The Global Telegraph - June 2006

JUNE 2006 - VOL. 6, N. 6 (N. 59)

Publisher: Run The Planet., Seattle (Usa/Washington). Editor: Indro Neri. Associate editor: Jennifer Walker. All correspondence and suggestions are welcome. Unsolicited articles will be considered. To advertise on "The Global Telegraph", contribute to or reproduce its content please contact us via e-mail at info@runtheplanet.com. "The Global Telegraph" is published 12 times a year. The next issue will close the last day of this month. © by Run The Planet Inc., Seattle. 

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• SWITZERLAND / Edwin Soi wins Dongio 10k
On April 17th in Switzerland, a Dongio 10K had Edwin Soi (Kenya) first in 28:27, Moses Mosop (Kenya) second in 28:27, Paul Kimulgul (Kenya) third in 28:47, and Ketema Nigusse (Ethiopia) fourth in 28:47. Prisca Jepleting (Kenya) won the women's 5K in 15:54, with Beatrice Chepchumba (Kenya) second in 15:55, A. Ymer (Ethiopia) third in 15:56 and Faith Chemutai (Kenya) fourth in 15:59. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• JAPAN / Russia ran away from the competitions in the Yokohama International Women's Ekiden
Russia, one of the pre-race favorite won the 2006 Yokohama International Women's Ekiden, a six-stage marathon distance ekiden in 2:13:55; the time was mere 15 seconds short of the course record set last year by defending champion Japan. Russia, the inaugural champion in 1983, led almost wire-to-wire to win the Yokohama International Women's Ekiden for the eighth time, one short of record nine victories by Japan. Soon after the start, Russia, Ethiopia and Kenya form the lead pack. They passed 1km in 2:54 followed by a Japanese high school sensation Yuriko Kobayashi in 3:00. Three teams stayed together until 4km. They passed 3km in 9:01 and 4km in 11:54. But then Kenya lost contact with the leaders, followed by Ethiopia 700m later. Liliya Shobukhova of Russia recorded the stage best, 14:49, in the 5km first stage, shattering the previous stage record of 15:26, set last year. Belayinesh Fekabu of Ethiopia was 7 seconds behind, while Kipchumba of Kenya was another 11 seconds behind. In her debut at 5km, 17 years old Kobayashi ran the distance in 15:10. "It was a great experience for me. I hope to run in more world class event", said Kobayashi, defending national champion at 1500m. In all, four runners broke the previous stage best. Soon after the exchange, Asnakech Menitestu of Ethiopian caught the Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva, and they run together for a 1km, at which point Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia moved away from Ethiopian. After Ethiopia was left behind, no team was able to challenge the Russians. Grigoryeva set a stage record, 31:09, in the 10km second stage, breaking the previous record of 31:25, also set last year. At the end of the second stage, 15km into the Ekiden, Russia had a substantial lead. They were 58 seconds ahead of the second place Ethiopia who in turn was 56 seconds ahead of the defending champion Japan. The Russia's lead over Ethiopia was cut to 45 seconds after the 6km third stage, however, by the end of the fifth stage, 37km into the race, Russia had commanding lead of 3 minutes and 3 seconds over China, who moved into second in the stage five, Xi Quihong of China passed Japan to move into third place 5km into the fifth stage; 1500m later Xi passed Ethiopia to move into second. At the end of the fifth stage, Russian was in the lead followed by China, who in turn was followed by Ethiopia and then Japan. While Russia was running alone in front, Hitomi Niiya, a high school sensation, made up the 26 seconds deficit to catch Ethiopia 3.4km into the sixth and the final stage. Japan and Ethiopia ran together until just before the finish, where Niiya was able to pull ahead of Ameba Denboba of Ethiopia. Niiya recorded the stage best, appropriate present for herself, for the day was her 18th birthday for Niiya. "I was not even thinking about my birthday. All I was thinking of was to finish the race smiling. It was my first anchor leg as a high school student and I really liked it", said Niiya who along with Yuriko Kobayashi, is a Japan's best hope for an individual medal at the upcoming World Cross Country Championships. Russia won by 2 minutes and 53 seconds over China. Liliya Shobukhova who gave the Russian the initial lead said: "Despite the rain, I was able to do my best". Lidiya Grigoryeva, who recorded the second stage record, said: "We were able to put together a good team and our training leading up to this race went well. I think the rain helped me because it kept my body from overheating". Source: www.arrs.net

• CALIFORNIA (USA) / Sneakerland looking for new employees
Sneakerland in Woodland Hills is looking for new employees that love to run. They have both part-time and full time positions available. If interested contact Harold at 818-225-7463.

• MISSOURI (USA) / Kansas City to Host National Championship
For three days in July, Kansas City, Missouri will serve as home to close to 1,400 athletes taking part in one of the premier events for USA Triathlon: the 2006 Age Group Triathlon National Championship. The Olympic distance triathlon - 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run - is scheduled for Saturday, July 8 at 8 am amid the rolling hills and grasslands around Smithville Lake, just 17 miles from downtown Kansas City. The days leading up to the race will include a number of other activities, including the Aquathlon National Championship at Smithville Lake on Thursday, July 6 at 3 pm Aquathlon features a 2.5k run, a 750m swim, and a 2.5k run. Both the Aquathlon and Triathlon National Championships will serve as qualifiers for the 2006 International Triathlon Union Age Group World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland, September 2-3. The top 16 finishers in each age group will qualify. "These are premier events for USAT age group athletes. They will be highly competitive; the best of the best will be there", said USAT National Events Director Jeff Dyrek. "We will crown our national champions and field our Team USA to take on the rest of the world at the World Championships in Switzerland". Also included in the festivities are several social events held at the Kansas City Airport Marriott on Friday, July 7, including the Women's Commission Breakfast at 8 am and a Vendor and Sponsor Expo from noon to 7 pm, which will include the unveiling of USA Triathlon's new line of branded merchandise. Inside Triathlon Magazine will also host a panel discussion on Friday afternoon with several athletes and coaches who have competed in national and world championship events. They will share information that may prove helpful for athletes preparing for Saturday's race. The traditional Pasta Dinner will close out Friday's events at 5 pm. Following Saturday's race, the USA Triathlon Age Group Commission will hold its annual Town Meeting where USAT officials will talk with athletes and answer questions. Saturday night will feature the Awards Reception and Dinner and the Race Post Party at the Airport Marriott. Athletes who qualify for the World Championship must be at the awards ceremony to secure their spot on Team USA. Another component of the weekend will be a unique tie-in to the Shawnee Mission Sprint Triathlon on Sunday, July 9. Competitors in Saturday's National Championship can team with someone competing in the Shawnee event and the fastest combined time will win two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. Volunteers are still needed for the race. If you will be in the area and would like to volunteer, please contact Mark Livesay of Ultramax Events at 573-443-1471 or mark@ultramaxtri.com. Registration is filling fast. Complete information about the Championships, including packet pickup and equipment check-in times, is available at: www.usatriathlon.org. Source: www.transitiontimes.com

• ITALY / Brescia Marathon results
On April 30th in Italy, James Kwambai (Kenya) won the "Brescia Marathon". There can be no doubt Kwambai evidenced talent over the half marathon distance with wins at the 2004 Udine, 2005 San Blas, Rome-Ostia, and Bogota, as well as runner-up finish at the 2005 Rock'n'Roll Virginia Beach. The longer distance seemed a different matter when Kwambai failed to finish last October's "LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon". However, in Brescia things looked promising when Kwambai and Philip Biwott were paced through the half in 64:33. Then when final pacer Benson Barus fell away, at 27k Kwambai continued broke from Biwott, fighting late race headwinds to win in 2:10:19. Biwott struggled to a 2:15:13 for second, while Pietro Cilento crossed third in 2:20:45. The youthful 20-year old Jetnet Salomie Kassa (Ethiopia) reached the half in 76 minutes, yet still won by more than six minutes with a 2:42:42. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)