Founder of Satara Hill Half Marathon dies in road accident

News reports today (Sunday, April 28, 2019) said that Dr Sandeep Lele, 48, one of the founders of Satara Hill Half Marathon, passed away in an accident.

The mishap occurred on Saturday morning while Dr Lele was cycling on the Pune-Satara highway. According to one report, the exact nature of the road accident was being investigated as it was unclear if the cyclist was hit by a moving truck or he rammed into a stationary one.

Dr Lele, who sustained injuries to his neck in the accident, was rushed to hospital in Satara but was declared dead on arrival. He was a runner, cyclist and swimmer.

Satara Hill Half Marathon is among best known races in Maharashtra.

Impressive line-up for 2019 London Marathon / Nitendra Singh Rawat among those at start line

Kenya’s world record holder in the marathon and London Marathon defending champion Eliud Kipchoge will have fellow countryman Wilson Kipsang and UK’s Mo Farah for company at the start line of the 2019 edition of the event scheduled for April 28.

Kipchoge’s personal best (PB) over the 42 kilometer-distance is 2:01:39; that of Kipsang and Farah – 2:03:13 and 2:05:11 respectively. Others from the start line (as per race information available on the event website) with PBs ranged between Kipchoge and Farah include Ethiopian runners Mosinet Geremew (PB: 2:04:00), Leule Gebrselassie (2:04:02), Tamira Tolat (2:04:06), Mule Wasihun (2:04:37) and Tola Shura Kitata (2:04:49). Among women, defending champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya (PB: 2:18:31) will be joined by fellow Kenyan runners Mary Keitany (2:17:01), Gladys Cherono (2:18:11) and Brigid Kosgei (2:18:35) at the start line.

Indian elite marathon runner Nitendra Singh Rawat will be one of the participants. He was the winner among Indian elite runners at Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) 2019, finishing the race in 2:15:52 hours. He has a personal best (PB) of 2:15:48. A report in Mid-Day informing of his departure for London said he would be looking to complete the run in 2:12-2:13. According to the report, Procam International – they are the organizers of TMM – have sponsored his passage to London. For more on Nitendra Singh Rawat please try this link: https://shyamgopan.com/2017/11/13/an-afternoon-in-ranikhet/

Rohit Yadav sets new under-18 national record

Rohit Yadav placed first in the under-18 age category for boys at the second National Javelin Throw Open Championships held mid-April 2019 at the SAI Regional Center in Sonipat.

According information available on the website of Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Rohit unleashed two throws over 81 meters – 81.37m and 81.73m – in the final. His other legal throw was also well past the 73.01m notched up by the athlete placed second.

Earlier at the same event, in the run up to the final, Rohit had set a new under-18 national record with a throw of 81.75m.

Rohit is the son of well-known amateur runner, Sabhajeet Yadav.

For more on Rohit, please try these links:

https://shyamgopan.com/2018/03/09/a-javelin-for-rohit/

https://shyamgopan.com/2018/03/14/rohit-yadav-new-javelin-new-phase/

https://shyamgopan.com/2018/08/01/rohit-yadav-training-abroad-on-the-cards/

Climbers perish in avalanche on Howse Peak

Climbers David Lama, Jess Roskelly and Hansjorg Auer died in an avalanche on Canada’s Howse Peak (10,810 feet).

Members of the Global Athlete Team of The North Face, they were attempting a 3280 feet-climbing route called M16 on the peak’s east face, Outside magazine reported. “ The line is considered one of the most difficult in the area,’’ the magazine said.

The climbers were reported overdue on April 17. Subsequently, officials surveyed the area – it falls in Banff National Park – and found signs of multiple avalanches and debris containing climbing gear.

The bodies of the three climbers were recovered on April 21.

It is believed that they successfully summitted the peak and died on the descent.

India places fourth in medals tally at 2019 Asian Athletics Championships

At the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships held in Doha from April 21-24, India finished fourth in the medals tally with 17 medals overall, including three gold.

While China bagged the most number of medals (29 including nine gold medals), Bahrain took top honors with 22 medals overall including 11 gold.

For India, P. U. Chitra (1500m / women), Gomathi Marimuthu (800n / women) and Tejinder Pal Singh Toor (shotput / men) secured gold. Other medal winners included Sapna Barman (silver / heptathlon); Avinash Sable (silver / 3000m steeplechase / men), Ajay Kumar Saroj (silver / 1500m / men), Gavit Murli Kumar (bronze / 10,000m / men), Jabir Madari Palliyalil (bronze / 400m hurdles / men), Shivpal Singh (silver / javelin throw / men) Dutee Chand (bronze / 200m / women), M. R. Poovamma (bronze / 400m / women), Parul Chaudhuary (bronze / 5000m / women), Sanjivani Jadhav (bronze / 10,000m / women) , Sarita Gayakwad (bronze / 400m hurdles / women) and Annu Rani (silver / javelin throw / women).

Additionally Indian teams secured silver in the women’s 4 x 400m relay and the mixed 4 x 400m relay. The men’s 4 x 400m relay team, which finished second was unfortunately disqualified under rule 163.2 (causing impediment to an athlete by jostling or obstructing), a report on the website of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said.

Overall India won three gold medals, seven silver medals and seven bronze medals at the Doha meet.

Largest ever athletics exhibition commences in Doha

The world’s largest ever athletics exhibition has opened in Doha, Qatar.

According to information available on the website of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhibition, which opened in the Qatari capital on April 18, is the largest ever of its kind and celebrates the history of the IAAF World Athletics Championships.

The first edition of the championships was held in Helsinki 36 years ago.

Doha is slated to hold the 2019 edition.

The exhibition which opened in the largest shopping mall in Qatar will continue for the next six months and conclude on October 7. During that time Doha will host the Asian Athletics Championships, Doha Diamond League and IAAF World Athletics Championships.

The events are expected to draw athletes, media and fans of the sport to Qatar.

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono, Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa win Boston Marathon 2019

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono won the men’s race at the 2019 edition of Boston Marathon in a very tight finish. He crossed the finish line just two seconds ahead of two-time Boston Marathon winner Lelisa Desisa.

Cherono finished the race in two hours, seven minutes and 57 seconds. Desisa finished two seconds later.

Kenneth Kipkemoi finished in third position with a timing of 2:08:07.

In the women’s race, Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia was the winner with a timing of 2:23:31.

In second position was the 2017 champion, Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, with a timing of 2:24:13. American athlete Jordan Hasay came in third at 2:25:20.

Desiree Linden, winner of the 2018 edition of Boston Marathon, came in fifth with a timing of 2:27 hours.

Both, Lawrence Cherono and Workesh Degefa were making their debut at Boston Marathon, media reports said.

Ethiopians win both men’s, women’s races at Paris Marathon

Ethiopia’s Abrha Milaw won the men’s race of Paris Marathon covering the course in two hours, seven minutes and five seconds.

Asefa Mengistu, also of Ethiopia, came in second with a timing of 2:07:25 hours. Defending champion Paul Lonyangata of Kenya finished third with a timing of 2:07:29.

Among women, Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka emerged winner with a timing of 2:22:47. Azmera Gebru finished second (2:22:52) and Azmera Abreha finished third (2:23:35).

According to the organizers, the official number of participants was 49,155.

Over 50 runners from India likely to run 2019 Boston Marathon

Over 50 runners from India have registered to participate in the Boston Marathon this year.

The event is held every year on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April.

Begun in 1897, it is the world’s oldest annual marathon and among the most coveted in the six events constituting the World Marathon Majors. The course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston.

Entry to Boston Marathon is mostly through qualification on the strength of timing.

The number of Indian participants has been steadily increasing over the years as running and training for the marathon gain popularity in India.

Kartik Joshi wins 250k race at Hennur Bamboo Ultra

Kartik Joshi was the winner in the men’s 250 kilometer-race at Hennur Bamboo Ultra held at the end of March 2019.

He finished the race in 42 hours, 52 minutes. Two hours later the first runner-up, N.V. Suresh, crossed the finish line (44:56 hours), followed by Manas Ranjan Khilar, who covered the distance in 48:55 hours.

The cut-off for the 250k was 59 hours.

In the 210k men’s category the winner was Manuj Sharma. He completed the run in 33 hours. Ram Ratan Jat finished second with a timing of 39:59 hours and Ashish D. Kasodekar came in third with a timing of 41:31 hours. Among women, Shyamala S was the sole winner, finishing the race in 38:50 hours. Overall, she was second after Manuj Sharma.

The cut-off timing for 210k was 48 hours.

In the 161k men’s category the first three finishers were Vinay Bhushan (29:51 hours), Shailesh Nayak (30:15 hours) and Murali (30:40 hours). Among women, the winners were Soumya (35:12 hours) and Shylaja Arun, who was just one second behind (35:12:01 hours).

The cut-off timing for 161k was 36 hours.

Geeno Antony was the winner of the men’s 100k race, finishing in 11:50:50 hours. Lakhan Meena came in second with a timing of 12:40 hours and Vinay Sharma third in 13:46 hours.

Among women, the winner in 100k was Aparajitha Kavanoori who finished in 17:12 hours. Rashida Bawahir came in second with timing of 19:26 hours and Sneha Samarth came in third with timing of 20:42 hours.

The race is held every year inside the Hennur Bamboo forest.

While the arrangements at the trail-ultra came in for praise, the heat was a spoiler with temperatures touching as high as 41 degrees Celsius, 72 year-old Kamalaksha Rao said. He completed the 100k race within cut-off time.

No finishers at Barkley Marathons for second year in a row

For the second year in a row there were no finishers at Barkley Marathons.

Barkley Marathons, an ultramarathon trail race, is held in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, sometime towards the end of March or early April. The full course is 100 miles or 160 kilometers and runners are required to complete it in 60 hours. Covering 60 miles or 97 kilometers is called “ fun run.’’

Every year, 40 runners attempt the race. Since it began in 1986, only 15 runners have finished it.

In the 2019 edition, none of the 40 participants were able to complete the race.

For more on Barkley, including a first person account of what it is like to attempt it, please try this link: https://shyamgopan.com/2018/04/05/barkley-2018/

(The authors, Latha Venkatraman and Shyam G Menon, are independent journalists based in Mumbai.)