Ethiopia's Mamitu Daska has mastered Bolder Boulder course - Boulder Daily Camera

Mamitu Daska has participated in the Bolder Boulder enough to know exactly what she's doing on the course.

On Monday, the 25-year-old Ethiopian looked quite comfortable in cruising past the rest of the field to win the women's professional race for the third time in four years.

"This is how I'm doing it -- it's my strategy to win," Daska said through a translator.

Daska also won in 2009 and 2010, while finishing second a year ago. She helped Ethiopia win the International Team Challenge for the fourth straight year.

Daska said this is a race she wants to win, and it showed. She pulled way out in front from the start and never looked back -- literally. She finished in 33 minutes, 6.5 seconds, the slowest winning time since 2007.

"It was a very fast, aggressive pace from the very start and I knew she would be a force to be reckoned with, with her performances on the road recently," said American Deena Kastor, who was third. "I didn't have any delusion that she would be coming back to us in the race."

The top two United States finishers were second and third and placed second in the team challenge. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom was second, in 33:23.57.

"I'm very excited," said Cherobon-Bawcom, who had been training at altitude in Flagstaff, Ariz. "It's altitude and you don't know how your body is going to react."

Kastor was in second for much of the race, but wound up just behind her teammate, in 33:28.48.

"I was pleased with it because it was all I had," she said. "All of us runners come into races like this wanting to win, but I'm really happy with the effort I put out. I just couldn't close that gap (on Daska) and couldn't keep up with Janet when she passed me (at the 5-mile mark), but we were able to pull off a good team finish."

Magdalena Lewy-Boulet was 20th to round out Team USA.

"Ethiopia ran strong, but I'm really proud of the USA girls for pulling off such a strong race today," Kastor said.

While Lewy-Boulet would have loved a better individual finish, Team USA was still happy with its effort.

"As a team, you couldn't ask for any better team than the one we had today," Cherobon-Bawcom said.

For Team Colorado, Adrianna Nelson had a strong race, placing ninth. Wendy Thomas was 21st. Sara Slattery, who won in 2006, did not finish because of an injury. She had hamstring issue entering the competition.

Daska's teammates both finished in the top six. Ashu Kasim was fifth and Alemitu Abera was sixth. From the start, however, this was Daska's race, leaving the rest of the field to fight for second.

"I don't think you ever succumb to it," Kastor said. "You just continue pushing the whole way in trying to get better out of yourself. Until I got to the finish line, I was fighting every step of the way."

So was Cherobon-Bawcom, but she knew Daska wouldn't be caught.

"It was just too far," she said.

On May 20, Daska won the Bay-to-Breakers 12K in San Francisco. She is hoping to be a part of the Summer Olympics in London this summer.

"I don't know yet if I'm running in London, but I'm ready for that," she said. "I'm practicing."

The end of a Hero , Haile failed to qualify for London 2012

DASHED: Legendary Ethiopian fails to qualify for Olympics

Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie (right) competes in the 10,000m race at the Fanny Blankers Koen Games in Hengelo on Sunday. AFP pic

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HENGELO (NETHERLANDS): ETHIOPIAN track legend Haile  Gebrselassie failed to qualify for the London Olympics on Sunday as he could only finish seventh in the 10,000 metres. 

The 39-year-old two-time Olympic 10,000m champion -- who had already failed  to post a qualifying time for the marathon -- admitted his hopes had been dashed  after his disappointing performance against 12 of his compatriots.

   Ethiopia was using this as a qualifier for the Olympics.

   "The Games in London, is over for me," he said.

   "I ran a good race till the last lap. I felt good but I manifestly didn't  have the speed to compete against my rivals.

   "That's life. I am not disappointed," added Gebrselassie, whose epic defeat of Kenyan great Paul Tergat at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, his second Olympic  title, is one of the great finishes of all time.

   Indeed for the ever cheerful Ethiopian great it is to be his last track  race.

   "The 'spikes', it is finished for me. I am 39. I have failed to qualify for the Olympics. And there is a very strong younger generation in Ethiopia now.

   "I tried to qualify for my fifth Olympics. And I don't regret trying to do so. I simply came up against stronger rivals on Sunday."

   Tariku Bekele and Leleisa Desisa Benti finished first and second  respectively -- with the former posting the best time in the world this year of  27:11.70s -- to book their tickets for London.

   The third spot is being kept for Bekele's elder brother and world record  holder Kenenisa, who has been struggling for several months with a calf muscle  problem.

   Gebrselassie said that he felt he was handing over the baton of Ethiopian track running to a golden generation.

   "I am leaving the track in a calm frame of mind because there is a super  generation taking over," he said.

   "I haven't in any case run on the track since the Beijing Games (2008). Ethiopia will be stronger in London.

   "I gave all that I had. It is why I am not sad or disappointed. I am always  happy to run. These next months, I will devote solely to marathons and half  marathons.

   "In three years, I envisage a political career. I would like to become a  member of parliament."

   Gebrselassie, a four-time world 10,000m champion, had come into the race  boosted by his victory in the 10km Great Manchester Run in northwest England  last week in 27:39s.

   l GOTZIS (Austria): Former world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis gave her hopes of winning Olympic gold in London a timely boost  on Sunday by winning a combined events meeting in a British record  points tally.

   The 26-year-old recorded a new personal best of 6,906 points to replace in the record books Britain's 2000 Olympic champion Denise Lewis whose previous  best was at 6,831.

   Russia's Tatyana Chernova, who took Jessica's world title in Daegu last year, was 132 points behind in second, with Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska a distant ninth almost 600 points adrift. AFP

Read more: ATHLETICS: That's it for Gaby - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/athletics-that-s-it-for-gaby-1.88800#ixzz1wEprWnFF

Daska finally notches elusive Bay to Breakers win | Mike Aldax | Bay-to-Breakers | San Francisco Examiner

By: Mike Aldax | 05/20/12 9:18 PM
SF Examiner Staff Writer | Follow On Twitter @SFExMikeAldax

JOSEPH SCHELL/SPECIAL TO THE S.F. EXAMINER

Leader of the pack: Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia earned a $25,000 bonus for being the first person to cross the finish line.

Mamitu Daska has said that she would keep returning to compete in the Zazzle Bay to Breakers until she’s won it.

After doing just that in dominant fashion on Sunday, event organizers might need to find another reason for the Ethiopian phenom to return to compete again next year.  

The soft-spoken 28-year-old separated herself from the pack after the first mile and never looked back in the 101st running of the 12-kilometer footrace, which ran under blue skies Sunday. The race starts at Howard and Beale streets, snakes through Golden Gate Park and ends on the Great Highway.

Daska not only won the women’s field in 39 minutes, 2 seconds, but was also the first runner to cross the finish line. She built such an early lead that she was able to hold off men’s winner Sammy Kitwara (34:41). The elite men’s field started the race about four minutes behind the elite women.

Being the first person, man or woman, to cross the finish line earned Daska the grand prize of $25,000. She netted an additional $7,000 for topping the women’s field, and another $5,000 for climbing Hayes Street Hill first.

Diane Nukuri Johnson, 27, the Burundi Olympian marathoner who ran at the University of Iowa, placed second for the women in 40:02. Jelliah Tinega of Kenya was third in 40:33.

Daska showed how experience can help at Bay to Breakers, which with its hills and sharp turns makes the colorful and storied race challenging, said Josh Muxen, the race’s elite athlete coordinator. She placed second in Bay to Breakers last year and third in 2010. Earlier this year, she won the 12K Lilac Bloomsday event.

After racing out to an early lead, Daska appeared to suffer a cramp more than halfway through the race. But she fought through it, keeping hold of a comfortable lead until the final meters, when Kitwara made his move. After crossing the finish line alone, she fell to the pavement and kissed the ground. Even then, it would take several minutes before Daska would smile.

“I am happy,” the Ethiopian eventually admitted.

The world record for the women is 38:07, set by Lineth Chepkurui of Kenya in 2010. Chepkurui did not compete in Bay to Breakers this year.

maldax@sfexaminer.com

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/bay-breakers/2012/05/daska-finally-notches-elusive-bay-breakers-win#ixzz1vaKYLBC9

Ethiopian Record-Breaking Day At Brooklyn Half

Tesfaye Assefa Dube raises his arms at the finish. Photo: NYRR Media

The old event record dated back to 1988.

From: NYRR Media

It was a beautiful morning to be on the Coney Island boardwalk, but for the 14,278 official finishers of Saturday’s NYRR 5-Borough Series Brooklyn Half Marathon it took a lot of hard work to get there.

Winning in a close and record-setting finish was Tesfaye Assefa Dube in 1:03:18, followed by Mengsti Tabor Nebsi just two seconds back in 1:03:20. Eric Chirchir was third in 1:04:19. Both Dube and Nebsi broke the previous long-standing event record of 1:03:56, set by Pat Petersen in 1988.

Nick Arciniaga, who finished eighth in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, came in fourth, in 1:05:29, with Jason Hartmann placing fifth in 1:06:21. Hartmann was fourth overall and first American in last month’s Boston Marathon.

“It was tough, for sure,” said Hartmann, 31. “After the Boston Marathon I took a little time off and [today] was definitely a little harder than I expected. But when you come to New York, it’s just great to be a part of the event.” Hartmann ran in a Team for Kids singlet to raise awareness of the NYRR youth charity, and was loudly saluted by the Team for Kids cheering section as he passed.

For the women, Tinbit Weldegebriel, 22, was the winner in 1:15:22, with Hirut Beyene, 20, second in 1:15:27. Both are Ethiopians living in New York City. Third was Anna Weber, 24, of Bloomington, IN, in 1:18:09.

On a revamped course that allowed for the field size to more than double from last year, some 15,000 runners started off at 7:00 a.m. near the Brooklyn Museum, looped through Prospect Park, dashed down Ocean Parkway, and finished on the famous boardwalk of Coney Island.

At the outset, they were led by Arciniaga, who went out aggressively. “I just wanted to try to test myself out there today,” he said. “Then at around two miles the lead group of guys caught back up to me. They were pushing pretty hard and dropped me after four miles or so. After that I was battling just trying to stay in contact.”

The leaders pulled away with about five miles remaining.

Dube, a 28-year-old Ethiopian who lives in the Bronx, was racing in his fifth NYRR event this year. In March, he won the Coogan’s Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K in 14:43, and in April was runner-up in the Scotland Run 10K. Nebsi, 34, an Ethiopian who lives in New York City, placed 11th in the NYC Half 2012 in a personal best 1:01:31, while Chirchir, a Kenyan who now calls Jackson Heights, NY, home, won the Scotland Run 10K in 29:44. Two New York City Council members also made their way from Prospect Park to the boardwalk: Brad Lander in 1:58:10, and James Garodnick in 2:01:53.

Gebrselassie wins Great Manchester Run - Yahoo! Sports

Ethiopian running star Haile Gebrselassie won the Great Manchester Run on Sunday in the fastest 10 kilometres time of the year.

The 39-year-old clocked 27min 39sec to claim his fifth victory on the streets of Manchester and then turned his attention to booking his place at his fifth Olympic Games.

The Ethiopian missed out on a place in the marathon at London 2012, but has his sights on competing at this summer's London Olympics over 10,000m.

Gebrselassie, double Olympic and four-time world 10,000m champion, will run over the distance in Hengelo, the Netherlands, next Sunday in a race which will double as the Ethiopian Olympic trials, with the top three set to be selected for the team.

"I am so happy today, everything was perfect," he said. "I am not surprised to run that fast. I wanted to run under 27 minutes.

"According to my training this year, I feel I can run faster on the track. I want to go under 27 minutes, that's what I am thinking. If I run this fast on the road, why not on the track?

"The top three in Hengelo go to the Olympics, that's what the federation said.

"At the moment if I get in the top three I go. My question is, what is the possibility in London? We'll see."

In the women's race, Kenya's Linet Masai, the former world 10,000m champion, took victory in 31min 35sec

London 2012: Haile Gebrselassie considers Olympic options-BBC Sport -

19 May 2012Last updated at 13:32 GMT

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London 2012: Haile Gebrselassie considers Olympic options

Haile Gebrselassie has not ruled out the possibility of qualifying for the 10,000m at this summer's Olympics.

The 39-year-old said his Olympic dream was over after failing to win a place in Ethiopia's marathon team.

But the two-time Olympic 10,000m champion is considering his options ahead of a 10,000m race in Hengelo, the Netherlands, on 27 May that will serve as the Ethiopian Olympic trial.

He said it would be "wonderful" to compete in London.

The veteran is cautious about his chances of finishing one of the two fastest Ethiopians in the race in order to qualify for the Olympic team - but told BBC World Service Sport that his enthusiasm for the Games remains undimmed.

"I wish to take part in the Olympics because it's London," said Gebrselassie, who has won four World 10,000m titles.

"I believe London is going to host one of the best Olympics Games. These Olympics are going to be very specia

International Association of Athletics Federations -iaaf.org

Ayele Abshero debuts with a sizzling 2:04:23 win in Dubai(Organisers)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- Dubai Marathon champion and world leader Ayele Abshero and recently-minted national women’s record holder Tiki Gelana will lead Ethiopia’s strong Marathon squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The selection, which is made based on the finishing times of athletes in 2012, sees many high-profile stars including Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede and national record holder Haile Gebrselassie miss the cut. Yemane Tsegaye, winner of the Rotterdam Marathon in April and the second fastest Ethiopian behind Abshero, also misses the cut after competing in two marathons over the selection period, an action that was deemed in violation for the Ethiopian Athletics Federation’s selection procedure.

But a youthful squad is led by Abshero, who surprised many in his home country and in the Marathon world by winning the 2012 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in 2:04.23 in January on his Marathon debut. The 21-year old, who is a former World junior Cross Country champion and younger brother to 2008 Dublin Marathon winner Tessema Abshero, is confident of his chances in the English capital.

"I am very keen to represent my country in the Olympic Games," he said. "If I do my training well and stay healthy, I am sure I can win something for my country in London."

He will be joined in the men’s squad by Getu Feleke, second place finisher in the Rotterdam Marathon and Dino Sefer, third in Dubai. Markos Genetti, winner of the Los Angeles Marathon in 2011 and third in Dubai, and Tadesse Tola have been named as reserves.

Unlike the men’s squad, the women’s team will have an athlete with previous major event Marathon experience in the shape of Asselefech Mergia. The Dubai Marathon winner was a bronze medallist in the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany and a silver medalist in the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

The team, however, maintains its youthfulness in the shape of Tiki Gelana, another surprise package in the Marathon this season following her victory and national record time in the Fortis Rotterdam Marathon. The 24-year old, a niece of Sydney Olympic Marathon champion Gezhagne Abera, is also the second fastest Marathon runner in the world this year behind Kenyan Mary Keitany and will hope to bring her fresh legs to UK this summer.

Mare Dibaba, third in the Dubai Marathon this year and the national Half Marathon record holder, completes a strong line up. Veteran Bizunesh Bekele and youngster Tirfi Tsegaye have been named as reserves. Like Yemane Tsegaye, Aberu Kebede also misses out after competing twice over the Marathon in the qualifying period.

Elshadai Negash (with the assistance of Bizuayehu Wagaw) for the IAAF 

Ethiopian marathon team for London 2012 –

MEN: Ayele Abshero (2:04.23), Dino Sefer (2:04.50), Getu Feleke (2:04.50)
RESERVES: Markos Geneti (2:04.54), Tadese Tola (2:05.10)

WOMEN: Tiki Gelana (2:18.58), Asselefech Mergia (2:19.31), Mare Dibaba (2:19.52)
RESERVES: Bezunesh Bekele (2:20.30), Tirfi Tsegaye (2:21.40)

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London 2012: Olympic medals 'reflect human development' -BBC News -

Ethiopia came 29th at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games winning seven medals

Continue reading the main story

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Ethiopia bucks the trend that top performing Olympic countries are wealthier with higher literacy and life expectancy levels, research suggests.

A country's position on the medals table generally reflects its place on the UN's Human Development Index.

But while Ethiopia lies 157th on the HDI with an index of 0.33, it came 29th in the 2008 Games with seven medals.

The research uses data on economic development, political conditions and medal totals from Beijing 2008.

It was carried out by the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (IDCR) at the University of Essex.

In 2008 the USA, with a high score of 0.9 on the HDI, was the top performer in the Games with a total of 110 medals, while athletes from poor countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, close to the bottom of the HDI with a score of 0.24, went home without any medals at all.

Games politics

Professor Todd Landman, director of the IDCR, said the Games were a display not just of human skill, strength and agility, but also of the conditions under which athletes have grown up and trained.

"It is important to reflect on the politics and economics that shape the Games, as well as the many challenging obstacles that this year's dedicated athletes have had to overcome to take part," he said.

He told the BBC the research showed the many benefits that accrue from countries that are well governed and have a more equitable process of development.

Continue reading the main story

London 2012 - One extraordinary year

• The BBC's home of 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, culture, torch relay, video and audio

"Across many facets of life, not just athletic performance, the great variation in socio-economic and political conditions around the world have a profound impact on human achievement," said Prof Landman.

He added that Ethiopia's Olympic success was largely in long distance running events, which was partly explained by the country's culture and history.

The IDCR and a partner, the Mackman Group, has developed web-based maps which allow users to see the relationships between Olympic success and deeper social or economic conditions.

Countries with big populations such as China and the USA may top medal tables, but even after population size has been taken into account, the relationship between development and medal totals is a significant one, says the IDCR.