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Men Through 10k at Blistering Pace

Posted August 23rd, 2008 at 8:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

The men are off to a blistering, almost 2:06 pace and are trying to take advantage of the fast course which begins adjacent to Tiananmen Square. This strategy is the opposite of what was employed by the women in their version of the Olympic marathon last week.

They ran the opening mile in 4:41, completed 5k in 14:52 (Ritz - 14:59, Hall -15:03) and are now through 10k in 29:25. Hall and Ritz trail by 23 and 25 seconds, both of whom are hoping that the leaders will fall off the pace and that they will be rested and ready to catch up.

Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, wearing a bright yellow head wrap and green jersey, led a very large lead pack along with Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya for the first few miles leading up to the water stop. However, Ramaala then fell back and the Kenyan squad (Martin Lel, Luke Kibet, and Wanjiru) took over the elongated lead pack with several Ethiopians and Eritreans. It seems very unlikely that the leaders can continue such a fast pace in this warm weather.

Start temperature was announced as 70 degrees with 72 percent humidity. However, it is expect to get much warmer –possibly up to 85 degrees– with the sun beaming in the morning hours in Beijing.