Majors (WMM)
It is traditionally held on the last Sunday of September

Course Records :
Men - 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 2008
Women - 2:19:12 Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) 2005

7 World records have been established here :
Men:
1998 - 2:06:05 Ronaldo da Costa (BRA)
2003 - 2:04:55 Paul Tergat (KEN)
2007 - 2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
2008 - 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie ===> Current WORLD RECORD
Women:
1977 - 2:34:48 Christa Vahlensieck (GER)
1999 - 2:20:43 Tegla Loroupe (KEN)
2001 - 2:19:46 Naoko Takahashi (JPN)

3rd time in history both marathon World record holders run in the same race - Sunday Berlin Marathon

Haile and Paula with their bibs

Coming Sunday the 38th BMW Berlin Marathon will see for the 3rd time in history the participation of both the current Men and Women marathon World record holders in a same marathon race:
Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia -- 2:03:59 Berlin 2008 and
Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain - 2:17:42 London 2005

The previous two such scenario were in 1989 New York City Marathon (Belayneh Dinsamo and Ingrid Kristiansen) and in 2005 London (Paul Tergat andPaula Radcliffe)

World Record-n-World Best Holder Paula Radcliffe vs Irina Mikitenko - Coming Sunday Berlin Marathon

Irina and Paula with their bibs


Paula Radcliffe, whose 8-year-old women marathon World Record of 2:15:25 achieved while paced by men in 2003 London Marathon turned World Best 2 days ago by the new criterion of the IAAF, will be making her debut at the widely recognised fastest marathon course in the world coming Sunday 25 September at the 38th BMW Berlin Marathon, her first 42.195km race since her poor 4th finish at the New York City Marathon 2009.

However her third best time of 2:17:42 at London 2005 was taken to retain her as the World Record holder making her a double holder in world record and world best in women marathon (she set the previous world record of 2:17:18 in Chicago 2002 which was broken by herself with the 2:15:25 London 2003 mentioned above)
The 37 year old Briton will likely face stiff competition from local favourite Kazakh born German Irina Mikitenko, winner of London Marathon in 2008 (2:24:12) n 2009 (2:22:11) and she won here in her PB of 2:19:19 in 2008.

Other strong contenders in the field will be an all Russian line up of Lidiya Grigorieva who won in Boston and Los Angeles in the last five years, and Tatyana Petrova, winner in Los Angeles in 2009.

Paula said in today's press conference that when she was accompanied by men in London 2003, she made a point of running beside them, and even competing with them, rather than following. “I honestly don’t think that running with men makes any difference. I would still have done in the 2.15s." she said.

Irina said that Paula had been an inspiration for her and added that “Seeing how Paula developed from the track to the Marathon encouraged me to do the same, because we had raced on the track as youngsters."
“I’m really looking forward to running on Sunday. Having Paula in the Marathon will give the whole event a different atmosphere.”

+++++++

Top 10 women marathon results in history: (As of Boston 2011)
1) 2:15:25 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2003 ---> World Best
2) 2:17:18 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Chicago 2002 -- (old world record)
3) 2:17:42 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2005 ---> World Record
4) 2:18:47 - Catherine N'dereba (KEN) Chicago 2001
5) 2:18:56 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2002
6) 2:19:12 - Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) Berlin 2005
7) 2:19:19 - Irina Mikitenko (GER) Berlin 2008
7) 2:19:19 - Mary Keitany (KEN) London 2011
9) 2:19:26 - Catherine N'dereba (KEN) Chicago
10) 2:19:36 - Deena Kastor (USA) London 2006]

Excerpt from WMM Re Establishment of Position on World Records within Women's Road Running Performances

Excerpt :

World Marathon Majors Establishes Position on World Records within Women’s Road Running Performances

BOSTON - September 20, 2011

Background:
At the 2011 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, the IAAF Congress passed a motion to change the standard by which women athletes achieve world record performances in road races. By the new criterion, only times achieved in all-women competitions would be acknowledged for world record purposes, and performances achieved in mixed conditions would now be referred to only as “world best”.

The new criterion means that Paula Radcliffe‘s 2003 Marathon mark of 2:15:25 is no longer the world record but now a world best, and that her 2005 London time of 2:17:42 is the world record.

Statement from the World Marathon Majors and the Association of International Marathons:
The boards of both World Marathon Majors (WMM) and Association of International Marathons (AIMS) have reviewed the recent Congress decision and believe that it does not represent what is required by the sport of road running.

They further believe that there should be two world records for women‘s road running performances, separately recognizing those achieved in mixed competition and women‘s only conditions.

AIMS and WMM will continue to acknowledge both types of performances as world records and will discuss this matter further with the IAAF, recognising that: a) The vast majority of women‘s road races throughout the World are held in mixed conditions. b) The current situation where the fastest time is not now recognized as a record is confusing and unfair and does not respect the history of our sport.

WMM and AIMS congratulate the IAAF for introducing world road records and for continuing to support road running through its labeling scheme.

Notes:
AIMS represents more than 300 races worldwide, the vast majority of them road races. WMM members are Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Both bodies are represented on the IAAF Road Running Commission and have leadership roles within road running.

Performances considered for records, rankings and qualifying purposes must be achieved in accordance with IAAF Competition Rules. These include rules on course measurement, decrease in elevation between the start and finish, maximum distance between the start and finish lines. An application for a world record will only be considered if the athlete concerned undertook doping control at the event.

Source : World Marathon Majors

26:43.16 - Kenenisa Bekele came back with 10,000m WL in Brussels

After limping out midway of the 10,000m race resulting in unsuccessful attempt to become the first runner to capture the 5th consecutive world title followed by a n0-show up in the 5,000m at the recent World Champions in Daegu, Kenenisa Bekele, 29 of Ethiopia came back with a vengeance to win the 10,000m in 26:43.16, the fastest of the season, at Friday's Belgacom Memorial Van Damme, the last stop of the Samsung Diamond League, smashing the previous world leading time of 26:46.57 set by Mo Farah (GBR) in Eugene in June.

That was the first completed track race in more than 2 years for the double 5,000m and 10,000m world record and Olympic record holder, considered as one of the greatest distance runners all all time, who has been hit by injury.


Lucas Rotich of Kenya (26:43.98) and Galen Rupp of USA (26:48.00, AR) took second and third Places respectively.


The King Baudouim Stadium, since 1930, where this meet was held was the venue where Kenenisa Bekele set the 10,000m world record of 26:17.523 on 26 August 2005 and this stadium was formerly called Heysel Stadium where the infamous "Heysel Stadium Disaster" happened during the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus on 29 May which saw 39 Juventus fans died as a result of rioting and wall collapsed before the kick-off.

Finale of Diamond League Brussels produced World Leads 100m 9.76 n 200m 19.26

Two continuous stunning sprinting performances dashed out in the second and closing final of the Samsung Diamond League at Belgacom Memorial Van Damme, Brussels last night producing world's fastest 100m and 20m runners of the year.

World's fastest man Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the 100m in a world leading time of 9.76 followed immediately by another astonishing run by his countryman Yohan Blake, the world 100m champion winning the 200m by a world leading 19.26 which is the 2nd fastest in history behind Bolt's WR of 19.19

100m Results:
Gold: Usain Bolt (JAM) - 9.76 WL, MR
Silver : Nesta Carter (JAM) - 9.89 SB
Bronze : Lerone Clarke (JAM) - 10.05 SB

200m Results:
Gold : Yohan Blake (JAM) - 19.26 WL, MR
Silver : Walter Dix (USA) -- 19.53 PB
Bronze : Nickel Ashmeade - 19.91 PB


watch on YouTube - 100m
watch on YouTube - 200m

Countdown 10 days to Berlin Marathon - Face2Face Showdown Haile Gebrselassie/Patrick Makau

Haile en route to break his own WR with the current 2:03:59 here in 2008

Patrick was the First to cross the finishing line last year in 2:05:08



Comes 25 September the 38th BMW Berlin Marathon will see the return of 2 champions for a rare showdown between 38-year old Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, who had won 4 times in a row at this flat inner city course including two consecutive world records in which the 2:03:59 he set in 2008 still stands AND defending champion Patrick Makau, 26 of Kenya who became the 7th fastest marathon runner in history (under no conditions) and the fastest marathon runner of the year 2010 when he clocked 2:04:48 in Rotterdam.

This will be Haile Gebrselassie's first full marathon race since his pull-out set back due to a knee injury with 16km remaining during the New York City Marathon last year, his immediate shock announcement to retire after which and subsequently reversed his decision a few days after by saying "Running is in my blood and I decided to continue competing."

Said Patrick Makau about the encounter :
"I trust he will again be very quick here but I will try to focus on my own race,"
"If towards the end we are still together then the strongest one will win,"

Both Haile and Patrick picked this widely considered to be the world's fastest marathon as stepping stone to improve their chances to qualify into the 3 slots in their respective countries at the London Olympics next year.

The 37th real,-Berlin Marathon of last year experienced the worst weather conditions in 20 years with rain and cool starting temperature of 12 deg C which dampened the high expectation of a world record breaker from Patrick Makau and his compatriot Geoffrey Mutai [now the fastest marathoner ever] who both finished neck-n-neck with 2 seconds apart (2:05:08 n 2:05:10)



++++

It is equally competitive in the women's field which will see the return of world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain (2:15:25 London 2003), her first 42.195km race after having given birth to her second child, competing with local favourite Irina Mikitenko who won here in 2008 with her PB of 2:19:19 and had twice won the London Marathon

++++

Some info on Berlin Marathon:
Capacity: 40,000 - Inaugural Race: 1974 - Largest Field : 35,913 finishers in 2008
Estimated number of spectators : 1.5 million
Prize Money: $340,000 ($64,000 each for the male and female champions)

(formally known as real,- BERLIN MARATHON, starting this year BMW is the new main sponsor, similarly for the Frankfurt Marathon) traditionally held on the last Sunday of September.
An IAAF Gold Label Road Race n a component of World Marathon Majors (WMM)

7 World records have been set here :
Men:
1998 - 2:06:05 Ronaldo da Costa (BRA)
2003 - 2:04:55 Paul Tergat (KEN)
2007 - 2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
2008 - 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie ===> Current WORLD RECORD
Women:
1977 - 2:34:48 Christa Vahlensieck (GER)
1999 - 2:20:43 Tegla Loroupe (KEN)
2001 - 2:19:46 Naoko Takahashi (JPN)

Course Record for Women: 2:19:12 Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) 2005

Outline of The Samsung Diamond League and The World Challenge of the IAAF

There are 2 annual global circuit series of track and filed meetings organised by the IAAF :

1) The Samsung Diamond League - inaugurated in 2011 designed to replace the annual all-Europe based Golden League since 1998 by extending to include meetings in USA, China and Qatar.
The calender of 2011 event started with the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix in Doha on 6 May and will end at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium tomorrow 16 September.

Points awarding system:
16 track and field disciplines are staged for both male and female athletes making a total of 32 disciplines and each is held a total of 7 times during the season. The top 3 finishers of each meeting are awarded with 4, 2 and 1 points respectively and in the case of Final meeting (the Zurich and Brussels meetings) those points are doubled.
The athlete with the highest number of points in each discipline at the end of the season and has competed the Final meeting wins a Diamond Race Trophy and a cash price of USD40,000.



2) The World Challenge - a tier below the Diamond League introduced in 2010 to replace the Grand Prix. The 2011 event calender also consists of 14 meetings with the Melbourne Track Classic on 3 March as its starting venue and has ended at the Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia 2 days ago on 13 September.

9.85 - Bolt ran a Season Best and Meet Record to win in Zagreb

Double sprint world recorder holder Usain Bolt (JAM) won the 100m in a season best and meet record of 9.85 at the 61st edition of the Hanzekovic Memorial, Zagreb, Crotia , the last meeting of IAAF World Challenge series yesterday, his first 100m race after the false start disqualification at Daegu 3 weeks ago and a slight improvement over his SB of 9.88 he set in his previous 100m race at Monaco on 22 July.

Watch on YouTube

Bolt to make 1st appearance after Daegu at Zagreb today

World's fastest man, Usain Bolt of Jamaica will compete in the 100m at the 61st edition of the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial, an IAAF World Challenge meet in Zagreb, Croatia today, his first outing after winning 2 gold medals at the World Championships in Daegu 2 weeks ago

He said at the press conference at Zagreb :

"I look at this as an opportunity to make up for the world championship, I am looking forward to this,"

"I am coming here to do my best, to try to run fast. I missed out on the world championship, so I want to see how fast I could have gone. I am still feeling good. I am pretty confident and am just looking forward to it,"

"I am focused, determined to be the best at what I do, so I am just looking forward to the rest of my season and the rest of my career".

this," he said at the press conference at Zagreb

9.82 - Blake did that PB again, this time a meet record at ISTAF, Berlin

Newly crowned world 100m champion Yohan Blake, 21 of Jamaica continued his dashing form at the ISTAF IAAF World Challenge in Berlin today by winning the 100m in a new meet record time of 9.82 (PB), a similar time he won at the Zurich Diamond League less than 72 hours ago.

watch on YouTube

2 WL's from 2 newly crowned world champions at Rieti - Rudisha 800m 1:41.33 n Kiprop 1500m 3:30.46

Two newly Daegu crowned middle distance world champions from Kenya continued their further accomplishments by creating new world leading time each at the 41st Rieti IAAF World Challenge, Italy yesterday.

David Rudisha, 23, the 800m world champion and world recorder holder finished 1:41.33 as the fastest 800m of the year, and similarly Asbel Kiprop, the 1500m world champion did the same feat by clocking 3:30.46 in this event.

This is the 3rd fastest 800m time finished by Rudisha, the 2010 IAAF World Athlete of the Year, (the youngest ever winner) and the 5th fastest in history.
He has an astonishing achievement of setting two 800m world records in a week, the first was the 1:41.09 at the ISTAF IAAF World Challenge Berlin on 22 Aug 2010, breaking the 13-year old world record and one week later at this very place he ran last night, he repeated his triumph by breaking his own world record at 1:41.01 which currently stands.

Watch on YouTube - 800m
watch on YouTube 1500m

First Half of 16 Diamond Race Winners decided at Weltklasse Zürich

Diamond Race Trophy
Diamond Race Trophy presentation in Zurich













A total of 16 elite athletes were each awarded with a Diamond Race Trophy and a cash prize of USD40,000 as winners of the Diamond Race at the Weltklasse Zurich, the first of the 2 finals of the IAAF Samsung Diamond League 2011 series which consists of 16 meets and ends at the second final at Brussels on 16 September when the another 16 winners will be decided.

And The Winners Are :

MEN

100m - Asafa Powell (JAM)

400m - Kirani James (GRN)

1500m - Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba (KEN)

3000m Steeplechase - Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN)

110m Hurdles - Dayron Robles (CUB)

High Jump - Jesse Williams (USA)

Long Jump - Mitchell Watt (AUS)

Discus Throw - Virgilijus Alekna (LTU)

WOMEN

200m - Carmelita Jeter (USA)

800m - Jennifer Meadows (GBR)

5000m - Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot (KEN)

400m Hurdles - Kaliese Spencer (JAM)

Pole Vault - Silke Spiegelburg (GER)

Long Jump - Brittney Reese (USA)

Shot Put - Valerie Adams (NZL)

Javelin Throw - Christina Obergföll (GER)

Each of the 32 overall event winners receives a Diamond Race Trophy and a cash prize of USD40,000, which combined with the USD480,000 available at each of the 14 meetings, total prize money distributed by Samsung Diamond League in 2011 amounts to a total of USD8 Million.

Ref: IAAF

New 100m world champion Blake defeated Powell, Dix, Frater and Carter in PB at Zurich Diamond League last night

Worlds Daegu 100m gold medalist Yohan Blake, 21 of Jamaica showed his world champion status by running his PB to win the 100m at the Weltklasse Zurich, the 12th stop and the first of the 2 finals of the Samsung Diamond League last night.

Blake finished 9.82, o.o7 second faster than his previous best, to beat come-back countryman and world leading Asafa Powell, Daegu 100m and 200m silver medalist Walter Dix of USA and his Daegu 4x100m WR teammates Michael Frater and Nesta Carter

Results of 100m
1) Yohan Blake (JAM) - 9.82 (PB)
2) Asafa Powell (JAM) - 9.95
3) Walter Dix (USA) - 10.04
4) Michael Frater (JAM) - 10.06
5) Kim Collins (SKN) - 10.09
6) Nesta Carter (JAM) - 10.12
7) Jaysum Saidy Ndur (NOR) - 10.20
8) Richard Thoppson (TRI) - 10.23
9) Trell Kimmons (USA) - 10.33


Watch on YouTube