IAAF.org - News

Paul Lekuraa aiming at second consecutive Athens Marathon title - PREVIEW

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:00 GMT

6 November 2009 - It takes a tough guy to win the Alpha Bank Athens Classic Marathon, and they don’t come any tougher than Paul Lekuraa, who is back to defend the title he won last year.

Bydgoszcz ready to add to its rich athletics legacy – IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

5 November 2009 – As the world’s finest cross country runners prepare for the beginning of the upcoming season, so too is the northwestern Polish city of Bydgoszcz as it prepares to host the 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships on 28 March 2010.

Bolt on Kenyan tour: World’s fastest man adopts world’s fastest animal

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

4 November 2009 – Nairobi, Kenya - It’s a pity that track and field is in the off-season. Otherwise the world could have witnessed yet another 100 metres record that would make the current 9.58 seconds look like a hand-timed high school mark.

VCB back in training with new coach - IAAF Online Diaries

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:20:00 GMT

4 November 2009 - After a three-month break Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown is now back in training but has changed home and coach...

Italian stars and dignitaries gather to remember former IAAF President Primo Nebiolo

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

4 November 2009 – Rome, Italy - Ten years after he passed away, the late IAAF President Primo Nebiolo was commemorated in a special ceremony held in the “Sala d’Onore” in the offices of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in Rome on Tuesday.

The Aspire Dome, centre stage for Doha 2010

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

4 November 2009 - In just 127 days, the athletics world will gather in Doha, Qatar, for the 13th IAAF World Indoor Championships, 12-14 March 2010. The centre piece for that gathering will be the Qatari capital’s Aspire Dome, the largest indoor sporting facility of its kind in the world.

In second comeback, Tulu wins one for her fans

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

3 November 2009 – New York, USA - Seventeen years after the Barcelona Olympics, seeing Derartu Tulu's name at the head of the results column may seem like a return to the past.

Gebrselassie set for return to Dubai where another World record assault beckons

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

3 November 2009 - Dubai, UAE - If at first you don’t succeed.. you go back to Dubai for another crack at the marathon World record! At least, you do if your name is Haile Gebrselassie.

Andreyev's 5.60m vault the highlight as Asian Indoor Games conclude in Hanoi

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

2 November 2009 - Leonid Andreyev's victory in the Pole Vault was the key highlight on the third and final day of athletics competition at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi on Monday (2).

Kibiwott takes narrow victory in Seoul

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

2 November 2009 - Seoul, Korea – Francis Kibiwott of Kenya and 25-year-old Korean Sung Young Lee took victories at the JoongAng Seoul Marathon on Sunday (01). Kibiwott won’ the men’s race in a 2:09:00 personal best and Lee defended her title in the women’s contest in 2:34:22.

Keflezighi and Tulu triumph in New York

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

1 November 2009 - New York, USA - Mebrahtom Keflezighi, 2004 Olympic silver medallist and 10,000m American Record holder, became the first American champion of the ING New York City Marathon since 1982 when he finished in 2:09:15 this morning. Derartu Tulu was the women's champion in 2:28:52.

Keitany sub-1:07 again, Merga defends in Delhi Half Marathon

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

1 November 2009 - New Delhi, India - Mary Keitany looked to be cruising towards a World record time through 15km of Sunday’s Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Eventually the Kenyan settled for 1:06:54, falling short of the mark, though she smashed the course record.

Kwalia’s 3000m victory the highlight on Day two in Hanoi – Asian Indoor Games

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

1 November 2009 - World 5000m bronze medallist James Kwalia opened Qatar's golden quest to highlight the second day at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi on Sunday (01) evening.

Nonyana and Semick capture IAU 50km Trophy Final in Gibraltar

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

1 November 2009 – Gibraltar - Lucas Nonyana of South Africa and Kami Semick of the USA brought home their respective titles at the IAU 50km Trophy Final on Saturday (31) in Gibraltar.

Li Ling's vault victory and Huong's 60m triumph highlight opening day of Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

31 October 2009 - Pole vaulter Li Ling of China led her country to a victory march as the athletics programme of the 3rd Asian Indoor Games kicked of at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam on Saturday (31) evening.

With training about to resume, Felix looking forward to more 400m races in 2010 - IAAF Online Diaries

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

31 October 2009 - As she prepares to resume training next week, three-time World 200m champion Allyson Felix says she's looking forward to more 400m races in 2010.

All eyes on Radcliffe in the Big Apple - New York City Marathon preview

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

30 October 2009 – New York, USA – The 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon will start on Sunday (1 Nov) morning at 9:10 U.S. eastern time when the professional women leave the Staten Island end of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, bound for Brooklyn; the professional men will follow 30 minutes later. By noontime, New York will have two new champions and a round four-decade history.

Defending champions return, but Mergia will have Keitany to contend with - Delhi Half Marathon preview

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:00 GMT

30 October 2009 – New Delhi, India - Delhi is cooler than normal for this time of the year. The stage looks ideal for distance running and expectedly there is talk of course records being bettered at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday (1 Nov).

Molla returns to defend Seoul title

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

30 October 2009 - Seoul, Korea – Defending champions Solomon Molla of Ethiopia and Korean Sung-Young Lee will be among the ones to watch at Sunday’s 11th JoongAng Seoul Marathon.

Persistence and parenthood lead Kosgei to the top

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

29 October 2009 – New York City, USA - It is a testament to the extraordinary depth of the Kenyan marathoning juggernaut that the name Salina Kosgei should have drawn shrugs from marathon watchers before this April.

More awards, and tax time for Steven Hooker - IAAF Online Diaries

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

29 October 2009 - The accolades keep rolling in for Steve Hooker, the most recent ‘The Don Award’, a trophy for Australia’s most inspirational sporting achievement, named after Sir Donald Bradman, the peerless cricket batter widely considered Australia’s greatest ever sportsman. That aside, Hooker’s just trying to get his life back in order after four months on the road.

Nonyana and Semick lead the fields for IAU 50 km Trophy Final

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

29 October 2009 - Gibraltar is the site of the final race in the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) calendar – the 50 km Trophy Final - on Saturday 31 October.

Dos Santos hopes for third New York City win

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT

28 October 2009 - New York, USA - Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil was the first invited athlete to arrive at in New York City, on Monday (26), nearly a week in advance of the ING New York City Marathon, and the first to meet reporters on Tuesday morning. These are minor distinctions; more to the point, dos Santos was first to the finish line here in 2006 and 2008, and has high hopes of adding a third victory to that record.

Sub-2:07 marathons reach historic point

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

28 October 2009 - Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot may have lost the race and the course record at the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon last Sunday (25), but when he crossed the finish line behind Gilbert Kirwa he still made some history. His finishing time of 2:06:23 was the one-hundredth sub-2:07 marathon ever run.

Founding editor of Track and Field News Cordner Nelson dies at 91

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

28 October 2009 - Cordner Nelson, the founding editor of Track & Field News, died of cancer Monday (26) at his home in Carmel, California. He was 91.

IAAF President and Senior Vice-President visit Russia’s nationwide sports forum

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

28 October 2009 – Kazan, Russia – The first Nationwide Sports Forum entitled ‘Russia, Country of Sports’ took place from 22 to 25 October in Kazan, the city which will host the 2013 World University Games. The event was attended by IAAF President Lamine Diack and Senior Vice-President Sergey Bubka.

Li Yanxi’s 17.59m crushes Asian Triple Jump record – Chinese National Games, Final Day

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:00:00 GMT

27 October 2009 - The 11th National Games in Jinan, China ended with a bang on Monday evening (26). 25-year-old Li Yanxi, who placed sixth in Berlin at the World Championships this summer exploded to a 17.59 metres Asian record in the men’s Triple Jump. And this wasn’t the whole story as another jumper, 24-year-old Zhu Shujing also progressed big time to 17.41 personal best and second place.

Getting faster and faster, Kirwa aims at 2:04

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

27 October 2009 - Frankfurt, Germany - Everybody loves a barrier to break, or even write about. Ten seconds for 100 metres, the four minute mile, the eight minute steeplechase, etc, etc. Their pursuit has consumed kilos of calories and acres of newsprint. In the world of marathon running the barrier is, of course, two hours!

World records ratified

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:00:00 GMT

26 October 2009 - Monte-Carlo - The following World records have recently been ratified...

Liu Xiang stars for his third gold - Chinese National Games, Day 5

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT

26 October 2009 - The fifth day of competition (25) at the 11th National Games in Jinan, China, was maybe the most anticipated one, after all, except for his comeback run in Shanghai last month and the qualifying rounds here, it meant the return of the country’s beloved star Liu Xiang to major competition, at least on a Chinese scale.

Kirwa breaks course record with 2:06:14 in Frankfurt

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

25 October 2009 – Frankfurt, Germany - Gilbert Kirwa of Kenya broke both the defending champion and the course record to win the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon today, in 2:06:14, a time that puts him in the top-20 all-time at the distance. It also nets him 95,000 euros in prize and bonuses.

Komen 2:08:13 and Kosgei 2:27:46 take their first marathon victories in Venice

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:45:00 GMT

25 October 2009 - John Komen won the 24th edition of the Venice Marathon today (25) breaking the course record with 2:08:13, thanks to an outstanding second half in which he ran a negative split on a very difficult section of the course. Anne Kosgei won the women’s race in her new PB of 2:27:46.

Farah scores tremendous victory while Monteiro destroys opposition in Portsmouth

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT

25 October 2009 - Portsmouth, UK - Mo Farah with a defeat looking on the cards made a spectacular recovery to score a thrilling victory at the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday (25).

Astonishing charge brings Disi honours in Cassis

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:30:00 GMT

25 October 2009 - Cassis, France - Rwandan Dieudonné Disi produced an astonishing finish to win the 31th edition of Marseille-Cassis “Classique Internationale”, on Sunday morning (25) in 1:00:21. Meseret Mengustu (Ethiopia) took the women’s race in 1:10:35.

Two weeks after Birmingham, Kilel cruises 2:25:24 in Ljubljana

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

25 October 2009 – Ljubljana, Slovenia – Just two weeks after her fourth place finish at the IAAF/EDF Energy World Half Marathon Championships, Kenyan Caroline Cheptanui Kilel cruised to a 2:25:24 victory at the 14th Ljubljana Marathon on Sunday.

Liu Xiang begins campaign; Li Shaojie bags fourth gold - Chinese National Games, Day 4

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

25 October 2009 - Yesterday's fourth day (24) of the 11th Chinese National Games in Jinan, China was carried out in warm weather with the temperature at 25-26 degrees Celsius at the start of evening and morning competition.

Kenyan and Ethiopian runners dominate Casablanca Marathon

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

25 October 2009 - Casablanca, Morocco - The second edition of the Grand International Marathon of Casablanca took place today (25), and saw some 15,000 runners representing fifteen countries.

16-year-old wins women’s long jump in Jinan – Chinese National Games, Day 3

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

24 October 2009 - The third day (23) of the 11th National Games continued the high standard set by the first two days with Lu Minjia, just 16, stepping up to as new level winning the women’s Long Jump.

20.02m for Om Prakash Singh - Indian Senior Inter-State Champs, Days 3 and 4

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

24 October 2009 - Chennai, India - One sport's loss is another's gain. Shot putter Om Prakash Singh had come a long way leaving basketball behind to become a shot putter of some repute. He joined a select club of Indian athletes in the 20m sector by tossing out a 20.02m performance at the National Inter-State Senior Championships which concluded here on Saturday evening (24).

World leading 66.40m Discus heave by Li Yanfeng in Jinan – Chinese National Games, Day 2

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

22 October 2009 - The standard of competition impressed also during day two of the 11th National Games in Jinan, China. The first day had already suggested a good meet to come with Gong Lijiao moving to number two in the world this season with a 20.35m result, but today Li Yanfeng bettered that achievement.

Kiprono Cheruiyot ready for Frankfurt defence

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

23 October 2009 – Frankfurt, Germany - When Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot won the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon, in his debut at the distance last year, there was a bit of confusion, since there was already a very famous compatriot, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, who had already won the Boston Marathon four times, and a Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot, who had run 2:08:13 back in 2003. Sure enough, when the following day’s news ‘cuttings’ came in from around the world, half the pictures were of the ‘Boston’ Robert K. Cheruiyot.

Lomala and Cheruiyot looking for repeats in Venice

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

23 October 2009 – Venice, Italy - Past winners Joseph Lomala and Lenah Cheruiyot from Kenya start as favourites at the 24th edition of the Venice Marathon on Sunday (25).

Local eyes focus on Farah in Portsmouth

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:00 GMT

23 October 2009 – Portsmouth, UK - Mo Farah the country's most successful middle distance runner of recent years makes an interesting transition when stepping up to 10 miles at the Bupa Great South Run on Sunday.

IAAF Diamond League - Invitation to Tender for Title Sponsorship - Seasons 2010 through 2012

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

22 October 2009 - Monte-Carlo - The IAAF Diamond League (IDL) is the world's biggest one day meeting league in athletics and includes 14 prestigious meetings. The IAAF, a shareholder in this league, is responsible for commercialising the Title Sponsorship rights for the IDL.

Gong Lijiao puts 20.35m to highlight the first day of Chinese National Games

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT

22 October 2009 - The evening competition of the 11th National Games in Jinan, China was carried out in chilly weather. Temperature was 21 Celsius at the start of the session, but quickly dropped to 16C before the end of the competition at around 8.30pm. The weather however didn’t prevent athletes from performing well, on the contrary, as the first day of competition featured more top results than expected with no weak finals at all.

Disi, the pre-race favourite in Marseille - PREVIEW

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

22 October 2009 - Marseille, France - Marseille-Cassis “Classique Internationale” will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sunday 25 October. The 20.308 km race will start at 9:30am in Stade Vélodrome in Marseille and end in Cassis’ port via a 327m climb mid-way on the Col de la Gineste.

Indian Senior Inter-State championships – Days 1 and 2

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT

22 October 2009 - Chennai, India - Whenever there is a big meet around at the Asian or global level Chennai used to play host the national championships to facilitate the selection of Indian Team. The previous editions of senior Inter-State championships held here in 2000 and 2004, as well as last year’s edition hosted by the Tamil Nadu state at Madurai, were all served as the final trials for the Olympic Games.

Smith heads New Zealand’s first selections for 2010 World Cross Country Champs

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

22 October 2009 - Ten athletes have been pre-selected by Athletics New Zealand for 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland which takes place on 28 March 2010

19-year-old wins men’s 10,000m, as National Games open in China

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

21 October 2009 - The 11th National Games of China started on Wednesday morning (21) at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Jinan, in eastern Shandong province, China. The stadium with a capacity of 60,000 seats plays host to the athletics part of the prestigious National Games, the most important sporting event in China.