Tadese

The Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, which hosts the final race of the Formula One season in two weeks’ time will be put to further sporting effort on 7 January 2010, as Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru, and recently crowned four-time World Half Marathon champion Zersenay Tadese have been signed-up for the Zayed International Half Marathon, a race which was last held in 2008.

With $300,000 first prize on offer, a successful run in Abu Dhabi for the 22-year-old Wanjiru will mean winnings of close to one million dollars in a little over two months.

His victory in Chicago last weekend not only won him $175,000, but it also wrapped up the World Marathon Majors’ Jackpot of $500,000, which he will formally pick up in New York in two weeks’ time.

The young Kenyan won the inaugural Zayed International Half Marathon in January 2008, but the race was cancelled in early 2009, while waiting for finalisation of the Yas Marina circuit.

Wanjiru is World record holder for the half marathon, with his 58:33 in The Hague in 2007, and his translation to the marathon has been the most successful in history, with victory in his last four races, including the Olympic Games, in superfast times, between 2:05:10 and 2:06:39.

As his elder statesman colleague, former world marathon record holder, Paul Tergat said last week, “It’s only a matter of time before Wanjiru breaks the marathon world record.”

It won’t be an easy $300,000 in Abu Dhabi however as reigning four-time World Half Marathon champion Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea will also be on the start line, having just blitzed the hopes of many of the world’s best half marathoners on the streets of Birmingham on 11 October.

Also in the field will be this year’s fastest, Kenyan Patrick Makau (58:52) who has twice been World Half Marathon silver medallist on the heels of the Eritrean’s victories in 2007 and 2008.

The women’s race will also feature a stellar line-up.

The world record holder for the Half Marathon Kenyan born Kiplagat, now running for of the Netherlands, who won the last edition of the Zayed International Half Marathon in 2008 is also signed up.

However, there must be serious question marks surrounding Kiplagat’s participation given that she has been sidelined with a knee injury for most of 2009 and recently had to withdraw from the defence of her World Half Marathon title in Birmingham.

But, 27-year-old Mary Keitany of Kenya, who has the top two times in the world this year, including the second best ever, 66:36, and won the World title in Birmingham in the absence of reigning three-time champion Kiplagat has also been secured for the race on 7 January. Source: (IAAF)

Running

Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission, Engineer Sani Mohammed Ndanusa is seeking the assistance of the United Nations in the area of sports development.

The minister made the request in a meeting he held with Mr. Wiefried Leinke, Special Adviser to UN Secretary General on Sports development and peace who was in Nigeria for the 3rd AU Conference of African Ministers of Sports He said that the target of the National Sports Commission (NSC) is to source for youths within the age bracket stipulated by FIFA who will take Nigerian football to greater heights.

He informed Mr. Leinke that the federal government is partnering with the private sector in the development of sports through the provision of tax rebates on investments on sports.

He added that this desire is to provide sports facilities at the grassroots where the majority of the youths are located.

Responding, Mr. Leinke said that Nigeria has natural resources that if properly managed will help facilitate sports which has become a leading promoter of African image. He emphasised the key role of education in assisting youths discover their talents and achieve greatness and promised to collaborate with Nigeria in encouraging foreign governments to provide referees and coaches who will train Nigerian youths if centres and discipline areas of sports are provided.

He promised that the United Nations will take responsibility for the referees and coaches financial and logistics needs if Nigeria can take care of the local logistics on arrival.

And in another meeting, the Minister of Sports, Engr. Sani Mohammed Ndanusa welcomed the idea of establishing a partnership with Eritrea in sports development especially in long distance races.

The minister spoke through the Director General of NSC, Dr. Patrick Ekeji in a meeting with the Consular in the Embassy of Eritrea in Nigeria October 19, 2009.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to expanding sports development and integrating Nigerian athletes in disciplined areas of sports that will make Nigeria outstanding in sports competitions. Source: (LeadershipNigeria)

According to the Basketball Association of Uganda (FUBA), Eritrea is going to take part in this year’s Africa Zone 5 Club Basketball Championship. The cup will be in Kampala from the 27th July to the 2nd of August. Other participating countries are Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda. Each country will be represented with a men’s and women’s team. Read more: Daily Monitor.

Amman, Jordan: Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese makes third place at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship in Amman. The last time Tadese won the championship was in 2007. read more: