World of Running

AtoZrunner updates

Erin and Adi ran CIM

Congrats to Erin on a 3min PR!

#1. Valencia Marathon

(Source: Letsrun)

• So. Crazy. Fast.
• Kelvin Kiptum won in 2:01:53, the fastest debut and 3rd fastest time ever
• His second half was 60:15–fastest second half ever
• Kiptum was unexpected here–debut marathon but also hasn’t finished a race in over a year
• 23 years old
• At 30k, Kiptum seemed to motion to the other two men still in the race to help take the lead, when they didn’t, he dropped them with a 14:00 5k
• 4 men ran under 2:04: Gabriel Geay (Tanzania) in 2:03:00, Alexander Mutiso (Kenya) in 2:03:29 (debut, and next best debut to Kiptum’s), and world champ Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) in 2:03:40
• Only other time 4 men have run under 2:04 is Valencia from 2020
• Letesenbet Gidey (Ethiopia) also ran the fastest debut marathon in 2:16:49, but it was only good for 2nd
• Amane Beriso (also Ethiopia) dropper her with 10k to go and ran 2:14:58 for the 3rd fastest all-time
• Little controversy because the pacers did not go with Beriso when she broke Gidey–stayed back instead
• Beriso personal best by almost 6 minutes
• Seven women ran under 2:19
• Sheila Chepkirui ran 2:17:29 to finish 3rd in her debut. 
• 21-year-old Tadu Teshome (Ethiopia) ran over 6min PR in 2:17:36 for 4th
• 45-year-old Sinead Diver ran 2:21:34 for 12th, Australian record and 3min PR (earlier in the day, Brett Robinson broke the men’s Australia record, too–different race)
• Diver ran her first marathon at age 37; she just bested the 45+ time by exactly 7 minutes

#2. Nike Cross Nationals

GIRLS race:

• Irene Riggs did what most expected: took it out hard and held a firm gap on the field
• Won by 14 seconds in 16:40
• Sophia Kennedy, daughter of one-time US 5k-record-holder Bobby Kennedy, was 7th
• Addy Ritzenhein, daughter of one-time US 5k-record-holder Dathan Ritzenhein, was 18th as a freshman (her team finished 2nd in the team standings and she was the first 9th grader–next best was 43rd place)

BOYS race:

• MAJOR upset as race favorites Leo and Lex Young (twins from Newbury Park) faded hard late in the race
• Lex pushed early, bringing Leo along, Leo took over late and looked like he had it in the bag
• *Announcer Galen Rupp later said he had to eat his own words about Leo having a clear victory with 500m to go
• Ended up that Leo faded back to 11th, and teammate Aaron Sahlman won with an incredible late surge
• Newbury Park still won the team title by almost 100 points

#3. BU Season Opener

(Source: LetsRun)

• Watch the full race here.
• Pros Emma Coburn and Dani Jones were pacing
• Annie Rodenfels took it hard after pacers dropped, won in 15:08 
• Katelyn Tuohy 15:15 for 2nd
• Alabama went 3-4 Hilda Olemomoi and Mercy Chelangat in 15:17 and 15:18
• True freshman Natalie Cook ran 15:24 for a new U20 US record (Parker Wolfe of UNC also broke the men’s U20 US record in 13:19)

BONUS:

• (Source) Australian Runner Erchana Murray-Bartlett Just Ran 100 Marathons in a Row
  • Record is 107 (she is planning to get it)
  • She’s actually going for 150
• Update on doping situation: Kenya is NOT banned (but they say it was close…), Russia to be reinstated in March (most likely)

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