Jelimo captures 800m indoor world championship
Pamela Jelimo's rapid ascend back to the world's 800m elite was further cemented with her gold medal performance at the 2012 IAAF Indoor World Championships, held in Istanbul, Turkey, 9-11 March.
Pamela Jelimo entered the competition holding the second fastest 800m performance in the world this indoor season at 1:59.10, set at her indoor debut over the distance in Lievin, France, on 14. February. The opening round in Istanbul on 9. March saw Jelimo finish 2nd in her heat with a time of 2:00.32, advancing her to the final with the overall fourth-fastest qualifying time.
 
In the championship final on 11. March, Jelimo remained in the middle of the six-athlete field for most of the race, before taking the lead shortly before the 700m mark. From there, she steadily increased the margin over her pursuers and secured the gold medal with a world-leading time of 1:58.83, followed by silver medalist Natalya Lupu (Ukraine) in 1:59.67 and bronze medalist Erica Moore (USA) in 1:59.97.

In addition to being the first Kenyan woman to win an indoor athletics world championship, Jelimo's time established a new personal best, improved her own national indoor 800m record, and moved her to No. 2 on the All-Time Africa indoor list for the event.

Other noteworthy Golazo-managed athletes competing in Istanbul included Tia Hellebaut, who in both qualifying and final rounds of the High Jump cleared 1.95m, the same height made by the three athletes who tied for the silver medal, but who each used only 7 attempts overall vs. Hellebaut's 8; Eline Berings, who advanced past the 60m Hurdles opening round (8.08, 2nd) and semi-finals (8.03 Season Best, 2nd) to reach the final, where she finished 5th in 8.08; and finally team newcomer Timothy Kitum, who won his opening round heat in the 800m (1:49.57), but then was eliminated in the semi-final (3rd in 1:48.23).
Chepkurui and Chemos continue winning ways on IAAF Diamond League circuit
Lidya Chepkurui, Milcah Chemos, Paul Koech, Hillary Yego, and Timothy Kitum produced the leading performances among international Golazo-managed athletes at the recent IAAF Diamond League stops in Shanghai, New York, Eugene, and Rome.
The Diamond League's second meeting of the season was the Golden Grand Prix of Shanghai, staged on 18. May.  Veteran steeplechaser Paul Kipsiele Koech opened up his outdoor season by finishing 2nd in 8:02.63, behind the world-leading performance of 8:01.16 by fellow Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto.  Closely behind in 3rd, Hillary Yego's time of 8:03.57 improved his previous personal best by over 4 seconds.  Kipruto, Koech, and Yego's times from Shanghai currently rank as the top-3 steeplechase performances in the world this season.

The adidas Grand Prix held in New York City on 25. May, constituted the third stop on the '13 Diamond League circuit.  Lidya Chepkurui posted her second straight DL circuit victory in the 3000m SC (9:30.82), while London Games 800m bronze medalist Timothy Kitum scored his first DL points of the year, placing 3rd in the 800m (1:46.93). 

The Diamond League's second and final American stint took place in Eugene, Oregon, with the Prefontaine Classic 2-day meeting (31. May-1. June).  Golazo athlete highlights included Timothy Kitum - 2nd/800m (1:45.16 season best), Paul K. Koech - 2nd/3000m SC (8:05.86), Hillary Yego - 5th/3000m SC (8:09.84), Isaiah Kiplangat Koech - 10th/5000m (13:09.55), Kenneth Kiprono Kipkemoi - 13th/5000m (13:13.91), Dawit Wolde - 13th/Mile (3:54.51 personal best), and Daniel Kipchirchir Komen - 3rd/Mile B-section (3:56.13).

The Rome Golden Gala meeting on 6. June constituted the fifth meeting of the Diamond League season.  Three-time winner ('10-'11-'12) of the Diamond League steeplechase points race, Milcah Chemos Cheywa, claimed the first victory of the season in her specialty event, and 12th career DL win, in a season-best world no. 3 time of 9:16.14.  Teammate Lidya Chepkurui was 2nd (9:18.10), and thus retained her commanding lead in the event's '13 DL points standings.  In the 5000m, Isaiah K. Koech posted his first sub-13:00 performance of the year, and seventh of career, by finishing 3rd in 12:58.85, the world no. 3 time in the event this season.  Albert Rop also established a season best with his 13:10.14 in 8th place.  Finally, Abraham K. Rotich opened up his outdoor campaign by finishing 10th in the 800m (1:45.59).
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 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)