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Mary Keitany, Geoffrey Mutai Announced For RAK Half Marathon

Sundari Ramanathan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:47:40 +0000

By Chris Lotsbom, Race Results Weekly

(09-Feb) — Organizers at the RAK Half Marathon announced today an extremely robust elite field set for the February 17th race in the United Arab Emirates. Kenyans Mary Keitany and Geoffrey Mutai headline the event, which is in it’s sixth year.

Keitany, the women’s defending champion, will return to Ras Al Khaimah a year after she set the world record there, running 65:50 to take more than thirty seconds off Lornah Kiplagat’s previous world best of 66:25.

The men’s elite field features a plethora of long distance aces, led by Mutai, the current World Marathon Majors standings leader and fastest marathoner of all time.

Joining Mutai in the United Arab Emirates will be Rotterdam Marathon champion Wilson Chebet, as well as BMW Frankfurt Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, both of Kenya.

Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede and Feyisa Lelisa, bronze medalists at the 2008 Olympic Marathon and 2011 IAAF World Championships Marathon, respectively, will also be competing. In total, nine sub-60:00 half-marathoners will be competing for the $25,000 first place prize.

In addition to Keitany on the women’s side, seven other athletes having run under 70:00 for 13.1 km are entered. Included is 2011 Boston Marathon champion Caroline Kilel, whose personal best of 68:16 is second only to Keitany in the field. Kenya’s Hilda Kibet (68:39), Ethiopia’s Feysa Tadesse (68:44), and Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics (68:58) have all run sub-69 for the distance.

Top Athletes To Participate In RAK Half Marathon

Sundari Ramanathan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:42:47 +0000

The sixth RAK Half Marathon on February 17th, now a well-established IAAF Gold Label Road Race, promises even more than the usual fare in this tiny corner of the United Arab Emirates.

The tiny but lion-hearted Keitany returns to the scene of this clockwise loop race that last year projected her towards a 2:19:19 victory in London eight weeks later and her inevitable status as one of the favourites for Olympic Marathon gold later this year.

Last year’s champion Deriba Merga does not run but in his place are several marathoning luminaries of 2011 from Kenya, such as Geoffrey Mutai, the fastest marathon runner ever after his wins last year.

To underline the strength of the men’s line-up, other runners that just miss top billing such as Ethiopia’s Tsegay Kebede, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist and Lelisa Desisa who won the Delhi Half Marathon in 59:30 in late November, would top the start list at most races.

Likewise, after placing second here last year (59:44), Bernard Kipyego now knows the RAK course and with five sub 60 minute clockings in the last three years as well as the strength of a 2:06:29 third place in Chicago last October, will be a strong contender for a podium spot.

The RAK Half Marathon will be held on 17 February 2012 and is an IAAF Gold Label Race (Silver Label 2009, 2010, 2011) and a full member of the Association of Marathons and Distance Running (AIMS).

MEN
Wilson Kipsang KiprotichKEN58:59
Bernard KipyegoKEN59:10
Wilson ChebetKEN59:15
Lelisa DesisaETH59:30
Geoffrey MutaiKEN59:30
Tsegay KebedeETH59:35
Azmeraw BekeleETH59:39
Kiplimo KimutaiKEN59:44
Fabiano JosephTAN59:56
Levy Matebo OmariKEN60:06
Joseph Nganga MareguKEN60:24
Feyisa LelisaETH60:33
Dennis Kipruto KoechKEN61:30A
WOMEN
Mary KeitanyKEN65:50
Caroline Cheptanui KilelKEN68:16
Hilda KibetKEN68:39
Feysa TadesseETH68:44
Aniko KalovicsHUN68:58
Georgina RonoKEN69:08
Gladys CheronoKEN69:26
Rose ChelimoKEN69:45
Serena BurlaUSA70:08

Read More: rakmarathon.org

Boston Marathon Releases Elite Fields

Sundari Ramanathan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:25:37 +0000

By David Monti, Race Results Weekly

(09-Feb) — Organizers of the Boston Marathon released their elite fields today, and defending champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel of Kenya will be facing very strong competition as they run from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay in the 116th edition of America’s oldest marathon.

The event, part of the five-race World Marathon Majors series, is scheduled for Monday, April 16, Patriots’ Day in the state of Massachusetts.

Ethiopia’s Gebre Gebremariam, the 2010 ING New York City Marathon from Ethiopia, and Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, the 2010 Boston Marathon champion from Kenya, lead the list of Mutai’s challengers.

Also competing from Kenya, organizers said, are 2011 Rotterdam Marathon winner Wilson Chebet (2:05:27 PB), 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon second place finisher Wesley Korir (2:06:15), last year’s third-placer at Chicago Bernard Kipyego (2:06:29), 2011 Fukuoka Marathon champion Josphat Ndambiri (2:07:36), 2011 BMW Frankfurt Marathon runner-up Levy Matebo (2:05:16), 2012 Xiamen Marathon winner Peter Kamais (2:07:37), 2011 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon champion David Barmasai (2:07:18), and 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon champion Mathew Kisorio (2:10:58).

Two Americans, Jason Hartmann (2:11:06 PB) and Antonio Vega (2:13:47) are also entered.

The women’s field will also be power-packed. Chasing Kilel will be Kenyans Sharon Cherop and Caroline Rotich.

The Ethiopian women’s squad at Boston will be exceptionally good, led by national record holder Aselefech Mergia, who just won in Dubai in a blistering 2:19:31. Joining her will be the 1-2 finishers from last November’s ING New York City Marathon, Firehiwot Dado (2:23:15 PB) and Buzunesh Deba (2:23:19), and 2011 BMW Frankfurt Marathon champion Mamitu Daska (2:21:59).

Russians Galina Bogomolova (2:20:47 PB) and Alevtina Biktimirova (2:25:12) will also be in the field.

Defar Chasing Historic Fifth World Indoor Gold

Sundari Ramanathan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:57:41 +0000

By Sabrina Yohannes, Race Results Weekly

(09-Feb) — Meseret Defar of Ethiopia is going for an unprecedented fifth straight 3000m title at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul in March, after taking gold at every edition of the biennial championships since 2004.

“With my third title, I equaled Gabriela Szabo’s record,” said Defar in an interview in Boston last Saturday where she competed in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, clocking a world-leading 8:33.57 in the 3000m. ”With the fourth title, I became the first woman to do it. This would be my fifth, and I will pray that God will help me.”

The Romanian Szabo won the 3000m titles in 1995, 1997 and 1999.

Defar set still-standing world indoor records at both venues, running 8:23.72 for 3000m in Stuttgart in 2007 and 14:24.37 for 5000m in Stockholm in 2009.

She came within less than a second of the 3000m mark in 2010 when she clocked 8:24.46 in Stuttgart, and she ran the second fastest 3000m time of 2011, 8:36.91, in Stockholm, a time eclipsed by only her training partner and fellow world indoor medalist Sentayehu Ejigu, who ran 8:30.26 in Birmingham.

Outdoors in 2012, Defar will concentrate on trying to regain the Olympic 5000m title she lost in Beijing to compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba, but she hasn’t ruled out attempting the 10,000 as well. “At the moment, I am thinking of the 5000m,” she said.

Dold, Moon Win Empire State Building Run-Up

Sundari Ramanathan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:42:48 +0000

By David Monti, Race Results Weekly

NEW YORK (09-Feb) — Thomas Dold of Germany and Melissa Moon of New Zealand won the 35th edition of the Empire State Building Run-Up here last night. This was the first time the race was held at night, and athletes were greeted by a moderate snow squall when they emerged into the cold air outside on the 86th floor observation deck of this city’s tallest building.

Dold, 27, from Stuttgart, won the race for a record seventh time. He climbed the 1576 steps in 10 minutes and 28 seconds, eight seconds ahead of Christian Riedl, a 31 year-old German from Erlangen.

In the women’s contest, Moon won here for the second time (she also won in 2010). The 42 year-old two-time world mountain running champion from Wellington, clocked 12 minutes and 39 seconds, handily beating second place Suzy Walsham, a 38 year-old former middle distance runner from Australia who won this race three times.

A total of 441 men and 225 women finished the race, according to the New York Road Runners, the not-for-profit race organization which which founded and organizes the event.

The Springwells Park Neighborhood To Hosts 5K Fun Run In June

Anu Tibrewal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:31:32 +0000

The Springwells Park neighborhood hosts a 5K Fun Run each June as part of their annual Garden Tour. A date has not been announced for 2012, but those interested in participating can look for more information on www.springwellspark.org.

Last June, the Going Green Foundation and Dearborn Sustainability Coalition teamed up to host theCARES Festival, which included a Going, Going, Green 5K fundraiser for the city’s Adopt-A-Watt program. The weekend festival took place at Crowley Park.

The group has not confirmed a repeat event for 2012. However, more information can be found atwww.thegoinggreenfoundation.org.

Read more: dearborn.patch.com

Mutt Strut 2012 Event Set To Take Place On May. 12

Anu Tibrewal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:28:53 +0000

The Dearborn Animal Shelter hosts the Mutt Strut every May, with the 2012 event set to take place May 12. Though it’s not a run, the parade of pets and people around west Dearborn does raise funds for the shelter. Participants are also encouraged to raise funds through pledges.

This event also begins and ends at Ford Field. Sign up at www.dearbornmuttstrut.com.

Read more: dearborn.patch.com

Martian Marathon In Dearborn To Take Place On Apr. 14

Anu Tibrewal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:27:34 +0000

Every April, Running Fit brings the Martian Marathon to Dearborn, which includes a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon and kids marathon. Registration is open and can be done at www.martianmarathon.com. The event takes place April 14, with start times beginning at 7:15 a.m. at Ford Field.

The Martian Marathon donates a portion of proceeds each year to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, which also fundraises through runners.

Read more: dearborn.patch.com

The Great Indian Run, An Annual Marathon To Take Place On Feb. 10

Anu Tibrewal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:26:28 +0000

The Great Indian Run, an annual marathon that pays tribute to the visionary leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, will be held this Friday under the theme, Ma Tujhe Salam (Salute to you, mother). Akcaf (All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum), an apex body of about 50 alumni associations of colleges in Kerala, India, is hosting the event for the second time at Al Mamzar Beach Road in Dubai.

The marathon is held in connection with the anniversary of the Accession Day of Shaikh Mohammed as the Ruler of Dubai and the Indian Republic Day. The proceeds go to the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (Dfwac), a non-profit shelter and rehabilitation centre for female victims of domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking.

Read more: khaleejtimes.com

10,000 Runners Are Expected To Descend For St. Pete’s First Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon

Anu Tibrewal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:25:10 +0000

As many as 10,000 runners are expected to descend on St. Petersburg Sunday morning for the joy of running 13.1 miles, much of it along the waterfront, in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. Local bands and “cheerleaders” will provide encouragement along the route. At the end: a free concert by Flo Rida. If you have no interest in the race or the expo, stay far away from downtown that day because of numerous road closures. Here’s what you need to know. Times staff

If you’re still upright after the race, then party with Flo Rida! It’s going to be a pretty early show for the hip-pop superstar and South Florida native, about 10 a.m., as racers finish in North Shore Park. He’ll perform all the hits you’ve already been running to on your iPod: Low, Right Round, Club Can’t Handle Me. Because there’s nothing like a little Good Feeling after going the distance. If you’re not racing, the show is free and open to everyone.

Read more: tampabay.com