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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Marathon World Champions Headed for Manchester

Posted May 7th, 2008 at 1:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Organizers of the BUPA Great Manchester Run on May 18 announced today that reigning world marathon champions Luke Kibet and Catherine Ndereba (Pictured) will headline their fields.

The two Kenyans earned their world titles in the steamy conditions of Osaka last August. Kibet overwhelmed the men’s field by one minute and 19 seconds, while Ndereba had to beat back a formidable challenge from China’s Zhou Chunxiu in the final kilometers to win by a much narrower eight seconds.

Most recently, Kibet raced the Flora London Marathon, finishing 11th. His training was curtailed by the post-election violence in Kenya where he was assaulted, sustaining a head wound from a thrown rock. Ndereba did not run a spring marathon, but has run several road races. She won the Scotia Bank Semi-Marathon de Montreal on April 20 and was most recently second at the Lilac Bloomsday 12-K in Spokane, Wash., last Sunday.
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Note on the News: Gharib OK After Serious Car Accident

Posted December 29th, 2007 at 2:55 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

French language wire services are reporting that two-time world marathon champion, Jaouad Gharib, was OK after being involved in a serious car accident in Morocco. The accident took place on Dec. 21, on the road between Meknès and Khénifra where the athlete was driving to visit his family for a holiday. His 4×4 flipped, causing mostly minor injuries.

You can read the story here (in French). Thanks to Carole Fuchs for pointing out the story, and we wish Jaouad a speedy recovery and return to training.

http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200712240844.html

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World Champion Ndereba Joins NYC Marathon Field

Posted September 7th, 2007 at 7:32 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Newly crowned world marathon champion, Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, hopes to continue her winning ways at the ING New York City Marathon set for Sunday, Nov. 4., race organizers the New York Road Runners announced today.

Ndereba, 35, who became the only woman to win a second world marathon title when she beat back an impressive field in Osaka last Sunday, sees New York as the one great race in America she has not yet won. She’s won the Boston Marathon four times and the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon twice.

“This is a very special year,” said Ndereba, the runner-up in New York in 1999 and 2003 through a press release. “I just won my gold medal in the World Championships and it feels wonderful to be heading back to New York. To win there means quite a lot. I have been running all those races in the U.S. and have won almost everything, but not New York. If get it I will have all of them in my bag.”

Ndereba is the African record holder with a 2:18:47 personal best, and was the first woman to break 2:19 in the marathon. In addition to her two world titles (2003 and 2007) she earned silver medals at the 2005 IAAF World Championships and the 2004 Olympic Games.
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