News of Note: 19 October - 25 October

Interesting happenings in the world of Ethiopian running:

Roba successfully defends in Istanbul (19 October 2009) - Results of the 31st Istanbul Eurasia Marathon. Defending champion Kasime Adilo Roba wins the men's race, while fellow Ethopian Busenesh Urgesa claimed victory in the women's division. Also check out Ethiopians sweep Eurasia Marathon honors

Wins for Ethiopians in road weekend (19 October 2009) – Ethiopian runners had a number of excellent races over the weekend, with wins in Amsterdam, Istanbul, France, Portugal, and South Korea.

Kenyan training camps running into trouble (19 October 2009) - Unlike Ethiopia's stable national club system, Kenya's unregulated training camps have been plagued by problems and threaten to tarnish the country's reputation for producing Olympic athletes.

45 Years Ago Today (21 October 2009) - On October 21, 1964, Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila won his second Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games. Bikila, the first to win two consecutive gold medals in the marathon, set a world record time. Includes video.

A race against climate change in Ethiopia (23 October 2009) - Climate change in Ethiopia is affecting the country's elite athletes. Crop failures and increasing temperatures are proving challenging to runners in Assela.Young runners like Sisay Adugna are not letting this stop them; Adugna says, “The biggest lesson we learn from Haile [Gebrselassie] is that you cannot get anything easily in the world if you want to become a runner.”

Ethiopians in the running for the IAAF gong (23 October 2009) - Ethiopian athletes are again expected to be in the running for the IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards, with Kenenisa Bekele expected to be a contender for the best male athlete of the year.

Derartu Tulu & Dire Tune to lead Ethiopian Team at 2009 ING New York City Marathon (23 October 2009) – Rundown on Ethiopia's teams for the NYC Marathon.

Kenyans dominate Nairobi marathon (25 October 2009) - Kenyans Moses Kigen and Irene Jerotich won Sunday's seventh Stanchart Nairobi International Marathon in new course records.

Other interesting news:

Gilbert Kirwa Remains Undefeatd For His Life At Marathon and Runs Course Record 2:06:14

Yokohama Takes the Place of the Defunct Tokyo Women's Marathon

Two weeks after Birmingham, Kilel cruises 2:25:24: in Ljubljana

Plodders Have a Place, but Is It in a Marathon?