News01 Jan 2008


Kipsiro, Mockenhaupt win in Trier

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Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) (© Getty Images / Bongarts)

New Year’s Eve is the busiest day in the year in Germany concerning the number of road races taking place. About 100 events were started on Monday. While the biggest one – a 15km event from the town of Werl to neighbouring Soest with 7,800 participants – is a mass race, only the best quality event traditionally takes place in Trier. The 18th edition of the New Year’s Eve race was won by Moses Kipsiro (Uganda) and Sabrina Mockenhaupt (Germany).

21-year-old Kipsiro took the so-called German ‘Sao Paulo’ in Trier in style. The 5000m bronze medallist from Osaka was well in the lead before half way. He finally finished the 8km race in 22:31, missing the course record by just ten seconds. The battle for second and third spots was much closer while places two to six were separated by just seven seconds. Wilson Chemweno (Kenya) came in second in 23:01 while Sander Schutgens (Netherlands/23:03) took third. Arne Gabius, who is coached by Dieter Baumann, was the best German in sixth place with 23:08.

Spectators along the one kilometre loop course in the city centre of Trier had plenty to cheer for in the women’s race. In this 5km event it was Susanne Hahn who first took the lead. Then Sabrina Mockenhaupt increased the pace well before half way and left behind her rivals.

“I felt my feet were a bit cold so I decided to run faster to become warmer,” Mockenhaupt said.

Clocking 16:01 the 27-year-old was 23 seconds ahead of Hahn. Another German, Antje Möldner, took third in 16:31 while European Marathon champion Ulrike Maisch was sixth in 16:50. Irina Mikitenko had to cancel her start due to an inflammation of the middle ear.

Hallmann, Jerotich take Bietigheim

It was the other way round in Bietigheim, where the German men took the honours. Sebastian Hallmann was the fastest of 4,250 runners on New Year’s Eve. He clocked 33:03 for the 11.2 km distance to beat steeplechaser Filmon Ghirmai (33:09) and Martin Beckmann (33:10). While Kenyan opposition was too weak to have an impact in the men’s race it was different in the women’s event. Here Kenya’s Milka Jerotich was well ahead when winning in 37:19. Marathon specialist Melanie Kraus, who had won the Frankfurt Marathon in October, clocked 37:43 for second. Former Eritrean Simret Restle, who now has German citizenship, was third with 38:28. Luminita Zaituc had to withdraw from the race because of a cold.

Weidlinger wins in Austria

Austria’s best quality New Year’s Eve race took place in Peuerbach. Spectators enjoyed a home win by steeplechaser Günther Weidlinger. He clocked 18:51 for the 6.8 km distance to beat Italy’s Jamel Chatbi (19:02) and Job Tanui (Kenya/19:10). There was a surprise in the 5.1 km women’s race: Young German Julia Viellehner won in 16:37, just edging out Petra Kaminkova (Czech Republic/16:38) and Christina Papp (Hungary/16:40).

Jörg Wenig for the IAAF

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