August 12, 2008
The women’s marathon of this years Olympic Games will take place on August, 17th (7.30 local time Beijing). Who are the favourites? Who are the underdogs?
The IAAF-rankings of this years performances in the marathon is as follows:
2:22:38 Yingying Zhang CHN
2:22:42 Berhane Adere ETH
2:22:53 Galina Bogomolova RUS
2:24:14 Irina Timofeyeva RUS
2:24:39 Svetlana Zakharova RUS
2:24:40 Dire Tune ETH
2:25:10 Mara Yamauchi GBR
2:25:33 Martha Komu KEN
2:25:37 Gete Wami ETH
Several race favorites have not run a serious marathon in 2008 and therefore this year’s ranking is not too meaningful.
Unlike the men’s race, the women will go out much faster and the Asians, i.e. the Japanese and the Chinese will put a lot of pressure on the field. Especially the Chinese have a lot of pressure from their home crowd and it remains to be seen if they can meet the expectations. A big question mark is the world record holder Paula Radcliffe, who suffered from an injury most of 2008 but reportedly put 8-9hours of training/day in her preparation. However the real mileage is missing and Paula might suffer after 30-35km when the muscular factor is coming into play.
The Ethiopians and Kenya’s Catherine Ndereba are other challengers for the Japanese and Chinese.
Also Germany is represented in the woman’s marathon. After the withdrawal of Irina Mikitenko (PB: 2:24:14h) the German marathon team is reduced to two participants: Susanne Hahn (PB: 2:29:35h) and Melanie Kraus (PB: 2:27:57h). A placement between 20 and 40 would be an achievement for both of them and more should not be expected.
August 12, 2008
After Germanys Irina Mikitenko, a second race favorite had to withdraw from the Olympic marathon in Beijing only short before the actual race.
Defending Champion Mizuki Noguchi (JAP) informed the Japanese Team, that she can’t participate due to an injury in her left thigh muscle and her groin. Noguchi ran an Asian record in the Berlin marathon 2005 (2:19:12) and won the Gold medal of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 (2:26:20).
So far no woman could defend an Olympic title and with the withdrawal of Noguchi this streak will continue.
August 6, 2008
The men’s marathon of the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing will take place on the last day of the Olympics on August, 24th. Who are the favourites? Who are the underdogs?
The current standigs of the Best times in the marathon this year is as follows (only participants of the Olympics are included):
2:05:15 Martin Lel KEN
2:05:24 Samuel Kamau Wanjiru KEN
2:05:30 Abderrahim Goumri MAR
2:06:17 Ryan Hall USA
2:06:38 Deriba Merga ETH
2:06:40 Tsegay Kebede ETH
2:07:23 Viktor Röthlin SUI
2:07:46 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot KEN
2:08:23 Mubarak Hassan Shami QAT
2:08:34 Yared Asmerom ERI
2:08:36 Satoshi Osaki JPN
2:08:51 Yonas Kifle ERI
2:09:24 Simon Munyutu FRA
2:09:38 José Ríos ESP
Remember, those are only the times of this year and there might be runners that have been selected because of performances in last autumn.
As everyone knows (or should know) by now, marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie is running 10.000m in the Beijing Games. This – for sure – opens the door for the Kenyans, that are still waiting for a first gold medal in an Olympic marathon. However, it remains to be seen if they can brake this ban. The men’s race will most likely will be a tactical one. We will see some unknown guys running in front after 5 to 15km to present themself and to get some media attention (as it’s usual the case in an Olympic marathon). The favourites will bunch up behind and will be very careful in choosing the right pace, i.e. a slow pace. The eventual winner will run a negative split, because the real race will start at around 30K and from there on it will be really interesting. There are definitely some guys in the field that have a good speed, so the Kenyan’s should be careful. On the other hand Samuel Wanjiru should have the ability to run the second half sub 1:05.
So, at the end it will be Kenya against the rest of the world. The European hope is of course Viktor Röthlin of Switzerland, who already showed great performances in similar conditions (e.g. in Osaka last year). Also the Americans Ryan Hall and Dathan Ritzenhein will be in contention and will bring some colour into the lead pack.
On the other hand it’s an Olympic marathon and the last Olympic marathons always were won by outsiders – at least on the men’s side.
Unfortunately there won’t be any German marathon runners, even if 3 Germans broke the IAAF B-standard of 2:18 in the qualification period (Martin Beckmann: 2:15:22, Falk Cierpinski: 2:15:48, Mario Kröckert: 2:16:07)
August 4, 2008
World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe (GBR) announced that she is going to run in the women’s marathon of the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008. After arriving at the training camp of Team Great Britain in Macau she stated: “I’m racing unless my leg breaks down” … “It’s the Olympics so you take a risk on it.” After some doubts about her shape because of a stress fracture in her left leg, she now takes the role of the women to beat for Gold.
July 27, 2008
From 24th-27th of July the Finnish Championships (called Kalevan Kisat) took place in Tampere. Distance Results were as follows:
10 000 m
Women
1. Annemari Sandell-Hyvärinen Turun Weikot 34.53,18
2. Jaana Niemelä Turun Weikot 35.46,13
3. Laura Skyttä Liedon Parma 35.58,52
4. Maija Oravamäki Oulun Pyrintö 37.08,28
5. Elina Lindgren Oulun Pyrintö 37.25,66
6. Sari Juuti Kenttäurheilijat-58 38.19,79
7. Minna Kainlauri Lappeenrannan Urheilu-Miehet 38.24,93
8. Suvi Miettinen Jäppilän Urheilijat 38.32,43
9. Elli Hemminki Rovaniemen Lappi 39.59,34
10. Anni Hemminki Rovaniemen Lappi 39.59,44
Men
1. Jussi Utriainen Lahden Ahkera 29.46,55
2. Miika Takala Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat 30.16,76
3. Henri Manninen Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat 30.39,92
4. Juho Pirkola Kälviän Tarmo 30.55,11
5. Mikko Tyni Haminan Ponteva 31.34,79
6. Jukka Kero Turun Urheiluliitto 31.38,47
7. Marko Vaittinen Forssan Salama 31.41,56
8. Pekka Toivola Joensuun Kataja 31.44,98
9. Vesa Erojärvi Turun Weikot 31.47,77
10. Petri Kykyri Kälviän Tarmo 31.59,18
5 000 m
Women
1. Annemari Sandell-Hyvärinen Turun Weikot 16.15,47
2. Saara Pekkarinen Lapinlahden Veto 17.01,08
3. Sanni Klemelä Forssan Salama 17.04,72
4. Mira Tuominen Valkeakosken Haka 17.06,32
5. Maija Oravamäki Oulun Pyrintö 17.07,13
6. Merja Rantanen Lapuan Virkiä 17.15,00
7. Laura Skyttä Liedon Parma 17.18,50
8. Jaana Niemelä Turun Weikot 17.18,95
9. Elina Lindgren Oulun Pyrintö 17.26,38
10. Hanna Haavikko Turun Urheiluliitto 17.48,46
…
Men
1. Jussi Utriainen Lahden Ahkera 14.10,35
2. Matti Räsänen Joensuun Kataja 14.16,83
3. Obed Kipkurui Sjundeå IF 14.24,67
4. Jarkko Hamberg Sjundeå IF 14.33,12
5. Joonas Harjamäki Seinäjoen Urheilijat 14.35,87
6. Miika Takala Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat 14.37,78
7. Henri Manninen Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat 14.42,55
8. Tuomas Jokinen Liedon Parma 14.48,80
9. Juho Pirkola Kälviän Tarmo 14.51,05
10. Aki Mustonen Kuopion Sisu-Veikot 14.53,57
…
1 500 m
Women
1. Mari Järvenpää Kokkolan Veikot 4.26,68
2. Heidi Eriksson IF Nykarlebynejden 4.27,32
3. Annika Rikberg Borgå Akilles 4.27,43
4. Saara Pekkarinen Lapinlahden Veto 4.27,84
5. Sanni Klemelä Forssan Salama 4.30,33
6. Hanna Haavikko Turun Urheiluliitto 4.31,12
7. Minna Järvenpää Kokkolan Veikot 4.31,50
8. Minna Nummela Helsingin Kisa-Veikot 4.32,47
9. Anna-Mari Määttänen Forssan Salama 4.34,59
10. Eeva Sajanti Nurmon Urheilijat -99 4.40,08
…
Men
1. Robert Rotkirch Esbo IF 3.53,95
2. Niclas Sandells IK Falken 3.54,07
3. Mikko Lahtio Helsingin Kisa-Veikot 3.54,40
4. Riku Marttinen Heinolan Isku 3.54,78
5. Tommi Sundell Porin Yleisurheilu 3.57,54
6. Simo Wannas Helsingin Kisa-Veikot 3.57,83
7. Torsti Kettula Lahden Ahkera 3.58,19
8. Matti Virén Myrskylän Myrsky 3.58,46
9. Jukka-Pekka Kauppi Euran Raiku 3.59,54
10. Mikael Bergdahl Gamlakarleby IF 4.05,46
…
10 km race walking (street)
Women
1. Marja Penttinen Lapuan Virkiä 47.37
2. Karoliina Kaasalainen Nokian Urheilijat 48.50
3. Kati Penttinen Kuopion Nmky 51.05
4. Anne Halkivaha Oripään Vesa 53.34
5. Mikaela Löfbacka IF Vom 54.17
…
20 km race walking (street)
Men
1. Jarkko Kinnunen Jalasjärven Jalas 1.25.56
2. Antti Kempas Tuusulanjärven Urheilijat 1.26.08
3. Veli-Matti Partanen Lappeenrannan Urheilu-Miehet 1.30.43
4. Jani Lehtinen Lappeenrannan Urheilu-Miehet 1.32.15
5. Heikki Kukkonen Lappeenrannan Urheilu-Miehet 1.37.48
…
3 000 m steeple
Women
1. Sandra Eriksson IF Nykarlebynejden 10.15,25
2. Mira Tuominen Valkeakosken Haka 10.27,98
3. Eeva Sajanti Nurmon Urheilijat -99 10.37,74
4. Sanna Kullberg Oulun Pyrintö 10.42,45
5. Saara Skyttä Liedon Parma 10.48,32
…
Men
1. Jukka Keskisalo Joensuun Kataja 8.33,21
2. Joonas Harjamäki Seinäjoen Urheilijat 8.54,24
3. Mikael Talasjoki Helsingin Kisa-Veikot 8.54,34
4. Teppo Syrjälä Teivo Stayers 9.09,19
5. Mikko Virta Turun Weikot 9.16,92
6. Jarkko Anttila Turun Weikot 9.18,31
7. Aleksi Ikonen Joensuun Kataja 9.21,66
8. Eemeli Saarelma Asikkalan Raikas 9.28,17
9. Arto Ylä-Kotola Karhulan Katajaiset 9.30,40
10. Joonas Lehtinen Turun Urheiluliitto 9.34,42
…
full results of the championships (in Finnish) kalevankisat.fi
July 27, 2008
On last Saturday, July 26th, the swissalpime marathon took place in Davos/SUI. The 78km-main event was won by Swiss Jasmin Nunge (former cross-country skier) on the womens side and Swed Jonas Buud (former orienteerer and marathoner) on the mens side.
The race was held in almost perfect conditions and only 4 runners (1 with an open skull fracture – ouch!) had to be hospitalised after 9 hours of race time.
Top results for the main competitions:
K78 (+/-2320 m)
Women
1. Jamin Nuninge (SUI) 07:00:36
2. Elizabeth Hawker (GBR) 07:11:05
3. Deborah Balz (SUI) 7:31:25
4. Jeanette Dalcomo-Jegen (SUI) 7:48:39
5. Denise Zimmermann (SUI) 08:02:13
6. Martina Liebendörfer (GER) 08:09:11
7. Eveline Blatter (SUI) 08:09:50
8. Resi Zepf (GER) 08:10:13
9. Maja Pliska (SUI) 08:22:39
10. Manuela Imboden (SUI) 08:29:53
Men
1. Jonas Buud (SWE) 6:00:26
2. Konrad von Allmen (SUI) 6:16:43
3. René Fuchser (SUI) 6:19:11
4. Pius Hunnold (SUI) 6:21:35
5. Anssi Raittila (FIN) 6:26.19
6. Tobias Brack (GER) 6:30.29
7. Anton Phillip (GER) 6:43:25
8. Christian Storck (GER) 6:45:23
9. Marco Gazzola (SUI) 6:46:13
10. Beat Bieri (SUI) 6:48:03
K42 (+1890 m/-1710 m)
Women
1. Diana Lehman (GER) 04:04:34
2. Carolina Reiber (SUI) 04:07:52
3. Regula Meier (SUI) 4:14.25
4. Linda Wenzel (GER) 4:18:56
5. Anita Haas (SUI) 4:24:56
6. Claudia Gmür (SUI) 4:25:04
7. Bettina Schelbert (SUI) 4:28:00
8. Claudia Bodenwinkler (SUI) 4:29:34
9. Anita Lehmann (SUI) 4:32:09
10. Antje Strothmann (SUI) 4:32.13
Men
1. Max Frei (GER) 3:22.10
2. Koen Van Rie (BEL) 3:30.30
3. Dirk Strothmann (GER) 3:30:32
4. Felix Schenk (SUI) 3:33.58
5. Michael Nielsen (DEN) 3:34.52
6. Daniel Bolt (SUI) 3:37:15
7. Stephan Spiess (SUI) 3:40:53
8. Walter Ernst (GER) 3:41:41
9. Christoph Schefer (SUI) 3:43:30
10. Dick van den Broek (NED) 3:45:06
C42 (+470m/-1080 m)
Women
1. Marion Hebding (GER) 3:24:33
2. Edith Zwahlen (SUI) 3:36:56
3. Helena Küng (SUI) 3:39:31
4. Helen Zuber (SUI) 3:44:38
5. Simone Stöppler (GER) 3:45:25
6. Susanne Ummel (SUI) 3:48:43
7. Margrith Camenzind (SUI) 3:48:49
8. Zuzana Stolicna (SVK) 3:55.39
9. Sabine Kuno (GER) 4:10:33
10. Katja Schorcht (GER) 4:15.09
Men
1. Peter Ricklin (SUI) 2:57:57
2. Peter Gschwend (SUI) 3:06:18
3. Michel Jobin (SUI) 3:07:02
4. Alefsen Götz (GER) 3:09:11
5. Martin Krättli (SUI) 3:09.33
6. Gert Mertens (BEL) 3:11:21
7. Frank Kleinsorg (GER) 3:15.52
8. Toni Bösch (SUI) 3:16:57
9. Hendrik Moorlag (NED) 3:17:55
10. Christian Schmid (SUI) 3:18:5416.43 h
July 27, 2008
It seems there is a lot of tension in the Ethiopian team: Several media resources report, that there were 2 incidents between Ethiopian marathon hopefuls in the last weeks.
On Thursday (July 17th) Bezunesh Bekele and Dire Tune argued over who deserved to claim the last spot in the female marathon team for the Olympics. The argument ended up in a physical fight between the two women before their morning run (Tune finally got the last spot).
Even worse was the clash between Tessema Abshiro and olympic marathon participant Deriba Merga on Sunday, July 20th. This physical confrontation ended with Abshiro aiming a gun at Merga!
original enclosure ssinformer.com
July 22, 2008
Ethiopia’s “running machine” Haile Gebrselassie is going to run the 36th real,-Berlin Marathon on September, 28th. After shattering the world record last year he is now trying again to complete the 42,195km faster than any human before. In an interview he stated that training sessions (especially the long runs) are going well. Berlin is a special place for him because organisation, course, weather and spectators always make him happy.
Well, there is still an Olympic 10.000m-race before the marathon in the German capital but it’s quite sure that Haile will once again make a big show!
original enclosure (in German) leichtathletik.de
July 22, 2008
Only 17 days left until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games! Here is an (incomplete and inofficial) list of participants for the Olympic marathon of the Beijing Games (the list will be updated on a regular basis):
Women
AUS: Benita Johnson, Kate Smyth, Lisa-Jane Weightman
AUT: Eva Maria Gradwohl
BRA: Marily dos Santos
BRN: Nadia Ejjafini
CHN: Zhou Chunxiu, Zhu Xiaolin, Chen Rong, Zhang Shujing
ESP: Alessandra Aguilar, Yesenia Centeno, María J.Pueyo
ETH: Gete Wami, Berhane Adere, Dire Tune
FRA: Christelle Daunay
GBR: Paula Radcliffe, Mara Yamauchi, Liz Yelling
GER: Irina Mikitenko, Susanne Hahn, Melanie Kraus
GRE: Eléni Dónta
HUN: Bea Rakonczai, Petra Teveli
ITA: Bruna Genovese, Vincenza Sicari, Anna Incerti
IRL: Pauline Curley
JAP: Mizuki Noguchi, Yurika Nakamura, Reiko Tosa
LIT: Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Rasa Drazdauskaitė
MEX: Madaí Pérez, Dulce María Rodríguez, Patricia Rétiz
NOR: Kirsten Melkevik Otterbu
NZL: Nina Rillstone, Liza Hunter-Galvan
POL: Dorota Gruca, Monika Drybulska
POR: Ana Dias, Inês Monteiro, Marisa Barros
KEN: Catherine Ndereba, Martha Komu, Selina Kosgei
RUS: Galina Bogomolova, Svetlana Zakharova, Irina Timofeeva
SVK: Zuzana Tomasova
TUR: Bahar Doğan
UKR: Tetyana Filonyuk, Natalya Berkut, Oksana Sklyarenko
USA: Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Blake Russell
Men:
AUS: Lee Troop
BLR: Andrei Gordeev
BRA: Marilson Gomes, Jose Teles, Franck Caldeira
BRN: Stephen Kamara
CAM: Hem Bunting
CHN: Ren Longyun, Deng Haiyang, Li Zhuhong
ESP: Julio Rey, José Ríos, Chema Martínez
ETH: Tsegaye Kebede, Deriba Mergia, Gashaw Melese
FIN: Janne Holmen, Francis Kirwa
FRA: Simon Munyutu
GBR: Dan Robinson
ITA: Stefano Baldini, Ottavio Andriani, Ruggero Pertile
IRL: Martin Fagan
ISR: Ayele Seteng
JAP: Atsushi Sato, Satoshi Osaki, Tsuyoshi Ogata
KAZ: Takhir Mamashayev
KOR: Lee Bong-Ju
KEN: Martin Lel, Samuel Wanjiru, Robert Cheruiyot
LIE: Marcel Tschopp
MON: Ser-Od Bat-Ochir
NED: Kamiel Maase
POL: Henryk Szost, Arkadiusz Sowa
POR: Paulo Gomes, Hélder Ornelas
QUA: Yousif Othma, Mubarak Hassan
RSA: Norman Dlomo, Hendrick Ramaala
RUS: Alekesei Sokolov, Grigoriy Andreev, Oleg Kulkov
SUI: Viktor Röthlin
TAN: Samson Ramadhan, Msenduki Mohamed, Getuli Bayo
TUR: Abdil Ceylan
UGA: Alex Malinga
UKR: Oleksandr Kuzin, Oleksandr Sitkovskiy, Vasil Matviychuk
USA: Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, Brian Sell
July 14, 2008
Soon you are going to find news about international distance running in this section.
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