Wilson Kipsang NYC14Good week: Wilson Kipsang proved you don’t always need to run a blistering time to win a marathon, as the slowest performance of his career secured him the New York Marathon title. Autumnal conditions made this year’s event tricky for all involved, but the Kenyan showed his class and eluded a large chasing pack to record a time of 2:10:59. His win in the Big Apple means the former world-record holder has now tasted victory in the Berlin, London, and New York marathons in a little over 12 months.

 

JeptooBad Week: For one Kenyan’s victory, there’s another Kenyan’s downfall and Rita Jeptoo’s positive drugs test has thrown the running nation back into controversy. A sample taken from the 33-year-old has, allegedly, tested positive for red blood cell booster EPO. She has the right to request analysis from her ‘B’ sample, but the news of the positive test has already come with consequences.

Jeptoo was named winner of the World Marathon Majors, a prize that recognises performances at the world’s prestigious marathon cities and a cheque for $500,000 (£315,000) – the ceremony was due to take place at the conclusion of the race in New York this weekend, but was rightly postponed. 36 Kenyans have now failed drugs tests in the past two years.

 

WR Ricotta

Stat of the week: 907kg of ricotta cheese formed part of the banquet at the New York Marathon pre-race gala. That’s the whey to do it.

 

Collen+Makaza+M5nV3umWrXlmStatement of the week: “I just want to thank my home club Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services Athletics Club, who cleared me to run this race. I managed to cross the line first to be crowned a new world champ, which is a great achievement in my career as a professional runner.” Collen Makaza – the Zimbabwean Prison officer who was crowned IAU 50K World Trophy Final champion in Qatar at the weekend.

 

Video of the week:
The Gorge 100K 2014 – Oregon, USA