The Japanese team for tomorrow’s&nbsp;2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy (14 October)&nbsp;was selected from the top finishers of the All Japan Corporate team Half Marathon Championships in March, Sendai Half Marathon in May, and the Sapporo Half Marathon in July.&nbsp; 
MEN
Men’s team consists of Kazuhiro Maeda, who won the All Japan Corporate team Half Marathon Championships in 62:10, Kenji Noguchi, who was 3rd at Sendai Half marathon in 1:03:04, Atsushi Sato, who was third with 61:37 at Sapporo Half Marathon and Tetsuo Nishimura, who was fifth with 62:33 also in Sapporo Half Marathon. 
Noguchi was also fourth at the Marugame Half Marathon with 62:27, and 10th in All Japan corporate team Half Marathon championships.&nbsp; Maeda is an accomplished track runner, for he was 17th at 10,000m in the 2007 World Championships, while Sato excels in both 10,000m and the Marathon. He has run 27:56.86 for the 10,000m and 2:08:36 for the Marathon.&nbsp; In fact Sato is the most talented runner on the team.&nbsp; Legendary marathon runner Toshihiko Seko tells us that he won’t be surprised if Sato run a 2:05 marathon. Sato also excels at the Ekiden. For example, in the January’s New Year’s Ekiden, Sato covered the uphill (60m elevation gain) 15.9Km fifth stage in 45:14, more than one minute faster than the second place runner (46:26). In September, Sato married Miho Sugimori, 800m national record holder. Their goal is to qualify for the Beijing Olympic team.&nbsp; 
WOMEN &nbsp; Turning attention to the women’s side, the team consists of: Akane Taira and Yoshimi Ozaki, who was second and third, respectively, at the All Japan Corporate team Half Marathon Championships, Chisato Osaki and Yurika Nakamura, who was fifth and eighth, respectively, at the Sapporo Half Marathon, and Yuko Machida, who was third at Sendai Half Marathon.&nbsp; 
Two of the team members have run in these road race championships before, Taira ran in the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships, while Yurika Nakamura ran in the 2006 World Road Running Championships, finishing very respectable seventh. Taira, who is coached by Hiromi Taniguchi, 1991 World Marathon Champion, has a half marathon best of 1:10:29 recorded in 2005. &nbsp; The most promising young and up and coming runner on the team is 20-years-old Chisato Osaki, who won her Half Marathon debut at the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon in March.&nbsp; Her winning time, 69:25, was a new course record, breaking the record previously held by Yoko Shibui, her teammate and the national record holder at 10,000m. Osaki also excels at 10Km.&nbsp; In January of 2006 Osaki set a national high school record, 32:50, for 10Km.&nbsp; A year later in January of 2007, Osaki ran 31:49 for 10Km anchor leg of the Inter-Prefectural Ekiden championships, in the process passing ten runners.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
Men: Kazuhiro Maeda&nbsp; 1st in All JPN Corporate team Half Marathon Championships Kenji Noguchi&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd in Sendai Half Marathon Atsushi Sato&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd in Sapporo Half Marathon Tetsuo Nishimura&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5th in Sapporo Half Marathon 
Women: Akane Taira&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd in All JPN Corporate team Half Marathon Championships Yoshimi Ozaki&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd in All JPN Corporate team Half Marathon Championships Yuko Machida&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd in Sendai Half Marathon Chisato Osaki&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st in Matsue Ladies Half Marathon, 5th in Sapporo Half Marathon Yurika Nakamura&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 8th in Sapporo Half Marathon

The Japanese team for tomorrow’s 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy (14 October) was selected from the top finishers of the All Japan Corporate team Half Marathon Championships in March, Sendai Half Marathon in May, and the Sapporo Half Marathon in July.

Sato the standout in Japanese line-up in Udine 

When the guns signals the start of the men’s race at the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships at 1030hrs (GMT +2hrs) in Udine on Sunday morning, 14 October, it will also launch one of the most anticipated road running battles of the year: defending champion Zersenay Tadesse vs. World record holder Sammy Wanjiru over the Half Marathon distance.
A year ago Tadesse, already an Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist on the track, claimed the first World title for Eritrea after a convincing 40 second victory over 20 kilometres in Debrecen. His 56:01 performance was then the second fastest ever, and currently rests in the No. 4 position all-time. 
Five months later, Tadesse, now 25, continued his high level momentum when he produced a stunning 23 second victory at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, a performance that, all things considered, will indelibly remain one of the most memorable of 2007.
Most recently Tadesse took a convincing victory at the Dam tot Dam loop 10 miler in Amsterdam two-and-a-half weeks ago, winning decisively despite an "accident" with police motorcycles at the 5Km point. In late August he was a distant fourth in the 10,000m in Osaka a month after taking the African Games title over the distance in Algiers, clocking a solo 27:00.30 season’s best.
In his lone Half Marathon outing this season, he won comfortably in 1:01:26 at the inaugural Medio Maratón De Cáceres in April, but Tadesse has solid credentials to his credit as well. Last year he won in Rotterdam in 59:16, and in 2005 clocked 59:05 on the slightly downhill course at the Great North Run in South Shields, England.
Meanwhile, Wanjiru, who won’t celebrate his 21st birthday until November, is already building a strong case as one of the finest half marathoners ever. Of his seven races over the distance since 2005, he’s dipped under the one hour mark in all but two, and of the three men who’ve bettered 59 minutes, he’s the only one who’s done it twice. Both runs came this year, first in Ras Al Khaimah on 9 February when he clipped two seconds from Haile Gebrselassie’s year-old World record, running 58:53 (A mark which was not ratified due to no EPO analysis having been performed). However, he did it again just five weeks later at The Hague where he crushed his mark, clocking 58:33, a time which is now the official World record.
The precocious Kenyan has already stated that further lowering the mark on Udine’s fast loop course is among his primary intentions this weekend, along with claiming his first World title. In his World record run, Wanjiru ran alone from the 3Km point, indicating that his World record talk is clearly within the realm of possibility.
In his most recent outing, Wanjiru was out-sprinted by compatriot Martin Lel at the Great North Run to experience a rare defeat over what is certainly his specialty distance.
Adding to the duel’s intrigue, both runners have decided to forgo their intended Marathon debuts in New York next month, firmly placing Udine as their final key outing of the year. And neither is expected to go down without a fierce fight.
There is plenty of depth behind the chief antagonists, ensuring a solid battle for the podium. 
The Kenyan squad will be particularly well manned as the east African powerhouse sets out to defend its team title. After finishing a distant 26th in Debrecen last year, Patrick Makau Musyoki has forged a name for himself among the Half Marathon ranks, with three sub-60 minute performances this year, topped by a 58:56 victory in Berlin in April. Click her for previous story <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/WRU07/news/Kind=2/newsId=42017.html">http://www.iaaf.org/WRU07/news/Kind=2/newsId=42017.html</A>&nbsp; 
Robert Kipchumba, the runner-up last year, returns as well, along with Evans Cheruiyot, this year’s winner at Rotterdam in 59:12. 
Just shy of the podium in fourth a year ago, Wilson Busienei returns to lead the Ugandan squad. Deriba Merga, sixth last year, returns to head the Ethiopian team with a 59:44 best to his credit this year, also from Ras Al Khaimah. The field also includes a former three-time medallist, Tanzania’s Fabiano Joseph, who won the World Half Marathon title in 2005. Just under a year ago, Brazil’s Marilson dos Santos produced a major surprise when he won the New York City Marathon. The 30-year-old will toe the line here as well.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF&nbsp; Men's race - <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42049.pdf" target=_blank>Athlete Biographies</A>: Udine 2007<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42006.pdf" target=_blank>Click here&nbsp;for the PDF version of latest entry list</A> 

<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format) - Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

When the guns signals the start of the men’s race at the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships at 1030hrs (GMT +2hrs) on Sunday morning, 14 October, it will also launch one of the most anticipated road running battles of the year: defending champion Zersenay Tadesse vs. World record holder Sammy Wanjiru over the Half Marathon distance.

Men’s Race PREVIEW - IAAF World Road Running Championships 

Lornah Kiplagat believes she is ready to defend her women’s race title at the&nbsp;2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships which gets underway at 1200hrs (GMT +2hrs) on&nbsp;Sunday 14 October in the north east Italian city of Udine.
Kiplagat after winning the World Cross Country title in March is aiming to return to championship action with another global victory in the second staging of the World Road Running Champs. This year she competes over the half marathon distance after a pulsating success when taking the World title over 20km with a World record display 12 months ago.
The Kenyan-born star, who has competed in the colours of the Netherlands after marrying her coach Pieter Langerhorst four years ago, produced a breathtaking win Debrecen 2006.
Kiplagat who had previously held the 20km World record (at the time a World Best – 63:54 in 2001), regained that accolade from Paula Radcliffe with a time of 63:21 in Debrecen last autumn, five seconds faster than the Briton achieved en route to winning the 2001 World Half Marathon crown.
The performance saw her narrowly flatten the threat of Constantina Tomecsu, who set a new European figure two just two seconds behind, with Rita Jeptoo running a Kenyan record of 63:47 in third place.
Tomescu, the last IAAF World Half Marathon champion after the discontinuance of that event in 2005, will be an absentee from the Romanian team on this occasion, as will be Jeptoo. Chepkemei heads Kenyan challenge
But Kenya aiming to retain their team title will include a posse more than capable of challenging Kiplagat's supremacy although she will start pre-race favourite. Mary Jepkosgei Keitany with two fast half marathon victories under her belt this year, the latter when winning in Lille with a mark of 68:43 at the beginning of September, will be a threat.
So too will be Pamela Chepchumba, the Philadelphia and Azpeita victor, plus Everline Kemunto Kimwei, third in both Sapporo when clocking 69:32 and earlier in Matsue. Alice Timbilil who was beaten by just 11sec by her fellow countrywoman in the USA race, could also play a major part, but Kiplagat may feel the biggest challenge will come from Susan Chepkemei.
Returning from injury Chepkemei has diligently focused on the World Road Running Champs rather than chasing success and money on the international circuit. Chepkemei, 15 months younger than 33-year-old Kiplagat, also has the massive incentive after having three-times won silver at the World Half Marathon Championships, of now finally clinching the gold medal in its new style format.
Ethiopia will be relying on national 20km champion Bezunesh Bekele to lead their challenge in the team stakes where they finished just under three minutes behind Kenya in Hungary and only 10 seconds ahead of Japan.
The Japanese field a strong looking squad, led by Chisato Osaki who ran 69:25 to win in Matsue in March as do the United States led by Deena Kastor, the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medallist. Kastor's warm-up last Monday (8 Oct) saw her claim a fifth US title for the year when clocking 32:01 for 10km at their national championships in Boston.
Europe's challenge will be be headed by Romania's Lidia Simon, the Russian trio of Alina Ivanova, Liliya Shobukhova and Irina Timofeyeva, while Serbia's Olivera Jevtic cannot be overlooked at this level of competition. 
Madai Perez is a late entry for Mexico and the 70:36 half marathoner with a best of 2:22:59 for the full distance, and so will also be a contender. Kiplagat - Back from injury
Kiplagat however is confident of taking the race in her stride and is buoyed by winning so brilliantly a year ago, and is determined to keep the title in Dutch hands. Her comeback from a calf injury sustained in May which caused her to withdraw from the World Championships in Osaka, went off smoothly, with a solid victory in Utrecht last weekend. &nbsp; Langerhorst said: "She ran very well and won in 32:05. At half way she was leading at 15:54 and she had no problem at all. She feels very strong and this just confirms her intentions and commitment to succeed.”
"She is now ready for the World Road Running Championships," said the relieved manager/coach and not least of all, dedicated husband. 
Kiplagat delighted she has been given the all clear, is adopting the same tactical approach which her earned her major successes in both Debrecen and at the World Cross in Mombasa.
"To be honest, I have no idea who is running,” said Kiplagat. “I can't change the field and second - I just want to run my own race. I am sure the best athletes will be there but I have trained very hard for this event. I have no influence on other athletes so I just see what will happen in the race." &nbsp; Kiplagat insisted: "I have ran now two times 66 and one time a low 67 low, so I feel the half is my distance just like the 20km. I am looking forward to defending my title and have a good feeling. I just hope for a good competition and for a good promotion of the sport."
Dave Martin – PA International – for the IAAF
Women's race - <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42050.pdf" target=_blank>Athlete Biographies</A>: Udine 2007
<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42050.pdf">http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42050.pdf</A><A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42006.pdf" target=_blank>Click here&nbsp;for the PDF version of latest entry list</A> 

<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format) - Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

Lornah Kiplagat believes she is ready to defend her women’s race title at the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships which gets underway at 1200hrs (GMT +2hrs) on Sunday 14 October in the north east Italian city of Udine.

Women’s Race PREVIEW - IAAF World Road Running Championships

The&nbsp;2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships which take place on Sunday 14 October are at the competitive eye of a storm of road running action and discussion which is take placing in the Northern Italian city of Udine.
Udine is an experienced destination when it comes to road running. The city has already celebrated seven editions of its own annual international half marathon. Its fast course has attracted seasoned road runners like Evans Cheruyot, Aniko Kalovics, James Kwambai,&nbsp; Hellen Cherono, Solomon Rotich…in the last few years.
That annual race is of course open to the people as well as the elite, and this weekend’s World Championships also include a populous element. A mass race is separately being held on the course early on Sunday morning before the two World Championship half marathon races take place.
Yet from the heights of Udine Castle, where the official press conference and technical meeting will be held on Saturday 13 October, to the start and finish of the loop course&nbsp;set down in the heart of city below in the "Piazza I Maggio", Udine which is set in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in north eastern Italy will be the centre-point for everything road race orientated this weekend.
Today, AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races - <A href="http://aimsworldrunning.org/" target=_blank>click here</A> - who work with the IAAF on all matters relating to international road races began their two day Board Meeting in Udine. AIMS is a member based organisation of more than 230 of the leading distance races in the world.
On Saturday (13), it’s the turn of the newly formed IAAF Road Running Commission -&nbsp;<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/insideIAAF/structure/category=CM00/orgCode=234290/index.html" target=_blank>click here</A> - to start its latest meeting, also for two days. This Commission is the IAAF’s bridge into the world of the recreational runner, a community that has discovered running, and who through the numerous mass participation races around the world that have developed since the 1970s, have helped make road running one of the most vibrant scenes in worldwide sport, let alone just in Athletics.
One important development already to have emerged from the young Commission which sprung out of the former IAAF Cross Country and Road Running Committee (now IAAF Cross Country Committee) is the decision to start IAAF Labelling for Road Races.
In 2008, the&nbsp;IAAF Label for Road Races will be introduced which is intended to recognise and reward the efforts of leading International Road Races around the world and to more closely associate the IAAF and its Member Federations with the Road Running Community.
The system will award either a Gold or Silver Label to races that satisfy the criteria laid out in the relevant Regulations for IAAF Label Road Races. It recognises the efforts of organisers and will become a significant symbol to runners looking to compete in the best road racing events around the world and to sponsors. <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/downloads/RoadRunning/index.html" target=_blank>Click&nbsp;here for more details</A> 
So which ever way you look at it, from the view point of the elite runner, the jogger or the administrator, the north of Italy will be at the eye of a storm of road running related business this weekend.
Chris Turner IAAF Editorial Manager

The 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships which take place on Sunday 14 October are at the competitive eye of a storm of road running action and discussion which is take placing in the Northern Italian city of Udine.

Udine – a weekend of road running action and discussion

The Start Lists for the 2nd&nbsp;IAAF World Road Running Championships which take place in Udine, Italy on Sunday 14 October are now available on the IAAF Website.
Click here fot <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/WRU07/results/byEvent.html" target=_blank>START LISTS</A>
<A IAAF
Women's race - <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42050.pdf" target=_blank>Athlete Biographies</A>: Udine 2007 Men's race - <A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42049.pdf" target=_blank>Athlete Biographies</A>: Udine 2007 


<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format) - Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

The Start Lists for the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships which take place in Udine, Italy on Sunday 14 October are now available on the IAAF Website.

Start List - World Road Running Champs  

Kenyan Patrick Makau Musyoki hopes to elevate himself from an also ran at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships to the podium for this year’s event in Udine, Italy on Sunday (14).
In his first full season competing on the international stage Musyoki made his championship bow over the 20km distance in Debrecen, but finished a distant 26th in 59:54 – some 3:53 behind the gold medallist Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea
But such has been his rapid rate of progression that just 12 months later he has emerged as genuine medal contender after recording three of the 11 fastest times in history for the Half Marathon distance this year.
Back in February he made his mark in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates when he obliterated his personal best to record 59:13 for second behind countryman Samuel Wanjiru, who ran an unratified world record of 58:53 for the distance (No EPO analysis was performed) - a mark Wanjiru has subsequently lowered to an officially ratified 58:33 in the Hague (17 March).
On 1 April, Musyok proved nobody’s fool, winning in Berlin in a scintillating 58:56 to climb to third on the all-time Half Marathon list – just one second slower than the best time Ethiopian maestro Haile Gebrselassie has ever run for the distance.
And in his most recent 13.1 mile outing in September he registered a none-too-shabby 59:19 for second place in Rotterdam – seven seconds behind Evans Cheruiyot, who like Wanjiru is amongst the entrants for Udine.
“This season has been fantastic, to run sub-60 minutes three times is more than I could have hoped for at the start of the year,” explained Musyoki. “The World (Road Running) Championships are very important, to run for my country makes me proud and if I can get a medal it will be a good end to the year.”
Four to five year career so far
Born and raised in the Machakos district of Kenya to the south east of Nairobi&nbsp; – the same area as Patrick Ivuti the winner of last Sunday’s Chicago Marathon hails from – Musyoki started running ‘four or five years ago,’ according to his British-based coach Ian Ladbrooke, 
His first significant breakthrough came when he won the 2006 Tarsus half-marathon in Turkey last April in 62:42 and to build valuable racing experience Ladbrooke decided the Kenyan would benefit from spending a large chunk of the season living, training and racing in the UK.
Excited by his potential Kenyan selectors picked him for his championship debut at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen last October, although Ladbrooke insists his underwhelming performance in Hungary was no great surprise.
“He had been racing for three months in the UK, he was already tired and we decided Patrick go there for the experience,” he admitted.
Natural road runner
Based at Ngong he regularly racks up 200km a week in training and he has developed into a world class performer. And while his best performances have so far come in the half-marathon Ladbrooke is also excited by his marathon potential. 
“He is a natural road running and I think he is easily capable of a 2:05 marathon,” said Ladbrooke. “He is a very stubborn, determined athlete and fearless in training.”
For now, though, it is all about Italy and the World Road Running Championships and Musyoki is cautiously optimistic.
“I have been training very well, so I’m hoping to do well and if it’s my day anything can happen,” explained Musyoki of his Udine expectations. “Last year was not so good but I was tired from doing a lot of races in the UK. This time I’m rested and well prepared. But the field in Udine is very tough, my Kenyan team-mates are all very strong and Ethiopia and Eritrea also have some superb athletes.”
Steve Landells for the IAAF<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>
'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format)- Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

Kenyan Patrick Makau Musyoki hopes to elevate himself from an also ran at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships to the podium for this year’s event in Udine, Italy on Sunday (14).

Musyoki, three-times sub-60 in 2007, is ready to surprise in Udine

MonteCarloA total prize purse of&nbsp;US$245,000 will be paid by the IAAF at this Sunday's 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy (14 October) which is being contested over the Half Marathon distance.
(all amounts are in US$) 
Place / Prize
Individual 1st - 30,000 2nd - 15,000 3rd - 10,000 4th - 7000 5th - 5000 6th - 3000
Teams 1st - 15,000 2nd - 12,000 3rd - 9000 4th - 7500 5th - 6000 6th - 3000
 World Record Bonus
Any athlete surpassing a senior World record at 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy will be awarded US$50,000.
The World record bonus will be awarded for the Half Marathon and for any of the other official World record distances if they are surpassed en route - 10km, 15km, 20km - during the men’s and women’s Half Marathon races. 
Only one $50,000 payment will be awarded per athlete in the eventuality of the same runner setting more than one record in the same race.&nbsp; 
However, if different athletes should set World records at any of the official distances mentioned above, then each of these athletes will receive one payment of $50,000 each.
IAAF
NOTE
The payment of the bonus is dependent upon official ratification of the relevant World record.
The payment of all individual and team prize money is dependant upon athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures.
&nbsp;<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>
'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format)- Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

A total prize purse of US$245,000 will be paid by the IAAF at this Sunday's 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy (14 October) which is being contested over the Half Marathon distance.

$245,000 Prize Money + $50,000 World record bonus at stake in Udine

Brazil's 2006 New York Marathon winner Marilson dos Santos leads the Latin American charge for the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, to be held this Sunday (14) in Udine, Italy.
Dos Santos heads a 25-member seven nation contingent from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela, among more than 150 competitors who will run on the Udine streets. 
Marilson dos Santos, a four-time Pan American Games medallist will use the event as a preparation for his New York title defence in November. The 30-year old has enjoyed a successful season so far, breaking the South American 10,000m record with 27:28.12 in June. 
On the roads, he had previously finished fourth at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March, with 1:00:45 on what is a slightly downhill course. Then in April, he improved his marathon best to 2:08:37 to finish eighth in London. 
Dos Santos will be joined by Clodoaldo da Silva (1:03:37), Giomar da Silva (1:04:22), João Ferreira de Lima (1:03:53) in the Brazilain line-up.
Aside Brazil, other top men are Mexico's half marathon specialist Juan Carlos Romero and marathoner Francisco Bautista, as well as Colombia's 2003 Pan American Games marathon bronze medallist Diego Colorado and Cuba's Aguelmis Rojas. 
In the women's race, Ednalva da Silva is the region's best bet after winning the Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon in early September with 1:12:15, a time that ranks her sixth on the all-time South American lists, exactly one minute slower than the record, set by her countrywoman Silvana Pereira in 1991. 
Maria Zeferina Baldaia (1:12:45 in 2001), Marizete dos Santos (1:13:50), Lucélia de Oliveira Peres (1:13:44) complete the Brazilian quartet. 
Colombia's Bertha Sánchez (1:13:11 in 2005) and Cuba's 2007 Pan American Games marathon champion Mariela Gonzalez are also expect to produce a fine run in Udine, while Mexico's chances are centered on Paula Apolonio and Karina Pérez.
Latin America's other representatives will be Colombia's Giovanni Amador, Edwin Romero, Lina Arias, Martha Ines Ronceria, Costa Rica's José Francisco Chaves, Uruguay's Marisol Redón and Venezuela's Robert Lugo and Norelys Lugo. 
In 2006 in Debrecen, the number of Latin Americans was smaller, and the best placed runners, Mexico's Juan Gualberto Vargas (37th) and Brazil's Maria Cristina Rodrigues (45th) finished very distant from the winners Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea and Lornah Kiplagat of The Netherlands. 
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>
'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format)- Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

Brazil's 2006 New York Marathon winner Marilson dos Santos leads the Latin American charge for the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, to be held this Sunday (14) in Udine, Italy.

New York champion Marilson dos Santos to lead Latin American charge in Udine

Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAllAfrica Games men’s Half Marathon champion Deriba Merga is the leading men’s name in Ethiopia’s team of nine athletes (five men / four women) selected for the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy (14 October 2007) which will be contested over the half marathon address.
National 20km champion Bezunesh Bekele, is the most prominent female athlete.
The team, which is a mixture of both youth and experience, also comprises of national men’s 20km champion Eshetu Gezhagne, who is eager to return to the international fray after a career-threatening injury a year ago. 
MEN - Merga skips marathon for Udine 
The men’s team will once again be led by Merga, who finished sixth in last year’s championships in Debrecen, Hungary which were contested over 20km. But the 23-year-old’s career has improved in leaps and bounds since then.
In November last year, he took victory over the 10km in the TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run and run an encouraging 2:12.54 in the Paris Marathon on his full debut over the distance. 
But in July, he demonstrated that he was one of Ethiopia’s upcoming road runners by taking an outstanding victory in the 9th All-African Games Half Marathon in Algiers, Algeria. 
He warmed up for Udine with a 59.25 in the Rotterdam Half Marathon in September and had been scheduled to run the full marathon in Amsterdam on&nbsp;21 October. However, he has now pulled out of that scheduled race in the Netherlands in a bid to aid Ethiopia’s medal chances in Udine. 
Joining him in the Ethiopian squad will be national 20km champion Eshetu Gezhagne who is on a comeback mission. A member of the senior men’s 12km long course team title winning squad at the 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships in St. Etienne/St. Galmier, France, Gezhagne had been out of action for the best part of the last two years due to a bone dislocation on his foot before returning back to take a run-away victory in the national championships in Sululta in August. 
His injury, deemed career-threatening by doctors, had at one point ruled him out of competition and a place in his former club Oromiya Police’s squad. But thanks to Ethiopia’s 2004 Olympic and two-time World 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele and his own wife Amelework Teklu, he is now contemplating international success. 
“When I was fired from my club because of underperformance, it was Kenenisa who took care of me,” he said. “I had no salary for almost one year and he supported me in this time. He also helped me purchase a house. I am sure that he will be delighted when he hears about this. I would also like to thank my wife Amelework who was patient enough to take of me through my injury.” 
Other members of the Ethiopian squad include Kidane Gemechu and Rajj Assefa, second and third respectively in the national championships. 
WOMEN - Bayissa’s youth and Bekele’s experience 
On the other hand, the women’s team is a combination of youth and experience with Bezunesh Bekele, sixth in the 2003 World Cross Country Championships long course race, continuing her impressive road running career in Udine. 
The 25-year old, who is nicknamed ‘China’ by her fellow runners, took an impressive victory in the national championships in August and warmed up for Udine by winning at a Half Marathon in Lisbon, Portugal, last month.
She will lead a young and inexperienced side which include Atsede Bayissa, who finished second in the All-African Games half marathon race in Algiers, Algeria, youngster Atsede Habtamu, and Genet Getaneh, former two-time winner of the Great Ethiopian Run 10km. 
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
 Ethiopia’s team for Udine 
MEN: Deriba Merga, Tariku Jufar, Eshetu Gezhagne, Kidane Gemechu, Rajj Assefa WOMEN: Atsede Bayissa, Bezunesh Bekele, Atsede Habtamu, Genet Getaneh<A href="http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/42023.pdf" target=_blank>
'Udine 2007' FACTS &amp; FIGURES (pdf format)- Statistics concerning previous editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs (1992 - 2005) and IAAF World Road Running Champs (2006)</A>

Africa Games men’s Half Marathon champion Deriba Merga is the leading men’s name in Ethiopia’s team of nine athletes (five men / four women) selected for the 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy (14 October 2007) which will be contested over the half marathon address.

Merga to lead Ethiopia’s challenge in Udine

2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor&nbsp;cruised to victory at the 2007 USA Women's 10 km Championship, running 32:01 today at the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women in Boston. 
Kastor and two-time defending women's 10 km champion Katie McGregor (Minneapolis, Minn.), pulled away from the field during the opening 800 metres and by the first mile mark, Kastor passed in 5:00 with a five-second lead over McGregor. 
A second 5:00 mile propelled Kastor to a 15-second lead. As she continued her tour of Memorial Drive, Kastor steadily built her lead, reaching the finish 40 seconds ahead of McGregor, who finished in 32:41. 
The race for third saw 2007 USA Half-Marathon champion Elva Dryer (Gunnison, Colo.), outrun 2007 USA 20 km champion Alicia Shay (Flagstaff, Ariz.), and Rebecca Donaghue (State College, Pa.), Dryer was timed in 32:53 with Shay and Donaghue finishing in 33:05 and 33:09, respectively. 
Kastor, McGregor, Shay and sixth-place finisher Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) will represent Team USA at next week's IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy.
The USA Women's 10 km Championships also was the final race on the women's 2007 USA Running Circuit (USARC), with Kastor also capturing that title with 60 points. Dryer took second with 47 points and McGregor and Shay tied for third with 34 points. 
Jim Estes (USATF) for the IAAF&nbsp;

2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor cruised to victory at the 2007 USA Women's 10 km Championship, running 32:01 today at the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women in Boston.

Kastor wins USA Women's 10 km Championship 

Kenya's Moses Mosop is back. The Kenyan, 2005 World 10,000m bronze medallist and the World XC silver medallist earlier this year won the 61st edition of the Giro al Sas, 10.5km road race held yesterday night (6) in Trento. 
This was Mosop’s first race in three months after the Meeting Gaz the France, where he ran the 3000m and injured his left Achilles. "Now I'm ok," Mosop said after the race. "I'm coming back to Kenya, my goal is to confirm my medal in the cross country, then I will focus on Beijing."
On a loop course (9 laps) in the centre of the city - along the typical walk the citizens of Trento call "Giro al Sas" - the outcome of the race was uncertain until the last metres. 
From the start Tanzania's Dickson Marwa ran ahead and did everything to reduce the leading pack in number. The fastest lap of the race was the 4th (3:10 the split) and in the front just six remained: Mosop and Marwa, plus Uganda's Wilson Busienei, Kenya's Ronald Kipchumba (the reigning world road running silver medallist) and John Kiprotich, Tanzania's Samwel Kwaang Shauri.
Marwa kept pushing and in following lap just Mosop and Busienei were able to hang on with him. However, the Ugandan seemed very fatigued and lost ground during the 6th lap, while Mosop felt very good and launched his attack with 2 laps to go. When the bell rang, Mosop had a 6 seconds advantage on Marwa, but the race was not closed. Marwa recovered his strength and increased the pace again with a strong effort and just in the last straight he caught the leader.
Mosop was forced to push hard in order to win the race. "I've never had the fear of being beaten, I was very confident about my final kick," Mosop revealed. Busienei took the last place on the podium, out-sprinting Kipchumba. 
"I obviously was sad about not racing at the Worlds in Osaka," Mosop continued. "But my tendon had been very painful and I didn't want to risk next season. Olympic Games are too much important for me." It was the first race for him in Trento, in the race who is organised by his manager, former marathon runner Gianni Demadonna. "I liked very much the course," he added. "It was very beautiful to run here, with such cheering people."
Marwa is in Tanzanian team for next Sunday’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Udine, Italy. Also Busienei will run in Udine, after his 4th place finish in last year’s edition in Debrecen. 
"Last week I had some flu for days," said Busienei. "I don't have the same shape as last year, but I will try my best." 
In the Italian team for Udine there will be Ottavio Andriani and Giovanni Ruggiero, who ran shoulder-to-shoulder for the whole race and closed out respectively in 12th and 13th place.
Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF
Selected results (10,5km)
Men 1. Moses Mosop, KEN, 30:00 2. Dickson Marwa, TAN, 30:00 3. Wilson Busienei, UGA, 30:17 4. Ronald Kipchumba, KEN, 30:18 5. Samwel Kwaang Shauri, TAN, 30:21 6. John Kiprotich, KEN, 30:26 7. Mark Bett, KEN, 30:44 8. Gabriele De Nard, ITA, 30:54 9. Bob Tahri, FRA, 31:13 10. Fred Kosgei, KEN, 31:14

Kenya's Moses Mosop is back. The Kenyan, 2005 World 10,000m bronze medallist and the World XC silver medallist earlier this year won the 61st edition of the Giro al Sas, 10.5km road race held yesterday night (6) in Trento.

Marwa promises much for Udine but Mosop, back from injury, takes 10k win 

MonteCarloWhen the northern Italian city of Udine hosts the&nbsp;2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships on&nbsp;Sunday 14 October it will mark the second occasion on which Italy has hosted this annual battle for world road running supremacy.
The Sicilian city of Palermo, hosted the global road championships in 1999, when they were previously titled the 'World Half Marathon Championships'. Then the stars were Kenyans Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe, and, with their careers still in progress, they currently have amassed five titles between them: Tergat (1999/2000), Loroupe (1997/1998/1999).
The IAAF’s annual world title fixture for road runners has always attracted the cream of the discipline with the names like Skah, Baldini, Gebrselassie, Meyer, Radcliffe, Adere… among the many great champions who have also added this world trophy to their cabinets.
Last year’s winners over the 20km distance in Debrecen, Zersenay Tadesse and Lornah Kiplagat, who set a World record on that occasion, are returning. Now also boasting the mantle of World Cross Country Champions to supplement their already prodigious CVs, their entry emphasises that this year’s IAAF World Road Running Championships will be of the highest quality as ever.
Udine is an established road race venue. Its 7km lap in the central streets of the city is flat, apart from a slightly uphill stretch in the first kilometre and a downhill one to enter the "Piazza I Maggio", where the start and finish zone is located. The athletes repeat the lap three times plus a straight at the beginning to reach the half marathon distance.
Last year’s seventh edition of Udine’s annual race (25 Sep 2006) was won by Kenyan Evans Cheruiyot in 60:18 in a near dead heat from countryman Paul Kirui.
Cheruiyot returns to Udine as part of the Kenyan squad, and aside his own championship title and even World record aspirations, with the added presence of fellow Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru, the current men’s World record holder for half marathon, we can count on some fast times on 14 October.
“I am very happy with my win in Udine on a flat and fast course,” said Cheruiyot after his triumph last year. “Unfortunately I did not break the 60 minutes barrier, but I hope to do better in the next races. I want to come back next year to Udine for the World Road Running Championships (in 2007). It’s a very competitive course. Local people are very friendly and the organization is very good.” Chris Turner for the IAAF

When the northern Italian city of Udine hosts the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships on Sunday 14 October it will mark the second occasion on which Italy has hosted this annual battle for world road running supremacy.

WORLD ATHLETICS HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS

A confident Kiplagat absorbs her perfect day in Udine

1:06:25 World Half Marathon Record for Kiplagat in Udine - Women's Race Report

‘It felt like the whole of Eritrea was running with me’ - Tadese

Tadese successfully defends in Udine – Men's Race Report

IAAF World Road Running Championships - athlete press conference quotes