Athens Classic Marathon
Picks Up the Pace
Posted November 7th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by Hariz Siddiqui
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Kenyan Benjamin Korir Kiprotich and Russia’s Svetlana Ponomarenko won the 25th Athens Classic Marathon today. In mild weather conditions with temperatures around a maximum of 20° Celsius and an occasional light rain winning times were much faster than in the years before. Benjamin Korir Kiprotich clocked 2:14:40 on the classic route from Marathon to Athens’ Panathinaikon Stadium while Svetlana Ponomarenko crossed the line in 2:33:19.
Kenyans had won the Athens Classic Marathon three times in a row. And they dominated the race again today, extending their win streak. Eight of them formed the leading group when the half way point was passed in 68:07 minutes. At about 35 k Benjamin Korir Kiprotich broke away and opened a decisive gap.
“I had tried to get away earlier. But then I decided to relax a bit more and let the others catch me again. I was sure that I would win the race,” said the 29 year-old who ran a personal best of 2:10:43 earlier this year when he finished third in Brescia.
“I will now prepare for a big spring marathon. And it is my aim to run a time between 2:07 and 2:08,” said Benjamin Korir Kiprotich. Kenyans Hosea Kiptanui Kimutai (2:15:03) and defending champion Henry Tarus (2:15:57) took second and third in Athens while Georgios Karavidas finished tenth in 2:23:51, taking the Greek championships.
In the women’s race the big favourite took the honours: Svetlana Ponomarenko had passed half way in 1:15:56. The 37 year-old, who had won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2006 and has a personal best of 2:29:55, ran a very consistent pace. “The weather was fine for me. I would now like to qualify for Beijing next year,” said Svetlana Ponomarenko. Chihiro Tanaka (Japan) took second in 2:41:01, followed by the new Greek champion Magdalini Gazea (2:41:31).
Via: Athens Classic Marathon
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Tags: athens, Athens Classic Marathon, Benjamin Korir Kiprotich, Chihiro Tanaka, Georgios Karavidas, Greece, Henry Tarus, Hosea Kiptanui Kimutai, Magdalini Gazea, marathon, Panathinaikon, Svetlana Ponomarenko
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The Final Sprint