Tag Archives: Yasemin Can

Athletics

Margaret Chelimo to battle Vicoty Chepngeno at Valencia Half Marathon

World 10,000m bronze medallist, Margaret Chelimo will battle for honors at the 16th edition of the Valencia Half Marathon that will be held on Sunday (23) in Valencia, Spain.

The 29 year-old who is the Kenya National Champion over the distance will have to get past her compatriot, Vicoty Chepngeno who comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 1:05.03 that she got in January this year at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon where she took the honors.

The two Kenyans will also face-off with the 2019 African Games 5000m silver medallist Hawi Feysal from Ethiopia. Feysal comes to this race with a personal best of 1:05.41 that she got at last year’s Copenhagen Half Marathon where she took the silver medal. The 23 year-old is also the 2017 World junior Cross Country Championships Silver medallist .

The three have been assembled together to try and lower the race course record of 1:02.52 that was set last year by the first and only woman to hold four World Records simultaneously, Letesenbet Gidey from Ethiopia.

The race organizer, Marc Roig, admitted that “world records cannot be achieved every year, and Valencia’s level featuring the world’s second best record for males and the WR for females means we should demand a lot but not pressure ourselves with new world records. But I am convinced that the quality of the elite that will run this half-marathon will be news around the world again thanks to its high standards.”

LEADING TIME

21KM WOMEN

  1. Vicoty Chepngeno  (KEN)1:05.03
  2. Margaret Chelimo   (KEN) 1:05.26
  3. Hawi Feysa                (ETH) 1:05.41
  4. Bosena Mulatie        (ETH) 1:05.46
  5. Yasemin Can             (TUR) 1:06.20
  6. Irine Kimais              (KEN) 1:06.34
  7. Tsigie Gebreselama  (ETH) 1:06.35
  8. Magdalena Shauri     (TAN) 1:06.37
  9. Purity Komen            (KEN) 1:07.10
  10. Samantha Harrison  (GBR) 1:08.12
  11. Yuka Ando                   (JPN) 1:08.13
  12. Vivian Melly               (KEN) 1:08.17
  13. Sarah Lahti                 (SWE) 1:08.19
  14. Agnes M. Ngolo          (KEN) 1:09.15
  15. Etagegne Woldu         (ETH) 1:09.22
  16. Carolina Wikström    (SWE) 1:11.01
  17. Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) DEBUT
Athletics

Yasemin Can beats Eilish McColgan as she wins 2nd European 10000m title

Turkey’s Kenyan-born Yasemin Can piped at the Commonwealth champion Eilish McColgan to win her second 10,000m gold at the ongoing European Athletics Championships being held in Munich.

McColgan who is fresh from claiming the Commonwealth Games title took charge of the 25-lap race but Can hit the front with just under the 3000m to go ahead and command the race with a killer pace that the Briton could not handle crossing the finishing line with her career second fastest time of 30:32.57.

McColgan was forced to settle for silver 30:41.05.

The defending champion and World Marathon bronze medallist Lonah Chemtai Salpeter finished in third place and claiming bronze in a National Record time of 30:46.37.

Athletics

Over ten former Kenyans return to haunt Kenyan athletes in Oregon

Siblings Norah Tanui Jeruto, the former Commonwealth Youth Games 2,000m bronze medalist and Daisy Jepkemei, the former world junior 3,000m steeplechase champion are some of the huge athletes’ talents exported to other nations.

The duo will simply be Kenyans versus former Kenyans affair at this year’s World Athletics championships that will be held in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States of America.

With most exports lining up on track and road running where over 1900 athletes from 192 World Athletics (WA) member federations will be battling out for 43 gold medals at the Eugene Hayward Field between July 15th to July 24th.

According to the list released by WA, Jeruto. Who won the World Youth 2,000m steeplechase in 2011 and succeeded by Jepkemei who won the title in 2013 as the race became a family affair will be representing Kazakhstan.

They will fly the Kazakhstan at the world championships and are expected to give a competitive race against fellow Kenyans running for Kenya.

Jeruto is also the 2016 Africa Senior Athletics 3,000m steeplechase champion while Jepkemei is the former Africa Youth 2,000m steeplechase champion.

Another Kenyan born Winfred Mutile Yavi will be running for Bahrain in the same race against Kenyans led by world 3,000m record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline Chepkoech, Celliphine Chespol Chepteek and Purity Kirui.

In the recent past, Kenyan athletes’ have switched their allegiance has seen their new nations claim a big share of Kenyan glory as they are spread across the world.

Just like in 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Ruth Jebet won gold in the 3,000m steeplechase and Eunice Kirwa won silver in the marathon behind Jemimah Sumgong.

Despite Kenyans switching nationalities, their love is not lost since they can communicate in Swahili and still train in their country of origin.

Eunice Chebichii Chumba will be representing her new found lover Bahrain where she will be competing in a marathon. Just Chebichii, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter will be representing Israel in the marathon.

The two former Kenyans will be chasing the marathon title against reigning champion Ruth Chepngetich, Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, Paris marathon champion Judith Jeptum Korir and Vienna City marathon champion Angela Tanui.

In men, Jonah Koech will be representing the hosts in the 800m competing against Kenyans led by reigning world under 20 800m bronze medalist Noah Kibet, reigning Commonwealth Games 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Korir and world under 20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

In a crowded 10,000m, Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli will be up in arms for his new nation, competing against Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medalist Rodgers Kwemoi Chumo, Daniel Mateiko and Stanley Waithaka Mburu.

Two former Kenyan athletes will be flying the American flag in the 3,000m steeplechase. Hillary Bor and Bernard Keter will face former country mates Leonard Bett, Abraham Kibiwot, Benjamin Kigen and reigning champion Conseslas Kipruto.

Others who have switched allegiance include, Bahraini Benson Kiplagat Seurei, the son of 1987 All Africa Games 1,500m champion James Seurei who competes in 1,500m, Mike Ozbilen Kigen in marathon representing Turkey, Abraham Rotich (800m) and Albert Rop (5,000m), Rose Chelimo, Isaac Korir and Abraham Cheroben (10,000m).

Lucy Kimani, Yasemin Can, Tarik Langat Akdag run in 3,000m steeplechase, Ali Kaya, Ilham Tanui, Ozbilen, Meryem Akda, Bernard Lagat, Paul Chelimo, Leonard Korir and Shadrack Kipchirchir, Evans Kiplagat.

 

Athletics

Almaz Ayana to battle Letesenbet Gidey in Oslo

The 2016 Olympics 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana will make her debut in a star studded deep elite field at the Oslo Diamond League, also known as the Bislett Games, which will take place on Thursday 16 June at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, Norway.

The 30 year-old will have an uphill task as she will battle the world-record holder in 5000m, 10,000m and the half marathon, Letesenbet Gidey, who will also be looking for her first win after finishing second in the 5000m in Eugene in 14:24.29 and in the 10000m in Hengelo in 30:44.27.

Ayana will also face her compatriot World 1500m Indoor champion and record holder Gudaf Tsegay, the 2016 world indoor silver medallist Dawit Seyaum and the European silver medallist Eilish McColgan, who set the national 5000m record with 14:28.55 in Oslo in 2021 and won the 10000m early this month in Hengelo in 30:19.02.

Other tile contenders include world 5000m bronze medallist Konstanze Klosterhalfen from Germany, former 5000m and 10000m European champion Yasemin Can from Turkey and European cross country champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal from Norway.

Athletics

Another National Record by Yasmin Can

European two time champion Yasmin Can, failed to take the top honors but she managed to set a New National Record in the Women 10km Road to Records Race that was held on Saturday (30) Herzogenaurach, Germany.

The Kenyan born Vivian Jemutai now trading for Turkey under Yasemin Can, was among the race favorite as she came carrying on her shoulder a personal best of 30:26.41 in 10,000m race that she got at the Rio Olympics where she finished in seventh place.

Can is also a four time European Cross Country Champion, a silver medallist in European Indoor games and a two time European U23 Champion.

The 25 year-old who has never competed for Kenya in professional races and who became officially eligible to represent Turkey at international competitions in 2016, improved on her previous time and set a new Turkey National Record of 0:32:04.

The race was won by Fantaye Belayneh Azale who also set a new Ethiopian National Record and a personal best of 30:25.

Athletics

Joyce Tele to battle Sheila Chepkirui,Yasemin Can as they chase the 10k world record

The reigning National Cross Country champion, Joyce Chepkemoi Tele will lead a strong elite field as they attempt to break the Women 10km Road to Records Race that will be held on Saturday (30) Herzogenaurach, Germany.

The 26 year-old who holds a life time best of 30:59.01 that she got at the 2021 FBK Games, Blankers-Koen Stadion in Netherlands took the honors last week at the Kenya Defence Force Track and Field Championships, where she trounced a strong field in the 25 lap race that included the reigning Roma Ostia Half Marathon champion, Irene Kimais when she crossed the finish line in a time of 31:55.09.

Tele comes to this race with a life time best 31:38 that she got at the 2019 10K Valencia Ibercaja where she finished in seventh place.

Tele will battle for honors with the African Champion, Sheila Chepkirui and European two time champion Yasmin Can.

Chepkirui has an added advantage as she raced here last year where she finished second behind the late Agnes Tirop who smashed the then World 10km Record in a time of 30:01 with the latter coming home sixteen seconds later.

Kenyan born Vivian Jemutai now trading for Turkey under Yasemin Can, will be a thorn in the flesh for Tele and Chepkirui as she comes carrying on her shoulder a personal best of 30:26.41 in 10,000m race that she got at the Rio Olympics where she finished in seventh place.

Can is a four time European Cross Country Champion, a silver medallist in European Indoor games and a two time European U23 Champion.

The 25 year-old has never competed for Kenya in professional races. She became officially eligible to represent Turkey at international competitions in 2016.

Athletics

Jakob Ingebrigtsen to make senior debut at the European Cross Country Championships

Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will make his debut in the senior men’s race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Fingal-Dublin on 12 December.

Ingebrigtsen has dominated the U20 race since 2016, winning four successive individual titles and also leading Norway to the U20 team title in Tilburg 2018.

Jakob will be lining up alongside his older brother Filip who memorably won the senior men’s title at those championships three years ago.

The Norwegian team will also be strong contenders to land their first ever senior title as a collective. Their team is strengthened by the inclusion of Zerei Kbrom who recently relieved Jakob Ingebrigtsen of his Norwegian 10km record with 27:39 in Valencia.

Another perennial medal contender on the Norwegian team is Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, a medallist in the senior women’s race at the last five editions of the European Cross Country Championships.

After winning four successive silver medals between 2015 and 2018, Grovdal upgraded to silver behind Turkey’s four-time winner Yasemin Can in 2019. Will Grovdal go one step better and land the senior title some 12 years after she won the U20 title when Dublin staged these championships in 2009?

The full Norwegian team can be found here.

Source: european-athletics.com

Athletics

Chemtai writes history as she wins Israel first ever gold at European Championships

Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter became the first Israeli woman ever to win a gold medal in any discipline at a European Athletics Championships when she won the 10,000m tonight in dominant fashion on a hot and sticky evening at Olympic Stadium here.

Salpeter, 29, who switched her allegiance from Kenya to Israel in March, 2016, controlled the pace from gun to tape and clocked 31:43.28, a comfortable nine seconds ahead of the Netherlands’s Susan Krumins (31:52.55). Sweden’s Meraf Bahta was a distant third in 32:19.34.

Salpeter was overwhelmed with joy and national pride as she strode into the mixed zone and received a tight embrace from her husband and coach, Dan Salpeter, who then playfully dumped ice cubes over her head.

“It means a lot,” Salpeter told Race Results Weekly when asked what this gold medal meant to her. “It is an honor to my country.”

Salpeter made effective use of a fartlek strategy to defeat the other 25 women she faced tonight on the stadium’s blue oval. Running the early laps with Turkey’s Yasemin Can, the defending champion, and Romania’s Ancuta Bobocel, Salpeter allowed the pace to vary from an honest 74.6 seconds for the opening lap, to a slow 80 seconds for the next two. She had an idea that varying the pace might tire her opponents.

“I say, maybe I will play a little bit game,” Salpeter said. “It was my tactic.”

After the 4000m mark, Salpeter dropped a 69.9-second lap, to break open the race. Only Can was able to cover that move, leaving Bobocel behind with Bahta and Krumins. It looked like the two former Kenyans would run away with the race, but on the next lap the duo slowed to 77 seconds providing Krumins and Bahta a chance to catch up. Through 5000m (15:52.13) Can was with Salpeter in front with small gap on Krumins and Bahta. Bobocel was too far behind to contend for a medal and eventually dropped out.

In the second half of the race, Salpeter kept her pace in the 75 to 76-second range lap after lap. Krumins did her best to stay close, and got within three seconds at 8400m, but eventually the Dutchwoman began to wilt in the heat.

“I was worried at one point I was not going to get to the finish line because I could not pick up my feet,” the 2009 NCAA 1500m champion for Florida State told Race Results Weekly. Determined to keep going she said she told herself, “That medal is mine.”

For good measure, Salpeter ran her final lap in 72.6 seconds to put the race away. Krumins, her body pitched forward with fatigue in the final 50 meters, willed herself to the finish before collapsing to the track.

“Never,” Krumins said when asked if she had ever worked so hard to finish a race.

Behind the gold and silver medalists, Bahta had moved into third before the 9000m mark and had a comfortable lead over fourth place Alina Reh of Germany (Can would finish fifth). Nonetheless, Bahta sprinted the final 50 meters because a lapped athlete, Olena Serdyuk of Ukraine, sprinted against the Swede mistakenly thinking she was running her final lap. Serdyuk shows in the official results as a “DNF” with a 24th lap time of 32:19.62, less than half a second different from Bahta’s.

“Despite being disappointed that I didn’t have a strong race from the start, I’m still very happy with my result,” Bahta told European Athletics interviewers. “It’s a medal after all.”