August 2008
2 AUG | 3 AUG | 10 AUG | 16 AUG |
17 AUG | 23 AUG | 24 AUG | 30 AUG |
31 AUG
2 AUGUST 2008: SIBERIAN INTERNATIONAL MARATHON, RUSSIA
The 19th running, at 23°C, was as warm as in recent years. The race started at 09:00 from Church Square in central
Omsk, and made a circuit of the city and passing the oldest historical part of town by the renewed Irtysh River
embankment to the south of the centre.
A full range of events from a 5km fun run to the Marathon, each offered trophies and prize money for many different
categories of finishers. Altogether there were about 12,000 participants from across the world and from 28 regions of
Russia. Strong community involvement is evident along the course and the prize money has reached the unprecedented sum
of $110 000, attracting the marathon elite from all over the Russia, as well Belgian and Kenyan runners. The main prizes
were cars for the overall winners, courtesy of the marathons main partners, Toyota.
The men made an exceptionally strong showing in marathon. At halfway Rik Ceulemans from Belgium was leading the group
but, facing a steady wind, he dropped back to eventually finish third. Andrey Brizgalov crossed the line first, with
five-time winner Mikhail Khobotov in fifth place. Liliya Yadzhak won the women's race for the fourth time. The awards
were made by representatives of the Omsk Government and the Russian Olympic Committee in a festival atmosphere.
MEN:
1 Andrey BRIZGALOV RUS 2:17:08
2 Eugeniy BOZHKO UKR 2:17:28
3 Rik CEULEMANS BEL 2:19:52
4 Oleg MARUSIN RUS 2:20:11
5 Mikhail KHOBOTOV RUS 2:20:57
6 Sergey KALEDIN RUS 2:22:38
7 Andrey VARAKIN RUS 2:28:18
8 Artem KOSINOV KAZ 2:31:00
9 Yuriy YEGER KAZ 2:32:54
10 Dmitriy TSIGANOV RUS 2:32:56
WOMEN:
1 Liliya YADZHAK RUS 2:33:41
2 Tatyana PUSHKAREVA RUS 2:34:55
3 Iraida PUDOVKINA RUS 2:37:19
4 Eugenia DANILOVA RUS 2:41:02
5 Irena MOSHKANTZEVA RUS 2:42:54
6 Elena KALEDINA RUS 2:44:10
7 Veronika LOPATINA RUS 2:44:33
8 Tatiana BELKINA RUS 2:46:10
9 Ilyusa KHAYREDINOVA RUS 2:47:54
10 Valentina LEVUSHKINA RUS 2:49:53
Top
3 AUGUST 2008: SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON, USA
In ideal running weather 19,000 runners from all 50 states and 56
countries participated in the marathon, two half marathons, and 5K run/walk.
Both winners were clearly the class of their fields, running away from the competition relatively early in the race. Chad Worthen had a clear lead
by the time the front runners hit the scenic out-and-back leg over the Golden Gate Bridge. "I was surprised that
there was nobody with me." Worthen said. "I glanced back going around a few turns and I couldn't see anybody."
Mustapha Berri (44) was the only runner within shouting distance of him, and finished a couple of minutes behind. Berri
broke away from a chasing pack of five men mid race, and was clearly in second by 20 miles. Although Worthen slowed in the
later stages Berri said "I tried to catch him, but it was too late".
Gustafson dedicated her race to her mother, who had a heart attack a few days previously. "I
was thinking of her every step of the way." While doing so she improved her personal
record by three minutes and finished 14 minutes ahead of the rest.
Leif Kohler won the accompanying "elite" half
marathon, over the second half of the full marathon course just 8 seconds ahead of Robert Coslick, but women's winner
Anna Morales recorded perhaps the most impressive performance of the day with her solo win.
MEN:
1 Chad WORTHEN USA 2:31:52
2 Mustapha BERRI FRA 2:33:57
3 Mark PILJA USA 2:38:20
4 Jonah BACKSTROM USA 2:39:57
5 Eric BOWLES USA 2:40:24
6 Antonio LOPEZ USA 2:41:24
7 Chikara OMINE USA 2:41:38
8 Jason MCCULLOUGH USA 2:41:49
9 Max BAYER USA 2:42:25
10 Josh WRIGHT USA 2:42:33
WOMEN:
1 Lauren GUSTAFSON USA 2:52:33
2 Jenny GRAEF USA 3:06:56
3 Ashley HANSEN USA 3:09:16
4 Isabella VIDILI 3:09:27
5 Natalie PORTER CAN 3:12:09
6 Angela SHARTEL USA 3:12:19
7 Brittany JOHNSON USA 3:14:09
8 Dee GILES USA 3:15:34
9 Heidi ZIMMERMAN USA 3:19:41
10 Erin WAGNER USA 3:19:48
HALF MARATHON - 1st Half
MEN:
1 Michael BRANDELL USA 1:17:26
WOMEN:
1 Rebecca ECKLAND USA 1:26:41
HALF MARATHON - 2nd Half
MEN:
1 Leif KOHLER USA 1:10:02
WOMEN:
1 Anna MORALES USA 1:14:38
Top
10 AUGUST 2008: PANAMA CITY INTERNATIONAL MARATHON
Henry Jaen won the Panama City International Marathon for the fourth time. The Cuban repeated the strategy of his
previous three victories (2003, 2004, 2007) and it once again paid off. The race began at 05:00 under cloudy skies and
occasional showers, with temperatures reaching 28°C.
Early in the race the leading pack consisted of Jaen, Colombia's Victor Hugo Ocampo, Kenyan Joshua Busienei and
Peruvian Florencio Mahacuay (winner of the 2006 race). These three couldn't maintain Jaen's pace and gradually fell
behind.
At 31km on the Amador Causeway, Jaen stepped up the pace and only Ocampo and Machacuay could stay with him. At 38km
on Avenida 4 Julio Jaen repeated the surge of his previous victories, and his exhausted rivals could only watch him
disappear into the distance.
"The winner of this marathon is the person who is best prepared, and who knows how to run intelligently,"
commented Jaen at the finish.
The Colombian Ocampo said he started out too fast and later ran out of gas. "My feet were like lead,"
he commented.
Cuban Yailen Garcia took the female division to complete the Cuban sweep of the event.
MEN:
1 Henry JAEN CUB 2:29:11
2 Victor Hugo OCAMPO COL 2:30:53
3 Fritz Eulogio BONIFACIO PER 2:31:31
4 Florencio MACHACUAY PER 2:31:53
5 Joshua BUSIENEI KEN 2:32:59
6 Caludio RAMOS ECU 2:36:22
7 Bernardo JIMENEZ DMR 3:38:28
8 Rosvelino CHOCCA PER 2:39:11
9 Edgar Milton ARGUELLO ECU 2:42:26
10 Jose David CARDONA COL 2:43:55
WOMEN:
1 Yailen GARCIA CUB 2:51:17
2 Isabel ORELLANA MEX 2:58:08
3 Julia Rivera LOPEZ PER 3:00:16
4 Rosa RIVERA COL 3:06:48
5 Ana Isabel SANCHEZ PAN 3:16:04
6 Dina CRUZ GUA 3:17:50
7 Margarita CONDE GUA 3:29:45
8 Margareth VON SAENGER PAN 3:34:54
9 Belkys MINOZ-HERNANDEZ CRC 3:43:53
10 Unilma RUIZ 3:47:14
Top
16 AUGUST 2008: HELSINKI CITY MARATHON, FINLAND
MEN:
1 Jonstone CHEBII KEN 2:24:31
2 Peter BIWOTT KEN 2:26:19
3 Marko VAITTINEN FIN 2:26:34
4 Anssi RAITTILA FIN 2:31:52
5 Michail BUKOV RUS 2:35:07
6 Sakari HUKKA FIN 2:35:27
7 Veli-Matti KARHULAHTI FIN 2:38:06
8 Manuel GRINAN ESP 2:39:25
9 Githinji DAVID 2:39:48
10 Asmo AHOLA FIN 2:40:29
WOMEN:
1 Margarita PLAKSINA RUS 2:40:47
2 Annemari SANDELL-HYVARINEN FIN 2:43:53
3 Irina PANCOVSKAY RUS 2:50:01
4 Anastasia ZAKHAROVA RUS 2:57:04
5 Hedda LUND SWE 2:58:21
6 Anna KANTOLA FIN 3:03:09
7 Nuria AUBESO MARTINEZ ESP 3:04:48
8 Leena PUOTINIEMI FIN 3:04:52
9 Pauliina TOMMOLA FIN 3:05:13
10 Ana Belen PEREZ FERNANDEZ ESP 3:06:39
Top
17 AUGUST 2008: WOMEN'S MARATHON OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD, CHINA
Photos: Getty Images
In a race run under more favourable conditions than anticipated only one runner was prepared to lift her pace.
Constantina Tomescu took that risk, and it worked. She relentlessly built up a lead between 21-38km that was too much
for the tactically hidebound following pack.
Even with the extremely conservative early pace, there had been casualties. Starting off at 07:30 from Tiananmen
Square alongside the mausoleum of Mao Zedong the first kilometre took 3:53 (2:44 pace). The group remained huge, spread
right across the road, as they toured the grounds of the Temple of Heaven, but before passing 5km Deena Kastor, the
bronze medallist from Athens, had to pull out after suffering a "pop" in her foot which left her unable to
walk properly, let alone run. The group completed 10km in 36:10, just before re-entering Tiananmen Square. A kilometre
later they passed in front of Mao's portrait which still hangs over the gateway to the Forbidden City, and began their
long loop around western Beijing. Lesotho's Mamorallo Tjoko was leading the race at this point, but abruptly pulled over
to one side with cramp. She promptly regained the lead but pulled out after 15km. Behind her, more known runners were
having similar problems. Japan had already been hit by the withdrawal of defending champion Mizuki Noguchi. Now Reiko
Tosa fell behind, limping and in obvious pain, until she finally pulled out at 25km. Briton Liz Yelling had led through
10km but fell heavily during momentary bunching. Mishaps within the still large group perhaps encouraged Tomescu to
make her break, which she started to do from just before halfway, passing through four seconds clear.
Tomescu eased away from them without resistance. Her reputation for making dramatic early moves like this started back
in the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, where she was reeled back in by 32km. She has repeated the tactic since with
little success, which could explain why no one reacted to her move. By 25km she had gained 44 seconds, and there was no
pursuit. Britain's Paula Radcliffe was the only one to show interest, but her inadequate preparation after suffering a
stress fracture only a few weeks before restricted her capacity to respond. From 28km, as the race entered the precinct
of Beijing University, the Ethiopian pair of Berhane Adere and Gete Wami slipped behind, soon to drop out.
Catherine Ndereba, the silver medalist from Athens and twice World Champion, had spent the race so far viewing the
folowing group from behind. At 30km Tomescu was 57 seconds ahead of a group of 11, but Ndereba now moved forward as if to
take a more active part in giving chase to the increasingly distant leader. She passed Radcliffe and Boston Marathon
champion Dire Tune in the process, and the group was soon down to eight, as Salina Kosgei also dropped back. For a while
it looked as if the chase was on. Kenya's Martha Komu kept company with Zhao and Zhu as Russia's Irina Timofeyeva and
Britain's Mara Yamauchi followed just behind them, but although Ndereba was also there, along with Algerian Souad
Ait-Salem and Romanian Lidia Simon, she was not giving shape to the chase. Even at 35km, with the gap now increased to
70 seconds, it looked like it was possible to catch the now tiring Tomescu. If the following group had been closer, they
might have seen her beginning to look back, and betraying some signs of anxiety.
The few kilometres following were crucial if the gold medal was to be contested, but it looked as if the group, now
six-strong after Ait-Salem and Simon fell back, were becoming more watchful of each other. Tomescu's lead grew further
up to about 38km, before it started to erode. Even at this point, with the experienced pair of Ndereba and Zhao prepared
to let Komu do most of the work, they all seemed to have settled for silver at best.
Komu's very visible effort at least drew her clear of Timofeyeva and Marauchi, but Ndereba and the two Chinese seemed
fixed to her in harness. Approaching 41km, after which the course U-turned towards the entrance to the Stadium tunnel,
Ndereba momentarily led, but as Zhou immediately covered she again tucked in behind. As the belatedly chasing group
entered the tunnel the now inevitable winner was emerging from it into the arena of the "Bird's Nest" National
Stadium. With 500m to run Tomescu's lead was being eroded by the now intense contest for silver between Ndereba and Zhao,
but her victory was beyond doubt, and well deserved. While a jubilant Tomescu - at 38, the oldest ever women's Olympic
Marathon champion - crossed the line the crowd was on its feet willing Zhao towards silver. She overtook on the back
straight but Ndereba came back in the final 100m to claim her second successive Olympic silver medal.
WOMEN (ONLY):
1 Constantina TOMESCU ROM 2:26:44
2 Catherine NDEREBA KEN 2:27:06
3 Chunxiu ZHOU CHN 2:27:07
4 Xiaolin ZHU CHN 2:27:16
5 Martha KOMU KEN 2:27:23
6 Mara YAMAUCHI GBR 2:27:29
7 Irina TIMOFEYEVA RUS 2:27:31
8 Lidia SIMON ROM 2:27:51
9 Souad AIT-SALEM ALG 2:28:29
10 Salina KOSGEI KEN 2:29:28
17 AUGUST 2008: ING EDMONTON MARATHON, CANADA
MEN:
1 David CORBETT CAN 2:35:28
2 Tom MCGRATH CAN 2:52:18
3 Ian BLOKLAND CAN 2:52:24
4 Nick SUNDERLAND CAN 2:53:15
5 Marcus IVEY CAN 3:00:26
6 Alex HALIUK CAN 3:01:56
7 Phil RAY CAN 3:02:10
8 Ryan YEO CAN 3:05:25
9 Gerard PINKOSKI CAN 3:07:27
10 Donald COOK CAN 3:13:22
WOMEN:
1 Joylin NODWELL CAN 3:11:06
2 Carmen THIESSEN CAN 3:27:16
3 Jill STEIN CAN 3:31:21
4 Barb EDGAR CAN 3:31:22
5 Paola D'ALESSANDRO CAN 3:34:18
6 Jennifer ST PIERRE CAN 3:34:32
7 Dana CHRISTIANSON CAN 3:35:24
8 Alyssa NOEL CAN 3:35:59
9 Cindy LUNIW-ADSIT CAN 3:36:41
10 Amanda OLANSKI CAN 3:40:29
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Kip KANGOGO CAN 1:05:41
2 Willy KIMOSOP CAN 1:06:21
3 Benard ONSARE CAN 1:07:06
WOMEN:
1 Lisa HARVEY CAN 1:19:42
2 Gladys KAHORO CAN 1:27:24
3 Sarah HUTCHINGS CAN 1:29:18
17 AUGUST 2008: MARATON INT'L DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, MEXICO
MEN:
1 Hilary KIMAIYO KEN 2:13:03
2 Julius K KIPYEGO KEN 2:14:03
3 Philip M KIBITOK KEN 2:14:37
4 Christopher T KIPROTICH KEN 2:17:39
5 Isaack K KIPKEMBOI KEN 2:19:39
6 Samuel ROTICH KEN 2:20:28
7 Bob ONYANCHA KEN 2:20:47
8 Jacob P CHAMER KEN 2:21:02
9 Armando C TORRES MEX 2:21:17
10 George OTWORO KEN 2:22:07
WOMEN:
1 Paula A JUAREZ MEX 2:40:26
2 Adrina F MIRANDA MEX 2:41:41
3 Jessica RODRIGUEZ MEX 2:42:01
4 Judith R HERNANDEZ MEX 2:42:35
5 Marisol ROMERO MEX 2:45:18
6 Margaret K TOROITICH KEN 2:45:25
7 Liliana M FERNANDEZ MEX 2:45:59
8 Sara SANCHEZ MEX 2:46:45
9 Gloria M ORTIZ MEX 2:47:41
10 Alice NDIRANGURU KEN 2:48:12
Top
23 AUGUST 2008: GLITNIR REYKJAVIK MARATHON, ICELAND
Photos: Patrice Malloy/Active Mug
The 25th anniversary attracted record participation and offered a prize purse totaling $22,000 USD.
Over 10,700 runners representing 38 countries competed in the marathon, half marathon, 3km Fun Run and 1km Lazy Town
Children's Run events. The weather was ideal for running and typical of an August Icelandic day – cloudy skies, cool
temperatures (12°C) with occasional rain.
There were British winners of both races, but where David Kirkland prevailed by a mere six seconds Rozalyn Alexander
scored a convincing victory 15 minutes ahead of her opposition. They each won $2500 and $1500 went to the runners-up.
A free airline ticket on Icelandair was offered for the top three in both the Marathon and Half. Martha Ersntdottir, the
event record holder in the half (which record dates from the early 1990s) won again after a lengthy absence. Courtesy of
sponsor Glitnir Bank, the cash prizes were awarded to the top five finishers in the marathon, half marathon and 10km
events.
With the exception of the children's run, which was held on the University of Iceland campus, all races started and
finished in the Reykjavik City Centre in front of the Culture House, the national house for Icelandic heritage. The
courses took runners through some of Reykjavik's finest neighborhoods, along the waterfront and past many historic
buildings.
MEN:
1 David KIRKLAND GBR 2:32:52
2 Gjermund SORSTAD NOR 2:32:58
3 Krzysztof BARTKIEWICZ POL 2:35:38
4 Detlef ELLEBRECHT GER 2:39:22
5 Stoecken RONALD GER 2:39:47
6 Gary CHANDLER GBR 2:40:46
7 Ian SHARMAN GBR 2:42:32
8 Stefan V SIGTRYGGSSON ISL 2:46:41
9 Joel LALANNE FRA 2:47:18
10 Bergbor OLAFSSON ISL 2:53:02
WOMEN:
1 Rozalyn ALEXANDER GBR 3:01:01
2 Audrey K WAGENAAR CAN 3:16:50
3 Heather WILSON CAN 3:19:44
4 Bjorg ARNADOTTIR ISL 3:20:11
5 Riikka KEMPPAINEN FIN 3:24:12
6 Lilly JEPPESEN DEN 3:24:51
7 Sigriour B EINARSDOTTIR ISL 3:28:14
8 Sigrun K BARKARDOTTIR ISL 3:32:09
9 Tamara CAN 3:32:45
10 Christine WIDMANN AUT 3:35:30
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 John M MWANIKI KEN 1:07:28
2 Porbergur I JONSSON ISL 1:13:21
3 Paulo JENSEN DEN 1:13:28
WOMEN:
1 Martha ERNSTSDOTTIR ISL 1:23:19
2 Johanna S OLAFS ISL 1:24:55
3 Karina BERNER DEN 1:25:50
Top
24 AUGUST 2008: MEN'S MARATHON OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD, CHINA
Photos: Getty Images
In complete contrast to the women's race, the men set off at a frenetic pace, many of them careless as to the
consequences. Even Samuel Wanjiru, world record holder at the half marathon, might not have intended to pass through the
half distance in 1:02:34. However, he went the full distance in Beijing to win Kenya's first ever Olympic gold medal in
the Marathon in an impressive display of dominance made all the more appealing by his demeanour afterwards. He had just
broken Carlos Lopes's 24-year old Olympic record by nearly three minutes but, crouched on the track, he gave private
thanks before congratulating Morocco's Jaouad Gharib, coming home 44 seconds after him. Ethiopia's Deribe Merga was next
into the stadium but agonisingly lost what would have been a deserved medal in the back straight of the stadium, as his
compatriot Tsegay Kebede came past him. Merga had contributed to the fast pace by taking up the running on the few
occasions that Wanjiru was content to take a back seat but after Wanjiru's decisive break in the 37th kilometre he fell
back as Gharib made an attempt to chase.
Wanjiru made his intentions clear from the start, by taking the lead in the first kilometre and being instrumental
in setting the fast pace (14:42 at 5km). It was the second 5km in which the challenge was really thrown down, and that
was only partly Wanjiru's doing. A phenomenal 14:33 reduced the group from a couple of dozen to 10. Wanjiru continued to
only play a bit part for the next 5km but then 15km launched his first definite move. He immediately reduced the group
to seven and by 18km to five: Wanjiru, Merga, Gharib, Eritrea's Yonas Kifle and Wanjiru's team mate Martin Lel. Even
then Merga and Yonas Kifle took over at the front, and on occasions Wanjiru was at the back of the compact group.
At halfway (1:02:34) World Champion Luke Kibet (later to drop out at about 29km) was chasing but 10 seconds in arrears.
Kebede, running his own, somewhat steadier race than the leaders, was a further 13 seconds behind, keeping company with
Eritrea's Yared Asmerom. Others adopting this tactic were Switzerland's Victor Rothlin, the Americans Daniel Ritzenheim
and Ryan Hall, and defending champion Stefano Baldini, who eventually finished 12th. They all came through the field,
and Rothlin got up as far as sixth place in the Stadium, but the medals were being contested very much further in front
of them.
Merga was doing much of the leading in the middle of the race, and at 28km his injection of pace dropped Kifle and
Lel. Gharib also lost distance, but gradually worked his way back past the other two to rejoin the leading pair. The pace
continued fast, but without change until Wanjiru kicked hard a little past 36km. Gharib responded but several times chose
to turn around to observe the gap back to Merga, rather than that appearing in front as Wanjiru raced away. Gharib did
hang on though, as the gap grew slowly from four seconds, to six at 38km and then 10 at 39km. From there, runners turned
north towards the stadium up Beijing's axis and Wanjiru seemed to be drawn ever more strongly to the finish line. His lead
was 18 seconds at 40km and now visibly growing. Taking the U-turn at 41.5km he then entered the stadium tunnel and
bursting onto the track in fine style. His last 400m doubled as a lap of honour.
MEN:
1 Samuel WANJIRU KEN 2:06:32
2 Jaouad GHARB MAR 2:07:16
3 Tsegaye KEBEDE ETH 2:10:00
4 Deribe MERGA ETH 2:10:21
5 Martin LEL KEN 2:10:24
6 Victor ROTHLIN SUI 2:10:35
7 Gashaw ASEFA ETH 2:10:52
8 Yared ASMEROM ERI 2:11:11
9 Daniel RITZENHEIM USA 2:11:59
10 Ryan HALL USA 2:12:33
24 AUGUST 2008: SSQ QUEBEC CITY MARATHON, CANADA
MEN:
1 Michael NJORDGE CAN 2:23:47
2 Amor DEHBI CAN 2:31:43
3 Fethi OUKID CAN 2:32:57
4 Louis-Philippe GARNIER CAN 2:37:32
5 Richard TESSIER CAN 2:43:55
6 Francois MARCHAND CAN 2:49:32
7 Mark SULLIVAN CAN 2:51:52
8 Terry GEHL CAN 2:54:34
9 Stanislas PAPADIMITRIOU CAN 2:54:51
10 Jean-Nicolas DUVAL CAN 2:55:52
WOMEN:
1 Suzanne MUNGER CAN 3:10:07
2 Valerie ST MARTIN CAN 3:12:05
3 Rachel PAQUETTE CAN 3:20:08
4 Marie-Pierre RAYMOND CAN 3:21:27
5 Elvy LAPOINTE CAN 3:24:26
6 Sylvie BOISVERT CAN 3:24:37
7 Isabelle RODRIGUE CAN 3:26:58
8 Annie BRONGEL CAN 3:29:07
9 Odette FORTIN CAN 3:33:54
10 Louise CHERCUITTE CAN 3:35:51
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Josephat ONGERI CAN 1:07:54
2 Christian MERCIER CAN 1:12:46
3 Eric AGRINIER CAN 1:13:57
WOMEN:
1 Josiane ABOUNGONO CAN 1:21:58
2 Ingrid CLUZEAU CAN 1:23:57
3 Amelie FOURNIER CAN 1:31:46
Top
30 AUGUST 2008: RUTA DE LAS IGLESIAS 10km, ECUADOR
MEN:
1 Miguel Angel CONDOR ECU 31:27
2 Edison Vladimir BURBANO ECU 31:47
3 Oswaldo JAMI ECU 32:20
4 Gerardo Giovanni SANTILLAN ECU 32:26
5 Guillermo Chalco ULCUANGO ECU 32:49
6 Edgar Heriberto LINARES ECU 32:52
7 Jhon Diego Ortega CASTILLO ECU 33:12
8 Guido Heriberto ROMAN ECU 33:14
9 Cesar Wilson Galotuna CAMACHO ECU 33:15
10 Marco Antonio CONDOR ECU 33:39
WOMEN:
1 Diana Judith Landi ANDRADE ECU 36:31
2 Rosa Alba CHACHA ECU 36:56
3 Jeanneth Narciza TOAPANTA ECU 37:25
4 Viviana Raquel Acosta ANDALUZ ECU 38:36
5 Marlene Concepcion ZAPATA ECU 38:40
6 Edith Geanine SUNTAXI ECU 39:01
7 Nancy Lorena REVELO ECU 39:45
8 Liliana Paola FIALLOS ECU 39:46
9 Grecia Pilar LLANO ECU 39:50
10 Jimena Amparo CHECA ECU 40:01
Top
31 AUGUST 2008: HOKKAIDO MARATHON, JAPAN
Masaru Takamizawa, who was second last year in this race, won the men's division while a marathon debutante Yukari
Sahaku won the women's race. The men's race passed 5km in 15:37 and the pace picked up to 15:15 for the next 5km. After
passing 15km in 46:04, Richard Maiyo of Kenya ran the next kilometre in 2:53 and broke away from the pack of approximately
15 runners. Maiyo ran alone until just before 20Km, but as the chase pack caught him Takamizawa surged away from the rest.
At half way (1:04:59) he was 11 seconds ahead of Maiyo, who in turn was three seconds ahead of pack that included Eric
Wainaina (two-time Olympic marathon medalist) and Julius Gitahi, the defending Hokkaido marathon champion. By 25km
Takamizawa was 37 seconds ahead of a chase pack of 10 runners. He continued to pull away and by 30km was over a minute
clear, while the chase pack was down to three runners — Kentaro Nakamoto, Masaya Shimizu and Julius Gitahi.
Takamizawa eventually won by more than three minutes in the third fastest time ever recorded in this race. It was a
personal best by nearly three minutes. "I concentrated on running my own race from the start," said Takamizawa
after the race. "I know I am a good heat runner."
The women's race also started quite ambitiously as Alice Chelangat led a group of five runners through 5km in 17:37,
and picked up the pace from there. Soon after 10km Chelangat had only Hitomi Niiya and Yukari Sahaku for company. They
ran together until 20km when Chelangat fell behind, leaving Niiya and Sahaku to duel it out. The race was decided when
Niiya fell behind after the turn around at 28.7km. Although Sahaku slowed in the last kilometre and Niiya closed the gap,
Sahaku won by nearly 30 seconds. After the race Sahaku said "Because it was my first marathon, I was not sure what
to expect, but I ran recalling my 40km long run." Nineteen years old, Sahaku said her most memorable race was the
World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.
MEN:
1 Masaru TAKAMIZAWA JPN 2:12:10
2 Kentaro NAKAMOTO JPN 2:15:21
3 Masaya SHIMIZU JPN 2:15:29
4 Yuzo ONISHI JPN 2:15:49
5 Yuki ABE JPN 2:16:21
6 Hisahiko SAHAKU JPN 2:16:36
7 Julius GITAHI KEN 2:17:53
8 Laban KAGIKA KEN 2:17:54
9 Yusuke KATAOKA JPN 2:18:01
10 Masato IMAI JPN 2:18:34
WOMEN:
1 Yukari SAHAKU JPN 2:31:50
2 Hitomi NIIYA JPN 2:32:19
3 Kaori YOSHIDA JPN 2:33:37
4 Mai TAGAMI JPN 2:35:44
5 Yukiko MATSUBARA JPN 2:36:55
6 Miak HIKITA JPN 2:37:06
7 Alice CHELANGAT KEN 2:39:11
8 Shigeko YANAGIDA JPN 2:40:33
9 Mika HIOKICHI JPN 2:41:21
10 Chihiro TANAKA JPN 2:42:21
August 2008
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