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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Chicago Completes Elite Fields with Adere & Njenga

Posted October 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Berhane Adere Race director Carey Pinkowski has completed his elite fields for the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12, adding two of the most successful athletes in the race’s 31-year history.

Two-time defending women’s champion Berhane Adere of Ethiopia got her second victory at Chicago last year when she caught rising Romanian star, Adriana Pirtea, in the final few meters of the race. Running in unusually hot conditions, Adere made up a big deficit in the last kilometer to get her second Chicago victory. In much cooler conditions, Adere also won in 2006 in a personal best 2:20:42, a mark which remains the Ethiopian record.

No woman has every won Chicago three years in a row.
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Gold Medalist Dita Leads Chicago Field

Posted September 11th, 2008 at 10:45 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Organizers of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will have the sparkle of gold at their race on Sunday, October 12, when Romania’s Constantina Dita steps to the starting line. The newly crowned Olympic Games gold medalist will have just 56 days to recover from her breakaway win in Beijing, then rally back to perform at her best in Chicago. It will be her fifth appearance in the Windy City, a race she won in 2004 and finished second one year later in a personal best 2:21:30.

“I am delighted to be returning to Chicago,” said Dita through a press release. “I have always felt great running there and have been fortunate to have some of the best races of my life there. It will also be nice to return because I understand Chicago is bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games and I think it would be a wonderful place to have them.”

In Beijing Dita pulled away from the field just before the halfway point, and romped to a solo victory in 2:26:44, 22 seconds ahead of silver medalist Catherine Ndereba of Kenya. She became the oldest Olympic Games marathon champion at 38.
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Germany’s Irina Mikitenko Earns Upset Victory at 2008 Flora London Marathon

Posted April 13th, 2008 at 6:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Germany’s Irina Mikitenko, who had a previous personal best time of 2:24:51, has defeated pre-race favorties Gete Wami and Berhane Adere to win the 2008 Flora London Marathon!

In what is her first major, international marathon victory, Mikitenko earned the victory and followed in the tradition of fellow German Uta Peppig in a time of 2:24:14.

Svetlana Zhakarova was the runner up (2:24:39) and Ethiopia’s Gete Wami, who had taken a serious fall and hurt her hip earlier in the race, finished third in 2:25:35. Selina Kosgei, Ludmila Petrova, Souad Ait Salem, Berhane Adere, Constantina Tomescu-Dita and Liz Yelling
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London Marathon 2008: Elite Women’s Race Preview

Posted April 11th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Martin Lel and Gete Wami The women’s competition at the 2008 Flora London Marathon promises to be intense despite the absence of perennial favorite and World Record holder Paula Radcliffe, who recently withdrew due to a toe ailment. The race will still include a pair of Ethiopian stars as well as several other first class British marathoners. These women will be racing for one of the most prestigious titles in the marathon world as well as points in the World Marathon Majors contest.

Leading the way for the women will be the inaugural World Marathon Major Champion, Gete Wami of Ethiopia. Wami had a stellar track career before turning to the marathon, and has finished on the podium in numerous world class marathons. She won last fall’s Berlin marathon and finished second at London last year (to China’s Chunxiu Zhou). Her lifetime best of 2:21:34 ranks near the top of the field but is almost a minute slower than that of fellow Ethiopian Berhane Adere, whose 2:20:42 is the fastest in the field. Adere also sports an impressive marathon resume with two Chicago victories and the 2008 Dubai title to her credit. Adere will be looking to avenge a few uncharacteristically poor performances at London as her fourth and eleventh place finishes the last two years are far below her standards.
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Thrilling Finishes & Record- Breaking Performances Help World Marathon Majors Usher in Brand New Era

Posted December 12th, 2007 at 12:15 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Marathons

World, national and course records, thrilling finishes, more than 300,000 participants, and a championship race that went down to the final day highlighted the inaugural 2006-2007 World Marathon Majors Series, and ushered in a brand new era of growth and excitement in the sport.

After a six month break, the excitement will continue at the 2008 Flora London Marathon on April 13, followed eight days later by the 112th Boston Marathon on April 21.

Here is a look back at some of the many highlights from the 2006-2007 World Marathon Majors Series:

Record Breakers:

* 2006: Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) sets a course record of 2:07:14 at the 110th Boston Marathon.
* Deena Kastor (USA) sets a new American record of 2:19:36 in winning the 2006 Flora London Marathon, becoming the eighth woman to break 2:20:00.
* Ethiopians Haile Gebrselassie (2:05:56) and Gete Wami (2:21:34) each set national records in victory at the 2006 real,-BERLIN-MARATHON.
* Gebrselassie sets a new world record of 2:04:26 at the 2007 real,-BERLIN-MARATHON.
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Chicago Marathon ‘07: Berhane Adere comes from behind to earn second consecutive championship!

Posted October 7th, 2007 at 11:35 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

berhane adere winning 2006 chicago marathon Berhane Adere has done it again; winning her second consecutive LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon title in dramatic fashion.

In uncharacteristically warm conditions, the women’s marathon field came down to the defending champion and a debut marathoner. Berhane Adere, from Ethiopia came into the race looking to repeat last years win and make up for her sub par, 10th place performance in London this year.

After early leaders Kathy Butler, from Great Britian, and Nuta Olaru, from Romania, fell off the pace, Alevtina Ivanova, from Russia took over the lead. Ivanova stayed at the front through 20 kilometers before Adere took over the lead by the half way mark.

While Ivanova stayed on the pace, a new comer to the marathon, Adriana Pirtea, from Romania, was also quietly sitting on their shoulders. Adere was able to drop Ivanova, but Pirtea continued to stay on her shoulder. Pirtea made her move just after 22 miles and put 20 - 30 meters on Adere within a few seconds.

She increased her lead to around ten seconds and came into the home stretch waiving her hands, not realizing that Adere had come back and was making a mad sprint for the finish. Completely unaware that she was about to be defeated, Pirtea continued to celebrate until, at the last minute, she viewed Adere passing her for the win. Adere finished in 2:33:49 and Pirtea in 2:33:52.

Kate O’Neil was the first American women to cross the line in 2:36:15. She was third place overall. Liz Yelling was fourth in 2:37:14, followed by Benita Johnson, of Australia, in 2:38:30.

The slow times were due to the temperature that reached as high as 87 degrees.

Official Times:

1. Berhane Adere 2:33:49 5:51
2. Adriana Pirtea 2:33:52 5:52
3. Kate O’Neill 2:36:15 5:57
4. Liz Yelling 2:37:14 5:59
5. Benita Johnson 2:38:30 6:02
6. Nuta Olaru 2:39:04 6:04
7. Paige M Higgans 2:40:14 6:06

This article was written by Joe Renguso. To contact Joe and for more information about his training advice for high school track and cross country runners, please visit: http://thehighschoolrunner.com/

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Chicago Marathon ‘07: Pirtea continues to lead Adere; on pace for 2:30 finish

Posted October 7th, 2007 at 11:26 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Pirtea continues to take water at each water stop. She’s on 2:30 pace.

Adere is about 120 meters behind. Pirtea seems to have the race wrapped up. Just need to remember Adere’s amazing track speed.

Kate O’Neill is just over a minute behind Adere in 3rd.

With the heat and oppressive conditions, these conditions are probably comparable to what it’s going to be in Beijing - minus the intense pollution, of course.

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Check back often for TheFinalSprint.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2007 Chicago Marathon, sponsored by Ultima Replenisher, at:

http://chicago.thefinalsprint.com

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Chicago Marathon ‘07: Pirtea leads through 23 miles; O’Neil moves into third!

Posted October 7th, 2007 at 11:10 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Pirtea has hit 23 miles in 2:14:13. Her last mile was in 5:57. She has an 8 second lead on Adere.

Kate O’Neill has moved into 3rd place! She is abuot 1:45 behind Pirtea. Benita Johnson is in 4th about :45 behind O’Neill.

Yelling in 5th about 0:20 behind Johnson

Women’s 35k split times are:

Adere 2:06:42
Pritea 2:06:42
O’Neill 2:07:37
Johnson 2:08:04
Ivanova 2:0836
Yelling 2:09:00
Olaru 2:09:52
Higgins 2:11:47

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Check back often for TheFinalSprint.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2007 Chicago Marathon, sponsored by Ultima Replenisher, at:

http://chicago.thefinalsprint.com

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Chicago Marathon ‘07: Adere and Pirtea hit 20 miles; continue to dominate the women’s field

Posted October 7th, 2007 at 10:59 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

chicagomarathonlogo small Pirtea continues to stay behind Adere. There is no wind to contend with, so Adere does not have to do any extra work.

Adere keeps turning to Pirtea to take the lead and do some work, but Pirtea will have nothing to do with it.

They just hit 20 miles in 1:55:50 and ran the last mile 6:12.
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Chicago Marathon ‘07: Pace slowing after 19 miles; Adere and Pirtea continue to lead

Posted October 7th, 2007 at 10:48 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

berhane adere Adere and Pirtea are slowing down, but staying together. Adere seems unable to pull away from Pirtea who is hanging tough. Ivanova seems to be out of the picture. They just came across 19 miles in 1:49:36. Their last mile was 6:06

Benita Johnson is in 4th with Kate O’Neil in 5th and about a minute behind the leaders.

It should be interesting to see how Adere holds up in the latter miles as she is coming off of a hip injury. Thus far she looks fine and rather comfortable even in this 87 degree Fahrenheit weather.

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Check back often for TheFinalSprint.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2007 Chicago Marathon, sponsored by Ultima Replenisher, at:

http://chicago.thefinalsprint.com

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