by Larry Eder
In one of the best fields ever for men at the ING NYCM, Meb Keflizighi showed that experience counts. Meb is the first American male to win the ING NYCM since 1982!
Derartu Tulu showed her track background, and won the 2009 ING NYCM over the past 400 meters, showing her historic value to the sport of women’s running!
Photos courtesy of PhotoRun.net.
KEFLEZIGHI AND TULU WIN “BIG APPLEâ€
NEW YORK (USA, Nov 1): Mebrahtom Keflezighi and Derartu Tulu won the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon clocking 2:09:15 and 2:28:52, respectively. Writes Race Results Weekly. Keflezighi was the first American champion in the event since Alberto Salazar in 1982. He broke away from four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot shortly before turning in to Central Park at 90th street. He steadily increased his lead through the closing two miles. Keflezighi also became the USATF Marathon champion, as the U.S. men‘s championship was run concurrently with the marathon. Tulu stayed with the lead pack of five through the Bronx as the leaders first dropped Boston champion Salina Kosgei of Kenya. The next major contender to drop was three-time New York winner Paula Radcliffe, and finally smooth-running Frenchwoman Christelle Daunay in the final miles. Tulu‘s last rival was 2000 New York champion Lyudmila Petrova (41), the runner-up last year as well. Tulu, the Olympic 10,000m gold medalist in 1992 at the age of 18, broke away on Central Park and held off Petrova through the finish with an eight-second lead at the finish. For Tulu 16th marathon since 1997 Boston debut and 9th career best. Petrova clocked 2:29:00 and third French record holder Daunay 2:29:16 in her fifth marathon. Fourth Paula Radcliffe in her jubilee 10th finished marathon achieved ninth sub 2:30 (2:29:27). As David Martin writes, she was the pacemaker until Petrova made a strategic break after 2hr 10min of the race and paid the penalty when clearly not at her best, she set a confortable pace for her rival. Later she revealed that a tendon injury wrecked her chances. Fifth another favorite Salina Kosgei of Kenya (2:31:53). Ryan Hall was the second American finisher in 2:10:36, behind Cheruiyot (2:09:56) and Jaoud Gharib (2:10:25) of Morocco. There were six Americans in the first 10 finishers. Another past winner here Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa was sixth in 2:12:31. Keflezighi the 2004 Olympic silver medalist came to New York having never won a marathon of any kind. Marathon debutant Jorge Torres was seventh overall in 2:13:00. Keflezighi will get 200 000 USD for his victory: 130 000 for the overall win, 40 000 for the U.S. victory and 30 000 for breaking 2:09:30. 1984 Olympic winner Joan Benoit Samuelson clocked excellent 2:49:09 (17th in women category) after an opening half of 1:22:13. That‘s only one second slower than her US 50+ record from Olympic Trials 2008. Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet was the first American finisher in the women‘s race, running 2:32:17 for sixth place. Best European was Italian Migidio Bourifa as 13th in 2:16:01. 40 000 starters are making this years edition the biggest marathon ever.
WANJIRU AND MIKITENKO WINNERS
NEW YORK (USA): With 2009 New York Marathon also the World Marathon Majors 2008-9 period ended. It was clear before the race that overall winners and future 500 000 USD owners are Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru and German Irina Mikitenko both with 90 points. Previous two editions (2006-7, 2007-8) winners were Kenyans Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Martin Lel with Gete Wami and Irina Mikitenko on the women side. Second placer in finished cycle is Haile Gebrselassie (50) and Robert Kipkoech Cheruyiot with his second place on Sunday made a move to final third with 41 points. Fourth is Abderrahim Goumri (40) ahead of Tsegay Kebede and Jaouad Gharib (both 35 with the Morrocan scoring also on Sunday). In the women ranking Dire Tune is second (40) and Russians Lidiya Grigoryeva and Lilyia Shobukhova equal third (35). Following are two runners on fifth place both thanks to Sunday´s positions with 31 points (Lyudmila Petrova and Salina Kosgei). In the 2009-10 period Wanjiru leads with 50 points over five runners with 25, including NYC winner Meb Keflezighi. In the women situation Mikitenko has 40 with Shobukhova 35 and Salina Kosgei who is now third with 26. Next WMM races will be the Boston Marathon on April 19, 2010 and London Marathon on April 25, 2010.
OTHER RESULTS
NEW DELHI (IND, Nov 1): Fresh Half-Marathon world champion Mary Keitany won the 5th New Delhi Half-Marathon with fast course record 1:06:54. Deriba Merga of Ethiopia succesfully defended his title from last year with also fast 59:54. Keitany promised in her next race a world record attack. Second Wude Ayalew of Ethiopia who is track bronze winner at 10 000 m from Berlin achieved 1:07:58 and third another Ethiopian and bronze winner from Birmingham Aberu Kebede 1:07:59. In the men competition also second place for Ethiopia by Eshetu Wondimu (1:00:02) over best Kenyan Wilson Kipsang (1:00:04). More than 8500 runners participated and the winners got 25 000 USD.
SEOUL (KOR, Nov 1): Kenyan Francis Kibiwott who debuted at Paris Marathon this spring won the 11th YoongAng Seoul Marathon and improved his life-time best by 12 seconds to 2:09:00. Second David Kipkorir Mandago achieved 2:09:01 and third Stephen Kibiwot 2:09:24. Home 2:27 runner Lee Sun-Young was the best woman in 2:34:22.
HANOI (VIE, Oct 31-Nov 1): First two days of Athletics at 3rd Asian Indoor Games registered solid 60 m sprints. Home Vietnam female sprinter Vu Thi Huong surprisingly won in national record 7.24 ahead of experienced Guzel Khubbieva of Uzbekistan (7.39). Chinese Su Bingtian who was sixth at National Games recently won the men´s short dash in 6.65 beating Saudi Arabian Yasir Alnashri (6.66) and Thailand´s Wachara Sondee (6.68). Other Chinese wins in pole vault 445 by Li Ling and male hurdler and Berlin finalist Ji Wei who clocked 7.69 at 60 m hurdles. Kazakhstan olympic finalist Olga Rypakova produced very good 14.40 to win the triple jump and missed her Asian record only by 18 cm. Leyla Rajabi (of Belarus origin with Tatyana Ilyustshenko original name) won the women shot put for Iran with new national indoor record 17.07 m. Other wins for Saudi Arabian Ismail Al-Sabani 47.31 at 400 m, Kazakhstan´s Vitaliy Tsykunov 222 in high jump and Saudi Arabian Majid Ghazi Marzouq in the long jump with excellent improvement to 796 cm. World Championships 5000 m medalist James Kwalia won the 3000 m for Qatar (8:00.90) after a tactical battle with Bahraini Alemu Bekele (8:01.50).
AUCKLAND (NZL, Nov 1): Jess Ruthe won the Auckland Marathon in good 2:49:52 as the male winner did not achieve a sub 2:30. Half-Marathon was staged also as national championships. Winners were Matt Smith (1:06:18) and Shireen Crumpton (1:15:58).
NOOSA (AUS, Oct 31): World championship finalist Collis Birmingham has defended his Asics 5km Bolt title at Noosa clocking 14:02. Martin Dent achieved 14:06 and US Bobby Curtis 14:11 as third. Lisa Corrigan has breaking through for her first win in five attempts on the annual race in the Queensland resort town. She clocked in close finish 16:11 as the second placed Sarah Jamieson.
PODGORICA (MNE, Nov 1): Russian Dmitriy Safronov clocked excellent 2:11:51 to win the 16th Podgorica Marathon in Monte Negro. It also new personal best for the 28 years old runner. Safronov missed the course record of Bulgarian Petko Stefanov only with 5 seconds (2:11:46). Best Serbian female runner Olivera Jevtic defended her title from last year and achieved new course record 2:31:18. In total 231 runners from 25 countries participated. Jevtic also won the Balkan Championships.
GIURGIU (ROU, Oct 31): At Romanian CC Championships also the team selection for European CC Championships in December in Dublin happened. In the main races Ancuta Bobocel won the 8 km ahead of Paula Todoran and Cristina Casandra. In the men´s 10 km Marius Ionescu was the best over former steepler Mircea Bogdan. Nearly 200 athletes participated in all races.
TULSA (USA, Oct 31): At 32nd Tulsa Run at 15 km Ethiopian wins for Alene Reta (44:09) and Belainesh Gebre (50:29).
VATICAN CITY (VAT, Nov 1): At 2nd “Corsa dei Santi†– the Race of Saints at St. Peter´s Square Kenyan win Ezekiel Muli who clocked 30:15 at 10.5 km. Second Nahashon Rugut got 30:54. Best woman was Morrocan Asmae Ghizlane (35:32).
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