The men’s and women’s elite races of the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday 16 October will be broadcast live via internet video stream on the IAAF website.
Broadcast Schedule:
Saturday, 16 October 2010 00.00 GMT (08.00 Nanning) - Opening Ceremony 00.30 GMT (08.30 Nanning) - Start of Women's Race 01.00 GMT (09.00 Nanning) - Start of Men's Race
(Satellite transmission starts at 23:45 GMT, Friday 15 October)
To access the stream at those times please click on the large banners which are displayed on the IAAF and Nanning home pages.
This global broadcast is&nbsp;free of charge but will be unavailable (geo-blocked for contractual reasons) in the following areas, countries and territories: •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Japan •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Middle East •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Africa •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brazil •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Canada •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; USA &amp; its territories and possessions, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin islands •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cyprus •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Greece •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Portugal •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Russia •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Slovenia •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sweden
*Middle East territories (for whom coverage is provided by a TV contract with Al Jazeera) = Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE (including Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khamimeh, Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah), and Yemen; Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia; Chad, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan.
IAAF
&nbsp;

The men’s and women’s elite races of the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday 16 October will be broadcast live via internet video stream on the IAAF website.

LIVE VIDEO STREAM of men’s and women’s elite races - Nanning 2010

Nanning, ChinaThe IAAF / LOC press conference on the eve of the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships, was held today (15) at the Guijing Hotel in the centre of Nanning. In attendance were Lamine Diack, IAAF President; Pierre Weiss, IAAF General Secretary; Chunde Shen, Deputy Direcoty or Athletics Management and General Administrator of Sports in China; and Guozhong Li, Vice Mayor of Nanning, and the LOC Deputy Director. Athletes in attendance were Zersenay Tadese (ERI), four-time World Half Marathon champion (2006-2009), World record holder in the Half Marathon (58:23); Florence Jebet Kiplagat (KEN), 2009 World Cross Country champion; Benita Willis (AUS), 2004 World Cross Country Champion and 2003 World Half Marathon bronze medallist; and Zhu Xiaolin (CHN), 4th in the 2008 Olympic Marathon and 5th in the 2009 World Championships Marathon. Some of the highlights: Zersenay Tadese (ERI) - On his goal as he defends his title: For tomorrow I have prepared very well. First and foremost I will try to win. It is never easy. It is always difficult with some of the best athletes in the world in the field. Everybody is going to run for the win. But I will try. First I will try to win, then maybe I’ll try for the World record. That’s difficult to say now. On the warm conditions expected: It will be quite hot and humid, but it will be hot and humid for everybody, so I’m not worried that. Does he have any tactics in place? It depends on the pace at the beginning. We’ll just have to wait and see how it goes. Is he in similar shape that he was in March when he broke the World record? Yes, I have no problems. I’m in good condition, very similar to March. I haven’t had any injuries and feel good. No problems. &nbsp; Can he go faster over the distance? I can still go faster. But I don’t know if under 58 minutes is possible. I will try for the world record again. Maybe next year in Lisbon again. &nbsp; Florence Kiplagat (KEN) - 
On her own expectations, and her team goals for the race: I have done the training and am prepared. In my mind I believe in myself. I think the team for Kenya is not bad, so tomorrow I hope we can win. On her debut over the Half Marathon distance in Lille on 4 September, where she ran 1:07:40: I still had lots of energy left. But it was just my first time in the half marathon, so it was a very new experience. Is the Marathon in her future running plans? I’m not sure yet about the future, whether I’ll stay focused on the track or the roads. I’ve already won a medal at Cross Country and I have to look for a medal before I leave the track. That is my goal for next year (World Championships in Daegu) and at the next Olympics. Zhu Xiaolin (CHN) –
I’m very delighted to be here and to compete against some of the best athletes in the world here at home. I hope to be able to win a medal for China and to break my own record. On the crowd of 300,000 people expected to line the course – I look forward to it. I don’t think the crowd will bring any pressure. They will actually give me more energy and help me to run even faster. Benita Willis (AUS) –
Are there any secrets on beating African runners who have dominated the international scene in the distances? There are no secrets to beating the Africans because they are absolutely fantastic. They are always the hardest ones to beat. They run themselves into the ground. And certainly when I won World cross I probably couldn’t have run more than a few steps over the line.&nbsp; I got a bronze medal at the 2003 World Half Marathon Championships and that medal really made me believe that I could get a medal at major championships. And then I went on to win World cross the year after. So championships like this have always meant a lot to me. That 2003 championships will always be a great memory, something that I remember as helping me win that Cross Country title. IAAF President Lamine Diack - Some of the world’s best runners have come to China, from every corner of the world, to take part in what is the only IAAF World Championships for road runners. Road running is a thriving and fast growing branch of athletics and very important for the IAAF. China has organised many IAAF competitions, and we have very fond memories of the 2006 World Juniors in Beijing, and of course, the wonderful athletics competition at the Olympic Games in 2008. It is clear that there is a real desire in China to develop athletics and make it more popular, not only with this event in Nanning, but also in the future. In particular, I would like to thank our title sponsor for this event SINOPEC, and it is a great honour for the IAAF to have such a prestigious and famous Chinese corporation as sponsor of this event. I sincerely hope that this partnership will continue in the future. Guozhong Li, Vice Mayor of Nanning, and the LOC Deputy Director – We’ve been working very hard for the past two years to prepare for this championship, and we’re very excited that the best athletes in the world have come to Nanning. It’s fair to say that the beautiful and passionate Nanning is ready to host a great championship. Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

Nanning, China – The IAAF / LOC press conference on the eve of the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships, was held today at the Guijing Hotel in the centre of Nanning.

IAAF / LOC Press Conference - Nanning 2010

When the gun sounds for the start of the men’s race at the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday (16) morning at this southern Chinese city’s futuristic Wuxiang, or Five Elephant Square, the focus will fall squarely on one man – Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, who will be chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive title. 
START LISTS and RESULTS - <a href="http://www.iaaf.org/whm10/results/eventCode=4385/index.html" mce_href="http://www.iaaf.org/whm10/results/eventCode=4385/index.html">Click here</a>Besides Kenenisa Bekele, whose six individual long course World titles have earned him the moniker of ‘Mr. Cross Country’, no man has become as synonymous with an event as has Tadese with the Half Marathon. The Eritrean, now 28, underscored his dominance over the distance in March when he smashed the World record with a dazzling 58:23 run in Lisbon, knocking 10 seconds from the previous mark set by Sammy Wanjiru three years earlier. A fifth straight victory in Nanning, equalling the five straight triumphs by Bekele in Cross Country (2002-2006), will rightfully bestow the nickname ‘Mr. Half Marathon’ on Tadese. Tadese has run sparingly this year, starting just three times since his World record run in Lisbon. A month after Lisbon he finished a distant 12th at the London Marathon - he did not finish in his debut over the distance a year earlier - and after a break of several months, returned to action in late July with a solid victory at the traditional 11.3Km road race in Castelbuono, Italy. Illness forced him to drop out of the Bogota Half Marathon on 1 August, but he's been reportedly training specifically for Nanning since. The weather conditions expected in his astonishingly tropical area of China – the race morning forecast calls for high humidity with temperatures between 20-25 C. (70-77 F.) – certainly play well into Tadese’s hands, given his performances in hot and muggy weather. His second global title came in the now-legendary heat and humidity of Mombasa in 2007 when he ended Bekele's World Cross Country streak with his triumphant run. His third Half Marathon title, won in dominating fashion with a largely solo run, came in the heat and under the sun of Rio de Janeiro in 2008. Nothing the climate in Nanning can dish out is expected to slow Tadese, whose native Eritrea is one of the hottest countries on the planet. But he’ll face some stiff competition on the roads, namely by a formidable Kenyan squad who have won the past four team titles, five of the last six, and 12 of 18 in all. Kiprop leads strong Kenyan contingent Indeed, in terms of depth, no team comes marginally close to the credentials that the Kenyan squad brings with them to Nanning. Each of the east African powerhouse’s entrants – five are allowed to compete in the team race, with the top three scoring – have covered the distance in under 60 minutes this year. Wilson Kiprop, who raced to the African 10,000m title in Nairobi in July, will arrive as a solid podium threat. Kiprop made a strong debut over the distance in Lille, France, in September, winning in 59:39, currently equalling the fifth fastest performance of the year. There is also Moses Mosop, the 2005 World 10,000m bronze medallist, who with his March victory in Milan has clocked 59:20 this season, currently the No. 3 time in the world. Sammy Kitwara, Silas Kipruto, and Titus Masai. Sammy Kitwara (59:34) and Silas Kipruto (59:39) are also inside the season's top-five along with Mosop and Kiprop. Ethiopia, the team bronze medallists in 2007 and 2009, are led by rising star Lelisa Desisa, who clocked 59:59 in Abu Dhabi in January, and followed up with a runner-up finish behind Kiprop at the Paris Half Marathon in March. At 20 he’s already a prolific road racer, having captured some key victories at shorter distances on the US circuit. Surprisingly, Ethiopia has captured the individual title just once, thanks to Haile Gebrselassie’s victory in 2001 when he led a 1-2 finish for his running-mad nation. That year also marked the last time an Ethiopian reached the men’s podium. Eritrea, the team silver medallists for five consecutive years, will also be in the running again this year. Not as strong on paper as Kenya, Tadese will nonetheless have&nbsp;solid back-up with Samuel Tsegay (1:00.17 PB) and Adhanom Abraha (1:02.47 PB) in the field. In the past, China hasn't been a factor in the men's race, a record not likely to change this year on home turf. To surpass it's highest team finish, 15th in 2002, would be a reasonable goal for the host team, led by Gao Laiyuan (1:03:49). A total prize money purse of $245,000 (122,500 each for the men's and women's races) is on offer, paid to the first six finishers. with $30,000 going to the individual winners. Teams will be gunning for a $15,000 first place prize. 
Also on offer is a $50,000 World record bonus. Given Tadese’s performance in Lisbon, a largely solo effort in which he also broke the 20Km World record (55:21) en route, the possibilities are certainly not out of the question. Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

When the gun sounds for&nbsp;the start of the men’s race at the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday (16) morning at this southern Chinese city’s futuristic Wuxiang, or Five Elephant Square, the focus will fall squarely on one man – Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, who will be chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive title.

The spotlight on Tadese – MEN'S RACE PREVIEW – Nanning 2010

Nanning, ChinaFlorence Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion, will lead a strong Kenyan squad eager to retain its grasp on both the women’s individual and team titles at the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships in Nanning on Saturday (16). 
START LISTS and RESULTS - <a href="http://www.iaaf.org/whm10/results/eventCode=4385/index.html" mce_href="http://www.iaaf.org/whm10/results/eventCode=4385/index.html">Click here</a>At just 23, Kiplagat has made a strong and steady rise from the deep Kenyan ranks, first with her individual Cross Country triumph in 2009 upon which she swiftly followed up&nbsp; with a 30:11.53 national record in the 10,000m in June of that year. More recently, she made further waves in her debut over the&nbsp;half marathon distance, clocking 1:07:40 in Lille, France, on 4 September, currently the fifth fastest performance of the season and one which propelled her well inside the event’s all-time top-20. With several other key victories on the roads this year, Kiplagat is a solid bet to succeed compatriot Mary Keitany as World champion. Kenyan women have won the team title on seven occasions, including at three of the last four editions and will again come armed to defend their team supremacy in Nanning. Backing up the team leader is Peninah Arusei, who was second to Kiplagat in Lille with a 1:07:48 lifetime best. Sarah Chepchirchir (1:09:27, PB, SB), Joyce Chepkirui (1:09:51, SB, PB) and Eunice Kales (1:09:50, SB, PB) round out the squad. Tune tops Ethiopian squad But the Ethiopians, who took the team title in 2004 and 2008, won’t let the Kenyans, or the weather conditions expected in this sprawling and tropical Southern Chinese city of six million - the race morning forecast calls for high humidity with temperatures between 20-25 C. (70-77 F.) – keep them from battling for the top step of the podium&nbsp;in both the individual and team races. Dire Tune, the World record holder for the One Hour Run, is the lead Ethiopian hope. Fourth at these championships in 2006, the 25-year-old has a 1:07:18 career best, and at 1:07:58, has gone nearly as fast this year. A strong marathoner with a sub-2:25 personal best, Tune has illustrated her depth and range from 10Km up. Watching her back will be 20-year-old Abebech Afework, who’s clocked 1:10:49 this year, and Feyse Tadese (1:10:08, SB, PB). China has competed well at this competition in the past, with Ren Xiujuan and Sun Yingjie running to individual gold in 1996 and 2004, respectively. With her victory in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Ren, at 22 years, 15 days old, was the youngest ever women's winner at these championships. The best team finish for China was eighth in 2002 (they were also 10th in 1996) and look on paper to be prepared to produce their best-ever team finish here on home soil. Zhu Xiaolin leads local charge This year, the Chinese to watch is Zhu Xiaolin, who improved her career best to 1:10:07 with her runner-up finish at Milan’s Stramilano in late March. No stranger to major competitions, the 26-year-old usually arrives very well prepared. Zhu finished fourth in the Olympic Marathon in 2008, and fourth and fifth over the 42.2 Km distance at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships, respectively. She was also a notable third at the Rotterdam Marathon in April. She’ll be backed up by some of the host’s youthful up-and-comers, including 20-year-old Hao Xiaofan, who clocked 1:11:24 this year, and 18-year-old Ding Changqin, who has yet to tackle the Half Marathon competitively. Japan, the inaugural team champions, has been consistent at these championships since their inception in 1992. Most recently, Japan pieced together a string of four consecutive bronze medal finishes, from 2005 through 2009, in the women's race, and could be in the running again this year. Yoshimi Ozaki, Noriko Higuchi, Ryoko Kizaki and Hiriko Miyauchi have all run under 1:11 this year. A total prize money purse of $245,000 (122,500 each for the men's and women's races) is on offer, paid to the first six finishers. with $30,000 going to&nbsp;the individual winners. Teams will be gunning for a $15,000 first place prize. Also on offer is a $50,000 bonus for breaking Lornah Kiplagat’s 1:06:25 World record, set in Udine, Italy, in 2007, when the Dutchwoman won the second of her three consecutive titles. Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

bsp;- Nanning, China – Florence Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion, will lead a strong Kenyan squad eager to retain its grasp on both the women’s individual and team titles at the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday (16).

Kiplagat the favourite, as Kenya and Ethiopia prepare to tussle – WOMEN'S RACE PREVIEW – Nanning 2010

MonteCarloA total prize purse of US$245,000 will be paid by the IAAF for the men's and women's races at the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships, Nanning, China on Saturday 16 October 2010.
Prize Money (all amounts are in US$) 
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 who surpasses a World record in Nanning will be awarded $US50,000 by the IAAF.
NOTE. The payment of all&nbsp;prize money is dependant upon athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures.
Timetable
Saturday 16 October (times are local: GMT +8 hrs)
Women’s Race 08:30 Men’s Race 09:00 
(Mass Race 09:15)
Course
The championships will take place in City Centre, starting &amp; finishing in Wuxiang Square. The course is flat, from 8 to 12m wide. Download the course profile in ‘Related Content’ under the event logo.
Team Scoring
A maximum of seven athletes may be entered in each race; no more than five will be allowed to start, with three to score.
Each race shall be scored separately. The team results shall be decided by the aggregate of times recorded by the scoring athletes of each team. The team with the lowest aggregate of times will be judged the winner. If a team fails to finish with a complete scoring team, the runners finishing shall be counted as individuals in the race result and be eligible for the individual awards.
In the event of a tie, it shall be resolved in favour of the team whose last scoring member finishes nearer to first place.
START LISTS and RESULTS - <a href="http://www.iaaf.org/whm10/results/eventCode=4385/index.html" mce_href="http://www.iaaf.org/whm10/results/eventCode=4385/index.html">Click here</a>
IAAF

- A total prize purse of US$245,000 will be paid by the IAAF for the men's and women's races at the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships, Nanning, China on Saturday 16 October 2010.

$245,000 Prize Money; Course Map/Profile; Team Scoring – Nanning 2010

MonteCarloThe Provisional Entry List for the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships which will be held in Nanning, China, on Saturday 16 October, are available. The men's field features Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea, who will be gunning for a fifth successive title. Last March the 28-year-old set a new World record over the Half Marathon distance, clocking 58:23 in Lisbon. You can download the entry list (PDFs), updated at 09:00 on 15 October&nbsp;- 'entries by country' and / or 'entries by event' - via the&nbsp;'Related Content' section underneath the photo to the&nbsp;right of this text. IAAF

The Provisional Entry List for the IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships which will be held in Nanning, China, on 16 October, are available.

PROVISIONAL Entry List as @ 15 October - Nanning 2010

Berlin, GermanyLeonard Komon clocked a German All-comers 10Km Record at the ASICS Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday (10). In another sizzling run, the Kenyan clocked 27:12, well outside his World record of 26:44 set in Utrecht, The Netherlands, on 26 September, but nonetheless a performance which only seven other men have ever bettered on the roads. The much anticipated clash between Komon and the man whose record he broke, Kenyan Micah Kogo, was dominated by the 22-year-old. Together with fellow Kenyans Mike Kigen and Jacub Cheshari they formed an early leading group. But in the second half Komon was clearly superior. The previous German All-comers Record was established just one month ago, when Kenyan Daniel Chebii had taken the Duesseldorf Koe-Race in 27:43. Komon’s Berlin time is the 11th fastest ever run at this distance and the fourth fastest in the world this year. He is now the only athlete to have run the 10Km inside 27:15 minutes three times (26:44, 27:10 and 27:12). “Before the race I was not sure if I would be able to break my world record once again. But it was still a superb race and the spectators were great,” said Komon, who now plans to end his season. Runner-up Kigen also clocked a world-class time of 27:25, a personal best. Fellow Kenyans Jacub Cheshari (28:10), Micah Kogo (28:24) and Stephen Tum (28:25) took the next places while defending champion Jan Kreisinger (Czech Republic/29:37) was sixth. In contrast the women’s race was much weaker. Agnieszka Gortel of Poland clocked a personal best of 34:08 well ahead of runner-up Carina Schipp of Germany (36:30). Organisers for the IAAF

Leonard Komon clocked a German All-comers 10Km Record at the ASICS Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday (10).

Komon on fire – 27:12 in Berlin

Edwin Soi of Kenya defended his title at the Giro Al Sas 10Km in Trento on Saturday (9). Soi, who clocked 28:45.9 over the multi-loop course, defeated Wilson Businiei of Uganda by nearly two seconds to become only the second man to ever win back-to-back titles at this race which this year celebrated its 64th edition. Another Kenyan, Moses Mosop, took consecutive victories in 2007 and 2008. Soi, running behind the leaders, made his move over the final loop with about 700 metres remaining. Upping the tempo, only Busienei managed to respond but Soi was stronger in the sprint. Sergey Lebid, Ukraine's eight-time European Cross Country champion, finished third in 28:48.3 to round out the podium. Stefano Baldini, the 2004 Olympic Marathon champion, was to make his final competitive appearance in the race, but a recurring strained tendon injury kept him from the start line. Organisers for the IAAF Leading results - &nbsp;1. Edwin Soi, KEN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28:45.9 &nbsp;2. Wilson Businiei, UGA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28:47.7 &nbsp;3. Sergey Lebid, UKR&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28:48.3 &nbsp;4. Philip Langat, KEN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28:49.0 &nbsp;5. Gerbretsedik Adhiana, ETH&nbsp; 28:53.0 &nbsp;6. Andrea Lalli, ITA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28:54.5 &nbsp;7. Elisha Meli, KEN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28:56.3 &nbsp;8. Paul Kimugul, KEN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 29:01.8 &nbsp;9. Cosimo Caliandro, ITA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 29:15.3 10. Ahmed El Mazoury, ITA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 29:40.8

Edwin Soi of Kenya defended his title at the Giro Al Sas 10Km in Trento on Saturday (9).

Soi defends title at Giro Al Sas

Former World 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge was beaten by a whisker to the Commonwealth title yesterday (6) by Moses Kipsiro of neighbouring Uganda. But the Kenyan has an early opportunity to return to winning ways, and to make another bit of history in the Belgrade Race Through History next Wednesday (13). &nbsp; But the task won’t be any easier for Kipchoge, because he faces a fine field for this 6 kilometer mix of road, cobblestones and grass around Belgrade’s Kalemegdan Fortress. And the opposition all comes from Kenya, albeit the mercurial Saif Saaeed Shaheen who now runs for Qatar. Long-term injuries have blunted Shaheen’s speed, if not his audacious style and, like Kipchoge, he will have a hard time coping with two of the emergent talents of the year – Josphat Menjo, fastest man of the season over 10,000m (26:56.74), and the teenaged Dennis Masai, who won the World junior 5000/10,000m double, in Moncton, Canada, this summer. &nbsp; The Race Through History was only revived last year after a six-year hiatus, linked to the dire economic situation in Serbia. But last year’s makeshift field has been drastically upgraded with this quartet, and next Wednesday’s race promises to put it firmly back on the calendar. &nbsp; “We still don’t have a title sponsor,” said Dejan Nikolic, who is also the Race Director of the Belgrade Marathon. “But with some help from the city we decided to go ahead with the event, and hope this will be the turning point for our fortunes.” Among the other entries, there will be much interest in the progress of Jake and Zane Robertson. The New Zealand twins emigrated to Kenya over three years ago, at the age of 17, and live and train alongside the locals in Iten. The 20-year-old twins have started to make low-key forays into European events, both on the track and the road. Jake has been the more successful so far, finishing a close fourth in the Prague 10k last month in 28:32 (five seconds behind winner Mourad Marofit of Morocco), and recording 13:32.92 on the track at Nijmegen in May. In his first road race further than four miles, Zane finished sixth in Prague, and as a 19-year-old ran 1500m in 3:41.72. Their manager, Zane Branson predicts a bright future for the young Kiwis. "I believe that it is imperative that both Jake and Zane's progress is planned in a way that will see them through at least the next 10 years with hopes of seeing them representing New Zealand in the World Championships and Olympic Games. Without a single visit home since they moved to East Africa, their experience of living and training there for such a length of time is probably unique for such young non-African athletes. I suppose this is what makes their story interesting." Pat Butcher for the IAAF

Former World 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge was beaten by a whisker to the Commonwealth title yesterday (6) by Moses Kipsiro of neighbouring Uganda. But the Kenyan has an early opportunity to return to winning ways, and to make another bit of history in the Belgrade Race Through History next Wednesday (13).

Kipchoge tops the field in Belgrade

Three reigning national road race champions will lead the U.S. squad at the IAAF / Sinopec World Half-Marathon Championships, in Nanning, China, on Saturday 16 October. The 2010 U.S. road champions leading Team USA at the World Half Marathon Championships include: Antonio Vega, the 2010 USA Half Marathon champion, who was the first to qualify for the U.S. squad with his title at January's championship in Houston. Vega is also the 2010 USA Running Circuit overall champion. Making his second consecutive appearance on the U.S. team will be USA 25 km Champion Andrew Carlson. Carlson finished 20th in the 2009 edition of the championships. Joining Vega and Carlson will be Sean Quigley, who secured his spot on the U.S. team with a decisive win at the USA 20 km Championships in New Haven, Conn., last month. Rounding out the men's team will be Ben Bruce and Stephan Shay. Bruce was a member of the U.S. team for the World Cross Country Championships in March. Shay, was the fifth-place finisher at the USA Half Marathon Championships in January. The women's team will see four athletes who finished in the top-ten at last month's USA 20 km Championships. Runner-up Stephanie Rothstein, will lead the team that includes Loretta Kilmer (New York, N.Y.) who finished 6th in New Haven; Kristen Fryburg-Zaitz who finished 8th and Heidi Westover who finished 10th. Rounding out the women's squad will be Samia Akbar. A total of $245,000 will be offered in prize money, with $30,000 going to the individual champions and $15,000 to the respective men's and women's team champions. USATF for the IAAF

Three reigning national road race champions will lead the U.S. squad at the IAAF / Sinopec World Half-Marathon Championships, in Nanning, China, on Saturday 16 October.

National champions lead US squad for Nanning - IAAF / Sinopec World Half-Marathon Championships

Berlin, GermanKenyans Leonard Komon and Micah Kogo, history's two fastest men over 10 kilometres on the roads, will face-off in the Asics Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday (10). Komon became the first man in history to dip under 27 minutes in a 10Km road race when he shattered the World record in Utrecht, The Netherlands two weeks ago, clocking 26:44*. Kogo, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist over the distance on the track, was the previous World record holder at 27:01, which he set in Brunssum, The Netherlands, in 2009. Pacesetters will ensure a quick pace and possible World record assault in the race through the streets of the German capital. Also in the field are defending champion Jan Kreisinger (Czech Republic) and German Marathon runner Falk Cierpinski. Poland's Karolina Jarczynska and Agnieszka Gortel are the favourites in the women’s race. Organisers, who had witnessed a double World record in their BIG 25Km race in May this year, expect up to 7000 runners to take part in the event in the centre of Berlin. Organisers for the IAAF * pending the usual ratification procedures

Kenyans Leonard Komon and Micah Kogo, history's two fastest men over 10 kilometres on the roads, will face-off in the Asics Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday (10).

Komon and Kogo to face-off over 10Km in Berlin

Reigning ING New York City Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi successfully defended his title at the 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon on Sunday (3), crossing the finish line in 1:01:45. Keflezighi, with Mammoth Track Club teammate Patrick Smyth pacing, opened up a lead within the first three miles, hitting the 5K mark at 14:20. He never looked back, keeping a significant lead straight to the finish. As he looks ahead to the ING New York City Marathon on 7 November 7, the 2009 champion of both races says he is hoping for a double repeat performance. “I felt strong and maintained,” Keflezighi said. “My training is coming along as planned and I hope it goes the same. This is the race I really enjoy though. New York will be all business.” Teammates Brian Medigovich and Paul Hefferon, representing the Hansons Brooks Distance Project of Rochester Hills, Michigan, came in second and third, running 1:04:55 and 1:05:55, respectively. Blake Russell, who represented the U.S. in the Marathon at the Beijing Olympics, made a successful return to racing after the birth of her first child, winning the women’s race in 1:11:55. “It’s so exciting because it’s hard to win a race as an elite and you really learn to cherish it,” she said. “It was a learning experience and definitely mentally tougher than I expected but you keep pushing. The course was great and the music and spectators definitely helped.” She took the lead early and said she achieved her goal of staying under a 5:30 pace. Coming in behind Russell were 49-year-old Linda Somers Smith (1:13:31) and Rachel Booth (1:14:46). The sold-out Half Marathon celebrated its 5th anniversary with 13,000 participants, the largest field in the race’s history. Thousands of spectators joined in the fun, cheering enthusiastically along the course. The day was capped off with a post-race concert in Plaza de Cesar Chavez by the platinum selling band Blues Traveler.
Amana Miyamae (organisers) for the IAAF Leading results - MEN: &nbsp;1. Meb&nbsp; Keflezighi, Mammoth Lakes, CA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:01:45 &nbsp;2. Brian Medigovich, Rochester Hills, MI&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:04:55 &nbsp;3. Paul Hefferon, Rochester Hills, MI&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:05:55 WOMEN - &nbsp;1. Blake Russell, Pacific Grove, CA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:11:55 &nbsp;2. Linda Somers-Smith, Arroyo Grande, CA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:13:31 &nbsp;3. Rachel Booth, Mountain View, CA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:14:46

Reigning ING New York City Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi successfully defended his title at the 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon on Sunday (3), crossing the finish line in 1:01:45.

WORLD ATHLETICS HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kiprop and Kiplagat take home rare double Half Marathon champs victory – Nanning 2010

Kiprop dethrones Tadese - Men’s Race – Nanning 2010

Kiplagat kicks to gold - Women’s Race – Nanning 2010

Nanning 2010 - Quick links

LIVE VIDEO STREAM of men’s and women’s elite races - NANNING 2010