by Larry EderOn a very warm day, nearly 31,500 of the 35,000 starters made it to the finish of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Evans Cheruiyot and Lidiya Grigoryeva lead the way, running races surprisingly different. Evans went out with two countrymen though a half in 1:02:27, and then broke his final competitor between 30 and 35 kilometers to run a fine 2:06:25 for the win.
Lidiya Grigoreva was in the group of thirteen elite women who hit the halfway in 1:16:02, and she ran five minutes faster for her second half, taking the lead just past
30 kilometers, and busted the fourth ten kilometers, putting nearly two minutes on her competition!
The race team must be applauded for handling the increasing heat, and the volunteers help with the 31,500 finishers. The temperatures went from 65 degrees and 70 percent humidity to 84 degrees and 39 percent humidity by the three hour point! Carey Pinkowski and his team should be appreciated for the magnitude of changes made in one year, and the increased level of support for the citizen runner.
EME NEWS (OCT 12, 2008) UPDATE
E. Cheruiyot and Grigoryeva
CHICAGO (USA, Oct 12): Evans Cheruiyot of Kenya and Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva earned their first Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Cheruiyot, running in only his second marathon, survived an early and almost violent surge by Kenyan compatriot Emanuel Mutai which broke up the lead pack, leaving only three men together at the halfway mark which was reached in a blistering 1:02:27: Cheruiyot, Mutai and David Kipkorir Mandago. In the 38th kilometer, he dropped Mandago, shook off the hot sun beating down on him, and sailed to the finish line alone in 2:06:25, a three-minute personal best. Mandago held on for second in 2:07:37, and then the finish line went silent for more than four minutes until Kenya’s Timothy Cherigat came third in 2:11:39. Best European was Dutch Martin Lauret as 5th with 2:15:10 PB.
For Grigoryeva, a Russian who won the Boston Marathon in 2007, patience played a big role in her strategy. Through 30-K (1:46:09), the two Russians (second Alevtina Biktimirova) remained together joined by a man who had caught up from the recreational race, but Grigoryeva soon took charge, and built up her lead to the better part of two minutes by the 40-K mark. From that point, it was a smooth ride to the finish after 2:27:17. Biktimirova cruised home second in 2:29:32 and Kiyoko Shimahara of Japan rounded out the podium in 2:30:19. Olympic champion Constantina Dita was fourth in 2:30:57 and American Desiree Davila was fifth in a personal best 2:31:33. Best African Bezunesh Bekele of Ethiopia this time only 7th (2:32:41).
Both Cheruiyot and Grigoryeva earned $100,000 in prize money, but Cheruiyot earned an extra $40,000 for breaking 2:07:00. Informs Race Results Weekly.
Kenyan men and Ethiopian women won titles
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA, Oct 12): Kenya won male team title in Rio de Janeiro at IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Second place for Eritrea and third for Qatar with best European team Spain as 8th. Women win for Ethiopia ahead of Kenya, Japan, USA and Russia. Best individual European male runner was Ignacio Caceres as 15th after 1:04:39. Each of the individual winners took home $30,000 while the winning teams banked $15,000. Next year championships will be in Birmingham.
OTHER RESULTS
CARPI (ITA, Oct 12): This years winner of Thessaloniki Marathon Kenyan Ben Kiprono Chebet won the Maratona d´Italia in Maranello, Carpi which was also named as Centenario Dorando Pietri. His time 2:10:50 is also new PB for him. David Chepkwony Kiptanui as second also improved to 2:10:57 with Barnabas Koech third 2:11:19. Poland´s Adam Draczynski as fourth became also World Military Champion after 2:12:21. Fifth Alberico Di Cecco became national champion (2:13:16). Rosaria Console won the women race and is not only Italian Champion but also World Military Champion after 2:30:44. Chinese favorite Wei Yanan was second (2:33:29).
PARIS (FRA, Oct 12): Kenyan Sammy Kitwara won the 30th 20 km road race of Paris. His time 57:42 following by two Ethiopians Getnet Dagim (57:50) and Lemma Fekadu (57:53). Best French runner John Kiprotich as fourth (58:03). Kenyan women win for Miriam Wangari with 1:08:05 beating Ethiopian Merima Hashim (1:08:21) and French Elizabeth Chelagat (1:08:35). World class walker and European Champion 2006 Yohan Diniz achieved 1:33:18.
GRONINGEN (NED, Oct 12): Olympic 5000 m medalist Eliud Kipchoge won the 4 miles road race here with 17:30.9. He is the world best holder at the distance (17:07 last year). In close finish he beat Kenyan Bernard Kipyego (17:30.9). Third was another Kenyan Willy Mwangi (17:53.0) who was still ahead of steeple Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto (18:06.6). Ethiopian world class runner Meselech Melkamu won the women race (20:04.6) what is third best result at this event. Another Ethiopian Utura Sule was second (20:14.5) ahead of Adrienne Herzog who clocked the best Dutch time ever at the distance (20:59.9). Australian Benita Johnson was fifth (21:13.5). In total 17 500 runners were registered.
BERLIN (GER, Oct 12): Kenyan Simon Kasimili and the reigning European Marathon Champion from Goteborg 2006 Ulrike Maisch took the inaugural edition of the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin on Sunday, clocking 28:44 and 34:53 minutes. In ideal weather conditions 5,363 runners competed in this 10 k race. More than 50,000 spectators lined the course. Second was home runner Andre Pollmächer (28:48) with another Kenyan John Mutai third (29:25). Women race saw a home affair with Julia Viellehner second (36:05) and Claudia Dreher third (37:54). Olympic Champion Dieter Baumann was one of a number of prominent athletes who competed and finished after 48:40.
POZNAN (POL, Oct 12): Kenyan Matthew Kosgei won the 9th Ecco Poznan Marathon with new course record 2:13:45. Also other two podium places were taken by Kenyans Julius Kilimo (2:14:02) and John Mutai (2:14:18). Best home runner Marcin Fehlau was fourth (2:17:13). Personal bests for top three women who were all from Poland. Arleta Meloch 2:38:22, Ewa Brych-Pajak 2:39:05 and Agnieszka Janasiak 2:40:07
BUCURESTI (ROM, Oct 12): Kenyan win also at 1st Romanian International Marathon with Francis Maundo clocking 2:15:48. Second Nixon Kipkoech improved to 2:15:50 with Italian Mostafa Erebbah third 2:16:16 ahead of Moldavian Roman Prodius who improved to 2:17:00. Best woman was Valentina Delion of Moldova with 2:49:50. She achieved that only after one week in Kosice (2:53:46).
ESSEN (GER, Oct 12): Tobias Sauter won the 46th RWE Marathon with 2:18:24 and best woman was Silvia Krull (2:38:21).
GRAZ (AUT, Oct 12): Ethiopian Tesfaye Bogale won the marathon here after 2:18:44. Slovenian Ida Surbek was the best woman (2:49:19). More than 7000 runners competed.
MUNCHEN (GER, Oct 12): Steffen Justus won the 23rd Munchen Marathon after 2:21:38. Best woman Melanie Hohenster (2:49:20).
MARTINENGO (ITA, Oct 12): Kenyan Julius Kipkurgat Too won the 10 km of 13th Pallio della Porte after 28:54.
PISA (ITA, Oct 12): Italian win for Daniele Meucci (1:03:20) at Half Marathon of Pisa. Kenyan Julius Kirwa Choge was second (1:05:18).
PORDENONE (ITA, Oct 12): Kenyan Eric Chirchir won the 3rd International Half Marathon dei Borghi with 1:02:26 and Elija Meli also of Kenya was second in the same time. Kenyan Mercy Kibarus was best woman (1:13:37) with Laura Giordano second (1:14:01).
YEOSU (KOR, Oct 11-12): During first two days of 89th National Sports Games in Korea Hwang In-Sung achieved new national male shot put record 18.66 m. Hurdles record holder Lee Jung-Joon clocked 13.65 (-0.7) to win his event.
SHIJIAZHUANG (Oct 11-13): Chinese championships highlight of first two days was discus duel of Song Aimin (63.50) and Xu Shaoyang (63.29 PB). Gong Lijiao won the Shot Put with solid 19.38. Junior Xu Tingting improved to 14.15 (-0.2) in triple jump to win the title. Yao Jiajia also achieved PB to win the Long Jump (663, +0.8). Another junior with senior title was High Jumper Zheng Xingjuan in High Jump (191). Olympic medalist Zhang Wenxiu got the expected hammer title (71.11). In solid 5000 m in two separate races wins for Xue Fei (15:28.37) and Bai Xue (15:32.25). On the men side good long jumping by Su Xiongfeng (807, -0.1) and solid 13.68 at 110 m Hurdles for Xie Wenjun (-1.0). In close 100 m race Liang Jiahong won in 10.36 (+0.2) ahead of Zhang Peimeng (10.37), informs tilastopaja.
Used with permission of Alfons Juck.
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