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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Middle Distance Champion, Bernard Lagat, Gunning for Elusive Gold

Posted August 13th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

America’s dual world champion Bernard Lagat said Wednesday he was determined to honor the promise he made to his mother four years ago, that he would at last win an Olympic 1500 meters gold medal. The 33-year-old Kenyan-born athlete - who became an American citizen in 2005 - speaks about his goals and switching nationality in a pre-race press conference.

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Kigen Looking for Third Win at Frankfurt Marathon

Posted October 26th, 2007 at 11:15 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The sheriff will be back in Frankfurt on Sunday as course record-holder Wilfred Kigen goes for his third straight victory in the German capital at the Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon.

Kigen, a 32 year-old Kenyan from Great Rift Valley city of Eldoret, got his first victory in Frankfurt in 2005, running a then-personal best and current course record of 2:08:29. That victory was a squeaker; he prevailed by just one second over compatriot Jason Mbote. Although he didn’t run as fast last year due to warm and windy conditions, he dominated the race, winning by nearly a minute and a half in 2:09:06.

At Kigen’s last outing over the 42.195 km distance in Hamburg last April, he was involved in another thrilling finish, losing by a single second to former ING New York City Marathon champion, Rodgers Rop. He was, however, rewarded with a new personal best time of 2:07:33.
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Berlin Marathon Live
Men’s Race: 30K to Finish

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 5:05 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Gebrselassie, running alone now, passed 33Km in 1:37:35. He was back on pace for a world record. He led by about a minute.

At 34Km, he was on pace for a 2:04:53, tantalizingly close to, but still ahead of, the world record.

Coming up on 35Km, Gebreselassie was looking like he was starting to pick up the pace. His stride was bouncier and he made it through the marker in 1:43:38, a 2:04:56 pace. The gap was now 1:14 between him and the trail pack.

With about 18 minutes to run in the race, he drank some water, making sure to stay hydrated even at this late stage in the race.

Abel Kirui of Kenya, the least heralded runner in the trail pack, began to break away. He was running like a track runner with his heels kicking his backside.

Philip Manyim, an early favorite, was still in contention for one of the top three places.
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Berlin Marathon Live
Men’s Race: 20K to 30K

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 4:35 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

The 25Km mark was passed in 1:14:05. Gebrselassie was headed for a 2:05:02 pace. They had slipped just a bit off the pace over the past 5Km.

The trail pack passed 25Km in 1:15:23, 1:17 back. They were still on track for a 2:07:14 marathon.

By 26.5 Km, the pacemakers were down to two. By now the weather was as follows:

55°F
Clear
Wind: S at 10 mph
Humidity: 82%

At 1:21:00, the lead pack ran through a huge crowd of noisy spectators. Drum corps were keeping a samba beat for the runners’ pleasure while cheerleaders shook pom-pons. It was a party atmosphere in Berlin. Gebrselassie was wearing his “dry” racing shoes, with a rubber composite similar to Formula 1 racing tires. He had brought two pair of shoes and had been hoping he wouldn’t have to wear the “wet” pair. He got his wish today.

Gebrselassie and his two pacemakers went through 30Km in 1:28:58. He was on pace for a 2:05:08 marathon. He had some work to do over the last 12Km if he was going to break the world record.

The trail pack passed 30Km in 1:30:00. They had closed slightly on Gebrselassie and were on track for a 2:06:35.

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Berlin Marathon Live
Men’s Race: 10K to 20K

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 4:05 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

At 13K, the trail pack of about 15 men was on pace for a 2:06:30. That time would be a huge PB for most, if not all, of them. They were certain to have to back off from it further in the race. The weather conditions were ideal, however, so they were going for it.

Up front, Haile Gebrselassie and his circle of pacemakers were still running like clockwork. The 15Km mark was passed in 44:14, on track for a 2:04:29. They had slowed down, but not by much. He was ahead of the trail pack by about one minute.

By 20Km, passed in 59:10, the pace had dropped off to 4:48 per mile. Gebrselassie was on pace for a 2:04:50 marathon. The trail pack was 1:05 back.

The halfway mark was 1:02:29, a 2:04:58 marathon pace, just off the world record.

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Berlin Marathon 2007:
Men’s Preview

Posted September 29th, 2007 at 9:30 PM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The 2007 Berlin Marathon will feature several of the world’s finest distance runners racing on a historic downtown route through the German capital. The lightning fast course has produced two men’s world records in the last 9 years, Brazilian Ronaldo da Costa’s 2:06:05 in 1998 and Kenyan Paul Tergat’s still standing 2:04:55 in 2003. The race also represents the first contest of the final season of the Inaugural World Marathon Majors, a conglomeration of five of the world’s top marathons aimed at generating unparalleled competition.

Headlining the men’s field this year will be Haile Gebrselassie, the Ethiopian legend who cruised to victory in a national record 2:05:56 here last fall. “Geb” has an impressive track and marathon resume, including two Olympic and four World Championship 10,000 m gold medals and 23 world records or world bests. He is undefeated at the half marathon distance since 2001, including a blistering 59:24 effort on a hilly New York course earlier this fall. However, Gebrselassie has not been without adversity this year as he was forced to drop out of the 2007 Flora London Marathon due to shortness of breath.
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Kenyan woman makes history at IAAF World Championships

Posted August 28th, 2007 at 2:47 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

It was at the second IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 1987 when Kenya first put a man on the top step of the podium at 800m in either a world championships or an Olympic Games. Tonight, 20 years later, a Kenyan woman has finally duplicated that feat, joining legends Billy Konchellah, Paul Ruto, Paul Ereng and William Tanui as world or Olympic 800m champions.

Janeth Jepkosgei, the Commonwealth Games champion who ran the fastest-ever time in a world championships semi-final on Sunday, saved more than enough for tonight’s final, leading wire-to-wire in 1:56.04, a new Kenyan record.

“I’m so happy about it,” said Jepkosgei who is from the village of Kapsabet but now lives in Eldoret. “I was not really expecting it.”
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“chasingKIMBIA” to begin it’s second season

Posted February 16th, 2007 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

“chasingKIMBIA”, the web-based documentary series which chronicled the training and racing of a small group of mostly Kenyan athletes, has opened its second season.

In 2006 the documentary followed seven athletes as they prepared to run in the World Marathon Majors events in Chicago and New York. Most of the footage was shot in Boulder, Colo., where they were training at the time under coach Dieter Hogen.

For the 2007 season, the focus shifts to Iten, Kenya, as the athletes prepare for their spring marathons, including Boston, London and Rotterdam.

“The goal of ‘chasingKIMBIA’ is to promote the elite athletes in our sport,” said Tom Ratcliffe, the athlete agent who runs the project. “Running fans know the Kenyans are successful, but most can’t name more than a handful of athletes. At the major marathons the spectators clap idly as the lead pack runs by. With this project we’re hoping to connect the athletes with the fans.”
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