A strong Kenyan squad will start as the overwhelming favourite to take both the women&rsquo;s individual and team titles at the 20th edition of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships set for Saturday (6) in this Bulgarian Black Sea coast resort town. Kenya has captured four of the last five team titles at these Championships, the last two propelled by the individual winners, Florence Kiplagat in 2010 and Mary Keitany the year before that. Those two won&rsquo;t be at the start on Saturday morning but Kenya will field the five fastest entrants, with any of that handful fully capable of capturing the individual title as well. At 1:07:17, Pasalia Chepkorir Kipkoech is the fourth fastest runner in the world this season, and the fastest of the field assembled in Kavarna. The 23-year-old produced that mark in Rio de Janeiro in August, one of four victories in as many outings this year on the Brazilian circuit. Underscoring her consistency was a 1:08:20 victory at Iguaz&uacute; in July. At 35 Lydia Cheromei is the oldest and most experienced with a knack of improving with age. A silver medallist at these Championships back in 2004, Cheromei has improved this year to 1:07:26 with her runner-up finish in Prague last March, and has also produced a 2:21:30 career best in the Marathon this year. Most recently she was fourth in the fast Lille Half Marathon where she clocked a solid 1:08:54. Priscah Jepleting Cherono is another familiar name with plenty of high level experience. A silver medallist over the short course at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships, Jepleting took World bronze over 5000m in 2007 and was fourth over 10,000m in Daegu last year. This season, at 32, she improved her Half Marathon best to 1:08:35 with her third place finish in Lille last month. Pauline Njeri Kahenya, 27, has also dipped under 1:08 this year courtesy of her 1:07:55 victory in Paris in early March, while Peninah Arusei (1:07:48 PB), the bronze medallist in Nanning two years ago, has clocked 1:08:12 this season, so can't be discounted. Flanagan leads the challenge But all the medal favourites aren&rsquo;t from Kenya. The short list of realistic challengers includes Shalane Flanagan of the U.S., the bronze medallist in the 2008 Olympic 10,000m and at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships. Flanagan has had a strong year on the roads, first winning the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January and then the Lisbon Half Marathon in late March where she clocked 1:08:52. After the Kenyans, Flanagan is the field&rsquo;s next fastest this season. The 31-year-old will be looking to regroup from a disappointing 10th place finish in the Olympic Marathon while she aims to become the first U.S. woman to finish on the podium at these Championships. Starting as the fastest women in the field is Turkish star Elvan Abeylegesse who returns to international action after maternity leave. A former World record holder in the 5000m and a double Olympic silver medallist in 2008, the 30-year-old made an auspicious debut over the distance in Ras Al Khaimah in 2010 when clocking 1:07:07, which still ranks her as the ninth fastest woman ever. Ethiopia, the team champion in 2004 and 2008, will be lead by Feyse Tadese who finished fourth in Nanning two years ago. The 23-year-old has a 1:09:15 to her credit this year after a fourth place finish in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon and has also produced a solid 2:23:26 Marathon best with her victory at the Dong-A Marathon in Seoul back in March. Her career best, 1:08:44, was set last year in Rabat. Japan, the team champion at the inaugural edition back in 1992 and the team bronze medallist five of the last six years, again arrives with team podium aspirations. Tomomi Tanaka is the fastest of the five this year with her 1:09:47 personal best from the Corporate Championships in Yamaguchi in March. Others to watch include German Sabrina Mockenhaupt whose impressive 1:08:48 career best was set back in 2010. She hasn&rsquo;t however contested any road races yet 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 the individual winners. Teams will be gunning for a $15,000 first place prize. Also on offer is a $50,000 bonus for breaking Mary Keitany&rsquo;s 1:05:50 World record, set in Ras Al Khaimah in 2011. The weather forecast for race time calls for high humidity with temperatures between 15-16 C. (60-61 F.) under clear sunny skies. Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

A strong Kenyan squad will start as the overwhelming favourite to take both the women’s individual and team titles at the 20th edition of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships set for Saturday (6) in this Bulgarian Black Sea coast resort town.

Kenyan women tough to beat in Kavarna - Women’s PREVIEW – World Half Marathon Championships

MonteCarloA total prize purse of US$245,000 will be paid by the IAAF for the men's and women's races at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Kavarna, Bulgaria, on Saturday 6 October 2012. Prize Money (all amounts are in US$) 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 Kavarna will be awarded $US50,000 by the IAAF. NOTE. The payment of all prize money is dependent upon athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures. Timetable Saturday 6 October (times are local: GMT +3) Women’s Race 08:30 Men’s Race 11:00 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 World Half Marathon Championships, Kavarna, Bulgaria, on Saturday 6 October 2012.

$245,000 Prize Money up for grabs - Kavarna 2012

MonteCarloWith just one week to go to the 20th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Kavarna, Bulgaria, Saturday 6 October 2012, we take a brief look at a few of the big names expected to play key roles when the focus of the distance running world turns to this resort city on the Black Sea coast. Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) is no stranger to IAAF World Championships. After winning the global title over 5000m in 2003 when he was just 19 years old, he has remained a consistently formidable force on the track since. Now 27, Kipchoge is ready to take to the roads. On 1 September he produced a sensational 59:25 performance at the Lille Half Marathon, the second fastest debut ever over the distance. Then there is Zersenay Tadese (ERI), who has already earned the moniker of 'Mr. Half Marathon’. A four-time champion (2006-2009) in this event, the 30-year-old Eritrean was second at the 2010 edition in Nanning and is still the World record holder over the distance with 58:23. He's raced sparingly this year but finished a notable sixth in the Olympic 10,000m in August. In the women's race, Shalane Flanagan (USA) is on the short list of favourites. The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist at 10,000m has had a strong year on the roads, first winning the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January and then the Lisbon Half Marathon in late March clocking 1:08:52. Faster still is Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR), a former World record holder in the 5000m and a double Olympic silver medallist in 2008. The 30-year-old made an auspicious debut over the distance in Ras Al Khaimah in 2010 when clocking 1:07:07, which still ranks her as the ninth fastest woman ever. Team scoring Separate men’s and women’s team champions will also be crowned. 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. IAAF

Carlo – With just one week to go to the 20th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Kavarna, Bulgaria, Saturday 6 October 2012, we take a brief look at a few of the big names expected to play key roles when the focus of the distance running world turns to this resort city on the Black Sea coast.

Kavarna 2012 – Who to Watch – One Week to go

READ ON for English and French language version - La traduction française suit le texte anglais Monte-Carlo - The 20th edition of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships takes place in Kavarna, Bulgaria, on Saturday 6 October 2012. Kavarna, a Black Sea coastal town and seaside resort in the Dobruja region of northeastern Bulgaria, was first founded as a Greek settlement in the 5th century BC and is a rich archeological treasure house, a history which combined with a modern infrastructure and outlook makes Kavarna a vibrant host destination. The men’s (1100hrs local time, GMT +3) and women’s (0930hrs local time, GMT +3) elite races will take place on the morning of 6 October, with the start and finish set in the very heart of the town. The half marathon distance will be run on a compact course of three laps of 5km and one lap of 6.0975km assisting spectators to closely follow the action. The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships will be the second occasion that the Bulgarian Athletics Federation has staged an IAAF World Athletics Series event, as in 1990 the country’s second largest city Plovdiv was the venue for the successful third edition of the IAAF World Junior Championships. Kavarna may only have a tiny population of 12,000 but as a host it already possesses major event experience with an annual marathon staged from 2009, which this year incorporated the Bulgarian championships, while on 1 September 2012 the First Balkan Half Marathon was held in the town as a test event for the World Half Marathon Championships itself. Click on the following links to download (pdfs): <a href="http://iaaf.org/mm/Document/06/46/37/64637_PDF_English.pdf" target="_blank">Start and Finish area map</a> <a href="http://iaaf.org/mm/Document/06/46/36/64636_PDF_English.pdf" target="_blank">Course map</a> *** Kavarna se prépare à accueillir l'élite des coureurs sur route Monte-Carlo – La 20e édition des Championnats du monde de semi-marathon de l'IAAF se déroulera le samedi 6 octobre 2012 dans la ville bulgare de Kavarna. Kavarna, une ville et station balnéaire sur les côtes de la Mer noire dans la région de Dobruja, dans le nord-ouest de la Bulgarie, a d'abord été une colonie grecque dont les origines remontent au Ve siècle av. J.-C. Réputée pour son riche passé, illustré par les très nombreuses reliques archéologiques qu'on y a trouvé, Kavarna offre en outre une infrastructure et une dynamique des plus modernes, une combinaison qui en fait une ville hôte idéale. Les courses de l'élite masculine (11h00 heure locale, GMT +3) et féminine (9h30 heure locale, GMT +3) se dérouleront le 6 octobre; les lignes de départ et d'arrivée sont toutes deux établies en plein cœur de la ville. Le semi-marathon va se disputer sur un parcours compact, constitué de trois tours de 5km et d'un tour de 6,0975km, offrant ainsi une vue spectaculaire de l'action aux spectateurs. Ces Championnats du monde de semi-marathon de l'IAAF sont la seconde fois que la Fédération bulgare d'athlétisme organise une épreuve de la Série mondiale d'athlétisme de l'IAAF: en 1990, Plovdiv, la seconde plus grande ville du pays, avait en effet accueilli les 3es Championnats du monde juniors de l'IAAF, une édition qui avait connu un grand succès. Bien que Kavarna soit de taille modeste, avec une population de tout juste 12 000 habitants, elle bénéficie déjà d'une expérience impressionnante en matière d'organisation d'événements de haut niveau, accueillant un marathon international annuel depuis 2009, qui, cette année, a incorporé les championnats nationaux bulgares, tandis que, le 1er septembre 2012, elle a organisé le premier semi-marathon des Balkans, qui a servi d'épreuve test en prévision de ces Mondiaux d'octobre. Cliquer sur les liens pour télécharger les éléments suivants (PDF): <a href="http://iaaf.org/mm/Document/06/46/37/64637_PDF_English.pdf" target="_blank">Plan des aires de départ et d'arrivée </a> <a href="http://iaaf.org/mm/Document/06/46/36/64636_PDF_English.pdf" target="_blank">Plan du tracé </a> IAAF Légende illustration: le logo de Kavarna 2012 (IAAF)

The 20th edition of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships takes place in Kavarna, Bulgaria, on Saturday 6 October 2012.

Kavarna prepares to welcome road running elite

UK Athletics has named three athletes who will compete at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, in Kavarna, Bulgaria on 6 October. Gemma Steel, Susan Partridge and Caryl Jones will all toe the line hoping to improve further on their best Half Marathon performances of the year. Steele and Jones were in fine form in South Shields last weekend finishing the Great North Run in 1:10:46 and 1:11:18 respectively, whilst Partridge had a superb run at the Bath Half in March storming to a PB 1:11:34, followed up by 1:12:22 in Philadelphia on Sunday. It will mean Steele, who made her big breakthrough last year over the Half Marathon finally gets a chance to compete at the World level over the distance. The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships became a biennial championship from 2010 and did not take place in 2011. Partridge, who ran in the World Championships Marathon in Daegu, Korea in 2011, drops down to the distance she last competed over for GB in 2005, at the World Half Marathon Championships in Edmonton, Canada. Swansea’s Caryl Jones will be making her national team debut marking a superb breakthrough season where she has reduced her 2011 best of 1:16:44 by five and a half minutes throughout the year. The UK men who met the World Half selection criteria were not available for selection. UK Athletics for the IAAF

UK Athletics has named three athletes who will compete at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, in Kavarna, Bulgaria on 6 October.

UK announces Kavarna-bound squad - World Half Marathon Championships

Kampala, UgandaFormer World Youth 3000m champion Catherine Webombesa and Nathan Ayeko are the new Ugandan national road running champions after convincingly beating their opponents in the 21.1km Kampala city road race on Sunday (2). Breaking away from the field just 200 metres from the finish, Ayeko who was not among the pre-race favourites, stunned a strong field of national and international experienced opponents when he sprinted to victory in 1:01.2. This marked his debut over the Half Marathon distance and claimed his first major national title since turning senior this year. The race was part of the selection process for the upcoming IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Kavarna, Bulgaria, 6 October 2012. The 20-year-old Ayeko was excited about the win. &quot;I could not believe my strategy worked until after crossing the finish line. I worked out a plan knowing very well I am going to face a strong of very experienced international runners.&quot; &quot;So I waited till the last 200 metres to the finish to employ a hard kick to beat my closest opponent Mutai. And my work plan succeeded. Now my focus is on how I can take on the world in Bulgaria.&quot; Former World Youth champion Catherine Webombesa bounced back in style to claim her second national title after two years of absence on the national road running scene. She last won the national road running championship two years ago. As for Wabombesa triumph, &quot;It was a sweet victory for me after a long two-years duration without competing in the national Half Marathon. I still recall the title I won two years ago. What a good return to the national scene!&quot; she said. Webombesa ran together with Irene Chemusto for part of the race and took command of the road from the 17 kilometre running solo to cross the finishing line in 1:19.3. She said the victory now leads her to the next move of focusing on preparations for her next 10km road race in Cean, France. Daniel Senfuma and Namayo Mawerere for IAAF Leading Results - Men: 1. Nathan Ayeko (Alpha) 1:01:02 2, Mutai Simon (Arua) 1:01:03 3. Kiprop Jackson (Prisons) 1:01:03 4. Isaak Ayeko (Elgon) 1:01:04 5. Rotich Daniel (Standard) 1:01:04 6. Chesakit Alex (UPDF) 1:01:05 Women: 1. Catherine Webombesa (UPDF) 1:19:03 2. Chemusto Irene (Prisons) 1:19:05 3. Prim Twikirize (Ndejje) 1:21:06 4. Akidi Stella (MUK) 1:32:01 5, Laini Lulu (UCU) 1:34:05 6. Joyce Baako (Ndejje) 1:40:04

Kampala, Uganda – Former World Youth 3000m champion Catherine Webombesa and Nathan Ayeko are the new Ugandan national road running champions after convincingly beating their opponents in the 21.1km Kampala city road race on Sunday (2).

Ayeko, Webombesa claim Uganda road running titles

Ezekiel Chebii shattered the course record at the Lille Half Marathon on Saturday (1). The 21-year-old Kenyan clocked an impressive 59:05, well under the previous course mark of 59:36 set by Ethiopian Tilahun Regassa in 2008. It was also a marked improvement over the distance for Chebii whose previous best was 59:22 from the Berlin Half Marathon in April. Kenyan Bernard Koech was second in 59:10, a personal best, but was overshadowed by the third place finisher, track standout Eliud Kipchoge who made his debut over the distance. The 27-year-old, who won the World 5000m title in 2003 and took World and Olympic silver over the same distance in 2007 and 2008, respectively, clocked an impressive 59:25. It was the second fastest Half Marathon debut ever, behind only Moses Mosop&#39;s 59:20 in Milan in 2010. Gideon Kipketer and Gilbert Masai clocked personal bests of 59:53 and 59:57 to round out the top-five and reach the finish in under one hour. Ethiopian Amane Tsegay was expected to race but didn&#39;t reach the start, reportedly due to visa and travel difficulties. In the women&#39;s race, Flomena Chepchirchir clocked a 1:08:06 PB to lead the first five finishers under 1:09. Diane Chepkemoi was second in 1:08:08 ahead of debutante Priscah Jepleting&#39;s 1:08:35. 2011 Prague Marathon winner Lydia Cheromei (1:08:54) was fourth and Sarah Chepchirchir, who clocked 1:08:59, fifth. Bob Ramsak and Alfons Juck for the IAAF

Ezekiel Chebii shattered the course record at the Lille Half Marathon on Saturday (1).

Chebii clocks 59:05 course record in Lille Half Marathon

The 55th annual Sapporo International Half marathon, which doubles as the selection race for the Japanese team for the World Half Marathon Championships, was held in Sapporo, northern metropolis, on Sunday 1 July. Leading from wire to wire, Martin Mathathi, the 2007 World Championships bronze medalist at 10,000m, won the men’s division of the race in 1:01:35. The time was quite respectable considering the warm (25C) and windy weather less than ideal for distance running. Arata Fujiwara, who used this race as an Olympic tune up, and Naoki Okamoto battled hard for the top Japanese position. Although Okamoto pulled away from Fujiwara in the uphill 20th kilometre, Fujiwara came back strongly and passed Okamoto on the track little more than 100 metres from the finish to win the battle for the first Japanese. &quot;It was quite hard race, but I was able to simulate the end of the Olympic marathon in the last 1Km,&quot; said Fujiwara who finished sixth overall. This was the fourth race in eight days for Fujiwara, having run two 10,000m races with less than five minutes break between the race on 23 June and a 5000m race on 27 June 27. He capped it off with the Half Marathon today. Mai Ito, who broke away from the Miyauchi twins at 14Km, won the women’s edition with 1:10:52. &quot;I am happy to win,&quot; she said. &quot;I stayed behind in the early going, but I decided to go for the win since I felt good in the second half. If I am selected to the World Half Marathon Championships, I like to run well.&quot; Yukiko Akaba, alternate for the Olympic Marathon team, fell off the lead pack early, but she was tenacious and picked off the staggering runners in the last half of the race to finish respectable fifth. How the race unfolded - The men started 13 minutes after the women, and Kenyans led by Mathathi moved intothe front immediately and led the pack out of the stadium. Soon, the lead pack consisted exclusively of Kenyans. Before 5Km, Mathathi, a sub-60 Half Marathon runner, started to pull away. Downhill 5Km was covered in fast 14:13. By 10Km (covered in fast 28:46 despite head wind) Mathathi was completely alone. He passed 15Km in 43:31 and 20km in 58:28 despite warm weather and won comfortably. Biding his time behind the Kenyans Fujiwara started to pick off staggering runners in the last half of the race and eventually caught Naoki Okamoto who was the first Japanese during the most of the race. Although Okamoto pulled away again, Fujiwara caught and passed Okamoto on the track for the position of first Japanese. Women - Seventy-two women started first under windy conditions. Akaba went to the lead immediately and pushed the pace. But soon the Miyauchi twins and Asami Kato moved into front. 5Km split was relatively modest 16:43. After 6Km Akaba started to drift back. However, she did not completely fall apart. By 7Km the pack was reduced to nine runners. After 11Km Yoko Miyauchi tried to break away which broke up the lead pack. Nearing 14Km Ito went into the lead followed by the Miyauchi twins. By 15Km (50:19) Ito was all alone in front, some 30m ahead of Yoko Miyauchi, and held on for the win. Ken Nakamura for the IAAF Leading Results: Weather: temperature: 25C; windy Men - 1) Martin Mathathi (KEN) 1:01:35 2) Mekubo Mogusu (KEN)1:01:51 3) Joseph Gitau (KEN) 1:02:00 4) James Mwangi (KEN) 1:02:09 5) Alex Mwangi (KEN) 1:02:18 6) Arata Fujirawa 1:02:48 7) Naoki Okamoto 1:02:50 Women - 1) Mai Ito 1:10:52 2) Yoko Miyauchi 1:11:04 3) Hiroko Miyauchi 1:11:26 4) Asami Kato 1:11:39 5) Yukiko Akaba 1:12:07 Splits: Men: 5Km 14:13 10Km 28:46 (14:33) 15Km 43:31 (14:45) 20Km 58:28 (14:57) Finish: 61:35 (3:08) Women: 5Km 16:43 10Km 33:43 (17:00) 15Km 50:19 (16:36) 20Km 67:14 (16:55) Finish: 70:52 (3:38)

The 55th annual Sapporo International Half marathon, which doubles as the selection race for the Japanese team for the World Half Marathon Championships, was held in Sapporo, northern metropolis, on Sunday 1 July.  Leading from wire to wire, Martin Mathathi, the 2007 World Championships bronze medalist at 10,000m, won the men’s division of the race in 1:01:35.  The time was quite respectable considering the warm (25C) and windy weather less than ideal for distance running.

Mathathi and Ito win Sapporo Half

2012 Olympic Marathon team members Abdi Abdirahman and Kara Goucher lived up to their pre-race favourite status, taking the respective men’s and women’s titles at Saturday’s (16) USA Half Marathon Championships in Duluth, Minnesota. Abdirahman scored his tenth USA road title in 1:02:46, while Goucher took her second in a course record 1:09:46. This was the third time the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon has hosted the women’s championship and the first time the event hosted the men’s. Under ideal conditions, a field of 99 men started the day of racing with Abdirahman leading a large group through the mile in 4:37. At three miles, Abdirahman and Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) broke away from the field and looked to be setting up a two man race for the title. Over the next six miles, Abdirahman opened a small lead over Gotcher but couldn’t seem to manage a decisive breakaway. At the same time, a chase pack that included Ian Burrell Michael Eaton and Tim Ritchie was steadily making up ground on Abdirahman and Gotcher. By 10 miles, Burrell had managed to break away from Eaton and Ritchie and joined Abdirahman and Gotcher, and even managed to take a brief turn in the lead. The move served to jumpstart the tempo with Abdirahman surging to the lead again at 11 miles. Burrell lost contact as Abdirahman and Gotcher began the duel to the finish. Over the final mile, Abdirahman regained his slight edge over Gotcher and hit the line for a three second win. Gotcher was timed in 1:02:49 as Burrell closed slightly to finish a strong third in 1:02:51. The women’s race started with 69 entrants but quickly became a three woman race as Lindsey Scherf pressed the pace with Goucher and Maegan Krifchin. The race would soon turn into a duel between Goucher and Krifchin as Scherf began to fade, eventually finishing in 10th-place. After passing 10 km together in 33:23, Goucher started to increase the tempo and by 10 miles, the hometown favorite enjoyed a 19 second lead. Over the final miles, Goucher would extend her lead to over a minute on her way to a course record. Krifchin finished in 1:10:56 as Michelle Frey worked her way through the field to finish third in 1:11:45. USATF for the IAAF

2012 Olympic Marathon team members Abdi Abdirahman and Kara Goucher lived up to their pre-race favourite status, taking the respective men’s and women’s titles at Saturday’s (16) USA Half Marathon Championships in Duluth, Minnesota.

London-bound Abdirahman and Goucher take US Half Marathon titles

When Edna Kiplagat reached the four-mile mark of the 2012 NYRR New York Mini 10K, she recognized the spot. &quot;The memories are still fresh,&quot; she would say afterward about the stretch of Central Park&#39;s East Drive where she had broken away from her last two challengers in the 2010 ING New York City Marathon on her way to the victory -a landmark on her way to being chosen to represent Kenya in the London Olympic Marathon this year. When she reached the same spot this time, she was surrounded by four dangerous rivals: Ethiopia&#39;s Aheza Kiros, the runner-up in last year&#39;s Mini, and her countrywoman Firehiwot Dado, the defending ING New York City Marathon and NYC Half champion; Hilda Kibet, a native Kenyan now representing the Netherlands, who won the 2008 Mini; and Diane Nukuri-Johnson, a member of Burundi&#39;s 2012 Olympic marathon team. Kiplagat, 32, a woman who exudes confidence, seized the moment once again. She surged and immediately opened a gap on the rest of the group. Kibet said later, &quot;The race was easy in the beginning, but when Edna accelerated, I could not follow.&quot; Kiplagat&#39;s training regimen for the London Olympic Marathon, which will be run on 5 August, has included twice-weekly sessions on a favorite hilly course, and she has become an expert downhill runner. &quot;My plan was to [use] all my energy on the downhills,&quot; she said. When she reached the top of Cat Hill nearing the five-mile mark, she let her long stride relax and flew down the 600-metre descent, while her competitors strung out in a lengthening single file. Kiplagat rounded the southern border of the park alone and cruised to the finish in an unpressured 32:08 to take the $10,000 championship prize on this 40th anniversary of the world&#39;s first all-women&#39;s road race. Kiros, 30, finished 10 seconds later to repeat her second-place finish from 2011. Kibet, 31, followed in 32:24 to take the final podium spot. After Nukuri-Johnson (4th, 32:38) and Dado (5th, 32:51) came Stephanie Rothstein, a native New Yorker who now lives and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona, and is preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m, to be run in Eugene on 22 June. Rothstein&#39;s sixth-place finish was a bit of a surprise considering the competition; she outran such luminaries as 2012 American Olympic Marathon team member Desiree Davila (11th), 2000 Olympic Marathon silver medallist Lidia Simon of Romania (12th), and three more Olympians. &quot;I was running alone at 5K,&quot; Rothstein said, &quot;and I thought, &#39;I&#39;d rather be running with people.&#39; So I took a little gamble, and I caught up to the lead pack of five. I stayed with them for a mile, and then they threw down again.&quot; Rothstein&#39;s time of 33:04 gives her confidence for the Trials. &quot;I recover well,&quot; she said. &quot;I&#39;ll be ready in two weeks.&quot; As Kiplagat headed out for a cooldown jog after the race, she was asked how she felt about the upcoming Olympic Marathon. &quot;This was a good test,&quot; she said, smiling. &quot;I will continue my marathon program now, but I know that I still have the speed.&quot; A total of 6,122 women finished the 40th-anniversary running of the Mini, the world’s first all-women road race. Founded by NYRR in 1972, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the first sponsor to support a six-mile &quot;mini&quot; marathon—named for the miniskirt, which was then in fashion—rather than a full marathon. A few weeks later, Title IX became law, guaranteeing young women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female athletes. The first race featured 78 participants. The event has had a total of more than 156,000 finishers and has been a model for women’s road races around the globe. Honored guests included women&#39;s running pioneers and Mini 10K co-founders Kathrine Switzer and Nina Kuscsik, the event’s first champion in 1972 Jacqueline Dixon, and IAAF President Lamine Diack. Switzer ran the race, finishing in 58:42. NYRR (organisers) for the IAAF

When Edna Kiplagat reached the four-mile mark of the 2012 NYRR New York Mini 10K, she recognized the spot. "The memories are still fresh," she would say afterward about the stretch of Central Park's East Drive where she had broken away from her last two challengers in the 2010 ING New York City Marathon on her way to the victory -a landmark on her way to being chosen to represent Kenya in the London Olympic Marathon this year.

Kiplagat Owns Central Park at 40th Anniversary women's 10K

Mo Farah produced a blistering finish to win the Bupa London 10,000 for the fourth year in a row on the Olympic Marathon course this morning (27) while Mara Yamauchi led from start to finish to take her first victory in the women's race. Farah broke the British 10km road record in this event two years ago, but this time he left it late, content to bide his time in a leading group of five before pulling away over the last 200 metres to cross the line in 29:21, just three seconds ahead of Japan's Arata Fujiwara. "My aim was always just to win rather than worry about the time or anything," said Farah, who finished more than a minute and a half outside his course record despite an imperious 2:35 last kilometer that left his rivals fighting for second place. "I wanted to keep my winning streak going on this course. Racing is what I train for so it's great to come here and win again." Farah's victory was never in much doubt despite the presence of Fujiwara and Kenato Nakamoto, the Japanese pair running as guests to get a feel for the Olympic marathon course where they will compete in 11 weeks' time. Fujiwara briefly threatened to break clear at half way and finished strongly in 29:24, but it was Britain's Olympic Marathon hope Scott Overall who clinched third as only 18 seconds separated the top five. In contrast to Farah, Yamauchi set off from the start of the women's race with a time target very much in mind. Aiming to finish in under 32 minutes, the Marathon star was disappointed to clock 32:52 as temperatures rose to the high 20s. "The time was OK, but I was hoping to run a bit faster. I didn't feel that fresh," said Yamauchi, who was sixth in the Great Manchester Run a week ago. "It was really hot out there on my own. And it was a tough course, with all those corners, and ups and downs." "It was good to run on the Olympic course, though, and it's great to get a win on the streets of London with the Olympics just two months away. This tells me I'd like to be a bit further on in my preparations but I've just got to train hard. I‚m confident I can be in good shape." There was no sign of disappointment for the woman in second place, however, as Caryl Mair Jones knocked more than half a second from her previous best to finish in 33:07 ahead of two of Japan's Olympic marathon runners, Yoshimi Ozaki and Risa Shigetomo, with Scottish favourite Freya Murray relegated to fifth. "I really didn't expect that at all," said the Welsh runner. "That's definitely the biggest result of my career." "I was focused on Freya for the first three kilometers but then I felt good so I started chasing Mara. I knew I couldn't catch her but I thought if I hang on to second place behind Mara Yamauchi that can't be bad." If Jones produced the shock in the women's race, the only surprise in the men's was the rather pedestrian pace in the early stages. Farah was happily tucked in behind the leaders as a large group clicked off kilometres of 3:04, 3:13, 2:48 and 3:05 to pass 4km in 12:10 when Fujiwara made the first significant move as they rounded the twisting corners of Leadenhall Market in the heart of the City. Farah and Overall immediately covered the move and six emerged clear of the rest as they passed half way in 15:10. Six became five by 8km as the splits moved into sub-3 minute territory. Farah showed at the front for the first time along the Embankment and he led the field past the Houses of Parliament with Overall alongside and Fujiwara close on his heels. These three struck for home along Horse Guards Parade but Farah was always going to be too quick, and the world 5000m champion showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he turned into The Mall with a finishing kick as hot as the weather. "It was a bit of a battle but I was comfortable and just needed to cover any moves," he said. "I am a track runner so I knew I could win it in a sprint." Overall enjoyed his early season tester over the Olympic Marathon course as he finished in 29:26. "It was a bit of a blow-out at the end," he said. "I felt strong but I'm not that fast yet and it showed over that last kilometer. The pace was pretty steady early on. The first 5km was slower than Marathon pace as we were all looking at Mo to see when he'd make a move." "I felt comfortable till the last 800 metres, but this is the start of my marathon build-up and it was good to run on the course. I'm sure it'll help come August." While Overall and Yamauchi now return to Marathon training, Farah heads back to his base in Oregon where he races over 5000m on the track next weekend against many of the top Kenyans and Ethiopians. Asked whether this was a message to his Olympic rivals, Farah was characteristically cautious: "This shows that training is going well. But the win was more important than anything. It's just a good race, and it was nice to win on the Olympic course." That was a sentiment echoed by more than eight thousand other finishers who sweated over the line behind him running fro UK Championship points, personal bests and charitable causes. Matthew Brown for the IAAF Leading Results: MEN - 1. Mo Farah 29:21 2. Arata Fujiwara 29:24 3. Scott Overall 29:26 4. Mehretab Soloman 29:37 5. Kentaro Nakamoto 29:39 WOMEN - 1. Mara Yamauchi 32:52 2. Caryl Mair Jones 33:07 3. Yoshimi Ozaki 33:17 4. Risa Shigetomo 33:20 5. Freya Murray 33:25

Mo Farah produced a blistering finish to win the Bupa London 10,000 for the fourth year in a row on the Olympic Marathon course this morning while Mara Yamauchi led from start to finish to take her first victory in the women's race.

Fast finishing Farah wins fourth London 10,000 title

Hawassa, EthiopiaHabtamu Assefa and Zeytuna Areb scooped the top prizes at the 3rd edition of the Every One Half Marathon Races staged at Haile Resort in Hawassa on Sunday. Areb, a member of the Federal Prisons club and who trains alongside Dire Tune and Teyba Erkesso, won in a time of 1:13:40. Assefa, who has previously raced abroad as part of Gertaneh Tessemas global club, won a closer duel with Sintayehu Merga, breaking clear in the final kilometer of the race before reaching the line in 1:03:38. Merga clocked 1:03:49. Haile Gebrselassie awarded the prizes to all race winners at the event which included a mass 7km race for 2000 participants, a non-elite race over 21km and a series of children’s races. Note: Hawassa is at 1700 metres above sea level. Organisers for the IAAF Leading RESULTS: Men - 1. Habtamu Assefa 1:03:38 2. Sintayehu Merga 1:03:49 3. Tsegaye Assefa 1:04:02 Women 1. Zeytuna Areb 1:13:40 2. Tsegereda Girma 1:14:03 3. Keneni Assefa 1:14:12

Habtamu Assefa and Zeytuna Areb scooped the top prizes at the 3rd edition of the Every One Half Marathon Races staged at Haile Resort in Hawassa on Sunday.

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