Marathonscene - Part 40

Jan Fitschen ahead of World Championships decision

Because of his injury problems, European 10.000m Champion Jan Fitschen wants to decide already next week if he still has a chance to get fit right in time before the home World Championships. “It’s getting more difficult every day. I know that it might not work out to participate in Berlin.” Fitschen stated to German Press Agency.

After 17 years of competitive sports the plantar tendon issue is the first big injury for Fitschen and already in the past there were several doubts if he can get fit for the World Championships.


Japanese 2009 World Championships Marathon Team Announced

Following Kenya, Japan is the second big marathon nation to announce its team for the IAAF Worl Championships 2009 in Berlin.

At a press conference on May 7th, Japan’s athletics federation Rikuren announced the official lineups for both men and women. The federation, its athletes and the country are determined to make up for the national team’s disappointing showing of last summer’s Olympic games. Both the men’s and women’s teams include a fair number of young athletes, with two of the men and all but one of the women having debuted within the last two years and three runners total having qualified for the World Championships team in their debut marathons.

Men:
Atsushi Sato, Satoshi Irifune, Arata Fujiwara, Masaya Shimizu, Kazuhiro Maeda

Women:
Yoshimi Ozaki, Yoko Shibui, Yuri Kano, Yukiko Akaba, Yoshiko Fujinaga

Reserves:

Men:
Kensuke Takahashi

Women:
Tomo Morimoto


Irina Mikitenko testing the Marathon course for the IAAF World Championships 2009

On Sunday 3rd of May Irina Mikitenko, two-time London Marathon winner and THE german marathon hope for the World Championships in Berlin had a first feel of the official marathon course for the IAAF World Championships.

Mikitenko witnessed the official measurement of the 10 km long lap course in the midle of Berlin city. The official measurement gave the result that there was only a deviation of 3meters on the 10km loop. About the course Mikitenko said: “The course is flat and quick and as a runner coming from the track I like it. At the lap course the spectators will be even closer but at the end of the day every runner will still be alone against the 42,195m” .

Only one week after regaining her London title the 36-year old stated that “London is already behind me now. I will have one more recovery week with my family and then the preparations for World Championships will start.”

Mikitenko can now rightly claim to be currently the top female marathon runner in the world after winning in both London and Berlin in 2008, clocking the fastest time of last year when she ran 2:19:19h to win the latter race, and despite missing out on competing at the Olympics due to a injury reasons.

She hopes to make up for her absence in the 2008 Beijing Olympic at the IAAF World Championships on home soil in Berlin this summer, with the women’s marathon being on the program on August 23, the date of her 37th birthday.


German marathoners in a new era as several new PBs are set in Düsseldorf marathon?

Sundays Düsseldorf marathon met most of the expectations, especially in the mens field, as 2 men went sub-2:14 and 5 went sub-2:20.

mens race

André Pollmächer delivered a personal best mark of 2:13:09 to finish in 3rd place overall. In his second marathon after Frankfurt 2008 he improved by 1:09min. The time of 2:13:09 is also the fastest by a German marathoner since 2000! Pollmächer stated: “I felt fine today and surely there is more to come next time. I want to continue to improve…”.
Together with Martin Beckamnn and Falk Cierpinski, Pollmächer passed halfmarathon in 66:07min and disengaged from his competitors shortly after. Martin Beckmann was also rewarded for his courage by clocking a personal best of 2:13:42h for 6th place. Beckmann commented: “Actually I did not want to start that fast, but running alone would have been stupid as well. Until kilometer 20 I felt fantastic and thought that the time would be even faster.”
Falk Cierpinski was rather disappointed with his 8th place in 2:17:12h but a hip issue hampered the training for the last five weeks, after coming back from an altitude stay in Kenya: “I could not do faster or longer runs for five weeks”. The fastest German marathoner for the last 2 years now wants to concentrate on the home world championships.
Behind the trio of Cierpinski, Beckmann and Pollmächer a fight was expected for the last ticket for the world championships between Uli Stedl and Tobias Sauter. After passing halfway in 68:31min together the 25 year old Sauter had a better second half and finished in a PB of 2:17:27h, only 15 seconds behind his training partner Cierpinski. With this performance it is much likely that Sauter will be the 5th man (behind Pollmächer, Cierpinski, Beckmann and Stefan Koch) in the team for the World Champs. The more experienced, 37year old Steidl had to pay some tribute to a sub-optimal preparation because of a hip-flexor injury but still ran a 2:19:44. However, he most probably will not be able to represent Germany in the 2009 World Championships a second time after 2007 in Osaka.

womens race

The story in the womens race was Susanne Hahn, who clocked a PB of 2:29:26h to win the overall female classement. With this time she stayed clearly under the qualification time of 2:32:00h and will therefore most probably represent Germany in Berlin for the World Championships. The 31 year old concluded the race, saying: “I had hoped for a better result, but at the end I was happy to have improved my personal best by seven seconds. All went well for 30km, but then my legs became very heavy”.
Unfortunately the closest competitors of Hahn dropped out of the race due to injury reasons. Defending Düsseldorf champion Melanie Kraus had to give up after 8K already after she pulled a thigh muscle in her stretching routine just before the start. Claudia Dreher dropped out at km 13, but she already started the race with a foot injury.
So the 2nd place went to marathon debutant Melanie Schulz. After running the first half in 1:17:18h, Schulz hit the wall after 35K and missed her target of 2:35h quite clearly.

Results were posted already earlier..


METRO Group Marathon Düsseldorf results, 03.05.2009

Short report to follow soon.

Lead results were as follows:

marathon men:
1 David Langat (KEN) M20 02:10:46
2 Wilfred Kigen (KEN) M30 02:11:30
3 André Pollmächer (GER) M20 02:13:09
4 Edwin Kibowen (KEN) M20 02:13:16
5 Andrej Gordeev (BY) M35 02:13:32
6 Martin Beckmann (GER) M30 02:13:42
7 Richard Mutai (KEN) M30 02:14:10
8 Falk Cierpinski (GER) M30 02:17:12
9 Tobias Sauter (GER) M20 02:17:27
10 Ulrich Steidl (GER) M35 02:19:44
11 Bastian Krantz (GER) M30 TV Wattenscheid 01 02:27:38
12 Martin Czarnietzki (GER) M20 02:28:31
13 Edwin Yano (KEN) M30 02:29:26
14 Vitaliy Rybak (UKR) M20 02:31:14
15 Matthias Jegodtka (GER) M35 ASC Rosellen/Neuss 02:32:27
16 Jürgen-Astin Kerl (GER) M30 02:32:38
17 Thorsten Kwekkeboom (GER) M35 LG Alpen 02:33:27
18 El Houssaine Douabi (GER) M40 MC Eschweiler 02:34:53
19 Marc Müller (GER) M20 Mönchengladbacher LG 02:36:41
20 Wolfgang Lenz (GER) M40 rhein-marathon düsseldorf e.V. 02:38:16

marathon women:
1 Susanne Hahn (GER) W30 02:29:26
2 Melanie Schulz (GER) W30 02:42:47
3 Sonja Oberem (GER) W35 rhein-marathon düsseldorf e.V. 02:43:49
4 Claudia Röther (GER) W45 Turbo-Schnecken Lüdenscheid 03:06:02
5 Ramona Zenk (GER) W45 SCC Berlin 03:08:11
6 Silke Niehues (GER) W35 BSG Sparkasse Essen 03:10:17
7 Michaela Hunold (GER) W40 Air Berlin 03:14:11
8 Sabine Papendick (GER) W40 Vodafone Runners 03:14:19
9 Steffi Keil (GER) W35 03:17:19
10 Claudia Stader (GER) W35 WGZ Bank 03:17:39
11 Tanja Wimmer (GER) W30 ASC Rosellen/Neuss 03:17:42
12 Vera Hansch (GER) W20 Adler-Langlauf Bottrop 03:18:36
13 Beatrice Bohris – Jäggi (CH) W45 Tus Breitscheid 03:18:54
14 Petra Losert (GER) W45 TV Waldstr. Wiesbaden 03:19:03
15 Inge Raabe (GER) W45 TuRa Remscheid-Süd 03:19:09
16 Gisele Müßeler (GER) W45 METRO Group 03:19:30
17 Carmen Schaeuble (GER) W35 SG Empfingen 03:19:42
18 Janine Brandt (GER) W30 Recklinghäuser LC 03:20:25
19 Monika Ellenrieder (GER) W45 LT Metzkausen 03:21:17
20 Susanne Eckai-Nicolaus (GER) W45 RP Marathon-Team 03:22:07

full results of the race metrogroup-marathon.eu

German 10.000m Championships 2009 in Bremen report + results, 02.05.09

The German 10.000m Championships (including the 5.000m Championships for the female Youth). was a one-woman show from Sabrina Mockenhaupt. The mens title on the track in Bremen went to steeplechaser Filmon Ghirmai.

The highlight of the Championships was without any doubt the race of Sabrina Mockenhaupt. In the womens race she clocked a superb 31:27,56min. This time is clearly under the German qualification time of 31:40 for the World Championships. Furthermore it’s only 24 seconds short of the 27-year old German record of Kathrin Ullrich and if “Mocki” decides to run the 10.000m in the home World Championships this record is in obvious danger.
In Berlin she will not run alone from the first meter onwards like she did in Bremen. Also she will not lap every over participant twice (!!). It took around three (!!) minutes until silver medallist Simret Restle (34:27,05) crossed the line and another half minute until Birte Bultmann (34:53,48) could secure bronce.

In the mens race the 10.000m debutant Filmon Ghirmai (29:40,06) won in a sprint finish against Sebastian Hallmann (29:41,59). In a completely tactical race, in which only the last kilometer secured a sub 30-time, Sebastian Hallmann made a decisive move with 2 km to go and could leave everyone except Ghirmai behind. When both entered the last round it was obvious that the former steeplechase world championship participant Ghirmai wouldn’t have too much of a problem to outkick Hallmann.
Altogether only 5 men went sub-30, two of them being Juniors. For those Juniors (Rico Schwarz/29:53,19 and Musa Roba/29:54,30 ) that also means that they achieved the qualification time for the U23-European Championships 2009 in Kaunas/LIT.

selected results:

Men:
1. Ghirmai Filmon 1979 LAV ASICS Tübingen 29:40,06
2. Hallmann Sebastian 1977 LG Stadtwerke München 29:41,59
3. Schuff Carlo 1980 Post-Sport Telekom Trier 29:49,18
4. Martel Zelalem 1986 LG Neckar-Enz 30:01,64
5. Friedrich Richard 1981 LG Passau 30:11,69
6. Flügel Julian 1986 PSV Grün-Weiß Kassel 30:18,77
7. Meißgeier Markus 1982 LG Hof 30:23,61
8. Katib Joseph 1982 LG Erlangen 31:38,32

Junior Men:
1. Rico Schwarz 1988 ASV Erfurt 29:53,19
2. Roba Musa 1989 TV Gelnhausen 29:54,30
3. Markowski Matti 1988 OSC Berlin 30:03,37
4. Hahn Alexander 1989 TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen 30:46,40
5. Viellehner Raphael 1988 LG Passau 30:51,86
6. Gröschel Tom 1991 1. LAV Rostock 31:26,21
7. Schreindl Tobias 1988 LG Passau 31:33,34
8. Reinwand Sebastian 1987 TSG 08 Roth 31:45,30

women:
1. Mockenhaupt Sabrina 1980 Kölner Verein für Marathon 31:27,56
2. Restle Simret 1984 LG Eintracht Frankfurt 34:27,05
3. Bultmann Birte 1974 TV Wattenscheid 01 34:53,48
4. Kallenberg Friederike 1983 LAC Pliezhausen 35:50,42
5. Utz Verena 1984 TV Biberach 36:44,89

Junior women:
1. Lutz Susi 1987 LG TELIS FINANZ Regensburg 35:00,52
2. Hahner Anna 1989 PSV Grün-Weiß Kassel 35:09,85
3. Kröckert Christina 1989 TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen 35:18,31
4. Hahner Lisa 1989 PSV Grün-Weiß Kassel 35:52,16
5. Gatzweiler Ursula 1988 LG ASV/DSHS Köln 35:58,95
6. Kiefer Sonja 1988 ASC 1990 Breidenbach 38:16,07

U-20 Youth women (5000m):
1. Harrer Corinna 1991 LG TELIS FINANZ Regensburg 16:48,94
2. Sussmann Jana 1990 LG Nordheide 16:53,45
3. Cornelsen Sarah 1990 TuS Metzingen 17:10,03
4. Stöcker Nina 1992 LG Ratio Münster 17:25,43
5. Vössing Annika 1992 LAV Oberhausen 17:35,15
6. Högl Regina 1993 LG Region Landshut 17:51,69
7. Straeten Frederike 1992 LG Ratio Münster 17:54,45
8. Jaschke Lisa 1990 LG ASV/DSHS Köln 17:59,45

full results of the championships leichtathletik.de

Düsseldorf marathon live stream

The Metro Group Düsseldorf Marathon 2009 (03.05.2009) will – at least partly – be streamed on the internet. At the page of center.tv a stream is available from 9.00-10.00 AM (start) and 11.30AM -2.00 PM (finish). All times are Central European Summer Time, i.e.GMT + 2:00h.

Notes/Instructions: For me the stream did not work in Firefox and I had to use Internet Explorer. You have to click on “Web-TV starten” to get the stream working.

A radio stream will be available from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM at wunschklang.com.


Sabine Krantz walks World Championships qualification time in Sesto San Giovanni (ITA)

German race walker Sabine Krantz clearly went under the qualification standard of 1:31:40h for the Berlin World Championships 2009 by becoming second in the Coppa Città di Sesto (ITA) Race Walking meet on 1st of May. With a time of 1:29:03h she was beaten only by the Norwegian Olympic Silver-medalist Kjersti Plätzer (1:28:50h).
One week after winning the German Championships, she covered the 20km in the second-fastest time of her life. The 28-year old walked an offensive race and set the pace for the early stages of the race and only at the end the high pace took its toll. Nevertheless she fought until the end and still finished ahead of some of the strongest race walkers of the past, including Olympic Bronce medalist Elisa Rigaudo.
The result was a big relief for her and now she can continue the preparation for the home World Championships without too much of stress and pressure.

In the mens race André Höhne got 6th place with a time of 1:23:56h.


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