Florence Kiplagat (KEN) received the AIMS World Record Award in New Delhi on 27 November for her world record breaking run of 1:05:09 in the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona held on 15 February 2015.
 
Florence’s achievement was recognised at a presentation prior to the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon made by AIMS General Secretary Hugh Jones and Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director of Procam International, the promoters of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.
 
Kiplagat (28) broke her own world record that she had set at the same race one year earlier by 3 seconds. She received the AIMS World Record Award for the first time in October 2014.
 
Vivek Singh said: “We are pleased to have Florence join us again this year and honoured to present our defending champion with this award at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2015.”

1500 children from the age of 9 to 15 participated in a 5km fun run organised by the Comrades Marathon on the same day as the Greater Edendale 10km also organised by Comrades.
 
This was the final Children’s Series event of 2015 (following events in Featherstone, Zimbabwe and Asuncion, Paraguay). The 2016 events are scheduled to take place in Khanivali, India on 24 January 2016 and in Zimbabwe and South Africa on dates to be confirmed.

IAAF decided, on 13 November 2015, that the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) would be provisionally suspended as an IAAF Member with immediate effect. This will mean that all Russian runners and their support personnel (managers, coaches, etc.) may not compete in international races during the period of provisional suspension. The ban on participation of Russian athletes applies to any Russian athlete who is affiliated to ARAF (or who is affiliated to a club or region that is affiliated to ARAF). This includes any athlete whose participation has been negotiated by the organisers but also any athlete with an affiliation to ARAF.
 
AIMS member races are requested not to negotiate the entry or participation of any Russian athletes for their races.
 
In a clarification IAAF stated: “In principle, ordinary fun runners with absolutely no ties to the Russian Federation are eligible to participate.”
 
Thank you for your co-operation on this important matter..
 
Should you require any further clarification you can contact IAAF directly through Paul Hardy (Paul.hardy@hq.iaaf.org ) or Sean Wallace-Jones – sean.wallace-jones@iaaf.org

The next World Congress of AIMS will be in South America, hosted by the Quito Ultimas Noticias 15km in the Ecuadorean capital on 2-4 June 2016.
 
Any member interested in hosting the 22^nd World Congress, to be held sometime between 01 December 2017 and 30 November 2018, should contact aimssec@aol.com for Congress guidelines and an application form. These forms should be completed and returned by 01 May 2016.

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Gary Friar circulates member races with regular requests for information including
i) race dates
ii) contact details,
iii) advertising requests
iv) addresses at which to receive bulk deliveries of Distance Running.
& etc.
It is possible that these requests may be diverted into the member race organiser’s spam folder. Please be alert to this possibility and, if you are not receiving Gary’s messages, be pro-active in providing details and  making bookings for advertisements in Distance Running.

• Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon (UKR)
• Dogi’s Half Marathon (ITA)
• Golden Ring Ultra Trail Race (RUS)
• Volkswagen Minsk Half Marathon (BLR)
• Palma de Mallorca Marathon (ESP)
• PZY Gdinya Half Marathon (POL)
• Bialystok Half Marathon (POL)
• Maratona de Funchal (POR)

• Kuching Marathon (MAS)
• Great Hakka Marathon (CHN)
• Chisinau Marathon (MLD)