Liu Xiang is largest draw of Asian Games (surprise?), by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder

           Front page of Youth Daily, August 2008, Beijing, photo by Larry Eder

The tickets for Liu Xiang's hurdle rounds are selling on the black market for 20 times face value, per Alfons Juck! The regular tickets for the hurdles at the Asian Games are sold out!
Sure hope Liu hurdles well!  This gives you a small idea of how popular Liu Xiang is in China.
On the day of his injury in 2008, Chinese national TV played day long films on Liu Xiang and
his coach, it was amazing to witness.

HOME WIN FOR PERTILE

TORINO (ITA, Nov 14): Italian win at 24th Torino Marathon. Ruggero Pertile clocked 2:10:58 to be the best. This race is special for the Barcelona 4th placer as he clocked here last year his personal best 2:09:53. Second Kenyan Lawrence Kimaiyo got 2:11:45 and third Ethiopian Habteselassie Lemma 2:12:21, another Italian Danilo Goffi was fifth (2:14:38). Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo in her third marathon achieved for first time sub 2:30 and won in 2:27:01. Second Ethiopian Fate Tola (2:28:21) ahead of another Kenyan Florence Chepsoi (2:32:38). Then followed Russians Nina Podnebesnova (2:34:02) and Yelena Nurgalyeva (2:34:08).

ERITREANS DOMINATED

OEIRAS (POR, Nov 13): Portugal female runners confirmed their great shape before European CC Championships to be held in December in Albufeira. Analia Rosa won the second IAAF Permit CC race of the season in Oeiras with 20:01 at the 6 km. Second was Kenyan Ann Wanjiru (20:04) but then again home top runners followed. Ana Dias as third (20:08) ahead of Sandra Moreira (20:15). Former World gold medalist on terrain Benita Willis of Australia was 7th (21:16). Eritrean world silver winner from Bydgoszcz Teklemariam Medhin repeated his last weekend win from Burgos here at 9 km (28:33). His team-mate Kidane Tadese was second (28:37) ahead of Kenyans Edwin Soi (28:42) and Matthew Kipkoech (28:47). Best home runners were Yousef El Kalai (29:10), Rui Pedro Silva (29:25) and Licinio Pimentel (29:28).

FIVE PRE-SELECTED

OEIRAS (POR): After the Saturday´s race the Portugal Athletics Federation pre-selected for the European event on home soil in december 5 athletes. Three women (Analia Rosa, Ana Dias and Sara Moreira) and two men (Yousef El Kalai with Rui Pedro Silva). The rest of three women and four men will be added after the last qualification race in Torres Vedras (November 28).

ROBA WITH WOMEN CR 2:30:37

CANNES (FRA, Nov 14): New women course record highlighted the 3rd Alpes Maritimes marathon from Nice to Cannes. Ethiopian Radiya Roba improved not only her PB but also the event best (2:33:56) to 2:30:37. Second Kenyan Emily Rotich got 2:33:08 and third Adeline Roche also won the national title in 2:38:31 (career fastest by four seconds). Male winner another Ethiopian Tsegaye Botoru debuted at the distance with impressive 2:10:27 and missed the course record only by 10 seconds. Second Kenyan Mark Tanui got 2:11:02 and third Shume Hailu of Ethiopia 2:12:24. French title for Rachid Ghanmouni who also debuted in the marathon with more than solid 2:12:59.