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Lead Stories: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Munyutu & Komu Set Unique Record at Paris Marathon

Posted April 9th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

It was a good day for Kenyans Simon Munyutu and Martha Komu at last Sunday’s Paris International Marathon. Both athletes set personal best times (2:09:24 for Munyutu and 2:25:33 for Komu), and Komu got her first big marathon win.

But the couple also achieved a unique record, according to veteran marathon statistician Marty Post. Their combined time of 4:34:57 was the fastest ever set by a married couple running in the same marathon.

“Best known previous was 4:41:42 by Odilon Cuahutle (2:18:43) and Madai Perez (2:22:59) at Chicago ‘06,” Post wrote in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly.
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Paris, Gothenburg and Dublin to host European Champs

Posted October 16th, 2007 at 10:01 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Paris, Gothenburg and Dublin have been awarded the right to host future European Athletics events after a number of decisions were made by the European Athletics Council in Malta this morning.

“We have four winners here today” said European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz, after the votes were counted.

“First of all, Paris, as they will host the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2011, secondly Gothenburg as they will host the Indoor Championships of 2013, thirdly Dublin, as they will host their first SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2009 and finally European Athletics, as we have three great cities willing to host our top events”

Paris last hosted the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 1994 while Gothenburg did likewise in 1984.
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Sanya Richards named USATF Athlete of the Week

Posted September 19th, 2007 at 3:00 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Sanya Richards has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the women’s 400 meters Sunday at the 2007 ISTAF Meeting in Berlin, Germany to earn her second consecutive share of the Golden League Jackpot.

The 2006 IAAF Athlete of the Year, Richards earned half of the million-dollar jackpot by going undefeated in the women’s 400 in Golden League competition. In the last meet of the series, she streaked to victory in the women’s 400m in a world-leading 49.27 seconds. Richards’ other Golden League wins came in Oslo June 15, Paris July 6, Rome July 13, Zurich September 7 and Brussels last Friday.
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Webb’s 1500m win the Highlight in Paris

Posted July 8th, 2007 at 6:00 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

With a brilliant display of assertive racing, Alan Webb powered to a 3:30.54 victory in the 1500 this weekend to highlight the Meeting Gaz de France Paris-St. Denis; the second stop on the six-meet IAAF Golden League series.

Running aggressively from the outset, the 24-year-old three-time American champion never lost control of the race, despite the relatively brisk pace.

“I knew it was going to be hard,” Webb said, explaining his decision to run near the front from the gun despite the pre-race plan for a 2:47 split through 1200 meters. “I could have been in fifth place and it would have been hard.”
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Webb wins big in Paris

Posted July 6th, 2007 at 4:31 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Ooo la, la!

Alan Webb scored one of the biggest victories of his career at the Stade de France tonight outside of Paris, blazing to a world-leading 3:30.54 victory in the 1500m over home country favorite, Mehdi Baala. The Frenchman finished second in 3:31.01.

Webb’s time was not only a personal best by about two seconds, but he became the third-fastest American of all-time behind only Bernard Lagat and Sydney Maree. Lagat, who also competed in tonight’s race in Paris, finished seventh in 3:35.09. It was his ninth appearance at the meet, part of the IAAF Golden League.
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14:16.63 World Record for Defar in Oslo

Posted June 16th, 2007 at 9:10 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Running in still and near perfect conditions, Meseret Defar smashed the world record in the 5000 meters to highlight the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo.

“No, I had no doubts,” the reigning Olympic champion said after knocking nearly eight seconds from her own world mark with a phenomenal 14:16.63 run.

“I didn’t think I would break the record by such a big margin, but I was aiming under 14:20. So I think I did a good job.”

Her record-breaking margin was the largest in the event in more than two decades, dating back to the Zola Budd-Ingrid Kristiansen rivalry when the record was slashed by more than 10 seconds on a pair of occasions.
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