May 2007
6 MAY | 12 MAY |
13 MAY | 19 MAY | 20 MAY |
27 MAY
6 MAY 2007: RUN BERLIN - 25KM VON BERLIN, GERMANY
Photo: Marisa Reich
Kenyan runners once again dominated, with defending champion Patrick Makau retaining his
title in front of 9,044 participants from 42 nations. Warm weather, reaching 25°C at the
finish, prevented either Makau or women's winner Flomena Chepchirchir from threatening the
course records.
The men's race set off at record pace but had drifted away from it by 10km. "It was
simply too warm today for a record chase", Makau said later. He decisively broke away at
17km to set this year's world leading time at the distance. Makau remains unbeaten in Berlin:
after last year's 25km race he had also won the Berlin Half Marathon a month ago.
Flomena Chepchirchir sprung a surprise on the race favourite Peninah Arusei. Chepchirchir
broke away from Arusei with 5km to go. "I did not expect to be able to beat Peninah in
this race since she had beaten me only a week ago in a 10km race", Chepchirchir said.
Magdaline Chemjor (Kenya), who won in 2001 and 2002, came in third.
MEN:
1 Patrick M MUSYOKI KEN 1:14:22
2 William KIPLAGAT KEN 1:15:24
3 Matthew KOECH KEN 1:15:47
4 Vincent KIPCHIRCHIR KEN 1:15:58
5 Julius MUTAI KEN 1:16:11
6 Josphat KAMZEE KEN 1:16:22
7 Edwin YANO KEN 1:18:38
8 Gadissa GURMU ETH 1:19:50
9 Patrick NGUGI KEN 1:28:27
10 Martin BUTZLAFF VLG 1:28:52
WOMEN
1 Flomena CHEPCHIRCHIR KEN 1:25:37
2 Peninah ARUSEI KEN 1:26:15
3 Magdaline CHEMJOR KEN 1:29:57
4 Natalya VOLGINA RUS 1:32:35
5 Olena BURKOVSKA UKR 1:34:18
6 Carmen SIEWERT GER 1:36:12
7 Olga GONCHARENKO UKR 1:42:43
8 Karsta PARSIEGLA GER 1:44:29
9 Iris TIEDEKEN GER 1:46:06
10 Madeleine LORENZ GER 1:47:12
6 MAY 2007: BMO BANK OF MONTREAL VANCOUVER MARATHON, CANADA
Argentina's Claudia Camargo, now living in the United States, broke the women's record in
placing an amazing third overall in the race. This was in itself another record and a rarity
in marathons generally. Including a sub-2:40 time bonus Camargo won US$5500. In the men's
event Thomas Omwenga beat two-time champion from 2005 and 2006, Kassahun Kabiso. Top finishers
were awarded cash prizes totalling more than $25,000 from Mosaik MasterCard.
In this 36th edition a total of 12,636 triumphant runners and walkers crossed the finish
line in the full and half marathons, coming from 35 countries. Back in 1972, 72 runners
completed five laps around Stanley Park. Today, the BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon
takes participants along a 42km route through all the most scenic parts of the city to the
finish line at BC Place Stadium.
MEN:
1 Thomas OMWENGA KEN 2:25:23
2 Kassahun KABISO USA 2:32:11
3 Stephen CLARKE USA 2:37:58
4 Craig MCMILLAN CAN 2:38:18
5 Per EKEGERED CAN 2:38:27
6 Aaron HEIDT CAN 2:39:40
7 Jeffrey KWANTES CAN 2:42:03
8 Dave STEPHEN CAN 2:42:54
9 Darin BENTLEY CAN 2:44:54
10 Lonnie MATSUNO CAN 2:44:54
WOMEN:
1 Claudia CAMARGO ARG 2:35:46
2 Mary AKOR USA 2:44:22
3 Sheila MULLINS CAN 3:00:49
4 Elena EBERLEIN CAN 3:01:05
5 Sandra FOWERAKER CAN 3:01:05
6 Hisayo MATSUO CAN 3:08:58
7 Karen THIBODEAU CAN 3:13:11
8 Natalie PORTER CAN 3:13:24
9 Megan JOHNSTON CAN 3:15:11
10 Mary WALSH CAN 3:15:27
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Todd HOWARD CAN 1:09:04
2 Nick HASTIE CAN 1:09:28
3 Jonas HOLMBERG SWE 1:10:49
WOMEN:
1 Suzanne EVANS CAN 1:18:30
2 Rita Ivanauskas CAN 1:25:16
3 Cheryl CHOY USA 1:26:01
6 MAY 2007: GENEVA MARATHON, SWITZERLAND
MEN:
1 Eticha TESFAYE ETH 2:18:36
2 Philipp MUIA KEN 2:21:02
3 Tarcis ANCAY 2:23:08
4 Abdeslam BAKKA MOR 2:24:39
5 Joseph BAGO 2:32:50
6 Daniel KIPTUM KEN 2:34:32
7 Hamid LARHALMI MOR 2:35:59
8 Mike TANUI KEN 2:36:57
9 Philippe DARD 2:38:27
10 Julien GANTENBEIN 2:38:53
WOMEN:
1 Elfnesh MELAKU ETH 2:43:57
2 Keneni CHAWLLA ETH 2:44:34
3 Wioletta KRYZA POL 2:52:08
4 Murielle BRIONNE 2:54:06
5 Stijntje REULEN 3:04:58
6 Patricia DAUTREPPE 3:13:11
7 Jane MORAZ 3:16:10
8 Pirkko-Liisa LINTILA FIN 3:16:59
9 Ellie GREENWOOD 3:19:04
10 Christine SESSA 3:25:30
6 MAY 2007: MARATON MARTIN FIZ, SPAIN
MEN:
1 Oscar Martin GARCIA ESP 2:14:55
2 Pablo L SANCHEZ-REY ESP 2:16:09
3 Fabian RONCERO ESP 2:18:37
4 Jose Manuel G LORCA ESP 2:22:13
5 Victor G GUIRAO ESP 2:22:52
6 Rachib NADIJ ESP 2:25:17
7 Jose Antonio R SANTOS ESP 2:25:42
8 David R GARCIA ESP 2:26:49
9 Antonio Jose B GUTIERREZ ESP 2:27:40
10 Juan F CANO GARCIA ESP 2:28:56
WOMEN:
1 Maria Teresa P FERNANDEZ ESP 2:36:17
2 Marta F DE CASTRO AYORA ESP 2:42:46
3 Maria R CASTELLANOS ESP 2:48:28
4 Maria Jose DE TORO SAIZ ESP 2:52:00
5 Sonia M GARCIA ESP 2:54:36
6 Noelia M ARRIBA ESP 3:02:12
7 Loli B CABALLERO ESP 3:19:27
8 Gemma P BERASATEGUI ESP 3:21:30
9 Araceli M FERNANDEZ ESP 3:22:44
10 Luna G M MUNOZ ESP 3:24:59
6 MAY 2007: CRACOVIA MARATHON, POLAND
MEN:
1 Mathew KOSGEI KEN 2:18:16
2 Nikolay KERIMOV RUS 2:18:23
3 Jan BIALK POL 2:18:36
4 Ritchard ROTICH KEN 2:19:33
5 David K KIPOECH KEN 2:21:32
6 Jevgenij HCURHUNO UKR 2:22:51
7 James K MWANGI KEN 2:24:21
8 Dimitry SIVOV BLR 2:25:24
9 Jackson K KIPCHUMBA KEN 2:28:06
10 Marek DRYJA POL 2:28:59
WOMEN:
1 Katerina STETSENKO UKR 2:39;08
2 Violetta URYGA POL 2:39:27
3 Elena MAZOVKA BLR 2:41:45
4 Ewa BRYCH POL 2:43:39
5 Dorota USTIANOWSKA POL 2:48:31
6 Irina LOMONOSOWA BLR 2:49:26
7 Svitlana STANKO UKR 2:55:26
8 Anna K KRZYZANO POL 3:15:06
9 Marta MIKOLAJCZYK POL 3:16:54
10 Anna BALBUS POL 3:28:17
6 MAY 2007: MARATONA D'EUROPA, ITALY
MEN:
1 Ottaviano ANDRIANI ITA 2:10:57
2 Joseph NGURAN KEN 2:11:28
3 Noah Kiplagat SEREM KEN 2:11:35
4 Hosea Kimutai KIPTANUI KEN 2:12:05
5 Ben Chebet KIPRUTO KEN 2:16:47
6 Frimi Kipchoge KIPLAGAT KEN 2:16:55
7 Amos MASAI UGA 2:16:58
8 Marcello CAPOTOSTI ITA 2:24:18
9 Ferdinando BENEDETTI ITA 2:30:39
10 Shadrack K MENGICH KEN 2:31:00
WOMEN:
1 Anne KOSGEI KEN 2:33:14
2 Maria COCCHETTI ITA 2:42:11
3 Sabrina CASTELLO ITA 2:59:58
4 Marija SCHWARZ 3:06:45
5 Anna PARRELLA ITA 3:16:26
6 Daneila MENEGATTI ITA 3:17:01
7 Lorena GIURISSA ITA 3:19:18
8 Elena SIMSIG ITA 3:23:23
9 Giovanna MULLONI ITA 3:23:45
10 Antonella PARRELLA ITA 3:24:57
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Rudy MAGAGNOLI ITA 1:10:19
2 Lorenzo DELLA PETRA ITA 1:10:31
3 Marco MORETTON ITA 1:10:40
WOMEN:
1 Paola VERALDI ITA 1:21:10
2 Laura F CASTELLANI ITA 1:23:26
3 Roberta VENICA ITA 1:25:57
Top
12 MAY 2007: GOTEBORG HALF MARATHON, SWEDEN
MEN:
MEN:
1 Sylvester Kimeli TEIMAT KEN 1:04:03
2 Benjamin SEREM KEN 1:04:04
3 Japhet Kipchirchir KIPKORIR KEN 1:04:05
4 Stanley SALIL KEN 1:04:12
5 Pavel LOSKUTOV EST 1:04:47
6 Arado Buta URIGE ETH 1:04:48
7 Henrik AHNSTROM SWE 1:06:19
8 Lars JOHANSSON SWE 1:06:32
9 Rik CEULEMANS NED 1:07:16
10 Fredrik UHRBON SWE 1:07:26
WOMEN:
1 Kirsten Melkevik OTTERBU NOR 1:12:38
2 Anna RAHM SWE 1:13:31
3 Jane ROTICH KEN 1:14:32
4 Susan KURUI KEN 1:14:43
5 Anneli FRANSSON SWE 1:15:35
6 Anna Von SCHENK SWE 1:15:52
7 Helena JAVORNIK SLO 1:16:06
8 Isabellah ANDERSSON SWE 1:17:39
9 Jenny JOHANESSON SWE 1:17:47
10 Jessica GYLFE SWE 1:18:21
Top
13 MAY 2007: IWELT MARATHON WUERZBERG, GERMANY
MEN:
1 Eliud KURGAT KEN 2:19:47
2 Kidus GEBREMESKEL ETH 2:20:28
3 Simon RIPIS GER 2:28:48
4 Sebastine JOST GER 2:34:00
5 Fernando LOZANO ESP 2:43:30
6 Kimno LEIVO GER 2:43:35
7 Ronaldo RAUTER GER 2:44:24
8 Ralf BERCHER GER 2:46:41
9 Engelbert WALTER GER 2:48:14
10 Walter VOGG GER 2:50:15
WOMEN:
1 Elke BRENNER GER 3:01:38
2 Carolin KETA GER 3:06:16
3 Antje RATZMER GER 3:17:47
4 Birgit KRAUS GER 3:18:37
5 Sylvia WUNSCHE GER 3:21:08
6 Evelyn FORTSCH GER 3:23:38
7 Ursula HENNING GER 3:25:34
8 Renate SINGER GER 3:30:03
9 Stephanie MERBACH GER 3:31:17
10 Cornelia DR.HOHNEL GER 3:31:28
13 MAY 2007: VOLKSWAGEN PRAGUE MARATHON, CZECH REPUBLIC
President Vaclav Klaus was the official starter for nearly 4000 marathoners who took part
in the 13th Volkswagen Prague Marathon although hotter than expected temperatures slowed times
writes Monika Klementova.
Initially a group of 15 set a 2:09 pace but the lead pack quickly started to break up, as
Oleksandr Kuzin of Ukraine took the race through halfway in 1:05:10.
By 30km Stephen Kibiwott was running solo in the lead, some 30 seconds ahead of Luka Chelimo
and pre-race favourite Joseph Riri of Kenya (PB 2:06:49). But the heat eventually got to them
as Kibiwott dropped out and Riri stopped at 36km. He did manage to re-start his race and ended
up finishing in a brave fourth place.
Of the three runners who passed him to contest the title, one was Chelimo and the other two
were 33-year-olds from Portugal, Helder Ornelas (PB 2:09:59), the winner of the 2005 Milan
Marathon, and Paulo Gomes (PB 2:15:56). Chelimo made the pace but at 40km Helder went past to
claim victory while Chelimo was rewarded with a new personal best of 2:12:36 about 80m ahead
of Gomes, who improved his best time by even more. Pavel Faschingbauer was the first Czech
home and retained his national title.
In the women's race defending race champion Alina Ivanova of Russia was one of many who was
forced to drop out due to hot weather, as her compatriot Nailya Yulamanova went on to win.
Veronika Brychcinova took the Czech national title in third place overall.
A total of 3200 runners finished within the six-hour time limit.
MEN:
1 Ornelas HELDER POR 2:11:49
2 Luka K CHELIMO KEN 2:12:36
3 Paulo C GOMES POR 2:12:51
4 Joseph M RIRI KEN 2:13:50
5 Thomas CHEMITEI KEN 2:17:31
6 Joachim NISHIRIMANA BDI 2:17:38
7 Pavel FASCHINGBAUER CZE 2:18:55
8 Ahmed NASEF 2:19:34
9 Martin MUTWIRI KEN 2:22:29
10 Pavel NOVAK CZE 2:23:38
WOMEN:
1 Nailya YULAMANOVA RUS 2:33:10
2 Malgorzata SOBANSKA POL 2:35:02
3 Veronika BRYCHCINOVA CZE 2:40:50
4 Petra HAVLOVA CZE 3:05:44
5 Anna BACOVA CZE 3:06:10
6 Cristina MARIOLA ITA 3:10:36
7 Christa RAUCH ITA 3:11:38
8 Helga RAUCH ITA 3:11:39
9 Stacy ZAHATNANSKY USA 3:14:29
10 Jitka DOCEKALOVA CZE 3:14:46
13 MAY 2007: PISA MARATHON, ITALY
Both the marathon and the half marathon started at the same time, but in two different
places: Pontedera (marathon) and Navacchio (half marathon) which is located at halfway on the
marathon course. More than 1000 runners passed through Pontedera, Calcinaia, Vicopisano -
with its ancient Borgo and the Brunelleschi Towers, Cascina, Calci - with its ancient cloister,
San Giuliano Terme, and along the Mediceo Aqueduct. The finish line was in Piazza dei Miracoli,
where the Leaning Tower stands.
This 9th edition drew a great number of tourists who profited from low-cost flights
connecting Pisa to many European cities. The temperature was 26-28°C but the water stations
every 2.5km allowed runners to complete the marathon without distress. Female participation,
at 13%, is the highest of any Italian Marathon.
The winner, Philemon Kipkering Metto, also won from 2000 to 2003. He ran side by side with
the winner of the last two years, Joshua Kipchumba Rop, and with Filali Tayeb from Algeria. At
32km Kipkering speeded up but still finished the marathon with a time far slower than his best
for the race (2:15:29).
The women's winner, Ilaria Bianchi from Pisa, set off very fast in the first part of the
marathon. She looked set for a new personal record of around 2:36, but faded in the second
half and finished with a time of 2:40:11 – still an event record.
MEN:
1 Philemon M KIPKERING KEN 2:19:33
2 Tayeb FILALI 2:22:35
3 Joshua KIPCHUMBA ROP KEN 2:25:13
4 Ioannis MAGKRIOTELIS GRE 2:29:02
5 Alessandro NAPOLI ITA 2:29:21
6 Pietro COLNAGHI ITA 2:29:41
7 El Fadil SOUFYANE 2:32:30
8 Stefano PERETTI ITA 2:34:21
9 Castantino SIMONETTA ITA 2:34:55
10 Domenico BELLIZZI ITA 2:37:35
WOMEN:
1 Ilaria BIANCHI ITA 2:40:12
2 Cristina NERI ITA 2:50:23
3 Deborah BRUNI ITA 2:57:33
4 Lorena PANEBIANCO ITA 3:05:49
5 Carmen HILI MLT 3:09:22
6 Eliana DANTI ITA 3:14:51
7 Grazia RANFAGNI ITA 3:15:00
8 Benedetta CATERINA ITA 3:16:07
9 Claudia MARZI ITA 3:25:25
10 Susan REYNOLDS GBR 3:26:03
13 MAY 2007: KIGALI PEACE MARATHON, RWANDA
Photos © 2007 - Vladislav Priplata - www.rexlaus.info
For most of the race Daniel Rotich played a waiting game within a big pack, but on the last
of four laps, as the group closed on early leader Felix Ntirenganya he powered away for a
clear win. In the women's race Prisca Kiprono likewise saved her efforts for a strong last lap
but by that time had only Caroline Chemwolo for company.
Rotich ran each lap faster than the previous one, made easier by a 26-strong group
recording a lethargic 37:13 for the first, while Ntirenganya was away by almost 500m. On the
second lap Ntirenganya accelerated, and continued to go away from the gradually diminishing
group, which numbered 14 at the halfway mark (1:12:02 to Ntirenganya's 1:10:11). The group
maintained the chase with a steady third lap as Ntirengenya started to slow. He led a group of
12 by 42 seconds as they entered the last lap, but then faded to finish a tired 14th.
Prisca Kiprono had no early leader to chase, and the lead group reduced from eight to four
as they went through halfway in 1:27:29. The third lap was by far the fastest, but Caroline
Chemwolo hung on. The effort cost her, as she slipped back to finish third.
In the half marathon a group of 25 men pounded around the first lap in 32:44, swallowing up
the 155 marathon runners who had set off four minutes earlier. Dickson Marwa proved strongest
on the second lap, coming home 60m clear of his closest rival. In the women's race Josephine
Deemay went away from the start, while local runer Epiphanie Nyirabarame pursued her a little
too keenly, allowing Cecilia Wangoi - running a steady pace throughout and closing on Deemay
herself in the later stages - to come through for second.
The competitive races were supportd by a 5km fun run which incorporated a highly competitive
AIMS Children's race for 10-11 year olds. In all 2200 people registered for all races, of
which 1200 were in the Children's event.
All races started and finished in the national stadium, and runners in the longer races
passed through it as they completed each 10,549m lap. The lap itself included an out-and back
section which featured a significant hill, one of many in this "land of a thousand hills",
and made all the more difficult by being at 1800m altitude.
MEN:
1 Daniel ROTICH KEN 2:20:43
2 Raymond KANDIE KEN 2:21:15
3 Joseph NSUBUNGA UGA 2:22:06
4 Mark YATICH KEN 2:22:27
5 Evans KIPKOSGEI KEN 2:22:29
6 Paul KANDA KEN 2:22:41
7 Jonah KIPSANG KEN 2:23:13
8 Mark KIPKURGAT KEN 2:23:16
9 Vincent KIPCHIRIR KEN 2:24:04
10 Ernest KIBOR KEN 2:24:20
WOMEN:
1 Prisca KIPRONO KEN 2:52:24
2 Jane JESANG KEN 2:54:49
3 Caroline CHEMWOLO KEN 2:55:26
4 Rose CHESIRE KEN 2:56:53
5 Rael KIMAIYO KEN 2:58:50
6 Ceophresine SUMAWE TAN 3:02:56
7 Irene CHEMUSTO UGA 3:03:52
8 Rebecca KAVINA TAN 3:04:37
9 Grace MUZAKI UGA 3:08:24
10 Genessi NYIRAHABIMANA RWA 3:21:26
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 Dickson MARWA TAN 1:04:58
2 Nicholas KIPRONO KEN 1:05:11
3 John ROGART TAN 1:05:21
WOMEN:
1 Josephine DEEMAY TAN 1:17:50
2 Cecilia WANGOI KEN 1:18:48
3 Epiphanie NYIRABARAME RWA 1:19:23
13 MAY 2007: KARSTADT MARATHON, GERMANY
MAINZ-ESSEN
MEN:
1 Kevin PETERSEN GER 2:40:19
2 Stefan LOSCH GER 2:41:49
3 Abdellah SAADANI GER 2:43:19
4 Uwe ERNST GER 2:43:49
5 Peter KURTZ GER 2:50:27
6 Thomas MITTKOWSKI GER 2:52:24
7 Harry SONNENBERG GER 2:53:00
8 Olaf WEGER GER 2:53:28
9 Burkard VIELHABER GER 2:54:42
10 Andreas KIEHNE GER 2:54:45
WOMEN:
1 Mary PTIKANY KEN 2:30:05
2 Salima CHELIMO KEN 2:36:58
3 Irene CHEROP KEN 2:41:09
4 Katrin KNOKE GER 2:59:51
5 Birgit SCHONHERR-HOLSCHER GER 3:00:55
6 Rita NOWOTTNY-HUPKA GER 3:22:05
7 Melanie KRONIGER GER 3:23:48
8 Isabel SCHEEL GER 3:24:10
9 Gunhild ALBIETZ GER 3:24:40
10 Marion POPPE GER 3:27:10
OBERHAUSEN-ESSEN
MEN:
1 Jonathan KEIYO KEN 2:13:28
2 Joseph NGOLEPUS KEN 2:20:07
3 Eliud KERING KEN 2:22:49
4 Pius MNANGAT KEN 2:33:17
5 Tim TERSLUISEN GER 2:44:28
6 Richard NGOLEPUS KEN 2:44:32
7 Christoph TREBING GER 2:56:48
8 Olaf KRACHT GER 2:58:38
9 Jakob SCHOOF GER 2:59:20
10 Christian BRUNS GER 3:01:57
WOMEN:
1 Svenja GAYK GER 3:17:45
2 Bernardina KORDEL ITA 3:24:03
3 Bettina PILGRAM GER 3:26:27
4 Heike MUSIELAK GER 3:29:13
5 Kirsten SONNENSCHEIN GER 3:36:26
6 Daniela SHALA GER 3:39:22
7 Vera HANSCH GER 3:41:24
8 Anke BROEL GER 3:41:45
9 Sarah KOENEN GER 3:43:32
10 Petra GEVERS-LOHKAMP GER 3:44:12
Top
19 MAY 2007: THREE HEARTS MARATHON & HALF,
SLOVENIA
MEN:
1 Moses KITUM KEN 2:20:15
2 Eduard TAKHBATULLIN RUS 2:20:55
3 Moses KEMBOI KEN 2:21:55
4 Wilson KIPNGETICH KEN 2:27:44
5 David BIWOTT KEN 2:38:33
6 Joa-e MORI SLO 2:42:44
7 Primoa KOBE SLO 2:43:33
8 Bojan BRUS SLO 2:49:24
9 Boa Tjan POTOAOENIK SLO 2:50:08
10 Stane FERFILA SLO 2:50:51
WOMEN:
1 Ida KOVACS HUN 2:50:14
2 Katalin FARKAS HUN 2:53:49
3 Nea-a MRAVLJE SLO 3:18:52
4 Jadranka LESKOVA EK SLO 3:20:13
5 Daniela SIMSIG ITA 3:26:16
6 Alea A CARLI SLO 3:28:49
7 Vilma BREA AN SLO 3:39:48
8 Natalija LESNIK SLO 3:49:47
9 Ura Ka A-IBERNA SLO 3:54:38
10 Madja RIHTER SLO 4:10:38
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 Tamas TOTH HUN 1:06:52
2 Roman KEJA-AR SLO 1:07:24
3 Zsolt KOSZA-R HUN 1:08:21
WOMEN:
1 Helena JAVORNIK SLO 1:17:46
2 A Pela NOVAK SLO 1:29:36
3 Nataa PRAA NIKAR SLO 1:33:23
19 MAY 2007: GREAT WALL MARATHON, CHINA
A record number of over 1100 runners from 40 countries participated in the eighth annual
Great Wall Marathon, with the field split between the marathon, half marathon, 10km and 5km
events.
Race records were set in the marathon. Salvador Calvo, of Spain, shaved two minutes off the
men's record with a time of 3:23:10 while Sara Winter, of New Zealand, took 22 minutes off the
women's record, leaving the new mark at 3:50:21.
It is always interesting to see how times compare on a "normal"
marathon course to the Great Wall and this year's winners give a good indication. Calvo, 44
years of age, set his best of 2:32 15 years ago while Winter ran a 2:46 marathon just four
weeks earlier in Italy. Fred Zalokar, of the USA, won the M45 division of last year's Canberra
Marathon in 2:45:58 and this year was second at the Great Wall in 3:38:14.
There is no doubt that the Great Wall Marathon is one of the most international of races
with 11 countries represented in the top 10 men and women in the marathon.
Regardless of which event runners opt, they face a 3km section of the Great Wall. Those in
the marathon run this section twice, once from east to west early in the race and again late
in the race, but this time they run the Wall from west to east. In between sections on the
Wall, marathon runners traverse a 25km section through Chinese villages that have hardly
changed in centuries.
One high profile runner who is unlikely to return to the Wall is dual world champion and
London Marathon winner Abel Anton. He retired from the serious side of the sport five years
ago but was tempted by the Wall this year. He was 20th in 4:26:07 and said later to AP
journalist Stephen Wade, "I don't think I will be back again, I think once is enough.
It's very hard, maybe the hardest I have done."
MEN:
1 Salvador CALVO ESP 3:23:10
2 Frederick ZALOKAR USA 3:38:14
3 Yun FENG WANG CHN 3:41:01
4 Darren BENSON AUS 3:44.51
5 Michael LONGE USA 3:58:15
6 Ulrich GRALLATH GER 3:58:22
7 Jeremy REDFORD GBR 4:02:07
8 Peter ANDARSON GBR 4:03:28
9 Soeren KRUSE LILLEOERE DEN 4:05:03
10 Staffan GEREONSSON SWE 4:05:38
WOMEN:
1 Sara WINTER NZL 3:50:21
2 Sharon RYDER AUS 4:14:50
3 Anna Ma. AGUSTI LLOSERA ESP 4:26:08
4 Jane WHITE GBR 4:42:24
5 Marie Therese HERWIG SUI 4:43:49
6 Deborah ZALOKAR USA 4:44:18
7 Maureen TOBIN USA 4:46:33
8 Carrol LAPSYS AUS 4:48:46
9 Celilia GUEVARA MEX 4:48:58
10 Andrea Michelle GONZALEZ USA 4:55:08
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 Theodorus van Graven NED 1:42:19
2 Morten Stamov DEN 1:46:29
3 Zeljko Konosic CRO 1:47:20
WOMEN:
1 Maria Gereonsson SWE 1:56:47
2 Saskia Van Der Stap NED 2:03:42
3 Liliane Perroton FRA 2:09:11
Top
20 MAY 2007: MARATON CIUDAD DE VALENCIA, SPAIN
Challenge Caixa Catalunya Obra Social
Conditions were excellent for the 17th edition of the race, and offered the opportunity to
set personal best times. In pleasant temperatures and no wind 2095 runners set off, quickly
headed up by a lead men's group of Kenyans, Ethiopians, Tanzanians and Moroccans. Passing 5km
in 15:11, the race thereafter became a contest between Peter Korir and Alex Kirui, who passed
through 10km together in 30:10 and 15km in 44:10, speeding up as they struggled to capture the
victory. Peter Korir was the one who did so, in a new course record.
In the women's race defending champion Joan Ayabei went straight into the lead with an
unbeatable pace that carried her further and further away from the opposition. She romped home
to beat the old course record by more than 90 seconds.
MEN:
1 Peter KORIR KEN 1:02:24
2 Alex KURUI KEN 1:02:31
3 Hillary KIPCHUMBA KEN 1:03:00
4 Hafdi MHAMBI MAR 1:03:27
5 Peter SULLE TAN 1:03:34
6 Simon KIILU KEN 1:04:44
7 Abraham CHELANGA KEN 1:04:45
8 Abraham ROTICH KEN 1:05:18
9 Elias YATOR KEN 1:06:06
10 Isaac KIPLAGAT KEN 1:06:46
WOMEN:
1 Joan AIYABEI KEN 1:11:16
2 Salome SIMOTWO KEN 1:14:14
3 Tigist TUFA ETH 1:15:09
4 Sentayehj TESHOME ETH 1:15:47
5 Sarah KERUBO KEN 1:16:02
6 Isabel CHECA ESP 1:16:31
7 Beatriz PELLICER ESP 1:27:53
8 Nuria SORIANO ESP 1:33:45
9 Vanessa CABRERA ESP 1:36:06
10 Florence PIASER FRA 1:38:17
20 MAY 2007: NORDEA RIGA MARATHON, LATVIA
Over a thousand runners (of 1300 entrants) completed one of the three events on offer,
which also included a 5.3km fun run. Of these 180 were marathon runners and 58 were foreign
runners, representing 21 countries.
MEN:
1 Johnstone K CHANGWONY KEN 2:18:30
2 Vadim ULEJOV RUS 2:36:50
3 Arunas BALCIUNAS LIT 2:40:13
4 Rolands KAIMIAJ LAT 2:41:32
5 Kristaps KAIMIAJ LAT 2:49:28
6 Anatolijs LEVAJA LAT 2:58:16
7 Ivars VALTASS LAT 2:59:26
8 Alfonsas KAZLAUSKAS LIT 3:01:28
9 Ainars SKRUBIS LAT 3:01:36
10 Vilmantas AUDZIJONIS LIT 3:03:36
WOMEN:
1 Ludmila RODINA 2:50:07
2 Modesta KAMINSKIENE LIT 3:23:07
3 Justina JACKUTE LIT 3:23:37
4 Ausra KAVALIAUSKIENE LIT 3:37:28
5 Helga BLASIUS GER 3:47:31
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 Dainius SAUCIKOVAS LIT 1:09:16
2 Dmitrijs SA-ESARJENOKS LAT 1:11:53
3 Yuri VINOGRADOV RUS 1:11:53
WOMEN:
1 Ilona MARHELE LAT 1:22:20
2 Gunita OAJENIECE LAT 1:33:49
3 Baiba OZOLA LAT 1:35:01
20 MAY 2007: GLITNIR COPENHAGEN MARATHON, DENMARK
MEN:
1 Julias MUTAI KEN 2:23:54
2 Peder TROLDBORG DEN 2:28:16
3 Torben Juul NIELSEN DEN 2:29:09
4 Jacob JELSING DEN 2:32:49
5 Martin PARKHOI DEN 2:34:42
6 Brian Arreborg HANSEN DEN 2:38:47
7 Claus HANSEN DEN 2:40:50
8 Andreas GROTH DEN 2:41:09
9 Tymkow LUKASZ POL 2:41:32
10 Morten HEINER POL 2:42:52
WOMEN:
1 Anne-Sefie P HANSEN DEN 2:47:56
2 Carsten SILLEHOVED DEN 2:48:11
3 Nina W MADSEN DEN 2:57:50
4 Claire PEACOCK GBR 2:58:38
5 Maria DAMTOFT DEN 3:05:19
6 Kim O SORENSEN DEN 3:05:38
7 Helene T MUNK DEN 3:05:54
8 Alessandra PREZZI ITA 3:07:37
9 Rigmor N ARGE DEN 3:10:39
10 Marie BRANDT DEN 3:12:26
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27 MAY 2007: ING OTTAWA MARATHON, CANADA
Photos: Alan Brookes
A record number of more than 29,000 runners from 47 countries took part in the various
events of Ottawa Race Weekend, with exciting races in both the 10K and the Marathon writes
Alan Brookes.
On a sunny, warm (25°C) Saturday evening, Canada's Simon Bairu thrilled the local
crowds with an impressive victory as he out-sprinted Ethiopian Chala Lemi and Kenyan Linus
Maiyo, after being 15m down at 9km and seemingly out of contention (28:29 to 28:33 and 28:48).
Bairu also picked up an extra $5,000 for winning the "Battle of the sexes" over
women's winner Catherine Ndereba (33:01). The women were given a 3 minute 51 second advanced
start.
Ndereba had an easier time of things in the women's race, finishing 150m ahead of Florence
Jepkoskei, and 450m ahead of third place Aster Demissie, an Ethiopian national living in
Edmonton, but she was unable to hold off the 23-year-old Bairu in the male-female contest.
Sunday morning dawned cooler (12-17°C over the race period), and overcast. In such
excellent conditions, the marathon got off to a quick start with pacesetters taking a lead
pack of 15 through 5km in 15:08, 10km in 30:20, and 21km (not halfway) in 1:04:24. The first
half of the course took the runners across the wide Ottawa River into Gatineau Quebec, then
along leafy tree-lined roads through scenic neigbourhoods before returning to the Ottawa side.
The terrain was rolling terrain and there were lots of turns.
Last year's winner, Abderrahime Bouramdane, and dozen Kenyans headed the field for a
"Bouramdane vs East Africa" showdown over the flatter, second half of the race -
out-and-back along both sides of the Rideau Canal. After 28km the pace gradually slipped,
from 3:05/km to 3:10/km. By 30km (1:32:15), the group was down to Bouramdane and seven Kenyans.
The last pacemaker then fell back, and the pace slipped further to 3:15/km. None of the
Kenyans seemed prepared to make a move, and it was left to the Moroccan to force the issue. He
ran 3:02 for the 37th kilometre and then had only the youthful Vincent Kiplagat (22 years) and
the wily David Cheruiyot (2005 champion in Ottawa and Houston) for company. In the end the
courageous Bouramdane was unable to shake off his final two rivals and the veteran 36-year
old Cheruiyot defeated him in another thrilling sprint down the home straight, to break the
course record by 72 seconds.
Hometown fans were further cheered as the rain began to fall, with the convincing victory
of Canada's Lioudmila Kortchaguina who ran the entire second half on her own. The two
Ethiopians who followed her home ran together most of the way.
MEN:
1 David CHERUIYOT KEN 2:10:36
2 Abderrahime BOURAMDANE MOR 2:10:41
3 Vincent KIPLAGAT KEN 2:10:49
4 John KELAI KEN 2:11:10
5 Hilary KIMAIYO KEN 2:11:14
6 Simon NJOROGE KEN 2:11:15
7 Amos MATUI KEN 2:14:12
8 David KARANJA KEN 2:17:02
9 Hillary KOECH KEN 2:17:42
10 Matthew MCINNES CAN 2:18:07
WOMEN:
1 Lioudmila KORTCHAGUINA CAN 2:31:57
2 Zebenaye MOGES ETH 2:35:42
3 Yeshi ESAYIAS ETH 2:36:58
4 Kebebush HAILE ETH 2:41:27
5 Suzanne EVANS CAN 2:46:22
6 Lisa HARVEY CAN 2:48:56
7 Isabelle LEDROIT CAN 2:51:21
8 Monica CHEROP KEN 2:53:17
9 Liz MAGUIRE CAN 2:53:44
10 Myriam GRENON CAN 2:54:02
HALF MARATHON:
MEN:
1 Rejean CHIASSON CAN 1:12:26
2 Richard TESSIER CAN 1:13:07
3 Richard CARTIER CAN 1:13:48
WOMEN:
1 Brandi POZNIAK CAN 1:19:59
2 Megan LORD CAN 1:24:30
3 Jennifer SANCHEZ CAN 1:24:50
NORDION 10KM:
MEN:
1 Simon BAIRU KEN 28:30
2 Chala LEMI ETH 28:34
3 Linus MAIYO KEN 28:47
WOMEN:
1 Catherine NDEREBA KEN 33:02
2 Florence JEPKOSGEI KEN 33:31
3 Aster DEMISSIE ETH 34:14
27 MAY 2007: ITALIAN HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS, UDINE
Photos: Alberto Zorzi
Everybody hopes that there will not be as much rain next time writes Alberto Zorzi. This
championship race was a test event for the IAAF World Road Running Championships to be held on
14 October. "It was the kind of weather conditions organisers hope never to have,"
said the head of the Local Organising Committee, Paolo Bordon.
In heavy rain, Kenya's Solomon Rotich and Bahrain's Nadia Ejjafini won their respective
races, while Giuliano Battocletti and Anna Incerti took the national titles. Olympic marathon
champion Stefano Baldini's poor form confirmed and in the next few days he will announce
whether or not he plans to compete at August's World Championships in Osaka.
The 7km lap in the city centre is completely flat, apart from a slightly uphill stretch in
the first kilometre and a downhill one to enter the "Piazza I Maggio", where the
start and finish are is located. The athletes repeat the lap three times plus a straight at
the beginning to reach the distance of 21.097km.
It will be the second time Italy hosts the Championships after the 1999 edition held in
Palermo and won by Kenyans Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe. The LOC hopes to have such star
winners also this year. In recent days World record holder Samuel Wanjiru has indicated his
interest in running in Udine. He would like to add a gold medal to his astonishing times over
the distance.
Giuliano Battocletti led the race from the beginning at a 3:00/km pace (14:56 at 5km, 29:55
at 10km). A pack of eight reached 15km (44:59), where the Italian launched the first serious
attack. Only Kenya's Rotich, Philemon Kipkering and David Ngeny Cheruiyot were able to follow
him, while Baldini began losing ground. With the national title in his pocket, Battocletti did
not follow Rotich and Kipkering when they upped the pace at 17km. Rotich, 23, made another
strong move in the last kilometre to drop Kipkering.
Moroccan-born Ejjafini, who now runs for Bahrain and lives most of the time in Italy,
repeated last year's win with a solo run from the outset. At three kilometres she ran a split
of 3:11 and nobody tried to follow. At the end of the second lap she was on pace for a
sub-1:11 run, a very good time considering the weather, but she slowed in the last kilometre.
Anna Incerti and Morocco-born Fatna Maraoui staged a great battle for the national title.
They ran shoulder-to-shoulder for 18km before Maraoui took a 20m advantage on Incerti. The
Sicilian athlete closed the gap in the following kilometre and immediately launched her own
attack. Incerti, who at one point was 44 seconds behind the winner, finished just 24 seconds
after Ejjafini.
MEN:
1 Solomon ROTICH KEN 1:02:48
2 Philemon KIPKERING KEN 1:03:04
3 Giuliano BATTOCLETTI ITA 1:03:14
4 David Ngeny CHERUIYOT KEN 1:03:36
5 Natashon Rugut KIPNGETICH KEN 1:03:45
6 Edward Kiptum TABUT KEN 1:03:48
7 Stefano BALDINI ITA 1:03:53
8 Antonello PETREI ITA 1:03:56
WOMEN:
1 Nadia EJJAFINI BRN 1:11:32
2 Anna INCERTI ITA 1:11:56
3 Fatna MARAOUI ITA 1:12:27
4 Gloria MARCONI ITA 1:13:27
5 Deborah TONIOLO ITA 1:15:48
6 Ivana IOZZIA ITA 1:17:38
7 Denise CAVALLINI ITA 1:18:02
8 Siusa Kiprotich EPKETIR KEN 1:18:19
27 MAY 2007: EDINBURGH MARATHON, GREAT BRITAIN
Photo: Jane Barlow
A mother-of-five and a former heart patient stole the show in yesterday's fifth Edinburgh
Marathon write Lorin McDougall, Steven Raeburn and Richard Moore for
Newspaper. Fiona Matheson, 46, has a handful of teenage kids, including twins, and was a
latecomer to the sport. In the men's race ex-1500m runner Ian Grime completed a fairytale
return from heart surgery to win in a sprint finish.
The wet and windy conditions slowed times despite a helpful 70m drop from the start on
Princes Street to the finish at Musselburgh Racecourse. The new course won praise - even if
the weather was hardly conducive to fast times. Without cash incentives to lure the
all-conquering Kenyans, who have won for the last three years, a different set of standards
applied.
"I just went along with the kids to Grangemouth Stadium and I heard about jogscotland
there" said Matheson. "Before I knew it, I was running a mile and the next thing was
doing a 10km. I found that running was something I really enjoyed. I always fancied doing the
Edinburgh Marathon, and I loved it. It was a good course and if the wind hadn't been at you
then it would've been faster. I didn't know that I was pushed so close - I didn't look round
at any time during the race."
Just 18 months ago, Ian Grime couldn't even run around the block. A heart condition had
forced him into surgery, but the 36-year-old rehabilitated himself by sprinting home to win
his first marathon.
"I'm not pleased with the time; I'd hoped for about 2:25 - but I'm pleased with the
win", he said.
Grime was forced to stop running when he was diagnosed four years ago with an atrial
fibrillation, a condition normally affecting those over 65. Prior to surgery, his heart would
pound excessively, causing chest pains, breathlessness and dizziness. "I couldn't run and
my heart rate got high when I trained," he recalled. "It's good to come back to a
bit of form after 18 months."
Heavy rains pounded the 7,500 runners registered for the event - including about 5,000 for
the full marathon - as they set off from Princes Street in the city centre, but the sun had
emerged by the time the leaders were welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd at Musselburgh
Racecourse.
Sharing the lead with Wayne Lincoln after 30km, Grime triumphed with a powerful sprint
finish. "It was tough on the way out because it was so windy. It was hard work. On the
way back, the wind was behind us" he said.
Participants included a relay team of four runners with a combined age of more than 300,
who ran to raise money for the Sikhs in England charitable trust.
MEN:
1 Ian GRIME GBR 2:31:57
2 Wayne LINCOLN GBR 2:32:05
3 David KIRKLAND GBR 2:34:00
4 Oliver GIBSON GBR 2:34:53
5 Tom FERRINGTON GBR 2:36:47
6 James DAVIES GBR 2:37:05
7 Steven POTTS GBR 2:38:13
8 Andrew MCNEILL GBR 2:38:55
9 David SWINBURNE GBR 2:42:18
10 Mark HAND GBR 2:44:22
WOMEN:
1 Fiona MATHESON GBR 2:54:43
2 Angela HIBBS GBR 2:55:22
3 Annabelle STEARNS GBR 3:02:22
4 Rowena FOK 3:02:23
5 Janet DUNBAR GBR 3:05:04
6 Philipa STEVENS GBR 3:05:23
7 Kate JENKINS GBR 3:06:12
8 Tara TAYLOR GBR 3:10:13
9 Julia HENDERSON GBR 3:11:38
10 Jane FANNING GBR 3:13:46
May 2007
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