March 2007
4 MAR | 5 MAR | 11 MAR |
18 MAR | 19 MAR |
24 MAR | 25 MAR |
31 MAR
4 MARCH 2007: MARATON LALA, MEXICO
This was the 19th edition of the race to be held in the industrial city of Torreon, at
1000m elevation in the northern Mexican desert writes Alan Brookes. The event is a gift
to the city and the country, from the Lala milk company that dominates the local economy and
provides many of the 3,000 volunteers and most of the organizing committee for Technical Race Director
Ruben Romero. The resulting marathon is first-rate, perennially incorporating the Mexican
Championships and this year serving as the qualifier for the Pan Am Games and World
Championships.
At the elite women's 06.40 start it was 6°C and 26% humidity. The men and 3500 mass
runners followed at 07.00. Defending champion Maria Elena Valencia won again in convincing
style, running alone for most of the way. Second-placed Jessica Rodruigez improved her best to
2:35:13. Mexican women then took the next four places.
The men's race was Mexico vs Kenya, but also Mexico's "favourite marathon son",
Procopio Franco, against the experienced Pablo Olmedo (both from the Mexico City). Early on it
seemed Procopio had heeded advice to run more cautiously in the early stages as he sat back in
a pack of a dozen runners. But after passing 10km in 30:55 he charged to the front with a 3:01
kilometre, and covered the next 5km in 15:01. By 20km (61:32) the lead pack was down to nine;
by 25k (1:17:00) there were seven, still with Procopio doing most of the work.
At 30km (1:32:51) Hillary Kimayo quickened the pace and between 32k and 33k the courageous
Franco slipped away. Then there were three Mexicans and three Kenyans. Pablo Olmedo was at the
back of the group, biding his time. "I knew if I could be in contention at 35km I could
win. I was more worried about Procopio than the Kenyans," he said afterwards. At 38km
Olmedo moved to the front for the first time, and struck for a convincing home victory.
Procopio hung on for 5th, reflecting: "next year I will run for the win and not the
course record [of 2:10:56]".
Olmedo had cruised into town proclaiming himself Mexico's top marathoner, and complaining
that the Mexican Federation did not treat him with sufficient attention or respect. His family
carried "Pablo Olmedo, numero 1!" signs. With a swagger, he carried it off in
impressive style, with a very smart race.
MEN:
1 Pablo OLMEDO MEX 2:11:34
2 Hillary KIMAYO KEN 2:11:46
3 Francisco BAUTISTA MEX 2:11:55
4 Christopher TOROITICH KEN 2:12:51
5 Procopio FRANCO MEX 2:13:00
6 Juan Vargas SANCHEZ MEX 2:13:17
7 George OKWORO KEN 2:14:14
8 Jardon Rito REGULES MEX 2:14:23
9 Arturo Malaquias DELGADO MEX 2:14:50
10 Jesus Primo Capula TORRES MEX 2:16:43
WOMEN:
1 Maria Elena VALENCIA MEX 2:31:16
2 Jessica RODRIGUEZ MEX 2:35:13
3. Angelica SANCHEZ MEX 2:35:48
4 Patricia RETIZ MEX 2:36:14
5 Paula APOLONIA MEX 2:36:34
6 Judith RAMIREZ MEX 2:36:35
7 Mary AKOR USA 2:37:14
8 Ariana Quino SALAZAR MEX 2:39:17
9 Lucy NJERI KEN 2:39:38
10 Sara Cedillo SANCHEZ MEX 2:41:43
4 MARCH 2007: LAKE BIWA MAINICHI MARATHON, JAPAN
Samson Ramadhani of Tanzania sprinted away from William Kiplagat of Kenya in the last 200m
to win the 62nd Lake Biwa Marathon writes Ken Nakamura. For both Tokyo and Lake Biwa
qualifiers for the World Championships no Japanese gained automatic selection.
Four pace makers were asked to pace at 3:03/3:04 per kilometre but with the temperature
rising above 20°C, they fell behind schedule. It was sunny, unseasonably warm (17.9°C
at race start) and humidity was 49%. At 10km 35 runners passed in 30:42 and 5km later (46:16)
two more had joined them.
The first major casualty was Dmitriy Semenov of Russia, who fell off the pace at 19km.
After 20km Luis Jesus, one of the pacers, dropped out and marathon debutant Tomoo Tsubota
picked up the pace and a battle of attrition started. After halfway (1:03:50) the pack was down
to 22 runners. Defending champion Jose Rios dropped out just before 25km (1:17:32). After 26km
Isaac Macharia was the only remaining pacemaker, and by 27km, the lead pack was reduced to 17.
From 29km there were five domestic runners and six foreign runners left. The four Kenyans
and Ethiopia's Ambesse Tolossa were driving the pack, while Tsubota started to drift back.
Macharia dropped out at 30km (1:33:04) and Kiplagat took over. The remaining three Japanese
and Dutchman Maase were now hanging on to the African quartet. At 32km Laban Kagika, who runs
for JFE team in Japan, surged strongly and a gap opened up between the Africans and
non-Africans, although Abe briefly managed to close it down before being passed by Maase as he
dropped back again after 34km.
Kiplagat, Ramadhani and Tolossa dropped Kagika at 36km and the trio exchanged the lead.
Tolossa surged hard at 39km and Kiplagat momentarily fell back but with 1500m left he made his own
bid for victory. The 41st kilometre was run in 2:58. Tolossa was left behind and Ramadhani lost
10m, but caught Kiplagat again to enter the Ojiyama stadium side by side. In the last 600m on
the track, the lead changed several times. The last lap was as if in a 10000m race. Ramadhani
only finally took the lead for good in the last 200m and won by four seconds. "It was a very
hard race. I had to survive (many surges) to be competitive at the end," said Ramadhani.
Mitsuru Kubota, who had fell off the pace earlier, moved passed Abe and finished in sixth,
and the first Japanese.
MEN:
1 Samson RAMADHANI TAN 2:10:43
2 William KIPLAGAT KEN 2:10:47
3 Ambesse TOLOSSAT ETH 2:11:15
4 Laban KAGIKA KEN 2:12:36
5 Kamiel MAASE NED 2:12:40
6 Mitsuru KUBOTA JPN 2:12:50
7 Yuki ABE JPN 2:13:47
8 Kenjiro JITSUI JPN 2:14:08
9 Tetsuo NISHIMURA JPN 2:14:22
10 Toshihiro IWASA JPN 2:14:41
4 MARCH 2007: LOS ANGELES MARATHON, USA
MEN:
1 Fred MOGAKA KEN 2:17:14
2 Moses KORORIA KEN 2:17:18
3 Christopher KIPJEGO KEN 2:18:21
4 Christopher Kipkoech RUTTO KEN 2:18:45
5 Wilson KOMEN KEN 2:20:39
6 J T SERVICE USA 2:24:57
7 Cristian VILLAVICENCIO USA 2:28:16
8 Sergio REYES USA 2:29:29
9 Ricky MOORE USA 2:31:52
10 Tim FAHEY USA 2:32:13
WOMEN:
1 Ramilia BURANGOLOVA RUS 2:37:54
2 Alena VINITSKAYA BLR 2:42:54
3 Abebe TOLA ETH 2:45:16
4 Jennifer DEREGO 2:48:40
5 Nathalie HIGLEY USA 2:51:39
6 Maria Teresa RAMOS 3:03:26
7 Katie SOBCZAK USA 3:06:10
8 Petra GRAEN CAN 3:08:51
9 Erin KASPAR USA 3:11:01
10 Annie SEAWRIGHT USA 3:14:23
4 MARCH 2007: STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG MARATHON
This was the final race in the four-race Standard Chartered Series "The Greatest Race
on Earth" which also includes Nairobi, Singapore and Mumbai Marathons. Kamar's win also
secured overall victory for his Kericho team and a US$400,000 team prize.
Rose Kerubo maintained her team Grazy Girls' third place in the Women's Challenge, while
runner-up Jane Ekimat helped her team Cyclone win the Women's Challenge (US$100,000 first
prize and a further bonus of US$20,000 for achieving a women's series record of 10:22:27).
Mary Ptikany third place secured the 'Run for Peace' team second place in the Challenge
overall.
MEN:
1 Steven KAMAR KEN 2:17:03
2 Francis BOWEN KEN 2:17:19
3 Paul KIPRONO KEN 2:18:36
4 Jonah KEMBOI KEN 2:19:01
5 Silas SANG KEN 2:19:50
6 Patrick CHUMBA KEN 2:20:19
7 Edward MUGE KEN 2:20:41
8 Kiprop KORIR KEN 2:21:24
9 Kasirai SITA ZIM 2:21:30
10 Richard BWALYA ZAM 2:21:37
WOMEN:
1 Rose KERUBO KEN 2:38:19
2 Jane EKIMAT KEN 2:39:33
3 Mary PTIKANY KEN 2:40:13
4 Min LIU CHN 2:40:57
5 Xiao Shui WANG CHN 2:41:09
6 Eri OHKUBO JPN 2:46:19
7 Nancy KIPROP KEN 2:46:24
8 Gloria BAEBA RSA 2:50:14
9 Junko SUZUKI JPN 2:50:56
10 Makiko KAWAGOE JPN 2:53:53
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Shinsaku SAKANAKA JPN 1:11:46
2 Gi KA MAN HKG 1:13:40
3 Kirk SABEAN HKG 1:14:06
WOMEN:
1 Kuniko NAKAMURA JPN 1:24:04
2 Toh SO LIANG HKG 1:29:27
3 Gillian CASTKA HKG 1:30:36
4 MARCH 2007: MARATO DE BARCELONA, SPAIN
Over 6300 runners particpated in the second edition of the Barcelona Marathon since it has
moved to a course entirely within the city. There were 5546 men and 765 women. A 10km event
was also held with 1175 men and 655 women, the top few of each category being national team
runners from Britain.
MEN:
1 Johnstone CHEBI KEN 2:12:04
2 James MIBEI KEN 2:14:47
3 Toni BERNADO ESP 2:14:52
4 Hosea KOSGEI KEN 2:15:53
5 Roger ROCA ESP 2:16:32
6 Mustaja YOUNES 2:17:15
7 Victor Gonzalo GUIRAO ESP 2:27:24
8 Juanjo Verdugo NOTARIO ESP 2:29:44
9 Joan Prats ESPAR ESP 2:31:08
10 Marcel Zamora PEREZ ESP 2:32:00
WOMEN:
1 Kristijna LOONEN NED 2:42:03
2 Maxine MCKINNON 2:49:52
3 Mari Carmen Paredes RODRI ESP 2:51:06
4 Veerle D'HAESE 2:51:48
5 Kelemua YADETE 2:54:27
6 Silvie DUBRAS FRA 2:55:12
7 Luna GARCIA ESP 2:58:28
8 Imke SCHIERSCH 3:05:25
9 Meritxell Portillo ARAUJO ESP 3:09:52
10 Eva KARLSSON SWE 3:10:33
10KM:
MEN:
1 Tom PAYNE GBR 29:59
2 Glen CORNISH GBR 30:00
3 Stephen SHARP GBR 30:02
WOMEN:
1 Tracey MORRIS GBR 33:45
2 Vicky GILL GBR 33:45
3 Non STANFORD GBR 34:46
4 MARCH 2007: KILIMANJARO MARATHON, TANZANIA
MEN:
1 Andreas SYLVIN TAN 2:18:47
2 John TUBEI KEN 2:18:56
3 Kipckoech RUTO KEN 2:19:43
4 Petro Malo QADWE TAN 2:21:43
5 Peter EKAI KEN 2:22:22
6 Eston NYAGA KEN 2:22:42
7 Mugo PETER KEN 2:22:48
8 Laurence MBITHI KEN 2:22:48
9 Julius KIPROA KEN 2:23:24
10 Peter KIPIANGAT KEN 2:23:59
WOMEN:
1 Banuelia BRIYTON TAN 2:42:10
2 Emily SAMIKWA KEN 2:42:41
3 Prisca KIPRONO KEN 2:46:53
4 Tabitha KIBET KEN 2:48:33
5 Rael TEPYATOR KEN 2:50:02
6 Magareth KIPLAGAT KEN 2:53:22
7 Jepchrchir KIPSANG KEN 2:53:40
8 Sally LAGAT KEN 2:53:58
9 Nelly JEPTOO KEN 2:58:07
10 Frola Charles KAGALI TAN 2:58:15
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Bora ABHIOLELA TAN 1:04:43
2 Hareohay SAMWEL TAN 1:04:45
3 Peter SULLE TAN 1:04:56
WOMEN:
1 Josephene DEEMAY TAN 1:17:20
2 Emily LAGAT KEN 1:20:44
3 Eunice JEPTO0 KEN 1:21:08
Top
5 MARCH 2007: 100km DEL SAHARA, TUNISIA
Runners awoke to a beautiful sun in Chenini and after breakfast began to warm up. The
walkers departed at 09.30, an hour before the runners.
Jorg Balle, a veteran of the 100km, won the 22km-long first stage in conditions that were
very much hotter than usual for this time of year, rising to 40°C along the trails. The
runners were also tested by the terrain of this first stage, which is undulating with some
steep, rocky climbs and descents.
6 MARCH 2007: The second stage started at 09.00, with a slightly lower temperature, but rose
to 33-34°C during the morning. Fortunately most of the runners finished the race
before the heat reached its peak. The leading men finished in the same order, but among the
women Sharon Kovar came through to win ahead of the two who finished ahead of her on the first
stage.
The walkers, led by Claduio Ansaloni, keep on marching without a glance at their watches,
savouring all the desert's features: perfumes, light and colours.
The third stage was run during the night, as an 8km circular route out from Camp Laaraj
and back again. There were no big changes in the standings. The short length of the stage and
anticipation of the fourth stage, a full marathon, meant that nobody pushed the pace. The
beautiful night sky, with the stars as bright as can only be seen in the desert, was
exhilarating for all the runners. The stage was run in a magical atmosphere, as the moon rose
to light the trail.
7 MARCH 2007: The first group of runners (the marathon stage runners are split into three
groups) started from Camp Laaraj at 09.30 under a cloudy sky and a very favourable temperature
of around 20°C. This is the most demanding stage of the race, finishing in Aouinet Essbat.
The walkers had begun their march into the desert several hours earlier.
The first runners finished around 13.00. They all showed signs of exhaustion after a run
over such difficult terrain, with long sections of sand dunes. But the satisfaction of running
in such a wonderful landscape, with the sharp contrast of flowers and sand, had the capacity
to inspire even after 42 km.
Jorge Balle ran under the big inflatable arch of the finish line first while in the women's
section Chiara Calciolari came in ahead of overall leader Sharon Kovar.
8 MARCH: Aouinet Essbat - Ksar Ghilane, 24km
Incredible Africa! The last stage was run under extreme conditions. From sunrise the
weather abruptly changed from hot and sunny to windy and cold. Just before the start a sudden
wind gust hit the camp, knocking down some tents. After the start, the wind increased to
generate a sandstorm and the temperature dropped to 12°C, while the windchill factor made
the runners suffer.
Worse was to come. To the astonishment of the runners a mid-morning shower turned into a
hail storm. Once again the 100km del Sahara proved to be an unpredictable race, where runners
can experience the most extreme conditions.
The last stage was the women's story. While there were no surprises in the men's results -
and the first three of them crossed the finish line hand in hand - the fight among women
remained uncertain to the end. Sharon Kovar, Claudia Gerling, Miriana Kmacic and Chiara
Calciolari provided an amazing competition, finally won by the American.
The last stage was won by Chiara Calciolari, repeating her achievement of the previous day,
but she couldn't climb above fourth in the final standings. Jorg Balle won every stage of the
9th edition of the 100km del Sahara.
Honourable mention goes to the walkers who, under the leadership of Claudio Ansaloni, faced
the same tough conditions as the runners, for significantly longer periods: Bravo!
MEN: TOTAL TIME
1 Jorge BALLE GER
1:31:01 1:12:17 26:15 2:54:59 1:37:18 7:41:50
2 Lorenzo TRINCHERI ITA
1:38:16 1:16:02 26:15 3:00:40 1:37:18 7:58:31
3 Abdelwahed ROUISSI TUN
1:44:03 1:18:46 26:16 3:25:10 1:37:18 8:31:33
4 Guiseppe CONSERVA ITA
1:52:44 1:22:27 29:37 3:23:05 1:59:22 9:07:15
5 Ltaief BOUZIDI TUN
1:51:29 1:28:49 26:31 3:43:00 1:37:18 9:07:43
6 Luciano ROSSI ITA
1:51:47 1:24:32 35:12 3:36:14 2:02:10 9:29:55
7 Riel CAROL GBR
2:02:17 1:29:26 30:12 3:36:02 1:56:02 9:33:59
8 Ramsi RAYSI TUN
1:48:07 1:21:23 28:58 4:04:30 1:55:57 9:38:55
9 Marco FILA ITA
1:58:07 1:30:48 33:22 3:37:37 2:00:26 9:40:20
10 Angelo BARTOLETTI ITA
2:04:30 1:30:47 32:20 3:37:37 1:57:20 9:42:34
WOMEN:
1 Sharon KOVAR USA
2:20:03 1:40:03 34:34 4:09:54 2:14:23 10:58:57
2 Miriana KMACIC CRO
2:17:31 1:43:52 35:26 4:11:38 2:15:07 11:03:34
3 Claudia GERLING GER
2:21:41 1:43:25 35:35 4:18:01 2:09:13 11:07:55
4 Chiara CALCIOLARI ITA
2:35:52 1:45:52 36:04 4:05:44 2:08:00 11:11:32
5 Elizabeth WIGGINS GBR
2:18:18 1:42:43 37:12 4:24:44 2:16:24 11:19:21
Top
11 MARCH 2007: NAGOYA INT'L WOMEN'S MARATHON, JAPAN
Yasuko Hashimoto narrowly defeated defending champion Harumi Hiroyama, but had to wait and
see if it got her selected for Japan's World Championships team writes Ken Nakamura.
Pacemakers Alevtina Ivanova (RUS) and Volha Krautsova (BLR) took the lead group through
10km in 34:32, by which time it was down to 10 runners. Then Mikie Takanaka broke away with
the pacemakers from the other seven, passing 15km in 51:42, with their nearest opponents 11
seconds behind, a gap which by 20km (1:09:07 for the three leaders) had increased to 35
seconds. Soon after the half marathon (1:13:02 for the leaders) Krautsova dropped out leaving
Ivanova and Takanaka 39 seconds in front.
The pace slowed after before 25km, where Ivanova dropped out (1:26:59) to leave Takanaka
alone, 42 seconds ahead of the chasing pack of seven. It took them only 3km to pass her, and
they went through 30km in 1:45:49. Yuko Manabe dropped off the pace at 33km, and the remaining
six passed 35km in 2:03:39, at which point the real racing began, and Hiruko Okamoto was
dropped.
With 4km to go Hiroyama surged, taking Hashimoto with her but leaving Miki Ohira, Takami
Ominami and Kenya's Julia Mombi behind. Hiroyama and Hashimoto ran together until 600m from
the finish when it was Hashimoto's turn to make a move, covering the final kilometre in 3:15
to clinch victory.
The Japanese women's team for the World Championships marathon in Osaka is likely to be
the top three finishers from the Osaka Ladies' Marathon plus Tokyo Women's winner Reiko Tosa,
and Hashimoto.
1 Yasuko HASHIMOTO JPN 2:28:49
2 Harumi HIROYAMA JPN 2:28:55
3 Takami OMINAMI JPN 2:29:24
4 Miki OHIRA JPN 2:29:34
5 Julia MOMBI KEN 2:29:38
6 Haruko OKAMOTO JPN 2:30:09
7 Yuko MANABE JPN 2:30:34
8 Mika OKUNAGA JPN 2:31:08
9 Tomoho SHIMOKAWA JPN 2:31:37
10 Aliana GHERASIM ROM 2:32:33
11 MARCH 2007: KYOTO CITY HALF MARATHON, JAPAN
Stanley Nganga broke away 1km from the finish, while Ryoko Kizaki broke away from a group
of four runners at 9km and ran the second half of the race alone.
MEN:
1 Samuel NGANGA KEN 1:03:18
2 Yuichi TOKUCHI JPN 1:03:18
3 Tomoaki KUNICHIKA JPN 1:03:20
4 Naoto MORIMOTO JPN 1:03:21
5 Satoru KITAMURA JPN 1:03:23
6 Joseph M KAMAU KEN 1:03:27
7 Nao KAZAMI JPN 1:03:33
8 Yuki MATSUOKA JPN 1:03:37
9 Soji IKEDA JPN 1:03:44
10 Hiroyuki SATO JPN 1:03:46
WOMEN:
1 Ryoko KIZAKI JPN 1:11:09
2 Tomomi HAMASAKI JPN 1:12:35
3 Eriko OGINO JPN 1:13:50
4 Noriko HIGUCHI JPN 1:14:13
5 Akemi OZAKI JPN 1:14:32
6 Miho IHARA JPN 1:14:46
7 Machiko SAWADA JPN 1:15:30
8 Chiduru IDETA JPN 1:15:35
9 Mayu HITOMI JPN 1:15:47
10 Hiroko YAMAMOTO JPN 1:16:17
11 MARCH 2007: VIGARANO MARATHON, ITALY
MEN:
1 Festus KIKUMU KEN 2:19:51
2 Tone KOSMAC SLO 2:24:00
3 Eliud KIRUI KEN 2:29:18
4 Ridha CHIHAOUI ITA 2:31:37
5 Guiseppe MUCERINO ITA 2:37:39
6 Alfredo NORVELLO ITA 2:38:42
7 Corrado REGGIANI ITA 2:40:44
8 Guiseppe PINCA ITA 2:41:49
9 Miljenko FILIPCIC CRO 2:45:30
10 Fausto PARIGI ITA 2:45:33
WOMEN:
1 Marina ZANARDI ITA 2:56:14
2 Loretta GIARDA ITA 2:57:33
3 Antonija ORLIC CRO 2:58:36
4 Deborah BRUNI ITA 3:00:15
5 Lorena DIVITO ITA 3:05:16
6 Daniela DA FORNO ITA 3:14:59
7 Daniela MENEGATTI ITA 3:21:22
8 Ildiko GAZDA HUN 3:21:55
9 Samantha GRAFFIEDI ITA 3:23:47
10 Valentina MAISTO ITA 3:26:20
Top
18 MARCH 2007: MARATONA DELLA CITTA DI ROMA, ITALY
Photo: Lorenzo Sampaolo
Souad Ait Salem from Algeria won the women's race at the 13th edition of the Rome Marathon
to improve the women's course record by 36 seconds writes Diego Sampaolo. On a warm day,
Elias Kemboi improved his personal best by more than five minutes to take the men's title.
Ait Salem's earlier form in the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon (1:10:29) was confirmed as she
bettered her marathon best by more than three minutes. Pre-race favourite and mother-of-four
Hellen Kimutai finished 500m behind her, ahead of Slovenian veteran Helena Javornik and Kenyan
Lenah Cheruiyot. All four broke 2:30.
Cheruiyot's four-minute improvement in her personal best could have been even greater if
she had not contested the race so strongly in the first half. The lead four passed 10km in
34:04 and halfway in 1:12:42. Javornik dropped back after 25km and just before 30km Ait-Salem
changed gear, pulling away from Cheruiyot and Kimutai.
Ait Salem, just one week before her wedding, recorded the second fastest ever women's time
run in Italy. Ivana Iozzia, who was the first Italian in eighth place, clinched her second
national title and also improved her personal best by 14 seconds.
The men's race started according to plan at a pace of 3:03/km, with pacemakers Richard Limo
and Henry Kapkiai passing the halfway mark in 1:04:11. At 26km they led a big group which
included Tesfaye Tola, South African Norman Dlomo, Samson Kosgei, Albert Matebor, Kemboi, Jose
Manuel Martinez and Italian Migidio Bourifa. Course record holder and 2005 champion Alberico
Di Cecco was forced to drop out with an injury at 28km.
After pacing finished at 30km Martinez took the lead briefly, closely followed by Kemboi,
Bourifa, Tola, Kosgei and Matebor. Kemboi launched his attack at 36km, pulling clear of
Martinez and leading by 15 seconds as they passed the 40km point. A delighted Migidio Bourifa
finished fourth to take the Italian National title. Martinez was also delighted with his
second place, an important test in his build-up to this summer's World Championships marathon
in Osaka.
MEN:
1 Elias KEMBOI KEN 2:09:36
2 Jose Manuel MARTINEZ ESP 2:10:12
3 Jonathan KOSGEI KEN 2:10:25
4 Migidio BOURIFA ITA 2:10:30
5 Albert MATEBO KEN 2:10:42
6 Tesfaye TOLA ETH 2:10:45
7 Norman DLOMO RSA 2:11:47
8 Samson KOSGEI KEN 2:12:39
9 Elijah SANG KEN 2:12:48
10 Dennis CURZI ITA 2:13:40
WOMEN:
1 Saoud AIT-SALEM ALG 2:25:08
2 Hellen KIMUTAI KEN 2:26:46
3 Helena JAVORNIK SLO 2:28:53
4 Lenah CHERUIYOT KEN 2:29:43
5 Natalia VOLGINA RUS 2:30:31
6 Xia Yang FENG CHN 2:34:45
7 Tigist ABIDI ETH 2:35:01
8 Ivana IOZZIA ITA 2:35:26
9 Marizete MOREIRA BRA 2:39:08
10 Woynishet TAFA ETH 2:43:11
18 MARCH 2006: KUALA LUMPUR INT'L MARATHON, MALAYSIA
MEN:
1 Cyprian KIOGARA KEN 2:17:38
2 Lewis A ONDATI KEN 2:17:57
3 William K KOECH KEN 2:19:21
4 Kipsgei J MARITIM KEN 2:20:53
5 Joel K KEMBOI KEN 2:22:19
6 Daniel K KORINGO KEN 2:22:59
7 Davidson K SEWER KEN 2:27:10
8 Christopher C RONO KEN 2:29:05
9 Elkana K RUTO KEN 2:29:08
10 Takhir MAMASHAEV KAZ 2:29:54
WOMEN:
1 Winfridah K NYASIKERA KEN 2:48:09
2 Wang SHIDAN CHN 2:52:59
3 Sunisa SAILOMYEN THA 2:55:14
4 Millicent DOADI GHA 2:57:23
5 Apassara P PHIMAI THA 3:12:21
6 Song FEI CHN 3:26:02
7 Emilia B JAMIL MAS 3:28:42
8 Roslizawati B RASIDI MAS 3:43:01
9 Uraiwan DONCHADA THA 3:45:19
10 Tan LI LIAN MAS 3:45:41
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Geoffrey K BIRGEN KEN 1:10:02
2 Daniel K CHEBII KEN 1:10:57
3 Charles O OMAYIO KEN 1:11:35
WOMEN:
1 Trudy FAWCETT GBR 1:27:40
2 Yuan Y FANG MAS 1:28:55
3 Radka VODICKOVA CZE 1:29:26
18 MARCH 2007: EDP HALF MARATHON OF LISBON, PORTUGAL
Photo: Marcelino Almeida
Lisbon hosted 36,000 participants at events in and surrounding the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon
writes Antonio Manuel Fernandes. Rita Jeptoo set a world leading time in the women's
race, while Robert Kipchumba's 60:31 was the first winning time in four years to be more than
the hour.
Kipchumba, who ran the entire race at the front of the leading pack, passed 5km in 14:02
leading a group of 12. At 10km he led seven others through in 28:54, and at 15km he passed by
in 43:19 with six others behind him. He only took the definitive lead in the last 400m, to
drop Robert Cheruiyot—who finished in the top three for the fifth successive year, but
has yet to win. Double World Marathon champion, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco just pipped 2006 New
York winner Marilson dos Santos for third. First Portuguese home was Luis Jesus (12th in
1:03:36).
"I didn't expect to win but the heat was my severest opponent." said Kipchumba.
The day's highlight was Rita Jeptoo's world-leading 67:05, which is the fourth fastest time
recorded in Lisbon, and a personal best by almost two minutes. The 26-year-old set a strong
pace, and raced alone after the first 10km. Former winners, Susan Chepkemei (best time ever of
65:44 in Lisbon) and Salina Kosgei, just couldn't keep up. The Portuguese runner Ana Dias,
came in fourth, very close to her personal best.
"This was great preparation for me to defend my Boston Marathon title", said
Jeptoo.
MEN:
1 Robert KIPCHUMBA KEN 1:00:31
2 Robert K CHERUIYOT KEN 1:00:36
3 Jaouad GHARIB MOR 1:00:41
4 Marilson DOS SANTOS BRA 1:00:42
5 Emmanuel MUTAL KEN 1:00:49
6 Festus LANGAT KEN 1:01:01
7 Paul KOSGEI KEN 1:01:24
8 Philip MANYIM KEN 1:01:28
9 Charles NGOLEPUS KEN 1:02:34
10 Sammy TUM KEN 1:02:40
WOMEN:
1 Rita JEPTOO KEN 1:07:05
2 Susan CHEPKEMEI KEN 1:08:33
3 Salina KOSGEI KEN 1:09:47
4 Ana DIAS POR 1:10:40
5 Merima DENBOBA ETH 1:11:11
6 Sharon CHEROP KEN 1:11:24
7 Claudia PEREIRA POR 1:13:52
8 Marisa BARROS POR 1:13:59
9 Florence CHEPKURUI KEN 1:14:29
10 Emily KIMURIA KEN 1:14:36
18 MARCH 2007: SEOUL INT'L MARATHON, KOREA
Photo: AFP / Getty Images
China's Wei Yanan and a most unexpected comeback from Bong-Ju Lee took the Dong-A Marathon
Seoul International Marathon titles in world leading times write Ram Murali Krishnan and
Mirko Jalava.
Over 23,000 runners took part on a course which runs along Sungryemun onto Cheonggyecheon,
then through the Seoul Forest and into Jamsil Olympic Stadium.
Lee, former double Asian Games champion (1998 and 2002) who took the 1996 Olympic silver
medal, won the Dong-A Marathon before in 1995 and was second in 1996. The national record
holder (2:07:21 in Tokyo Marathon 2000), Lee also won the 2001 Boston marathon but his second
Asian Games victory in 2002 was his last marathon win of any sort, and he had not been below
2:10 since running 2:08:15 in Seoul in 2004.
Wei Yanan of China won the women's race in a solo effort ahead of the distant pursuit of
Kenya's Rose Cheruiyot and Hellen Cherono. Second in this race in 2005 (2:25:55) Yanan also
won in 2002 (2:25:06) but later that year was suspended for two years after returning a
positive doping test after winning the Beijing marathon.
MEN
1 Lee BONG-JU KOR 2:08:04
2 Paul KIPTANUI KEN 2:08:29
3 Laban KIPKEMBOI KEN 2:08:38
4 Edwin KOMEN KEN 2:08:45
5 Jason MBOTE KEN 2:10:32
6 Dmytro BARANOVSKI UKR 2:10:51
WOMEN
1 Wei YANAN CHN 2:23:12
2 Rose CHERUIYOT KEN 2:27:25
3 Hellen CHERONO KEN 2:29:33
4 Thabita TSATSA ZIM 2:30:12
5 Worknesh TOLA ETH 2:30:56
6 Chae EUN-HEE KOR 2:32:01
18 MARCH 2007: STANDARD CHARTERED STANLEY MARATHON, FALKLAND ISLANDS
With winds averaging 37kph, gusting to 55kph — and a peak gust recorded at 90kph —
this was not a race for the faint hearted writes Nick Hutton.
The third edition of the world's most southerly certified marathon saw 28 competitors line
up alongside a further 12 teams of four taking part in the relay.
Hugh Marsden won again, only a minute down on his time of last year, to maintain his
stranglehold on the title. Nepal's Bikash Gurung and Ciaran O'Sullivan, both serving at the
nearby air force base, came in behind him.
Lisa Turner, the women's winner, was another member of the armed forces. Runner-up Dawn
Teed had travelled especially from England and came in ahead of local lady Kate Burston, who
works for the race organisers Standard Chartered Bank, Stanley Branch.
Stanley Football Club fielded three of the same four runners who had made up the winning
team in the previous two years, and came home to win once again. The "Hi Spec"
Team from the Forces' base was second and a local "Stanley 4" team took the last
podium place. The race was graced by an additional team, which was allowed special
dispensation to have eight runners. How could such a request, from the territory's legislative
council, be denied? The councillors finished a little off the money in 4:39.
Andy Brownlee completed the distance despite recovering from throat cancer diagnosed
just twelve months previously. His time of 4:42:21 would have been respectable even in good
weather and his efforts raised over $6000 for the local Cancer Awareness Trust.
"Exposed" is the best description of this race — at least in physical
terms — and the gradients and strong winds make it a tough event. The 2008 race is
scheduled for Sunday 16 March.
MEN:
1 Hugh MARSDEN GBR 3:05:22
2 Bikash GURUNG NEP 3:14:01
3 Ciaran O'SULLIVAN GBR 3:16:10
4 Mick OWEN GBR 3:23:47
5 Stuart MACLEAN GBR 3:27:52
6 Steven TOOBY FKL 3:55:37
WOMEN:
1 Lisa TURNER GBR 3:50:25
2 Dawn TEED GBR 4:16:11
3 Kate BERSTON FKL 4:28:23
TEAMS:
1 Stanley F.C. FKL 3:08:31
2 Hi Spec GBR 3:20:39
3 Stanley 4 FKL 3:27:29
18 MARCH 2007: INT'L OGER ANTALYA MARATHON, TURKEY
MEN:
1 Kurgat W KIMUTAI KEN 2:19:24
2 Nijorge Z KIHARA KEN 2:21:01
3 Mutungi MISCHAK KEN 2:22:22
4 Mukhuti M WAMBUA KEN 2:24:33
5 Khaitonov OLEG RUS 2:24:48
6 Vural SINAN TUR 2:27:53
7 Kurtak MURAT TUR 2:34:22
8 Steinke PETER GER 2:35:59
9 Wild KARLHEINZ GER 2:39:56
10 Boyan FURKAN TUR 2:40:26
WOMEN:
1 Monica SAMILA TAN 2:49:48
2 Joanna CHMIEL POL 2:49:49
3 Marina MYSHIYANOVA RUS 2:49:53
4 Birgit BARTELS GER 2:57:13
5 Claudia HILLE GER 3:00:47
6 Elizabeth SCHRODER GER 3:01:36
7 Lütfiye KAYA TUR 3:16:17
8 Elena POLYAKOVA TUR 3:23:24
9 Megüç GOZUYASARAN TUR 3:23:55
10 Bakiye DURAN TUR 3:24:01
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 James KIRWA KEN 1:03:59
2 Satilmis ATAMACA TUR 1:04:08
3 Abdülkadir TURK TUR 1:04:10
WOMEN:
1 Lilya YAZDHAK RUS 1:15:03
2 Türkhan ERISMIS TUR 1:15:23
3 Rima DUBOVIK UKR 1:15:35
Top
19 MARCH 2007: JERUSALEM HALF MARATHON, ISRAEL
MEN:
1 Naile ADMASU ETH 1:09:24
2 Asaf BIMRO ISR 1:10:18
3 Vodege ZEVEDIA ISR 1:12:24
4 Yuness NAGAHTOO ETH 1:15:42
5 Yochai BAR-SHAVIT ISR 1:18:48
6 Amnon YOSSEPH ISR 1:20:33
7 Denis DEPARDON ISR 1:20:53
8 Alexe MARCHENKO ISR 1:22:01
9 Sharon ZECHARIA ISR 1:22:42
10 Avi SHEPERMAN ISR 1:22:58
WOMEN:
1 Dange KALKIDAN ISR 1:19:12
2 Nilly AVRAMSKY ISR 1:20:27
3 Sevetlana BEHMAND ISR 1:21:37
4 Galia AMDOR ISR 1:37:05
5 Efrat KELER ISR 1:42:18
6 Tanya PASTERNACK ISR 1:45:22
7 Dalit SHIF ISR 1:46:32
8 Michaella POLENSKY ISR 1:47:33
9 Ornit MORGENSTEIN ISR 1:48:52
10 Mor HAZHAK ISR 1:50:26
Top
24 MARCH 2007: HERVIS PRAGUE HALF MARATHON, CZECH REPUBLIC
Despite strong wind and damp conditions Patrick Ivuti broke Silas Kirui's 2005 race record
by 7 seconds writes Rich Herstek. Defending champion Stephen Kibiwott finished a distant
third, 300m behind.
Liliya Shobukhova won the women's race, in her half marathon debut, narrowly edging out
defending champion Caroline Chepkorir Kwambai as they finished with identical times.
MEN:
1 Patrick M IVUTI KEN 1:01:00
2 Jacob YATOR KEN 1:01:20
3 Stephen K KIBIWOTT KEN 1:01:54
4 Tadesse FEYISSA ETH 1:02:22
5 John C KORIR KEN 1:02:22
6 Martin H SULLE TAN 1:03:11
7 William T ROTICH KEN 1:03:13
8 Mesfin HAILU ETH 1:04:26
9 Andriy NAUMOV 1:05:22
10 Said AZOUZI 1:06:16
WOMEN:
1 Liliya SHOBUKHOVA RUS 1:11:14
2 Caroline KWAMBAI KEN 1:11:14
3 Leila A TOLA ETH 1:11:24
4 Azalech MARESHA ETH 1:11:59
5 Joan AIYABEI KEN 1:12:36
6 Beata RAKONCZAI ITA 1:14:50
7 Petra TEVELI ITA 1:14:51
8 Petra KAMINKOVA CZE 1:16:43
9 Veronika BRYCHCINOVA CZE 1:16:48
10 Etaferahu T GETAHUN ETH 1:16:55
24 MARCH 2007: 35th IAAF WORLD CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS,
MOMBASA, KENYA
'Cross Country Comes Home' was the theme of these 35th championships, and the Kenyan men
certainly made a strong case with their dominating team performance. Among the women Lorna
Kiplagat scored a commanding win in Dutch colours, but was herself coming home. It may be
their home country that hosted these championships but the conditions they faced in the
sweltering heat of the Kenyan coastal lowlands was far different to the high-altitude
homelands of the runners themselves. The contrast proved the undoing of Ethiopia's five-time
champion, Kenenisa Bekele.
Senior men's race
Tadesse takes over
As he built a sizeable lead some 20 minutes into the men's race on the picturesque seaside
golf course, Kenenisa Bekele appeared to be en route to his sixth straight World Cross Country
title. But then the stifling heat and humidity got to him, writes Bob Ramsak. Soon
after he was apparently dropped by the mighty Ethiopian, Eritrea's World Road Running champion
Zersenay Tadesse not only made up the gap, but went on past Bekele to produce a huge upset.
Tadesse has made a career of chasing Bekele since his emergence among the world's elite
three years ago, but this time he confidently strode by him. Bekele was broken for the first
time ever, with nothing in reserve to fight back. He merely watched Tadesse pull away before
finally succumbing to the conditions (33°C, 73% humidity), walking off the course some
800m before the finish to end his cross country race win streak at 27. It was later confirmed
that he struggled with stomach pains in the middle part of the race.
While Bekele's dramatic departure from the race was a shock, Tadesse was clearly prepared
for everything these championships would throw at him, be it the heat or the opposition.
"I feel happy and proud for all Eritreans," said the 25-year-old, who has
single-handedly led an athletics renaissance in his country. "I'm very happy and have no
words to express my feelings."
The early stages of the 12km contest began cautiously, with several runners taking turns to
lead. The Kenyan squad, much to the delight of the estimated crowd of more than 30,000 who
crammed into the venue, performed admirably, although it soon became clear that none would
contest for the individual win. National champion Moses Mosop was last to drop off the pace
and held on for second, reaching the finish 23 seconds behind Tadesse. Another 24 seconds back
was Bernard Kipyego.
Surpassing his own expectations, European Champion Mo Farah finished tenth.
Behind Tadesse, the hosts took the next five places to easily defend their team title, and
record a staggering 20th team victory.
Uganda, led by Martin Toroitich's ninth place, claimed their first senior medal at a World
Cross Country Championship. The heat took a particularly hard toll on Ethiopia, as besides
Bekele four others did not finish, resulting in no score in the team battle, and no team medal
for only the second time since 1992.
Underlining the difficult conditions, 29 of the 134 starters did not finish the race.
Women's race
Kiplagat's killer pace
Lornah Kiplagat led virtually from gun to tape to win the Netherlands' first ever World Cross
gold medal writes Dave Martin. The 32-year old Kenyan-born star, who became a Dutch
national four years ago after she married coach Pieter Langerhorst, achieved a victory she had
been planning for almost six months.
Kiplagat won the IAAF World Road Running Championship title last October in Debrecen,
Hungary with a World record time for the 20km race, and then began preparations for Mombasa.
She thwarted Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba - who beat her in last year's race from clinching a
third successive title.
Kiplagat stormed to the front to hold a four-second lead after the first of four 2km laps,
as Dibaba and Kenya's Florence Jebet Kiplagat gamely tracked her. Last year's bronze
medallist, Meselech Melkamu, led for a few metres, but the Dutch woman always looked
stronger than the pack behind her. She lengthened her lead to seven seconds after 4km, then
put in a massive spurt which ultimately blew away any hopes her opponents had of making up
ground. Kiplagat had a margin of 26 seconds entering the last lap, ahead of Dibaba, Melkamu
and Gelete Burka - who were then only running for the minor medals.
Kiplagat threw up her arms in a victory salute, thrilling the Kenyan crowd who have always
considered her to be one of their own and understand her reasons for representing the
Netherlands.
"The only game plan I had today was to believe I could handle the heat, I've trained
so hard I didn't want to let it go. I was so inspired by how all of this was arranged,"
she said of Kenya hosting the championships for the first time ever.
Predominantly a road runner Kiplagat admitted that she has learned a lot about cross
country in the last year: "I think it's also about experience. Last year I surprised
myself being second, so this time I knew what I could do and I became a winner. Anything less
than second today, would have meant I was loser."
Dibaba admitted she was disappointed and said: "I knew this was all I could do. The
heat really hurt us."
Despite her loss to Kiplagat the Ethiopians won their sixth successive team victory.
Junior women:
Confused counting costs Korikwiang
Linet Chepkwemoi Barasa was the clear winner in her first international competition writes
Bob Ramsak. She led in teammates Mercy Kosgei and Veronica Wanjiru to complete Kenya's
second consecutive podium sweep and their fifth overall since junior competition began in 1989.
Kosgei moved up a place from her bronze medal performance of a year ago, while Wanjiru, a
two-time defending silver medallist, couldn't quite live up to her own pedigree.
"I'm just very happy," Chepkwemoi Barasa said. "All I was thinking about was
the gold medal."
But that type of concentration may have cost Pauline Korikwiang a successful title defence.
Miscounting laps, last year's champion, along with a pair of Ethiopians in hot pursuit, kicked
to their perceived finish less than 15 minutes into the race, effectively knocking the trio
out of the competition. Korikwiang forged on but with simply no energy left, she eventually
took a dramatic dizzying fall on the back stretch of the final lap.
Meraf Bahta led Eritrea to the runner-up spot in the team competition, the first medal ever
for the small nation at a World Country Championship. Sule Utura and Genzebe Dibaba, the
16-year-old younger sister of Tirunesh and Eyagayou, finished fifth and sixth respectively,
to lead Ethiopia to the bronze.
Underscoring the difficult conditions, 20 of the 87 starters didn't finish.
Junior Men:
Cross Country grows up
Cross-Country as an organised event may have come home for these Championships, but most of
the most talented runners on show in Mombasa had never left in the first place, and continue
to pour forth from a seemingly inexhaustible source. Linet Barasa's individual win led a
podium sweep in the Junior women's race that opened the championships. The Junior men topped
that with a sweep of the first four places. The host nation clearly illustrated that nowhere
on earth can match the depth of cross country talent in Kenya. While the women proved a mighty
force, the men were unstoppable en route to their ninth straight junior title, and their 19th
in the last 20 years.
This year it was 17-year-old Asbel Kiprop, who took top honours, continuing the frenzied
celebration by the throng of more than 30,000 than lined every conceivable part of the course.
Kiprop finished the 8km course five seconds ahead of Vincent Chepkok, this year's Kenyan
junior champion and another 17-year old. Matthew Kisorio took the bronze ahead of last year's
silver medallist Leonard Komon.
Following the perfect 10-point tally by the Kenyans, Eritrea was a distant second, but
moved up a place from last year to overtake Ethiopia, silver medallists for the past eight
straight years.
Men:
1 Zerseany TADESSE ERI 35:50
2 Moses MOSOP KEN 36:13
3 Bernard KIPYEGO KEN 36:37
4 Gideon NGATUNY KEN 36:43
5 Hosea MACHARINYANG KEN 36:46
6 Michael KIPYEGO KEN 37:04
TEAMS
1 Kenya 28 pts
2 Morocco 146pts
3 Uganda 185pts
4 Eritrea 204pts
5 Qatar 238 pts
Women:
1 Lornah KIPLAGAT NED 26:23
2 Tirunesh DIBABA ETH 26:47
3 Meselech MELKAMU ETH 26:48
4 Gelete BURIKA ETH 26:56
5 Florence KIPLAGAT KEN 27:26
6 Pamela CHEPCHUMBA KEN 27:31
TEAMS:
1 Ethiopia 19pts
2 Kenya 26pts
3 Morocco 99pts
4 Spain 135pts
5 Great Britain 140pts
Junior Men:
1 Asbel KIPROP KEN 24:04
2 Vincent CHEPKOK KEN 24:12
3 Mathew KISORIO KEN 24:23
4 Leonard KOMON KEN 24:25
5 Benjamin KIPLAGAT UGA 24:31
6 Issak SIBHATU ERI 24:38
TEAMS:
1 Kenya 10pts
2 Eritrea 44pts
3 Ethiopia 54pts
4 Uganda 55pts
5 Burundi 102pts
Junior Women:
1 Linet BARASA KEN 20:52
2 Mercy KOSGEI KEN 20:59
3 Veronica WANJIRU KEN 21:10
4 Sule UTURA ETH 21:13
5 Genzebe DIBABA ETH 21:23
6 Meraf BAHTA ERI 21:24
TEAMS:
1 Kenya 13pts
2 Eritrea 33pts
3 Ethiopia 36pts
4 Japan 61pts
5 Great Britain 96pts
Top
25 MARCH 2007: NOVI SAD HALF MARATHON, SERBIA
Taking place in the second largest city in Serbia the race starts and finishes in the city
square in front of the town hall. The course runs along the Danube, beside bridges, passes the
University district and the famous Petrovaradin Fortress. Weather conditions were almost ideal
with clear blue sky, sun and 14°C, but windy.
The Half marathon included a relay race and for the second time anywhere in the world, a
diplomatic race. In all three were 450 participants and there were also 2000 pupils from
primary and secondary schools and 350 pre-school children who took part in the "Race of
Joy", together with their teachers and parents.
The organisers expect even larger numbers of participants in October for 15th International
Novi Sad NIS Marathon.
MEN:
1 Goran STOJILJKOVIC SRB 1:08:20
2 Velimir BOJOVIC SRB 1:08:29
3 Sasa STOLIC SRB 1:10:19
4 Miroslav KOMARCEVIC SRB 1:10:54
5 Zdravko MISOVIC SRB 1:11:25
6 Zoran MARKOVIC SRB 1:13:03
7 Goran MILICIC SRB 1:13:14
8 Branko STEVIC SRB 1:13:22
9 Nebojsa MILENKOVIC SRB 1:13:27
10 Dejan POPOVIC SRB 1:15:21
WOMEN:
1 Snezana KOSTIC SRB 1:20:25
2 Milana GAVRILOV SRB 1:32:40
3 Stojanka SOKOL SRB 1:33:28
4 Sandra STOLIC SRB 1:34:32
5 Jelena MARKOVIC SRB 1:35:32
6 Bojana TRALJIC SRB 1:39:37
7 Biljana GRUBOR-VOZAREVIC SRB 1:49:11
8 Milana DURIC SRB 1:53:02
9 Milica MITROVIC SRB 1:54:40
10 Ana KUZMANOVIC SRB 1:55:25
Top
31 MARCH 2007: C&D XIAMEN INTERNATIONAL MARATHON,
CHINA
Nicola Bradley photo
Xiao Lin Zhu ran solo from gun to tape to win the women's race in a very impressive time
under very oppressive conditions. At the 08.00 start of the race it was already 20°C, and
the temperature rose steadily while humidity was over 80%. By contrast, the men's pace wilted
under the conditions but nonetheless allowed a fascinating duel to develop between Zhu Hong Li
and Kenya's Haron Toroitich, in which Li powered away over the final 800m.
From outside the Xiamen Convention Centre a combined field of 25,000 took 20 minutes to
clear the start as elite runners of the marathon and joggers in the half marathon finally
gave way to large fancy-dressed groups who walked for much of the 10km and 5km events. The
lead group set out along the corniche road which rings Xiamen Island towards the centre of
town. They began ambitiously, at 2:09 pace, but soon moderated their ambitions. After 16km
the course turns away from the coast for a loop around the centre of the city, where dense
crowds of spectators lined the streets. Perhaps lifted by the cheers Li went ahead of the
group, along with a pacemaker, and led by some 20m at halfway.
Meshak Kirwa and Toroitich caught him at 23.8km and by 25km it was Li's turn to drop back.
Conditions were by now making themselves felt, and as the lead pair dropped their pace to a
3'25" kilometre Li found himself back alongside them at 28.3km. As they returned along the
coastal ring road Li and Toroitich pulled clear of Kirwa, who lagged them by 30m at 30km. Li
repeatedly tried to surge from 34km onward but nothing he could do would shake Toroitich off.
It looked like Toroitich was waiting his moment to strike, but as they turned off the coast
road towards the finish line with 800m to run the vociferous home crowd roused Li's
competitive spirit and he charged past Toroitich to win by some 50m.
MEN:
1 Zhu Hong LI CHN 2:13:17
2 Haron TOROITICH KEN 2:13:25
3 Meshak KIRWA KEN 2:15:47
4 Julius SUGUT KEN 2:16:37
5 Yun Shan ZHEN CHN 2:18:15
6 Robert MANGIUSHO KEN 2:19:08
7 Long Yun REN CHN 2:19:14
8 Philip BIRECH KEN 2:19:45
WOMEN:
1 Xiao Lin ZHU CHN 2:26:07
2 Wei Wei SUN CHN 2:29:27
3 Shu Jin ZHENG CHN 2:31:14
4 Yin Yin ZHENG CHN 2:36:52
5 Shawuti NUERGULI CHN 2:37:53
6 Yin Yin ZHU CHN 2:38:16
7 Wen Qin SUN CHN 2:39:50
8 Emily SAMOIE KEN 2:40:18
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Fu Liang WANG CHN 1:10:18
2 Lei FEN CHN 1:11:26
3 Zhen LIN CHN 1:14:51
WOMEN:
1 Xue Xia HUNG CHN 1:17:27
2 Gi LI CHN 1:22:18
3 Xiao Qin WU CHN 1:25:33
March 2007
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