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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

ING New York City Marathon: 2008 Edition of Race is “One for the Record Books”

Posted November 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Pro_Women_NYC_Marathon_2008 The term “one for the record books” is often bandied about after races, but the 39th edition of the ING New York City Marathon probably merits that sobriquet. If not precisely “one for the books” it certainly turned out to be a race that will keep the scriveners busy for a while.

While no major marks were broken (women’s winner Paula Radcliffe felt the blustery, chilly winds might have cost her the course record) several secondary ones fell, most notably the women’s masters world record of 2:26:51 set by Britain’s Priscilla Welch in London 21 years ago. Ludmila Petrova, who won here in 2000, dogged Radcliffe for 24 Kara Goucher 2008 NYC Marathon miles before being the last to succumb to the Briton’s relentless and relentlessly quickening pace and clocked 2:25:43 to place second.

Another record-breaker followed one place and 10 seconds behind Petrova; Kara Goucher’s 2:25:53 is the fastest debut by an American woman, bettering the 2:26:58 run by Deena Kastor in 2001. That was also the American women’s course record, which also now belongs to Goucher, who is the third fastest American woman ever.
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New York City Marathon 08: Post-Race Elite Runner Videos

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

PAULA RADCLIFFE: Post-Race Press Conference

KARA GOUCHER: Post-Race Press Conference

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Radcliffe, Gomes dos Santos Cruise to NYC Marathon Titles

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Paula Radcliffe 2008 NYC Marathon Champion Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain retained her title and Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil regained his at the ING New York City Marathon today.

Radcliffe, who controlled the race from the gun, captured her third victory over the five-borough course in 2:23:56. Unlike in her previous New York victories, Radcliffe was never challenged, finishing well ahead of Russian Ludmila Petrova, who clocked 2:25:43.

Gomes dos Santos, the 2006 winner, came from behind over the last two miles to win handily in 2:08:43 after overtaking Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri, who held on for second in 2:09:07.

Contesting her marathon debut, American Kara Goucher finished third clocking 2:25:53. Kenyan Rita Jeptoo was a distant fourth in 2:27:49.
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New York Marathon 08: Twenty Mile Men’s Update: Here Comes Tergat

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 12:53 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Paul Tergat’s race has finally begun. After pacing himself within the pack for the first half of the race, he now fights for the lead. Tergat moved from 5th to 2nd place at the 25k mark, with Goumri in 1st (1:17:46).

The lead pack broke around mile 16 and. Abdirahman is no longer among them. The top 8 men, led by Bouramde, Rono and Rotich, passed the mark in 1:20:38. At mile 17, Goumri and Gomes Dos Santos hit 1:24:32, followed by Tergat, Rono and Bouramdane.

The pack “hit the wall” around mile 18 and shrank to 5. Bouramdane, Goumri, Rono, Gomes Dos Santos and Tergat ran a 1:29:14 split. Abdirahman was over a minute behind in 10th place (1:30:45).

Bouramdane could no longer stay with the leaders at mile 19. They are now running 4:56 mile pace. Gomes Dos Santos, Goumri, Tergat and Rono are still together at 1:33:50. They hit mile 20 in 1:38:37 with Goumri leading.

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New York City Marathon 08: 15 Mile Update: USA Won’t Give Up

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 AM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Rohatinsky and Carney refuse to give up, but may have expended too much energy in the process.

Rohatinsky just moved from 16th to 2nd at mile 11 of the New York City Marathon. Kigen led the pack with a 55:41 split. Abdirahman is in 3rd, followed closely by Kirui.

Carney picked up his pace to move into 4th position from 19th at mile 11 in 1:00:30. Abdirahman still looks good in 2nd ad he battles Kigen and Kirui. At 20 kilometers (1:02:41), Bouramdane leads in front of Kenyans Kirui and Isaac Macharia. Awol, Tergat, Rono, Kigen and Abdirahman are close behind.

Abdirahman moves back to the front with Kigen and Kirui for mile 13 in 1:05:30, but dropped back at the half-marathon mark. Kirui, Bouramdane,Macharia and Awol leads.

Abdirahman could not hold the pace and fell farther back into 10th at mile 14. He is 3 seconds behind the top 7 men led by Kirui (1:10:11). He then sprinted to the front again to lead the pack through a 1:15:05 15-mile split. Tergat remains in 5th place.

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New York City Marathon 08: 10 Mile Update: Abdi Fights for Lead

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 AM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The men are currently running about 5:05 mile pace. The Kenyans in the elite field are moving up. Wilfred Kigen (KEN) inched out Abdirahman at 6 miles with a split of 30:31. Then Abdirahman passed Kigen around 10 kilometers for a 31:38 split, 3 seconds ahead of Rono and Hosea Rotich (KEN). Kigen fell back to 7th, but was then back in front at mile 7 (35:30).

The USA men remain strong among the close top-20 pack of leaders. Rohatinsky and Abdirahman went through mile 8 in 40:46, followed by Kirui, Ramaala, Abderrahime Bouramdane (MAR), Mohammed Awol (ETH) and Rotich.

Tergat is still in contention. He went through mile 9 in 45:39 along with leader Abdirahman, Kirui, Goumri, Ramaala and Marilson Gomes Dos Santos (BRA). Rono, Awol and Abdirahman take turns leading the pack.

At 15 kilometers, Tergat has moved to 3rd with a 47:12 split. The pace has quickened as Gomes Dos Santos and Kirui lead. The top 14 men are within 1 second of each other. Abdirahman remains with them, but Bolota Asmerom (USA) and Rohatinsky have fallen back to 16th and 17th.

Abdirahman fights to the front and hit mile 10 in 50:32 with Kigen and Kirui.

Split Times:
Mile 6 - 30:31
10k Mark - 31:38
Mile 7 - 35:30
Mile 8 - 40:46
Mile 9 -45:39
15k Mark - 47:12
Mile 10 - 50:32

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New York City Marathon 08: American Men Go Out Strong; Abdi Leading Through 5 Miles

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 AM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The men’s race of the 2008 ING New York City Marathon is underway. James Carney of the United States led from the gun. The close pack of Carney, Josh Rohatinsky (USA) and Nate Jenkins (USA) went through mile 1 in 5:26.

The men’s lead pack remained close together at 5 kilometers. Nate Jenkins led in 16:19, with Abel Kirui (KEN), Hendrick Ramaala (RSA), Rohatinsky and Daniel Rono (KEN) right behind. Former world record holder Paul Tergat (KEN) is comfortably sitting in the pack with a 16:20 5k mark.

Abdi Abdirahman (USA) and Rohatinsky just made a bold move by sprinting to the lead. They created a 3-second gap and went through 4 miles in 20:52. The lead did not last, but Abdirahman is still in front.

Rohatinsky and Abdirahman look strong as they hit 25:43 for 5 miles. However, Abel Kirui (KEN), Ramaala and Rono are trying to break them. Abdirahman quickly reacted and holds the lead.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 5:26
Mile 2 - 10:39
Mile 3 - 15:45
5k Mark - 16:19
Mile 4 - 20:52
Mile 5 - 25:43

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New York City Marathon 08: TheFinalSprint.com’s LIVE Coverage Begins at 9am EST

Posted November 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

RACE DAY & BROADCAST INFO

ELITE FIELDS: PREVIEWS & MORE

NYCM NEWS & ATHLETE FEATURES

TFS PODCASTS & VIDEO INTERVIEWS

Podcast: Teleconference with Goucher, Abdirahman
Podcast: Interview with James Carney
Video: Kara Goucher Discusses Marathon Debut & More
Video: Radcliffe Looks to Repeat at NYC Marathon
Podcast: Gymnast Kerri Strug to “Run for Something Better”
Podcast: Soccer Star Brandi Chastain to Make Marathon Debut
Video: Catherine “The Great” Ndereba Seeks Victory in NYC

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New York City Marathon 08: Color-Coded Breakdown of Top Elite Men and Women

Posted November 1st, 2008 at 11:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The New York Times published a very helpful graphic in today’s paper that features the top elite men and women running in tomorrow’s ING New York City Marathon. The image is color-coded to help you follow along with the action. Click on the thumbnails below to view the original at nytimes.com:

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Abdirahman Looking for Marathon Breakthrough in New York

Posted October 30th, 2008 at 5:45 PM by James Dunaway

Section: News & Results, Marathons

With just three days to go before the start of the 2008 ING New York City Marathon, Abdi Abdirahman has never felt better – especially about the Marathon.

“This is my year!” he said at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Abdi, 31, was born in Somalia, came to the United States as a teenager with no running history, and became an American citizen in January 2000. He has been the No. 1 American 10,000-metres runner for the past several years, winning U.S. national championships in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

But his pursuit of the Marathon has so far brought him only moderate success, e.g., a 2:11:24 fifth place here in 2005, a 2:08:56 personal best finishing fourth in Chicago in 2006 and an injury-related dnf a year ago in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
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