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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Chepkemei Sanctioned for Doping Violation

Posted February 26th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Drugs In Sports

Four-time IAAF World Half-Marathon medalist Susan Chepkemei has been sanctioned for a doping violation, the IAAF reported yesterday. In an out-of-competition test in Kenya last September, Chepkemei’s sample returned a positive result for Salbutamol, a medication commonly prescribed for breathing problems, usually asthma.

Indeed, according to Valentijn Trouw of Global Sports Communications, the Dutch management firm which represents Chepkemei, the medication was given to their athlete by a doctor in a Nairobi hospital where Chepkemei had presented herself for treatment.

“Beginning of September Susan Chepkemei had a severe pneumonia,” Trouw said in a written statement. “After investigation in the hospital in Nairobi, she was told by the doctor to take a medicine (which contained the substance Salbutamol). Susan was convinced the doctor who gave her the prescription knew she was an international top athlete and she was given a medicine that didn’t contain any substance which is prohibited according to the doping list. She took the medicine that evening.”
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Radcliffe Returning to ING New York City Marathon

Posted October 3rd, 2007 at 2:45 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

On the heels of Haile Gebrselassie’s world marathon record in Berlin last Sunday comes more big news from one of the world’s top marathons: women’s world record holder Paula Radcliffe will contest her first marathon in over two years at the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 4.

“We’ve got some good news,” said race director Mary Wittenberg speaking on an international conference call from New York City today. She added: “We’re so pleased to announce that Paula Radlciffe will return to the ING New York City Maraton this year,” calling the 38th edition of the storied race from Staten Island to Manhattan “the best women’s race we’ve ever had.”

The 33 year-old English star will be returning to the event where she enjoyed an emotional and closely fought victory in 2004 over Kenya’s Susan Chepkemei. Some three months before she had failed to finish both the marathon and 10,000m at the Olympic Games, and New York became her redemption race. She and Chepkemei entered Central Park together for the final 800 meters and the Bedford athlete had to dig deep to win in the final sprint by a scant three seconds: 2:23:10 to 2:23:13.
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Champions to Defend ING NYC Marathon Titles

Posted July 20th, 2007 at 8:40 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The man and woman who reached the finish line first at last November’s ING New York City Marathon, Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, will defend their titles on November 4, race organizers announced today.

Gomes dos Santos, who is gearing up now to compete in the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, scored a big upset at last year’s contest when he broke away from defending champion Paul Tergat late in the race and was never caught. He became the first South American ever to win the world’s largest and most famous marathon.
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Tergat, Makau Headed for Bogotá Half-Marathon

Posted July 18th, 2007 at 11:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Marathon world record holder, Paul Tergat, and the third-fastest half-marathoner of all time, Patrick Makau, will face each other in the thin air of the Media Maratón Internacional Bogotá in Colombia on Sunday, July 29, organizers announced today.

The 38 year-old Tergat, twice an Olympic silver medalist, will compete in Bogotá for the first time. Both he and Makau have the potential to break Fabiano Joseph’s course record of 1:02:34 set last year. In this day of routine sub-60 minute half-marathons, Joseph’s mark is credible when the 2600m (8500 ft.) elevation is taken into account.
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Catherine Ndereba wins Kenya’s Prisons XC Championships

Posted January 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Afton Cohen

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country

Catherine Ndereba, the talented and modest runner from Kenya, ran to victory at the Kenyan Prisons Cross Country Championships on Saturday, January 20, 2007. Ndereba is the former World Marathon record holder, reigning Osaka winner, two-time Boston victor and four-time Boston Marathon champion.

Ndereba won the 8km XC Championship race in a time of 27:36:1; beating out a very competitive field of distance runners. Former New York City marathon runner-up Susan Chepkemei and Singapore Marathon champion Salina Kosgei competed, but were unable to claim one of the top three sports. Second and third place went to Jane Mwakali (27:53:5) and Martha Komu (28:06:8), respectively.
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Live @ the NYC Marathon: Possibly the greatest women’s field in history

Posted November 3rd, 2006 at 12:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

NYRR’s President May Wittenberg has apply named this year’s elite runners as the “Field of Dreams”; a field that is led by a host of outstanding international athletes. The men’s race is sure to be extraordinary, but it is actually the women’s race that might turn out to be the highlight.

Here is a look at the top female favorites:

Catherine Ndereba, aka “Catherine the Great”, comes into this race having placed 1st or 2nd in her last 15 consecutive races. This includes four Boston and two Chicago titles.

Demonstrating her characteristic poise and confidence at today’s press conference, the 33 year old Kenyan said, “All I need to do is run my own race.” Her past performances certainly indicate that if she is successful in doing just that - she’ll be almost impossible to defeat.

However, standing in her way are Deena Kastor, Jelena Prokopcuka, Rita Jeptoo, Susan Chepkemei and Lornah Kiplagat. Read the rest of this entry »

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Robert K. Cheruiyot and Berhane Adere Vault into World Marathon Majors Series Lead on the Streets of Chicago

Posted October 22nd, 2006 at 10:05 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

PRESS RELEASE: Robert K. Cheruiyot’s dramatic victory in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon today not only secured him $140,000 in prize and bonus money, it also moved him into a commanding lead in the chase for the $500,000 that is awaiting the winner of the World Marathon Majors Series in 2007.

The Chicago race was the fourth of the five WMM events that will take place in 2006, the next and final one of the year being the ING New York City Marathon on November 5.

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Three Former Champions to Run ING NYC Marathon; Hope to Reclaim Titles

Posted October 21st, 2006 at 3:00 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

PRESS RELEASE:It’s like a reunion of ING New York City champions as three former winner announce that they’re returning to reclaim their crowns

There must be something about New York: The top performers in previous ING New York City Marathons keep coming back for another challenge in the five boroughs.

The 2006 event is no exception. Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, who won in 2004, and Martin Lel of Kenya, the 2003 champion, will challenge defending champion Paul Tergat of Kenya.

And the women’s field will be no less impressive, as Susan Chepkemei has stepped up to challenge defending champion Jelena Prokopcupa of Latvia and deepen an already competitive field.

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Tergat, Prokopcuka Set To Defend NYC Marathon Titles

Posted July 22nd, 2006 at 12:04 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Could this year’s ING New York City Marathon possibly be better than last year’s drama-filled race? Well, now that last year’s winners, Paul Tergat and Jelena Prokopcuka, have officially announced their return - anything is possible.

The New York Road Runners press conference regarding their return has sent a buzz throughout the running community. However, Tergat and Prokopcuka will have a lot to live up to in their attempts to defend their titles.

Tergat, the world record holder for marathons (2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003), won the 2005 NYC Marathon by the closest margin of victory ever - a mere 1 second. His incredibly close win, accomplished in only 2:09:30, was more than just exciting. It also succeeded in giving distance running a much needed shot in the arm in terms of fan attention and general coverage among the media.

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