IAAF.org - News

Gay, Richards selected USA Athletes of the Year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

20 November 2009 – Indianapolis, USA - Tyson Gay and Sanya Richards were named winners of the 2009 Jesse Owens Awards by USA Track & Field. This marks the second time in their careers that Gay and Richards have earned this prestigious distinction. Gay initially won the award in 2007, and Richards was the recipient in 2006.

Gebremariam tops the field in Oeiras - preview

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

19 November 2009 - Lisbon, Portugal – The IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2009/10 kicks off this Saturday (21) with the Finibanco Oeiras Cross Country in Oeiras, Portugal.

Kibet returns to a hot reception in Singapore

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

19 November 2009 - Singapore may be one of the world’s smallest countries, as evidenced by the ‘city-state’ designation, but the organisers of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon put on an event which bears comparison with the biggest on the planet. This year’s marathon on Sunday, 6 December also has an elite entry to match the numbers which make this the biggest event in Asia.

Caster Semenya - Statement

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

18 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo - The IAAF, the South African Ministry of Sport and Recreation and Caster Semenya’s representatives have been and still are in discussions with a view to resolving the issues surrounding Caster Semenya’s participation in Athletics.

Hardee receives Thorpe Award from US Sports Academy

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:15:00 GMT

18 November 2009 - Daphne, Alabama, USA - World Decathlon champion Trey Hardee of the United States has been named the winner of the 2009 Jim Thorpe All-Around Award by the United States Sports Academy.

Mikitenko joins star cast in Melbourne

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

18 November 2009 - Melbourne, Australia – Germany’s Irina Mikitenko has been added to the stellar line up to contest the women’s division of 15km race around the streets of Melbourne on 29 November. The past two Olympic marathon champions – Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru (Beijing) and Italian Stefano Baldini (Athens) – had already been declared for the men’s field.

Tenth anniversary of Szabo’s Athlete of the Year honour celebrated in Bucharest

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:00 GMT

17 November 2009 – Bucharest, Romania – At a ceremony in Bucharest on Sunday (15), Gabriela Szabo celebrated the tenth anniversary of being named both the 1999 World Athlete of the Year by the International Athletics Foundation and the World Sportswoman of the Year by the World Sport Press Association.

IAAF Cross Country season 2009 / 2010 begins and ends in Portugal

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

17 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo - The series of 12 individual meetings which make up the calendar of IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2009/10 begin next weekend in Oeiras, Portugal, on Saturday 21 November 2009.

World record ratified

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

17 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo - The following World record has recently been ratified...

Lopes-Schliep named Canada's Athlete of the Year

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:00 GMT

16 November 2009 - Vancouver, BC, Canada - Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, the silver medallist at this World championships, was named Canada's Outstanding Athlete of the Year for 2009, Athletics Canada announced.

World Athletics Gala celebrates superb year

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

16 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo – The world-wide Athletics family will gather for yet another prestigious celebration when the 2009 World Athletics Gala is held at the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Eté this Sunday 22 November.

Chane and Jelila grab shock victories in Sendafa XC

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:00 GMT

16 November 2009 - Sendafa, Ethiopia - Marathon runners Abera Chane and Koreni Jelila took surprising, but deserved victories over the pre-race favourites in the 2nd Sendafa Cross Country meeting on Sunday (15) in Sendafa, 40kms north of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Rocha and Felix secure European XC team spots with victories at Torres Vedras

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

16 November 2009 - The well-known Torres Vedras International Cross is far away now from the era in which the race attracted the presence of great international athletes, including the likes of former World Cross Country champion Salah Hissou, among others.

Koech and Pushkareva take marathon victories in San Antonio

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

16 November 2009 - San Antonio, Texas, USA - 29-year-old Gilbert Koech led a five-man Kenyan sweep of the second annual Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon on Sunday (15), notching his first marathon victory since the 2005 Las Vegas Marathon.

Dibaba shatters 15Km World record in Nijmegen! - UPDATED

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

15 November 2009 - Tirunesh Dibaba broke the World record* for 15 kilometres at the Zevenheuvelenloop 15Km in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, today.

Abitova takes inaugural Yokohama Women’s Marathon

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

15 November 2009 - Breaking away from the lead pack at the beginning of the third and final loop, Inga Abitova of Russia won the inaugural running of the Yokohama International Women’s Marathon.

Another strong day for Japan as Asian championships conclude

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

15 November 2009 - Guangzhou, China - China expectedly topped the medals standings in the 18th Asian Athletics Championships, but Japan was not far behind, winning four of the nine finals on the concluding day at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Ennis and Idowu named British athletes of the year

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

15 November 2009 - London, UK – Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu were named Athletes of the Year at the British Athletics Writers’ Association’s 47th Annual Awards Dinner in London on Saturday (14).

Kimtai and Rionotukei triumph in Tegla Loroupe Peace Race

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

14 November 2009 - Kapenguaria, Kenya - A junior runner, Kenneth Kimtai, 18, resisted strong opposition from seasoned runners to win the elite senior men 10Km race of the 7th edition of the Tegla Loroupe Peace Race (TLPR) held Saturyda (14) in Kapenguria, Kenya.

With five wins, Japan halts Chinese momentum in Guangzhou - Asian champs, day 4

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

14 November 2009 – Guangzhou, China - The past three days had seen the unrelenting domination of the Chinese in the 18th Asian Athletics Championships. Friday (13) proved different, however. Japan took over the leading role winning five of the 11 gold medals at stake.

IAAF legends support the launch of new IAAF anti-doping education programme

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

14 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo - The IAAF is happy today to announce the launch of the IAAF “Real Winner” anti-doping education programme, and a host of current track and field legends have already lent their support to this new and significant IAAF initiative.

Kozmus and Roman named Slovenia's Athletes of the Year

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

14 November 2009 – Ljubljana, Slovenia – World and Olympic Hammer Throw champion Primož Kozmus and middle distance runner Sonja Roman were named Slovenia’s 2009 Athletes of the Year at a ceremony in Ljubljana on Friday (13).

2009 Athletes of the Year Finalists - Spotlight on Female Candidates

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

13 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo - With just over a week to go to the crowning of the 2009 World Athletes of the Year, five women remain in contention for athletics’ major award. Let’s take a look back at their seasons…

Dibaba and Sihine lead the fields in Nijmegen

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

13 November 2009 - Nijmegen, The Netherlands – It’ll be a family affair at Sunday’s 26th running of the Fortis Zevenheuvelenloop 15-K on Sunday with the Ethiopian couple Tirunesh Dibaba and Sileshi Sihine leading their respective fields.

Taking centre stage, Liu Xiang beats the rain to take Asian title – Asian champs, day 3

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

13 November 2009 – Guangzhou, China - Those unfamiliar with Chinese athletics and its heroes might have been surprised by the stream of people lining up at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday (12) evening.

2009 Athletes of the Year Finalists - Spotlight on Male Candidates

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

12 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo - As five male athletes are still in the running to become the 2009 World Athlete of the Year, let’s take a look back at each of their individual major achievements for which they have duly been voted for…

Six more gold for China in Guangzhou - Asian champs, day 2

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

12 November 2009 – Guangzhou, China - The Chinese were unrelenting in their push towards the top of the standings on the second day of the 18th Asian Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou on Wednesday (11).

Dancing and diving behind her, Dobrynska now determined for Doha - IAAF Online Diaries

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

11 November 2009 - Olympic Heptathlon champion Nataliya Dobrynska recently resumed training after five weeks of dancing in the Ukrainian TV show “Dancing for You” and a relaxing holiday in Egypt. In spite of spending a month-anda-a-half off the track, Dobrynska feels confident ahead of the upcoming IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha.

Two golds for host Chinese as Asian Champs kick off in Guangzhou

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

11 November 2009 - Guangzhou, China - Tejitu Daba Chalchissa learnt a bitter lesson as the Asian Championships kicked off in Guangzhou on Tuesday (10). “A race is not won till you cross the finish; there can be no relaxation till then.”

2009 Athletes of the Year - and the Female Finalists are...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

10 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo – Following the announcement of the five male athletes still in contention for the 2009 World Athlete of the Year award yesterday, the IAAF has the pleasure to announce the names of the five athletes who have been shortlisted for the female award.

After breakout season, Bailey now looking towards Doha

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

10 November 2009 - Still celebrating his break out year, which saw him placing fourth in 100m final at the World championship in Berlin, Daniel Bailey of Antigua & Barbuda is hoping to dominate at the 13th World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, 12-14 March 2010.

2009 Athletes of the Year - and the Finalists are...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

9 November 2009 - Monte-Carlo – With no fewer than 10 senior World records established on track, roads and indoors 2009 has been a year of success for athletics not only in terms of performances but also in terms of participation, audience and drama.

Liu Xiang the main attraction on home soil at the Asian Championships - PREVIEW

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

8 November 2009 - Guangzhou, China - The Asian Athletics Championships are coming to China for the first time since inception in 1973. Since joining the Asian family in 1979, China has steadily climbed up the standings, eventually displacing Japan as the leader.

The success and potential of charity running – AIMS-IAAF Marathon Symposium

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

9 November 2009 - Marathon, Greece - Organisers of road races around the world gathered in Marathon on Saturday (7 Nov) for the 3rd AIMS-IAAF Marathon Symposium. On the day before the 27th Athens Classic Marathon (8), which featured around 12,000 runners (including running events at shorter distances), the topic was ‘Charity Programs and Marathon Movements’.

Helsinki to host European Champs for a third time

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:00 GMT

9 November 2009 - European Athletics has awarded the 2012 European Athletics Championships to the Finnish capital city of Helsinki.

Gebremariam and G. Dibaba secure Ethiopian double in Atapuerca

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

8 November 2009 - Atapuerca (Burgos), Spain – Reigning World Cross Country champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia captured a thrilling sprint victory ahead of Spain’s Alemayehu Bezabeh as the new Spanish Cross Country season kicked off with the ‘6th Cross Internacional de Atapuerca’ today on a cold and very windy day.

Ngetich, Ozaki prevail in ‘Battle of Marathon’ – Athens Marathon report

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

8 November 2009 - Athens, Greece - If the Battle of Marathon had been scheduled for today, the Persians would not even have made it off their boats, to line up against the Athenians, such were the choppy seas and torrential rain on the bay of the famous location.

Local runners dominate Kenyan cross country opener in Machakos

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

8 November 2009 – Nairobi, Kenya - It could be, perhaps, a little bit premature, but there is no denying the fact that the first Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series meeting in Machakos belonged to the locals.

Spotakova again Czech Athlete of the Year

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

8 November 2009 - Barbora Špotáková was named Czech Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive year at a ceremony on Saturday (7).

Danish men, Swedish women take Nordic Cross Country team titles

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

7 November 2009 - Perniö, Finland - Denmark took a clean sweep in the men's 9km race at the Nordic Cross Country Championships in the southwestern city of Perniö, Finland on Saturday (7).

With Bydgoszcz on the horizon, a look back at Poland's distance tradition - IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

7 November 2009 – When Bydgoszcz hosts the 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships on 28 March 2010, it will mark the second time that Poland plays host to the world’s finest middle and long distance runners. The return engagement will be a fitting return to a country whose storied tradition has provided many notable contributions to the history of distance running.

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.