2:04:23 - Ayele Abshero of Ethiopia set new course record in his debut at Dubai Marathon this morning

21-year old Ayele Abshero of Ethiopia, the 2009 World Junior Cross Country Champion, became a hero when he won the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2012 in his debut this morning in a new course record time of 2:04:23, breaking the old course record of 2:04:53 set by countryman and 3-time winner Haile Gebrselassie in 2008.

This is the second fastest marathon debut time in history behind the 2:03:06 clocked by Moses Mosop of Kenya at the Boston Marathon last year 28 April, however this time is not ratified by IAAF due to elevation drop and point-t0-point measurements of the Boston course.

The 2:04:23 credential also makes him the 6th fastest marathoner in history regardless of conditions behind :
Geoffrey Mutai (2:03:02 Boston 2011), Moses Mosop (2:03:06 Boston 2011), Patrick Makau (2:03:38 WR Berlin 2011), Wilson Kipsang (2:03:42 Frankfurt 2011) and Haile Gebrselassie (2:03:59 Berlin 2008) and the 4th fastest in the eyes of IAAF.


The Ethiopians made a 1-2-3 sweep when compatriots Dino Kemal and Markos Geneti finished in 2nd and 3rd placings in remarkable times of 2:04:50 and 2:04:54 respectively, giving Ethiopia a morale-boosting victory over arch rival Kenya.


The Ethiopian ladies also joined their men's domination and jubilation when defending champion Aselefech Medesa successfully retained her title in 2:19:31 with debutant Lucy Kabu of Kenya finished second in 2:19:34 and another Ethiopian Mare Dibaba 2:19:52 in third with all three in close finish in superb sub 20 minutes.

Results:
Men
1) 2:04:23 (CR) - Ayele Abshero (ETH) - won USD250,000
2) 2:04:50 - Dino Kemal (ETH) ---------- won USD100,000
3) 2:04:54 - Markos Geneti (ETH) ------ won USD50,000

Women
1) 2:19:31 - Aselefech Medesa (ETH) - won USD250,000
2) 2:19:34 - Lucy Kabuu (KEN) -------- won USD100,000
3) 2:19:52 - Mare Dibaba (ETH) ------- won USD50,000

Star-studded lineup at the 2012 Virgin London Marathon 22 April

Defending champion Emmanuel Mutai


The 2012 Virgin London Marathon ,scheduled to be flagged off on 22 April, has attracted a large field of elite men's stars including the following two sub 04, one sub 05 and seven sub 06 minutes starters :

Patrick Makau (KEN) 2:03:38 (WR) - Berlin 2011 Sept 25
Wilson Kipsang (KEN) PB 2:03:42 - Frankfurt 2011 Oct 30
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) PB 2:04:40 (CR) - London 2011 - Defending Champion
Vincent Kipruto (KEN) PB 2:05:33 - Rotterdam 2011 Apr 10
Martin Lel (KEN) PB 2:05:45 - London 2011 Apr 17 (3-time champion)
Abei Kirui (KEN) PB 2:05:04 - Rotterdam 2009 April 5 (2-time world champion)
Tsegay Kebede (ETH) PB 2:05:18 - Kukuoka 2009 Dec 6
Feyisa Lelisa (ETH) PB 2:05:23 - Rotterdam 2010 Apr 11
Bazu Worku (ETH) PB 2:05:25 - Berlin 2010 Sept 26
Jaouad Gharib (MOR) PB 2:05:27 - London 2009 Apr 26

Top 10 Women's Marathon Runners of all time as of Dec 2011

1) 2:15:25 (WR) - Paula Radcliffe
2) 2:18:20 - Liliya Shobukhova
3) 2:18:47 - Catherine N'dereba
4) 2:19:12 - Mizuki Noguchi
5) 2:19:19 - Irina Mikitenko
5) 2:19:19 - Mary Keitany
7) 2:19:36 - Deena Kastor
8) 2:19:39 - Sun Ying Jie 孙英杰
9) 2:19:41 - Yoko Shibui
10) 2:19:44 - Florence Kiplagat


Ranking of World's fastest women's marathoners in history as of December 2011:

1) 2:15:25 (WR) - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) - London 2003 Apr 13
2) 2:18:20 - Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) - Chicago 2011 Oct 9
3) 2:18:47 - Catherine N'dereba (KEN) - Chicago 2001 Oct 7
4) 2:19:12 - Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) - Berlin 2005 Sept 25
5) 2:19:19 - Irina Mikitenko (GER) - Berlin 2008 Sept 28
5) 2:19:19 - Mary Keitany (KEN) - London 2011 Apr 17
7) 2:19:36 - Deena Kastor (USA) - London 2006 Apr 23
8) 2:19:39 - Sun Ying Jie 孙英杰 (CHN) - Beijing 2003 Oct 19
9) 2:19:41 - Yoko Shibui (JPN) - Berlin 2004 Sept 26
10) 2:19:44 - Florence Kiplagat (KEN) - Berlin 2011 Sept 25

Top 10 Men's Marathon Runners of all time as of Dec 2011

1) 2:03:02 (2011) - Geoffrey Mutai
2) 2:03:06 (2011) - Moses Mosop
3) 2:03:38 (2011) (WR) - Patrick Makau
4) 2:03:42 (2011) - Wilson Kipsang
5) 2:03:59 (2008) - Haile Gebrselassie
6) 2:04:27 (2009) - Duncan Kibet
6) 2:04:27 (2009) - James Kwambai
8) 2:04:40 (2011) - Emmanuel Mutai
9) 2:04:53 (2011) - Gebre Gebremariam
10) 2:04:55 (2003) - Paul Tergat


Ranking of world's fastest men's marathoners in history as of Dec 2011:

1) 2:03:02 - Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) Boston 2011 Apr 18
2) 2:03:06 - Moses Mosop (KEN) Boston 2011 Apr 18 (debut)
3) 2:03:38 (WR) - Patrick Makau (KEN) Berlin 2011 Sept 25
4) 2:03:42 - Wilson Kipsang (KEN) Frankfurt 2011 Oct 30
5) 2:03:59 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Berlin 2008 Sept 28
6) 2:04:27 - Duncan Kibet (KEN) Rotterdam 2009 Apr 5
6) 2:04:27 - James Kwambai (KEN) Rotterdam 2009 Apr 5
8) 2:04:40 - Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) London 2011 Apr 17
9) 2:04:53 - Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) Boston 2011 Apr 18
10) 2:04:55 - Paul Tergat (KEN) Berlin 2003 Sept 28

Boston course is not ratified by IAAF due to the elevation drop and point-to-point measurements

4 new course records were set by Ethiopians at the 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Half Marathon yesterday

Tariku Jafar
Alemitu Abera
Belaynesh Ojira
Feyisa Lilesa

4 Ethiopians produced remarkable course record breaking results at the 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Half Marathon yesterday when both the course records of the Chevron full marathon and Aramco half marathon in both the men and women categories were broken.

Results:
Chevron full marathon (13,000 starters)
Men (old CR 2:07:04)
1) 2:06:51 (CR) - Tariku Jafar (ETH)
2) 2:07:41 - Debebe Tolossa (ETH)
3) 2:11:13 Demssew Tsega (ETH)

Women (old CR 2:23:53)
1) 2:23:14 (CR)- Alemitu Abera (ETH)
2) 2:28:44 - Benita Willis AUS)
3) 2:35:33 - Ava Hutchinson (IRL)

Aramco half marathon (11,000 starters)
Men
1) 59:22 (CR) - Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
2) 1:01:28 - Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
3) 1:01:30 - Scott Bauhs (USA)

Women
1) 1:08:26 (CR) - Belaynesh Ojira (ETH)
2) 1:08:28 - Caroline Kilel (NED)
3) 1:08:51 - Belainesh Gebre (ETH)

2:07:37 - Peter Kamais set a new Course Record at the Xiamen International Marathon this morning

Peter Kamais, 36, of Kenya won the 10th Xiamen International Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race in 2:07:37 (PB) this morning, breaking the old mark of 2:08:07 set by countryman Robert Kipchumba last year which made him the winner of USD15,000 bonus apart from the winner's prize money of USD40,000

Results:
Men
1) Peter Kamais (KEN) - 2:07:37 (CR)
2) Dickson Chumba Kipotolo (KEN) - 2:08:19
3) Solomon Tsege (ETH) - 2:08:59 (PB)

Women: (CR 2:22:38 - 2008)
1) Ashu Kasim (ETH) - 2:23:09
2) Miriam Wangari (KEN) - 2:31:30
3) Merima Hasen (ETH) - 2:31:46

Jin Lingling finished 6th in 2:38:04 as the best local female competitor.

This event attracted a record of more than 70,000 participants competing in full marahon, half marathon, 10km, 5km and additional categories in a wheel-chair half marathon and 12km skating.

Defending champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel to return to Boston Marathon 16 April

The 116th Boston Marathon, the first series of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) and the world's oldest marathon will be flagged off on the traditional 3rd Monday of April on the 16 and will see the return of both the defending champions from Kenya.

Geoffrey Mutai, 31 made a sensational finish in the last edition in 2:03:02, the fastest marathon ever run on a certified course while Caroline Kilel won in 2:22:36 in the women category.

Each winner will grab the prize money of US$150,000 the highest among the WMM events.