Wilson Kipsang and Sarah Chepchirchir win Tokyo Marathon - global update
Wilson Kipsang broke the sub-2:04 mark for the fourth time in his career with victory in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday in a Japanese all-comers’ record of 2:03:58.
Kipsang was ahead of Dennis Kimetto’s world record schedule through 30km in 1:27:27 but the record slipped in the next 10km which he covered in 30:02. Kipsang won by nearly two minutes ahead of Gideon Kipketer (2:05:51), Dickson Chumba (2:06:25), Evans Chebet (2:06:42), Alfers Lagat (2:07:39) and Bernard Kipyego (2:08:10).
Eritrea’s Yohanes Ghebregergish was the top non-Kenyan finisher in seventh in 2:08:14 with Hiroto Inoue the leading Japanese finisher in eighth (2:08:22). Former Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede from Ethiopia was ninth in 2:08:45. Thirteen athletes broke the 2:10-mark in the men’s race.
"Had someone stayed close to me, it would have been easier to chase record," said Kipsang.
Sarah Chepchirchir made a big breakthrough in the women’s race, improving from 2:24:13 to 2:19:47 (70:31/69:16) to break the Japanese all-comers’ record which stood to Mizuki Noguchi at 2:21:18 from 2003.
"I am convinced that this time is good enough to be selected for the Kenyan World Championships team," said Chepchirchir.
Ethiopians were second and third respectively through Birhane Dibaba (2:21:19) and Amane Gobena (2:23:09), while USA's Sara Hall set a big lifetime best of 2:28:26 in sixth. Debutant Betsy Saina was on 2:20-pace in the early stages but dropped out in the second half.
Wilson Kipsang now trails his Kenyan compatriot Eliud Kipchoge by nine points on the leaderboard of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series X, which will conclude at the 2017 Boston Marathon in April.
Women's race winner Sarah Chepchirchir entered the Series X leaderboard with 25 points.
Kipchoge has 50 and Kipsang 41 with Kenenisa Bekele third with 34.
On the women's side, Jemima Sumgong has 50, Florence Kiplagat 34 and Birhane Dibaba 32.
World half-marathon bronze medallist Mary Wacera won the World’s Best 10K in San Juan in 31:41 from Ethiopians Mamitu Daska (31:59) and Gelete Burka (32:01).
Sam Chelanga won the men’s race in 28:19 from Kenyans Philip Langat (28:21), Stephen Sambu (28:34) and Thomas Longosiwa (28:37).
Canada defended their titles in the NACAC 10K Cup held in conjunction with the race.
A special guest at the event was IAAF president Sebastian Coe who also finished the race in 48:05.
New Zealand's Olympic pole vault medallist Eliza McCartney was the local star at the Auckland Track Challenge meet on Sunday. After her impressive 4.70m clearance indoors at Britomart on Wednesday to win the Vertical Pursuit, the 20-year-old Aucklander thrilled a big crowd in sunny conditions with a clearance of 4.82m. That improved her own PB, and national record, by 2cm, and was also a 1cm improvement on Alana Boyd's Oceania record.
"I was super happy to get that, not only because it's my all-time PB, it's also a massive PB for the run-up I was on, and I'm pretty sure it's a world lead for the year and an Oceania record. So I banged them all out in one which is really nice," she said.
She then tried at 4.90m. "I think I would have been able to give 4.90m a much better crack if I hadn't had all that emotion in the competition beforehand. My legs were quite jelly and shaky by the end of it, so it becomes much harder to control the run-up and takeoff," McCartney added.
Canada's Alysha Newman finished second with 4.50m, while American Morgann Leleux (4.40m) shaded Auckland youngster Olivia McTaggart (4.30m) for third.
Another superb result came in the men's shot put as Olympic winner Ryan Crouser achieved a massive 22.15m world lead and NZ all-comers record ahead of Tom Walsh's 21.88m (NZ resident record) and Jacko Gill's 20.92m.
"I kind of surprised myself a little bit last week in Christchurch," said Crouser, who threw 22.52m to win the Olympic gold in Rio. "I was just hoping to match Christchurch here and managed to be really consistent. This is probably my most consistent meet outside of the Olympics and it's still really early so I'm really, really happy."
His superb series: 21.71 - 22.03 - 21.43 - 22.08 - 22.15 - 22.15.
On the track, it was an Australia sweep of the first four places in the men's 800m, with Josh Ralph winning (1:47.75). It was a similar story in the 5000m where the visitors from across the Tasman filled the first four spots as well, headed by Brett Robinson who won in 13:22.93 over Dave McNeill's 13:29.11.
Katherine Marshall (2:02.90) caused an upset in the women's 800m when she beat Rio Olympian Angie Petty (2:03.05).
Report with the help from stuff.co.nz.
The Racers Track Club with Yohan Blake as anchor clocked 38.59 to win the 4x100m at the Gibson McCook Relays in Kingston.
Second was Sprint Tec with 38.88.
In the women's 4x100m Sprint Tec achieved 43.20 as winners.
In the 4x400m Akan with 3:06.22 and Sprint Tec with 3:30.87 were the top teams.
Trinidad's Emmanuel Callender won the 100m in 10.25 (-0.1), while windy long jumping resulted in a win for Ramone Bailey with a best of 7.95m (+3.7) and Todea Kay Willis with 6.66m (+3.0).
European under-23 cross country champion Isaac Kimeli took another win at the CrossCup de Dour, winning the senior men’s 8.8km in 26:41 from Rio Olympic marathon runner Koen Naert (26:46) and Dieter Kersten (26:47).
Louise Carton won the senior women’s 5.8km in 19:30 from Brit Stephanie Barnes (19:44) and Sofie Van Accom (19:53).
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