Kenya’s Kipchoge, Colombian Ibarguen scoop IAAF awards
American McLaughlin wins women’s rising star
MONACO, Dec 5, (AFP): Kenyan marathon master Eliud Kipchoge and Colombian jumper Caterine Ibarguen won the IAAF men and women’s 2018 awards on Tuesday.
Kipchoge set a new marathon world record in Berlin in September, smashing the previous best by an incredible 78 seconds as he clocked 2hr 1min 39sec. The 34-year-old Olympic champion’s effort was the largest single improvement on the marathon world record since Derek Clayton improved the mark by 2:23 in 1967.
Acclaimed as the greatest marathon runner of the modern era, Kipchoge Kipchoge, crediting his children as being his “ignition key”.
“It’s a tribute to the hard work that I’ve put in during my career.”
Kipchoge came agonizingly close to sporting immortality by nearly running the first sub two-hour marathon last year. He missed the mythical mark by just 25 seconds. But the race conditions at the Nike-sponsored event were so favourable – Kipchoge ran behind a sixman pace-setting team and was trailed by a time-keeping vehicle on a racing circuit in Monza, Italy – that the time was not recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
“Going under two hours is just 25
Colombian athlete Caterine Ibarguen (second left), and Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge (second right), pose next to the President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Sebastian Coe (left), and Prince Albert II of Monaco after receiving the Female and Male Athlete of the Year award during the IAAF athlete of the year awards ceremony on
Dec 4 in Monaco. (AFP)
seconds away,” said Kipchoge in Monaco.
Ibarguen, also 34, won both horizontal jumps at the Central American and Caribbean Games, the IAAF Continental Cup and at the IAAF Diamond League finals – winning the latter two titles in two different cities within the space of 24 hours.
Sweden’s 19-year-old pole vaulter Armand Duplantis won the men’s rising star award after equalling the second best ever vault with 6.05m at the European champs in Berlin in August.
“Pole vaulting’s a very strange discipline,” said Duplantis. “All the stars aligned for that one meet.”
Handed the award by France’s Renaud Lavillenie, the world record holder with a best of 6.16m, Duplantis was in a playful mood.
“I think I can jump higher than you,” he said when asked by Lavillenie on how high he could go.
American Sydney McLaughlin won the women’s rising star award after setting a world junior indoor 400m record of 50.36sec in March.
That was followed up two months later with an outdoor 400m hurdles mark of 52.75sec – a world junior record and the fastest time recorded this year. to this long-awaited field hockey championship.
Lawrence also thanked Cheslee for providing a fitting and sophisticated modern sound system, and finally the Arab Times for their prompt coverage of the entire 3 months of the championship. The anchor for the evening Merwyn Pereira did an outstanding job in keeping the momentum going and the crowd involved in the intensity of the games. He conducted the various activities scheduled between matches, like a game for the children, a spot quiz for the ladies, various spot prizes, etc. His infectious humour and enthusiasm ensured an evening enjoyed by all. Walter Rodrigues, our very own photographer, voluntarily captured all those funny, serious and glorious moments. As the IRH Championship 2018 comes to a close, hosts International Red take this opportunity to thank Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for providing for free, a world class field hockey facility here in Kuwait.
If you are interested in playing or officiating at field hockey matches, please feel free to contact Lawrence Alphonso on 66749174 or Kenan Lobo on 65173898.