Lel & Wami Ranked #1 in Marathon in 2007 by RRW
Posted December 31st, 2007 at 2:24 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Race Results Weekly, the wire service of distance running, announced today that Ethiopian Gete Wami and Kenyan Martin Lel were the top-ranked marathon runners of 2007. RRW produced for the third time an annual top-10 marathoner ranking based on key victories, head-to-head competition, fast times, consistent performances in multiple races and, in some cases, heroic efforts.
“Lel was a clear choice for us by winning both London and New York, a feat no man had ever accomplished” said Editor & Publisher, David Monti. “However, it was much closer on the women’ side between Wami and China’s Zhou Chunxia.”
Lel, 29, was simply flawless over the 42.195 km distance in 2007. At the Flora London Marathon on a warm April day, he bided his time until the final 300 meters where unleashed a sprint which Abderrahim Goumri, Felix Limo and Jaouad Gharib simply couldn’t match. Then at the ING New York City Marathon last November, Lel covered every surge the pack threw at him until he had left all of his rivals, but Goumri, behind. Again, he timed his sprint to perfection, pulling away from the Moroccan for the second time this year in the final meters of a marathon.
“He put on marathon running clinics at both London and New York,” commented Monti.
Haile Gebrselassie was given the #2 ranking for his spectacular world record run in Berlin last September, clocking 2:04:26 and slicing 29 seconds off of Paul Tergat’s previous standard which had stood since 2003. In his other marathon at London, Gebrselassie failed to finish. Goumri got the #3 ranking for finishing second at both London and New York (he was beaten only by Lel), while world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya was #4, and Paris Marathon champion and world championships silver medalist Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar was ranked #5.
WAMI RANKED JUST SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN ZHOU
The 33 year-old Ethiopian ran three marathons in the World Marathon Majors series this year, winning at Berlin, and finishing second at both London and New York. She recorded three of the top-8 times in the world this year, and clinched the first-ever World Marathon Majors series title.
“While it is true that Zhou beat her in London with a very fast time and won the silver medal at the World Championships, taken as a whole Wami’s record was slightly more impressive,” commented Assistant Editor Bob Ramsak who also publishes the Track Profile News Service. “To run three high level marathons in one year with a slowest time of 2:23:32 and never finishing lower than second is amazing.”
Zhou, whose 2:20:38 winning time at London was the 2007 world leader, was ranked second, while Britain’s Paula Radcliffe was ranked #3 for her front-running victory at the ING New York City Marathon. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Mizuki Noguchi of Japan was ranked #4 for her impressive solo victory at Tokyo in 2:21:37, the second-fastest time of the year, and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya was ranked #5 for her dramatic victory at the IAAF World Championships in very hot and humid conditions.
Also of note was the inclusion of Reiko Tosa of Japan who was given the #9 ranking. Tosa put in a heroic performance under tremendous pressure on the final day of the IAAF World Championships in Osaka last August, giving Japan their only medal in the championships.
“It was the only marathon performance of the year which made me cry,” commented Monti.
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ABOUT RACE RESULTS WEEKLY: Founded in 1994, Race Results Weekly is the professional distance running results and news service relied upon by running industry professionals. RRW covers over 2000 middle and long distance races each year; no source is more comprehensive or respected. Subscription information is available at http://www.raceresultsweekly.com.
2007 Race Results Weekly Marathoner Rankings - Men
1. Martin Lel, Nike, KEN
(1) Flora London 2:07:41
(1) ING New York City 2:09:04
2. Haile Gebrselassie, adidas, ETH
(DNF) Flora London
(1) real,- Berlin 2:04:26 WR
3. Abderrahim Goumri, Nike, MAR
(2) Flora London 2:07:44 DB
(DNF) IAAF World Championships
(2) ING New York City 2:09:04
4. Luke Kibet, Nike, KEN
(1) Vienna City 2:10:07
(1) IAAF World Championships 2:15:59
5. Mubarak Hassan Shami, adidas, QAT
(1) Paris International 2:07:19
(2) IAAF World Championships 2:17:18
6. Jaouad Gharib, adidas, MAR
(4) Flora London 2:07:54
(2) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:11:11
7. Hendrick Ramaala, adidas, RSA
(5) Flora London 2:07:56
(27) IAAF World Championships 2:26:00
(3) ING New York City 2:11:25
8. Wilfred Kigen, Asics, KEN
(2) Conenergy Hamburg 2:07:33 PB
(1) Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt 2:07:58 CR
9. Joshua Chelanga, adidas, KEN
(1) Joon Ang Seoul 2:08:14
(1) Fortis Rotterdam 2:08:21
10. Samuel Wanjiru, Toyota Kyushu, KEN
(1) Fukuoka 2:06:39 DB/CR
2006 Race Results Weekly Marathoner Rankings - Women
1. Gete Wami, Nike, ETH
(2) Flora London 2:21:45
(1) real,- Berlin 2:23:17
(2) ING New York City 2:23:32
2. Zhou Chunxiu, Nike, CHN
(1) Flora London 2:20:38 WL
(2) IAAF World Championships 2:30:45
3. Paula Radcliffe, Nike, GBR
(1) ING New York City 2:23:09
4. Mizuki Noguchi, Sysmex, JPN
(1) Tokyo 2:21:37 CR
5. Catherine Ndereba, Nike, KEN
(1) IAAF World Championships 2:30:37
(5) ING New York City 2:29:08
6. Jelena Prokopcuka, Nike, LAT
(2) Boston 2:29:58
(3) ING New York City 2:26:13
7. Lydia Grigoryeva, Nike, RUS
(1) Boston 2:29:18
(4) ING New York City 2:28:37
8. Salina Kosgei, adidas, KEN
(4) Flora London 2:24:13
(2) Tokyo 2:23:31
9. Reiko Tosa, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, JPN
(3) IAAF World Championships, 2:30:55
10. Yumiko Hara, Kyocera, JPN
(1) Osaka 2:23:48 PB
(18) IAAF World Championships 2:36:40
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Tags: #1 ranking, Abderrahim Goumri, berlin marathon, Bob Ramsak, Catherine Ndereba, flora london marathon, Gete Wami, haile gebrselassie, ING New York City Marathon, London Marathon, luke kibet, marathon, marathon rankings, Martin Lel, Mizuki Noguchi, paula radcliffe, race results weekly, rankings, real berlin marathon, RRW, running rankings, top 10 marathoner ranking, track profile news service, wire service, World Marathon Majors, Zhou Chunxiu
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