Jelimo, Koech, and Kitum open up indoor season with world no. 2 performances
Pamela Jelimo (800m), Isaiah Koech (5000m), and Timothy Kitum (800m) led a contingent of Golazo-managed international athletes posting world-class performances at indoor track circuit stops in Dusseldorf and Lievin in early February.
The PSD Bank Meeting held in Dusseldorf on 10. Feb once again was a distance running showcase, topped by the men's 5000m event, which produced the world's top four times, and seven of the world's top nine times, this indoor season.  Golazo athletes put a big stamp on the event with places 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th going to Isaiah Koech (13:02.36, '12 world no. 2), Paul Kipsiele Koech  (13:02.69, personal best and '12 world no. 3), Albert Rop  (13:10.96, '12 world no. 7), and Japeth Korir (13:11.44, personal best and '12 world no. 8).  Dawit Wolde finished 5th in the 1500m with a time of 3:37.95 (personal best and '12 world no. 12).  The PSD meeting also served as venue for the long-awaited return to top racing by Pamela Jelimo, making her international debut over the 1500m distance.  After finishing 2nd in 4:07.11 behind winner Genzebe Dibaba (4:01.96), both Jelimo and Dibaba were disqualified for breaking to the inside lane too soon after the start.  Their times would have put them at the 1-2 spots on the '12 world chart for 1500.

Quickly putting the Dusseldorf mishap behind her, Jelimo moved on to the Pas de Calais meeting in Lievin on 14. Feb, making her indoor season debut at 800m.  Placing a very close 2nd with a time of 1:59.10, Jelimo re-established herself as a top-contender in her specialty event, as she moved into the no. 2 spot on the '12 world chart, behind only Lievin winner Malika Akkaoui (1:59.01).  The time established a new Kenyan record for the women's indoor 800m and is Jelimo's fastest for the distance since her '08 Olympic Championship season.  Following in Jelimo's footsteps, Golazo team newcomer Timothy Kitum finished 2nd in the men's 800m in a personal best 1:45.96, also the world no. 2 time this indoor season, trailing only Adam Kszczot's winning mark of 1:44.57 from Lievin.  Other noteworthy performers included Isaiah Koech in the 3000m (2nd in personal best 7:32.89, '12 world no. 5) and Daniel Kipchirchir Komen in the 1500m (5th in season best 3:36.96, '12 world no. 10).  Komen completed a rare cross-Atlantic three-day double, as he on 11. February competed at the US Track & Field Classic hosted by the University of Arkansas, finishing 3rd in the mile with a time of 3.53.93 ('12 world no. 4).
Chepkurui victorious in Diamond League opener in Doha
Lydia Chepkurui's winning time and new personal best of 9:13.75 in the 3000m Steeplechase was the top performance among Golazo-managed athletes competing victory at the '13 IAAF Diamond League circuit's first stop in Doha, Qatar on 10. May.
Lydia Chepkurui's victory in Doha was her first-ever on the Diamond League circuit, and moved her to the top of the women's 3000m SC world chart for '13 season.  She was the 8th-fastest women's steeplechase performer in 2012.  In the Doha steeplechase, '12 London Games 4th placer Milcah Chemos Cheywa finished 5th in 9:19.17, followed closely by Purity Cherotich Kirui in 9:19.42, which was 17 seconds faster than her previous personal best from '12 Huelva.

Other Golazo-managed athletes with noteworthy performances in Doha included Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (6th in 1500m, 3:33.05); Isaiah K. Koech (6th in 3000m, 7:36.28); Anthony Chemut (7th in 800m, 1:45.06); Timothy Kitum (9th in 800m, 1:46.54); and Dawit Wolde (11th in 1500m, 3:34.64).

The '13 Diamond League series will continue with the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on 18. May.
Korir wins IAAF world cross title
Japeth Korir became the first Golazo-managed athlete to win a senior cross country world championship, by winning the men's senior race (12 km) at IAAF Cross Country Championships, held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on 24. March.
At only 19 years of age, Japeth Kipyegon Korir of Kenya became the youngest ever to win the men's senior 12 km race, and in the process, held off defending champion Imane Merga of Ethiopia by a 32:45 to 32:51 decision. His victory in Bydgoszcz also led Kenya to the bronze medal in the team competition.  Korir is no stranger to international cross competition, as he twice has represented Kenya in the IAAF world cross junior race, taking the bronze medal in 2010 and placing 5th in 2009.

In the women's Junior race in Bydgoszcz, Sheila Chepngetich Keter of Kenya placed 8th with a time of 18:21.  The junior women's champion was Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya (17:51) and she also led Kenya to the junior women's team title.

Almenesh Belete of Belgium finished 17th in the women's senior event with a time of 25:24, 4th fastest among European finishers. The race was won by Emily Chebet of Kenya (24:24).
Rop and Rotich victorious in Gent Indoor Meeting
With their victories in the 3000m and 800m, respectively, Albert Rop and Abraham Rotich led the way among Golazo-managed international and Belgian athletes at the Record Bank Flanders athletics indoor meeting in Gent on 10. Feb. Other noteworthy performances were made by Paul Koech, Daniel Komen, Anthony Chemut, Tia Hellebaut, and Almenesh Belete.

The men's 3000m in Gent featured a deep field, with Albert Rop's winning time and new personal best of 7:39.59 moving him to no. 6 on the event's current world indoor list.  Finishing just behind Rop was veteran Paul Koech in a season best of 7.39.75 ('13 world no. 7), while Daniel K. Komen in 4th place also ran a season best of 7:41.16 ('13 world no. 9).  With his 800m victory, Abraham K. Rotich posted a new indoor personal best of 1:46.75, which also is the no. 2 mark in the world at 800m this indoor season.  London OG 800m semi-finalist Anthony Chemut was 2nd in 1:47.06 ('13 world no. 7).

Other highlights in Gent included Tia Hellebaut's 2nd place in the high jump (1.91m) and Almenesh Belete's personal best of 4:11.36 in the 1500m, good for 3rd place and the no. 8 spot on the event's '13 world list.  It should be noted that Hellebaut cleared 1.95m ('13 world no. 3) in Eaubonne on 7. Feb.

Paul Koech once again at the top of steeplechase world rankings
The Track & Field News (Palo Alto, California) annual world rankings for the 2012 outdoor season have been announced, with Paul Koech receiving the top ranking in the 3000m steeplechase. A total of ten Golazo-managed athletes received top-10 honors in their respective events.

The No. 1 ranking in the steeplechase for Paul Kipsiele Koech was his fourth such top honor over the last six years.  It was a testament to his domination of the event on the Samsung Diamond League circuit, where he won four races and posted the world's fastest and third-fastest times of the season, including a personal best and history's No. 3 steeplechase time of 7:54.31 (Rome Golden Gala).

Other Golazo-managed athletes achieving Top-10 world rankings included Pamela Jelimo (No. 2 - 800m), Milcah Chemos (No. 3 - 3000m SC),  Isaiah Kiplangat Koech (No. 3 - 5000m), Hans Van Alphen (No. 3 - Decathlon), Timothy Kitum (No. 5 - 800m), Tia Hellebaut (No. 5 - High Jump), Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich (No. 6 - 800m), Lidya Chepkurui (No. 7 - 3000m SC), and Hillary Kipsang Yego (No. 9 - 3000m SC).

Ten world rankers is the highest-ever for Golazo-managed track & field athletes, the previous best being eight ranked athletes in 2007.

An international panel of track & field experts utilized a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 voting format to decide the rankings. The complete rankings will be published in the February-2013 issue of the magazine.  They can also be viewed at www.trackandfieldnews.com.

The Track & Field News 2012 world rankings for events including Golazo-managed athletes (in bold):

Men's 800m:
1. David Rudisha (Kenya)

2. Mohamed Aman (Ethiopia)

3. Nijel Amos (Botswana)

4. Leonard Kosencha (Kenya)

5. Timothy Kitum (Kenya)

6. Abraham Rotich (Kenya)

7. Duane Solomon (USA)

8. Nick Symmonds (USA)

9. Taoufik Makhloufi (Algeria)

10. Andrew Osagie (Great Britain)

 

Men's 3000m Steeplechase:
1. Paul Koech (Kenya)

2. Brimin Kipruto (Kenya)

3. Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya)

4. Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya)

5. Abel Mutai (Kenya)

6. Jairus Birech (Kenya)

7. Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (France)

8. Roba Gari (Ethiopia)

9. Hillary Yego (Kenya)

10. Evan Jager (USA)


Men's 5000m:
1. Mo Farah (Great Britain)

2. Dejen Gebremeskel (Ethiopia)

3. Isiah Koech (Kenya)

4. Thomas Longosiwa (Kenya)

5. Bernard Lagat (USA)

6. Hagos Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia)

7. Galen Rupp (USA)

8. John Kipkoech (Kenya)

9. Tariku Bekele (Ethiopia)

10. Abdelaati Iguider (Morocco)

Men's Decathlon:
1. Ashton Eaton (USA)

2. Trey Hardee (USA)

3. Hans Van Alphen (Belgium)

4. Leonel Suárez (Cuba)

5. Pascal Behrenbruch (Germany)

6. Rico Freimuth (Germany)

7. Damian Warner (Canada)

8. Oleksiy Kasyanov (Ukraine)

9. Eelco Sintnicolaas (Holland)

10. Sergey Sviridov (Russia)

Women's 800m:
1. Mariya Savinova (Russia)

2. Pamela Jelimo (Kenya)

3. Francine Niyonsaba (Burundi)

4. Yekaterina Poistogova (Russia)

5. Caster Semenya (South Africa)

6. Fantu Magiso (Ethiopia)

7. Alysia Montańo (USA)

8. Yelena Arzhakova (Russia)

9. Yelena Kofanova (Russia)

10. Janeth Jepkosgei (Kenya)

Women's 3000m Steeplechase:
1. Yuliya Zaripova (Russia)

2. Habiba Ghribi (Tunisia)

3. Milcah Chemos (Kenya)

4. Sofia Assefa (Ethiopia)

5. Hiwot Ayalew (Ethiopia)

6. Etenesh Diro (Ethiopia)

7. Lidya Chepkurui (Kenya)

8. Mercy Njoroge (Kenya)

9. Hyvin Jepkemoi (Kenya)

10. Antje Möldner-Schmidt (Germany)

Women's High Jump:
1. Anna Chicherova (Russia)

2. Svetlana Shkolina (Russia)

3. Chaunté Lowe (USA)

4. Brigetta Barrett (USA)

5. Tia Hellebaut (Belgium)

6. Ruth Beitia (Spain)

7. Irina Gordeyeva (Russia)

8. Svetlana Radzivil (Uzbekistan)

9. Emma Green Tregaro (Sweden)

10. Antonietta Di Martino (Italy)

Paul Koech and Pamela Jelimo secure season's Diamond League points titles in Brussels
Paul Koech (3000m Steeplechase) and Pamela Jelimo (800m) captured the season's IAAF Samsung Diamond League points competitions in their events at the Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels on 7. September, equaling the accomplishments of Golazo-managed teammates Isaiah Koech (5000m) and Milcah Chemos (3000m SC) last week in Zurich.
The 36th edition of Memorial Ivo Van Damme served as the 14th and final IAAF Diamond League meeting of the 2012 season.

Paul Kipsiele Koech entered the Brussels competition with the season's Diamond League 3000m Steeplechase points title already in hand, but nevertheless put down another world-class performance as he finished 3rd with a time of 8:04.01.  Koech accumulated a total of 20 DL points for the season, well ahead of Brimin Kipruto (10), who won in Brussels with a 8:03.11.  The result was Koech's sixth sub-8:06 steeple of the season, tying a career-best, while also being his 58th career sub-8:10 performance.

Pamela Jelimo also entered her 800m race as the event's DL points leader; however, London Olympic Champion Maryia Savinova still had a theoretical chance at the points title if she could muster a victory, combined with a 3rd place or lower finish for Jelimo.  Behind the front running of Francine Niyonsaba who passed the lap in 57.03 and went on to win the race in 1:56.59, Jelimo held off any further threats from behind to finish 2nd in 1:57.24, ahead of Savinova in 3rd (1:59.05).  The final DL points standings in the event were Jelimo (16), Niyonsaba (10), and Savinova (9).

Other strong performances in Brussels by Golazo-managed athletes included Kenneth K. Kipkemoi (3rd in 10000m in personal best and '12 world no. 3 time of 26:52.65); Tia Hellebaut (tied for 3rd in High Jump at 1.92m); Hillary Yego (5th in 3000m SC in 8:12.63); Leonard P. Komon (5th in 10000m in season best and '12 world no. 5 time of 27:01.58); Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (6th in 1500m in season best 3:32.98); Isaiah K. Koech (8th in 10000m in personal best 27:17.03); and Jacob Cheshari (9th in 10000m in personal best 27:19.70).  Finally, veteran hurdler and long-time Golazo team member Elodie Ouedraogo closed out her career by taking 6th place in the 400m Hurdles (56.44).