January 20, 2010
 In 2009, Anna Pierce (nee Willard) had one of the best seasons ever recorded by a US middle distance runner. She was undefeated in the 800m, won the 800m at the IAAF World Athletics Final, and ended the year with personal bests of 1:58.80 for 800m and 3:59.38 for 1500m, making her the only woman to run under 2:00 and under 4:00 in 2009. Disappointed with her sixth place finish in the 1500m at the World Championships in Berlin, Anna is opening her 2010 indoor season in the mile at the Millrose Games, followed by an assault on the American Record for 1000m at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, all leading up to the 800m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships this March in Doha, Qatar. Read more...
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January 9, 2010
 Ethiopia's double Olympic Champion, Tirunesh Dibaba, easily won the Women's 6km at the BUPA Great Edinburgh Run, in a time of 21:37, ten seconds ahead of second placer Vivan Cheruiyot, the reigning world champion over 5000m. Dibaba, who had won the Great Edinburgh Run in 2005 and won her fourth World Cross Country title in 2008 on the same course in Holyrood Park, followed the pace set in the first half by Britain's recently crowned European Cross Country Champion, Hayley Yelling. After Dibaba broke away late in the race, only Cheruiyot could come within ten seconds of Dibaba, with fellow Ethiopian and rising middle distance star Kalkidan Gezahegn in third. Dibaba's next scheduled competition will be over 5000m at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, where she has set two world records in her last three appearances (2005 and 2007). Read more...
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December 11, 2009
 Former world record holder Liu Xiang easily won the Men's 110m Hurdles today at the East Asian Games in Hong Kong. Liu, the former World and Olympic Champion, took first in 13.66sec, with a comfortable margin over compatriot Ji Wei and South Korea's Park Taekyong. Since recovering from the foot and ankle injuries that forced him to withdraw from his heat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Liu has resurged to the forefront of men's high hurdling, finishing a close second at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in an impressive 13.15sec, and in winning titles at the Chinese National Games and the Asian Championships. Liu's win in Hong Kong makes him the first athlete to win three consecutive individual titles in any discipline at the East Asian Games. Read more...
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December 6, 2009
 Tekeste Kebede turned out the performance of his career with a second place finish at the 63rd Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship in Fukuoka, Japan. Kebede followed defending champion and Olympic bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede (no relation) through 30km before falling back from the leader's quick pace (1:29:45 at 30km). Tekeste and Kenyan Evans Cheriyout shared third place for the next few kilmoeters, before Tekeste moved up and caught a fading Dereje Tesfaye in the final miles to finish in second place in a time of 2:07:52, taking nearly two minutes off the 2:09:49 personal best he had set earlier this year at the Boston Marathon. Read more...
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December 6, 2009
 In near freezing conditions, former World Cross Country Champion Werknesh Kidane scored her first victory since returning to competition following the birth of her second child, winning the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas, in a time of 1:10:55. “It was a nice race,” Kidane said. "But it was very cold and I was happy to win." In the Men's Half Marathon, this year's Carlsbad 5000 champion, Bekana Daba, won his half marathon debut comfortably, finishing first in 1:01:40, winning by more than a minute over Abel Chavez. Said Daba afterwards, "It was a very good competition. And it was very cold. I warmed up but not enough. This is my first half marathon and I think I will do well in the future at this distance. I am happy." Read more...
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