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A New Course Record by Mubarek Hassan Shami in Half Marathon Event in the City of Bologna (Italy)

Qatar's World Half Marathon silver medalist Mubarak Hassan Shami and Algeria's Souad Ait Salem set a double course record at 5th Run Tune Up, half marathon held in Bologna on the 3rd of September 2006. Both of them are going to take part at the IAAF Road Race World Championships in Debrecen on 8 October 2006.
Shami, who made a strong move at 14km spending a time of (2:42) to be followed just by Kenya's Philemon Kipkering and then another one at 18km to remain alone at the lead, close with a time of 1hr.:02:46.
The previous record was set by Kenya Samwel Nganga last year with 1hr.:03:29. The Bologna course was not so fast, as it crossed the historical center of the beautiful Italian city, with many slight up-and-downs, bends and stones.
Shami stated after the race that "During last week I could not train from Tuesday to Friday because of a little pain in the Achilles tendon,". "However, now I'm ok. I just controlled the race in the first part, then pushed to win, and I did it."
Since his race in Scicli on 19 August (3rd behind Martin Lel and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot), Shami has been training in Switzerland’s Sankt Moritz with his coach Renato Canova and the 3000m steeplechase world record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen. "Now it's getting cold and the training sessions are too hard, probably I will head to Kenya" said Shami.
About his preparation to participate in Debrecen next month, after he lost the World title last year and came just behind Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph, he believes that "there will be many strong rivals, but my goal is the gold medal."
The results of the (21km,097m) Bologna Half Marathon are:

1. Mubarak Hassan Shami, QAT, 1hr:02:46
2. Philemon Kipkering, KEN, 1hr:03:13
3. Joseph Lomala, KEN, 1hr:03:59
4. Daniel Limo, KEN, 1hr:04:12
5. Slimani Kaddour, MAR, 1hr:04:25