Wanjiru vs Tadese in Dubai Half-Marathon

Chaos mars Zayed Half Marathon

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100107/SPORT/100106988/1001/foreign

66:25 Lornah Kiplagat

66:36 Mary Keitany

66:44 Elana Meyer

66:47 Paula Radcliffe

66:48 Mary Keitany - 2

66:49 Esther Wanjiru

66:56 Lornah Kiplagat - 2

67:16 Edith Masai

67:18 Dire Tune

67:23 Margaret Okayo

This is what the IAAF says:

1:06:25 Lornah Kiplagat NED 01/05/1974 1 Udine 14/10/2007

1:06:36 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany KEN 18/01/1982 1 Birmingham 11/10/2009

1:06:44 Elana Meyer RSA 10/10/1966 1 Tokyo 15/01/1999

1:06:47 Paula Radcliffe GBR 17/12/1973 1 Bristol 07/10/2001

1:06:48 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany 2 Udine 14/10/2007

1:06:49 Esther Wanjiru Maina KEN 27/03/1977 2 Tokyo 15/01/1999

1:06:54 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany 1 New Delhi 01/11/2009

1:06:56 Lornah Kiplagat 1 Den Haag 25/03/2000

1:07:00 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany 1 Lille 05/09/2009

1:07:16 Edith Masai KEN 04/04/1967 1 Berlin 02/04/2006

http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=0/sex=W/all=y/legal=A/disc=HMAR/detail.html

So the list I used was a bit out of date. However, I find it strange that IAAF includes Boston on their Marathon list but net downhill is excluded from the HM list.

Anyway, this Mary Keitany is smoking the past year.

the race was extremely disorganized. Elite athletes had to run together with the traffic and on the side walk trying to avoid pedestrians. No water in the course, no toilets at the start line. At the start line elite runners had to go to a mall to use the restrooms. Elite runners were colliding to each other trying to get rid of "obstacles" in the course and a few of them fell and hurt themselves. The organization of the race did not care at all about the athletes. I think the first think of any major sport events are the well being of the athletes. This race was only made to advertise the city. Frustrating... I hope the media tells what really happened there in Abu Dhabi and show the chaos of the organization... I also hope that IAAF reconsider this as a first standard race and reconsider supporting any event where the main purpose is not athletics.

the race was extremely disorganized. Elite athletes had to run together with the traffic and on the side walk trying to avoid pedestrians. No water in the course, no toilets at the start line. At the start line elite runners had to go to a mall to use the restrooms. Elite runners were colliding to each other trying to get rid of "obstacles" in the course and a few of them fell and hurt themselves. The organization of the race did not care at all about the athletes. I think the first think of any major sport events are the well being of the athletes. This race was only made to advertise the city. Frustrating... I hope the media tells what really happened there in Abu Dhabi and show the chaos of the organization... I also hope that IAAF reconsider this as a first class race and does not supporting any event where the main purpose is not athletics.

Borao said, "The UAE is qualified to organise the World Marathon Championship as they have good infrastructure and have able organising staff. I am happy with the way they have organised this event."

what a crock of BS!! it's all about money

I saw the children's race and the 6k race on tv. What a chaos! People pushing each other to get a spot near the starting line because there seemed to be no electronic net timing. Joggers pushing in front of of the elite in the 6k before the start. Finish area was a joke. An elite woman was breaking down after the half marathon probably because of the high temperatures. No medics, no tent. Only a fellow runner fetched her a water bottle.

From what I saw on tv, organization was a total mess. I hope they learn something from me. But I fear they don't when I read the organizer's statement above.

That should read: I hope they learn something from that day.